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Looking up at the ceiling, Na He Jeon pours porridge into her mouth. She carefully dips the bowl forward, dropping the porridge directly down her throat, careful not to touch the 15 ulcers in her mouth. But it was the week before midterms, so she still had to study. Jeon was 1st out of 330 students on her exams that year. "Thank god I did," she says. "If I hadn't done well I would have been regarded as a failure." By the end of the week, 14-year-old Jeon weighed only 83.6 pounds. Like Jeon, there are countless numbers of first generation Asian-Americans who make great efforts to go beyond at everything. Yet the children themselves cannot all be put to blame for their efforts. Typically, it is the parents who are designing a life which they see as perfect for their children. One such occurrence is when I was at my hotel in Beijing. It was roughly around 8:00 p.m. when I decided to take a dip in the pool after dinner. I jumped into the pool that was already spotted with a few Chinese children and I hadn't realized what was going on until I took notice of the parents calling out orders and instructing their children. I saw various children all under the age of 10 taking laps across the pool trying various styles. If a child's foot was too bent, her parent would demand that she straighten it. If a child was kicking too slowly, his parent would order that he go faster. I couldn't help but pity the children whose parents were taking the opportunity to give a swimming lesson, rather than just let them enjoy their time during the holiday. Either because of their parents or their own desire, first-generation Asian-Americans put forth their 110% in order to be accepted into one of the best American colleges. Asian-American students want to see A's, 100%'s, and perfect scores. According to Jeon, Asians complain that students with a 4.0 GPA and 2400 SAT simply cannot be rejected from top schools. To their disappointment, however, they often are. The ethic of this aggressive work also exhibits itself via sports and other after-class activities. What sets Asian-Americans apart, however, is that they fight to be excellent in whatever it is that they do. Be it playing the piano or performing in math competitions, Asian-Americans look to be in first place. Although it may cause unnecessary stress, such a driven work ethic is a _ quality. Often blamed for lacking in creativity, Asian-Americans can actually make up for the absence of imagination with their determination. The average American can dream creative dreams, but that only matters if he or she can make it happen in reality. Asian-Americans, instead, can gather creative ideas to produce something concrete. Yet with such a drive to succeed, Asian-Americans have somehow twisted their definition of success. Rather than looking at personal achievement, they refer to numbers, statistics and scores to rate their success. It seems as if desire and the sense of free will are nonexistent in certain Asian-American students as they mercilessly drive themselves to an inevitable burnout. Their desire to be the most-talented is an impossible dream. In a fruitless attempt, they try to be the best in a world already full of winners. The writer's purpose of writing this article is to _ . A express sympathy for Asian-American children B advocate academic competition among students C stress that personal success means more than high scores D analyze the problems in school education Answer: C Spring is a wonderful season to celebrate rebirth and new life. The long, cold winter is over. The weather is warmer and sunnier. The trees again have leaves and the flowers are blooming. The season represents hope, joy and beauty. At this time, many people think of this classical music piece -- Spring, which shows happiness. Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote it in the seventeen hundred. However, not all songs about spring are happy. This song written and sung by K.D. Lang is about dreaming of spring in cold dark places. She recorded I Dream of Spring in 2008. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote It Might as Well Be Spring for the movie State Fair in 1945. Frank Sinatra sings it. It is a feeling of restlessness or excitement brought on by the coming of spring. Richard Rodgers also wrote Spring Is Here, this time with Lorenz Hart. Ella Fitzgerald sings this song about feeling lonely during this season. Frank Loesser wrote the sad song, Spring Will be a Little Late This Year. Why has the season been delayed? Because the singer's lover has left her. Sarah Vaughn released her version of the song in 1953. By now you may be thinking, "Enough with the sad songs, already!" Ok, then how about a cowboy song? Gene Autry was one of America's most famous singing cowboys. He recorded When It's Springtime in the Rockies in 1937. And finally, we'll leave you with a sunny song called Up Jumped Spring. Freddie Hubbard wrote this jazz song in 1977 and Billy Taylor Trio performs it. What's the purpose of the author to write the passage? A Introduce some songs about spring. B Introduce some wonderful music. C Introduce some famous singers. D Express his/ her love to spring. Answer: A Watching some children trying to catch butterflies one hot August afternoon, I was reminded of an incident in my own childhood. When I was a boy of 12 in South Carolina, something happened to me that cured me forever of wanting to put any wild creature in a cage. We lived on the edge of a wood, and every evening at dusk the mockingbirds would come and rest in the tree and sing. There isn't a musical instrument made by man that can produce a more beautiful sound than the song of the mockingbird. I decided that I would catch a young bird and keep it in a cage and that way have my own private musician. I finally succeeded in catching one and put it in a cage. At first, in its fright at being captured, the bird fluttered about the cage, but eventually it settled down in its new home, I felt very pleased with myself and looked forward to some beautiful singing from my tiny musician. I had left the cage out on our back porch , and on the second day of the bird's captivity my new pet's mother flew to the cage with food in her mouth . The baby bird ate everything she brought to it. I was pleased to see this. Certainly the mother knew better than I how to feed her baby. The following morning when I went to see how my captive was doing, I discovered it on the floor of the cage, dead. I was shocked! What had happened? I had taken excellent care of my little bird, or so I thought. Arthur Wayne, the famous _ , happened to be visiting my father at the time and, hearing me crying over the death of my bird, explained what had occurred: "A mother mockingbird, finding her young in a cage, will sometimes bring it poison berries. She thinks it better for her young to die than to live in captivity." Never since then have I caught any living creature and put it in a cage. All living creatures have a right to live free. The most important lesson the boy learned from the incident is that _ . A birds put in a cage won't live long B you have to be very careful about the food you give to young birds C when you capture a young mockingbird, you should keep it away from its mother D freedom is valuable to all living creature. Answer: D Different countries have different greeting customs. Read this article to know more about the greeting customs in different cultures, and make sure you greet people in the right way next time you visit one of these countries. France French people greet each other with a handshake, but close friends kiss each other on both cheeks when they meet. They do this _ when meeting and before leaving. South Korea In South Korea, it is a sign of respect for people to bow when greeting each other. In Korea, a bow is followed by a handshake. When shaking someone's hand, it is polite to support the right forearm with the left hand. However, South Korean women do not shake hands with Western men; instead, they bow slightly. Brazil Kissing women on the cheek is a common way of greeting. In a formal situation, a handshake is often done to show respect. Men should shake hands before and after meeting, and once they have become familiar with each other, a light hug is often given to each other. Ghana In a social situation, it's polite to greet everyone in the room. A handshake is used in greeting, and one palm must directly touch the other palm. It's considered disrespectful to touch the back of the hand. The Philippines There are several ways of greeting people in the Philippines. An elderly person places his or her right hand on the forehead of a child to "bless" the latter. This is called "mano". Relatives and family members greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. Friends greet each other with a polite nod or a handshake. In Brazil, it is very common to _ between good friends. A shake hands B kiss on the cheek C bow to each other D give a light hug Answer: D Beauty has always been regarded as something admirable. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier, have better marriages and have more respectable jobs. Personal consultants give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive persons. But in the executive circle , beauty can become a liability. While attractiveness is a positive thing for a man's rise, it is harmful to a woman. Handsome male executives were considered as having more honesty than plainer men; effort and ability were thought to be the reasons for their success. Attractive female executives were considered to have less honesty than unattractive ones; their success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck. All unattractive women executives were thought to have more honesty and to be more capable than the attractive female executives. Why are attractive woman not thought to be able? An attractive woman is thought to be more feminine and an attractive man more masculine than the less attractive ones. Thus, an attractive woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally masculine position appears to lack the "masculine" qualities required. This is true even in politics. Anne Bowman recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates . She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs, one of men and one of women in order of attractiveness. The students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked lo rank them again, in the order they would vote for them. The results showed that attractive males completely defeated unattractive men, but the woman who had been ranked most attractive always received the fewest votes. The author writes this passage to _ . A discuss the negative aspects of being attractive B give advice to job-seekers who are attractive C demand equal rights for women D emphasize the importance of appearance Answer: A
If there is a great deal of precipitation occurring in a short time, which process in the water cycle will be affected first? Answer: runoff Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh in Scotland in 1850. He had to end his college studies because his health was poor. He began to travel, looking for a place that was good for his health. And he wrote about his travels. Inland Voyage(1878) was about journeys by canoe on the rivers and canals of Belgium and France. Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes followed it in next year. People loved his travel books, and they also found his poems beautiful. In 1879 he travelled to California in a very uncomfortable ship and then by train across the United States to San Francisco. He married in California, but his poor health made him and his wife travel again. Readers of his travel books and poetry were surprised when Treasure Island came out in 1883. It was not at all like his earlier writing, but both children and grown-ups loved it. Treasure Island was finished in Switzerland. Stevenson then continued to travel. He loved the islands of the southern Pacific Ocean, and he found that his health was better there. In the end, he and his wife made their home in Samoa. It was there that he wrote Kidnapped(1886), the story of David Balfour and Alan Breck. It was followed (but not immediately) by Catriona, which continues the story of David Belfour and tells of other exciting adventures of David and Alan, and of David's love for Catriona Drummond. In between the two stories about David Belfour came another surprising book, the "thriller" called The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Stevenson died in Samoa in 1894, and he is buried there. The passage is probably taken from _ . Answer: a book introduction One man tells of driving on a long and lonely road, the last 65 miles of it unpaved, in order to watch Indian dances in the state of Arizona.After the dances, he returned to his car only to find that it had a flat tire.He put on the spare and drove to the only service station in that town. "Do you fix flats?" he inquired of the attendant. "Yes," came the answer. "How much do you charge?" he asked. With a twinkle in his eye, the man replied, "What difference does it make?" This is what has been called a "Hobson's choice".A Hobson's choice is a situation that forces a person to accept whatever is offered or go without. According to Barbara Berliner, the phrase was inspired by sixteenth-century entrepreneur Thomas Hobson.There was no choice by the customer -- it was strictly Hobson's choice. But often we really have a choice, and the choice does make a difference.We may not always believe it.We may feel as if we have no choice, but almost always there is a choice in the matter.And when we realize that we do most things by choice, then we are taking control of our own lives. Someone challenged me to try an experiment that completely changed my perspective(,)."For the next seven days," he said, "remove the words 'I have to' from your vocabulary and say 'I choose to'.Don't say, 'I have to work late tonight'.Instead, say, 'I choose to work late'.When you choose to do it, you take control of your life.Instead of saying 'I have to stay home', try 'I choose to stay home'.The way you spend your time is your choice.You are responsible.You have control." In just seven days I was no longer saying "I have to" and I felt better about my decisions.I learned that there is very little in my life I actually have to do.You and I decide to do certain things because we believe that it will be for the best.When we remove "I have to" from our vocabularies, we take control. Try it for a week and you see what happens.I think you'll see it's a change for the better. What is the situation where we have a "Hobson's choice"? Answer: We have no choice but to follow. Which of the following make sustainable, long term energy? Answer: windmills About 6,000doctors in theprefix = st1 /Philippinesare studying to become nurses so they can find higher-paying jobs abroad, Health Secretary Francisco Duque says. This was up from 2,000 doctors who studied to become nurses last year, Duque said. The exodus of doctors and nurses had created a "threatening situation for our health care system" and a task force had been established to examine the potential impact, he said. The team was working on a bill which would require doctors to practice in thePhilippinesfor at least three to four years before they were able to work abroad. "I think the problem really is the migration of doctors. We have so many nurses now, more than enough to fill up(vacancies). But our doctors are leaving," Duque said. A study by the University of thePhilippineshad found that between 2000to 2003 more than 50,000 Filipino nurses went abroad to work. A doctor working in a government hospital in thePhilippinesearns only about 25,000 pesos(446 dollars) a month. A doctor could earn around 8,000dollars a month while working as a nurse overseas. Even lawyers, accountants and engineers are enrolling to brain as nurses. Filipino nurses are in demand in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and even closer to home, such as in Singapore and Japan. However, Health officials have warned the country faces a "medical apocalypse" if it continues to lose its health professionals to jobs abroad. What is the aim of this short passage? Answer: To call attention to the problems with lack of doctors in thePhilippines.
BUKHANNON, West Virginia--Two rescue teams slowly moved along a two-mile path on Monday night to the site of a coal mine explosion that trapped 13 miners, who had not been heard from since the early morning accident. Meanwhile, at a nearby church, more than 250 family members and friends gathered, waiting for updates on the rescuers' progress. The miners were trapped at about 6:30 and many families weren't informed of the accident until about 10 a.m-more than three hours after it happened."It's very upsetting, but you've got to be patient, I guess," said John Helms, whose brother, Terry, was trapped in the mine. The trapped miners were about 260 feet underground and about 10,000 feet from the Sago Mine's entrance, said Roger Nicholson, general counsel from International Coal Group. At a late night news conference, Nicholson said one team had advanced about 4, 800 feet in the four hours since entering the mine just before 6 p.m.Another team entered the mine about 30 minutes later. He said the crew was very experienced, with some members having worked underground for 30 to 35 years.The miners were equipped with about one hour of breathable oxygen each.The company has not released the names of the miners. The teams test the air about every 500 feet, and have to disconnect (remove) the power to the phones they use to communicate with the surface before doing that." We don't want to be energizing anything if it's in an atmosphere with burnable gases," Kips said. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known.High levels of carbon monoxide were discovered shortly after the explosion, which delayed rescue efforts, but those levels have since subsided , authorities said. If the first team advanced at an average speed, they could dig about _ per hour. Answer: 1,200feet The coast of the State of Maine is one of the most irregular in the world. A straight line running from the southernmost coastal city to the northernmost coastal city would measure about 225 miles. If you followed the coastline between these points, you would travel more than ten times as far. This irregularity is the result of what is called a drowned coastline. The term comes from the glacial activity of the Ice Age. At that time, the whole area that is now Maine was part of a mountain range that towered above the sea. As the glacier descended, however, it applied enormous force on those mountains, and they sank into the sea. As the mountains sank, ocean water charged over the lowest parts of the remaining land. And the highest parts of the former mountain range, nearest the shore, remained as islands. Marine fossils found here are 225 feet above sea level indicating the level of the shoreline prior to the glacier. The 2,500-mile-long rocky and jagged coastline of Maine keeps watch over nearly 2,000 islands. Many of these islands are tiny and uninhabited, but many are home to blooming communities. Mt. Desert Island is one of the largest, most beautiful of the Maine coast islands left behind by the glacier. Measuring 16 miles by 12 miles, Mt. Desert was very nearly formed as two distinct islands. It is split almost in half by Somes Sound, a very deep and very narrow stretch of water seven miles long. For years, Mt. Desert Island, particularly its major settlement, Bar Harbor, has afforded summer homes for the wealthy. Recently, though, Bar Harbor has become a new arts community as well. But the best part of the island is the unspoiled forest land known as Acadia National Park. Since the island sits on the border between two different geographical zones, the park supports the plants and animals of both zones. It also lies in a major bird migration lane and is a resting spot for many birds. The establishment of Acadia National park in 1916 means that this natural monument will be preserved and that it will be available to all people, not just the wealthy. Visitors to Acadia may receive nature instruction from the park naturalists as well as enjoy camping, hiking, cycling, and boating. Or they may choose to spend time at the museum learning about the Stone Age inhabitants of the island. The large number of small islands along the coast of Maine is the result of _ . Answer: glacier's forcing mountains into the sea 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. The APIEL is designed for students who want to study in English-speaking countries, such as _ . Answer: the United States and Canada Although it was autumn, the snow was already beginning to fall in Tibet. Our legs were so heavy and cold that they felt like blocks of ice. Have you ever seen snowmen ride bicycles? That's what we looked like! Along the way children dressed in long wool coats stopped to look at us. In the late afternoon we found it was so cold that our water bottles froze. However, the lakes shone like glass in the setting sun and looked wonderful. Wang Wei rode in front of me as usual. She is very reliable and I knew I didn't need to encourage her. To climb the mountains was hard work but as we looked around us, we were surprised by the view. We seemed to be able to see for miles. At one point we were so high that we found ourselves cycling through clouds. Then we began going down the hills. It was great fun especially as it gradually became much warmer. In the valleys colorful butterflies flew around us and we saw many yaks and sheep eating green grass. At this point we had to change our caps, coats, gloves and trousers for T-shirts and shorts. Why did the children dressed in long wool coats stopped to look at us? Answer: they felt it fun Once there was an 11-year-old boy who went fishing with his father in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. On the day before bass season opened, they were fishing early in the evening, catching other fish with worms. Then the boy tied on a small silver lure and put it into the lake. Suddenly he felt that something very big pulling on the lure. His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully brought the fish beside the bank. Finally he lifted the tired fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass. The boy and his father looked at the big fish. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 p.m.--two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy. "You'll have to put it back, son," he said. "Dad!" cried the boy. "There will be other fish," said his father. "Not as big as this one," cried the boy. He looked around the lake. No other fishermen or boats were in sight in the moonlight. He looked again at his father. Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he had caught the fish, the boy could tell from his father's voice that the decision couldn't be changed. He threw the huge bass into the black water. The big fish disappeared. The boy thought that he would never again see such a big fish. That was 34 years ago. Today the boy is a successful architect in New York City. He often takes his own son and daughters to fish at the same place. And he was right. He has never again caught such a large fish as the one he got that night long ago. But he does see that same fish ... again and again ... every time he has an ethical decision to make. For, as his father had taught him, ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the practice of ethics that is difficult. The successful architect went fishing with his children at the same place because _ . Answer: he was taught an important lesson there
After years of hearing drivers complain about scratches on their cars, Japan's Nissan Motor Company has officially announced the next big thing--a paint that not only resists scratches and scrapes, but actually repairs itself within a few days. The new material, developed by Nippon Paint Company, contains an elastic rubbery-like resin that is able to heal minor marks caused by car wash equipment, parking lot encounters, road debris or even on-purpose destruction. The automaker admits its results vary depending on the temperature and the depth of the damage, but adds "this is the only paint like it in the world, and tests prove it works." Minor scratches, the most common type, are said to slowly fade over about a week. And once they're gone, there is no trace that they were ever there. The special paint is said to last for at least three years after it is first applied, but there is no word yet on whether more can be added after that period. Nissan claims car washes are the worst offenders for this type of damage, accounting for at least 80 percent of all incidents. But the complete auto-healing won't come without scratching your wallet. The vehicle maker notes the special paint adds about $ 100 US to the price of a car. It plans to use its new chemical mixture only on its _ in Japan for now, as it looks for a more widespread presentation. And while plans to offer the feature overseas haven't been made yet, if it's a hit there, you can be almost sure market forces will drive it to these shores as well. What can be inferred from the article? Can you imagine that several hundred years ago, tomatoes were seen as _ food in Europe? What made Europeans believe this was John Gerard's publication of Herbal in 1597. Gerard wrote: "The leaves and stalks of the tomato plant are toxic." Undoubtedly, Gerard's opinion was based on a misunderstanding of tomatoes. But his opinion was widely spread in Britain and North America for over two hundred years. In the late 1700s, a lot of Europeans held more fears for tomatoes. A nick name for the fruit was "poison apple" because it was believed that aristocrats got sick and died after eating them. But the actual reason was the pewter plates they used. Since tomatoes are high in acidity, when placed on the plates, the lead in the plates would dissolve . This caused many deaths. Unluckily, no one knew this at that time. So the innocent tomatoes were picked as the killer. Today, more than one and a half billion tons of tomatoes are produced every year around the world. Tomatoes are cooked in various ways. This healthy and tasty food finally wins its innocence back. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage? When asked what they want for a gift, most teens would say a CD player, or maybe an iPod, but I want Lego. I received my first set for my fifth birthday, a tiny pizzeria with an umbrella and a delivery truck. Since then my collection has expanded rapidly and I have built skyscrapers, constructed spaceships and designed submarines. There is a small area in my house designated as The Lego Room. Beyond its door, I fantasize and govern my own small world of castles, modem cities, and thousands of Lego people. Each time I enter The Lego Room, a new story is created. Once, a friend asked to tour this room. Amazed by my Star Wars models, he reached for a ship and accidentally knocked over a restaurant, breaking it to pieces! This disaster became an opportunity to rebuild and I fashioned a two-story food court with a McDonald's, pizzeria, and drive-thru. It was better than the original! Ideas for new constructions fill my head and I write them down in a sketchbook. Lego represents a creative consistency in my life, much as an artist has his canvas and a musician, his violin. Lego has taught me to be an architect, engineer, governor, economist and so on. Lego has provided the building blocks of my future, developing my math skills and ability to follow complex directions. As I build new worlds, brick by brick, I imagine my own possibilities and opportunities. Through the "lives" of my Lego friends, I have been able to act out all kinds of experiences. They have served as a link between my childhood and manhood. My friends say I'm childlike and there is truth to that, but perhaps we should all find a way to keep in touch with our childhood. Lego is mine. What can we infer from the passage? There are millions of people throughout the world who are either born blind or have become blind over the course of their lifetimes. It is unfair to take away the visual beauty of the world from these people. Doctor Humayun has created the world's first bionic eye that could change the life of every blind people in the world. Doctor Mark Humayun is a well respected professor at the Doheny Eye Institute in California. He has been working for years on creating a bionic eye that would allow blind people to see images just like a normal person does. His idea of the bionic eye is actually an eye that has been built in a small video camera. The test results show the bionic eye has given blind patients the amazing ability to see the scientists doing the tests. But the images are still blurry and we need much work before the eye actually becomes a regular implant into blind people. Humayun believes that he can go into production with the bionic eye over the next three to five years. A closer look at the bionic eye is amazing. The patient wears a special set of eyeglasses. All the signals are passed to the implanted eye. It's done by wireless technology. Humayun has created an invention that could change the lives of millions of people. Imagine a world in which someone would no longer fear about being blind. This could be considered a technological achievement. How long will it take Doctor Humayun to produce his bionic eye? Does your local town have a nickname? If so, what does it say about the area and the people who live there? Many cities are recognized across the world by their unofficial names. New York is the Big Apple, London is the Big Smoke, and Los Angeles is famously called La La Land. Now, as part of English Language Day on Wednesd ay, two British organizations, the English Project and Ordnance Survey, are launching an interactive project which aims to identify the nicknames which people use in their daily lives for the places which they like or dislike. "The name that people create for a place forms a connection with feelings," explains Winchester University's Professor Bill Lucas, a patron of the English Project. "So Basingstoke becomes Amazingstoke; Swindon is known as Swindump and Padstow, hometown of chef Rick Stein, is nicknamed Padstein." Basingstoke is a town in central England. The local nickname, Amazingstoke, shows the love that locals seem to have for the area. Swindon, on the other hand, is sometimes called Swindump, showing that some people think it's a dump ( ). Stanford Le Hope in Essex is called Stanford No Hope by locals. And Padstow in Cornwall is so closely connected with the local famous person Rick Stein that it's become known as Padstein. Since launching the online survey last week, the creators have already received 3,000 alternative titles for places and landmarks. As well as creating what promises to be a fascinating resource of nicknames, there is a practical side to the project. "With the huge variety of place nicknames that exist, we could never hope to collect them all ourselves," says Glen Hart, Ordnance Survey's head of research. "But the information from the project could prove vital. Organizations like the emergency services rely on our information when responding to 999 calls, so by having the most complete set of nicknames we could help the emergency services quickly locate the right place, and maybe even save lives." What is the passage mainly about?
MEXICO CITY: A jetliner from the beach resort of Cancun was briefly hijacked as it landed in Mexico City on Wednesday. The hijackers released all passengers shortly before federal police stormed the plane, and the crew emerged unharmed moments later. Police, who did not fire a single shot, led as many as eight handcuffed men away from the airplane, which was isolated at the end of a runway in an area designed for emergencies. The hijackers' motive was unclear, though Mexican news media initially identified them as Bolivians demanding to speak with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. US, French and Mexican citizens were among the 112 passengers and crew on Aeromexico Flight 576, according to a US official who had been briefed on the situation. The official was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. Mexico's transportation and communications secretary, Juan Molinar, said there was no bomb on the airplane, although some passengers said one of the hijackers held a package that resembled an explosive device, and a bomb squad was later seen near the airplane. He did not immediately identify the hijackers or speculate on their motive. "Various people who participated in the act have been detained and we are investigating," Molinar said. The attorney general's office said it was opening an investigation into terrorism and kidnapping but did not specify how many people could be charged. Mexican news media initially reported the hijackers were Bolivian, but Bolivia's ambassador to Mexico, Jorge Mancilla, said Mexican authorities had no evidence that was the case. Mancilla said sources told him they could be Colombian or Venezuelan. Several passengers told reporters they did not notice a non-Mexican accent. Passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa network that the pilot made an announcement after landing in Mexico City that the airplane was being hijacked. Passengers said the hijackers never communicated with them directly. "These were scary moments," she said. She said she saw one of the hijackers whom she described as a well-dressed, older man. "He looked fine, like a normal passenger," she said. Passenger Daniel Hernandez said he saw a hijacker carrying a Bible. From what Juan Molinar said we can learn that _ . A. police were still trying to identify a possible bomb B. passengers succeeded in stopping the explosion C. a frightening bomb was found later on the airplane D. several Mexicans were involved in the hijacking Answer: A. police were still trying to identify a possible bomb You've probably grown accustomed to texting in the glow of a mobile phone screen. Well, there's some good and bad news coming for those of you who spend hours speedily tapping messages to one another. The good news is that the hours you spend face-to-phone are paying off. You may have become fluent in a second language. The bad news, however, is that this language is texting. Worse still, there isn't yet a texting section in your school exams, so you'll need to work harder to recover the grammar skills you might be killing with every LOL and BRB (Be right back). A new study confirms what many parents suspect. The more kids send and receive texts, the poorer their grammar skills become. With "the culture of mobile communication--quick back and forth , there are compromises on traditional, cultural writing", said S. Shyam Sundar, professor of Pennsylvania State University, which conducted the study. "Techspeak", as Sundar and his research partner Drew P. Cingel call it, has become so prevalent among young users that it's changing their foundation of basic grammar. "Routine use of textual adaptations by current and future generations of 13-to-17-year-olds may serve to create the impression that this is normal and accepted use of the language, "they said in their published findings. It seems teenagers are unable to "code switch-shift" between standard grammar and the abbreviations used in text messages, Sundar said. These abbreviations have become the real words for them now. However, linguists aren't particularly disturbed by the trend, Sundar added. "The linguists will tell you the language is very dynamic. " Still, students have exams to worry about. Here's a sample of the questions, so you can test yourself to see how texting has affected your grammar: During the flood, we (dranked, drank, drunk, drunked) bottled water. Fortunately, Jim's name was (accepted, excepted) from the list of those who would have to clean bathrooms because he was supposed to go downtown to (accept, except) a reward for the German Club. *The dress is so large that it is (lose, loose) on me when I wear it! What do linguists think about Sundar's new finding according to the article? A. Worried. B. Supportive. C. Critical. D. Doubtful. Answer: D. Doubtful. A new supermarket put on a notice inside the entrance. It said, "Remember, once a week, one of our customers gets free goods(things that cost nothing). This may be your lucky day!" All the housewives who went to the supermarket had one great hope: to be the lucky customer who didn't have to pay for her shopping. For several weeks Mrs. Blake hoped to be the lucky customer. Unlike many other customers, she never gave up hope. The cupboards in her kitchen were full of things she did not need. She dreamed of the day, when the manager of the supermarket would come and say to her, "Madam, this is your lucky day and everything in your basket is free." One Friday morning, after she finished her shopping and had taken all the things to her car, she found that she had forgotten to buy tea. She went to the supermarket, got the tea and went towards the check-out. As she did so, she saw the manager of the supermarket come to her. "Madam," he said, "congratulations! You are our lucky customer and everything in your basket is free!" Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage? A. The manager of the market was a clever businessman. B. In fact the notice for free goods was a trick . C. Mrs. Blake's dream came true at last. D. Mrs. Blake did shopping every week in the past several weeks. Answer: B. In fact the notice for free goods was a trick . "I've changed my mind.I wanted to have a telescope,but now I want my dad back." Lucien Lawrence's letter to his father for Christmas written after his father had been knifed to death outside his school gate,must have touched everyone's heart.Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn't see the stars in the sky.When those whom we love depart from us,we cannot see the stars for a while. But Lucien,the stars are still there,and one day,when you are older and your tears have gone,you will see them again.And,in a strange way,I expect that you will find your father there,too,in your mind and heart.I find that my parents,who died years ago,still figure in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive.I still live to please them and I'm still surprised by their reactions.I remember that when I became a professor,I was so proud,or rather so pleased with myself that I couldn't wait to cable my parents.The reply was a long time in coming,but when it did,all my mother said was "I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!" I haven't forgotten.The values of my parents still live on. It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care.Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence have been to face the aggressors,and to lay down my life for those in my care?How many people would want me back for Christmas?It's a serious thought,one to give me pause. I pray silently,sometimes,in the dead of night,that ancient cry of a poet "Deliver my soul from the sword,and my darling from the power of the dog." Yet I know the death comes to us all,and sometimes comes suddenly.We must therefore plan to live forever,but live as if we will die tomorrow.We live on,I'm sure,in the lives of those we love,and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure.If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true,there might be fewer knives on our streets today. What feelings did the author's mother express in her reply? A. Proud. B. Happy. C. Disappointed. D. Worried. Answer: D. Worried. The world's population is more mobile today than ever before. In 2010, more than 200 million people left their home countries to live in a new country. This is about 3 percent of the total world population. Some experts believe that number will swell to 400 million by 2050. Rates of immigration have remained strong for the last 300 years, but patterns of immigration have changed since World War II. The backgrounds and experiences of today's immigrants are different from those of the typical European immigrant of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Contemporary immigrants range from unskilled laborers to highly skilled professionals, and they come from and go to countries all over the world. In the nineteenth century and until World War II, immigration was primarily in one direction- from the Old World to the New World. This is no longer the case. Countries such as Russia and China, which have long been, and continue to be, significant source countries, are now also destination countries. There is also considerable mobility inside regions, such as from one European country to another, or among the countries of the former Soviet Union. In spite of such differences, the push and pull factors for immigration remain essentially the same as they were 100 years ago. Most people move to another country because they want a better life. For the majority of immigrants, this means better economic conditions. As in past generations, a labor shortage in one country often draws workers from another country, especially if wages are significantly higher. In some small countries, for example, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, there are more jobs than citizens. The demand for labor is so high that the majority of the population consists of foreign-born workers, ranging from highly skilled engineers and financial experts to domestic and construction workers. In traditional destination countries, such as the United States, however, labor needs have changed. Today, although there is still demand for unskilled labor, there is increasing demand for people with a high level of skill and education. The need for less skilled labor has shifted to other countries. As work on farms and in industry in the United States and Canada once drew workers from all over the world, now work in factories in Taiwan and south Korea attracts workers from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Most global immigration is legal: however, a large number of people also move across national borders illegally in pursuit of employment. Experts estimate that about 15 to 20 percent of immigrants worldwide are in their new countries illegally. The United States has the largest number of these immigrants, followed by South Africa, with significant numbers also in Northern and Western Europe and Mexico. These immigrants face particular challenges because they often must hide from the authorities who might deport them back to their home countries. Their illegal status also means that employers may take advantage of them by forcing them to work longer hours and paying them less than the legal minimum wage. Although economics remains the most important motivation in all forms of immigrant, other factors are also important. Some people decide to leave their home countries because their actions or political beliefs make it dangerous for them to remain. Others choose to leave because their home country has become too dangerous and unstable, often because of war or political unrest. They wish to find a place that is secure for themselves and their families. Education is also a significant factor for many modern immigrants. They want to raise their children in a place where they can get a good education, which, in turn, they hope will provide them with better prospects for the future. Finally, family and community ties also play a role in immigration decisions. As in the past, once a group of people from one country establishes a community in a new country, more people from that country is likely to follow. The pattern, direction, and rate of immigration may change as the global economy changes. However, as long as life in a new country is more attractive than life in the old country, immigration will continue. Which is not the factor contributing to the immigration? A. Education B. Political instability C. Religious freedom D. Family and community connections Answer: C. Religious freedom
International Exchange Programme The application form for participation on the exchange programme for 2016/17 can be found in Application Procedures. Applying Qualification--Current Queen Mary undergraduate students(with the exception of students in Biomedical Sciences,Chemistry,Dentistry and Medicine)have qualifications to apply. Law Students--Students enrolled in The School of Law should contact Sheila Shirley(s.shirley@qmul.ac.uk)for details of study abroad opportunities. English and Drama Studen--Students cannot study abroad for the full academic year. Students will be able to spend only the autumn semester studying at one of our exchange partners* Applications A complete application will consist of the two-page application form,a personal statement and a supporting academic reference.Students should follow these application procedures. Applicants must ensure they have spoken to their departmental study abroad instructor before submitting their application.Applications can be submitted in person at The Study Abroad Office(E09,Ground Floor,Queens'Building)or by email to h.gibney@qmul.ac.uk New Exchange Partners for 2016/2017 For 2016/17 we hope to offer students the opportunity to study abroad at the following new partners:The University of Pennsylvania--UPenn(USA),The University of Sydney(Australia) and Waseda University(Japan).Should we be unable to send students to any of these new institutions on exchange,and if you intend to include one or more of these destinations with your application,please provide at least one alternative destination from the list of other partner programmes. The law students who want to study abroad should _ . email to s.shirley@qmul.ac.uk Before the elevator was invented in the late 1800s,buildings were much smaller and lower,as people did not want to walk up and down stairs all day.With the invention of the elevator came high-rise buildings and _ . Some people find elevators make them a little uncomfortable because there are many people all standing close in a small room.It is best just to relax and enjoy the ride. When the elevator doors open,stand aside and let everyone out before you try to get in.Even if you are in a hurry,it's impolite to push someone so that you can get into an elevator. Don't stare at people or stand too close.Try to keep your eyes looking ahead or you could make others feel nervous or uncomfortable. If you have to move past people to get out of the elevator,say"Excuse me,please"or"I'm sorry"rather than just push them out of the way.Others will think you're welcome if you show some politeness. If you are standing close to the buttons ,ask others what floors they are going to and press the buttons for them.This is considered to be polite. In case of emergency ,follow the instructions written inside the elevator and try to keep others calm. The elevator was invented _ . in the 19th century Martin Lynch, an American businessman, had been going on vacation to a small Mexican fishing village for a number of ears. One morning while going for a walk along the beach, he saw his friend Pablo Perez, a local fisherman. Martin watched Pablo _ his boat and pack the fish in a box. Martin noticed Pablo was smiling and looked very happy. He could also see several large fish in the boat. Martin greeted Pablo and asked how long it took to catch the fish. "Just a few hours," replied Pablo. Martin asked, "Why didn't you stay longer and catch more fish?" "I have enough for my family," Pablo said. "And what do you do with the rest of your day?" asked Martin. "I take a nap, play with my children, spend time with my wife, and go into the village to see my friends and play cards, I have a full and busy life." Martin explained that if Pablo worked longer hours and caught more fish, he could make more money. With the extra money, Pablo could buy more boats and catch money more fish. By selling the fish, Pablo could open his own factory and sell direct to supermarkets. "Then what?" asked Pablo. "Well you would probably have to move to Mexico City to run the business. Finally, you would be able to sell your business and make millions of dollars," replied Martin. "How long will that take?" asked Pablo. Martin thought for a while and said it would probably take at least 15 years. "And then what" asked Pablo. "Well, that's the best part," Martin said. "You will be able to retire, buy a house near the ocean, sleep longer, play with your children, spend more time with your wife, see your friends, and play cards." How can the fisherman make more money in the businessman's view? To work longer and catch more fish. A ceramic dish from the dishwasher will be warm Many of the world's famous cities are known by some special names. Paris is known as the "City of Light". Hong Kong is the "Wall Street of Asia". One small city in Pennsylvania may be the sweetest place on Earth. That is town of Hershey, which is known as the "Chocolate Town". It is named after Milton Hershey, the founder of the largest chocolate factory in the world. Milton Hershey built his first candy factory in the early 1900s. At the time, Hershey was developing a technique for milk chocolate. Eventually he succeeded. Hershey was also the first to produce individually wrapped chocolate bars. His factory grew and produced more and more types of chocolate. To this day, Hershey's chocolate factory is the largest in the world. Hershey used his success to give back to the community. He built a town around the factory for his employees. He gave streets fun names like Chocolate Avenue. He built schools, parks and shops. This generous man gave millions of dollars to charity. He built an amusement park with rides, trains for children and a swimming pool. Over the years, the town grew. People from near and far came to visit this special town, whose beauty and fame continue to attract lots of tourists. Every year close to three million tourists visit the Chocolate Town. Today visitors to the city can enjoy a variety of attractions and activities. The Hershey chocolate factory offers tours. Visitors can learn all about chocolate and how it is made. A gift shop sells all kinds of chocolate and toys made to look like chocolate. Even if you don't buy a souvenir, there is one thing that is impossible to forget: the wonderful _ of fresh chocolate everywhere. In this special place even the streetlights are shaped like chocolate. Another attraction is the Hershey Hotel. It has an unusual mineral spring where guests can enjoy a variety of special treatments. The treatments all have one thing in common: chocolate. What was Milton Hershey developing when he built his first factory? A technique for milk chocolate.
Question: which of these has the most similar component as the earth itself? A. the stone in the yard B. a loaf of bread C. a can of soup D. a glass of water Answer: A. the stone in the yard Question: Gavin has two rocks. Both rocks are made up entirely of the same mineral. What other property of his two rocks is most likely to be the same? A. size B. shape C. color D. weight Answer: C. color Question: The triathlon promises to be one of the most popular Olympic sports.Recently it has drawn huge crowds attracted by athletes swimming 1,500m,cycling 40km,then running 10km without stopping.But what makes an attractive 17yearold girl give up everything for the doubtful pleasure it offers? Melanie Sears has not yet learnt those oftenrepeated phrases about personal satisfaction,mental challenge and higher targets that most athletes use when asked similar questions."You swim for 1,500m,then run out of the water and jump on your bike,still wet.Of course,then you freeze.When the 40km cycle ride is over,you have to run 10km,which is a long way when you're feeling exhausted.But it's great fun,and all worth it in the end," she says. Melanie entered her first triathlon at 14 and she won the junior section.Full of confidence,she entered the National Championships,and although she had the second fastest swim and the fastest run,she came nowhere."I was following this man and suddenly we came to the sea.We realised then that we had gone wrong.I ended up cycling 20 kilometres too far.I cried all the way through the running." But she did not give up and was determined that she never will."Sometimes I wish I could stop,because then the pain would be over,but I am afraid that if I let myself stop just once,I would be tempted to do it again."Such doggedness draws admiration from Steve Trew,the sport's director of coaching."I've just been testing her fitness," he says, "and she worked so hard on the running machine that it finally threw her off and into a wall.She had given it everything,and she just kept on." Melanie was top junior in this year's European Triathlon Championships,finishing 13th."I was almost as good as the top three in swimming and running,but much slower in cycling.That's why I'm working very hard at it." She is trying to talk her longsuffering parents,who will carry the PS1,300 cost of her trip to New Zealand for this year's world championships,into buying a PS2,000 bike,so she can try 25km and 100km races later this year. But there is another price to pay."I don't have a social life,"she says."After two hours' hard swimming on Friday night,I just want to go to sleep.But I phone and write to the other girls in the team." What does she talk about?Boys?Clothes?"No,what sort of times they are achieving." What does Melanie say about her relationships with her teammates? A. She would like to see them more often. B. She only discusses the triathlon with them. C. She thinks they find her way of life strange. D. She dislikes discussing boys or clothes with them. Answer: B. She only discusses the triathlon with them. Question: HANGZHOU, China -- Millions of Chinese basketball fans who were upset about the retirement of Yao Ming, are excited to see another even more shining star, Jeremy Lin, rising from the N.B.A and becoming a household name all across China. "We are amazed by Lin Shuhao's magic performance and should cheer him on," one Internet user wrote. "His sport shirts have sold out, even including the counterfeit ones," said Zheng Xiaojun, a 24-year-old clerk. Lin's amazing success over the last month has caught the imagination of the Chinese. He has been particularly popular here in northern Zhejiang province, from which his grandmother went to Taiwan in the late 1940s. Cai Qi, a well-known micro blogger, posted a message on micro blog over the weekend stating that Lin's hometown is Jiaxing, a city near Hangzhou where Lin's grandmother grew up. Cai Qi's nephew Yu Guohua, a 56-year-old factory worker, is Lin's closest still living in northern Zhejiang. He said in a telephone interview that Lin had come to play basketball with the Jiaxing High School team last May and had been surrounded by admirers. Yu said he did not have a chance to meet Lin in the crowd, but managed to speak with his family. "His father was very supportive of Lin's playing basketball, but his grandmother was not, for fear he would be injured," Yu said. Lin may owe his height, 6 feet 3 inches, to his grandmother's family, Yu said. Chen Weiji, the father of Lin's grandmother, was well over 6 feet and all of Chen's children were tall as well, he said. The N.B.A. believes that 300 million people in China play basketball. The retirement last year of Yao Ming took its main Asian draw away from the N.B.A. But Lin's appearance has helped the league remain a hot topic of Chinese online chatter. Lin's success in N.B.A has _ . A. attracted more Chinese children to play basketball as a career B. drawn Chinese people's attention back to the league C. helped his hometown develop sports shirts business D. helped his hometown attract more foreign visitors Answer: B. drawn Chinese people's attention back to the league Question: Scientists have found that human eyes are more likely to be damaged by UV rays while skiing in the snow-covered areas than sitting on the beach, according to a report by the UK newspaper The Telegraph. The researchers at Kanazawa Medical University, Japan and American company Johnson conducted the study together. They looked at the effects of light reflection on newly fallen snow on a ski trail (a rough path) in Ishikawa District, northern Japan. They compared the results with the levels of UV rays on a sand beach in southern Japan's Okinawa District. They found that on the beach, eyes are exposed to a daily 260 kilojoules of UV a square meter compared to 658 kilojoules in snow-covered areas. The findings are supported by the Japan Meteorological Agency. According to the agency, the reflection rate of UV light on beaches is often between 10 and 25 percent, compared to 80 percent in the new snow areas. The amount of light increased 4 percent with a 300-meter rise in height. Most of us know that UV rays can harm the skin. That's why we wear sunscreen on our skin before we get out in the sun. But many of us may not realize that UV rays are also harmful to the eyes. If your eyes are exposed to large amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you may experience a kind of sunburn of the eye, which is harmful. Your eyes will become red and feel a strange feeling. They may be sensitive to light. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and seldom causes permanent damage to the eyes. Long-term exposure to UV radiation, however, can be more serious. Scientific studies and researches have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years increases the chance of eye damage, which could lead to total blindness. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A. Too much eye exposure to UV rays may cause total blindness. B. Short-time exposure of the eyes to UV rays doesn't harm them at all. C. Most people know that UV rays harm the eyes as well as the skin. D. The study was conducted by researchers from Japan, the USA and the UK. Answer: A. Too much eye exposure to UV rays may cause total blindness.
Let's pay a visit to some of the most amazing and unusual places in the world, from icy hotels to temples on the side of cliffs . Hotel de Glace -- Canada If you don't mind the cold, this igloo style hotel is certainly for you. Nearly everything, including the bedding, is made of ice! This hotel is so well insulated that whatever the temperature outside is, the temperature inside never changes more than a few degrees. It's around 23 degrees to be exact. Since it is made of ice the hotel does have some dress requirements that can be found on their website. Arctic sleeping bags are provided for every guest, including children. For more information, visit the website: http://www.icehotelcanada.com. The Tigers Nest Monastery -- Bhutan Built directly onto a cliff side, this ancient temple has claimed its spot since 1692. Rich in history, Tigers Nest is constructed around eight attractive caves on the mountainside. Most of the caves are easy to reach through the natural rock stairways. However, some are more difficult, and can only be reached by shaky rope bridges. Visit the website http://www.bhutantouroperators.net/taktsang-monastery.php for more information. Dinosaur Provincial Park -- Canada Known to be one the greatest fossil locations in the world, Dinosaur Provincial Park has nearly 500 specimens in all shapes and sizes. The park itself has a vast collection of fossils and a unique natural ecosystem. For more information, please visit http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/index.aspx. Leshan Giant Buddha -- Sichuan China The world's largest Buddha sits on the edge of two great rivers. Construction is believed to have started around the year 713, and at the time of this construction it was the tallest carved statue in the world. All 233 feet of the stature was carved from the surrounding cliffs and preserved in amazing condition. Even the 2008 earthquake was not enough to shake it. Its website http://yeschinatour.com/china-guides/china-attractions leshan-giant-buddha-leshan will provide you with more information. Which of the following is NOT true about Hotel de Glace? It lies in the Arctic. Old people are always saying that the young are not what they were. The same comment is made from generation to generation and it is always true. It has never been truer than it is today. The young are better educated. They have a lot more money to spend and enjoy more freedom. They grow up more quickly and are not so dependent on their parents. They think more for themselves and do not blindly accept the life goals of their elders. Events which the older generation remembers vividly are nothing more than past history. This is as it should be. Every new generation is different from the one before. Today the difference is very noticeable indeed. The old always believe that they know best for the simple reason that they have been around a bit longer. They don't like to feel that their values are being questioned or threatened. And this is exactly what the young are doing. Wouldn't people work best if they were given complete freedom and responsibility? And what about clothing? Who said that all the men in the world should wear dull grey suits and very short haircuts? Who said that human differences can best be solved through normal politics or by violent means? Why have the older generation so often used violence to solve their problems? Why are they so unhappy and guilty in their personal lives, so occupied with mean ambitions and the desire to collect more and more wealth? Haven't the old lost touch with all that is important in life? These are not questions the older generation can shrug off lightly. Their record over the past forty years or so hasn't been exactly spotless. Traditionally, the young have turned to their elders for guidance. Today, the situation might be opposite. The old--if they are prepared to admit it--could learn a thing or two from their children. One of the biggest lessons they could learn is that enjoyment is not wrong. Enjoyment is a principle one could apply to all aspects of life. It is surely not wrong to enjoy your work and enjoy your free time. It is surely not wrong to live in the present rather than in the past or future. This emphasis on the present is only to be expected because the young have grown up under the shadow of the bomb: the constant threat of complete annihilation . This is just what the older generation has passed down to them. Which of the following about the young is NOT mentioned in the article? Hard-working Every year thousands of people get hurt or die when they are crossing the road. Most of these people are old people and children. Old people often get hurt or die because they can't see or hear very well. Children usually meet with accidents because of their carelessness. They forgot to look and listen before they cross the road. How can we lessen traffic accidents? All of us must obey the traffic rules. For the drivers, they shouldn't drive too fast. If they drive too fast, it will be very difficult to stop the cars in a very short time. For the pedestrians , it's very important to be careful when they are walking on the road. Therefore, when we walk across the road, we must try to walk along the pavements. We must stop and look both ways before crossing the road. Look left first, next look right, then look left again. Only when we are sure that the road is clear, we can cross it. The right way to cross the road is to walk quickly. It's not safe to run. If people run across the road, they may fall down. Teenagers should try to help children, old people or blind people to cross the road, and never play in the street. ,,. Why do most old people often get hurt or die when they are crossing the road? Because they can't see or hear very well. John is five years old now. He is a good boy. He is very clever and can read very well. But he can't tell the right time by clock. He doesn't say eight o'clock in the morning, twelve o'clock or four o'clock in the afternoon. He always says "breakfast time" for eight o'clock, "lunch time" for twelve o'clock and "tea-time" for four o'clock in the afternoon. His mother wants to teach him to know the time by clock. "Can you count, John?" his mother asks him. "Yes. Let me count for you. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve..." "That's good, John. Now let me tell you to say the time. Now, look! I put the long hand on twelve and the short hand on one. That is one o'clock. If I put the short on two, that's two o'clock. Do you know?" "Yes, I do." John tells his mother. "Good. If I put the short hand on four, what's that?" his mother asks and really puts the short one on four. "Tea-time, Mum. And I am hungry." We know John is a _ child from the passage. good Sunshine is a great film, which takes us on a voyage into space when mankind is in danger. In 2057, our Sun is dying and mankind faces extinction. A spaceship named IcarusII, carries an enormous bomb to return life to the dying star. As the movie begins, the spacecraft is approaching the Sun. Suddenly, the operating system is out of control;then the crew receive a frightening signal from the original IcarusI which was sent to carry out the same task seven years ago. Should the crew continue flying to the Sun in the endangered ship? The question is not so much about whether any crew member can survive--the chances of that hardly exist--but should they try to grab the other bomb in IcarusI and take it to the Sun? Two shots at saving mankind are obviously better than one. After the decision is made, a crew member makes a mistake that places the mission in extreme danger. More accidents occur, and the crew face a difficult situation:there isn't enough oxygen for them on the ship. www.ks5u.com Among the most exciting scenes is a space walk by Capa and Kaneda when the ship's shield is damaged and must be inspected and repaired. Then when docked with IcarusI, the crew find it will be difficult for them to achieve the goal of the voyage. The film reaches its climax when the computer in IcarusI detects the presence of an unknown crew member. Indeed, the major task of the flight is to take back the world by restarting the failing Sun. However, Sunshine also makes clear the psychological and physical danger of space travel. In which part of a magazine can we read the passage? Entertainment.
Blue Ocean Aquarium is a great place for families to take a holiday. Children love to see the sea animals and watch films about sharks in it. Last Saturday morning, Mr Jackson took his wife and two little sons to the aquarium. At the ticket office, he asked, "How much shall I pay to get in?" The woman at the ticket office answered, "The price is 20 dollars for each adult or any kid older than five. We let kids in free if they are five or younger. How old are your kids?" Mr Jackson said, "The older one is six and the younger one is three. I think I must buy three tickets. " The woman was surprised. She said, "Sir, don't you want to save 20 dollars? If you tell me your older son is five, I won't know the difference. " Mr Jackson said with a smile, "Yes, that sounds right, but my kids will know the difference. " From Mr Jackson' s story, we know _ is very important in the modern society . We should tell the truth to the people around us, especially to the kids. Mr Jackson spend _ on their tickets to the aquarium at last. A 20 dollars B 40 dollars C 60 dollars D 80 dollars Answer: C. 60 dollars "In the old days," as one wife said. " The husband was the husband and the wife was the wife." In the past husbands each had their own way of going on. The wives' jobs were to look after them. "The wives wouldn't stand for it nowadays. Husbands help with the children now. They stay more, as well as have more interest, at home." We shall give some examples of what husbands do, firstly in sharing work with their wives; and secondly, in their largely independent domain of house repairs. "Some husbands, as well as doing much of the heavy work in the home, carrying the coals, and emptying the rubbish, act as assistants to their wives for at least part of the day." Mr. Hammond washes up the dishes every night and lays the breakfast for the morning. Mr. Clark said that on Sunday mornings he usually hovered around and read plays aloud for his wife while she did a bit of washing. Mr. Davis polishes the floors and helps to make the beds at weekend, and during weekdays, takes the dog out for one of his twice-daily walks. So it goes on.... The expression "act as assistants to their wives" means that _ . A husbands read plays aloud. B husbands are paid by their wives. C husbands help their wives. D husbands look after their sick children. Answer: C. husbands help their wives. The Federal Automobile Safety Act establishes certain safety and performance standards for all automobiles manufactured in the United States. The Act creates a five-member "Automobile Commission" to investigate automobile safety, to make recommendations to Congress for new laws, to make further rules establishing safety and performance standards, and to prosecute violations of the act. The chairman is appointed by the President, two members are selected by the President pro tempore of the Senate, and two members are selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Minicar, Inc., a minor United States car manufacturer, seeks to enjoin enforcement of the Commission's rules"The appropriate decision for the court is to A allow the Commission to continue investigating automobile safety and making recommendations to Congress. B allow the Commission to prosecute violations of the act but not allow it to issue rules. C forbid the Commission to take any action under the act. D order that all members of the Commission be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senat Answer: A. allow the Commission to continue investigating automobile safety and making recommendations to Congress. 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. According to the passage ,Taihu Lake _ A is the third largest lake in China. B is surrounded by many foreign-funded factories and companies. C used to be a waste dump. D suffered from industrial waste,untreated sewage and algae. Answer: D. suffered from industrial waste,untreated sewage and algae. Millions of people die of hunger in Southern Africa every year, but when prefix = st1 /Zambiawas offered thousands of tons of free maize by theUS, the government politely said no. "We don't know whether the food is safe," said Zambia's Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Dipak Patel. His worries are shared by countries around the world that are _ aboutAmerica's genetically modified (GM) crops. Just last week, EU member nations were discussing whether or not to import GM sweet corn from theUS. Ever since people started farming, they have tried to crossbreed plants to make them stronger or better tasting. At one time, only related plants could be crossed with each other. But when GM techniques were developed in the 1970s, scientists were able to put a single gene from a living creature into an unrelated creature. This means they can make crops more productive and resistant to disease by adding genes from other species. They can also create food with special characteristics, such as "golden rice", which is enriched with vitamin A. But many people believe GM foods are a health risk. "If left to me, I would certainly not eat GM foods," said Scottish scientist Arpad Pusztai. "We are putting new things into food which haven't been eaten before. The effects on the immune system are not easy to predict." At the moment, the official argument is that GM foods "are not likely to present risks for human health". But there are still many questions to be answered as the foods are produced in different ways. Some experts believe the genetic material added to plants can transfer to humans and give damage to our bodies. Further harm could be caused by the genes from GM plants crossbreeding with naturally produced crops. Which of the following statements is NOT true about GM foods? A It is produced from plants added genes from other species. B GM foods can have special characteristics. C GM foods will affect people's immune system. D GM foods have been produced since 1970s. Answer: C. GM foods will affect people's immune system.
In Britain, people usually begin their talks with weather. For example, they will say"It's a fine day, isn't it?""Do you think it will rain?" Many people believe that they are able to tell what the weather will be like. But they never agree with each other. One man may say, "How cloudy it is now! It's going to rain." Another man will say, "No, it's going to be fine later." People always hope the weather they want. For example, when a farmer needs water, he looks for something to tell him it's going to rain. When a man wants to travel, he is sure the weather will be fine quickly. Now almost everyone listens to the weather report. It doesn't always tell us the weather we want, it only tells us what the weather will be like. But sometimes it makes mistakes . ,. People in _ begin their talks with the weather. A. China B. America C. England D. Japan Answer: C The most common use of intelligence test scores is to predict degree of academic success. Such scores are used in some communities as bases for admitting able children to schools at ages younger than normal, and they are very generally used to determine admissions to schools beyond public secondary school. Another use common in elementary schools involves comparing such scores with performances in various subjects to identify children who are working below capacity. The greatest problem in using intelligence tests for the purpose of prediction is that no dependable criterion of their accuracy exists. The ideal criteria would be objective and reliable achievement tests following instruction in each subject, but there are few such tests, especially at the college level. Studies have shown that correlations between intelligence tests and achievement tests in various subjects through secondary school range roughly from 0.5 to 0.8. Such correlations are fairly high, but they do not suggest anywhere near complete agreement. At the college level there are two major tests used as criteria of admission. By far the more important is the College Entrance Examination, constructed by the Educational Testing Service authorized by the College Entrance Examination Board. These tests are returned to the Educational Testing Service for scoring, and the results are then made available to the various colleges authorized by the students to receive them. The second test of this type is the American College Test, which operates in essentially the same fashion. Both tests constitute measures of certain skills, abilities, and knowledge that have been found to be related to success in college. Their correlations with academic success are limited for three outstanding reasons. First, measures of achievement in college are themselves perhaps no more reliable than those in elementary and secondary schools. Second, intellectual factors do not alone determine academic success, especially at the college level. Many students drop out of schools because they are inadequately motivated or because they dislike the instructional programme. Third, correlations are lowered because the use of such tests for denying admission to some students means that the range of scores for those admitted is restricted, and such restriction tend to reduce correlation. The ideal criteria in using intelligence tests for prediction should be _ . A. accurate college tests B. objective and reliable achievement tests C. objective and reliable intelligence tests D. a series of objective multiple choices Answer: B Monitoring the mood of a pet dog could be used as an early warning sign that an elderly owner is struggling to cope, a new report has claimed. Researchers placed movement sensors on dogs to track their behaviour and identified 17 distinct activities, including chewing, barking, sitting and digging. This allowed them to map the normal behaviour of a healthy, happy dog, which means any changes can be monitored and could indicate an issue with their owner. Nils Hammerla, part of the team from Newcastle University, said, "Humans and dogs have lived together in close relationships for thousands of years, which has led to strong emotional and social mutual bonds." "A dog's physical and emotional dependence on their owner means that their well-being is likely to reflect that of their owner. Any changes such as the dog being walked less often, perhaps not being fed regularly, or simply demonstrating "unhappy" behaviour could be an early indicator for families that an older relative needs help. This is the first system of its kind which allows us to remotely monitor a dog's behaviour in its natural setting." The team of academics, who presented their findings at the 2013 UbiComp conference in Zurich, created a hi-tech, waterproof dog collar for the study. Dr Cas Ladha, who led the study, said: "A lot of our research is focused on developing intelligent systems that can help older people to live independently for longer. But developing a system that _ family and carers that an older relative is well without intruding on the individual's privacy is difficult. This is just the first step but the idea behind this research is that it would allow us to support people without the need for cameras." A range of dogs was used for the study, as the team needed to map distinct behaviours that correlated between different breeds. Which of the following could be the best title for the text? A. Dogs' mood can be an indicator of owners' health B. Strong bonds between dogs and their senior owners C. Signs that your older relative needs help D. A special way of taking care of the old Answer: A Sitting is art that isn't getting passed along. People these days feel as though they have to be doing something. If they are not working, they are jogging, or playing tennis or golf, or taking courses to improve their minds or bodies -or they are parked in front of the TV. Sitting in front of the TV isn't sitting - it's watching. People used to sit a lot. You would walk down the street or drive down the road, and there they would be, out on the doorsteps, sitting. You could go down to the store and sit on the bench out front in the summer or around the fire in the winter. There were sitting benches out in the town square. At the garage, there were straight-backed chairs. There among the oilcans and tries and spare parts, you could kick back and sit. Houses used to have sitting rooms, where the grown ups would go after Sunday dinner. Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Aunt Ruby would sit and digest the fried chicken and talk about Aunt Ethel's illness, and how well the minister did today. Outside, the children would play, and the afternoon would pass by in a comfortable haze . That sort of thing looks like doing nothing. A recharging battery doesn't look as if it's doing anything either. Sitting restores your soul if you want to enjoy a truly full life, don't just do something -sit there. From the text we know the writer believes _ A. sitting has a good spiritual effect B. sitting helps people remember the past C. sitting rooms may have different purposes D. a sitting room is important for the old. Answer: A In the depths of my memory, many things I did with my father still live. These things come to represent, in fact, what I call joy and love. I don't remember my father ever getting into a swimming pool. But he did love the water. Any kind of boat ride seemed to give him pleasure. And he loved to fish; sometimes he took me along. But I never really liked being on the water, the way my father did. I liked being in the water, moving through it, having it all around me. I was not a strong swimmer, or one who learned to swim early, for I had my fears. But I loved being in the swimming pool close to my father's office and spending those summer days with my father, who would come by on a break. I needed him to see what I could do. My father would stand there in his suit, the only person not in swimsuit. After swimming, I would go inside his office and sit on the wooden chair in front of his big desk, where he let me play with anything I found in his top desk drawer. Sometimes, if I was left alone at his desk while he worked in the lab, an assistant or a student might come in and tell me perhaps I shouldn't be playing with his office things. But my father always showed up and said easily, "Oh, no, it's fine." Sometimes he handed me coins and told me to get myself an ice cream... A poet once said, "We look at life once, in childhood; the rest is memory." And I think it is not only what we "look at once, in childhood" that decides our memories, but who, in that childhood, looks at us. The author loved being in the swimming pool close to her father's office mainly because _ . A. she was interested in her father's office things B. she wanted her father to buy her some ice-cream C. she loved showing her progress in swimming to her father D. she wanted others to know how much her father loved her Answer: C
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. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text? A Reading a lot is good for writing B Reading can help us gain knowledge C Reading can help us have a great imagination D Reading helps us enter the field of politics easily Answer: D. Reading helps us enter the field of politics easily American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country cities reflect the values of the culture. Cities contain the very best aspects of a society: opportunities for education employment and entertainment. They also contain the very worst parts of a society: violent crime racial conflict and poverty. American cities are changing just as American society is changing. After World War II city residents became wealthier more prosperous. They had more children. They needed more space. They move out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs areas near a city where people live. These are areas without many offices or factories. During the 1950s the American "dream" was to have a house in the suburbs. Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults. They unlike their parents want to live in the cities. Many young professionals doctors lawyers and executives are moving back into the city. Many are single; others are married but often without children. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; they are afraid of the fuel shortage; or they just enjoy the excitement and opportunities which the city offers. This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities. Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright , new future .Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure:many dying cities are alive again. According to the 4 th paragragh, a great many poor people in American cities _ . A are faced with housing problems B are faced to move to the suburbs C want to sell their buildings D need more money for daily expenses Answer: A. are faced with housing problems The Islands of Hawaii Hawaii The "Big Island" of Hawaii is a paradise playground where visitors can enjoy a popular lifestyle and at the same time, witness the attraction of nature: thousands of square miles form a wonderland, featuring breathtaking beaches, forests, snow-covered mountains and amazing active volcanoes. A visit to Volcanoes National Park, which has been described as a true wonder of the world, is a must. It is the state's biggest attraction. Accommodations Seasons Resort Hualalai from $ 205.00Fairmont Orchid: from $108.00 Sightseeing and Experiences Circle Island Tour: from $48.00 Kauai The beautiful landscape of Kauai has led to it being called the "Garden Isle", but it is also referred to as the "Island of discovery", and with good reason - a land of striking natural contrasts just waiting to be explored. Green mountains, a breathtaking coastline and white sand beaches combine to make it one of the world's most relaxing locations. Accommodations Grand Hyatt Kauai: from $ 101.00Sheraton Kauai Resort: from $ 79.00 Maui Voted the "World's Best Island", Maui is widely regarded as one of the most romantic destinations on earth. It is known as the "Valley Isle" and was the ancient playground for Hawaiian royalty. The island is largely rural with a small and wonderful population and a host of attractions and nature wonders. Accommodations Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa: from $ 87.00 Sheraton Maui: from $ 99.00 Oahu Oahu has a unique rhythm, filling the air with sweet fragrances , music and language: from lovely beaches and amazing nightlife to beautiful rainforests and quiet valleys. Adventure, history, romance, discovery--Oahu waits for you. Accommodations Halekulani: from $ 121.00 Hilton Hawaiia: Village: from $ 73.00 Sightseeing and Experiences Royal Circle Island Tour: from $ 34.00 Paradise Cove Lu'au: $ 44.00 # All prices are based on per person per night. Which island was the ancient playground for Hawaiian royalty? A Hawaii B Maui C Kauai D Oahu Answer: B. Maui The food in America is different from (......) that in China. The American people eat a lot of potatoes. They like to eat them every day. They often eat bread. They eat it with cheese, butter or jam . Cheese and butter are made from milk. The American people drink a lot of milk. They put it in the tea. They also drink coffee. And they like meat or fish with vegetables. After the meal, they have something sweet,it's dessert. In America, they usually eat bread with _ . A sugar B milk C cheese D tea Answer: C. cheese Contestants from around the world met in Pomona, California, this month to test their skills at things like driving a car, walking down stairs, and opening doors. Sounds easy, right? But the competitors weren't people--they were robots! The bots were participating in the final round of the US's DARPA(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Robotics Challenge. This event, which took place on June 5-6, tested robots on how well they could respond during a disaster and the winning team finally took home a $2 million grand prize. The DARPA challenge was created after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. An earthquake caused a tsunami, which damaged a nuclear power plant. Workers at the plant needed to shut off an important valve , but it was too dangerous for humans to reach it. The US scientists at DARPA wondered whether the disaster could have been avoided if a robot had been sent to do _ . So they set up the robotics competition. Turning a valve was just one task a robot might have to perform when entering a disaster zone. In addition to doing this, robots participating in the challenge had to navigate a course containing several other tasks: driving and exiting a vehicle, opening a door, walking over or clearing objects, cutting a hole in a wall, plus climbing a flight of stairs. Teams had to complete the challenge in one hour, and points were awarded based on how quickly the robots completed a task. They didn't have to attempt all the tasks. To make things even more realistic, challenge organizers caused short computer-system blackouts that prevented robots and the human operators controlling them from communicating. That means teams had to program their robots to be partially autonomous . Robots also couldn't be attached to anything that could keep them from falling down, which happened a lot. What is the text mainly about? A A nuclear disaster. B A research program. C A robotics competition. D A scientific organization. Answer: C. A robotics competition.
The fast development of modern technology has not only provided people with more income, but also enable them to enjoy long weekends and holidays. Never before have so many people traveled to so many different parts of the world and, with the help of fast, comfortable forms of modern transport, more and more people are tempted to leave their homes to see more of the world. It seems as if there are travelers everywhere. People travel because traveling benefits them in a number of ways. First, it enables them to get much pleasure from sight-seeing and photo-taking. Second, traveling makes them fully relaxed and ready to get back to work happily. Third, it offers them an opportunity to visit old friends and make new friends as well. Finally, it allows them to see different customs, learn new things, gain new experience and enables them to come back with a broader mind. With so many advantages to traveling, I think people should be encouraged to travel from time to time, especially on holidays, if their pocket and health permit. According to the passage, with the fast development of modern technology, what can people do? A People can enjoy long weekends and holidays B People have less money C people can do more shopping D People become lazy Answer: A In the USA Forbes magazine has published its annual list of the richest people in the world. Bill Gates of Microsoft is the richest man again for the eleventh successive year with a fortune of forty four billion dollars. There are a record 691 dollar billionaires according to Forbes magazine. Between them they have a fortune of two point two trillion dollars. The highest concentration of the ultra-rich is in New York followed by Moscow and San Fransisco and then London and Los Angeles. But in total the very wealthy live in forty seven different countries with Iceland Kazakstan Ukraine and Poland entering the list for the first time this year. Laksmi Mittal, an Indian born steel tycoon enjoyed the biggest increase in personal fortune. His net worth has quadrupled to thirteen billion dollars making him the world's third richest man. Ingvar Kamprad founder of the Swedish furniture chain Ikea also saw a big increase in wealth taking him to the sixth place. Developing countries make more of a showing than in past years -- there are for example three Russians and four Indians in the top sixty richest people, though surprisingly perhaps none from China excluding Hong Kong. Asian wealth is probably under represented as its usually spread among families whereas Forbes looks at individuals. Relatively few women feature in the list -- among them is JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels ranked 620th with a fortune of 519 million dollars. New entrants to the list include the founders of the Internet search group Google Sergie Brin and Larry Page each worth more than seven billion dollars after their company's recent stock market debut. The richest Italian is the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi ranked number 25 in the global wealth league. Which of the following persons has the largest fortune according to this year's Forbes magazine? A Laksmi Mittal. B Ingvar Kamprad. C JK Rowling. D Silvio Berlusconi. Answer: A Prime Minister Tony Blair faced new allegations on Thursday that he misled Parliament and the public in making the case for the war in Iraq after he disclosed his chief legal adviser's written opinion raising questions about the legality of the war. US Forest Service officials are reminding people to stay off Forest Service roads that are closed. The fine for disobeying the rule of road closures is a maximum of $ 5, 000 fine and/or six months in prison. Those who enter the area and cause road damage may also be required to pay for repairs. In a second study presented at the meeting, scientists from the UK and Denmark showed that even a few days of high temperatures can severely reduce production of crops such as wheat, soybeans, rice and groundnuts, if it occurs when the plants are flowering. A bomb exploded in Thailand's mainly Muslin south on Sunday, killing two policemen and wounding three others, a day after Thailand' s queen condemned those behind a 15-month wave of violence . *Mechanicsburg 3, West York l: Ken Stamper and Rusty Bowman had seven kills each, and Ryan Warfield had six to lead the Wildcats past the Bulldogs, 25-11, 25-15, 15-25, 25-23, in a non-league match. The news brief covers _ . A war, law, violence, culture and agriculture B sports, war, violence, politics and climate C politics, culture, violence, climate and sports D violence, sports, politics, law and agriculture Answer: D 365 solar cycles is equivalent to A 4 full moon cycles B 2 years in deep space C a trip to the moon and back D one trip around the sun Answer: D On New Year's Eve , people in Italy throw out all the old things. So there are chairs, beds, clothes and plates in the streets. In Spain, New Year comes more quietly. Everyone holds a bag of grapes . When twelve o'clock comes, people start eating the grapes. In Japan, people eat noodles on New Year's Eve. This food is said to bring long life. Early the next morning, some families climb Mount Fuji . There they watch the first sunrise of New Year. In China people eat dumplings. This story is about New Year's Eve in _ . A Italy B Spain C Japan D different countries Answer: D
Chemco manufactured a liquid chemical product known as XRX. Some XRX leaked from a storage tank on Chemco's property, seeped into the groundwater, flowed to Farmer's adjacent property, and polluted Farmer's well. Several of Farmer's cows drank the polluted well water and died. If Farmer brings an action against Chemco to recover the value of the cows that died, Farmer will A prevail, because a manufacturer is strictly liable for harm caused by its products. B prevail, because the XRX escaped from Chemco's premises. C not prevail, unless Farmer can establish that the storage tank was defective. D not prevail, unless Chemco failed to exercise reasonable care in storing the XRX. Answer: B. prevail, because the XRX escaped from Chemco's premises. The advantages of using flashcards to build up a vocabulary are well known. You can buy sets of cards, or make your own, and carry them with you wherever you go. There's no question this is useful and because you can use them in short bursts, it's not too much for you. It can be fun. I don't recommend drilling for hours at a time with flashcards. If you want to use flashcard software, things get even better. There are many packages out there for maintaining and drilling flashcards. I recommend VTrain though there are many others. One stands out, however: SuperMemo. Similar to Pimsleur, SuperMemo is engineered according to a carefully researched methodology in order to test you on a card the very minimum number of times you need to see it for it to stick. When you look at a card, you give some feedback to the software on whether you got it right and how easy you found it. It uses this information, and that of your previous attempts, to decide when you will be shown the card next. It's smart and it really works. If you're like me, the news is even better! I have a version of SuperMemo that runs on my PalmOS phone. Wherever I am, if I have my phone handy, I have thousands of flashcards with me too. Honestly, it would be worth purchasing a cheap Palm device only for this. You can pick one up for $20 or even less on eBay or elsewhere. Consider it, at least. With SuperMemo, whether the next card will be shown depends on _ . A the time you look at the card B the information in the computer C the feedback one gives to the software D the times one attempts to do with a card Answer: C. the feedback one gives to the software Tell a story and tell it well, and you may open wide the eyes of a child, open up lines of communication in a business, or even open people's mind to another culture or race. People in many places are digging up the old folk stories and the messages in them. For example, most American storytellers get their tales from a wide variety of sources, cultures, and times. They regard storytelling not only as a useful tool in child education, but also as a meaningful activity that helps adults understand themselves as well as those whose culture may be very different from their own. "Most local stories are based on a larger theme," American storyteller Opalanga Pugh says, "Cinderella , or the central idea of a good child protected by her goodness, appears in various forms in almost every culture of the world." Working with students in schools, Pugh helps them understand their own cultures and the general messages of the stories. She works with prisoners too, helping them know who they are by telling stories that her listeners can write, direct, and act in their own lives. _ Pugh also works to help open up lines of communication between managers and workers. "For every advance in business," she says, "there is a greater need for communication." Storytelling can have a great effect on either side of the manager-worker relationship, she says. Pugh spent several years in Nigeria, where she learned how closely storytelling was linked to the everyday life of the people there. The benefits of storytelling are found everywhere, she says. "I learned how people used stories to spread their culture," she says. "What I do is to focus on the value of stories that people can translate into their own daily world of affairs. We are all storytellers. We all have a story to tell. We tell everybody's story." What is the main idea of the text? A Storytelling can influence the way people think. B Storytelling is vital to the growth of businesses. C Storytelling is the best way to educate children in school. D Storytelling helps people understand themselves and others. Answer: D. Storytelling helps people understand themselves and others. Americans think much about time. From childhood they learn to value time. They are taught to be on time to go to school, to work and to do everything. When they are having a good time, they say that time goes easily. When a person is dying, they say he is living on a borrowed time. Time is money. Time is knowledge. Time is everything in America. A working American has to work hard for eight hours a day or forty hours a week. This is the working time. In his free time, he also works hard for more money. Even on Saturday and Sunday he also works hard as usual. In the street you can hardly see a man walking slowly. They walk very fast. In fact, they are running. They love time because time can bring them money and lots of things. But sometimes they also hate time , because they feel they have become servants of the clock . What do the Americans mean by 'Time is money'? A It is not easy to make money. B It takes quite a lot of time to make money. C Working hard can bring people health. D If someone has time and works hard, he can make much money. Answer: D. If someone has time and works hard, he can make much money. One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walked into a lawyer's office. Obviously, they were there to file a divorce. Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story. This couple had been quarreling all their 40 over years of marriage nothing ever seemed to go right. They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they want is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce. While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband. " really love you, but I really can't carry on anymore, I'm sorry." "It's OK, I understand." said the husband. Looking at this, the lawyer suggested a dinner together, just three of them, wife thought, why not, since they are still going to be friends. At the dining table, there was a silence of awkwardness . The first dish was roasted chicken, immediately, the old man took the drumstick for the old lady. "Take this, it's your favorite." Looking at this, the lawyer thought maybe there's still a chance, but the wife was frowning when she answered. "This is always the problem, you always think so highly of yourself, never thought about how I feel, don't you know that I hate drumsticks?" Little did she know that, over the years, the husband had been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks were the husband's favorite. Little did he know that she never thought he understood her at all, little did he know that she hated drumsticks even though all he wanted was the best for her. That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn , toss and turn. After hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he can't carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wants to tell her, "I love you." He picks up the phone, started dialing her number. Ringing never stops. He never stop dialing. Little did she remember, he had heart problems. The next day, she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartment, saw his body, lying on the couch still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack when he was still trying to get through her phone line. As sad as she could be, She would have to clear his belongings and she saw this insurance policy, dated from the day they got married, beneficiary is her. Together in that file there's this note: "To my dearest wife, by the time you are reading this, I'm sure I'm no longer around, I bought this policy for you, though the amount is only $1,000,000 I hope it will be able to help me continue my promise that I have made when we got married, I might not be around anymore, I want this amount of money to continue taking care of you, just like the way I will if I could have lived longer. I want you to know I will always be around, by your side. I love you." According to the passage, we can learn that_. A the old couple got divorced at last B the wife's favorite food was the drumsticks C the husband knew his wife had heart problems D the wife bought an insurance policy for her husband Answer: A. the old couple got divorced at last
Think back to this time last year. What was on your mind? Most likely, you were thinking about finals or the holidays, although in this city I've noticed that thinking about the holiday is a fancy way of saying how much stuff will I get. Now reflect on your thoughts for this holiday season. Most people are still thinking about the holidays, but I say that with a grain of salt. Everybody with a functioning brain and the ability to communicate knows that this holioday season comes with a pretty large price tag: the debt of all the hardships, both domestic and foreign, that we've faced over the past 12months. Let's face it: some of us will get everything we want over the holidays. But there are others whose parents have lost their jobs or who have lost jobs themselves because of the current economic situation. As much as we try to ignore it, there is still economic unrest in the blue and gold suburb. In this situation, we have three options. One: We ignore the situation, like we seem to do for every bad thing that happens around us, because by God, it's the American Way! Two: We recognize that our economy is shot, feel bad about it and spend our time wishing for the good old days. Three: We recognize that our economy is shot, but instead of moping, reflect on every good thing that we have going for us. Now, which option sounds best to you? I spent a week this summer working in and around New York City with the city's homeless population. Or so I thought. Although a lot of the people I served were in fact homeless, a significant number of them had a job or a home or both. The truth of the importance of this situation is that they and thousands of others across the country can't afford even the most basic things of life, even while working two jobs. Yet no one that I met complained about their hardships. Instead, they took whatever I happened to give them(which was, more often than enough, not enough) and were genuinely grateful for what they had. Wrap your heads around that statement for a second. These people worked their butts off to stay alive with minimal results, yet were overjoyed by a flimsy paper plate with donated green beans on it. Although I am ashamed to admit it( both as a girthy figure and an affluent citizen), I have taken for granted most of my meals, let alone green beans, and I know for a fact that I am not alone. 65. When the author wrote the article, the economic situation in his country _ . A. began to go bad. B. began to improve C. was still serious D. was favorable for middle class. Answer: C Greeks play a special game at Easter and it's good fun! The rules of the game are as follows: 1.Everyone picks out a hard-boiled Waster Egg.2.Each player finds a partner.One person will be a "holder", and the other will be a "tapper".Holders should hold the egg with either the pointy end or the round end facing up.Tappers should hold the egg with that same end facing down.Tapping must be done pointy-end-to-pointy-end or round-end-to-round-end.3.With one good tap, the tapper tries to crack the holder's egg.One player will end up with a cracked egg.4.Each player finds another partner and repeats steps 2 and 3.(After one end of the egg is cracked, players may continue to play using the uncracked end).5.A player loses when both ends of his egg have been cracked.The winner is the person who still has an uncracked egg.6.Enjoy eating the eggs! Dye your Easter eggs.With an adult's help, dye hard-boiled eggs red using food coloring or egg dye.For a nice sheen, use a paper towel to rub some oil on each egg.But don't use too much oil---you wouldn't want your egg to slide out of your hand when you play the egg-cracking game! Why dye eggs red? Eggs represent new life and the red dye symbolizes the pain and suffering in the past. Why crack eggs? Some say that the cracking of the eggs symbolizes a wish to break away from human misery and enter the new life. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The holders hold the eggs with the pointy end facing up in most cases B. If one end of the player's egg is cracked, he will eat the egg C. The player in the game must dye his egg red independently D. It's said that the broken eggs represent the wish to lead a new life Answer: D Ask any student which subject he or she hates most. 9 out of 10 students will answer "math". No matter which country you visit, no matter which grade you are in, you may not learn art, geography, chemistry or Chinese, but you always learn math. Why is this so? How come so many students hate math, and yet cannot avoid learning it in school? Jenny Sanders, a high school student in California, asks, "What good do we get from learning math? We can use computers to compute numbers, and we can use computers to store information. I think learning math at school is a waste of time." However, there is much more to math than just learning to add and subtract numbers. In fact, math is not so much about calculation as it is about learning to think logically and solving problems. Of course, Jenny was right that we can use computers to do calculations, but how would we even know how to use the computer if we can't think logically? In short, computers are only tools when solving problems. For example, imagine you are a cook and must serve dinner to 100 guests. How should you divide your resources so that you can get the job done most efficiently ? In situations like this, the ability to think logically will get you to a reasonable answer and solve your problem. According to the passage, which subject do students always learn in different grades at school? A. Chinese B. Math C. Geography D. Art. Answer: B Shower Radio --- Warranty and Directions Introduction Congratulations! You are now the owner of a So Fine Shower Radio! It is sure to provide entertainment for many hours. In addition, the radio features a timer for those days when you are in a hurry. Before using the radio, please read all directions, fill out and mail in the warranty card, and put warranty information in a safe place. Although we do not expect problems with the radio, you may need to refer to the warranty information at a later time. Warranty This radio is warranted for a one-year period that begins on the date of purchase. If it fails to work because of a problem of materials, please return it to the following address: So Fine Radio Corp, 1279 Delta Way, Monga. We will not pay shipping costs for returning the radio to us. We will either repair or replace the radio. Please allow at least four weeks for looking at the problem and repairing the radio. If you have not heard from us within six weeks, call our customer service department at 1-800-123. Radios that are returned to us for problems other than a problem of materials will be subject to service fee as well as the cost of the repairs. Customers will be informed of the charge by postcard. Radios will not be returned to customers until these fees are paid. Directions Please read all directions before using it. Please note that this radio is designed and built to operate well in a damp environment. The self-contained batteries and circuits are contained in the enclosed space that will bear heat and humidity. To Operate the Radio 1. Put two AA batteries in the enclosed space at the back of the radio. Be certain to follow the diagram, or the batteries will not provide electricity. The radio should NOT be adapted in order to be fixed into the wall; this will damage the waterproofing . 2. Turn the POWER dial in a clockwise direction until it clicks. Continue turning the dial until the desired volume is achieved. 3. To find the desired station, press the station selector button. The tuner will automatically go to the next highest signal. The station's call number will be visible in the digital screen. When the station with the highest frequency has been reached, the selector will start again at the lowest frequency. 4. To switch between AM and FM stations, move the sliding AM/FM switch. To Operate the Timer 1. Press the Timer Set button. Each time the button is pressed, five minutes will be put on the timer. The amount of time on the timer will be visible for five seconds on the digital screen. 2. When the time on the timer doesn't work, a beep will sound for ten seconds. The timer may be reset again one minute. Troubleshooting Before returning the radio for service, please check the following items: Problem: Radio cannot be heard. 1. Check batteries to be certain that they still have power and are put in correctly. 2. Check Power/Volume Control. Problem: Timer does not work. 1. Check batteries to be certain that they still have power and are put in correctly. 2. Follow directions above for setting timer. 3. Turn the power control on. The timer will not work when the radio is not on. 4. Adjust the volume control which regulates the volume of the beep as well as the radio volume. What question might a reader still have about this product? A. How can I know the service fee? B. Where should I send a nonworking radio? C. How is the radio placed in the shower? D. What kind of batteries does the radio use? Answer: C Daniel Olin was 11 years old when his parents moved to Canada. He liked his new school and made friends there, but then things at home started to change. His mum and dad began to argue and the arguments got worse and worse until one day, Daniel's mum left. With his father working long hours, Daniel felt very lonely and very unhappy. He wanted to escape, to run away. And that's what he did. Very early one terribly cold morning when the snow was deep on the ground, he packed a bag with some clothes, some chocolate and a map of Canada and set off to a forest. He ran and ran until he could hardly breathe. His feet were heavy with the snow but he still walked on through deep snow, not even watching where he was going. Then, disaster struck. A rock hidden by the deep snow caught his feet and Daniel fell to the ground. He had broken the bone. He was very cold and was starting to feel tired, but he knew that if he fell asleep in the snow, he would certainly die from the cold. A tree shook ahead. From within the branches , a pair of yellow eyes watched Daniel. The puma had been following him. A puma is a large wild cat with claws that could tear Daniel into pieces. But instead of moving in for the kill, the puma walked up to Daniel and lay across his chest, arms and legs. Daniel was too frightened to move, but soon the warmth of the animal reached Daniel and he began to feel better. From time to time, the puma pressed his muzzle against Daniel and rocked his head gently. Clearly, the puma knew that Daniel must not fall asleep. This animal should have been a real danger to Daniel and yet the boy began to feel safe. They remained like that for several hours until Daniel and the puma heard voices. The rescue team had found them. Why didn't Daniel notice the rock that caused him to fall? A. Because it was getting dark. B. Because the rock was hidden by snow. C. Because he was frightened by a puma. D. Because he was too sad to notice it. Answer: B
When he was a little child, Andrew had a serious bad habit of sucking his fingers all day long, especially when he had nothing interesting to do: when he was sleeping, when watching TV, when sitting on the sofa and so on. At the beginning, his parents didn't think it was a bad habit. Therefore, as time goes by, the boy couldn't give up his habit. Now, in his twenties, Andrew seems to have developed the bad habit into another one: he always bites his nails . He cannot stop biting his nails all the time. There're moments when he even doesn't know that he is doing it. He realized it was a problem and this worried him a lot. Some of his friends told him about this bad habit, and he stops for a while. But then, if he isn't busy doing something, he starts biting his nails again! In fact, there're a lot of bacteria in your nails and they can cause some disease. Also, the nails will become ugly and hard to _ . The worst thing is that this bad habit will bring the mental illness . If people cannot correct it in time, it can affect man's mental health. In short, bad habits are very worrying, especially when the person with the habit is in public and cannot stop himself or herself doing it. Still, there must be ways to give up these bad habits and these people should try their best to stop doing them. Which is TRUE according to the passage? A group of travelers were having dinner in a restaurant .While they were eating fish, they began to tell stories about finding valuable stones inside fish . An old man ,who had listened to their conversation quietly ,said at last ,"Now I'm going to tell you a true story of my own .When I was young ,I worked in a large company in London .As is usual with other young people ,I fell in love with a pretty girl .Soon we were engaged .Two months before our marriage ,I was suddenly sent to Edinburgh on business .My stay was a bit longer than I had expected .At last my work was done and I left for home .Before I left Edinburgh , I bought a nice diamond ring for my sweet-heart .On my way to London ,I was looking through a newspaper .It was then that I learned of my sweet-heart's getting married to another man. I was so sad that I threw the diamond ring into the water. A few days later, when I was eating fish ,I bit on something very hard .What do you think it was? "The diamond ring ," shouted his friends . "No," said the old man sadly ,It was a fish bone. The man was very angry because _ The world economy has run into a brick wall. Despite countless warnings in recent years about the need to address a looming hunger crisis in poor countries and a looming energy crisis worldwide, world leaders failed to think ahead. The result is a global food crisis. Wheat, corn and rice prices increases combined with soaring energy costs will slow if not stop economic growth in many parts of the world and will even undermine political stability, as evidenced by the protest riots that have erupted in places like Haiti, Bangladesh and Burkina Faso. Practical solutions to these growing woes do exist, but we'll have to start thinking ahead and acting globally. So, what should be done?Here are three steps to ease the current crisis and avert(, ) the potential for a global disaster. The first is to scale-up(,) the dramatic success of Malawi, a famine-prone country in southern Africa, which three years ago established a special fund to help its farmers get fertilizer and high-yield seeds. Malawi's harvest doubled after just one year. An international fund based on the Malawi model would cost a mere $10 per person annually in the rich world, or $10 billion in all. Second, the U.S. and Europe should abandon their policies of subsidizing the conversion of food into biofuels . Third, we urgently need to weatherproof the world's crops as soon and as effectively as possible. For a poor farmer, sometimes something as simple as a farm pond--which collects rainwater to be used for emergency irrigation in a dry spell--can make the difference between a bountiful crop and a famine. The world has already committed to establishing a Climate Adaptation Fund to help poor regions climate-proof vital economic activities such as food production and health care but has not yet acted upon the promise. The food crisis provides not only a warning but also an opportunity. We need to invest vastly more in sustainable development in order to achieve true global security and economic growth. What measures should be taken to ease the current crisis and avert the potential for a global disaster? Solar water heaters can use energy from the sun to heat water. They are used around the world. The solar water heater is based on a design developed some years ago in Afghanistan. Since then, it has been built and used in many countries. It can heat seventy liters of water to 60degC. It can do this between sunrise and noon on a clear day with an average temperature of 32degC. There are two parts of the solar water heater. One part, the collector, is made of a metal plate painted black. This metal surface, placed in contact with the water, will heat the water. Black-painted surfaces that receive the sun's heat become hotter than those of any other color1. Metal plates that have raised parts on the surface work better than those without them. Once the water is heated, it is kept hot with special material, which allows the water to stay warm for a long time. The second part of the solar water heater holds the water for the system. This water tank can hold about one hundred liters of water. Two rubber pipes are connected to the water tank. One pipe lets water go into the system. The other lets water go out. When the water heater is working correctly, water will flow from the tank to the collector and back again. You can use the hot water at the top of the tank for washing and cleaning. This solar water heater is easy to build and operate. It will last about two years before the rubber pipes need to be replaced. We can learn that solar water heaters _ . Oyster What is an Oyster card? Oyster is the easiest way to pay for journeys on the bus,Tube,tram,Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground and National Rail journeys in London You can store your travel cards, Bus & Tram Pass, season tickets and credit to pay for journeys as you go. Where to get an Oyster card? There are a number of ways for you to get an Oyster card: * At over 3,900 Oyster Ticket stops * At Tube and London Overground station ticket offices * At some National Rail stations * At London Travel information Centres * Online at tfl. gov. uk/oyster How to use an Oyster card? To pay the correct fare on the Tube , DLR, London Overground and National Rail services, you must always touch in on the yellow Oyster card reader at the start of your journey, and touch out at the end. If you don't, a maximum cash Oyster fare will be charged. When using the bus or tram, you must only touch in at the start, but not at the end of your journey. What happens if I don't visit London very often? Don't worry. Any pay as you go credit on your card will not expire ,so you can keep it for your next visit or lend it to a friend. Fares Traveling by Tube from Central London (Zone l)to Heathrow (Zone 6) Adult Oyster single fare PS 4. 20 Monday to Friday 06:30 - 09:30 and 16:00 - 19:00 PS 2. 70 at all other times including public holidays Adult single cash fare PS 5.00 For further information,visit tfl.gov. uk /fares. If a person with an Oyster card takes the 7 o'clock Tube from Central London to 2Heathrow for a week (no public holiday in between),he should pay _ .
What is the best way for a marine scientist to determine the eating habits of sharks? Tag several sharks and monitor their eating habits for one year. There is a new shopping mall near my school. It is very big. There are five floors of shops and each floor is very big. There are lots of clothes shops, but only one sports shop. There are lots of restaurants on the top floor, you can eat different kinds of food from different countries . I like going to see a movie. The mall is a really good place to go. It is a good place to meet friends. Where is the new shopping mall? near my school It's 2035. You have a job ,a family and you' re about 40 years old ! Welcome to your future life. Getting ready for work, you pause in front of the mirror. "Turn red," you say. Your shirt changes from sky blue to deep red. Tiny pre-programmed electronics are rearranged in your shirt to change its color1. Looking into the mirror, you find it hard to believe you're 40. You look much younger. With amazing advances in medicine, people in your generation may live to be 150 years old. You ' re not even middle-aged! As you go into the kitchen and prepare to pour your breakfast cereal into a bowl, you hear, "To lose weight, you shouldn't eat that," from your shoes. They read the tiny electronic code on the cereal box to find out the nutrition details. You decide to listen to your shoes. "Kitchen, what can I have for breakfast?" A list of possible food appears on the counter as the kitchen checks its food supplies. "Ready for your trip to space?" you ask your son and daughter. In 2005 only specially trained astronauts went into space -- and very few of them. Today anyone can go to space for day trips or longer vacations. Your best friend even works in space. Handing your children three strawberries each, you add, "The doctor said you need these for space travel." Thanks to medical advances, vaccination shots are a thing of the past. Ordinary foods contain specific vaccines. With the berries in their mouths, the kids head for the front door. It's time for you to go to work. Your car checks your fingerprints and unlocks the doors. " My office. Autopilot. "you command. Your car drives itself down the road and moves smoothly into traffic on the highway. You sit back and unroll your e-newspaper. The latest news downloads and fills the viewer. Looking through the pages, you watch the news as video film rather than read it. How do the shoes know that you shouldn't eat the breakfast cereal? By checking the nutrition details of the food. With fifteen years Britain and other nations should be well on with the building of huge industrial complexes for the recycling of waste. The word "rubbish" could lose its meaning because everything which goes into the dumps would be made into something useful. Even the most dangerous and unpleasant wastes would provide energy if nothing else. The latest project is to take a city of around half a million inhabitants and discover exactly what raw materials go into it and what go out. The aim is to find out how much of these raw materials could be provided if a plant for recycling waste were built just outside the city. This plant would recycle not only metal such as steel, lead and copper, but also paper and rubber as well. Another new project is being set up to discover the best ways of sorting and separating the rubbish. When this project is complete, the rubbish will be processed like this: First, it will pass through sharp metal bars which will tear open the plastic bags in which rubbish is usually packed; then it will pass through a powerful fan to separate the lightest elements from the heavy solids; after that rollers will break up everything that can be broken. Finally, the rubbish will pass under magnets , which will remove the bits of iron and steel; the rubber and plastic will then be sorted out in the final stage. The first full-scale giant recycling plants are perhaps fifteen years away. Indeed, with the growing cost of transporting rubbish to more distant dumps, some big cities will be forced to build their own recycling plants before long. The passage is mainly about _ . new ways of recycling wastes Dr. Glenn Tisman, a cancer specialist, knew his young neighbor, Ray Bateman, had an unusual mind. But he had no idea at the time that 12 - year - old Ray had the ability to become his partner in cancer research. Ray's parents remembered that at age four, Ray surprised them by fixing a broken vacuum cleaner . When he was ten, he speedily constructed the family color television from a kit. Later, he succeeded in assembling a complex stereo system after two experts had failed to do the job. When Ray was ten, he convinced his parents to buy him a computer. In a short time, Ray was able to do amazing things with the computer. Ray shared his enthusiasm for computers with Dr. Tisman, who used a computer for his research. The two discussed computers and medicine frequently. Amazingly, Ray understood the biology and chemistry related to Dr. Tisman's medical research without any previous instruction. Ray then worked with Dr. Tisman after school. He helped conduct research with the equipment and kept it in working order. The purpose of the research was to test the effectiveness of mixing an old cancer drug with certain vitamins. Ray analyzed patient test results by computer, while Dr. Tisman handled all patient contact. Together, they came up with solid research that helped advance cancer treatment. In 1988, 14 - year - old Ray went with Dr. Tisman to a meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research(AFCR), where Ray presented their initial research findings. Using terminology beyond the grasp of most kids his age, Ray told the scientists how the new drug mixture caused fewer and milder side effects for cancer patients. A year later, Ray returned to the meeting to update the findings of his and Dr. Tisman's research. By then, he had become well - known for his devotion to finding cures for sick patients. Stories about him appeared in hundred of newspapers around the world. He appeared on television newscasts and talk shows. Ray continued to spend most free hours working with Dr. Tisman. The two began studying the effects of vitamins on babies inside the womb . However, Ray's main interest remained cancer treatment, and he continues his research today. Dr. Tisman's research is aimed at _ . testing the effectiveness of a new drug mixture
The Winter Olympic Games are a major international sporting event that occurs once every four years. Unlike the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics feature sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympics, the 1924 Winter Olympics, was held in Chamonix, France. The Games were held every four years from 1924 until 1936, after which they were interrupted by World War II. The Olympics resumed in 1948 and was again held every four years. Until 1992, the Winter and Summer Olympic Games were held in the same year. The Winter Games have evolved since its beginning. Sports and disciplines have been added and some of them, such as short track speed skating, freestyle skiing, have earned a permanent spot on the Olympic program. Others have been discontinued and later reintroduced. Still others, such as speed skiing, bandy and skijoring, were demonstration sports but never incorporated as Olympic sports. The rise of television as a global medium for communication _ the impression of the Games. It created an income stream, via the sale of broadcast rights and advertising.This allowed outside interests, such as television companies and corporate sponsors. Beijing has become the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games after beating Kazakhstan's Almaty to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics. With a fully-prepared final presentation by an all-star team, Beijing has successfully convinced the committee members that the 2008 Olympics host city is a more favored candidate for the Winter Games. Beijing was the safe choice because it had already proved it could stage the Games and said it would take winter sports into the backyard of the world's most populated country. Which of the following is a sports event of the Winter Games ? Answer: What is your recovery rate? How long does it take you to recover from actions and behaviors that up- set you? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? The longer it takes you to recover, the more influence that inci- dent has on your actions, and the less able you are to perform to your personal best. You are well aware that the faster you let go of an issue that upsets you, the faster you return to an _ the healthier you willbe. The best example of this behavior is found with professional sports- people. They know that the faster they can forget an incident or missed opportunity and get on with the game, the better their performance. Imagine yourself to be an actor in a play on the stage. Your aim is toplay your part to the best of your ability. You have been given a script and at the end of each sen- tence is a full stop. Each time you get to the end of the sentence you start a new one and although the next sentence is related to the last, it is not affected by it. Your job is to deliver each sentence to the best of your ability. Don't live your life in the past! Learn to live in the present, to overcome the past. Stop the past from influencing your daily life. Don't allow thoughts of the past to reduce your personal best. Stop the past from troubling your life. Learn to recover quickly. Remember: Rome wasn't built in a day. Reflect on your recovery rate each day. Every day before you go to bed, look at your progress. This is a success. You are taking control of your life. Remember this is a step-by-step process. You are undertaking real change here. Your aim: reduce the time spent in recovery. What is the main topic for the text? Answer: Come And Join Us! We warmly welcome you to the Shine Sports Centre! All the young people in this city can become members of the Shine Sports Centre and each member should pay $10 every year. To be a member of us and get your membership card ,you need to come to us between 2 pm and 6 pm, Monday to Thursday. I have to tell you that we don't accept new members on Friday. Now, there are three things that you must remember to bring with you when you come for a membership card. They are your ID card, a recent passport-sized photo of yourself and the money. We can't give you the card unless you bring all the three. Once you have got your membership card, you need to bring it with you whenever you come to book or use any facility in Shine Sports Centre. Booking over the phone is not allowed, so you have to come here with your card when you want to book. There is one more thing I have to tell you. Our opening hours is from 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 6 pm on weekends. We hope that every member can have a great time in the Shine Sports Centre. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: I went through a training program and became a literacy volunteer last surnmen The training I received, though excellent, did not tell me how it was to work with a real student, however. When I began to discover what other people's lives were like because they could not read, I realized the true importance of reading. My first student Marie was a 44-year-old single mother of three. In the first lesson, I found out she walked two miles to the nearest supermarket twice a week because she didn't know which bus to take. When I told her I would get her a bus schedule, she told me it would not help because she could not read it. She said she also had difficulty once she got to the supermarket,because she couldn't always remember what she needed. Since she did not know words, she could not write out a shopping list. Also, she could only recognize items by sight, so if the product had a different label, she would not recognize it as the product she wanted. As we worked together, learning how to read built Marie's self-confidence,which encouraged her to continue her studies. She began to make rapid progress and was even able to take the bus to the supermarketelt. After this successful trip, she reported how self-confident she felt. At the end of the program, she began helping her youngest son,Tony, a shy first grader with his reading. She sat with him before he went to sleep and together they would read bedtime stories. When his eyes became wide with excitement as she read, pride was written all over her face. As she described this experience, I was proud of myself as well. I found that helping Marie to build her self-confidence was more rewarding than anything I had ever done before. As a literacy volunteer, I learned a great deal about teaching and helping others. In fact, I may have learned more from the experience than Marie did. How did Marie use to find the goods she wanted in the supermarket? Answer: I'd just got in a taxi at the railway station when suddenly I found one of my suitcases missing. Just then, I saw a young fellow about 30 walking away with it, opening it and drawing out the valuables. "Stop thief! Stop thief!" I shouted and threw open the car door and rushed out to him, followed by the driver and half a dozen passers-by. Very soon the thief was cornered at the turn of the road. My driver caught the thief by the neck and put his hand into his trouser pocket, drawing out money, credit card, telephone book and so on and put them back into my suitcase. Half an hour later, the car was running at full speed on the express highway. I sat back and breathed a long sigh of relief . But as I pulled out those stolen things from the suitcase and started to check them, I became dumbfounded . Before my eyes were 200 yuan instead of 100. And a blood test report of a 58-year-old woman appeared. I suddenly realized that the taxi driver must have mistaken the thief's belongs and put his into my suitcase. The pitiful and begging look of the poor young man flashed across my mind again. My heart began to sink. Two years has passed since then. But this event keeps coming back to me. Was the young man a habitual robber or a dutiful son who had been driven to desperation to find money to save his mother's life? My heart aches for him. How I wish I had gone back that summer afternoon to return the 200 yuan and say sorry to him. For the first time in my life, I realized that hate and love are very close. The major purpose for the writer to write this passage is _ . Answer:
Almost everyone is afraid of something --- snakes, heights, public speaking and so on. It is normal and can even be helpful to experience fear sometimes. In dangerous situations, fear can keep our bodies alert so that we can act quickly to protect ourselves. But for some people, fear develops into a "phobia", which is a strong and unreasonable fear of something. For example, the majority of us feel a little scared when looking down from a tall building. But people with height phobia may have trouble breathing, feel dizzy or turn down a great job just because the company is on the 20th floor. Phobias can prevent you from living a normal life. "People with spider phobia would stay out of their home or dormitory room for days if they thought a spider was present," Katherina Hauner, a researcher at Northwestern University, US, told ABC news. This is why scientists have been trying to find a cure for this disease. Since fear comes from experience --- from what we are told, what we see others experience and what happens to us --- some scientists think if they can "rewrite" these unpleasant memories, they might be able to help people overcome their phobias. In a study by Hauner and other scientists, participants with spider phobia were asked to first touch a spider with a paintbrush. Seeing that it was not actually dangerous, they then tried touching it while wearing a glove. Finally, they could hold it with their hands. Certain medicine has also been found to be helpful. Back in 2010, researchers at the University of Hiroshima, Japan, injected a special medicine into a fish --- who was afraid of light --- to turn off the fear center in its brain. From then on, the fish no longer feared light. While the search for solutions to phobias is making great progress, it's an open question whether getting rid of fear is good. Some people want to use these methods to make soldiers fight harder in wars by taking away their sense of fear. Dave Smithson of the charity Anxiety UK thinks that's a bad idea. "It's fear that prevents us from doing crazy things," he says. "There's a name for people who don't have fear of consequences: psychopaths . Which of the following shows the progress scientists have made in finding solutions to phobia? Answer: They have succeeded in helping some people ignore memories related to phobia. Several Holiday Houses in Sicily and Its Islands Baglio Fontana, Buseto Paiizzoio, Trapani,Sicily Grapes have been harvested at this traditional family farm since the early 18ih century. Old photos of the family cover the walls of tlie sitting room. A farm museum exhibits ancient tools and you can have a taste of wine in the country restaurant. All the rooms combine modem comforts with original features. You can also swim in the pool. Doubles from EUR 100 per night,+39 0923 855000 Club Levante,Pantelleria Reaching Pantelleria by plane is striking; by boat from Trapani it is thrilling. It's a surprisingly stylish place for nature-lovers seeking privacy and peace, and is run by warmhearted Matteo and his father. There's a small restaurant. Bedrooms are elegant, a couple of which have a sea view from the bed. Doubles from EUR 130 per night,+39 0923 915246 Giardinl di Pantelleria, Pantelleria Come for an adventurous week of walking, boating and hot-springing in an ancient, dramatic landscape. Five thousand years ago, Pantelleria was mined for volcanic glass to make spears and knives, and our ancestors left some fascinating tombs. Local Arabs built circular shelters for their traditional stone houses with two-metre-tliick rock walls. From EUR400 a week for an apartment sleeping two, +39 340 6156112 Villa Punta San Nicola, Favignana Favignana is not very famous. It's just a hatitat for those Italians who are familiar with the area. This trio of single-storey sandstone houses are owned and were designed by a former fashion photographer. They are half buUl into the rocks and simply but stylishly furnished. There's a beautiful rocky beach just a few steps away. Apartmenis sleeping 2 from EUR 650 c week, + 39 335 337054 Which place is only known by some Italians? Answer: Villa Punta San Nicola, Favignana. Artificial flowers are used for scientific as well as for decorative purposes. They are made from a variety of materials, such as wax and glass, so skillfully that they can scarcely be distinguished from natural flowers. In making such models, painstaking and artistry are called for, as well as thorough knowledge of plant structure. The collection of glass flowers in the Botanical Museum of Harvard University is the most famous in North America and is widely known throughout the scientific world. In all, there are several thousand models in colored glass, the work of two artist-naturalists, Leopold Blaschka and his son Rudolph. The intention was to have the collection represent at least one member of each flower family native to the United States. Although it was never completed. It contains more than seven hundred species representing 164 families of flowering plants, a group of fruits showing the effect of fungus diseases, and thousands of flower parts and magnified details. Every detail of these is accurately reproduced in color and structure. The models are kept in locked cases as they are too valuable and fragile for classroom use. It can be inferred from the passage that the goal of Leopold and Rudolph was to _ . Answer: make a copy of one member of each United States flower family Charlie,a master carpenter ,was very well respected in his community.Everyone knew that if they wanted the best,they would call on him.Of course that meant that Charlie would never be rich.His fellow carpenters always told him that if you used inferior materials and cheap labor then you could make a lot of money.Charlie would not hear of it. One day,John,the richest man in town came to Charlie.He said that he had just bought the best piece of land in town. It overlooked the entire city.He was going to Europe for 4 months and wanted Charlie to build him the best house in town." _ ." Charlie thought about this and decided finally he would make some money.He did not get his usual great carpenters and fine materials from his normal suppliers.He built the house and covered up the flaws .After 4 months he had spent about 50%of what he usually spends on a house. John came back from Europe and immediately called Charlie and asked him to meet him at the house.When they met,John asked him if he had used the finest materials and spared no expense.Charlie said ly.John said that he was glad.He paid Charlie,then told him that he knew he was not rich and had always struggled.So he wanted to reward Charlie for all of his years of service to the community by giving Charlie this house. There are many times in our lives where we let down a little bit. When you do,you never know what is going to happen. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: One should always he honest. Sam likes fish very much.He often buys fish in the shop and takes it home.But when his wife sees the fish,she says to herself,"Good!Now I can ask my friends to have lunch,and we can eat this fish.They like fish very much." So when Sam comes home in the evening,the fish is not there and his wife always says,"Oh,your cat ate it."And she gives Sam some bread for his supper.Sam gets very angry.He takes the cat and his wife to the shop near his house and weighs the cat.Then he turns to his wife and says,"My fish weighs one kilo .This cat weighs one,too.My cat is here,you see.Then where's my fish?" How much does the cat weigh? Answer: One kilo.
Social customs differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? What about table manners? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should you leave one in your lap, or on the table? The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a woman or offer their seat to a woman, and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is, if a dinner invitation is for 7 o'clock, the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay. The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable - especially if they are your guests. There is an old story about a man who gave a formal dinner party. When the food was served, one of the guests started to eat his peas with a knife. The other guests were amused or shocked, but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable. According to the text, the best host _ . Answer: It's not the flashiest car in the world. Not even close. But the 1971 Volkswagen named Helios can do something most cars can't: nm on solar energy - energy from the sun's light and heat! Joshua Bechtold, 14, and the other students at the Riverside School in Lyndonville, Vermont, worked many months to getHeliosready for the 1999 American Tour de Sol ( "Sol" is the Latin word for "sun"). They named their car after Helios, the sun god in Greek mythology . The 4-year-old Tour de Sol encourages the use of "green", or environmentally friendly, cars to help reduce pollution and save energy. It' s not a race. Cars are judged on fuel efficiency rather than speed. In the week-long event, 44 cars took the 350-mile tour from Waterbury, Connecticut, to prefix = st1 /Lake George,New York. Of the 23 student cars, Helios was the only one built by middle school students. A teacher droveHelios, but the children talked with people wherever they stopped along the mad. "That was my favorite part," says Anna Browne, 15. "We explained how the car runs." Due in part to old, inefficient batteries , Heliosfinished fourth - out of four - in its kind, the sun-powered class. "We were there for the fun of it," Anna says. "We're proud ofHelios," says Ariel Gleicher, 14. "It's a car that's good for the environment." The students felt proud of Helios because _ . Answer: Imagine a world where air pollution is no longer a problem. Clean air is all around us. People don't have to worry about polluting the air every time they drive their cars. They no longer need to face the problem of not having enough fuel either. Although scientists have been trying for many years to develop a new kind of car that does not need gasoline , _ have been unsuccessful. Recently, however, car engineers have succeeded in creating a new kind of car that runs on gasoline and electricity . This is the famous "hybrid car". This car gets its name from the fact that it has a gasoline engine and an electric motor inside. Hybrid cars do not pollute the environment as much as the cars that are commonly used today. They also cost drivers less money because they need less fuel than ordinary cars. Hybrid cars are becoming widely popular in the United States. They are soon expected to become widely used around the world. If scientists and engineers continue to work on car development, perhaps the world with clean air that we imagined earlier just might become real in the future. Hybrid cars _ . Answer: When the Japanese attacked America's ships at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941,they did it secretly.The makers of the movie Pearl Harbor have behaved differently. The noise about Pearl Harbor,made by Disney,has reached its highest point with its premiere before the movie opens in cinemas across the US at the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend,a time to recall national heroes who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. As Ben Affleck is the main star,the movie seems sure to become a success in the United States at least. At almost three hours in length,it promises to be a good old Hollywood movie.There is a love story.Affleck and his co-star,Josh Hartnett,both fall in love with the navy nurse,Kate Beckinsale and,of course,there is much human courage and love of country. It's certain that Disney will be accused of "changing" history.The showing of actual events in a movie always causes arguments. Bits of the story are deliberately not mentioned in the movie.It does not address the theory held by some historians that President Franklin Roosevelt knew about Japan's intention to attack the ships in Pearl Harbor.It is said he did nothing,as he was aware that such a blow would allow him to take America into the Second World War. Japan remains sensitive about being accused of wartime atrocities .And Disney is sensitive about its business in Japan,where it has a theme park. Not all the reviews of the movie have been full of praise.A reviewer for Newsweek,who was given an early preview,acknowledged that the 40-minute sequence showing the attack itself was powerful.The attack comes quite late in the movie,however,and the reviewer was less impressed with the characters and the love story. "Almost every line of the dialogue sounds like it comes from an old movie," the reviewer wrote. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Pearl Harbor? Answer: New Year's Eve is a time to celebrate and enter the new year with a smile on your face. This year, there're plenty of local activities for all ages and interests, so the smiles will come easily. BLUE CONCERT Blues band the Coyotes is playing at the Dance Barn,at 8 Barn View in Sudden Valley, The show will start at 9 p. m. and benefit the charity Bikers Fighting Cancer. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Call 224-2308 for more information. NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS Ring in the New Year and laugh out the old one at the Upfront Theatre Comic improvisers will hit on all the highlights of the year with The Last Laugh of 2008. The 9 p. m. show will cost $15 and is open to all ages. The 11 P. m. show is open to 21 and older and costs $18, which includes a champagne toast. Call 733-8855 for more information. MAZE For a fun activity earlier in the evening,walk the labyrinth at the Leopold Crystal Bellroom. Wander through the maze, based on the French Chartres Cathedral, for free from 4 to 9 p. m. Call 752-0048 for more information. COUNTRY DANCING At the Bellingham Eagles Hall, live local music will help get the dance started at 8 p. m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for kids 12 and younger. For more information, call 676-1554. Which of the following activities may be free for Tom aged 16? Answer:
As a public school superintendent , I believe the best way to prepare students for colleges and careers is to focus on providing instructional programs and opportunities that help them become good thinkers. To do this, teachers and actually everyone else in a community, should play a role as a "cognitive coach" to students, helping develop good thinkers among our youth. The best way for you to become a cognitive coach is to seek out and engage school children and adolescents in meaningful conversations. The objective here is to get kids talking about what they think, how they feel, and what they believe whenever and wherever you may find them. It may be in a classroom. It may be at the grocery store. It may be at a basketball game. It doesn't matter where as long as you engage students in a topical conversation and, hopefully, even a debate. Mainly, you want to encourage students to voice their opinion about things. Get them to take a position on "this thing, or that thing," and ask them to support their position with evidence. Curiously enough, the simple process of engaging students in real life conversations and debates will serve to strengthen what they have learned in the classroom, and help them create their own knowledge about a subject or a topic. Learning indicates that a student has been exposed to material, understands the material, and can recall the information. Knowledge, on the other hand, goes beyond recall and includes information processing, application to other situations, consideration of meaning, and contrasting with other concepts. Naturally, the topic of conversation you engage in with one of your learners will differ from student to student, and in the level of complexity based on child's age and developmental level. Even a kindergartener has an opinion about things that are going on in his or her life. Engaging in conversation with any members of your learning community in ways that get at what they have learned and what they know will help them develop higher order reasoning skills. A student's synthetic thinking process occurs when a respected adult asks a question, particularly a question that requires reflection. I think all adults in a community have a responsibility to help children with this process, with the goal of producing independent thinkers. Which is the best question raised by a cognitive coach? Answer: The language used by scientists to explain complex ideas can be difficult and sometimes even boring. The language, with its Latin words and long scientific terms, could be one reason some people avoid learning about science, especially children. American Danielle Dixson is a marine biologist. She wants to make science fun for children. Dixson has turned that idea into a series of children's books. The nine books are written so that her research is easy to understand. "I just don't really think kids should be left out of it and I thought that story books may be one of the easiest ways to sort of captivate them and have them understand." Danielle Dixson is an assistant professor at the University of Delaware. Dixson says another goal of her science writing is to help increase understanding of the ocean environment. She spent almost two years in the South Pacific working on her post-doctoral research. She went to the island nation of Fiji to investigate coral reefs that are collapsing or, as she says, degrading. The goal of her research is to identify why some healthy coral reefs are breaking down. She also wants to find out how this degradation affects fish that live in and around the reefs. "A number of the reefs are converting from being, you know, these beautiful coral reef systems that have a lot of holes for animals to hide in, into reefs that the coral's degrading and collapsing and then there is not as much hiding spaces for fishes and things like that." Early in her research, Dixson made some videos for people in Fiji. The videos explained her work to the local community. She says she wanted them to understand how her research would help them. For the local children, Dixson started making books explaining her work. This helped to keep them from walking through her "laboratory" - baby pools filled with water she was using for her experiments. "I was living, actually, in the village with some of the locals. It was a lot easier to get research done if they understood what I was doing and how it would help them. And one of the ways that I was able to connect with the adults was I would make these videos for them. And then I started making children's books for the kids so that they would have a better idea of why I was there, so that when I ask them not to walk through the baby pools I was using for experiments or something like that, that that would actually happen." she added. When Dixson returned to the United States, she started doing the same thing for children in this country. She uses color1ful story books to capture the imagination of children. While she has their attention, she provides very useful information about science. As a marine scientist, Dixson wants her stories to be both educational and inspirational, serving as an agent for change. She also includes in her books "a call to action," asking readers what they can do to make a difference. "One of the things I do in those story books is I have a last page. And the last page talks about what you can do to help. You know, there is a lot of things that even a 6-year-old is able to do, whether it's shutting your lights off when you leave a room, or riding your bike to your friend's house instead of having your parents drive you. There is a lot of stuff that they can do and still feel they're making a difference." Danielle Dixson's books shine a light on the environmental problems facing our world's oceans. They also make science fun and understandable for children. But her books may have an unintended consequence, something she may not have planned on. What may lead to people's negative attitude toward science learning? Answer: BEIJING,Feb.5,2013(Xinhua)-Chinese health authorities on Tuesday launched a campaign to fight against assisted reproductive technology (ART:) abuse.Unauthorized ART use,surrogate motherhood and the illegal collection and supply of sperm and eggs,as well as the illegal sale and abuse of ovulation induction medicine,will be targeted. The Ministry of Health and health department of the People's Liberation Army General Logistics Department jointly announced the campaign at a conference.Both departments also ordered all of their local branches to _ permits for new organizations that wish to offer ART treatments.That is,new organizations will not appear recently.Official figures showed that at the end of 2012,China had 358 organizations authorized to conduct ART treatment. The health ministry also delivered a brief statement of the country's current infertility rate and ART use.The infertility rate in China is now between 7 and 10 percent,the ministry said.Some 70 to 80 percent of women who are suffering from infertility can be pregnant after changing their lifestyles and receiving medical treatment.Around 20 percent of infertile couples have to resort to ART to have babies.In 2011,about 350,000 people received ART treatment and more than 60,000 infertile couples successfully had children with the help of ART,the ministry said. ART abuse DOSEN'T include _ . Answer: Nearly half of elementary and high schools in the US use the Presidential Fitness Test. It checks kids' fitness levels. Students are tested at least twice a year. In 1956, US President Eisenhower created the test, and it has been a tradition in schools since 1966. There are five activities in the test: sit-ups , push-ups , sit and reach, endurance run or walk and shuttle run . Students who get scores at or above 85 percent on all the activities can get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award. The test encourages students to live a healthy and active life. Students taking the test are really testing their limits, according to the US National Association for Sport and Physical Education. China has a similar test: the physical education(PE) test. Beginning at the age of 7, students in China are tested twice a year to check if they are healthy and strong. They also finish activities like the endurance run, sit-ups and the shuttle run. However, unlike students in the US who get awards, Chinese students get points in PE tests. The highest score is 100. For junior school students, the PE test is more important because it is worth 30 to 40 points in the entrance exam for senior high school. In order to get a good score, most students begin to prepare for the test in their junior one year. The Chinese PE tests and the American Presidential Fitness tests are similar in _ Answer: Facebook is now used by 30 million people in the UK,about half the population. Joanna Shields,vice president of Facebook Europe,made the announcement this morning at a media conference in London. She said: "We can announce today that we have reached 30 million in the UK,which we are really excited about." Globally,Facebook has more than 500 million registered users,a milestone it hit last summer.Last July,it also revealed that it had 26 million registered UK users.In the last eight months,it has attracted four million extra UK users,bringing the UK total to 30 million,while in January 2009,Facebook had only 150 million registered users. Last year,Zuckerberg,Facebook's founder,said it was "almost a guarantee" that the site would hit one billion users.He explained: "If we succeed in innovating,there is a good chance of bringing this to a billion people...it will be interesting to see how it comes true." One third of women aged 18 to 34 check Facebook when they first wake up,before even going to the toilet,according to research.Twenty-one per cent of women aged between 18 to 34 check Facebook in the middle of the night,while 42 per cent of the same group think it is fine to post drunken photos of themselves onto the social network,a study by Oxygen Media found. Shields was speaking this morning at the Financial Times Digital Media and Broadcasting Conference about the power Facebook's referrals can bring to media sites,such as newspapers and TV services. She explained that the average Facebook user has 130 friends who they share links to media sites with on a regular basis."Media companies which take advantage of that are really seeing the benefits",Shields said. Shields refused to say whether Facebook would develop its own mobile phone operating system and also said it was "silly" that Google had recently disabled the feature which allowed Google users to sync their contacts with Facebook friends. Zuckerberg,Facebook's founder,take a more _ view about the future of Facebook. Answer:
Which organism would eat fish and live in marshland? an alligator A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an _ experience. One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished, gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, saying , "You don't say!" I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this is not a proper topic. "Well, I'd better change the topic" So I said to him, "Well shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?" "Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent." He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide, "The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world, We are very proud of it." Soon I was interrupted again by his order "You don't say!"I couldn't help asking, "Why do you ask me not to talk about is?" "Well, I didn't request you to do so," he answered, greatly surprised .I said , "Didn't you say you don't say?" Hearing this, the Englishman laughed into tears .He began to explain, "You don't say actually means really? It is an expression of surprise .Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms." Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions A year ago, the writer paid no attention to English idioms because _ . He cared little about the teacher's emphasis John was using his mp3 player when it suddenly stopped working. What is the first thing John should do to try correcting the problem? recharge the battery Which situation is the best example of ecological succession? One species replaces another species in an ecosystem. Book into the new prefix = st1 /AucklandHospitalat a typical hour, say 11 on a Saturday night, and you will notice changes in the way you are treated. Let's start with the blood sample taken from your arm as you are wheeled in the door. By the time you are through the security doors and into the emergency area, that sample could have been sent through to the lab by vacuum tube and analysed by a machine which automatically feeds a preparative result into the clinical database. Less than a minute after the sample is processed, the doctors can see the results through the monitors beside every position in the emergency suites. As you are being wheeled in, you may notice cameras in the ceiling. The hospital has spent $4 million on its camera security system to protect staff and patients. When you come to in the neighbouring Admission and Planning Unit, the clinician may be looking at all your records, x-rays and even documents sent in by your GP on a Compaq tablet PC wirelessly connected to the network by an 802.11 "WiFi" card. It's not ideal for viewing images, but it should be good enough for a bedside consultation . If the clinician needs to consult a specialist or your GP, the other party can see the same records from home or office through a secure internet connection. Dr Nigel Murray, general manager of the hospital building programme, said about $30 million of the $500 million budget for the project had been spent on information technology. It is _ after the sample is processed, the doctor the doctors can see the results through the monitors beside every position in the emergency suites. less than one minute
Question: Can you smell two things at once? This experiment comes from the research of two scientists from Rice University. Denise Chen and Wen Zhou have been experimenting with the science of smell, and have made some very interesting discoveries. To explore that, you will need two things with strong, characteristic smells and, of course, your nose. The idea is to smell a different smell with each nostril . Hold one smell very close to your right nostril, and the other smell very close to your left nostril. Then breathe in and pay close attention to what you smell. What you should find is that one smell will be very strong. After another sniff or two, the first smell will go away, and you will smell the other smell. Keep sniffing, and the first smell will come back. Instead of smelling the two smells evenly mixed, they will work in turns, one after the other. Why? Chen and Zhou found that your sense of smell acts much like your sense of sight. Hold a book in front of your nose, so that your left eye sees things on the left side of the book, and your right eye sees things on the right side of the book. You will find that your sight works in turns, first on the left side of the book and then on the right side. Notice that you can't focus your left eye on one object while focusing your right eye on another object. Your brain jumps back and forth , paying attention to one and then the other. The same thing happens with your nostrils. If they are smelling different smells, your brain pays attention to one and then the other. The main purpose of the text is to _ . A. report an important event B. describe a scientific experiment C. study how the sense of sight works D. introduce two scientists from Rice University Answer: B Question: If you want to make friends, what should you do? Steps: Try to look on the bright side of things. Look for groups in your area that do something you are interested in. Maybe you will learn some new skills and meet some people who have many things in common with you. Tips(,): _ your friends at least once a week by telephone or e-mail, or by visiting them to find out how they are. Remember important things about them such as birthdays and weddings . If you have an argument with your friends, say sorry first. Remember never to leave old friends just because you have made some new ones. Listen to others carefully. It's better to be a good listener. Be different. Don't try to change others through your own ideas. Warnings: Never ask or give away a friend's secret. Don't be afraid to stand up for what is right. You'd better not give your ID number, phone number or your home address to people that you have just made friends with. ,A, B, C, D,. (10) Which of the following is NOT right according to the passage? A. Listen to your friends carefully and keep their secrets. B. To keep in touch with your new friends, you'd better tell them your phone number or address. C. If you have an argument with your good friend, you'd better say sorry to him or her first. D. When you want to make more friends, you should look on the bright side first. Answer: B Question: I would like to tell you a story about my uncle Theo. He is my oldest uncle, a tall, thin, grey-haired man whose thoughts are always on learning and nothing else. He is quiet, gentle and absent-minded and with about as much sense as a child where money is concerned. Well, he applied a post in Camford University. It was a very good post and there were hundreds of candidates who applied for it, and about fifteen, including Theo, were asked to be interviewed. Camford is a very small town; there is only one hotel in it, and it was so full that they had to put many of the candidates two in a room. Theo was one of these, and the man who shared the room with him was a self-confident fellow called Adams, about twenty years younger than Theo, with a loud voice, and a laugh that you could hear all over the hotel. But he was a clever fellow all the same and had a good post in Iscaiot College, Narkover. Well, the Dean, who was the head of the department of the University, and the committee interviewed all the candidates; and as a result of this interview, the number of the candidates was reduced to two, Uncle Theo and Adams. The committee couldn't decide which of the two to take, so they decided to make their final choice after each of the candidates had given a public lecture in the college lecture-hall. The subject they had to speak on was "The Civilization of the Ancient Summerians"; and the lecture had to be given in three days' time. Well, for these three days Uncle Theo never left his room. He worked day and night at that lecture, writing it out and memorizing it, almost without eating or sleeping. Adams didn't seem to do any preparation at all. You could hear his voice and his laughter where he had a crowd of people around him. He came to his room late at night, asked Uncle Theo how he was getting on with his lecture, and then told him how he had spent the evening playing bridge, or at the music hall. He ate like a horse and slept like a log; and Uncle Theo sat up working at his lecture. The day of the lecture arrived. They all went into the lecture hall and Theo and Adams took their seats on the platform. And then, Theo discovered, to his horror, that typewritten copy of his speech had disappeared! The Dean said they would call on the candidates on the alphabetical order, Adams first; and the despair in his heart, Theo watched Adams calmly take the stolen speech out of pocket and read it to the professors who were gathered to hear it. And how well he read it! Even Uncle Theo had to admit he couldn't have read it nearly so eloquently himself, and when Adams finished there was a great burst of applause. Adams bowed and smiled, and sat down. Now, it was Theo's turn. But what could he do? He had put everything he knew into the lecture. His mind was too much upset to put the same thoughts in another way. With a burning face he could only repeat, word for word, in a low, dull voice, the lecture that Adams had spoken so eloquently. There was hardly any applause when he sat down. The Dean and the committee went out to decide who the successful candidate was, but everyone was sure what their decision would be. Adams leaned across to Theo and patted him on the back and said, smilingly, "Hard luck, old fellow, but after all, only one of us could win". Then the Dean and the committee came back, "Gentlemen", the Dean said, "the candidate we have chosen is Mr. Hobdell." Uncle Theo had won! The audience were completely taken by surprise, and the Dean continued, "I think I ought to tell you how we arrived at the decision. We were all filled with admiration at the learning and eloquence of Mr. Adams. I was greatly impressed. But, you will remember, Mr. Adams read his lecture to us. When Mr. Hobdell's turn came, he repeated that speech, word by word from memory, though, of course, he couldn't have seen a line of it before. Now a fine memory is absolutely necessary for this post; and what a memory Mr. Hobdell must have! This is why we decided that Mr. Hobdell was exactly the man we wanted! " As they walked out of the room, the Dean came up to Uncle Theo, who was so confused but so happy that he hardly knew whether he was standing on his head or heels; and as he shook Theo's hand he said, "Congratulations, Mr. Hobdell! But, my dear fellow, when you are on our staff, you must be more careful and not leave valuable papers lying about!" When Uncle Theo's turn came, _ . A. he felt so angry that he couldn't see a word. B. he felt so upset that he could not remember anything. C. he had to put the same thoughts in another way. D. he had to repeat the speech, word by word from memory. Answer: D Question: A recent report from Fuzhou Daily says about 18% of Fuzhou teenagers can have problems with their minds(,).Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates. Zhang Qiong, a junior 2 student from Fuzhou, could not understand his teachers in class and was doing badly in his lessons. He was afraid of exams. When he looked at the exam paper, he couldn't think of anything to write. Another student, a15-year-old girl called Wu Yuan from Xiamen often argued ( ) with herclassmates even her parents because of some difficult ideas. She became so angry with them that she started to cut her finger with a knife. However, many students who have problems won't go for advice or help. Some think they will look stupid if they go to see a doctor. Others don't want to talk about their secrets. here is some advice for the teenagers to solve the problems: Firstly, talk to your parents or teachers often. Secondly, take part in group activities and do sports. Thirdly, go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell. From the passage we know teenagers have problems with their _ minds because of. A. their study B. difficulty getting on well with other people C. their hobbies D. A and B Answer: D Question: Mary Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844. When she was seven, her family moved to Europe. They wanted their children to understand European ways and the people who lived there. They travelled a lot and she had visited many countries by the time she was 10 years old. After four years they returned to America. In those days, women didn't have professions, and there were very few women artists. Her family did not approve when she decided that she would become an artist. She studied first in Philadelphia. She happened to be in Chicago in 1871 when the huge fire broke out there. She lost many of her paintings in that fire. She went to Paris to study painting. She met Camille Pissarro there. He taught her Impressionism, a method of painting where the artists used small strokes of unmixed color1s to create an image. She once said of Pissarro that " _ " because he was such a good teacher. She spent a lot of time at the Louvre Museum copying paintings of the famous artists. In 1874, her sister, Lydia, came to live with her in Paris. Lydia was her best friend and posed for many of Mary's paintings. Three years later, her parents came to Paris, also to live with them. Lydia became very ill and died from a disease. Mary missed her very much. Her parents became elderly and she cared for them, but she still found time to paint. One of the more interesting works of Mary Cassatt is her painting, Portrait of Mrs. Curry, Sketch of Mr. Cassatt. Though she never had children of her own, she loved children and painted portraits of the children of her friends and family. She became known as the painter of mothers and children. She lost her sight due to cataracts in her eyes in 1914 and was not able to paint during the later years of her life. Why did Mary Cassatt's family move to Europe when she was seven years old? A. The family planned to make a living there. B. The family wanted to visit some European artists. C. The family took their children to study art. D. The family wanted their children to learn about Europe. Answer: D
My father often talks about his definition of success. He tells us that it isn't measured in money or material things, but in love and joy. While my brothers and I were all raised together under the same roof, I wonder how different we can be sometimes. Four kids, four different life paths, personalities and ambitions. We must follow a different path to let our light shine, and that's what makes us so unpredictable and unique. In today's world, expecting every child's education to be the same, progress at the same rate and be measured against the narrow standards of performances is not just outdated, it's also harmful to young people. I experienced this disconnect firsthand after graduating from college. I had many opportunities in front of me, but they didn't test my limits and my creativity to pursue my passions. At first, I took a job at a big consulting firm. However, I couldn't shake my passion for music. I had followed the somewhat predictable path of a college graduate, but I was crazy about how to become an artist. Now I am a nine-time Grammy Awards winner who has sold multiple Top 10 Albums. Imagine what it would look like if our schools were set up to help people discover and pursue a personal passion instead of a predictable path? The good news is that a number of individuals and organizations are finding new ways to innovate in education. The goal is to create more student-centered environments that help young people not just do better in school but also discover what they love. We can't live lives of joy if we can't discover what we love doing with our lives. So let each person discover the power and uniqueness of his or her own passion. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? Looking for some inspiration or the "write" kind of ideas for your creative stories? To start with, some writers describe winter by using their five senses or their imagination. Others write on their favorite winter activity. Whatever you choose to write about, working on a winter story can always help to improve your writing skills. Now read the following story and see if it helps get rid of any icy writing block you' ve been struggling with. A Winter Adventure Beep, beep. Beep-beep: the alarm clock rang. Slowly, I got out of warm bed down onto the wooden floor which the winter had thrown its cold upon. The bitter cold temperature penetrated my socks and I hurried to put my feet in shoes. Looking out of the window, I watched the white snow, soft and thick, drop onto rooftops and trees. Half an hour later, finishing the last of my hot chocolate, I prepared to enter the _ that waited for me outside. I buttoned my jacket and fastened my boots. Hat on, I opened the door and was greeted by the winter coldness. In the depths of winter, the early morning did not have the rush of the rest of the year. Most of my neighbours were put off by the cold, and stayed in bed until the sun had climbed higher into the sky. Unseen by those who remained locked inside their homes, warm in their beds, I enjoyed being alone with the beauty of the wintertime. Those indoors were unable to appreciate the snow-scapes, ice crystals, frost and the crisp breeze. For them, the coming of winter meant just the arrival of the cold. Appreciation depends on contrasts. One cannot love the warmth of April if one has not known the freezing cold of winter. Later that year, the heat of the sun on my skin would be all the more wonderful for my memories of that cold morning and others like it. Which of these statements is true according to the story A Winter Adventure? It is a hot summer day,and you feel thirsty. A friend gives you a glass of cold lemonade.How do you feel when you see the glass? Will you describe your feeling as happiness or as pleasure? I believe you will say it is a feeling of pleasure.There is a connection between these two kinds of feelings,and sometimes one causes the other,but they are not the same.Pleasure is more dependent on the five senses while happiness is independent of them. When you are happy,little unpleasant events usually do not disturb you.When you are unhappy,you feel as if everything is against you.You may compensate for it by eating chocolate and sweets because this gives you pleasure;yet you stay unhappy.A person may smoke cigarettes because it gives him pleasure,yet,this does not make him happier,especially if he knows the fact that it is not good for his health The physical world is always in a changing state.At each moment a new thing is being created,changed,transformed and then destroyed.This is the normal state of things and no one can change it.If we stay still in a certain state,we are sure to experience unhappiness sooner or later.On the other hand,if we adjust to the environment,nothing can influence our moods.Then outer events have nothing to do with our inner joy of mind. The room of the mind was filled with worry or fear.If you are free of thinking about them, the room has been emptied,and then you will see what is happening and experience it When your mind stays quiet,you will see that happiness comes from the inside. We can learn from the passage _ . On the way to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man with a dirty face jumped up from a chair, opened the door for us and greeted us in a friendly way. Once inside, my daughters said in a low voice, "Mom, he smells." After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look beyond the dirt. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me, I wanted to set a good example to my children, but sometimes being a good example was difficult. When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so Iwent back to the car for them. Just then, the "doorman" was opening the door for me, I said a loud "thank you" to him as I exited. When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside unless he bought food. I went back and told my family his situation. Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked puzzled, but when I said the order was for the "doorman", they smiled. When it was time to continue our trip, I noticed the "doorman" enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then lifted his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes-tears of gratitude . What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the "doorman" a hug. Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can't choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had simply helped open a door for me, and also said thanks for that opportunity to teach my children by example. The author returned to the car for car-sick pills because _ . Hello. I'm Jan from Mrs. Lake's class. My class wants to work together to help the public. We think we have found a great way to do this. Last month we did a class project on the highways near our town. We learned about the Adopt-a-Highway Program. This program brings people together to pick up litter along the roads. We think it would be a great idea for all students in our school to join the program and adopt a highway. Adopting a highway is not like adopting a pet. When a highway is adopted, only part of the highway is cared for by a group of people. The group agrees to work every week to keep its part of the highway clean. Each group gets its own sign that has the name of the group printed on it. The sign is put up at the side of the road. This sign lets drivers know who is keeping that area of the road clean. The Adopt-a-Highway Program is a great way for people to help their environment look nicer. Also, the government does not have to send out as many road workers. This saves money. Finally, people may try harder to keep roads clean if they see people, especially teenagers like us, cleaning them up. We will need helpers to care for our adopted highway. If you want to feel great and keep our roads clean,please come with your parents to the meeting next week. We will meet in Mrs. Lake' room on Wednesday at 6:00 P.M. At the meeting, we will talk about which roads are the dirtiest as a result of people's unkind acts. Then we' ll try to pick an area to adopt and clean. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Remember to keep our roads clean! What is the purpose of this speech?
Birthdays often involve surprises. But this year's surprise on the birthday of the great British playwright William Shakespeare is surely one of the most dramatic. On April 22, one day before his 441st birthday anniversary, experts discovered that one of the most recognizable portraits of William Shakespeare is a fake. This means that we no longer have a good idea of what Shakespeare looked like. "It's very possible that many pictures of Shakespeare might be unreliable because many of them are copies of this one," said an expert from Britain's National Portrait Gallery. The discovery comes after four months of testing using X-rays, ultraviolet light, microphotography and paint samples. The experts from the gallery say the image --commonly known as the "Flower portrait"-- was actually painted in the 1800s, about two centuries after Shakespeare's death. The art experts who work at the gallery say they also used modern chemistry technology to check the paint on the picture. These checks found traces of paint dating from about 1814. Shakespeare died in 1616, and the date that appears on the portrait is 1609. "We now think the portrait dates back to around 1818 to 1840. This was when there was a renewed interest in Shakespeare's plays," Tarnya Cooper, the gallery's curator , told the Associated President. The fake picture has often been used as a cover for collections of his plays. It is called the Flower portrait because one of its owners, Desmond Flower, gave it to the Royal Shakespeare Company. "There have always been questions about the painting," said David Howells, curator for the Royal Shakespeare Company. "Now we know the truth, we can put the image in its proper place in the history of Shakespearean portraiture." Two other images of Shakespeare, are also being studied as part of the investigation and the results will come out later this month. _ How many methods were used to test the portrait? Answer: Roughly speaking, teachers in traditional education may feel that students are too young to know much about the world, and have to be told what to do most of the time. By contrast, open education offers teachers quite different feelings. Students are expected to be responsible for their own education--to discover subjects by themselves instead of being made to study them. This way of teaching allows the students to grow independently and to develop their own interests in many subjects. Some students who do badly in a traditional classroom will be happier in an open classroom and enjoy learning. They will not have to worry about grades or rules at all. However, many students won't do well in an open classroom. For these students, they will do little in school if there are too few rules. They will not make good use of open education, which is so different from traditional class, because they may have a problem getting used to making so many choices on their own. For them it is important to have some rules to direct them. They may worry about the rules even when there are no rules. In addition to that, some traditional teachers do not believe in open education and do not like it either. Since both of some good points and bad points of the open education have been explained clearly, you may have your own opinion on the issue. Personally, I think that the concept of open education is good only in theory. In actual fact, it may not work very well in a real class or school. I believe, most students, but of course not all students, need some structure in their classes. They may want and need to have rules. In some cases, they must be made to study some subjects. Many students are pleased to find subjects they have to study interesting. They would not study those subjects if they did not have to. Some students will do little in an open classroom because _ . Answer: Catherine Destivelle is a rock star. She loves rock, but she can't sing or play the guitar! She is a rock climber and a big star in France and Italy. She is the most famous woman climber in the world because she often climbs without ropes. She climbs in many countries but most often in the French Alps near Chamonix, where she lives. She started climbing near her home in Paris when she was five. Then, at fourteen, she joined the French Alpine Club to learn more, but immediately she climbed better and more quickly than the older members of the club. She won her first competition in Italy in 1995. Three years ago she found a new route up the Dru Mountain near Chamonix. The climb took eleven days and for four days the snow was so heavy that she could not move. Last year other climbers tried to follow the new Destivelle Route, but they failed. They are going to try again this year. People always ask her about her climbing. She says, "I climb because I'm in love with mountains. I like touching the rock and reading the face of the rock. I like it a lot. I felt at home on the side of a mountain. I prepare well before I go, so I'm never worried." Catherine chooses new mountains from books--like buying from a shopping catalogue! "I see a nice mountain and I go to climb it!" Her next mountain is in Pakistan. She is going there next month. "It's much bigger than the Dru, so it's going to take longer to climb. An American climber, Jeff Lowe, is coming with me to help." Catherine Destivetle is called "a star" because _ . Answer: Robotics would have great difficulty in existing if these had yet to be invented. Answer: Conservationists have unveiled plans to preserve and protect the world's most important species of coral, in a response to increasing threats that they say will lead to "functional extinction" within decades. Led by scientists at the Zoological Society of London, the Edge Coral Reefs project has identified 10 coral species in most urgent risk of becoming extinct.The scientists say that reefs are under pressure from a variety of threats including rising sea temperatures due to climatic instability, increased acidity , overfishing and pollution. The Edge plan, which focuses on the most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species , will take a regional approach to conservation.This means focusing on the "coral triangle" around the Philippines, the West Indian Ocean around the Mozambique channel, and in the Caribbean channel. "Coral reefs are threatened with functional extinction in the next 20-50 years, due predominantly to global climatic instability," said Catherine Head, coordinator of the reefs project."In these regions, we'll be supporting and training in-country conservationists to carry out research and implement targeted conservation actions," she said."Their projects will last initially for two years.We provide them with a whole host of tools to carry out their projects including funding and intensive training." She added. Coral reefs are the planet's most diverse marine ecosystem , known as the rainforests of the oceans.Despite taking up under 0.2% of the ocean floor, they provide food and shelter for almost a third of all sea life.If we lose the ecosystems, we lose not only the biodiversity , but we also lose the capability of people to obtain income and food from coral reefs. Climatic instability, which leads to rising sea temperatures, causes corals to bleach.Bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise and this causes the coral tissue to expel their symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae - these are what give the coral their colour.Bleached corals often die if the stress continues.Among the 10 species chosen to start the Edge project are the pearl bubble coral, a food source for the hawksbill turtle, and the Mushroom coral, which supports at least 15 brightly colored fish. Which of the following will be the consequence of coral extinction in the passage? Answer:
A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden. The device spins and heats the material to remove the sweat, and then passes the vapor through a special membrane designed to only let water molecules get through. Since its Monday launch, its creators say more than 1,000 people have "drunk others' sweat(h)" in Gothenburg. They add the liquid is cleaner than local tap water. The device was built for the United Nation's child-focused charity UNICEF to promote a campaign highlighting the fact that 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water. The machine was designed and built by engineer Andreas Hammar, known locally for his appearances on TV tech show Mekatronik. He said the critical part of the sweat machine was a new water purification component developed by a company named HVR in collaboration with Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology. "It uses a technique called membrane distillation ," he told the BBC."We use a substance that's a bit like Gortex that only lets steam through but keeps bacteria, salts, clothing fibers and other substances out."They have something similar on the International Space Station to treat astronaut's urine - but our machine was cheaper to build. Volunteers have been sampling the treated sweat since the start of the week in Gothenburg ."The amount of water it produces depends on how sweaty the person is - but one person's T-shirt typically produces 10ml , roughly a mouthful." The equipment has been put on show at the Gothia Cup - the world's largest international youth football tournament. MattiasRonge, chief executive of Stockholm-based advertising agency Deportivo - which organized the stunt - said the machine had helped raise awareness for UNICEF, but in reality had its limitations. "People haven't produced as much sweat as we hoped - right now the weather in Gothenburg is lousy," he said."So we've installed exercise bikes alongside the machine and volunteers are cycling like crazy."Even so, the demand for sweat is greater than the supply. And the machine will never be mass produced - there are better solutions out there such as water purifying pills." What can we infer from the passage ? _ . Today, most people follow a routine, such that they are caught in a cycle of running around the clock without getting any breathing space to enjoy a satisfying life. If you could only take a pause and inspect your routine with a new outlook, you would find that it is actually easy to make some positive changes in life. Making time for yourself is one such positive change. Waking up early gives you ample time to exercise, have your breakfast peacefully, look after your garden, and then get on with the rest of your day. Morning time can be effectively used for planning the day ahead. As a result, you will get enough time to plan your schedule in a better manner. By maintaining a diary of daily tasks, you offer yourself enough time to prepare your schedule, besides not leaving out the important things that need to be done. By writing down the daily activities at hand, you can make necessary changes to the next day's schedule effectively. You don't have to spend hours in a gym every day to stay fit and healthy. In fact, even if you devote just around 20 to 30 minutes daily to exercises like stretching and walking, it can work wonders. Well, the option of using public transport to save time, at first glance, may not seem to be a good idea. However, by using public transit, you will get the time to read books or make those important calls. You would be amazed to know how reading transforms your thought process and personality as a whole. When you get habitual to watching TV, you waste so much time doing nothing constructive. Many a time, you are not really interested in watching TV. In such cases, you need to break free of this habit and invest your precious time in something worthwhile. Paint something or play a game of chess with your kids. This way, you not only make quality time for yourselves, but also create a positive environment at home. Internet surfing, these days, is one of the top time-wasting activities around. Internet users, over time, get habitual to surfing the Internet purposelessly. In fact, Internet surfing is a kind of addiction which many of us find difficult to get rid of. Thus, reducing the amount of time you are on the Internet is one way to save time for yourself. A fast-paced life should not be an excuse that is used not to look after yourself. In fact, such a lifestyle should be the very reason for you to treat yourself with great care and make more time for yourself. By maintaining a diary of daily tasks, people can . "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. According to the text, build On is most likely to help a school _ . The inventor of the world wide web,Tim BernersLee,has won an important award which comes with a prize bag of one million euros (PS671,000).The "Father of the Web" was named as the first winner of the Millennium Technology Prize by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation.He said he had just been "in the right place at the right time" and did not want his photo taken. In 1991,he came up with a system to organize,link and browse Net pages which revolutionized the Internet.The British scientist was knighted for his pioneering work in 2003. Sir Tim created his program while he was at the particle physics institute,Cern,in Geneva.The computer code he came up with let scientists easily share research findings across a computer network.In the early 1990s,it was called the "world wide web," and is still the basis of the web as we know it. The famous man never went on to commercialize his work.Instead he worked on expanding the use of the Net as a channel for free expression and cooperation. "The web is encouraging new types of social networks and opening up new ways for information management and business development.The web has significantly improved many people's ability to obtain information central to their lives,"said Pekka Tarjanne,chairman of the Millennium Technology Prize award committee. Just under 80 people from 22 countries were nominated for the prize for their work in the areas of health,communication,new materials and the environment. The Millennium Technology Prize was set up by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation,an independent body backed by the public and private money which aims to recognize outstanding creations. Sir Tim currently heads up the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston,where he is now based as an academic. After inventing the world wide web,Tim BernersLee _ . A great man married a woman and they had a little lovely girl. When the little girl was growing up, the man usually hugged her and said, "I love you, little girl." The Little girl would say, "I'm not a little girl any more." Then the man would laugh, "But to me, you'll always be my little girl." The little girl later left her home and went into the world. No matter where she was, the man would call her and say, "I love you, little girl." One day the little girl received an unexpected phone call. The great man became ill. He couldn't talk, smile, walk, hug or dance. So she went to the side of the great man. He looked at her and tried to speak, but he could not. She sat next to the great man, and drew her arms around his useless shoulders . Her head on his chest , she thought of many good memories. She felt sad as she couldn't hear the words of love that had comforted her. And then she heard from within the man, the beat of heart. The magic happened. She heard what she wanted to hear. His heart beat out the words that his mouth could no longer say... I love you, little girl... I love you, little girl. What can we learn from what the girl had done after seeing his father?
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. In Gade's opinion, the veterans who receive welfare from the government tend to . Answer: Do you know that it is your own immune system working against the virus that makes you uncomfortable when getting a cold, but not the virus itself? So when you have got a strong immune system and the virus is strong enough too, you will possibly get terrible cold symptoms( ) ? Vitamin C won't stop a cold It is claimed that Vitamin C helps by increasing white blood cells. However, many tests have shown that it does not prevent colds. At best, it only slightly reduces the rime of symptoms. Staying indoors won't protect you One of the most likely sources of cold viruses is your computer mouse or desk. A study of the cold virus in offices found that 47% of desktops, 46% of computer mice and 45% of telephones had cold viruses on them. Wrapping up warm won't protect you Colds are more common in autumn and winter. That's because the cool, wet and cold weather drives people indoors, where viruses may more easily jump from one person to another. And the distinct peak in colds is in September and early January, which is likely due to the return of students to schools and colleges after the summer and winter vacation. Old granny's chicken soup is right Granny's chicken soup is an old cure for colds since a long time ago. Scientists say it is true. Chicken soup does help cure a cold. Many canned soups are just efficient as homemade ones. The distinct peak in colds is in September and early January. That's because _ . Answer: Let's travel the world together Nickname: Zaloxx Email:jdlxx8@yahoo. com When to travel: Feb 2010-Apr 2010 Self-introduction.. A 40+ male with strong physical and financial abilities. Hope to travel in India, Singapore and Thailand for business as well as for fun. My travel plan: Fly to Delhi and spend 3 weeks in India travelling mostly in north. Fly to Singapore and Thailand for a few business matters and mainly for fun. Whom I am looking for: A female to travel with me. She should be an attractive 30-40 healthy romantic lady and love travelling and relaxing. Together for Christmas and New Year? Nickname: Rue Rose Email: sofitsao@taishin, com. tw When to travel: Dec 2010-Jan 2011 Self-introduction: I am a fit, young, looking 40 years old female, who is easy-going, fun to be with. My travel plan: Would like to go somewhere hot-Cuba, Africa, Morocco, and so on. Perhaps the Christmas and New Year there are more interesting. Whom I am looking for: A male much with similar interests. A non-smoker and light drinker. Travel in good company! Nickname: Louise Email: misskennedy@hotmail, co. uk When to travel: Jan 2010 Self-introduction: 40 years old, fun-loving and easy-going. My travel plan: I need a break and I am open to anywhere. Whom I am looking for: A male travel companion , 24-40. A non-smoker who enjoys outside activities. Prefer someone that speaks Spanish. Need a travel companion in Thailand! Nickname: Gio Email: esteban407@yahoo, com When to travel: Feb 2010-Apr 2010 Self-introduction: I am 28 years old from London. I like to keep fit and enjoy hiking and camping. My travel plan: I plan to visit Thailand and travel around the country to enjoy nature and the sunshine. Whom I am looking for: Someone around my age. A male who is willing to have an active holiday. A lady who wants to be a travel companion can send email to Answer: Here are some of the movies that inspire you to travel. The Lord of the Rings The story is about Frodo, his friends and their adventurous journey through Middle Earth. Filmed in about 150 locations all over New Zealand, this traveling movie shows its beauty. From the rolling hills of Matamata to the volcanic retrion of Mt Ruapehu, this is the best movie o see New Zealand . Also, this travel movie might have the only distinction of being inspired by ravel too. The director of the movie Peter Jackson first read the novel on a train going from ellington to Auckland when he was just seventeen. Indiana Jones. The Complete Adventure Collection Indiana Jones and travel are inseparable. Everyone remembers the red line on the world map that shows up on screen when he flies. The Egypt scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed in Tunisia. Temple of doom was filmed mostly in Sri Lanka and Macau. The Last Crusade was filmed in Italy , Spain and Jordan including an excellent view of Petra. Unlike the other, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was filmed almost entirely in the United States. However, their shots of Iguazu Falls are amazing. Romancing the Stone and jewel of the Nile This movie series focuses on a romance writer Joan and her adventures with a soldier of fortune named Jack. In Romancing the stone Joan goes to Colombia to save her sister who was kidnapped . In the sequel Joan goes to the fictional kingdom of Kadir set somewhere in the Middle East. Romancing the stone's scenes were shot mostly in Mexico. For Jewel of the Nile, the scenes were mostly shot in France and Morocco. The Telented Mr Ripley Tom Ripley is a working class young man. Through a case of mistaken identity, he is asked to go to Italy to convince a wealthy businessman's son to come home. This travel movie starts in New York and heads to the fictional resort of Mongibello . The last section of the movie is filmed mostly in Rome and Naples. The locations are beautiful. They also did a good job of showing Italy as it looked in the 1960s. If someone is interested in seeing views in Sri Lanka, he / she would most probably_watch the film Answer: In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited . About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way . Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed ( . No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus . Learning the language of a country isn't enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn't agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty . In that country, you shake your head to mean 'yes'-- a nod means 'no' . At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula, you will find that your glass is repeated refilled as soon as you drink up . If you think that you have had enough , you should take the cup or glasses in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top. In Europe it quite usual to cross your legs when you are sitting talking to someone even at an important meeting. Doing this in Thailand, however, could bring about trouble . Also, you should try to avoid touching the head of an adult ----it's just not done in Thailand . In India it is considered impolite _ . Answer:
Question: What's a big problem in Shenzhen today, do you think? Besides pollution, traffic is, of course. There are too many people, too many cars but too little space so the roads are always busy. You can almost see traffic jams everywhere. It is even worse when everyone is going to school or to work. What's more, cars need fuel to move, so they let out a lot of dirty smoke and pollute the air. However, the government is trying many ways to solve the problem. We can see more roads and footbridges over the main streets. And the workers are making some roads wider. It is said every car will have a computer. The computer can study the latest traffic news. Then it will look over its own map for the best way to drive and they won't get into traffic jams. How is the government trying to solve the problem? A. People are making old roads wider and building more roads and footbridges. B. People are driving fewer cars and walking to school. C. People are riding bikes to work and walking to school. D. People are making old roads wider and building more bridges across the rivers. Answer: A Question: The Fourth "21th Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition is to be held in prefix = st1 /Shanghai. Organizers: ChinaDaily andShanghaiBroadcasting Network. Co-ordinater: China University English Speaking Association (CUESA). Co-sponsors : English Speaking Union (ESU), Lotus Software (China)Co. Ltd. , Times Publishing Group of Singapore, HiltonShanghai, Pearson Education, Foreign Language Teaching & Research Press. Date: March 26 ( Friday), 2007 Place: Hilton Shanghai. Competition Format : Each student will present a prepared speech on the given topic, followed by a three -minute off - hand speech and a three - minute question and answer period with the judges. Prepared speech period: six minutes. Q & A period: three minutes. Speech topic: People and Nature: In search of harmony in a new age + your personal opinion. (Topics for the off hand speech will be given on the day of competition). Prizes: Besides books and certificates , the top two winners will be offered scholarships to travel to the annual international English -speaking competition which will be held by the English Speaking Union in London in May, 2007. The third and fourth place winners will be offered a study trip to Singapore, sponsored by the Times Publishing Group. The fifth through 10th place winners will be offered cash prizes. All the competitors will receive certificates from the English Speaking Union and book prizes provided by Pearson Education and Foreign Language Teaching & Research Press. The teachers of the top winners will also receive a one - year membership to the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language(IATEFL) Suppose you get the sixth place, you'll _ . A. travel to Londonfor free. B. become a one - year member of IATEFL C. get some money , some books and a certificate D. get a chance to study in Singapore Answer: C Question: Tommy:Hello, Tina. Tina: Hello, Tommy. Tommy: I can't find my cat . Tina, do you see it? Tina: No, I don't. Is it under the chair? Tommy: No. Tina: Is it behind(......)the door? Tommy: Let me see. My schoolbag is here. Where is my cat? Tina: Hey, Tommy. Look,it's on your bed. Tommy: Yes. Thank you,Tina. Mimi,come here. _ is looking for the cat. A. Tommy B. Mimi C. Tina D. I don't know Answer: A Question: 2014 saw that the Ebola virus reappeared in Guinea and soon spread into neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone, killing over 7,800 people by the new year of 2015. It leads to viral hemorrhagic fever, which is characterized by high fever and internal bleeding etc. Ebola is named after the Ebola River, where it was first discovered in 1976. There are five different types of the Ebola virus, each named after where they first happened: Sudan, Ivory Coast, Reston, Bundibugyo, and Zaire. The deadliest of the five, Zaire, was responsible for the 2012 out- break, and is believed to be attacking Guinea. Ebola is naturally found in fruit bats, which pass on the virus to other animals by biting or sucking on their blood. Humans who are suffering from the Ebola infection might have touched the bodily fluids of the infected animals. Once infected, a human becomes a carrier of the deadly virus. Unfortunately, there are no disease - specific treatments for Ebola. Health - care workers only supply the infected people with physiological saline to keep them in good condition. Ebola can kill 90% of those infected, especially in underdeveloped societies like those in Africa. Since there have been many cases of nurses catching the disease from patients, they are forced to wear strict protective clothes, and in some cases, not even allowed to get close to the infected. The fact that there is no cure for the Ebola virus is what makes the outbreak a challenging one to control. What's worse, since we live in an interconnected world, where the situation in one country can affect us all, the influences of Ebola are huge: damaging trade relations, affecting foreign visitors, and weakening entire countries. It is feared that the disease may spread throughout west African countries. For every country, a strong health system can decrease the risk of health attack and lessen the impact of Ebola. Which of the following is true? A. There are no effective drugs to treat Ebola by far. B. Ebola is now very common in Guinea. C. Those with a fever must be infected by Ebola. D. Females are easier to be infected by Ebola. Answer: A Question: You don't know what you've got until it's gone. I've learned that through my personal experiences. A few months ago, I woke up deaf in one ear. I did not pay much attention to it at first. It felt that I had water in my ear. However, I began to hear less and less out of that ear. I even had to ask people to talk into my other ear so that I could hear them. I didn't realize how serious it was until late in the day . One evening, when I was sitting on my bed doing chemistry homework, I fell off my bed. When trying to get up, I was incredibly dizzy . I went to see a doctor and he told me that hearing loss was common. However, hearing loss is usually bilatera _ or occurs in both ears. He said that my hearing should come back within a week. After about a week the dizziness eventually went away, but the hearing loss did not. The medicine helped and I gained some of my hearing back. After many hearing tests, the doctor diagnosed that I had permanent hearing loss in that ear. School became harder for me because I couldn't hear my teachers. I was very depressed. Finally, I bought a hearing aid. With the hearing aid, my hearing is almost back to normal. It makes school and group conversations easier. My friends, teachers and even complete strangers always ask me questions about hearing loss. I answer them patiently. I never get offended because I know this is new to them. I am delighted that I can teach them something new. What I have learned from this particular situation is that when things are desperate(;), there is always something good that can come out of it. My experiences have given me an opportunity to teach people about hearing loss and also taught me about the value of hearing. The author fell off his bed when _ . A. getting up from bed B. doing his homework C. waking up from a dream D. wearing his clothes Answer: B
The quickest way to make friends with others is to smile . When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy to smile at first, but you can practice it in front of a mirror . When you look at yourself in the mirror, think about the difference between a smiling face and a sad or an angry face. Most people will stay away from a sad or an angry face. The easiest way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him or her. For example, you can _ someone's great answer to a teacher's question, a great prize, a nice shirt, etc. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking with that person? Also, ask your new friends questions about themselves. For example, who are their favorite singers and what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. _ is the quickest way to make friends with others. A. Smiling B. Practicing C. Asking questions D. Saying nice words Answer: A. Smiling The National Trust has many campsites in scenic locations all over the UK. Make the most of the last days of summer by living outdoors and taking in these beautiful landscapes. Here are some of the most popular places to go. Low Wray, Cumbria Low Wray is a lovely campsite situated on the western shore Windermere in the Lake District. There are magnificent views across the water to Wansfell Pike and the Fairfield Horseshow and the site is an ideal base for water sports with on-site access for launching. Phone 05139463862 or _ . Houghton Mill, Cambridgeshire This site is situated on the banks of the Great Ouse with spectacular views across the river to the Trust's Houghton Mill, the last working mill on this river. Mill demonstrations are held every Sunday during the season and the site is situated near the picturesque village of Houghton. There are plenty of footpaths for walkers, horse riders and cyclists along the waterways. _ or phone 01480466716. Wasdale Head, Cumbria Wasdale is a great base for climbers of all abilities. The site is nestled under the Scafell mountain range at the head of beautiful Wastwater, the deepest lake in England. Canoeing is possible on Wastwater although limited to no more than 15 on the lake at a time. Phone 01212765416 or _ . Highertown Farm, Cornwall A small, basic campsite situated in the quiet hamlet of Lansallos with fine views of the south-east Cornwall coast and not far from a secluded beach. Bookings may be necessary at peak time. Email or phone 01208265211 Lundy, Bristol Channel Lundy Island is an unspoilt island, home to a fascinating array of wildlife amidst dramatic scenery. There are passages from Bideford and Ilfracombe according to the tides, 1 April-31Oct and a winter helicopter service 1 Nov-31 March. Email or phone 01271863636 for more information. If you are interested in cycling, which number would you like to dial? A. 05139463862 B. 01208265211 C. 01480466716 D. 01271863636 Answer: C. 01480466716 Every athlete,from Tiger Woods(a golf player)to a high school quarterback ,uses a form of self-hypnosis to move their game to the next level Use the Olympics to 1earn how to use the amazing power of your subconscious to do the same with your sport. Here are some examples of how to best use the power of the mind: During the 2004 Olympics,one of the swimmers told of how she would fall asleep each night with the picture of a clock in her mind. It was the timer's clock she would see at the end of her Olympic swim and it always had her world-record-breaking time on it. In his pre-shot routine, Tiger Woods never varies the number of practice swings or intensity of his concentration.The pre-shot routine is always the same so that the stroke will always be the same. Michael Phelps,American Swimming Gold Medalist, always stretches out his back and arms by swinging both arms three times before his event. Not 2,not 4: always 3. He is anchoring in his winning state of mind and state of body as well as stretching. In athletics, an anchor is a gesture or series of gestures that put you into the frame-of mind(and body)you want to be in to win.Repetition is what makes it work .That means practice,practice,practice ---- with your body as well as your mind. Begin right now creating a ritual before you exercise.Visualize yourself doing whatever you do faster, longer, higher--whatever adverb works best for your particular activity. Then begin to mentally practice it. See or imagine yourself-----with your ideal body ---- doing your activity better, faster, longer, etc. Using both the power of your brain and the activity of your body, soon you will be better and fitter as you use the Olympics to help you create a happier and healthier you. The example of Tiger Woods shows that _ . A. golf players always do the same pre--shots before events B. Tiger Woods attaches great importance to mind power C. Tiger Woods doesn't want to give away his skills before events D. golf players never change their habits Answer: B. Tiger Woods attaches great importance to mind power The Man of Many Secrets -- Harry Houdini -- was one of the greatest American entertainers in the theater this century. He was a man famous for his escapes -- from prison cells, from wooden boxes floating in rivers, from locked tanks full of water. He appeared in theaters all over Europe and America. Crowds came to see the great Houdini and his "magic" tricks. Of course, his secret was not magic, or supernatural powers. It was simply strength. He had the ability to move his toes as well as he moved his fingers. He could move his body into almost any position he wanted. Houdini started working in the entertainment world when he was 17, in 1891. He and his brother Theo performed card tricks in club in New York. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. When Harry married in 1894, he and his wife Bess worked together as magician and assistant. But for a long time they were not very successful. Then Harry performed his first prison escape, in Chicago in 1898. Harry persuaded a detective to let him try to escape from the prison, and he invited the local newspapermen to watch. It was the publicity that came from this that started Harry Houdini's success. Harry had fingers trained to escape from handcuffs and toes trained to escape ankle chins. But his biggest secret was how he unlocked the prison doors. Every time he went into the prison cell, Bess gave him a kiss for good luck -- and a small skeleton key, which is a key that fits many locks, pass quickly from her mouth to his. Harry used these prison escapes to build his fame. He arranged to escape from the local prison of every town he visited. In the afternoon, the people of the town would read about it in their local newspapers, and in the evening every seat in the local theater would be full. What was the result? World-wild fame, and a name remembered today. According to the passage, Houdini's success in prison escapes depends on _ . A. his special tricks and supernatural powers B. his unusual ability and a skeleton key C. his magic tricks and unhuman powers D. his wisdom and magic tricks Answer: B. his unusual ability and a skeleton key Students must apply for a place before attending any class.Applications,either by post or in person,are dealt with strictly in the order _ are received at the Adult Education Office. You can apply: BY POST-use the card provided with the exact fee.You will be accepted for the course unless it is full.in which case we will inform you.An acknowledgement will not be made nor a receipt sent unless you provide a stamped addressed envelope.Receipts will normally be given out at the first class. IN PERSON-call at the Adult Education Office(first floor,Block C)between approximately 9:00 a.m.and 3:30 p.m.(2:30 p.m.on Friday),or at the College Reception Desk(at the main entrance)at the other times(in the evenings until about 7:30 P.m.-not Fridays).Students should note that popular classes may be full before the course is to start,so that early application is strongly advised to avoid unhappiness. For the AUTUMN TERM,applications will be accepted by post(preferably)or in person from 1st August. For the SPRING TERM,applications will be accepted from 1st December. For the SUMMER TERM,applications will be accepted from 1st April. If students want to apply for the AUTUMN TERM,_. A. they must apply in person B. they'd better apply by post C. they must make applications by August 1st D. they should check whether the course is full Answer: B. they'd better apply by post
We are all interested in equality, but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality, others, still in the name of equality, want only to destroy it. Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils. The standards may be changed ---- no examination is perfect ---- but to have no external tests or examinations would mean the end of equality and of standards. There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in external examinations or in any controls in schools or on teachers. This would mean that everything would depend on luck since every pupil would depend on the efficiency, the ideal and the purpose of each teacher. Without external examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected schools and from families known to them ---- a form of favoritism will replace equality. At the moment, the bright child from an ill-respected school can show certificates to prove he or she is suitable for a job, while the lack of a certificate shows the unsuitability of a dull child attending a well - respected school. This defense of excellence and opportunity would disappear if external examinations were taken away, and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his or her school's fame, unable to compete for employment with the child from the favored school. The opponents of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils. According to these people, there must be no special, different, academic class. They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection. The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer. These people are not just against school organization, but are at war with the whole idea of modem competitive society and they are using children in schools for their destructive purposes. There is no reason why we should allow such people to determine the way our schools are organized when it is to the obvious disadvantage of the pupils, of the schools and of our society as a whole. According to the passage, the writer thinks that _ . A changing the standards could mean the end of equality B standards must keep changing in order to achieve equality C there would be no standards without external examinations D we cannot have standards because examinations are not perfect Answer: C. there would be no standards without external examinations As prices and building costs keep rising, the "do-it-yourself" (DIY) trend in the U.S. continues to grow. "We needed furniture for our living room." Says John Ross, "and we just didn't have enough money to afford it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs." John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $ 280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house. Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $ 420. "I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself." John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourself", you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself. When the writer says Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim _ A makes shoes in his home B does extra work at night C does his own car and home repairs D keeps house and looks after his children Answer: B. does extra work at night Many gardeners believe that "talking" to their plants helps them grow---it turns out that _ may not be crazy after all. According to the scientists from the University of Exeter, plants may keep communicating with each other through a secret "unseen" language. For their experiment, the scientists picked a cabbage plant that is known to send out a gas when its surface is cut. In order to get video evidence of the communication, they changed the cabbage gene by adding the protein---luciderase , which is what makes fireflies glow in the dark. When the changed cabbage plant was in full bloom, they cut a leaf off with a pair of scissors, and almost immediately, thanks to the luciderase, they could see the plant sending out "methyl jasmonate ". While this was a known fact, what was surprising was the fact that the minute this gas began to give out, the nearby cabbage plants seemed to sense some kind of danger and started to send out a gas that they normally have to keep predators like caterpillars away. What the scientists are not sure is whether the plants are trying to warn the other leaves or the near plants about the danger---something that will require further research However, the team, which is led by Professor Nick Smirnoff, is quite excited about the findings because this is the first time it has been proved that plants do not live a passive life, but actually move, sense and even communicate with each other. However, before you get all concerned, they are quite sure that plants do not feel the pain when they are cut, since they do not have nerves---so go ahead and bite into that juicy carrot! When the plant sent out methyl jasmonate, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE? A The nearby cabbage plants seemed to sense some kind of danger. B The nearby cabbage plants started to send out a gas. C The nearby cabbage plants tried to warn the near plants. D The nearby cabbage plants communicated through a secret language. Answer: C. The nearby cabbage plants tried to warn the near plants. Photosynthesis features A single celled organisms B humans C cats D fish Answer: A. single celled organisms In reflecting on the events of my life that have impacted me, I returned to the night of August 1, 2006. I found myself in a hall in New York City sitting by my mother, not at all tired, although we had flown the day before, and driven five hours to the city for "An Evening with Harry, Carrie and Garp," a charity event with readings by three authors. The excitement rushing through me kept me awake and thinking; I was standing and applauding a woman as she prepared to read. The Harry Potter series was my gateway to my academic adolescence. I was so fascinated by the magic world that my mother began taking me to academic conferences focused on the books. Since 2005, I have attended presentations about the Latin origin of terms and spells, the ancient tales, and the idea of magic. These books opened my eyes to the whole world, and to knowledge itself. They kept my brain working over the summers. More importantly, they helped me adopt the ideas useful in school and beyond, that there is always another way to do something, or to understand an issue. With uncertainty and doubt come creative ideas and new ways to look at problems that may result in new, different, faster and easier solutions. And all this came from a little "magic" from a book that many people see as a series for children. I also attended lectures about Ms. Rowling's ability to beautifully write the story, with every small detail connected to something else, for example, details in books by Jonathan Swift to Chaucer to Dickens and Austin. I learned that like all great books, Rowling's stories encouraged a connection across mind, body, and soul. Although the series has been criticized by those who believe it encourages bad behavior in children, I was able to hear discussions by those who claimed that these books teach wonderful messages if one gets its deeper meaning. It is my generation's shared text; all college freshmen are familiar with the stories, and that gives us a set of common beliefs and ideas that help us start to learn new things. The Harry Potter books led the author to _ . A getting jobs in summers B studying harder in school C writing books for children D viewing things in new ways Answer: D. viewing things in new ways
After Mom died, l began visiting Dad every morning before I went to work. He was frail and moved slowly, but he always had a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on the kitchen table for me, along with an unsigned note reading," Drink your juice." Such a gesture, l knew, was as far as Dad had ever been able to go in expressing his love. In fact, l remember, as a kid I had questioned Mom "Why doesn't Dad love me?" Mom frowned, "Who said he doesn't love you?" "Well, he never tells me, "I complained." He never tells me either," she said, smiling. " But look how hard he works to take care of us, to buy us food and clothes, and to pay for this house. That's how your father tells us he loves us. " I nodded slowly. I understood in my head, but not in my heart. l still wanted my father to put his arms around me and tell me he loved me. Dad owned and operated a small scrap metal business, and after school I often hung around while he worked. Dad handled scrap steel into a device that chopped it as cleanly as a butcher chops a rack of ribs. The machine looked like a giant pair of scissors, with blades thicker than my father's body. If he didn't feed those terrifying blades just right, he risked serious injury. "Why don' t you hire someone to do that for you?" Mom asked Dad one night as she bent over him and rubbed his aching shoulders with a strong smelling liniment. "Why don't you hire a cook?" Dad asked, giving her one of his rare smiles. Many years later, during my first daily visit, after drinking the juice my father had squeezed for me. l walked over, hugged him and said, "I love you, Dad." From then on I did this every morning. My father never told me how he felt about my hugs, and there was never any expression on his face when I gave them. The author's father didn't hire a helper because _ . . A. he wanted to save money B. his job required high skills C. his job was too dangerous D. he was not good at communicating with others Answer: A Everyone seems to be in favor of progress. But "progress" is a funny word. It doesn't necessarily mean that something has become stronger, wiser or better. It simply means changing it from being one thing to another and sometimes it turns out to be worse than before. Consider medicine, for instance. No one can deny that medical progress has enriched our lives greatly. Because of medical advancements, we eat better, live easier and are able to take care of ourselves more efficiently. We can cure disease with no more than one injection or a pill. If we have a serious accident, doctors can put us back together again. If we are born with something defective , they can repair it. They can ease our pain, replace worn parts and give us children. They can even bring us back from death. These are wonderful achievements, but there is a price we have to pay. Because medicine has reduced death, the population has been rising steadily, in spite of serious efforts to reduce the rate of population growth. A child born in the United States today has better than a 90% chance of survival . Furthermore, medical advances have ensured that most of those new-born children will live to be seventy years of age or more. The result of this progress is a great population increase that threatens the quality of life, brought about by progress in the medical profession . According to the passage, "progress" means _ . A. something has become better B. something has become worse C. something has become funny D. something has changed Answer: D Bushwick is a tough place to grow up. This part of Brooklyn, in New York City, has a lot of crime. More than half of its 100,000 residents rely on aid from the government. Only 50% of students at Bushwick High School graduate in four years. Some people might say, "We should help these poor kids who have so many challenges." But Malaak Compton-Rock looks at the teens in Bushwick and says, " Go to help kids who have even bigger challenges than you do." She believes that once young people see the power they have to make things better, they can handle their own problems more easily. So her service group, the Angel Rock Project, took 30 Bushwick kids to Soweto, in South Africa, to help poor families there. Soweto is a township outside the city of Johannesburg. The effort, called Journey for Change, aims to show that any kid can change the world. "Kids in Bushwick face pressure to drop out of school or become involved in gangs and drugs." Says Compton-Rock. "We want them to live a life of purpose and service." In Soweto, many parents have died of AIDS, a deadly disease. When that happens, a grandparent or a child must lead the family. The Bushwick volunteers helped such families. They tended vegetable gardens, cared for babies and bought groceries. "The saddest thing was when we visited an orphanage and I helped a little boy who had been abandoned because he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS," says Queen Clyde, 12. "It's been good to be on this trip. But what's also important is what we do when it's finished. That's what counts." " I never appreciated what I had until I saw some people who had nothing," says Sadara Lewis, 12 "It's really changed my attitude. I want to make a difference." The trip was two weeks long. But the kids, aged 12 to 15, will spend all year speaking about their experience, fund-raising and more. From the passage we know that _ . A. there are few students in Bushwick High School B. the trip to Soweto will have a long influence in spite of its short time. C. most children are suffering from AIDS in Soweto D. kids with HIV will be abandoned in Soweto Answer: B Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career? It means a lot. Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma. Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields - without having to go to college full-time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking & Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! 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Then, write in the name and number of the program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities. In the field you've chosen. Act today! Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589. Call anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.harcourt-learning.com E-mail: Harcourt@learning.com People can get a Specialized Associate Degree by _ . A. doing full-time learning at school B. working in some big famous companies C. studying in their spare time D. studying abroad for two years Answer: C I regularly train at a local boxing gym and I'm lucky enough to meet an amazing man, Adrian Charter. Adrian comes to the gym to train, just like me. The difference is, I'm 31 years old, and Adrian is 72! I watched Adrian as he was training, early on a Sunday morning, and he was hitting the punching bag harder and quicker than most men in their twenties would. Adrian was a former boxer whose last professional fight was in 1972. Even though he has stopped competing as a boxer, his discipline still makes him stick to a training rule. It simply amazed me as to how a 72-year-old man could train so hard. Believe me, boxing is one of the most difficult sports on the earth, needing much patience,skill, and effort. What surprised me even more was that a few days earlier he did some running. He ran 9 kilometers. He does this on a regular basis. For me, I can run 5 kilometers at most. When I questioned him about how he kept such discipline, he calmly replied, "It is all in my mind." I thought about it for a moment. If discipline can push a 72-year-old man to train so hard and enjoy it, could I imagine how discipline could serve every single human being on the earth? Right at this point, as you read this story, please pause and ask yourself, "What is my level of discipline?" Adrian's example told me that the power of discipline will get us to the finishing line! _ What does the author think of boxing? A. It has high requirements. B. It has strict training rules. C. It has a limit to people's age. D. It makes people become quick and strong. Answer: A
Question: Dear Lan Lan, I'm now writing to you at Hartsop, a village in the Lake District, a place to have most beautiful scenery in English couple here to spend Christmas with them. This was planned for overseas students to know British way of life by living with British families. We came two days before Christmas and during our stay, we have had everything we expected. Christmas turkey, Christmas cake, Christmas puddings, Christmas parties and Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree. All are exciting and amusing, but above all these, we are deeply touched by the hospitality of the family, Roger and Anne Marie. Anne Marie was a nurse and all these days, she had been busy cooking meals, washing dishes and showing us around. Roger, who was a doctor, knows a lot about China and still wants to know more. He plays us Chinese music and it seems to me he does better in that than we do. In the evenings, we all sit around the fireplace with Tim, a lovely dog, by our side. Like long-time-no-see friends, we talk about all the things that have happened or we hope to happen in our lives. There is always so much to tell and to know. After three months away from home, we are again feeling how sweet a home can be. Roger and Anne Marie are not like most of the other people we have met who always make us feel we are foreigners in a foreign country. They show such kindness to us that they bring us a person-to-person feeling, instead of a British-to-Chinese feeling. They make us believe that though there are differences of languages and cultures, one may always expect to find in every corner of the world the feeling of love and being loved. How I wish Mum and Dad could meet them! How I wish you were here with me! How strange it is that the more I feel at home here, the more I miss my real home and all of you. We always talk about "when we go back home next year..." and soon we will turn this into "when we go back home THIS year..." for the New Year's Day is coming. Miss you. Love Cao Wen In the writer's opinion, the best home is_. A. the home they stayed in England B. the home that you left behind C. Chinese home D. one's own home Answer: D Question: Soaring divorce rates around the globe are _ the environment ,American researchers suggested in a study released Monday . Michigan State University researcher Jianguo "Jack "Liu and his assistant Eunice Yu said the increasing number of divorces leads to more households with fewer people and greater consumption of water and energy .They said housing units require space ,construction materials and fuel to heat and cool ,regardless of the number of inhabitants . For example ,in the United States in 2005, divorced households consumed an extra 73 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 627 billion gallons of water ,An additional 38 million extra rooms required heating and lighting that same year due to divorced households . "A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household ", Liu said ,He said that in cohabitating households ,people will watch the same television ,share the air conditioning and heat and use the same refrigerator ,all things that use energy at a regularly stable rate regardless of the number of uses . Liu said he was not condemning divorce ," Some people really need to get divorces "He said cohabitation ---- whether by a family ,friends or even in a commune ------ was simply a more environmentally friendly option ,Additionally ,the researchers noted that trends other than divorce are also changing family living structures ,such as the end of multiple generations of a family sharing a home and people remaining single longer . "People's first reaction to this research is surprise ,and then it seems simple ":Liu said in a release " But a lot of things become simple after research is done .Our challenges were to connect the dots and quantify their relationships People have been talking about how to protect the environment and combat climate change ,but divorce is an overlooked factor that needs to be considered . " He said the increasing energy demands caused by divorce should be considered by governments when they are creating environmental policies . It can be inferred from the passage that _ A. divorced households will stimulate the sales of products B. married households are more willing to protect the environment C. divorced households contribute more to the society's development D. divorce is not taken into account when people are protecting the environment Answer: D Question: Cars are the most important part of life in the United States. Without a car most people feel that they are poor. And even if a person is poor he doesn't feel really poor when he has a car. Henry Ford was the man who first started making cars in large numbers. He probably doesn't know how much the car was going to affect American culture. The car made the United States a nation on wheels. And it helped to make the United States what it is today. There are many reasons that the car became so popular in the United States. First of all, the country was a large one and Americans like to move around in it. The car provides the most comfortable and cheapest from of transportation. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money. The second reason that cars are popular is the fact that the United States never really developed an efficient and inexpensive form of public transportation. Long distance trains have never been as common in the United States as they are in the other parts of the world. Nowadays there is good system of air service provided by planes. But it is too expensive to be used frequently. The third reason is the most important one. The American spirit of independence is what really made cars popular. Americans don't like to wait for a bus, or a train or even a plane. They don't like to have to follow an exact schedule. A car gives them the freedom to plan their own time. And this is the freedom that Americans want most to have. The gas shortage has caused a big problem for Americans. But the answer will not be a bigger system of public transportation. The real solution will have to be a new kind of car, one that does not use so much gas. Most Americans feel they are poor when they _ A. are out of work B. don't have enough food C. have no money D. have no cars Answer: D Question: Finding time to enjoy life is becoming harder and harder. As the average workweek lengthens, leisure time drops. Yet some of the world's busiest people are able to develop rewarding careers and also make time for family and leisure activities. Here is their best advice plus that of time-management experts: 1. Use your peak hours wisely. People tend to be most alert in late morning and midevening. Afternoon brings an increase in sleepiness. Use your high-efficiency hours to handle difficult jobs or engage in creative thinking. For low-efficiency times, concentrate on cleaning up or sorting your mail. By adapting to your mental condition, you can accomplish more in less time. 2. Make a plan. Just 20 minutes of organizing can save an hour of extra effort remembering what must be done. "Don't try to carry your life around in your head," says Lucy Hedrick, author of Five Days to an Organized Life. "Write things down so you can free your brain for more inventive pursuit ." 3. Discourage drop-ins. The person who welcomes every visitor will get plenty of conversation but won't accomplish much. The trick is to develop harmless ways to protect yourself from minute-stealing interruptions. David E. Levy, a public-relations consultant , uses an alternative to the open-door policy by keeping his door half open. The message is clear: he really doesn't want you to come in, but you can if it is important. 4. Tame the telephone. Few devices save more minutes--or waste so many more--than the telephone. Signal the end of your conversation with a phrase such as "Before we hang up..." You can save even more time by not taking every incoming call. Keep a record of when people you call regularly are least busy and call them at those times. Even better, make appointments to call important contacts. To help us gain an extra hour every day, a clockmaker in Dallas has created a timer measuring each minute at 57.6 seconds. The 2.5 seconds borrowed from each minute add up to an extra 60 minutes at the end of each day. Why does David E. Levy keep his door half open? A. To show drop-ins are not welcome at all. B. To tell drop-ins to come if they want. C. To keep unimportant visitors from dropping in. D. To indicate he is expecting a visitor. Answer: C Question: Full of beauty, happiness and a healthy love of life, the Bulgarian festivals and customs date back to old time when man tried to live in peace with nature. The merriest and richest festivals are Christmas and the New Year, when the socalled "sourvakari" makes the round of house with wishes for health and wealth. Other main festivals include "ladouvane" -- a holiday for young girls on New Year's Day or Midsummer Day (24th June), Shrovetide and Mummers' Games which mark the start of spring, and "lazrouvane" -- a traditional festival for love and family, health and richness.And among them, the widely popular and typical Bulgarian customs and festivals are "martenitsas" and rosepicking. Every year on March 1st, the Bulgarians give each other "martenitsas" -- a small doll made of white and red strings, a symbol of the beginning of spring, health and happiness. In late May and early June every year, the rosepicking season starts in the Valley of Roses which is between the Balkan Range and the Sredna Gora Mountains. Rosepicking starts at dawn, before sunrise and before the pleasant smell of the rose has disappeared. The Bulgarian rose produces 70 percent of the world's rose oil which is used by the very wellknown perfume company as a basic element of its products. This is the time of the Festival of Roses, celebrated with carnivals, happy activities, folk songs and dances in Karlovo and Kazanluk on the first Sunday in June. This passage is most likely to appear in a _ . A. magazine of travel B. book on world culture C. history book D. daily newspaper Answer: B
In learning a foreign language, one should first pay attention to speaking. It is the groundwork of reading and writing. You'd better try your best to speak. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. But be careful not to let them keep you from improving the language. While you are doing this, a good exercise is to write - keep a diary, write notes, letters or articles, then if you can, ask someone to go through what you have written and tell you where is wrong . Many mistakes in your speaking will be easily found when you write. Through correcting the mistakes, you can do better in learning a language. If you are slow in speaking, don't worry. One of the helpful ways is by reading, either aloud or to yourself. The important thing is to choose something interesting to read. It can't be too difficult for you. When you are reading in this way, don't stop to look up the words if you can guess their meanings or if they have nothing important to do with the sentence. You can do that some other time . When you find some new words in reading, you shouldn't _ A guess their meaning B to on reading C stop to look them up in the dictionary D keep on reading the important sentence Answer: C It is commonly known that Japan went from a 19th century national economy to a 20th century global economy in a time span of 30 years between 1945 and 1975. What is less known is that Japan, understanding that fast, efficient transport was the key to a global economy, was the first country in the world to introduce the "Bullet Train". Kawasaki Heavy Industries was duly appointed the manufacturer and the first high speed train went "on line" in 1964. The Shinkansen, as is known in Japan, made its first journey between her capital and Osaka, a distance of 301 miles, at a speed of 132 mph. The next country to introduce high speed trains was France. SNGF, the public rail system in France, was losing passengers to other forms of transport and introduced the "TGV" (Train a Grande Vitesse) to counteract the trend in 1981. As a result of Opec controlling the oil market in 1974, the train was designed to be powered by gas turbines. It ran on a specially built track between Lyon and Paris. Eight years later another TGV was introduced, this time between the coast and Paris. Soon, France became the most rail efficient country in the world with high speed train connections to Belgium, London, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands. There was another positive element that resulted from the introduction of high speed trains. Between 1964 and 1991, Japan's Shinkansen had transported in excess of three billion passengers without there being a single fatal accident and eleven years after France introduced the TGV, it still had a 100% safety record. This statistic has never been equaled by the traditional slow moving trains in any country. China has become the fourth country to produce such trains, after France, Germany and Japan. China's first domestically produced bullet train with a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour has rolled off the production line. Equipped with highly-efficient power system, the currently fastest train in China is also energy efficient. When the train is running, it can transfer kinetic energy into electricity, so that it can ensure its electricity supply even when it is cut off from the power grids. In all, such trains are expected to be in commercial operation by the end of 2010. What is the main idea of this passage? A Bullet trains are the most convenient means of transportation compared with others. B Bullet trains are the only key to developing the economy of a country. C Bullet trains can save time and energy for people. D Bullet trains have many advantages and are accepted by more and more countries. Answer: D About 10 years ago my daughter was about 2500 kilometers from Newcastle, and rang me one day crying because of an emotional problem she was facing. She was about 20, and in a town known as Ayrlie Beach in Northern Queensland. I asked her what it was that she needed most in that moment, and she replied that she needed support, and my arms around her would be the best thing that she could hope for! Because I couldn't do that in that exact moment, I asked her to describe her surroundings to me (I have ly no idea 'why', at the time), and said that if she hadn't heard from me in about 30 minutes, she could ring me back. I asked her to stay exactly where she was. After hanging up the phone, I just sat for a few seconds. After only a very short time a phone number jumped into my head. I rang the number and it was a woman who had bought a house from me about 18 months previously, when I was working in Real Estate. My exact words to her were these, "Oh, it's you Liz, I have no idea why I'm calling you in particular, but my daughter is in trouble in Ayrlie Beach, and I just got the thought to ring you and tell you that. Have you any idea why?" "It could be because my son lives there," says Liz. "Oh really, that's got to be it," I said. "Do you mind giving me his phone number, Liz?" "Of course not, and I can only hope that he can be of some help!" I rang straight away (only about 5 minutes have passed since telling my daughter that somehow I'd get her help). Fortunately, he answered immediately, and I told him the story of who I was, and why I'd rung. I gave him the description of my daughter; where she was standing; and that she needed emotional support if he could find it in his heart to help out so unexpectedly like this. "Oh yes, I can see her," he said..."she's right across the street from where I'm standing!" He walked across the street and told my daughter that her Dad had sent him! Imagine that...she almost fainted: only about 10 minutes had passed since she had rung me! I believe that she said something like this, "Wow, Dad's getting pretty good at this stuff!". That's intuition at it's best! The author's daughter probably felt _ when the man told her that her dad had sent him. A disappointed B doubtful C excited D surprised Answer: D Here is a photo of my family. These are my parents, Jack Ken and Mary Ken. My father is a teacher and my mother is a nurse . This is my brother David and this is my sister Jane. And the little girl is me .I have a happy family. I love my family. Jack Ken and Mary Ken have _ son(s) and _ daughter(s). A one; two B one; three C two; one D one; one Answer: A One day when the famous American scientist Edison was on his way home, a young man stopped him and required to have a word with him. Edison accepted his request. The young man asked, "How can you invent so many things and achieve your fame?" The scientist said, "It seems that you have been thinking of becoming famous every day." The young man nodded, "Yes. I have been dreaming of being a person as notable as you. Every minute I am thinking of how to become reputable. I don't know when I can achieve my fame (,)." Edison told him, "Don't worry, young man. If you want to be a famous man this way, you will have to wait until you die!" "Why should I?" the young man was puzzled. Edison said, "What you dream is actually a high building. You never think of how to build it with bricks . Thus the building will never come into reality . However, your story can serve as a mirror. People will remember you because of your illness and laziness. They will often speak of your name while they give warnings to their children. Aren't you a notorious person by then?" The story mainly tells us _ . A a person needs high spirit B one shouldn't dream of becoming famous C only by hard work can one's wish come into reality D one person shouldn't be idle and lazy Answer: C
Alice spends her summer vacations walking back into history. Alice is 15 and she is a guide who shows visitors around the Fort Delaware Museum in New York. "This year, I spun wool on a spinning wheel. Last year, I was a candle maker. My first year, I cared for the garden and looked after the animals. All the jobs I've had at the fort have been really fun." Fort Delaware is a living-history museum that shows how life was in frontier America in the mid-1700s. "Reading about history can't compare to experiencing it for yourself," says Alice. The experience begins as soon as visitors enter the fort. The smell of wood smoke fills the air. Women in petticoats (long skirts) and men in knee breeches(knee-length shorts) are busy with their chores. The guides show visitors how the settles would have carried out everyday work. "Kids are surprised when I tell them that one of their jobs would have been to make candles," says another guide, 16-year-old Jane. "They don't realize that kids back then had to work hard." She also shows visitors how to play with toys and games. They are playing historical parts, so the guides can't wear shorts or T-shirts when the weather is hot. But the clothes of the past can easily change modern kids into people from 18th century. "The clothing felt strange at first, but it does make it easier to get into characters," says Jane. Working at the fort has helped Jane to appreciate her life even more. Alice agrees, "The fort has taught me how hard life was and how much work there was every day. We are so lucky with everything we have now. Life wasn't always this easy." ,. (5,2,10) Why do modern kids have to wear the strange clothing while playing historical parts? A Because wearing the strange clothing makes kids fun. B Because it is easier for kids to get into characters. C Because kids like wearing the strange clothing. D Because the weather is hot. Answer: B. Because it is easier for kids to get into characters. My son Xiao Guang is 11 years old. He is a tall boy. He is a student at Yucai Primary School. He loves table tennis and he is good at it. He often plays table tennis with his classmates. The training makes him strong. After training, he enjoys watching table tennis games on TV. I am a worker and I also play table tennis. I play it because my son enjoys playing it and I want to be his partner . At weekends, I go to a table tennis club with my son. There are many players there. They are friendly. Sometimes, we play table tennis with other players. I think it is a good sport. It helps me feel good. In my eyes, my son plays better than me. But in his eyes, I am a better player. I hope my son will play in the national team in the future. What does Xiao Guang look? A He is short. B He is tall. C He is fat. D He has short hair. Answer: B. He is tall. Welcome to Crumland Farms In 1940, John and Lib Crum bought some land on Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, Maryland. They called their new home "Crumland Farms", and started milking a dozen cows by hand. By the time their son, Denny, and his wife Judy sold off the animals 60 years later, over 600 cows were being milked 3 times a day! The dairy operation may be gone, but Crumland is still a working farm. The family grows corn, wheat, soy beans and hay , but their main product is fun! Corn Maze Come and challenge yourself at this 8-acre Corn Maze! September 26th-November 1st Monday -Friday 10:00 am-6:00pm Last ticket sold at 4:30 pm Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-10:00pm Last ticket sold at 9:30 pm Admission: $8.50 per person Pumpkin Patch Monday through Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00 pm, September 26th through November 1st. Admission to Pumpkin Patch is free. Pumpkins are $0.50 per pound. Plenty of pre-picked pumpkins are also available. The Nighttime Party On October 25th we are hosting a special party from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Our two-story air slide and hayrides will be open, as well as campfires in the zoo. Our pumpkin patch and bakery will be open all the evening. Come and have some fun and be sure to enjoy a piece of our famous fresh-baked pie! It is $11.50 per person for admission. The Pizza Farm Season: May, June &July Available :To groups of 20+ Admission: $5per person The Pizza Farm at Crumland is an interactive way to help children understand that all food-- including pizza --originates on a farm. Here we've planted a one-acre circle and divided it into 8 parts. Inside each is a pizza ingredient. It's a great way for kids to see, touch and learn how their favorite food begins on the farm. Special Pricing! Receive a 10% discount when you buy tickets online! No admission needed if interested in just purchasing pumpkins Monday-- Friday. Children 2 years and younger are admitted free! If you buy one adult ticket for Corn Maze and one for the Nighttime Party online, you need to pay _ . A $16 B $18 C $20 D $22 Answer: B. $18 the availability of soil nutrients in the food chain can be explained by which of these? A the soil emanates nutrients into the air B the primary producers depend on the soil C all living things eat sand D the water we drink is from the soil Answer: B. the primary producers depend on the soil When children start kindergarten, evident gaps in science knowledge already exist between Whites and minorities and between youngsters from upper-income and low-income families. And they often deepen into significant achievement gaps by the end of eighth grade if they are not dealt with during elementary school. The findings suggest that, in order for the United States to maintain long-term scientific and economic competitiveness in the world, policymakers need to renew efforts to ensure access(n.,) to high-quality, early learning experiences in childcare settings, preschools and elementary schools. The researchers' study tracked 7,757 children from their start in kindergarten to the end of eighth grade. Researchers found that, among kindergarteners with low levels of general knowledge, 62 percent were struggling in science by the time they reached third grade and 54 percent were struggling in that subject in eighth grade. And general knowledge gaps between minorities and Whites were already large at the time when students began kindergarten. "Children growing up in low-income families typically experience comparatively fewer early opportunities to learn about the natural and social sciences," the authors wrote. "Their parents often have lower educational levels and therefore less science knowledge themselves as well as fewer resources available to direct the children's academic growth. Children raised in poverty often attend poorly resourced schools that futher limit their academic opportunities." Morgan said that, within families, parents who regularly talk and interact with toddlers can point out and explain physical, natural and social events occurring around them daily. This might help youngsters learn facts and concepts that will prepare them to take better advantage of science instruction they receive during elementary and middle school. What can parents do to help their toddlers learn? A Give them more nutritious food B Offer them more learning resources. C Let them attend science courses for kids D Greate learning opportunities in daily life. Answer: D. Greate learning opportunities in daily life.
A specific plant is found Answer: in some areas Cars are the most important part of life in the United States. Without a car most people feel that they are poor. And even if a person is poor he doesn't feel really poor when he has a car. Henry Ford was the man who first started making cars in large numbers. He probably doesn't know how much the car was going to affect American culture. The car made the United States a nation on wheels. And it helped to make the United States what it is today. There are many reasons that the car became so popular in the United States. First of all, the country was a large one and Americans like to move around in it. The car provides the most comfortable and cheapest from of transportation. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money. The second reason that cars are popular is the fact that the United States never really developed an efficient and inexpensive form of public transportation. Long distance trains have never been as common in the United States as they are in the other parts of the world. Nowadays there is good system of air service provided by planes. But it is too expensive to be used frequently. The third reason is the most important one. The American spirit of independence is what really made cars popular. Americans don't like to wait for a bus, or a train or even a plane. They don't like to have to follow an exact schedule. A car gives them the freedom to plan their own time. And this is the freedom that Americans want most to have. The gas shortage has caused a big problem for Americans. But the answer will not be a bigger system of public transportation. The real solution will have to be a new kind of car, one that does not use so much gas. The real solution to the gas shortage problem is _ Answer: to make gas-saving cars It's amazing how we grow from careless kids to responsible teens. What happens in the course that makes us responsible now? It's the seed that we sow in the beginning which grows and becomes a huge tree. As I sit here, silently thinking about my growth, I wonder over some questions which don't have an answer but it's because of such unanswerable situations that life has become a roller coaster ride. As a kid, I used to read a lot of story books. In one particular book, I read a story of a bird. From then on, that has become an integral part of my life. It described a male bird which takes a lot of pain to build a nest and the female bird takes shelter in it and nourishes the baby. When the bird learns to fly, the whole family flies off to a different place leaving behind the beautiful nest for other birds to grow their family in it. It made me wonder. How could they so easily sacrifice their house built with so much effort? One night, when I was deep in sleep, I got this particular dream. I was walking miles on the endless road, totally isolated but lined with beautiful trees on the either side. Fascinated by the greenery, I marched towards it only to end up deeper and deeper into the greenery. I happened to stop upon seeing something. It was a massive, wonderful house. I fell in love with that amazing part of art. Yeah, it was indeed a piece of art with every nook and corner touched artistically and lovingly. I don't know why I felt that it was done lovingly. Maybe because, things turn out to be beautiful only when we put our love into it -- just like the food prepared by mom which tastes more delicious with her love. I explored the house only to fall more in love with it. There was a sloping roof which matched with the greenery around; the large central open courtyard reminded me of the activities that might have taken place there which felt lively even now when it is completely deserted. The small water body that kept the house cool added to the beauty of the house -- of course, it was all dried up now. It's really wonderful how such things add life to the spaces which otherwise just become structures. Such liveliness and happening turns the house into a home. They say 'THE HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS', but now I began to feel it. This is where my heart belongs. This is what I'm destined to do. When I woke up from the dream, I was clear about everything. I realized where that mile of walk was intending me to lead. I realized what message my dream wanted to convey me. And years later, when finally my turn of choosing my destination came, I simply closed my eyes, held that book in my hand, pressed it against my chest and relived the dream. When I opened my eyes, I was sure what to do. I decided to choose the road -- less traveled. Yes, I took up architecture as my profession because this is what I am destined to do. I wanted to do the same thing that the male bird in the story did, to take pain in building a beautiful house and let others stay in it. This is my dream come true and the happiness that I gain now from this profession is indescribable. When the writer read the story of the bird, he probably felt _ . Answer: confused If you have no special plans for your free time, why not spend your time helping others? Don't listen to people who say that young people today often think only of themselves. It is not true at all. More and more young people in the United States volunteer(,) to spend their school holidays working for others. And they don't do it for money. Here are some of their stories. Alice Hamiton, 17 I'm going to help the Forest Centre build new hiking paths in the mountains. It sounds terrible. I'll spend the whole summer living in a tent and breathing the clean mountain air. I'm going to sleep under the stars. It will be nice, and I'll be able to do something good at the same time! Jason Moore 18 This summer, I'm going to volunteer with Special House Program.They build good, low-cost houses and sell them to families that are not very rich. They'll teach me what to do, so I'll help people and also have a chance to learn how to build houses. Trish Anderson, 16 I'm going to teach kids who have trouble in reading. I'll work for a program called Reading For Life. Every day, I'm going to help kids choose and read books that they like. I want to be a teacher, and I love children and reading, so this is going to be a great experience for me. ,. _ wants to work as a teacher in the program called Reading For Life. Answer: Trish Anderson Ideas about education are changing in the United States. Education today is not just a high school diploma or a college degree. Many adults are not interested in going to college. They are interested in other kinds of learning. For them, learning does not end with a diploma. Continuing education gives these adults the chance to increase their knowledge. It also gives them a chance to improve their old skills or to learn new ones. If they know more or learn more, then they can get a better job or earn more money. There are usually a large number of classes to choose from. Some adults learn new skills. Some take classes for fun or because the class will be useful for them. Others take classes to improve their own lives because they want to feel better about themselves. And still others learn how to be good parents, or how to get along with other people. There are many chances for adults to continue their learning. Almost any community college or public school system has a continuing education program. There are classes in schools, buildings, or churches. Most classes are in the evening, so working people can attend. The classes are usually small, and they are inexpensive. Thousands of people take continuing education classes each year. They receive no diploma and no grade for most of the classes they attend. For them, learning is something they do because they want to. Attending continuing education classes _ . Answer: does not cost much money
My name is Tom Black. This is my cousin, Jack Smith. That is his dog. That computer is my cousin's. The orange notebook is his, too. I have a good friend. Her name is Mary Smith. Is this her watch? No, it isn't. It is black, It is mine. Hers is white. Is this Mary's watch? A. Yes, it is. B. Yes, it isn't. C. No, it is. D. No, it isn't. Answer: D. No, it isn't. Below is an entry taken from an English dictionary. Scratch Verb. noun. adjective #Verb rub with your nails 1~(at sth) to rub your skin with your nails, usually because it is ITCHING:[(VN)] John yawned and scratched his chin.* The dog scratched itself behind the ear. [(V)] Try not to scratch. She scratched at the insect bites on her arm. cut skin 2~ (sb/ sth/ yourself) (on sth) to cut or damage. Your skin slightly with sth sharp: [(VN)] I'd scratched my leg and it was bleeding. * She scratched herself on a nail. [(V)] Does the cat scratch? damage surface 3[(VN)] to damage the surface of sth, especially accidentally, by making thin shallow marks on it: The car's paintwork is badly scratched make/ remove mark 4[(VN+adv./prep.)] to make or remove a mark, ect. on sth deliberately, by rubbing it with sth hard or sharp: They scratched lines in the dirt to mark out a pitch. We scratched some of the dirt away. (figurative) You can scratch my name off the list. Make sound 5[(V)] [(usually+adv./prep.)] to make an irritating noise by rubbing sth with sth sharp: The dog kept scratching at the door to go out. His pen scratched away on the paper. We could hear mice scratching behind the wall. a living 6[(VN)] ~ a living, to make enough money to live on, but with difficulty: 75% of the population scratch a living from the soil cancel 7 ~(sb/ sth)(from sth), to decide that sth cannot happen or sb/sth cannot take part in sth, before it starts: [(VN)] to scratch a rocket launch The horse was scratched from the race because of injury. IDIOMS: scratch your head(over sth), to think hard in order to find an answer to sth: Experts have been scratching their heads over the increase in teenage crime. scratch the surface(of sth), to deal with, understand, or find out about only a small part of a subject or problem: We left feeling that we had just scratched the surface of this fascinating country. you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours (saying), used to say that if sb helps you, you will help them, even if this is unfair to others Phrasal Verbs: scratch about/ around ( for sth), to search for sth, especially with difficulty scratch sth out, to remove a word, especially a name, from sth written, usually by putting a line through it #Noun mark/ cut 1[(C)] a mark, a cut or an injury made by scratching sb's skin or the surface of sth: Her hands were covered in scratches from the brambles. a scratch on the paintwork It's only a scratch(=a very slight injury). He escaped without a scratch(=was not hurt at all). sound 2[(sing.)] the unpleasant sound of sth sharp or rough being rubbed against a surface with your nails 3[(sing.)] the act of scratching a part of your body when it ITCHES: Go on, have a good scratch! IDIOMS: from scratch, without any previous preparation or knowledge: They decided to dismantle the machine and start again from scratch. He built the orchestra up from scratch. (be/ come) up to scratch, (bring sb / sth) up to scratch, as good as sth/ sb should be; satisfactory: His work simply isn't up to scratch. *It'll take months to bring the band up to scratch. #adjective(BrE) 1 put together in a hurry using whatever people or materials are available: a scratch team 2 (especially in golf) with no HANDICAP: a scratch player The word "scratch" in "Some drawings had been scratched on the back of the door" has the same meaning as in"_". A. We scratched some of the dirt away B. The car's paintwork is badly scratched C. The dog kept scratching at the door to go out. D. They scratched lines in the dirt to make marks Answer: D. They scratched lines in the dirt to make marks Sheep Smarter than Thought London--Sheep, like turkeys and ostriches, are not considered the most clever animals. British scientists said last Wednesday humans may have underestimated the woolly creature. They could be much smarter than we think. Researchers at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, southern England, have shown that the animals have a good memory system and are extremely good at recognizing faces--which they think is a sure sign of intelligence. Behavioral scientist Keith Kendrick and his friends trained 20 sheep to recognize and distinguish 25 pairs of sheep faces and used electrodes to measure their brain activity , which showed they could remember 50 faces for up to two years . "If they can do that with faces, they have to have reasonable intelligence; otherwise, what is the point of having a system for remembering faces and not remembering anything else?" Kendrick said in an interview. So hours of seemingly mindless eating grass may not be so mindless after all. Kendrick believes sheep got their reputation as dumb (unable to speak, unintelligent) animals because they live in large groups and do not appear to have much individuality and are frightened of just about everything. "All animals, including humans, once they are frightened, don't tend to show signs of intelligent action," he explained. In research reported in the science journal Nature, Kendrick and his team showed that sheep, like humans, have a specialized system in the brain which allows them to distinguish between many different faces which look extremely similar. "The most important finding (of the study) is that they are able , both from a behavioral point of view and from looking at the way the brain is organized , to remember a large number of individuals for a very long time," said Kendrick. "It is a very strange system. They are showing similar abilities in many ways to humans." From what Kendrick said in the interview we learn that _ . A. scientists have learned everything about sheep's intelligence B. scientists have learned a little about sheep's intelligence C. scientists can't do anything more about sheep's memory D. scientists do not have to research animals' memory Answer: B. scientists have learned a little about sheep's intelligence Google has been collecting tons of data about smartphone usage around the world. Here are some of the most surprising and interesting facts: Android is most popular in Japan, with 55% of respondents using it, compared with 39% for iOS.Android is also number one in a few other countries, including New Zealand (41%), the US(40%), and China (38%). iOS is farthest ahead in Switzerland, with 52% usage vs 23% for Android.Other countries where iOS is far ahead include Australia (49% vs 25% Android), Canada (45% vs 23% Android and 23% Blackberry), and France (43% vs 25% Android). In Egypt, Windows Mobile is far more popular than iOS.13% of survey respondents use the Microsoft smartphone platform, behind Symbian (19%) and Android (14%). iOS is very far down at 4%. Mobile social networking is biggest in Mexico and Argentina, where 74% and 73% of users visit a social network daily.But mobilesocial is weak in Japan where 34% of users never visit a social network on their phone, and this figure rises to 41% in Brazil. Watching video is most popular in Saudi Arabia, with 59% of respondents doing it daily.Number two is Egypt, with 41%. Chinese users shop from their phones.59% of Chinese users do this, compared with only 41% in secondplace Egypt.Chinese users also love to write reviews.41% of them write a review of a local business after looking it up on their smartphone.Number two, Japan, is far behind, with only 24% of respondents doing this. . In which section of a newspaper can we most probably read the passage? A. Health. B. Environment. C. Technology. D. Entertainment. Answer: C. Technology. Which is a process that converts sunlight energy into a compound that stores chemical energy? A. phototropism B. photosynthesis C. respiration D. pollination Answer: B. photosynthesis
When Marilynne Robinson published her first novel, Housekeeping, in 1980, she was unknown in the literary world. But an early review in The New York Times ensured that the book would be noticed. "It's as if, in writing it, she broke through the ordinary human condition with all its dissatisfactions, and achieved a kind of transfiguration ," wrote Anatole Broyard, with an enthusiasm and amazement that was shared by many critics and readers. The book became a classic, and Robinson was recognized as one of the outstanding American writers of our time. Yet it would be more than twenty years before she wrote another novel. During the period, Robinson devoted herself to writing nonfiction. Her essays and book reviews appeared in Harper's and The New York Times Book Review, and in 1989 she published Mother Country: Britain, the Welfare State, and Nuclear Pollution, criticizing severely the environmental and public health dangers caused by the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in England--and the political and moral corruption . In 1998, Robinson published a collection of her critical and theological writings, The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought, which featured reassessments of such figures as Charles Darwin, John Calvin, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Aside from a single short story--"Connie Bronson," published in The Paris Review in 1986--it wasn't until 2004 that she returned to fiction with the novel Gilead, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Her third novel, Home, came out this fall. Her novels could be described as celebrations of the human--the characters in them are unforgettable creations. Housekeeping is the story of Ruth and her sister Lucille, who are cared for by their eccentric Aunt Sylvie after their mother commits suicide. Robinson writes a lot about how each of the three is changed by their new life together. Gilead is an even more close exploration of personality: the book centres on John Ames, a seventy-seven-year-old pastor who is writing an account of his life and his family history to leave to his young son after he dies. Home borrows characters from Gilead but centers on Ames's friend Reverend Robert Boughton and his troubled son Jack. Robinson returned to the same territory as Gilead because, she said, "after I write a novel or a story, I miss the characters--I feel like losing some close friends." Robinson's second novel came out _ . I had an experience some years ago which taught me something about the ways in which people make a bad situation worse by blaming themselves. One January, I had to conduct two funerals on successive days for two elderly women in my community. Both had died "full of years," as the Bible would say; both yielded to the normal wearing out of the body after a long and full life. Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid condolence calls on the two families on the same afternoon. At the first home, the son of the dead woman said to me, "If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow, she would be alive today. It's my fault that she died." At the second home, the son of the other dead woman said, "If only I hadn't insisted on my mother's going to Florida, she would be alive today. That long airplane ride, the abrupt change of climate, was more than she could take. It's my fault that she's dead." When things don't turn out as we would like them to, it is very tempting to assume that had we done things differently, the story would have had a happier ending. Priests know that any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out badly, they believe that the opposite course - keeping Mother at home, delaying the operation would have turned out better. After all, how could it have turned out any worse? There seem to be two elements involved in our readiness to feel guilt. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense, that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens. That leads us to find patterns and connections both where they really exist and where they exist only in our minds. The second element is the concept that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. It seems to be a short step from believing that every event has a cause to believing that every disaster is our fault. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood. Psychologists speak of the infantile myth of omnipotence . A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and orders the rest of the world to its tasks. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely outgrow that infantile concept that our wishes cause things to happen. The author had to conduct the two women's funerals probably because _ . We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature's resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England's largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery with the names of all twenty - eight vice - presidents lists on side of the page. According to the passage, we know the writer is _ . Clothes can make phone calls, play music, dial your pal's number, keep you warm during cold weather and operate your computer? This is not a fantasy. A British company, called Electrotextiles, has created a wide range of clothes -- clothes that have minds of their own! Scientists, working for the company, have invented a kind of fabric that can be blended with flexible electronic materials to create intelligent clothing. The result are electronic garments. If you think the wearer has to be wired to different devices, think again. These designer clothes are wire-free, soft to touch and washable!! Like any electronic device, these high-tech clothes have to be powered. Currently, a tiny nine-volt battery serves the purpose. But the researchers hope that in the near future the clothes will generate electricity by using body heat. These clothes are 100 percent shock proof, they say. The Electrotextiles team has also created the world's first cloth keyboard. This keyboard can be sewn into your trousers or skirt. To use this device, you will have to sit down and tap on your lap! These 'lap- tap' gadgets are all set to take over laptop computers! Another useful garment is the shirt-cum-mobile phone. This handy invention enables drivers to chat comfortably with others at the wheel! Other popular electronic wear include the denim jacket with flexible earphones sewn into the hood and the electronic ski jacket with a built-in heater. The ski jacket is also programmed to send signals to a satellite. This technology is known as global positioning system and can be used to track lost skiers and wandering kids. Having completed the cloth keyboard, scientists have already started to work on a new project--a necktie that can be used as a computer mouse. What is the next? Do you have any idea? . If you are going on a ski adventure, which device do you need? A program in the United States invites young people to visit a prison. The goal is to teach them to avoid bad choices and bad influences that could put them behind bars for life. Students can take a tour of the prison, in school groups or by themselves.At the end, the young people sit down for a discussion with some of the _ . The program is called Prisoners Against Teen Tragedy, or PATT. It takes place at the Maryland Correctional Institution-HagerstoWn, a medium-security prison for men. Sal Mauriello, a case specialist, said,"We have a group of eleven _ who are in the PATT program. They tell the youth what they went through as a child, what their crimes consist of. They try to teach them about peer pressure . They try to teach them about bad choices." The Prisoners Against Teen Tragedy program also includes an essay-writing contest, and most teens who visit come to understand what even one bad decision can mean. Prisoners Against Teen Tragedy began in 1988. It is one of Maryland's oldest programs to keep young people from a life of crime. But there are also others. Prison spokesman Mark Vernarelli said, "We found that girls really need special sit-down sessions sometimes more than boys do, so we have a program for girls only. we also have a program that travels across the state,which talks about the dangers of gang affiliation ." The prisoners in the PATT program also gain from the program. It offers them a chance to help repay society for their crimes, and keep others from following in their footsteps. PATT teaches students to _ .
I'm Bolivia Williams, a students at Bard College. I was the only person in my family who was Facebook friends with my mom, Rynn, when she died four years ago. At that time, my brother and sister were still young. As soon as we got the news that she died, I thought it would be an easy way to let everyone know what happened. Right after I posted the news, so many people offered their help and shared stories about her. I like to visit my mom's page to tell her things that I'm doing and I like to look at her pictures there. I sing with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus ,and we did a concert for the tenth anniversary of 9/11,which was also my mom's birthday. It was an unforgettable day. I posted, "You will be proud of me--I will sing at the site of the World Trade Center tomorrow. I know you will be looking down, smiling. "When I'm writing to her, it feels like I'm still here. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how to face my mom's death. But I've grown up now. I haven't been on my mom's page for a month, but I would miss _ if it were gone. Her page allows me to think that she's still here. I used to go to my mom's page to look at her pictures, which would make me feel really sad, Now, when I visit it, I smile more often than cry. ,. The writer's mother has _ child(ren) Answer: 3 Last summer I was lucky enough to participate in a volunteer adventure to Kenya, in association with Virgin Atlantic's Be the Change programme and children's charity, Free the Children. The moment I read the e-mail saying that I had been accepted into Free the Children's Virgin Atlantic scholarship trip to Kenya, I had no idea how much it was going to change my life. I thought the trip would be a great way to learn about life in one of the most rural areas of Kenya, but I never thought about how deeply I might be affected by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When we entered the Masai Mara, the first thing that struck me was how unbelievably beautiful it was. As I looked closer to it, I realized there was something even more beautiful: the people. I have never been to a place where the saying "the people are what make the place" was more true. The way they wave at you excitedly as you drive past, shouting "Jambo, Jambo!" is something that I have never experienced. They are always smiling and welcoming and it made me realize that, if everyone were to act like this, the world would be a much happier place. The most amazing thing about the trip was that we weren't treated like tourists for one second. We were able to experience every little detail. We built foundations, carried ten litres of water... The one thing I will never forget is visiting Emorijoi Primary School. Let me describe it like this: As soon as you entered into the gate, you would hear someone shouting your name. Then you looked around and realized that it was the same little girl that you were playing football with the last time you visited. There are literally no words to explain how much I miss Kenya. It feels like there is a piece of string attaching me to everyone that I met there. They will stay with me forever and always be in my heart. According to the passage, "Jambo" is actually a way for the local people to _ . Answer: greet the visitors A baby born in India has been declared the world's seven billionth person by child rights group Plan International. Baby Nargis was born at 07:25 local time (01:55GMT) in Mall village in India's Uttar Pradesh state. Plan International says Nargis has been chosen symbolically as it is not possible to know where exactly the seven billionth baby is born. In addition to baby Nargis in India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Cambodia have all identified seven billionth babies. The United Nations estimated that on Monday 31 October, the world's population would reach seven billion. Populations are growing faster than economies in many poor countries in Africa and some in Asia. At the same time, low birth rates in Japan and many European nations have raised concerns about labor shortages. Population experts at the United Nations estimated that the world reached six billion in October 1999. They predict nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century. China's population of one and a third billion is currently the world's largest. India is second at 1.2 billion. But India is expected to pass China and reach one and a half billion people around 2025. India will also have one of the world's youngest populations. Economists say this is a chance for a so-called demographic dividend. India could gain from the skills of young people in a growing economy at a time when other countries have aging populations. But economists say current rates of growth, although high, may not create enough jobs. Also, the public education system is failing to meet demand and schooling is often of poor quality. Another concern is health care. Nearly half of India's children under the age of five are malnourished . Michal Rutkowski, the director of human development in South Asia at the World Bank, says reaching seven billion people in the world is a good time for a call to action. He says, "I think the bottom line of the story is that the public policy needs to become really, really serious about sex equality and about access to services--to fight against malnutrition, and to provide for access to health services, water and schooling." According to population experts, how long will it take for population to grow from six billion to nine billion? Answer: About 50 years. My father was a foreman of a sugar-cane plantation in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. My first job was to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields. I would walk behind an ox, guiding him with a broomstick. For $ 1 a day, I worked eight hours straight, with no food breaks. It was very _ work, but it prepared me for life and taught me many lasting lessons. Because the plantation owners were always watching us, I had to be on time every day and work as hard as I could. I've never been late for any job since. I also learned about being respectful and faithful to the people you work for. More important, I earned my pay; it never entered my mind to say I was sick just because I didn't want to work. I was only six years old, but I was doing a man's job. Our family needed every dollar we could make because my father never earned more than $ 18 a week. Our home was a three-room wood shack with a dirty floor and no toilet. Nothing made me prouder than bringing home money to help my mother, father, two brothers and three sisters. This gave me self-esteem , one of the most important things a person can have. When I was seven, I got work at a golf course near our house. My job was to stand down the fairway and spot the balls as they landed, so the golfers could find them. Losing a ball meant you were fired, so I never missed one. Some nights I would lie in bed and dreamt of making thousands of dollars by playing golf and being able to buy a bicycle. The more I dreamed, the more I thought. Why not? I made my first golf club out of guava limb and a piece of pipe. Then I hammered an empty tin can into the shape of a ball. And finally I dug two small holes in the ground and hit the ball back and forth. I practiced with the same devotion and intensity . I learned working in the field -- except now I was driving golf balls with club, not oxen with a broomstick . The writer learned that _ from his first job. Answer: he should be respectful and faithful to the people he worked for The moon looks bigger than stars at night. But in fact, it is smaller than any stars. The moon looks big to us, because it is closer to us than the stars. The moon goes round the earth. It makes one trip about four weeks. The moon is round and looks beautiful. Now people know quite a lot about the moon. There is no air or water on the moon, so there are not any trees or animals or people on it. The moon gets its light from the sun, but some places on the moon are quite dark. It's very cold at night. The sun _ to the moon. Answer: gives light
Edward Estlin Cummings was a poet well-known for how he wrote his poems He wrote his poems with capital letters in the words . For example, the title of one of his poems is "The little horse is newlY" The "Y" is a capital letter. He also used "i" instead of "I" to refer to himself in the poems. Edward was born on October14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Edward's father was also named Edward. Young Edward's mother was named Rebecca. She loved to spend time with her children. She also taught Edward Jr how to write poems. Edward's sister was born 1896 and her name was Elizabeth. Edward's father was the first professor of Sociology at Harvard University. He later became the minister of one of Boston's respected churches. He was the one who taught his son to use his hands as well as his mind. Edward Jr used his hands to paint abstract art. E.E.Cummings was a very smart boy. Edward was 12 when he became a freshman in high school. He loved circuses, ballets, music and amusement parks. Edward graduated from Harvard in 1916. During World War I , he joined the army and was sent to France where he drove an ambulance. He and his friend from Harvard were arrested because people thought they were German spies. They were kept in one room where they slept , ate , talked and tried to deal with their fears and boredom. Edward wrote his first book, published in 1922, called The Enormous Room, based on his wartime experiences. E.E.Cummings was a poet that made his own rules in poetry. He was one of the most popular poets of the 20th century. Which is a special feature of E.E.Cummings' poems? Answer: He used letters in a special way in them "When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood. The happy childhood is hardly worth your while. "Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood. And worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." That was Frank McCourt reading the opening lines of his book Angela's Ashes, released in nineteen ninety-six. This Irish American author best known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography Angela's Ashes that recorded his poor upbringing, died of cancer on Sunday, The New York Times reported. He was 78. Born in New York City, he was the eldest of seven children born to Irish immigrant parents. Angela's Ashes was a memoir that captured an irresponsible, drunkard father with a gift for story-telling. When not drunk, his father was absent, turning his back on a family so poor, McCourt wrote, that they were reduced to burning the furniture in their rented hut to keep warm. His mother struggled to raise her many children after his father left the family. Already struggling when the Great Depression hit, the family moved back to Limerick, where they slipped ever deeper into poverty in the 1930s. Three of McCourt's siblings died of diseases worsened by hunger and the wretchedness of their surroundings. McCourt himself almost died of typhoid fever as a child. In Angela's Ashes, he wrote of hunger, a home flooded with rainwater and the unbearable humiliation of seeking handouts from charities in the Irish city. But he told the story in a way that is expressive, warm and light-hearted. Frank McCourt left Ireland at the age of nineteen to return to New York City where he was born. He earned a degree in- English education and taught creative writing for nearly thirty years. After retiring in nineteen eighty-seven, he decided to write about his childhood. "Angela's Ashes" became a huge success and brought McCourt a 1997 Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award and other honors. Millions of copies of the book were sold worldwide and it was adapted into a 1999 movie starring Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle. From the passage, we know Frank McCourt's father is_. Answer: irresponsible but gifted in telling stories In 1943, during the Second World War the body of an English man, William Martin, was discovered off the Spanish coast. The papers he had been carrying were returned to England, where they were carefully examined. They had clearly been changed and that was exactly what the British had hoped would happen, for Martin was a trick designed to fool the Germans. Martin did not exist. The body was that of a sailor who looked as though he had died when his boat sank, but in fact he had been ill and died. Leaving the boat to go down, his parents allowed the dead body to be put into the sea near Spain. It was hoped that the Germans would find it and read the fake papers he carried. The papers said that the British would attack the island of Sardinia, when in fact they planned to attack the island of Sicily. The trick was successful. When the British landed on Sicily, most of the heavy German guns had been moved to defend Sardinia. _ put the papers on the dead man. Answer: The British Learning a foreign language is difficult for many learners. The following tips may help you learn a foreign language quickly. Reading aloud When you start learning a foreign language, you should read aloud. Reading aloud instead of reading lowly only to yourself helps you in remembering. It helps with pronunciation, too. Building your vocabulary You'll have to make a few word lists, you have to memorize and review them regularly. You may review the word lists at least once a day for two weeks. Learning grammar Learning the grammar of a foreign language is a dry and boring task. But it can speed your language learning. Don't jump to learn tenses , it's better to be done after you've learned some of the language. The most important thing is that you shouldn't worry about the mistakes you'll make when you start. If you do like this, you'll learn the language better. Watching TV and movies This is a wonderful way to learn a foreign language quickly. You can watch TV shows in the language you are learning. They'll help you a great deal with the vocabulary as well as catching what others say and also your pronunciation. ,,(5) Which is the best title for the passage? Answer: Some advice on learning a foreign language Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helpera little bird called a honey guide. The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives . The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or people as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, _ reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share. Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit. The honey guide is special in the way _ . Answer: it gets its food
KIDS is a charity group.It is to help disabled children to live a better life . Is was set up in 1970 by John Mulcahy , a teacher who cared for a disabled child in one of his classes.John wanted to improve communication with this child and asked for help from the child's mother. This, in turn,set up the KIDS idea:working together with parents to help disabled kids to develop their skills and to achieve their hopes and dreams. KIDS works to find out disabled children's interests and what they are really good at,and then helps them to live as _ people and make their dreams come true . Over the past 42 years , KIDS has helped many children. Now it is the UK's largest charity group that helps disabled children. Today KTDS has more experts to provide services for over 6,000 disabled children and their families through its projects . Education for under -fives KTDS has many teaching materials , and helps parents to be the most important teachers of their children. Play Disabled children may find it is difficult to join healthy kids clubs' clubs. KIDS provides different kinds of play and sports activities for disabled children from 5 to 19 years old. Information KIDS gives parents of disabled kids advice and information, helping them to get on well with their children. According to the passage, it may be difficult for disabled kids to _ A. help parents in trouble B. join healthy kids' clubs C. work with their parents D. get on well with others Answer: B. join healthy kids' clubs As for visiting Walt Disney World. People usually have trouble in arranging. The following will give you some practical suggestions on paying a valuable visit to the famous park. When to go? While it's always busy, Disney World is slightly slower between mid-January and March. It's summer when the visitors , combined with the heat and humidity , are crowded. Your best choice is either early in the morning or late in the day--- often you can enjoy more rides in the first or last two hours of the day than you can the entire rest of the day combined. Where to stay? The question: to stay on Disney World Resort property or not. Disney World offers three resort pricing: Deluxe , Moderate, and Value, with good facilities and in-hotel attractions. That said, they all offer "Extra Magic Hours"(early access to the theme parks), guaranteed entry when the parks are over-crowded, and frequent shuttle service to the many attractions. Off-property hotels will have shuttle transfers, but often at less regular intervals ,wasting more time in transport. You'll also need a rental car, which adds to the expense, making up for saving in the hotel rate. The "Magic Your Way Package" is a good value if you have a large family. What to do? Make use of the "Fast Pass" , which , for no extra cost, allow you to insert your entrance ticket into a particular machine at the attraction and receive a schedule ride time a little later on. For example, use your Fast Pass ticket at a ride just before getting lunch. Once you're done eating, you can return to the ride and jump right on during the busiest time of day. At the Animal Kingdom, the animals are most active either early or late in the day, so plan accordingly. Thankfully _ is fit for the least busy times of day in the park. Study the map of the park the night before to plan your visit. You'll save time by knowing where things are and where you're headed. If you have referred to the map of the park, you _ A. are sure to save time B. will get the lowest-priced tickets C. can learn the park's location D. may have your lost tickets replaced Answer: A. are sure to save time Careercast.com is out with its list of best and worst jobs of 2012. It's bad news for the writer of this story, but much brighter for the folks who program the code that keeps this website busy. Using a method that looked at physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook, career Website Careercast.com, ranked the top 200 jobs. They also ranked the jobs with the most stress. Not surprisingly, none of the most stressful jobs show up on the best jobs list. At the top is software engineer and at the bottom is the lumberjack. Cutting trees failed to skate above the bottom 10 percent in all ranking categories, except income. "Unemployment for lumberjacks is very high, and the demand for their services is expected to continue to fall through 2016. And while working outside all day may seem like a great job perk , being a lumberjack not only is considered the worst job, but also one of the world's most dangerous," according to Careercast.com. And, for that most dangerous job, a lumberjack earns a little more than $32,000 a year. That's about $56,000 less than the easy job of a software engineer, which has the average salary at $88,000 a year, according to Careercast. Here's a complete look at the best and worst jobs. And, take a look at the most stressful jobs. You may be surprised. Best Jobs Worst Jobs Most Stressful Jobs Software Engineer Lumberjack Enlisted Soldier Actuary Dairy Farmer Firefighter Human Resources Manager Enlisted Military Soldier Airline Pilot Dental Hygienist Oil Rig Worker Military General Financial Planner Reporter (Newspaper) Police Officer Audiologist Waiter/Waitress Event Coordinator Occupational Therapist Meter Reader Public Relations Executive Online Advertising Manager Dishwasher Corporate Executive Computer Systems Analyst Butcher Photojournalist Mathematician Broadcaster Taxi Driver What is the main purpose of the passage? A. To describe the advantages of different careers. B. To provide career information. C. To explain why a software engineer is the best job. D. To analyze why a lumberjack is the worst job. Answer: B. To provide career information. World top-ranked badminton player Lin Dan said last Friday that he was a better player than Taufik Hidayat in the year of 2006 despite losing the Asian Games single title to the Indonesian Olympic champion. "I have ranked No.1 in the world for two straight years and I think people can easily come to a conclusion on who is a better player for the whole year," said Lin Dan, also known as Super Dan in the badminton world because of his marvelous performance in the sport. Hidayat beat Lin 21-15, 22-20 to give Indonesia its second gold medal in Doha on December 9, retaining his Asian Games singles title and avenging two losses to the badminton world champion. Lin, 23, led China to the men's team title after defeating Hidayat twice in three days, in the preliminary round and in the semifinals of the Asian Games. In their third meeting, Lin came up against a better-prepared Hidayat than he had encountered previously. Hidayat was cheered on by the noisy support from dancing and flag-waving Indonesian fans, who had converted the badminton arena into a national celebration even before the two players stepped onto the court. There's been a lot of acrimony between Hidayat and Lin, who this year won the single title in the world championships after former champion Hidayat crashed out in the quarterfinals. In Doha, Hidayat was quoted as calling Lin "arrogant" before the event began, but the two stars played down the rift (a situation where two people dislike each other). "It's no problem, we're close friends," said Hidayat. "The media _ it." Lin said last Friday in Beijing that he and Hidayat remain friends despite all the rumors . "There is no problem between Taufik and me although we don't talk to each other very much," said Lin. "Media tends to make up things in order to make their stories juicy." What is the relationship between the two players like? A. They are only opponents. B. Lin looks down upon Hidayat. C. They both think they are friends. D. The media has worsened the relationship between them. Answer: C. They both think they are friends. There is an Asian American basketball player in the NBA. Do you know who he is? Yes, he is Lin Shuhao. His English name is Jeremy Lin. He is another basketball star after Yao Ming. So many people call him the second Yao Ming. But he doesn't like it. In the 1970s, his family moved to America from Taiwan, China. He is twenty-five years old. His elder brother is Josh and Joseph is his younger brother. He studied at Harvard University from the year 2006 to the year 2010. His father, a fan of the NBA, taught him to play basketball when he was young. Now Lin Shuhao plays for the Houston Rocket. He works hard and plays very well. Now he is popular with many people. ,. (1,5) He _ from 2006 to 2010. A. lived in Taiwan with his family B. played for the Houston Rocket C. studied at Harvard University D. began to learn basketball Answer: C. studied at Harvard University
Question: Now the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. ( MUSIC) Many everyday American expressions are based on colors. Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. When they are red-hot, they are very angry about something. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say such music is red-hot. Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the 20thcentury. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health. Blue is a cool color. The blues music in the United States is the opposite of red-hot music. Blues is slow and sad. Someone who is blue is very sad. The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in the stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green. Sometimes a person may be _ because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back of the paper money. The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. (MUSIC) I'm Warren Scheer. Listen again next week for another Words and Their Stories program in Special English on the Voice of America. We say you are in the pink when you are _ . A. very sad B. very happy C. in good health D. feeling well Answer: C. in good health Question: Everyone is familiar with white fat, which serves as an energy warehouse. Many mammals also have brown fat, which has the unique ability to produce heat. Brown fat is sometimes mistaken for a type of gland , which it resembles more than white fat. It varies in color1 from dark red to tan. When the animal is exposed to a cold environment, the color1 darkens. In contrast to white fat, brown fat has numerous nerves which provide sympathetic stimulation to the fat cells. Brown fat is most noticeable in newborn animals, wrapped round the central organs to keep them warm. In human infants it occupies up to 5% of body weight, then declines gradually. Certain quantities of brown fat can be discovered in adult humans, especially when they are exposed to cold temperatures. Most of brown fat in adults is located in the lower neck. Exposure to cold leads to sympathetic stimulation of brown fat cell. As in white fat, sympathetic stimulation promotes hydrolysis of triglyceride , with release of fatty acids. In contrast to other cells, including white fat cells, brown fat cells express UCP1, which gives the cell's mitochondria an ability to produce heat rather than ATP. Within brown fat cells, most fatty acids are immediately combined with oxygen in mitochondria and a large amount of heat is produced. There is only about 50g of brown fat in the neck region and it switches on and off throughout the day as it's exposed to different temperatures or if you exercise or eat. But this capacity is much greater in young children compared with adolescents and adults. The challenge is now to use the knowledge to find out what might switch on brown fat. If it is switched on, we can benefit from it. Brown fat produces lots of heat by burning calories. Unlike white fat, brown fat does not expand our ageing waistlines. And that's why the race is on to find out more about brown fat, and how humans could use it to our advantage, though we would waste energy unnecessarily, and we would sweat a lot and forever be opening windows. We take special interest in brown fat mainly because it helps us _ . A. save energy B. develop power C. keep warm D. keep our figure Answer: D. keep our figure Question: The Food and Drug Administration is, again, threatening to impose milk and meat from cloned animals on a public that opposes the technology and its products. Respected polls report that more than 60% of Americans think animal cloning is immoral, and that most people said they wouldn't knowingly eat the products even if the FDA approved them. But because the FDA would allow cloned meat and milk to be sold without identifying labels, consumers wouldn't be able to avoid them. The FDA has consistently tilted toward those who want cloned milk and meat in our food. Agency officials have repeatedly asserted that science shows cloned milk and meat are safe for humans. But the FDA has never published the complete scientific studies it says support that claim. The argument that cloning is safe for animals is unconvincing. Cloned meat and milk offer no public economic benefits. Having cloned cows produce more milk wouldn't reduce milk prices. prefix = st1 /USfarmers produce more milk than we drink, and the government is required to buy the surplus. Since 2000, dairy support programs have cost taxpayers more than $ 5 billion. Most important, this first decision to advance animal biotechnology raises ethical issues beyond the FDA's expertise. Techniques used to clone animals will advance the ability to clone humans-and create animals with human genes. Neither the agency nor animal scientists are qualified to tell us whether and when it is ethically acceptable for humans to alter the essential nature of animals. We need a national discussion, including ethicists and religious leaders, to consider the wisdom of cloned and transgenic animals. Given the risk of unintended consequences, we should proceed cautiously. The president should halt further FDA action on cloning and set in motion a process for beginning this broader discussion. In US many people buy cloned foods _ . A. to support the new technique B. because FDA approved them C. because they cannot tell which is cloned food D. because thy cannot read the labels. Answer: C. because they cannot tell which is cloned food Question: It came with devastating force,a natural disaster of strange intensity that shocked the world and killed tens of thousands.The waters have now receded,but disease and food and water shortages trouble a number of countries around the Indian Ocean.Millions of survivors face serious problems. The number of survivors in need of food aid after the Indian Ocean disaster has climbed to 5 million people.They stretch from Somalia to Thailand,and the figure could rise further,the United Nations has said. Relief teams hope to reach all of the estimated 700 000 hungry in Sri Lanka within three more days.It could take longer before enough food aid gets to the nearly 1 million people in need in hard-to-reach parts of Indonesia.Another serious problem is the need for purified water. Although aid had poured in from all over the world to the disaster areas,"Logistics is the big problem here--just getting the stuff out to people who need it,"said Ron Libby,emergency management specialist at the USA agency for International Development. Relief efforts are hindered by the difficulty of delivering aid to the more than 1000 islands scattered across hundreds of kilometers of ocean. For those who survived the tsunami's force,disease is now the No.1 problem.Five million people are short of water,food and basic sanitation across the region.World Health Organization(WHO) crisis chief David Navarro said 50 000 more people could die from disease and other causes,as has been the case in previous humanitarian emergencies. WHO said it had already received a handful of reports of malaria and dengue fever and hundreds of reports of diarrhea and infected wounds.It said millions of water purification tablets had been sent to Asia,along with sanitation engineers to rebuild water sanitation infrastructure. Psychologists are warning that mental health problems caused by the tsunami could prove harder to resolve than the physical damage. Some survivors say they are plagued by recurring nightmares about walls of water.Many locals are afraid to return to beachside homes.Officials also warn that suicide rates could rise dramatically as parents struggle with guilt at losing children. Psychologists estimate that 20 to 30 per cent of people who face traumatic events eventually develop symptoms,such as alcohol abuse,lack of concentration at work and an inability to develop close relationships. Although the Thai Government has offered to build temporary beachside housing,many refugee families are refusing to come down from the hills.Others are afraid to go back to jobs on the sea. Over 150 000 people were killed by the tsunami,but hundreds and thousands more have been left with no means to earn a living. In the village of Akirapettai in India,all that is left is the twisted wreckage of the fishing fleet.Dakshina Murti,a fisherman,not only lost three family members,but also lost his boats,his nets,everything. "Everything's gone,"he says.With no government aid so far,all he has is a wreck.There are several million people who suffered the same experience.Homes have been destroyed,as well as wharves,docks,and sheds. For now,rebuilding the economy remains a distant concept. The passage tells us that such a disaster,as tsunami will cause diseases and _ as well. A. Dengue fever B. diarrhea C. Malaria D. mental health problem Answer: D. mental health problem Question: Wang Lin's Diary Oct.8th,Sunday October 1st is our National Day.It was Sunday.In the morning,our teacher took us to the park.Oh,many people were there.We could see flags and flowers everywhere.We saw people dancing in the park everywhere.We had a good time. This morning I did some cleaning.Then I went to school.In the class,our teacher told us a very interesting story.It was about a French scientist Ampere.Once he was walking in the street when he began to work on a problem on a"blackboard"with a piece of chalk.But it was not a blackboard.It was the back of a carriage .Ampere didn't notice it at all.How hard he worked at his problem! In the evening,it became cloudy.It's going to rain tomorrow,I think. Wang Lin thought it was going to rain the next day because _ . A. it was too hot that day B. it didn't rain for a long time C. it was cloudy that evening D. it was cloudy that morning Answer: C. it was cloudy that evening
Question: What do you usually do in your free time? Play sports? Watch TV? How about reading books? You must know the Chinese saying: " _ " .Books are important in our life. Reading books is good for us. It can help us know and understand the world better. It can help us get a lot of knowledge . It brings us a new and different world that we have never been before. Almost all the great men like reading, like Chairman Mao and Madame Curie. In a word, books are treasure and we must love them. But before you read, remember to choose a good one. Ask your parents or teachers about what books to read. Be sure you are interested in them. There are many different kinds of books. I like biography because I can learn something from the characters . What about you? Young friends. Please love books and read them. They are very helpful to you. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Only reading books can make people succeed. B. Chairman Mao likes reading very much. C. Books are helpful to human. D. Young people should read more books. Answer: A Question: Once upon a time a driver was taking some meat to the store. But he hit a turtle. Then he hit another turtle. The driver was sad. So he put the turtles in the trash. Then he felt better. The driver told his mommy that he needed to look in the mirror, so she said he could. The driver wanted to go back to work. On the way to work he saw a man with a firework. He watched the man light the firework. It was fun, but the driver needed to get back to work. This time he took a chair to the store. It was a fun job. The driver was very busy all day long. He wanted to go home and have fun, but he was busy working. The driver was a good worker and worked all day so he didn't go home and have fun. Why didn't the driver go home and have fun? A. he had to eat some meat B. he didn't want to C. He was busy working D. he hit a turtle Answer: C Question: Plateaus are typically A. Where dogs live B. frequented by lightening C. Have more rivers D. Where cats live Answer: B Question: Even though multiple generations have now grown up glued to the flickering light of the TV,we still can't let go of the belief that the next generation of technology is going to doom our kids. I've spent over a decade observing young people's practices with technology.When I began my research,I expected to find lots of teenagers who were escaping"real life"through the Internet.That was certainly my experience.As a geeky,queer youth growing up in the early 1990s,the Internet was the only place where I didn't feel judged.I wanted to live in a digital-only world. To my surprise-and,as I grew older,relief-that differed from what most youth want.Early on in my research,I met a girl who told me that she'd much rather get together with her friends in person,but she had so many homework demands and her parents were often concerned about her physical safety.This is why she loved the Internet:She could hang out with her friends there.For many teenagers,technology is a relief valve.I've heard this reasoning echoed by youth around the country. This is the Catch-22that we've trapped today's youth in.We've locked them indoors because we see the physical world as more dangerous than ever before,even though by almost every measure,we live in the safest society to date.We put heavy expectations for our kids,maxing them out with structured activities and homework.And then we're surprised when they're worn out and addictive. If we truly want to reduce the amount young people use technology,we should free up more of their time.For one thing,we could radically reduce the amount of homework and tests American youth take.Finland consistently outperforms the U.S.in school,and it emphasizes student happiness,assigning almost no homework.When I lecture in Finland,parents don't seem nearly as anxious about technology addiction as Americans.We should also let children roam.It seems like every few weeks I read a new story about a parent who was visited by child services for letting their school-aged children out of their sight.Indeed,studies in the U.S.and the U.K.consistently show that children have lost the right to roam. This is why many of our youth turn to technology.They aren't addicted to the computer; they're addicted to interaction,and being around their friends.Children,and especially teenagers,don't want to only socialize with parents and siblings; they want to play with their peers.That's how they make sense of the world.And we've robbed them of that opportunity because we're afraid of evil spirits. We're raising our children in captivity and they turn to technology to socialize,learn and decompress .Why are we blaming the screens? The writer thinks Internet addiction happens today because . A. the youth are required to learn the modern technology B. the youth want to escape the dangerous real world C. the youth are fascinated by a digital-only world D. the youth want to communicate with each other Answer: D Question: For a long time, people who fish have had to rely on luck to catch fish. Even big fishing ships, fitted out with radar and modern equipment, have their share of bad days. Wouldn't it be nice if fish could be trained to come at the call of a whistle the way some days are trained? Well, the days of "fish whistle" may be just _ . Japanese companies are working on methods that will train fish to return to harvest areas at the sound of an underwater whistle. The method works like this: First, fish eggs are hatched in a laboratory. Whenever feeding time arrives, a whistle sounds. The young fish learn to return to their feeding areas at the sound of the whistle. Later, the fish are set free at sea, near special-made under water "barns". There, the whistle-plus-feeding program continues. Being well fed and sheltered, the fish continue to live around the barn. So when fishing time arrives, all the harvesters need to do is to sound the whistle, drop their nets, and draw in a lot of fish. Many countries have closed their offshore fishing waters to ships from other countries. With fish whistle and barns, Japan hopes to become less dependent on importing fish from other countries. We may infer from the passage that _ . A. the whistle-plus-feeding method works well B. Japan is still a country depending on importing fish C. fishes never move to other places D. only Japan is working on the method Answer: B
He leant down to the pickpocket. The heaving and gasping had stopped, but he was still making a show of his breathlessness. "That's better," Mallon said. "Can you stand up? Try to stand up. Here," he said, and gripped the pickpocket's arm and forced him upright until he saw his face for the first time. As the pickpocket labored for breath, he gazed up at Mallon with his dark eyes. "How could you?" they asked. Mallon might have said, "Because you tried to steal from me." But he was still conscious of the flush of joy he'd felt when his blow struck home -- when he knew he'd hurt the man. Where that joy came from he couldn't say, but he knew that its roots were deeper than some clumsy failed theft. Fat drops of rain began to patter on the awning . "How are you?" Mallon said. "Can you walk?" The pickpocket turned away and leant against the store window with both hands, and his head sank lower as his shoulders rose and fell. A gray-haired woman inside the store rapped on the glass and made a shooing motion. When the pickpocket ignored her, she rapped harder and kept rapping. "I have to go," Mallon said. "I'm sorry." He looked up at the sky. "I'm sorry," he said again, and stepped into the rain and walked quickly up the street. One of the Bangladeshi umbrella sellers was working the corner, and Mallon had just paid seven euros when he heard a woman shouting. He didn't want to look back but did. It was the woman from the shop, pushing and batting the pickpocket away from the window while he bent down and covered his head like a boxer trying to get through the last seconds of a round. Mallon slipped his wallet back into his jacket pocket and took the umbrella that the Bangladeshi had opened for him. The pickpocket was out on the sidewalk now, in the rain. The woman stood just under the awning with her arms crossed over her chest. "Excuse me, madam," Mallon said, coming up to them. "This man isn't well. He needs to rest a moment." "I know these people," she said. "Our Romans don't want them here." The rain fell in sheets, ran down the pickpocket's shiny scalp and face, down his leather jacket. "Here," Mallon said, and offered him the umbrella, but he only looked at Mallon with his hurt dark eyes and then lowered his head again. Mallon bumped him in the shoulder with the handle of the umbrella. "Go on -- take it!" he said. And finally, with a beaten, unwilling look, the pickpocket did. And that was when he saw a taxi round the corner with a light glowing on its roof. Mallon ran out waving his arm and the cab turned sharply to the pavement, sending a lot of water over his shoes. He opened the door but couldn't help looking back. The pickpocket had lowered the umbrella to the ground upside down and was leaning on the shaft, head low, neck bared to the sky. "Wait," Mallon said to the driver. He went back and grabbed the pickpocket's sleeve and pulled him to the cab. "Get in," Mallon said, and took the umbrella and pushed him into the back seat. He leaned inside. "O.K., where do you live?" "No Gypsies!" the driver said. He was twisted around, glaring at the pickpocket. "Gypsy? Look, he's not well. I'll pay," Mallon added. The driver shook his head. "No Gypsies. Get him out," Mallon looked at the driver's nameplate: Michele Kadare. "It's the law," he said, "If you don't take us, Signor Kadare, I'll report you and you'll lose your license. Believe me -- I am quite serious." The driver fastened those pale eyes on Mallon and turned and put his hands on the steering wheel. He raised his eyes to the rearview mirror and he and Mallon exchanged stares. "O.K., Mr. American," he said. "You pay." Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? A. The taxi didn't take the pickpocket to his house in the end. B. The pickpocket succeeded in stealing something from Mallon. C. The pickpocket was a little suspicious of Mallon's intention to help him. D. The umbrella seller gave an umbrella to Mallon free of charge. Answer: C. The pickpocket was a little suspicious of Mallon's intention to help him. Mail carriers will be delivering some good news and some bad news this week. The bad news: Stamp prices are expected to rise 2 cents in May to 41 cents, the Postal Regulatory Commission announced yesterday. The good news: With the introduction of a "forever stamp,"it may be the last time Americans have to use annoying 2-or 3-cent stamps to make up postage differences. Beginning in May, people would be able to purchase the stamps in booklets of 20 at the regular rate of a first-class stamp. As the name implies, "forever stamps" will keep their first-class mailing value forever, even when the postage rate goes up. The new "forever stamp" is the United States Postal Service'(USPS) answer to the complaints about frequent rate increases. The May increase will be the fifth in a decade. Postal rates have risen because of inflation ,competition from online bill paying, and the rising costs of employee benefits, including healthcare, says Mark Saunders, a Spokesman for USPS. The USPS expects some financial gain from sales of the "forever stamp" and the savings from not printing as many 2-or 3-cent stamps. "It's not your grandfather's stamp," says Mr. Saunders. "It could be your great-grandchildren's stamp." Other countries, including prefix = st1 /Canada,England, andFinlanduse similar stamps. Don Schilling, who has collected stamps for 50 years, he's interested in the public's reaction. "This is an entirely new class of stamps," Mr. Schilling says. He adds that he'll buy the stamps because he will be able to use them for a long period of time, not because they could make him rich-the volume printed will be too large for collectors. "We won't be able to send our kids to college on these," he says, laughing. The USPS board of governors has yet o accept the Postal Regulatory Commission's decision, but tends to follow its recommendations. No plans have been announced yet for the design of the stamps. What can be concluded from the passage? A. With forever stamps, there will be no need to worry about rate changes. B. Postal workers will benefit most form the sales of forever stamps. C. The inflation has become a threat to the sales of first-class stamps. D. New interest will be aroused in collecting forever stamps. Answer: A. With forever stamps, there will be no need to worry about rate changes. There is a famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door. This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment. This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which bring us to the cellphone. The most common complaint about cellphones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cellphone's interruption of our thoughts. We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cellphones, and this is by and large a healthy, protective development. "I didn't hear it ring" or "I didn't realize my phone had shut off" are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we're beyond reach. The notion of being unreachable is not a new concept--we have "Do Not Disturb" sign on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cellphones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while? Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cellphone devotees , myself usually included, can't help at times wanting to throw their phone away, or curse the day they were invented. But we don't and won't, and there really is no need. All that's required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it. In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt for the rings of our own phones. A cellphone call deserves no greater priority than a random word from the person next to us,though the call on my cellphone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg--who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I'm better off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I'll eat for lunch. What does the writer think about people telling "white lies" about their cellphones? A. It is a way of signaling that you don't like the caller. B. It is natural to tell lies about small things C. It is basically a good way to protect one's privacy. D. We should feel guilty when we can't tell the truth. Answer: C. It is basically a good way to protect one's privacy. Sometimes the best advice doesn't come from a book, a microphone, from behind a desk in Washington or even from the people who are the leaders in their fields. Sometimes the best life lessons are found deep in the roots of where we came from. My father passed away years ago, but I always remember the lessons he taught me. Three of them particularly shape my perspective day after day. The first one is that little things make big things happen. To the best of my memory, when I was young, we needed to build a new shed. Those were the days when stores like Home Depot and Lowes didn't exist. Brand-new timber was expensive, so folks often reused the materials that others in the community didn't need. That summer, Dad and I used the boards from an old abandoned barn. We pulled them down one by one, drew the nails out and took off the tin and straightened it in order to reuse it. We got our supplies back to our yard and got to work. I don't know how much of a help I really was, but I chose to stay beside Dad the entire period, working along with him. The sun was hot that day, and sweat formed and ran down our faces. I stood there and handed him the nails one by one, which were hammered into that shed. Dad made me feel proud of my work. Even though I just handed him the nails, he repeatedly emphasized how we built the new shed "together". He taught me that when you're willing to do hard work, even in little things, big things come together. The second one is that we should honor our promises. As a young man, my father always carried a pocket-sized Bible in his chest pocket. Shortly before the invasion of Normandy in 1944, he prayed for God's protection and promised God that if he made it home, he would make sure his family attended church every Sunday. Well, he made it home and he kept that promise. I cannot remember a Sunday when Dad did not take my mother, my siblings and me to church -- even when we were away on vacation. I now have my Dad's pocket Bible. It is one of my most treasured possessions, and it serves as a constant reminder of my dad's service to his country. However, it also serves as a visual representation of my dad's firm determination to keep his promises. Today, I place great value on my family and my faith, undoubtedly because of my dad's example. This lesson of promise has been introduced into all areas of my life. The third one is that listening is a way to acquire wisdom. My dad and I kept ourselves busy doing a lot of things together. During the nights of late summer, after dinner, the whole family would gather on our small porch to talk as the sun went down. Sometimes an aunt or uncle would drop by, and at other times my grandparents would be there. They would talk about the neighborhood news, the goings-on in modern Western society and politics -- mostly ordinary things, but it was good to sit there listening and to be together. Moreover, sitting there on the porch as dusk faded into night, I learned the value of listening and observing. Sometimes taking a moment to pause gives us the best perspective and sometimes we find the best answers simply by listening. Life in America becomes more complex. However, I like to think back to the simple lessons I learned from my father. They were the building blocks of my character and the values that still guide me today. Perhaps someone who has influence on your life taught you life lessons that helped form your character. I'm convinced that our nation could gain a lot by applying these lessons today. If we did, I think we would be reminded that the reason why our nation has become great is not merely that we have had wise leaders or well-spoken elected officials. Our nation has become great because of those ordinary Americans like my father, who have pride in their work, place great value on honesty, character and commitments, and pass those lessons on to their children and grandchildren. And that is the reason why we are still great today. What does the author intend to tell us in the passage? A. The importance of keeping family values. B. The factors making a country rich and strong. C. The happy time he spent with his father. D. Three lessons he learned from his father. Answer: D. Three lessons he learned from his father. There are lots of dangerous and terrible insects in Northeastern India, but the tree-bees are the most terrible. They are killers. Unlike most bees which will sting you only if they are disturbed , tree-bees will attack you in thousands for no reason. And they will chase you for your life. Walking along a dusty road while I was on holiday there last year. I found myself, without the least warning, the centre of such an attack. The air above me suddenly became thick with bees. Though it was hot, I went cold all over. Until then I had never heard of Indian tree-bees, but I had recently seen a film called "The Angry Swarm", which was about killer-bees. I began running to the village about half a mile away, but I was soon covered from head to foot with bees. I drove them away with my hands, only to make room for others. Each time I opened my mouth for breath, more bees entered my mouth, until it was stung to twice its usual size and I could hardly breathe. When I reached the village, I found some workers building a house. I ran towards them for help. But as soon as the workers saw the bees with me, they ran for safety at top speed. Soon my eyes had completely closed. I fell into a pile of brick dust. I pushed myself wildly down into it until my head and shoulders were covered. And then I tried hard to get out of the dust, the angry bees made a new attack on me. I was tired out and ran weakly about in circles. Soon I lost my consciousness . Later I learned that two quick-minded villagers ran to a pile of dry grass and quickly surrounded me with a thick wall of fire and smoke until the bees were driven away. They stayed with me, taking stings out of my body for the next three hours until a doctor came and gave me further treatment. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Tree-bees often attack people in large numbers. B. Tree-bees can be driven away by fire and smoke. C. Tree-bees do not give up easily when they attack people. D. Tree-bees will not attack people unless they are disturbed. Answer: D. Tree-bees will not attack people unless they are disturbed.
When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I would make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have the three-day holiday posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers. It was Christmas Eve when I arrived home, and a little snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments shining against the green of a pine. "Where did it come from?" I asked. "I asked the Gates boy to cut it," my mother said. "I wouldn't have had one just for myself, but when in great need... such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon." The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Crystal Star was in its place. A few green branches reached out a little awkwardly at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with the pleasant smell of Christmas. "It's not like the one you used to find," my mother went on. "Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn't know where to look for a better one. But I couldn't be fussy ." "Don't worry," I told her. "It's perfect." It wasn't, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: All Christmas trees are perfect. From the passage we can infer that _ . Answer: Some years ago I had a nephew starting college. I decided to write him an email with some study advice. I just wrote about all of my study habits in college that got me earning A's in almost every class that I took. Since then I have forwarded that email to countless friends and s with kids heading off to school. I decided to stop cutting and pasting emails and put this advice up on a website to make it easier to send on. Inside this site are some very specific things that you can do to get an A in every college class. No magic. Just a set of college study methods and some common sense behaviors that when consistently followed will increase the likelihood of any student getting an A in any class in college. The beauty is that this is simple, common sense stuff, but it works. For example, one plus one equals two. I believe that most anxiety issues are the result of poor performance, not the cause of it. When kids are successful in college, their stress and anxiety go down and they're happy, well-adjusted and enjoying the challenges that go along with it. They aren't looking for excuses for their failure and a reason to come home. The practices you'll find in here include concrete, practical tips that anyone can apply. They will create successful, happy students who get good grades. This isn't a site that you scan through. If you want to learn how to study in college properly, you need to put down the beer and dedicate the time to read it all from start to finish. Developing good study habits takes some time, but only a fraction of the time you'll waste struggling in a just a single class. My intent is to help you make the transition to a successful, and less stressful, college experience. I include some specific, tangible study techniques and time management practices to get you doing things the right way fast. When you follow these methods, you'll have more time for the sports and parties, and you'll still get A's - I promise you that. The genre of this article is _ . Answer: Extinction is the term for an organism which..? Answer: "You are welcome to have dinner with me on Sunday," said John. "But I don't know where your house is," said Henry. "It's easy. You get off the bus. Then cross the road, and take the first turning on the left. Walk for five minutes. Then you will see a big tree. Take the second on the right after the tree. Walk about a hundred metres down this road. There is a big red house. Go past the big house about five hundred metres, and you will see a small yellow house beside a little tree. Open the door with your foot. " "With my foot?" said Henry, "Why?" "Well, you won't come to my house empty-handed will you? " said John. Where is John's house? It is _ . Answer: Late one afternoon, when a professor was walking along a country road, he saw a farmer eating his supper alone on the road before his house. The professor walked up to the farmer and asked, "Why are you eating here alone?" "Well, sir," answered the farmer after a short pause, "the chimney smokes" "That's too bad," said the professor. "But it shouldn't be too difficult to fix. Let me have a look at it." And before the farmer could say a word, the professor was at the door. A broom fell on his shoulder and a woman's voice shouted, "Go away, you old rascal , or I'll kill you..." The professor left the house quickly. The farmer sat on the road looking very unhappy. The professor walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Never mind," he said, "my chimney sometimes too." The chimney smokes means _ . Answer:
Question: Mr. Jenkins constructed a circuit consisting of a variable source, wires, and a resistor. In order to triple the amount of current, how should he change the voltage of the source? A. make the voltage three times larger B. make the voltage one-third as great C. make the voltage nine times larger D. make the voltage one-ninth as great Answer: A. make the voltage three times larger Question: A farmer bought an old and run-down farm. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken all around. The roads were hidden because of the grass that were growing madly. And there were not any animals on it. However, the farmer planed to turn it into a pleasant and loving place. During his first day of work, the town preacher passed by. He looked at the farmer and then the mess, saying, _ A few months later, the preacher stopped by again to call on the farmer. He was so surprised to see a completely different place -- the farmhouse is rebuilt and in excellent condition, there were plenty of cows, sheep, hens and other livestock eating happily in the fence which had already been well repaired, and the fields were filled with crops planted in rows. A lot of flowers and small trees were growing along the road. He even saw some ducks swimming in a small pool. "Amazing!" the preacher said. "Look what God and you have finished together!" "Yes, " answered the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" Does the farmer believe in God? A. Yes, he does B. No, he doesn't. C. The passage doesn't tell us. D. Yes, he is. Answer: A. Yes, he does Question: Edward Nino Hernandez is 24 years old. In many ways,he is a traditional Colombian man. He loves to dance, dreams of owning a fast car and wants to see the world. However, he has just been officially _ as the world's shortest living man by Guinness World Records with a height of 27 inches( [?]0. 7m). Although he has cataracts in both of his eyes that require an operation that the family can't afford, he said, " I feel happy because I'm special. " He also said he has a girlfriend. Nino works part time as a dancer. Recently, he has won a part in a new film, playing a drug thief. Nino said there are some disadvantages of being the world's smallest man. "It bothers me that people are always touching me and picking me up,"he said. Nino's mother, Noemi Hernandez,has 5 children and Nino is the oldest. She said, " He hasn't grown since he was 2 years old. " She added that doctors could not explain why Nino was so small. She said Nino weighed just 3. 3 lb( 1. 5kg) when he was born and was just 15 inches long. Doctors at first wondered why he was so small and studied him until he was three years old, but then" lost interest" . She and her husband lost a daughter who was born similarly small in 1992. Their youngest child, Miguel Augel, 11, stands 37 inches tall. The other three boys are of normal height and appearance. Nino had to repeat several years of school before dropping out when he was about 13. His mother said he loves to travel, though he hasn't been outside Colombia. The former smallest man in the world was He Pingping of China ,who was 1. 5 inches taller than Nino and recognized by Guinness as the shortest man. He died in March. Nino feels annoyed in his daily life because _ . A. he finds it difficult to talk with others B. he is not high enough to carry heavy things C. he is often made fun of by other people D. nobody wants to pick him up Answer: C. he is often made fun of by other people Question: You never forget your first whale. The impact it makes upon you is huge and life is never quite the same again. My first whale was a 40ft grey, off the coast of California in 1979, and I've been a whale addict ever since. Now I have to go whale watching regularly just to survive normal daily life. I may be crazy but I am certainly not alone. The world is filled with whale watchers: since its beginnings in the mid-fifties, whale watching has grown dramatically and now more than 13 million people join organized whale watching trips every year. As a faithful whale watcher, all your holidays center on whales. The only books you read are ones about whales; you wear whale T-shirts, and every time you meet your friends you talk about whales. So what is it about these larger-than-life animals that makes them so special? Their enormous size is one possible explanation: imagine sitting in a small boat next to a blue whale almost as long as a Boeing 737.The fact that we know so little about them is another possibility: modern technology has taken us to the moon and beyond, yet we are only just beginning to understand these extraordinary forms of intelligent life on our own planet. Planning and patience are just two essential requirements for successful whale watching. Planning is needed because there are certain whale hot spots--where you have the best chance of seeing them--and because the larger species tend to be on their way from feeding areas to breeding grounds, so rarely do they stay in one place for more than a few months at a time. Patience is necessary because, even under the best conditions, whales can be tricky to find. However, most commercial whale watching trips have a surprisingly high success rate because they tend to concentrate on well-known whale populations at peak seasons. Why is patience necessary in whale watching? A. Because it is very difficult to find these clever whales. B. Because whales are on their way to breeding grounds. C. Because the watching conditions are not always good. D. Because they have enormous size as big as a Boeing plane. Answer: A. Because it is very difficult to find these clever whales. Question: Some of the best-known names in the entertainment industry have taken part in an unprecedented _ to help victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The benefit , called "America: a Tribute to Heroes," was sponsored by all four major U.S television networks, ABC,CBS, FOIX and NBC. It was broadcast by three-dozen television, cable and radio networks across the country and aired live to more than a hundred countries around the world. Hollywood stars joined music entertainers in asking listeners and viewers to pledge cash donations to charities helping the victims of the September 11thattacks. Actors, including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood, told stories of heroic acts by people who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali made a rare public appearance in show of support. The appeals alternated with performances by such popular entertainers a Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Steve Wonder, Paul Simon and the rock band U--2. They appeared on stages in New York, Los Angeles and London, decorated with hundreds of burning candles. Singer Billy Joel sang " New York State of Mind" with a New York City firefighter's hat on his piano. Sting dedicated his song " Gragile" to a friend who died in the World Trade Center. Stevie Wonder condemned hatred in the name of religion before singing his song " Love's in Need of Love today". Pledge phones were manned by dozens of other celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Meg Ryan, Whoopic Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone. Organizers say the two-hour telethon raised millions of dollars. All participants, from stars to stagehands, worked without pay. The best title for the news report is _ . A. U.S Telethon Raises Money for Attack Victims B. Best-known names Pledge Donations C. Seeking More Support D. More People Join Answer: A. U.S Telethon Raises Money for Attack Victims
When women sit together to watch a movie on TV, at the same time they usually talk about a lot of subjects, including children, men, careers and what's happening in their lives. When groups of men and women watch a movie together, the men usually end up telling the women to shut up. Men can either talk or watch the screen---they can't do both---and they don't understand that women can. Besides , women think that the point of all getting together is to have a good time and develop relationships--not just to sit there like couch potatoes staring at the screen. During the ad breaks, a man often asks a woman to explain the plot(the story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.) and tell him where the relationship between the characters is going. He is unable, unlike women, to read the small body language signals that show how the characters are feeling emotionally . Since women originally spent their days with the other women and children in the group, they developed the ability to communicate successfully because they want to keep relationships. For a woman, speech continues to have such a clear purpose: to build relationships and make friends. For men, to talk is to connect to the facts. Men see the telephone as a communication tool for sending facts and information to other people, but a woman sees it as a way of keeping relationship. A woman can spend two weeks on vacation with her girlfriend and, when she returns home, telephone the same girlfriend and talk for another two hours. There is no convincing evidence that social conditioning, the fact that girls' mothers talked them more, is the reason why girls talk more than boys. Psychiatrist Dr. Michael Lewis, author ofSocial Behaviour and Language Acquisition, conducted experiments that found mothers talked to and looked at baby girls more often than baby boys. Scientific evidence shows parents reply to the brain differences of their children. Since a girl's brain is better organized to send and receive speech, we talk to them more. As a result, mothers who try to talk to their sons are usually pointed to receive only short complaints in reply. After a vacation with her girlfriend, a woman would talk to her again on the phone for hours so as to _ . As a group of young African immigrants struggle to adapt to life in the United States, an after-school drama program at White Oak Middle School aims to make their lives easier by first making them a little harder. Project X is a program that uses drama, dance, poetry and other creative outlets to help students discuss the tough and sometimes painful problems they face as pre-teen immigrants with language barriers. A final unveiling of their creation will be performed for friends and family at the end of the year at Imagination Stage. Wanjiru Kamau, coordinator of White Oak's African Club said it's important to give troubles to group members to help them find their place at the school. "It comforts those who are uncomfortable, and it discomforts those who are comfortable," Kamau said of Project X. Kamau teamed up with Imagination Stage after she noticed that many African students seemed uncomfortable talking about problems, such as being laughed at by their fellow students about how they look and talk. When most of the kids join the club, they speak little or no English, Kamau said. Each week, the club typically draws five to ten students who are originally from Africa for discussion sessions and the Project X programme. "We are going to express ourselves through our words and our actions, and that's powerful," said teaching artist Meg Green as she introduced fill-in-the-blank poems the students wrote about their identities. One student, Frank Ketchouang, 13, wrote, "I am from the world; I am love," which drew oohs and aahs from the group. Ketchouang has been in the United States for less than a year, said Program Coordinator Chad Dike. When Ketchouang started attending Project X, he had been in the United States for two months and spoke no English. Now he's one of the group's most outgoing members and helps translate instructions from English to Creole for the group's newest member, who is from Haiti. Many people will give up when there's a language barrier, "but these students prove them wrong". Kamau said. "You do have something to give. You are important. When TV, media, etc. are bringing them down, this program is bringing them up." Project X is intended for helping the young African immigrants to _ . When Andrea Peterson landed her first teaching job, she faced the task of creating a music program with almost no money for equipment or supplies in a climate where standards-based learning was the focus and music just provided a break for students and teachers. For her drive and creativity in overcoming those challenges, she's been name national teacher of the year. Principal Waynes Kettler said he's worked with many outstanding teachers in his 22 years as an educator, but Peterson is "just that one step above anybody I've ever worked with before." Kettler and others at Monte Cristo Elementary School talk about the ways she has introduced the learning from other classrooms into her music program and her creativity in working around things such as the lack of money for new music. When students were reading S.E. Hinton's novel in their regular classroom, Peterson helped them write a 30-minute play with scenes from the book. Then they chose three Broadway tunes that focused on race, equality and social justice, the themes of the book. Peterson composed two other sons herself after classroom discussions about the play and the book. The honor means a lot to residents of Granie Falls. It's inspiring to know that people from small towns can even win national honors. As national teacher of the year, Peterson will spend the next year outside classroom, as a national and international spokeswoman for education. Not surprisingly, she is a big believer in the value of arts education. She said it's essential for schools to offer classes such as art or music and physical education because for some kids one of those subjects is the only thing that motivates them to come back to school day after day. It can be inferred from the text that _ . There was a young woman who had a baby. She was very young. She had to learn how to feed the baby right. The doctor helped her with this. The doctor helped her with many things. Yesterday, the doctor had helped her try and teach the child to use the toilet. Today, she puts a bib on the baby to try to feed her. She tries to feed it with a frog shaped spoon. She tries to feed her a banana. She tries a rhyme, to get the child to have fun. The rhyme is about the cat that jumped over the moon. The doctor watches with a smile on his face. The doctor has a beard. The baby likes to play with the doctor's beard. The baby also likes to play with her rattle. Her rattle is shaped like a bull. It is a loud rattle. The baby still makes a mess, but she is drier than yesterday. The doctor says it is a good job. What did the doctor help the woman do yesterday? It has always been said that women are not good drivers, because they simply don't have very good driving ability. On the other hand, most car accidents happen to men; very few happen to women. From this, we can see that women are much more careful while driving. Another very interesting fact that we should point out is that in the past, women preferred to let their husbands be the only driver in the family rather than have a driving license. Somehow they were prevented from making this step in their lives, but nowadays there are many women that want to pass their driving tests from an early age. However, we have to admit that men are more skillful drivers than women, but this does not mean that a woman cannot become a good driver by accumulating experience. So more and more teenagers and women around the age of thirty now want to pass their driving tests. While taking their driving lessons, they also have a number of special lessons with their parents or somebody in the family that has a driving license, this is just to improve their driving abilities and help them to pass the tests more easily. To conclude, we can say that women are not such bad drivers. They just need more experience than men in order to be able to drive well. And on the other hand, there are a number of women that show better driving skills than the men around them. What can we infer from the passage?
In the jungle of Africa, there lives a family of monkeys. There is a Mama Monkey and a Papa Monkey, and they have a young daughter named Hananh. The monkey family lives very happily,swinging and playing in the trees. But it isn't all play. Papa Monkey has to make sure their home is warm and safe. Mama is responsible for the sewing and cooking of the family's meals. Hannah helps with the cleaning ,but her main job is to collect all the bananas and other fruit for the monkey family's meals The daughter does the cleaning and collects _ A apples B bananas C other fruit D B and C Answer: D. B and C Researchers conducting a study of hospital stays for over two hundred and eighty six thousand older folks found something interesting in their data. The number of hospitalizations for heart disease and stroke went down significantly among a certain group of people at a certain time of year. What folks, and what time of year, you ask? Flu season and the lucky people were the ones who got flu shots . It's generally recommended that people over fifty get their flu shots every year. Influenza is no small thing. it's responsible for around thirty six thousand deaths a year in the U. S. alone. Getting the shots also cuts down on the chances of getting pneumonia , which is especially dangerous in seniors. But what wasn't known was that there seems to be an added benefit to getting a flu shots in terms of _ heart problems. The data,in fact, are quite strong in suggesting this is the case. In this study, flu shots cut clown the number of hospitalizations for heart disease by nineteen percent. Stroke went down sixteen percent one season and a whopping twenty-three percent a second season.These are big results. So what's the connection between getting a flu shot and having a stronger heart? It isn't yet known. Researchers speculate that the flu virus itself may do damage to blood vessels , possibly making clots more likely. Blood clots in the heart can cause heart attacks, and blood clots in the brain can cause strokes. Whatever the specific details are, there's one more good reason to follow your doctor' s advice and get that annual flu shot. The benefits of getting flu shots can be listed except that _ . A it can cut down on the chances of getting pneumonia B it can cut down the number of hospitalizations for heart disease C it can kill the flu virus D if can make blood clots Answer: D. if can make blood clots Light rays are focused by the lens of a camera through the process of A reflection. B refraction. C dispersion. D diffraction. Answer: B. refraction. Although there are no state controlled survival courses in Britain or the United States,there are various independent organizations offering similar activities.Students can participate(take part)in outdoor training courses through university clubs and societies.Anyone can register with such groups,which then organize courses,training and trips for all members. One of the most popular outdoor training programmes in both the US and Britain is Outward Bound .It was founded in 1941 in Wales and attracts hundreds of thousands of adventurous types every year. The courses are intended to broaden minds through experiences that build confidence, self-esteem and character.As well as specialist courses such as canoeing,leadership skills and sailing,participants can take part in week long adventure training camps which include a host of sports and survival training education skills. Michael Williams,an American student,took part in an Outward Bound course last year.He said:"We learned lots of first aid skills,lots of natural history ,lots of environmental facts, and participated in a wildlife preservation programme.Beyond that,my favorite skills learned were sailing and rock climbing."Courses can last up to 40 days and are open to anyone over the age of 14.Students must be in general good health,but do not need to be experienced in outdoor-sports.There is no selection process;everyone is welcome,although new participants are advised to pick a course matching their physical capacity.Most of the British courses take place in the Brecon Beacons in Wales.Another similar organization is the UK Survival School,which includes courses on learning to 1ive with the environment, sailing and winter survival.On a basic survival weekend students will learn how to get water and food, how to make fire and cook with it,to find and build a shelter,control survival life support,how to cross rivers.Send off a distress signal,and to use compasses by day and night. According to the leaders,such adventures are "an awakening, an exploration into the unknown."Outward Bound believes that participants will "use mind and body traveling some of the Earth's roughest wilderness areas." In Britain and the United States,survival courses are popular with _ . A old people B young people C dangerous people D weak people Answer: B. young people When you enter a supermarket, you see shelves full of food. You walk between the shelves. You carry a shopping basket and your food is in it. You probably hear soft, slow music as you walk between the shelves. If you hear fast music, you walk quickly. The supermarket plays slow music. You walk slowly and have more time to buy things. Maybe you go to the meat department first. There is some meat on sale, and you want to find it. The manager of the supermarket knows where customers enter the meat department. The cheaper meat is at the other end of the meat department, away from where the customers enter. You have to walk by all the expensive meat before you find the cheaper meat. Maybe you will buy some of the expensive meat instead of the meat on sale. The department selling milk and milk products such as butter and milk powder is called the dairy department. Many customers like milk that has only a little butterfat in it. One store has three different jars of low fat milk. One says"1 percent fat"on the jar. The second says "99 percent fat free". The third says "LOW FAT" in big letters and"1%"in small letters. As you can see, all the milk has the same amount of fat. The milk is all the same. However,in this store the three jars of milk cost three different amounts of money. Maybe the customers will buy the milk that costs the most. Most of the food in supermarkets is very pleasing. It all says "Buy me!" to the customers. The expensive meat says "Buy me!"as you walk by. The expensive milk jar says "Buy me! I have less fat." Low fat milk is in the _ . A meat department B fruit and vegetable department C sweets department D dairy department Answer: D. dairy department
Lacrosse is a popular sport in Canada. It is one of the oldest organized sports in America. The Indians in northern New York State and southern Ontario, Canada, invented it. They used it to train for war. They invented this game before Columbus arrived in the New World. People play lacrosse outdoors. The lacrosse field is seven metres long. At each end of the field there is a net. There are ten players on each team. Each player has a stick called "crosse". The players hit a ball that is 21 centimetres around and weighs 140 grams. They try to hit the ball into the net as many times as possible. Lacrosse is a very fast game because the players can catch and pass the ball at a high speed with their sticks. At one time lacrosse was the national summer sport in Canada. It is also popular in Britain and Australia. The seven-metre-long lacrosse field has _ . Answer: one net at each end You may have known several kinds of police --- traffic police, fire police and street police. But have you ever heard of energy-saving policeman? A group of 22 energy-saving policemen went to work last week in Beijing. They go around the city to see the use of energy in hotels, office buildings, shopping centers and other public places. One of their aims is to make sure that these places have set their air conditioning no cooler than 26degC. They also set up a special phone line so that people can tell them which buildings fail to follow the rule. "If everyone sets their air conditioning at 26degC, Beijing will save 400 million kilowatthour of electricity in one summer. That's one-third of all the usages of the city in the season," said a TV advertisement. Other Chinese cities, like Wuhan in Hubei Province and Yangzhou in Jiansu Province, are going to follow Beijing's steps in setting up a similar police team. As one of the fastest developing countries, China is using a lot of energy. This has a great effect on the country's environment and limited energy. From 1986 to 2005, the country experienced 20 warm winters continuously . Numbers show that Chinese cities have to spend billions of yuan solving environmental problems every year. At the beginning of this month, China made its first action plan to fight pollution. It aims to reduce energy usage by 20% and increase renewable energy up to 10% from 7% by 2010. To introduce the public to a green life, last week Beijing held a show on energy-saving technology and productions. Environment-friendly machines, such as a vending machine that helps collect used bottles, have attracted lots of attention. "We want to tell people that there are certain ways to protect the environment. Each of us can find effective ways to do it on our daily lives," said Liu Qianguang, an environmental engineer in Beijing. In the year 2010 China's energy usages is going to be cut by _ . Answer: 20%. The gravitational force of the Sun affects the planets in our solar system. Which of these is influenced the most by this force? Answer: orbital path Mitsuaki recently arrived in the United States to enter university.He wants to do well in his studies and fit the new culture.But Mitsuaki has a problem.It's not his teachers.It's not even his English ability.His problem is that he doesn't have a car.Mitsuaki has already discovered a basic fact of American culture: Driving is a way of life. There are different transportations in America.Many cities have taxis, buses and subways. But most people find it the easiest to drive, even if they do have to deal with heavy traffic. Nowadays busy families often have more than one vehicle.Many people think their car as a status symbol.But no matter what their social status are, people without wheels feel stressed. When Mitsuaki first arrived, he was amazed at how young many American drivers there were.Young people in America often get their driver's license around age 16 by passing a written test and a driving test.Before they can get their license, they have to take a driver education course, For teenagers, being able to drive is important. It's hard to find an American teenager without one. Mitsuaki finally decides that he needs a car. His host family helps him find a good used car to buy. But before he gets his license and starts driving, he has to understand the American style of driving, He also needs to learn some of the basic rules of the road that good drivers follow. Driving to Americans is what flying to birds.It's almost part of their nature.For many Americans, being behind the wheel is like their natural home.But if they don't drive carefully, they can become an endangered animal. What is Mitsuaki's trouble in the USA? Answer: He doesn't have a car himself. BEIJING, Jan. 11(Xinhuanet)-- Sleeping a little bit longer a day might help fight against obesity , a recent study shows. The research-- published in the Archives of Internal Medicine along with an editorial by Turek and Northwestern colleague Joseph Bass commenting on it and related research-- after comparing people of normal weight- a body mass index of less than 25- with those who were overweight or _ , found that sleeping for an extra 20 minutes each night could offer a pain-free way to lose weight. Insufficient sleep is linked with changes in hormone levels that may stimulate appetite. A series of studies in recent months have shown that the less people sleep, the heavier they tend to be. American researcher Robert Vorona from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and colleagues have now examined the relationship between people's self-reported sleep time per 24 hours and their body mass index(BMI). They found that total sleep time and BMI were inversely correlated was total sleep time decreased, BMI increased, except in the severely obese group." Americans experience insufficient sleep and corpulent bodies. Clinicians are aware of the burden of obesity on patients," the study said. "Our findings suggest that major extensions of sleep time may not be necessary, as an extra 20 minutes of sleep per night seems to be associated with a lower body mass index," it added. "We warn that this study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between restricted sleep and obesity (but) investigations demonstrating success in weight loss via extensions of sleep would help greatly to establish such a relationship." In November 2004, researchers from Columbia University in New York City, New York demonstrated a clear link between the risk of being obese and hours of nightly sleep, finding that people aged 32 to 59 who slept four hours or less per night were 73% more likely to be obese than people who slept between seven and nine hours per night. According to the text , the author intends to tell us that _ . Answer: Sleeping a little bit longer a day might help fight against obesity
Once upon a time there was a cowgirl named Callie. Callie was the most beautiful cowgirl in all the land. She rode a beautiful horse. Her horse was brown. There are plenty of other horses. There are black horses, white horses, and red horses, but Callie's brown horse was the only horse in the world. Callie lived in a beautiful house with her husband. Her husband's name was Henry. Henry was a very good farmer. He grew tomatoes. His neighbor grew corn, potatoes, and bananas. His neighbor's name was David. David had a son named James who played in Henry's field. One day James fell and Henry almost ran him over with his horse. It was very scary. James was very careful when playing in the field. His dad told him never to play in the field again and he listened. Henry was very sorry for scaring him and sent him a basket of tomatoes. What was Callie's husbands name? Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Great Wall of China make up our world's heritage. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is _ in an international treaty called the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. How does a place become a World Heritage Site? It takes a lot of people to decide. 1)If a country wants one of its places to be on the World Heritage List, it has to ask UNESCO. The place must be important and special. UNESCO put the Great Wall on the list in 1987 because, it said, it was a great part of Chinese culture and beautifully made to go with the land. When a country asks, it must also make a plan for taking care of the place. 2)The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO talks about different places and decides whether to put them on the list. The committee meets every June. Many experts help the committee to decide. 3)After a new place goes on the list, UNESCO gives money to help keep it looking good. If a place is in serious danger, it may be put on the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger. UNESCO gives special care and help to those places. 4)Countries have to give UNESCO regular reports about places on the list. If UNESCO thinks a country isn't taking good enough care of a place, the site will be taken off the list. About cultural and natural heritage around the world, UNESCO encourages all the following EXCEPT _ . A bud will want pollen to be extracted and then spread, so it will require Once a boy often made trouble. His mother gave him many nails . She told him to hammer(,)one in the garden fence every time he lost his patience and fought with someone. The first day he hammered 27 nails. In the following weeks he learned how to control himself better and the number of nails hammered became smaller and smaller. He learned it was easier to control himself than to hammer nails. The day finally came when he didn't hammer any nails. He went to tell his mother about it. Then his mother told him to pull off a nail from the fence each time he didn't lose his patience. After some days he told his mother that all the nails had been pulled off, so she took him to the fence and said to him, "You've behaved well, but look at all the holes in the fence. The fence will never be again like it was before. When you fight with someone, you leave wounds in him like these. The trouble may be over, but the wounds will always be there." So, learn to control yourself before you hammer the nail in the fence. Try not to leave any holes in your past. Losing control may bring you _ . You can't escape the message that smoking is bad for you. But what if one or both of your parents smoke? You might be worried about their health, sick of smelling the smoke, or even a little embarrassed by it. You can't order your mom or dad to stop smoking, but you can encourage them to quit. There are lots of good reasons. Here are some you can mention: Smoking will hurt their health. Smoking creates secondhand smoke, which you don't like. *Smoking will make it hard for them to keep up with you because they might run out of breath easily. If you think it will help, you could print out articles like this one to give it to your mom or dad. But what if your parent gets angry with you for bringing up the topic of smoking? People don't like to be reminded that they are doing something unhealthy, so it's possible that your parents will be insulted or angry, especially if they're worried they won't be able to quit. Maybe they have tried before and failed. Remember to be kind and respectful when you discuss smoking with your mom or dad. Also remember that it is difficult to quit. Some people try several times before they're able to quit for good. Instead of yelling at them, tell them that you love them and want them to enjoy many healthy years ahead. In time, your mom or dad may realize you are right about smoking .And if they do agree to stop smoking, be their biggest supporter. Ask if there's anything you can do to help them when they feel the urge to smoke .Maybe you could go for a walk, do a puzzle, or listen to music together. As they reach milestones, such as a month without smoking, be sure to celebrate the achievement. Way to go, mom! Way to go, dad! If you bring up the topic of smoking directly, _ .
One fine afternoon, while walking, I remembered that I needed a pair of socks. I turned into a sock shop that caught my eye, and a boy clerk who was about 17 came forward. "What can I do for you, sir?" There was a note of passion in his voice. "Did you know that you have come into the finest place in the world to buy socks? Come with me," said the boy. I followed him to the back of the shop, and he began to take down from the shelves box after box of socks. "I am going to buy only one pair!" "I know that," said he, "but I want you to see how beautiful these are. Aren't they wonderful?" I became far more interested in him than in the socks. I looked at him in surprise. "My friend," said I, "if you can keep this up, if this is not just the enthusiasm that comes from having a new job, if you can keep up this excitement day after day, in ten years you will be a good businessman." My surprise at his pride and joy in his salesmanship will be easily understood by all who read this article. In many shops the customer has to wait for someone to serve him. And when finally some shop assistant notices you, you are made to feel as if you were interrupting him. He displays no interest either in you or in the goods he is paid to sell. It's possible that every shop assistant who is now so bored began his career with hope and enthusiasm. I have observed this happen in the lives of so many men. I have come to the conclusion that the surest road to failure is to do things mechanically . Here is a sentence from the passage" The daily work was boring to him; his only pleasures were found outside of working hours. "It can be added at the end of _ . Answer: The businessman was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy . Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you." he said. After listening to the businessman, the old man said: "I believe I can help you." He asked the man his name, wrote out a check , and pushed it into his hand saying: "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The businessman saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! "I can settle all my debts in a moment!" he realized. But instead, the man decided to put the uncashed check in his safe, just knowing it would give him the strength to work out a way to save his business. With renewed optimism, he made better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big deals. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again. Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed check. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the businessman was about to hand back the check and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. "I'm so glad I caught him!" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller." And she led the old man away by the arm. The businessman stood there, still and shocked. All year long he'd been wheeling and dealing, buying and selling, believing that he had half a million dollars behind him. Suddenly he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned his life around. It was his newfound self-confidence that had given him the power to achieve anything he wanted to. What is the message of the story? Answer: Harry likes driving his car very fast, and one day he hit another car. He jumped out and ran to it. There was an old man in the car. He was very angry and said to Harry." What were you doing? You nearly killed me!" "Yes," Harry answered," I am very sorry." He took a bottle out of his car and said, "Drink some of this. Then you will feel better." He gave the old man some whisky and the man drank it, but then he shouted again, "You nearly killed me!" Harry gave him the bottle again. "I feel much better now. But why aren't you drinking?" "Oh, well," said Harry, " I don't want any whisky now. I am going to sit here to wait for the police." One day he hit a car because _ Answer: DEAR AMY: We recently had to put our cat down. It came _ . We had no idea that he had health problems, and we woke up early one morning to the cat crying out painfully. We immediately rushed him to the vet's where the vet said that at best treatment might lengthen his life by two to three months. We did not want to see him suffer, so we chose to kill the cat in a painless way. I am having a rough time! I cry when I am alone. I cry when I see pet commercials on television. I put away everything that reminds me of the cat. But the last sight of seeing the cat in pain plays over and over in my head. My kids seem alright with what has happened, but why am I struggling? It has only been one week since his passing, so I hope things will get better. Do you have any suggestions? Yours, Sad DEAR SAD: There is no loss quite like the loss of a pet; these animals keep us company through important life passages and are beloved witnesses to our human lives. I understand your instinct to put away all of your cat's things, but it may help you now to memorialize your pet by using these things. Each family member can write down favorite things about him or memories of him; read their memories aloud and put the papers inside his bowl. The idea is to replace those painful last memories with much more lively memories taking place over the most of the animal's life. Time will then do its job, which is to affect your feelings. And then, when you're ready, I hope you will adopt another animal and give it the opportunity to[:Z-X-X-K]share your life. Yours, Amy Which of the following made the author's family choose to kill the cat in a painless way? Answer: To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law to inspect all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and inspected. Your bag was among those selected for inspection. During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for items forbidden by law such as fireworks, fuels, gunpowder, etc. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag, which was resealed with a "special" lock. If the TSA screener was unable to open your bag for inspection because it was locked, the screener may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, and has taken care to reseal your bag upon completion of inspection. However, TSA is not _ for damage to your locks resulting from necessary precaution. For packing tips and other suggestions that may assist you during your next trip, visit: www.tsatraveltips.us. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation .If you have questions, comment,or concerns , please feel free to contact the Transportation Security Administration Consumer Response Centre: Phone: toll-free at (866)289-9673 Email:telltsa@tas.dot.gov Section 110(b)of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001,49 USC&44901(c)-(e) The leaflet is most probably provided by TSA to those who _ . Answer:
Question: Everyone needs friends. There is an old saying "Friends are God's way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it? The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seed and take care of it to make it grow. First, you should choose a friend. What good friends should you make? It's not because a person has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and _ For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complains and do his or her best to help. To make a friend, you can not be too shy. You should make each other happy and share your lives. But things cannot always be happy. Even the best have fights. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her. When there is no one around, have an honest talk. If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter. There are three steps to being friends again: Tell him or her how you are feeling ; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that. Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life. ,. (5,2,10) Sally wants to tell students the ways to _ . A. find friends B. plant trees C. get happy D. keep fit Answer: A. find friends Question: How to make friends with people from a different culture? The rules are as follows: RULE 1: Appreciate the Person. Most Americans like to be recognized as individuals as someone special with unique characteristics and personalities. Therefore, never say, " You're from America so I want to be your friend." Also don't imply that the reason why you approached them is because you wanted someone to practice your English with. That turns people off. Instead try saying," You seem like a real nice and interesting person and I would like to get to know you better." This way, they are much more inclined to be friendly because you see them as a three dimensional person and appreciate them for who they are in the inside. And by doing so, you not only learn about America and practice your English, but also gain a real friend in the process. RULE 2:Quit Calling Us Foreigners. Please refrain from calling a foreigner a foreigner especially in his face. The word makes people feel like an outsider, and even unwelcome, suggesting separation and insurmountable differences, widening an already existing gap in the situation. When Americans travel, they rarely say, "I'm foreign to your place." They tend to say, "I'm new in town. I'm new here." The reason is because new and unfamiliar things can become old and familiar. But can foreign things become native? Aha? You catch my drift. RULE 3: Just Do It. Some students like to be told about American culture but are less interested in spending the time and the effort to actually experience it. As Americans always say, "Get your hands dirty." Until you have first hand and hands on experience, you'll never really know anything. Right? So whenever you have the opportunity to participate in American culture, don't just sit there and watch. Get up and get involved! RULE 4: Find that Common Language. Now I must stress the importance of finding a common language. By that I don't mean English, Chinese, German, French, etc. I mean finding something you have in common with another person on a spiritual and philosophical level: likes, dislikes, worldviews, ways of thinking, and attitudes toward life. And to start, you must first enhance your knowledge of the particular culture from which your potential new friend comes from. American prefer to make friends with those who _ . A. avoid talking about their homeland B. recognize their personalities C. obey rules of communicating with friends D. needn't practice English while playing together. Answer: B. recognize their personalities Question: Traveling to Cuba as an American is like jumping through hoops .To help you better prepare for your trip,here are what you need to know about traveling to Cuba. You wilI need to obtain a visa to travel to Cuba.You'11 need to apply for the visa associated with your travel purposes,such as religious or medical travel,family visits,or people-to-people travel,which is the most common type of visa attained by Americans. Because of the U.S.restriction,banks have not yet been able to establish a foothold in Cuba,meaning it's a cash--focused country.You can exchange currency at the Jose Marti International Airport or at your hotel.Keep in mind that there is a 10 percent fee to exchange U.S.currency for Cuban currency.You'11 also want to be sure to carry change for tips. You can reserve a hotel room in Cuba online.Then you can call to confirm your reservation.You can also book through a travel agency.However,payment can be tricky:Even if you pay for your room through your travel agent,the restriction may prevent your payment from reaching your hotel in time(another reason to book well in advance).Come prepared with enough cash to cover the cost,just in case. If you expect to find the blue waters,volcanic landscapes and beautiful villages of other nearby islands,you'11 be disappointed.But beauty is not hard to find here.Old Havana--a UNESCO World Heritage Site--is home to splendid architecture and a bit of paladars(privately owned res--taurants).Limited economic opportunities have led Cubans to be creative in other ways.You can't go two blocks without coming across street paintings,art studios and joyful ballet music. Which can be the best title of the passage? A. How to prepare a travel? B. Tips on Visiting Cuba C. Restrictions in Cuba D. Be careful,Americans Answer: B. Tips on Visiting Cuba Question: A mathematician who goes mad is not a subject most directors consider commercially attractive, but then Ron Howard isn't among most directors, despite an impressive list of credits, a Beautiful Mind is his most successful work to date, combining psychological drama with a moving love story to produce a film that is as interesting as it is entertaining. The Oscar winning Russel Crowe has put himself in line for further honors with his acting John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician troubled by schizophrenia . A Beautiful Mind pictures Nash as an unusual hero, not just because of his academic achievements, but also because of the courage he displays while battling his illness. In 1947, Nash was one of many great young minds at Princeton. "To find a truly original idea is the only way to distinguish myself." The proud and determined student declared. His exploration of such an idea afforded him little time for the normal socializing. His shyness and straightforward approach brought him few friends. After finally _ a revolutionary new idea, Nash's career took off and his reputation was secured. He balanced research work with teaching, which is where he met the bright and beautiful student Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). Things in his life were going well when his talent for code breaking brought him to the attention of the military who employed him during the early stages of the cold war with Russia. However, the stress of his work made Nash's illness develop. Crowe's performance is perfect. He and Connelly ignite (make something exciting) the film's passionate love story and Connelly's wonderful performance makes the audience moved by Alicia, whose courage, strength and faith in her husband are the primary reasons for his recovery. Which of the following statements is not true? A. John Nash did not go mad totally. B. Ron Howard is an outstanding director. C. The stress of the academic work caused Nash's illness. D. Nash didn't have many friends. Answer: C. The stress of the academic work caused Nash's illness. Question: Some children are natural born bosses. They have a strong need to make decisions, manage their environment, and lead rather than follow. Stephen Jackson, a Year One student, "operates under the theory of what's mine and what's yours is mine," says his mother. "The other day I bought two new Star Wars light sabers . Later, I saw Stephen with the two new ones while his brother was using the beat-up ones." " Examine the extended family, and you'll probably find a bossy grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin in every generation. It's an _ says Russell Barkley, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. Other children who may not be particularly bossy can gradually gain dominance when they sense their parents are weak, hesitant, or in disagreement with each other. Whether it's inborn nature or developed character at work, too much control in the hands of the young isn't healthy for children or the family. Fear is at the root of a lot bossy behavior, says family psychologist John Taylor. Children, he says in his book From Defiance to Cooperation, "have secret feelings of weakness" and "a desire to feel safe." It's the parents' role to provide that protection. When a "boss child" doesn't learn limits at home, the stage is set for a host of troubles outside the family. The overly willful and unbending child may have trouble obeying teachers or coachers, for example, or trouble keeping friends. It can be pretty lonely as the top dog if no one likes your bossy ways. "I see more and more parents giving up their power," says Barkley, who has studied bossy behavior for more than 30 years. They bend too far because they don't want to be as strict as their own parents were. But they also feel less confident about their parenting skills. Their kids, in turn, feel more anxious. Bossy children like Stephen Jackson A. make good decisions B. have little sense of fear C. lack care from others D. show self-centeredness Answer: D. show self-centeredness
During the last twenty years there has been increasing concern with the quality of the environment. Along with air and water pollutions, noises pollution has been recognized as a serious pollutant. As noise levels have risen, the effects of noise have become more apparent. Noise is defined as "unwanted sound". Causes of noise pollution include traffic, aircraft, rock bands, barking dogs, televisions, garbage trucks, and noise from neighbors, voices, alarms, and watercrafts. Studies show that over forty percent of Americans are disturbed at home or lose sleep because of noise pollution. Noise has bad effects on people and the environment. Noise causes hearing loss, interferes with human activities at home and work, and is in various ways dangerous to people's health and well being. When we think, talk, listen to music, or sleep, we need quiet. Even low levels of noise can be annoying or frustrating. Sudden increases in volume can make sounds annoying. The quieter the background is, the more _ a noise can be. Noise can also make instructions or warning unclear, resulting in accidents. Louder noise bursts can be more disruptive .Continued stress can lead to high blood pressure, which is the major cause of some diseases. Long exposure to noise levels above eight-five decibels can damage inner cells and lead to hearing loss. Noise can result in the involuntary fear response and can cause adrenaline to be pumped into the bloodstream, the heart rate to quicken, muscles to tense, breathing to increase, and the digestive system to slow down. Local government has the responsibility to fight noise pollution. For example, it can regulate the speed of trains through their community. On the other hand, a responsible citizen will never make noise pollution wherever he is. How many kinds of environmental pollution are mentioned in the text? A Two B Three C Four D Five Answer: B Instead of a normal court hearing, the trial on Wednesday appeared more like a prepared drama. Hundreds of reporters waited outside the court, in the hope of learning "shocking" information about the case, which includes well-known military singer Li Shuangjiang's son, who gang-raped a woman with another four men on February. The case was not a public hearing because it includes teenagers, whose privacy must be protected under law, but many details had been exposed by the lawyers before the trial. Lawyers of all five suspects and the woman's lawyer made a lot of debate on the Internet before the trial, making the case more confused. Wu Ming'an, a law professor from the China University of Political Science and Law, said it was a pity to see such a "performance" by the lawyers. "It can be understood that the two parties freely spoke their opinions, but it's not professional or wise to see lawyers do the same," Wu said. "Instead, the lawyers should guide and persuade their clients to calm down, especially for such a non-public and sensitive case." China has no clear rule to manage lawyers' behavior before trials, "but it should be general knowledge that the lawyers of the two sides cannot _ too many details, particularly in a case that includes teenagers", Wu added. Yi Shenghua, a lawyer who has been following the case, said it does more harm than good to both parties for such detailed information to be exposed before the trial. "It's OK for lawyers to speak, but what is said must be reasonable and legal. Although judgments should not be affected by public opinion, it's hard for them not to be," he said, suggesting judicial authorities should speak out if the case goes wrongly. Trials must be conducted based on evidence, while lawyers should protect their clients' rights instead of adding fuel to the flames, Yi said. In my eyes, the most important aspect of the case, lies in how to make lawyers do their work more professionally and reasonably. What is Wu ming'an's attitude towards the lawyers' behavior of making a lot of debate on the internet before the trial? A approval B critical C neutral D indifferent Answer: B Early one morning the sub-inspector at a station at the other end of the town rang me. An elephant was damaging the town. Would I please come and do something about it? I did not know what I could do, but I got onto a horse and started out. I took my gun, maybe too small to kill an elephant, but I thought the noise might scare him. Various local people stopped me on the way and told me about the elephant's doings. It was not, of course, a wild elephant, but a tame one. It had been chained up but last night it had broken its chain and escaped. Its owner had set out to run after it, but had taken the wrong direction. He was now twelve hours' journey away, and in the morning the elephant had suddenly appeared in the town. It had already destroyed somebody's bamboo hut , killed a cow and turned over fruit!stalls. I came round the hut and saw a man's dead body sprawling in the mud. He was an Indian, and he could not have been dead many minutes. The people said that the elephant caught him with its trunk, put its foot on his back and grounded him into the earth. This was the rainy season and he was lying on his stomach in the soft mud, _ standing beside, looking innocent. As I lifted my gun, I hesitated a few seconds. Then I fired. That was a shot for him. You could see the pain of it knocking the last strength from his legs. But in falling he seemed for a moment to rise, his trunk reaching skyward like a tree. He trumpeted, for the first and only time. And then down he came, with a crash that shook the ground. Which of the following statements about the author is TRUE? A He was an Indian. B He knew elephants well. C He was not a local villager. D He was the owner of the elephant. Answer: C Teen Climbing Camp 2010 This 5-day climbing camp is suitable for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 who have an interest in rock climbing. The climbing days are designed for beginners and those who have some basic experience in a gym or outdoors. Participants will find themselves challenged physically and mentally. Rock Dimensions camps are designed to be a positive and memorable experience by providing healthy communication between participants, individual goal setting, and challenges that lead to personal growth. Dates Monday, June 29-Friday, July 3 Monday, July 27-Friday, July 31 Locations Climbing Tower at Footsloggers Linville Gorge and Table Rock area Local climbing areas near Boone Responsibilities Participants will meet Rock Dimensions guides at our location each morning and at the end of each day. Rock Dimensions will provide all climbing items, including a safety rope, a helmet and climbing shoes for each participant. Participants are responsible for bringing their own lunch, water, small backpack, appropriate clothing, and personal items like sun cream, etc. Pre-camp planning Participants will receive the following information in their registration packet Medical Form, Responsibility Agreement, Clothing/Equipment List, and Directions. Cost $575/person for the 5-day camp $325/person for the first 3 days Anyone interested in participating in just the last two days of the camp should call to discuss pricing and necessary skills/experience. According to the text, Rock Dimensions camps will _ . A probably impress participants deeply B provide a few competitions C help the participants set their life goals D check the records of personal growth Answer: A Do you know Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng? Fei Junlong was born in 1965. He is a Chinese astronaut selected as a member of the Shenzhou program. He was born in Jiangsu and joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 1982 at the age of 17. And since then he has only returned home six times. As a fighter pilot , he was selected to an astronaut in 1998. He married Wang Jie in 1991 and has one son. Nie Haisheng was born in September 1964. He is also a Chinese astronaut selected for the Shenzhou program. He is from Hubei. After graduating from high school he joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and became a fighter pilot. In 1998 he was selected for the astronaut program. He was one of the three astronauts who were in the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 fight. Yang Liwei was also picked out for the flight, with Zhai Ahigang. On September 23,2005 it was reported that Zhai and Nie would be one of the three pairs of astronauts who would be in the final training for Shenzhou 6. But in the end, Fei and Nie were chosen, and Zhai missed his chance to space again. Nie Haisheng got married to Nie Jielin and has an 11-year-old daughter. Who among the astronauts in this passage hasn't been to saace? A Zhai Zhigang. B Nie Haisheng. C Yang Liwei. D Fei Junlong. Answer: A
My grandfather lived only half a mile away from where I grew up in New York. Every day, he would walk down to our house and bring my dad newspapers. Along with the papers he would bring a small bag of treats for my two brothers and me. Western New York had terrible winter weather: rain, sleet , or even 3 feet of snow. Even when he was 81, he still walked the half mile every single day. As a child, I looked forward to the daily treats, but now I'm older and I realize he braved the rough weather each day just to see us smile; I now value that more than anything else. My grandfather touched many lives. A woman who had been in hospital for five years told me her story. She said my grandfather would visit her twice a week at her home: to read to her, play bridge, or just chat. It lasted for years without stop. She had few visitors. Even a _ who had traveled by getting free rides from passing cars told me of my grandfather's influence on his life. My grandfather had picked him up for free and took the traveler to his home. After learning that the man was homeless, my grandfather gave him a place to stay. The man told me that no one had ever been so nice to him. He later found a job in a supermarket. I was touched, but not surprised to know all of the touching stories from which I understood my grandfather's selflessness. I have since tried to learn from him to help others. Although he died years ago, we still respect him. The writer's grandfather walked to his grandson's home each day in order to _ . see his son and grandchildren Dear Alan, Guess what? I have a chance to choose my new place to live in! I'm excited and a little nervous. Could you please give me some help? I'm not sure whether I will live in a house or in an apartment. On the one hand, a house will be too big for just one person, so maybe I should rent an apartment. On the other hand, if I rent a house, I could find someone else to share with me. The only problem is that a house full of people might be too noisy for me. I prefer to have my own space. The city has some nice apartments, but they are also too expensive. However, if I could find a two-bedroom apartment and get a roommate, that would make it more affordable .I just need to search for a roommate who is neat and quiet. You know I can't live with someone who is loud and messy. I don't have a car, so I also need to think carefully about the location. I probably need to look for somewhere near a bus stop or an underground station. That way I will have more time to study and spend less time traveling. I'm looking forward to your reply. Love, Victor If Victor finds a roommate, he will _ . save money Perfume --A Promise in a Bottle "Perfume," says expert perfumer Sophia Grojsman, "is a promise in a bottle." That promise might be reflected in a perfume's name: Joy, Pleasures, or Beautiful, for example. Millions of dollars are spent on the marketing of a perfume, trying to get customers to connect attraction or attitude to a fragrance. Even without the marketing, fragrance has power over our thoughts and feelings. Some scientists insist that memory and smell are especially closely linked. Certain aromas have the power to call up deep memories. Perfume makers are aware of this and use aromas that can touch us deeply. The Power of Aromas Of every ten new perfumes put on the market, perhaps only one will succeed. It's risky to try, as a company introducing a new fragrance can easily run through a budget of 20 million dollars. Profits , however, can be very high. One successful fragrance, CK One from designer Calvin Klein, made 250 million dollars in its first year. In the perfume world, the most basic and important quality is the material with its own special aroma. Some are natural, coming from flowers, plants, or wood, for example. Others are synthetic materials, that is, the materials which are not natural but made with the help of science. According to expert perfumer Harry Fremont, a good fragrance "is a balance between naturals and synthetics". Image and Marketing Sephora is France's leading perfume store. In a store of shining stone, metal, and glass, famous perfumes are shown and guarded like works of art in the nearby Louvre Museum. Salespeople are dressed in black, and each type of perfume is sold in a particularly shaped bottle. In perfume sales, the importance is on presentation at least as much as on the product. If you're confused about which perfume to buy, perfumer Annie Buzantian offers her advice: you really can't get an idea whether a perfume works or not until you wear it. "It's like the difference between a dress on the hanger on the hanger and a dress on your body," says Buzantian. "Your first impression is often the right one." What is probably the main reason that Sephora's perfumes are so well guarded? It is the way to impress customers. It is said that all dreams serve a purpose . While there is no agreement among scientists about why we dream, there are many ideas about the different kinds of dreams we have. One common kind of dream is the repeating dream, in which the same story is repeated again and again, often for many months or even years. Some believe these are a sign people have a problem in their life and once that problem is gone then the dream will stop. Others think _ are a way to help people remember something very important. Another well-known kind of dream is the nightmare. The pictures and stories in such dreams make people very afraid and dreamers usually remember them far more clearly than normal dreams. The cause of such dreams may be seeing something _ such as a car accident or some deadly snakes. Others think such dreams may be trying to make a person pay attention to something that is dangerous in their life. Daydreams happen during wake-time when we forget where we are or what we are doing and find ourselves in a made-up story or unreal world. We often daydream when we are doing something that is not interesting or exciting. They help us think about our future. Lucid dreams are the most fun. These happen when dreamers suddenly understand that they are dreaming. Instead of waking up, they stay in the dream and are able to control what happens in the dream as if they are making a movie. When might a person daydream? While listening to an uninteresting talk. It was such an extremely freezing day that I decided to get a cup of hot drinking first after work. As my colleague, Ricky, and I were making our way to a coffee shop, I noticed an old gentleman rather poorly dressed sitting on a bench nearby. Obviously he was frozen, seemingly one of the homeless or someone like that. We joined the line and waited to be served. Ricky handed the server a twenty-dollar bill, ordered three cups of hot coffee, and gestured the sever to give one to the old gentleman outside on the bench as a favour. The server looked at Ricky, a little _ , without full comprehension of the request. Afterwards, there was a wonderful exchange between the server and the old man in need of some attention. I only wished I had taken a photo of the smiles on the both faces. As I was thinking about this event later on, I wondered to myself why Ricky didn't perform this act of kindness himself. I suspect that deep down in his heart he was hoping that this act of kindness might inspire others to do something for this old man as well. Absolutely beautiful! There are many ways of thinking when we met someone as the old man in need of kindness and attention. Perhaps he needs a little helping hand and thanks God for my colleague who inspired the others to goodness as well. Oh, by the way, the last words Ricky told the server was, "There go I, but for the Grace of God." What the author really thinks absolutely beautiful is that _ . an act of kindness could go widespread
Question: "Just ate chicken feet for lunch. " These were the words I wrote on my blog yesterday. By the next day there were hundreds of comments from my friends. They ranged from "OH MY GOD! That is so disgusting! " to "What were they like?" to "Why can't you eat sandwiches like everyone else?" To Chinese people, chicken feet are a normal snack. To my friends in Britain, the thought of eating a chicken's foot is----well, weird . As weird, in fact, as eating a bullfrog, scorpion , snake, or turtle. But if there are two things I love more than anything else in life, they are: trying new things and food. I arrived in Beijing five months ago. Since then, I've searched for the "weirdest" foods so I can try them, then treat my friends to some "virtual eating" on my blog. One weekend, I went to Wangfujing, Beijing's "snack street". The trip gave me tons of blog material. "I chose a stick with three live, wriggling scorpions on it," I wrote. "And it was pretty good. The scorpion was warm and crispy. The legs did have a tendency to get stuck between one's teeth, however. What's more, I am sure scorpion number two stung me with its tail in revenge ." Next came snake: "A bit like a cross between fish and chicken, with a slightly rubbery texture and meaty taste." Some people were actually angry when I ate turtle soup----especially when I posted pictures showing the poor little guy's head staring sadly up at us from the bowl. "I am never speaking to you again," wrote one (former) friend. Still, I will continue my culinary quest. Next on my list is starfish, though I feel I should have some vegetables too----algae, maybe. So what am I eating, tonight, you may ask. Pizza. Well, a girl's gotta have a break sometimes. Where did the writer get her blog material? A. From her friends. B. From Wangfujing, Beijing's "snack street". C. From Shopping. D. From the Internet. Answer: B Question: Last Saturday on the way to the mall, two children, a boy and a girl, came running towards me with bottles on their hands, asking if I wanted bottled water. It was a surprising gesture. I was wondering if they were doing fund-raising. I knelt and asked them where their parents were and how much a bottle of water cost. Then two adult women came up to me explaining what the children were doing. "We are teaching the children to give without anything in return. We are teaching people to accept without giving in return. " Two mothers had bought bottled water and placed a sticker on all bottles with five different quotes : 1. Smile at everyone. You'll never know when someone may need it. 2. If Plan A does not work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabets. 3. Have a thirst for life. Every day is filled with possibilities. 4. In your thirst for knowledge, be sure you don't drown in all the information. 5. Dig your well before you're thirsty. The bottle I have has quoted No.5. A sudden change of attitude opened up between me, the mothers and the children. We are no longer strangers to each other. We were having such a great time chatting and I ended up helping them give away the rest of the bottled water. One young lady was so thankful that she happily accepted the water and said it was the best thing that happened to her all day since she had a bad day at work. A man refused and walked away saying "no thanks". A couple kept on bowing to us in gratitude. When it was all done, the children and I were giving each other high-five. It was so much fun. I think I had more fun doing this than the mothers and the children. Different quotes were placed on the bottles to _ . A. inspire others to think positively. B. show how rich and colorful our life is. C. encourage people to get more bottled water. D. explain why at times abandonment is necessary facing trouble. Answer: A Question: Michelle Obama has launched her campaign against childhood obesity in the US,saying that it is a problem that concerns her both as the first lady and as a mother. Mrs.Obama said that the campaign was designed to encourage people to live healthier lives,but admitted that she herself was not immune to the temptations of junk food. "I love burgers and fries.And I love ice cream and cake.And so do most kids," she said.But,she added,"We're not talking about a lifestyle that excludes all that." "The question is how we help people balance their diet so that they're not facing lifethreatening,preventable illnesses,but they're enjoying their food,they're eating their vegetables,they're doing their running,walking and playing,and they still have time to get a good,fun meal every once in a while." One in three American children are overweight or obese,putting them at the higher risk of developing diabetes ,high blood pressure,high cholesterol and other illnesses. Billions of dollars are spent every year treating obesityrelated conditions. "None of us wants this future for our kids," Mrs.Obama said at the White House. "We have to act,so let's move." Her campaign has four parts:helping parents make better food choices,serving healthier food in school vending machines and lunch menus,making healthy food more available and affordable,and encouraging children to exercise more. The campaign,which Mrs.Obama starts,is aimed at solving the childhood obesity problem in a generation,so that children born today can reach adulthood at a healthy weight. "This isn't like a disease where we're still waiting for the cure to be discovered.We know the cure for this," she said at the opening ceremony. President Barack Obama praised his wife for solving what he called one of "the most urgent health issues facing the country". "This has enormous promise in improving the health of our children,in giving support to parents to make the kinds of healthy choices that are often very difficult," he said. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. People don't know the cure for obesity. B. President Barack Obama supports his wife. C. The campaign has solved the problem. D. Obesity is the most urgent problem facing America. Answer: B Question: Hannah, who was homeless, broke into the basement of a hotel and fell asleep. She was awakened by a security guard, who demanded that she leave. As Hannah was leaving, she cursed the security guard. Angered, the guard began to beat Hannah on her head with his flashlight. After the second blow, Hannah grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the guard in his face, causing him to lose his sight in one eye. The jurisdiction defines aggravated assault as assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury. The most serious crime for which Hannah could properly be convicted is A. aggravated assault. B. burglary. C. assault. D. trespass. Answer: D Question: Mr. Black gave his wife money every Friday evening, but she always spent it before the next Wednesday. For the next three days she had none. Every Tuesday evening Mr. Black asked her, "But what did you spend all that money on?" and she always answered, "I don't know." One Friday Mr. Black brought home an exercise book and a pencil and gave them to his wife along with the money. "Now look!" he said to her. "When you get money from me, write it down on this page, and on the next page write down what happens to the money." When Mr. Black came home the next Tuesday, his wife came to him and showed him the book. "I have done what you told me," she said happily. On the first page she had written "Friday, 28th June. I got PS18 from John," and on the next page, "Tuesday, 2nd July. I have spent it all." Mrs. Black _ how she had spent the money. A. wanted to know B. knew quite well C. had no idea D. often asked herself Answer: C
Question: Many people love going on a trip by plane , but an airport is usually far from the city . You have to arrive there and wait for hours for the plane to take off and it is often late . You can't open the window .You can't choose the food .Planes are fast ,but it takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city . I like travelling by train .I think trains are safe . Train stations are usually in cities . when you are late for a train , you can catch another one . You can walk around in the train and open the windows . You can see many interesing things on your way . I know it takes a little more time . I also like cars . You can start your trip when you want to . and you don't need to get to a station . You can carry many things with you too . But sometimes there are many cars on the road . What is the disadvantge of the car ? A. You needn't go to the station . B. You can start your trip when you want to . C. There are too many cars on the road . D. You can see many interesting things . Answer: C. There are too many cars on the road . Question: Millions of British people have _ the traditional "thank you" and took the place of it with the less formal "cheers", according to a survey. Although the common person will say "thank you" nearly 5,000 times a year, one in three are more likely to add a "cheers" or "ta" where it's needed to show they are fashionable. One in twenty now say "nice one" instead, while the younger are more likely to offer a "cool" than a "thank you". "Merci", "fab" and even "gracias" were also listed as common phrases to use, as "much appreciated ". One in twenty who took part in the survey of 2,000 people by the Food Network UK for Thank You Day, which is marked on November 24, 2011, said a formal "thank you" was now not often needed in everyday conversation. More than one in ten adults said they regularly won't say thank you if they are in a bad mood. Most people stated that saying thank you was something that their parents trained them. A huge 70 percent of those questioned will say thank you to a person's face without even meaning it, while one fifth avoid saying it when they know they should. It seems our friends and family get the stress of our bad manners. Half of them admit they're not good at thanking those closest to them. Many of them explain that they don't say thank you because their family "already know I'm grateful". When spoken words won't do, it falls to a nice text to do the job for most people. One third will still send a handwritten thank-you note---but 45 percent admit it's been more than six months since they tried to send one. A quarter of British people say "thank you" with food, with 23 percent cooking a meal to show their appreciation to someone. Another 15 percent bake a cake. It follows that 85 percent of people will be angry because of not getting the gratitude they feel they should receive. Most of the people who took part in the survey say that they say "thank you" _ . A. when they are in good mood B. completely out of habit C. when they feel truly grateful D. purely out of politeness Answer: B. completely out of habit Question: Ding-Dong! "Jason, honey? Can you answer the door?" "I am busy, mom!" Jason shouted back at his mother. He had spent three hours so far working to this point in the game. He couldn't stop now. Ding-Dong!Mom's footsteps approached the front door. "Jason, it's your friend Todd." Mom called from the doorway. Todd, his best friend, stepped into the room. " Jason!I need a partner for playing basketball. "He sounded excited. Jason snorted. "No way, Todd. I'm playing a game here." Jason gave his friend a dirty look, and his character in the game almost got killed while he looked away, " I almost died because of you!" Todd looked at Jason's mother. Jason's mother looked back at him. They both looked at Jason. "Why don't you play basketball with your friend?" Jason's mother suggested. "Tomorrow, maybe..." There were more levels to beat tomorrow, though, Maybe he had played tomorrow. He'd have to see what mood he was in. He thought he heard footsteps walking away, but he was too busy beating the next level to care. An hour later, Jason's father came home. It was dinner time after his father washed up and sat down. Jason didn't even hear his name being called to the table. He didn't hear his father walk at behind him and ask him to turn the game off, either. When the screen suddenly went black and his father's angry face loomed in front of him, Jason finally heard. "No more game for a month." Jason's father shouted at him. "You don't play basketball, you don't come to dinner, and you don't do your chores. We'll make you do something else before you play any more." Jason nodded slowly. He knew better than to argue with his father, and when he thought about it, he had been playing quite a bit. It was fun, but he was letting down his friends, his family, and himself by paying too much. He'd try harder in the future. What did Todd ask Jason to do? A. Help him cook dinner B. Beat more levels for him. C. Repair the computer for him D. play basketball with him. Answer: D. play basketball with him. Question: English Language and Culture Program If you wish to improve your English-language skills as well as your understanding of the Canadian cultural context, the courses offered by ELC Evening are for you. Whether your goals are academic, business or immigration-related, there is a course to meet your needs. Evening course tuition:$490,0. All evening courses run for 10 weeks.A $50 discount is available to returning students or students attending two or more courses. ELC 550 Mondays, July 7 - September 22, 2008August 4 & September 11- HOLIDAY Mondays, October 6-December 15.2008 October 13-HOLIDAY This course is designed for non-native Englisli speakers who wish to take the 1ELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam.Each week, participants focus on specific modules of the test (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) to develop and improve the skills they need to succeed on the exam. ELC 552 Tuesdays, Aprils8-June 10,2008 Tuesdays, October 7 - December.16, 2008 November 11 - HOLIDAY This course is designed for participants who wish to improve their fluency and expressiveness in English.Production skills will be targeted, including pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and stress.Participants are required to complete weekly in-class assignments , including speeches, monologues, interviews, and role-plays. ELC 554 Wednesdays, July 9 - September 10.2008 Wednesdays, October 8 -December 10.2008 This course is designed for non-native English-speaking university and college participants who wish to improve their academic leading and writing skills.This course gives participants the tools required for presenting information and building persuasive arguments in clear and cohesive written forms. ELC 555 Thursdays, July 10 - September 11, 2008 Thursdays, October 9 - December 11, 2008 This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are either working or planning to work in a business environment.Areas of focus include handling telephone conversations, networking, participating in meetings, negotiating, making presentations, and conducting interviews. ELC 550 mainly focuses on _ . A. college preparations B. fluency and expressiveness in English C. the skills needed to pass an exam D. basic English knowledge Answer: C. the skills needed to pass an exam Question: Below is a brochure about the British Library. Events The Taking Liberties events programme explores themes raised by the thought that has brought about this exhibition. A wide range of discussions, talks, comedy events and live music provide further understanding of the personal stories of those who have struggled for freedom and show how the debate continues today. Free group tours, gallery talks, local events and learning classrooms are also available. For more information please visit www.bl.uk/takingliberties. Adopt a Book Please support the British Library with a "novel" gift. For as little as PS25, you can help the Library preserve the nation's treasures for generations to come. There are hundreds of titles to choose from including many first edition classics. For a full list books available and details on how to Adopt a Book, please visit www.bl.uk/adoptabook. Friends The Friends of the British Library is a charity to helping the Library develop its holdings and its facilities. Members enjoy a lot of tours of the exhibitions: visit to specialized departments and to other important libraries, access to the Friends Room and discounts in the shop and restaurant. For more information you can talk to a representative at the Friends Desk in the Entrance Hall or visit www.bl.uk/friends. Shop The British Library Shop has a wide selection of Taking Liberties-related books, including the official exhibition book Taking Liberties: The Struggle for Britain's Freedom and Rights by Mike Ashley and Taking Stock of taking Liberties: A Personal View by Linda Colley, plus a large range of goods, including postcards, stationery, bags and souvenirs. www.bl.uk/shop. British Library Web Pages Searches 10,000 web pages from the main British Library website. You can also browse the pages using the links on our home page or the site map. Online Gallery: Searches 30,000 images from Online Gallery. Catalogue records: Searches the British Library Catalogue, which contains records for 14 million items, including books, series, printed music and maps. Journal articles: Searches records of over 9 million articles published, during the last five years, in the 20,000 most heavily requested journals at the British Library. Many of our specialist catalogues are not yet included in the home page search. Searching these will give you a more complete picture of what we have available. Where can a reader buy some pens as gifts for their friends in the British Library? A. At the Friends Desk in the Entrance Hall. B. In the British Library Shop. C. On the main British Library website. D. In the Friends Room. Answer: B. In the British Library Shop.
The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare's time is estimated to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms. In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation. The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West. What forms an adequate working knowledge of English? A The ability to read a newspaper. B Being able to speak several languages. C It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation. D Being a native speaker. Answer: C Please read and discuss the following information.We ask for your support in making 2008~2009 the best school year for everyone!If you have questions,please call us. STUDENT IDENTIFICATION BADGES Please remind your child to have his/her school ID badge on every school day from 8:00 a.m.~2:40 p.m..Each student is given an ID badge at the beginning of the school year. NO PHONE MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS Only calls about Extreme Emergencies such as death or serious illness will be taken for students.A question about where something is at home or other messages about picking up brother/sister will be given to the student after school. STUDENT ABSENCES Parents must telephone the school,6538100,BEFORE,OR THE DAY OF,the student's absence.Notes from parents are NOT accepted.An answering machine is on before and after school hours for you. OPEN HOUSE We hope you will come to our Open House at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday,September 11th.We will have a meeting in the Auditorium,and after the meeting,parents will follow your child's schedule. PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES Please attend the Parent/Teacher Conferences on November 5th & 6th (3:30~6:30 p.m.).Teachers will discuss your child's behavior and grades with you. DATES TO REMEMBER Aug.18.............................First Day of School Sep.1...............................Labor Day (NO SCHOOL) Sep.11..............................Open House Nov.5 & 6...........................Parent/Teacher Conferences Nov.26~28.........................Thanksgiving Holiday (NO SCHOOL) Dec.22 through Jan.4...............Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) Jan.5....................................Return to School Mar.23~29............................Spring Break (NO SCHOOL) Mar.30..................................Return to School May.29..................................Last Day of School Whom is the passage mainly written for? A Doctors. B Teachers. C Parents. D Students. Answer: C When my brother Joey was 6 months old, my mother brought him home from the hospital and told me to watch him while she fixed supper. We started playing a game I called "dogs", rolling on the floor like pups . Then I looked up and saw my mother watching us. She was crying. "He's blind," she said. "The doctor told me today." I looked at Joey. He was laughing. "He can't be blind," I said. "He smiles at my face." "He smiles at your voice," she said. "He'll never see your face." That was that. Joey was blind. Mama went back to cooking. I went back to playing a dog. From the age of 8, Joey boarded at a school for the deaf and the blind, learning to read Braille . When he was 16, the school said he'd learned enough and sent him home with a Braille typewriter. At 21, Joey moved out to live on his own, he said, "like a man," in an apartment 30 miles (48 km) away. He learned to cook, clean, do his own laundry, and do almost anything else he needed. Then he met the love of his life. She, too, was blind. When Joey called to tell me, he said: "Even a blind man can fall in love at first sight." They shared 10 good years before he lost her to cancer. Painfully soon after, he also lost our mother, who was his champion, and our stepfather, who was Joey's best friend. What is left when you lose the loves of your life? My brother clung with an iron fist to three gifts: Faith, hope and love. His faith grew stronger. He always had hope. And his love for his family has never gotten weaker, despite death or disappointment. Loved ones leave, but love remains. The years ahead may prove to be his hardest. His legs are growing weaker, threatening to take away the independence he's fought so hard to keep. My sister and I often wonder what will happen if Joey can't live on his own. It's not up to us. We'll do what we can, but it's his life. He won't have it any other way. You don't find strength to do something until it's time to do it. Joey has found _ whenever he has needed it. I believe he will again. What is the key message the author wants to convey through the article? A People have to spend more time with their loved ones. B The disabled deserve our respect and support so that they can live an independent life. C Love, hope and determination can keep a man going despite hardship. D People should learn to get over the loss of their loved ones as love always remains. Answer: C Garry Golden is a futurist. Futurists are scientists who analyze the way the world is today and use that information.to predict what the world will be like in the future. Golden focuses on the study of transportation. He spends his days studying the relationships between cars, subways, and trains. But he's most excited about imagining the way these relationships will change in the future. Many public transportation supporters dislike big cities because they spend hours driving from one side of the city to the other. And there aren't enough buses and. subways. However, Golden sees a trend toward fewer cars' in the future. He explains, "Cities have a cost of car ownership, which is a challenge. All these vehicles cost the city in services, in having to repair roads and other things. "Cars also take up a lot of space. Golden points out that having so many parking spaces is wasteful. Much of the time the parking spaces sit empty. What is the solution?"I think cities will make new laws to limit the number of cars people can have ," says Golden. "Instead, people will use taxis, subways, and buses. New technology, like smartphones, can make these forms of public transportation even better. Imagine if everyone had a smartphone and used them to signal when they wanted to ride the bus. Buses could change their route to meet people's requests." How soon would these changes come? Golden admits that it will take several years. Cities can be slow to change. Also, new systems of transportation can be expensive. "But it's coming," he says. "The trend of the empowered city will be here soon. " The other trend that excites Golden is electric cars. Golden especially believes in the future of electric cars that have sensors to understand the world around them. "If we have cars that can communicate with one another, they can adjust speeds to cut down on traffic jams,"he says. Rush hour in big cities would be much less painful. One challenge is that it is hard to cheaply produce batteries that are strong enough for these cars. But Golden argues we could, also make cars out of strong plastic composites . The cars would then be much lighter and much cheaper to make. Golden remains positive about the future. "There are so many exciting developments ,"he says. "In thirty years we will live a different world. " Why does Golden see a trend toward fewer cars in the future? A -Because cities-take up a lot of space. B Because cars cost too much of the city C Because people prefer to take the subway D Because roads are sometimes too crowded. Answer: B Many of our traits are unable to be naturally changeable, so we are stuck with them they way they are unless we opt for surgery. One of those traits is A language B money C color D home Answer: C
Deer are most likely to give a wide berth to a A rainbow is caused by rain and what? Michele Langlois is a young Canadian who works for the police as a handwriting expert. She has helped catch many criminals by using her special skill. When she was only fourteen, Michel was already so interested in the differences in her school friends' handwriting that she would spend hours studying them. After finishing college she went to prefix = st1 /Francefor a special two-year class to learn how to analyze handwriting at theSchoolofPolice Science. On her return, she began her work for theQuebecpolice. Michele says that it is impossible for people to disguise their handwriting. She can discover most of what she needs to know simply by looking at the writing with her own eyes, but she also has machines that help her analyze different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often of help to the police. Michele also believes that handwriting is a good sign of the kind of person the writer is. "I wouldn't go out with a fellow if I didn't like his handwriting," she says. But she adds that she fell in love with her future husband, William Smith before she studied his handwriting. _ later proved to be all right, however. Where did Michele learn to analyze people's handwriting? Carbon dioxide exists where it does because Kasey Kaczmarek: When I read "Would my dad love me?" by Martha, I related to how Martha felt about her father. I always wondered if my dad cared about me, or if he even loved me. All the kids would be with their dads and they would ask me where my dad was, and I would tell them that he was out of town. For all you kids who have a dad, tell him how much you love him because there are plenty of kids who would love to have a dad. Armen Abidian: This article describes everything about me and my life. When I was about 3 years old, my mother and father had a big argument and got divorced. Now I'm 13 years old and I haven't seen my father for 10 years. Just like Martha, I don't know what he looks like now, whether or not he's got married to a different woman, or if he has another child. Emma Ramirez: When Martha talked about how "most girls have dads who take them to their practices, buy them things and play with them", I thought I was one of those girls. I never stopped to think about how there are girls who have always dreamed of having those things but don't have a father. After reading what Martha wrote, I told myself I would always appreciate the days I spend with my dad because I am very lucky to have a dad who does so much for me. Stephanie Felix: This article reminded me of how much I missed my dad when I was younger. I really relate to this article because I used to always wonder about my dad, but not any more. Life without my father has made me more independent and responsible. By reading this article I remember all of this and I was able to understand what the writer was talking about. The above four passages are most probably _ .
Kelly Christopher, a student at Lutheran High School in California, US, loves oranges. One day last week, she used a pole to pick oranges off trees and collect them in baskets. It's the first time in her 15 years she's picked fruit from trees. "This is quite different from buying oranges in the supermarket," said Christopher. "Every time I eat an orange, I'll remember this experience." Christopher was one of the 30 student volunteers at Soil Born Farms. She volunteered as part of a project which was set up in 2009 to help homeowners in South Land Park pick oranges and other fruits out of their backyards. Before, the fruit would rot on the ground or get eaten by animals. Now the fruit is donated to those who need it. "It is good for many people", said Randy Stannard, who works for the project. "The homeowner gets fruit picked and more people can have healthy food." "Two harvests ( ) were organized in 2009 and volunteers picked 3,000 pounds (1,360kg) of fruit", Stannard said. In 2010, the number was 20,000. This year, Soil Born Farms hopes to get 40,000 pounds. They will harvest every weekend from January to April. Shannon Galloway, Christopher's science teacher, brought her students into the project this year. "You're making use of a _ that might be wasted," she said. "I think it's meaningful to everyone." Donato Frazier, 15, always climbs up a ladder and gets on the top of the tree. "Standing on the treetop is pretty cool," Frazier said. "I can see clearly that many baskets are filled up, and even see that many people are eating healthy fruit because of our volunteer work." What will happen to the fruit if they don't help the homeowners pick it? Answer: There was a time when, if a lady got onto a crowded bus or train, a gentleman would immediately stand up and offer her his seat. No more, though. Today, a gentleman will probably look out of the window, or, if he feels a bit guilty , hides behind his newspaper. Either way, the lady will have to stand until someone else gets off. You can't entirely blame men for this change in manners. The days are gone when women could be referred to as the weaker sex. A whole generation of women has grown up demanding equality with men; not just equality in jobs or education, but in social attitudes . Hold a door open for some women and you're likely to get an angry lecture on treating women as inferiors , unable to open doors for themselves. Take a girl out for a meal and she'll probably insist on paying her share of the bill; though on second thoughts perhaps that's not such a bad idea. It's no wonder, then, that men have given up some of the gestures of politeness and consideration which they used to show towards women. On the other hand, automatic male (men) politeness is perhaps slowly being replaced by true consideration for the needs of women, so that men can see women as equal human beings. Maybe that's worth standing in the bus or train. From this passage, we know that _ . Answer: Looking for a new weight loss plan? Try living on top of a mountain. Mountain air contains less oxygen than air at lower altitudes, so breathing it causes the heart to beat faster and the body to burn more energy. A handful of studies have found that athletes training at high altitudes tend to lose weight. Doctor Florian Lippl of the University Hospital Of Ludwig-Maximilians-university Munich wondered how the mountain air would affect overweight individuals if they weren't doing any more physical activity than usual. Lippl and his colleagues invited 20 overweight men to an environmental research station about 300 meters below the summit of Zugspitze, a mountain around 2,970 meters near the Austrian border. They were allowed to eat as much as they liked. The men also gave blood so that researchers could test for hormones linked to appetite and fatness. At the end of the week, the men, whose mean weight starting out was 105kg, had lost on average about l.5kg. The men's blood pressure also dropped, which the researchers believed was due to weight lost. Exactly what caused the weight loss is uncertain. Loss of appetite is common at higher altitudes, and indeed the men ate significantly less than usual--about 700 calories fewer per day. Lippl also notes that because their consumption was being recorded, they may have been more self-conscious about what they ate. Regardless, eating less accounts for just l kg of the l.5 kg lost, says Lippl. He thinks the increased metabolic rate, which was measured, also contributed to weight loss but cannot separate the different effects with the given data. Appetite loss at high altitudes could certainly be key, notes Damian Bailey, a physiologist at the University of Glamorgan, UK, who recently lost 11 kg during a 3-month expedition to the Andes in Chile. Unfortunately, for the average person there is no treatment that can resemble living at high altitude, says Lippl. The only alternative is hypobaric chamber, which exposes subjects to low oxygen and isn't practical as a treatment. He says, half- jokingly, "If fat people plan their holidays, they might not go to the sea, but maybe to the mountain." What was found about the 20 overweight men in the process of the research? Answer: 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 Two 15-year-old foreign students who want to visit Stonehenge and Oxford University will have to pay at least _ . Answer: An ant was drinking at a small river and fell in. She tried her best to reach the side, but she couldn't move at all. The poor ant got too tired but was still doing her best when a big bird saw her. What a luck! The bird threw a piece of wood in the water. With it the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying herself in the grass, she heard a man coming up. He was walking without shoes on his feet and with a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the bird, he wanted to kill her, and he would certainly do so, but the ant bite him on one of his feet and at the moment the bird flew away at once. Who helped the ant? Answer:
Many Chinese people who have been to the United States think that Americans pay a little part of their money for food each day. Yet, in the latest 13 years, food prices have gone up 30% for most American families. Everyone agrees that _ . But who is really responsible ? Many people say the farmers who produce the vegetables, fruit, meat, and eggs are responsible. But farmers say that the rise in food prices is very small compared to (...) the rise in their cost of living. Farmers think middlemen have got much more money than they do. Middlemen are those people who stand between the farmers and the people who buy and eat the food. For example, truck drivers, owners of food stores and so on. Are middlemen really responsible for higher food prices? Economists don't think so. They have found that the money that meat packers and food stores get is less than 1% in all. They say that food costs more now because modern housewives have jobs outside the home. They have less time for cooking after a day's work. They like to buy food which has already been prepared before it reaches the market. They want to buy many kinds of food that can be put on their dining tables easily and quickly. But of course they must be prepared to pay for the services of those who make their work easier. It seems that the answer to the question of rising prices is not an easy one. Quite a number of people share the responsibility for the sharp rise in food costs. Which of the following is a middleman? Answer: How can you find out what is going on inside a person's body without opening the patient's body up? Regular X rays can show a lot. CAT scans can show even more. They can give a complete view of body organs. What is a CAT scan? CAT stands for a kind of machine. It is a special X-ray machine that gets a 360-degree picture of a small area of a patient's body. Doctors use X rays to study and determine diseases and injuries within the body, X rays can find a foreign object inside the body or take pictures of some inside organs to be X-rayed. A CAT scanner, however, uses a group of X rays to give a cross-sectional view of a specific part of the body. A fine group of X rays is scanned across the body and around the patient from many different directions. A computer studies the information from each direction and produces a clear cross-sectional picture on a screen. This picture is then photographed for later use. Several cross sections, taken one after another, can give clear "photos" of the entire body or of any body organs. The latest CAT scanners can even give clear pictures of active, moving organs, just as a fast-action camera can "stop the action", giving clear pictures of what appears unclear to the eye. And because of the 360-degree pictures, CAT scans show clear and complete views of organs in a manner that was once only shown during operation or examination of a dead patient. Frequent appearance before X rays can cause skin burns, cancer or other damage to the body. Yet CAT scans actually don't cause the patient to more radiation than regular X rays do. CAT scans can also be done without getting something harmful into the patient, so they are less risky than regular X rays. CAT scans provide exact, detailed information. They can quickly find such a thing as bleeding inside the brain. They are helping to save lives. What is the special use of the latest CAT scanners? Answer: Students who say they never or hardly ever used dictionaries often 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 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 one or two words as a translation of English. But one English word has many English translations in Chinese. The most successful students are those who use large college edition dictionaries with about 100,000 words but do not use them often, When they are reading these students first try to get the general idea and understand the new words from the context .Then they read and use the dictionary to look up only key words that they still do not understand. They use dictionaries more for writing. Also if they think a noun might have an unusual plural form or a verb might have an unusual past form, they check these in a dictionary. The writer tends to think that_. Answer: Collecting Barbie Dolls is a favorite hobby of many women and girls throughout the world. Since Barbie first appeared at the American International Toy Fair in 1959, she has become the most popular doll in the world. Many collectors of Barbie Dolls collect the dolls just for fun. They often collect some dolls they like or think are special. However, there are some serious collectors. They have hundreds of dolls, and spend almost thousands of dollars each year. Many Barbie collectors not only collect the dolls, but also collect items of the dolls. Many collections include different items of Barbie's fashion clothes. If you become a serious collector of Barbie Dolls, you will be likely to want to join a Barbie collectors' club. The more you know about Barbie and her history, the more you want to grow your collections. No matter which kind of collector you are, casual or serious, Barbie dolls can be a fun and interesting hobby for girls and women of all ages. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16thcentury when English rulers fried to conquer Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921. The British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two "Irelands". Northern Ireland. In the north, is part of the united kingdom. The republic of Ireland. In the south. Is an independent country. In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes ,was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of bunger. This, and a shortage of work , forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851. For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace. The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly, Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were "the greatest talkers since the Greeks", Since independence, Ireland has revived its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different are as have different styles of old Irish song which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc. we learn from the text that in Ireland _ . Answer:
It is an odd coincidence that in the year when the Oxford English Dictionary is being put on to a computer, which will be able to read all of it in 10 minutes, we should also be celebrating the bicentenary of the death of the last man to write an English dictionary only with single-handed-Dr. Samuel Johnson. Johnson's dictionary took him eight years from 1747 to 1755, working in the attic of his prefix = st1 /Londonhome, now one of the city's tourist sights. Then, it was like a counting house with his copyists on high stools, transcribing the works and their illustrative contexts, which he had underlined in his wide range of reading. He had six assistants and finished his task in eight years. The editor of the Oxford dictionary had 25 lexicographers to assist him and, although the first volume was published in 1884, the last supplement would not be ready until next year-101 years later. The present editor, Robert Burchfield, had put 28 years into it. Yet Johnson's dictionary was still being used until the Oxford dictionary replaced it, and it was regularly reprinted long after his death in 1784. It was written, he said, to refine the English language,"to clear it from colloquial barbarisms and licentious idioms." It certainly bore the stamp of one man's personality. Many of his definitions show his sense of humor. "Novel", for instance, is defined as "a small tale, generally of love", and"dull" is illustrated by the sentence:"To make dictionaries is a dull work." Dr. Johnson's dictionary is s dictionary of . A colloquial barbarisms B licentious idioms C standard English D colloquial barbarisms and licentious idioms Answer: C. standard English A star is a celestial object that produces its own heat and light. Which of these celestial objects is the closest star to Earth? A Mars B Venus C the sun D the moon Answer: C. the sun Many psychologists in the early twentieth century believed that humans use only 10 percent of their brains, and even the great Albert Einstein once wrote that most people use only a small portion of the grey matter between their ears. It's a theory that has often been put forward in television documentaries; magazines, advertisements and books over the past century. But nearly all scientists now agree the 10 percent theory is completely . In fact, they question how this figure was ever arrived at in the first place and what areas of the brain are supposed to be unneeded. The theory supposes that if 90 percent of the brain were removed, a person would Still be able to function normally, while in reality it is known that damage to even a small area of the brain can result in extremely serious physical injury different activities and that many areas of the brain are used at the same time for some complex activities or thought processes. Throughout the course of one day, most .areas of the brain are active at some time, even during sleep. The 10 percent theory suggests that certain areas o' the brain are not used, but scans slow activities throughout the entire brain and not in any separate part. The final argument against the 10 percent theory is the fact that doctors carefully map the brain before removing brain cancers so that they don't affect other essential areas. From an evolutionary point of view, it's highly unlikely butt our comparatively larger brains would have evolved from our ancestors if the extra areas were not needed. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence support the 10 percent theory. What is the main purpose of the passage? A To present two sides of brain theory. B To criticize the 10 percent theory. C To explain how brain works. D To describe the history of brain research. Answer: B. To criticize the 10 percent theory. Over the years, Americans have become used to salt. Most people have no idea how much salt they consume --on average, about 9 to 12 gram per person per day, according to the American Heart Association. That's twice the amount recommended by the government. A new study last week showed eating even a little less salt could greatly help the heart. 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. Researchers also found that the benefits would be greatest for African Americans and women. As a group, African Americans tend to have higher blood pressure than the general population, and "many studies suggest that they may be more sensitive to salt," says Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Her analysis found that a reduction of 3 gram of salt per day would reduce heart attacks 8% on average; among African Americans, that rate would drop 10%. A similar result was found in women, whose stroke risk dropped 8% with a 3-g reduction in salt intake; in men, the risk fell 5%. They and public health professionals in the United States are interested in a national campaign to persuade people to eat less salt. However, other scientists say such a campaign is an experiment with the health of millions of people. Michael Alderman, a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, 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. "Salt has other biological effects. Calling for reductions in the national diet could have good effects, as well as harmful results. There is not enough evidence either way." The passage is written mainly to _ . A comment B persuade C introduce D scold Answer: C. introduce I credit my typing skill to so many hours of chatting online. Unfortunately, as my typing speed increased on the Internet, all grammatical rules _ You see instant messages have their own shorthand language and grammar isn't important, of which even a newbie is aware. They can leave out articles, subjects , pronouns, etc. They can misspell or "respell" almost any word. They often ask "A/S/L" when they first chat. Abbreviations and capitalizations are particularly important. English-speaking instant messengers also refuse to burden themselves with punctuation and capitalization. After I came back China, I discovered not one but two instant messaging crazes. The first, which brought back memories of my previous addiction to the computer, was QQ. I can see evidence that the Chinese have the same kind of separate instant messaging language, even when they chat in English. My first word in this language, for example, was "ft". This abbreviation for "faint" is used whenever there is a need to express surprise. I also discovered that Chinese use the same kind of abbreviation for a laugh. And there is an extraordinary number of smileys to the "vomit" and "army soldier" smileys. There is even a SARA smiley. After QQ, there is another, perhaps more widespread messaging trend. You guessed it --- cell phone text messaging. I now understand how useful text messaging is and why it is so common. I admit that I have been guilty of sending text messages while walking outside or sitting on the subway. Who hasn't ? No matter where I go, I see people on their cell phones, messaging. In fact, it's rare to see someone actually talking on their phone! So it looks as if there is no escape from the instant messaging crazes, no matter where in the world I go. And that's plainly not going to change. In the end, though, I can't complain: instant messaging is quick, it's cheap, it's easy and it's extremely fun too. And after all, everyone's doing it. The writer believes that instant messaging is _ . A full of fun but time-consuming B widespread but unnecessary C quick but difficult to do D common, used and cheap Answer: D. common, used and cheap
Question: Beethoven, a famous musician in the world, was born in Germany in 1770. In his childhood Beethoven didn't have a happy life.His father was a singer. When he was only four, his father began to make him practise hour after hour on different musical instruments . If he did not put his heart into it, his father would beat him or make it hard on him. Beethoven loved music and he learned so fast that he was able to go around to give concerts, when he was only a boy of eleven. At the age of seventeen, he won high praise from Mozart, the great musician at that time. Beethoven was often poor and ill during his life. After one illness, he suddenly found himself deaf. At that time he was only thirty-one. It was a blow to him indeed. But he still went on working and writing music pieces. To people's surprise, some of his best pieces were written after he lost his hearing. In 1827, leaving more than 300 pieces, the great musician died. But his name is still remembered to this day. Why didn't Beethoven have a happy life in his childhood? _ . A. Because his family was poor B. Because he had to practise a lot of musical instruments C. Because his father was strict with him D. Both B and C Answer: D. Both B and C Question: About the year 1900, a dark-haired boy named Charlie Chaplin was often seen waiting outside the back entrances of London theatres. He looked thin and hurry. He was hoping to get work in show business. He could sing and dance, and above all, he knew how to make people laugh. But he couldn't get work and therefore wandered about the city streets. Sometimes he was sent away to a home for children who had no parents. But twenty years later, this same Chaplin became the greatest, best-known, and best-loved comedian in the world. Any regular visitor to the cinema, must have seen some of Charlie Chaplin's films. People everywhere have sat and laughed at them until the tears ran down their faces. Even people who don't understand English can enjoy his films, because they are mostly silent. It isn't what he says that makes us laugh. His comedy doesn't depend upon words or language. It depends upon little actions which mean the thing to people all over the word. Acting out without words, of common human situations plays an important part in the dances and plays in many countries. It's a kind of the world language. Chaplin lived most of his life in America and died in Switzerland on Christmas Day 1977, at the age of eighty-eight. There was sadness all over the world at the news of his death. Which is true? A. Chaplin was an American B. Chaplin's comedy was dull. C. Chaplin was a dumb. D. People in the world were very sad to hear that Chaplin died. Answer: D. People in the world were very sad to hear that Chaplin died. Question: If you don't often wash your hands, you can touch lots of viruses from many places and make yourself ill. You may have a cold when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth. One of the most common ways people have colds is by touching their noses or their eyes when there are cold viruses on their hands. If you don't often wash your hands, especially when you're sick, you may make other people ill. So you should follow the advice and wash your hands: * After using the bathroom. * After touching your nose or coughing. * Before eating, serving or preparing food. * After touching pets or other animals. * After visiting the sick people. * When your hands are dirty. There's a right way to wash your hands. Follow these advice and you can keep your hands clean. * Use warm water (not cold or hot). * Wash for 15 seconds . * Wash well under warm running water. _ is not the right time to wash hands. A. After using the bathroom B. Before having food C. When hands are dirty D. Before visiting the sick people Answer: D. Before visiting the sick people Question: For me,my great moment came when I actually decided to accept an opportunity to teach English in Shanghai.There were times when I almost gave up because of fear.But in the end I came here. Last summer,a CanadianChinese woman who teaches in Shanghai just happened to come to the place where I was working in the Seattle area.We talked and I said I had always wanted to teach abroad.She said,"Come to our school.""Okay."I replied,but I wasn't sure if I meant it. We met later for coffee.She answered all of my questions about the school,and gave me the website address and the email address of the person to contact.It took six months for me to finally decide on the job. First of all,in Shanghai there are many western places to eat western food and lots of interesting things to do.Also,there is a great subway system with directions and stops posted in English.Finding your way around is a challenge in a new place.But that isn't hard here.Taxis are very cheap;you can always jump in one and get home.There are also a lot of westerners in Shanghai,so it is fairly easy to ask for directions.Young Chinese people are much more likely to speak English and they are wonderfully helpful. I earn almost $1,000 per month and live in a nice rentfree apartment.My biggest expense has been food as I am a vegetarian and also on a diet.I still have not got used to the traditional Chinese food,but if you like it,you'll be in heaven. Here I have a good place to live in,new friends,a high salary,and a good job.In the US,getting a job at my age has been next to impossible for a woman. We can infer that at first the writer _ . A. wasn't interested in teaching abroad at all B. wasn't sure whether to accept the job to teach in China C. knew she would be popular as a teacher in China D. thought the CanadianChinese woman was joking Answer: B. wasn't sure whether to accept the job to teach in China Question: Which adaptation will warn predators not to eat an animal? A. bright colors B. bulging eyes C. geometric shapes D. poisonous secretions Answer: A. bright colors
Lilian Hanson, a college student, expects to graduate in about two years. What makes Mrs Hanson different from her classmates is her age -- 73 years. She has been studying at college, a few courses at a time, for 27 years. When Lilian Hanson graduated from high school, she went to the bank to borrow money for further education. The banker gave her no encouragement. He didn't think that a country girl should borrow money to go to college. He thought she should be at home doing work in the house or around the farm. So Lilian Hanson went home and raised a family of nine children instead of going to college. Mrs Hanson never forgot her dream of getting a higher education. When her children were grown, she tried again. She finds the hardest part of going back to school at her age is the sitting in class for long periods of time. Because she is not as flexible as she used to be, Mrs Hanson often gets up and walks around between classes to keep from getting stiff . At the beginning of a course in using the computer, the other students all stood and gave her a warm welcome when she introduced herself and explained why she was there and what her aims were. The writer wrote the passage in order to show us that _ . Answer: The Red Cross is an international organization which cares for people who are in need of help. A man in a Paris hospital who needs blood, a woman in Mexico who was injured in an earthquake, and a family in India that lost their home in a storm may all be aided by the Red Cross. The Red Cross exists in almost every country around the world. The world Red Cross organizations are sometimes called the Red Crescent, the Red Mogen Daid, the Sun, and the Red Lion. All of these agencies share a common goal of trying to help people in need. The idea of forming an organization to help the sick and wounded during a war started with Jean Henri Dunant. In 1859, he observed how people were suffering on a battlefield in Italy. He wanted to help all the wounded people regardless of which side they were fighting for. The most important result of his work was an international treaty called the Geneva Convention . It protects prisoners of war, the sick and wounded, and other citizens during a war. The American Red Cross was set up by Clara Barton in 1881. Today the Red Cross in the United States provides a number of services for the public, such as helping people in need, teaching first aid and providing blood. The author really tries to make the reader see that this organization _ . Answer: Katie went to the store. She needed to buy some flowers. She also needed to buy a snack and a bow. The store is down the street. Katie's mother drove her to the store. Her mother is named June. Katie looked around for the flowers. She found some pink ones. Katie then looked for the snacks. She wanted cookies not chips. She found some chocolate cookies. Katie then looked for a bow. She wanted to get one for her cat. Her cat is named James. James likes wearing bows. Katie also has a dog, but he does not like bows. His name is Sammy. Katie gave the bow to James the cat. He liked it. Katie ate her snack. She likes chocolate cookies. Katie gave the flowers to her mother. Her mother was very happy. She likes flowers. Katie did not get anything for Sammy. She gave Sammy a hug instead. Sammy likes hugs. James does not like hugs. Katie had a great day. What snack did Katie buy? Answer: Doctor, a licensed physician, resided in her own home. The street in front of the home had a gradual slope. Doctor's garage was on the street level, with a driveway entrance from the street. At two in the morning, Doctor received an emergency call. She dressed and went to the garage to get her car and found a car parked in front of her driveway. That car was occupied by Parker, who, while intoxicated, had driven to that place and now was in a drunken stupor in the front seat. Unable to rouse Parker, Doctor pushed him into the passenger's side of the front seat and got in on the driver's side. Doctor released the brake and coasted the car down the street, planning to pull into a parking space that was open. When Doctor attempted to stop the car, the brakes failed to work, and the car crashed into the wall of Owner's home, damaging Owner's home and Parker's car and injuring Doctor and Parker. Subsequent examination of the car disclosed that the brake linings were badly worn. A state statute prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle unless the brakes are capable of stopping the vehicle within specified distances at specified speeds. The brakes on Parker's car were incapable of stopping the vehicle within the limits required by the statute. Another state statute makes it a criminal offense to be intoxicated while driving a motor vehicle. If Parker asserts a claim against Doctor for his injuries, Parker will probably Answer: The story happened during the Second World War. An old man lived in a small town of Germany. He had three sons and they all worked in the same factory where he had worked. After the war had begun, his sons were all made to join the army one after another and they all died in the fights. The old man was very sad. He didn't have enough food and was often hungry. And nobody helped him and he didn't know how to go on living. It was a very cold winter night. The old man couldn't go to sleep. He had been hungry for two days and it was so cold in his room that ice could be seen. He had to get up and began to run in the room until he lay down on the floor. The next morning he had to beg from door to door. He had been to a lot of cities and knew a lot. Once he came to a village, but the villagers were all poor and couldn't give him anything. He was too hungry to go to another village. He thought hard and found a way. He came to a police station and called out, "Hitler is a foolish pig!" Out came an old policeman at once. He took the old man into a room, gave him some bread and a cup of tea. Then he said, "Don't say so in our village, sir!" "I'm sorry, sir," said the old man. "I don't know it's Hitler's hometown." "No, no, sir," the policeman said in a hurry. "It's pigs' hometown!" From the passage we can infer that _ . Answer:
Tigers and household cats are members of the same family; however, their sizes are vastly different. What is the cause of this difference? A. biochemical makeup B. behavioral makeup C. genetics D. habitat size Answer: C A famous study was done in a school by a professor from a university. At the start of the school year, the teachers were given the names of five children. They were told that these five were the most excellent students in the class. But the fact was that these students were only average ,and they were not the best students at all. Well, guess what? At the end of the year, all the five average students scored among the highest in the class. What made these average students change so much to become top students?The only difference was the change in their teachers' attitude . Because the teachers believed that these five kids were the top students,they expected more from them. And so these five average students began to believe and expect more from themselves. So they worked harder to do as well as they could. Do you know why? If you expect the best from people, they'll usually want to give you their best. A great leader said, "Treat a person just how he appears to be on the outside, and you'll make him even worse. But treat a person like he's already a success,and you'll help make him the best he can be." Like the true story of 7-year-old Johnny, his teacher got so angry with him that one day she said,"Johnny,you're the naughtiest boy in this class. I'm sure you'll never change." The next year Johnny had a new teacher. And on the first day of class,she met with Johnny after school and said,"Johnny, I've heard a lot about you! But do you know that I don't believe a word of it." And every day after that, this new teacher treated Johnny as if he was one of the smartest students even when Johnny did naughty things. Later on, Johnny became a school leader. Because that's the power of our belief and attitude toward children. The writer writes the passage mainly by _ . A. giving reasons and result B. giving result and examples C. describing what he thinks D. asking and answering questions Answer: B In many English homes, people have four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. People have breakfast from 7:00 to 9: 00 in the morning. They eat eggs or bread. English people drink tea or milk for breakfast, too. Lunch comes at about 13:00. Afternoon tea is from 16:00 to 17:00, and dinner is about 19:30. They often have soup , and they have some chicken or fish with vegetables. Then they eat some bananas, apples or oranges. But not all English people have meals like that. Some of them don't have their dinners in the evening . ,. Usually, people in England have _ for their dinner. A. bananas, apples or eggs B. soup, bananas or milk C. soup, chicken or fish with vegetables D. soup, milk and vegetables Answer: C In a quiet house there was a dog named Bentley. Bentley was a little brown puppy and he was always getting into trouble. One day Bentley got outside and walked down the street. He found a trash can and started to dig through it. A cat came also to see what Bentley was doing. "Excuse me, but what are you looking for?" asked the cat. "Well, nothing important," Bentley told the cat. "I wanted to see if there was anything cool in there." The cat told Bentley that his name was Felix and asked if he could dig through the trash too. "Sure thing" Bentley told the cat. The two of them started to dig through the trash again. After a little bit the pair got bored and started to walk down the street going away from Bentley's house. They walked to a river and went to the edge of the water. They saw they were dirty because they had been digging in the trash so they went into the water to wash themselves. When they were clean they went back to Bentley's house. Inside the house they got water on everything because they were still wet. Bentley's human's came home and were very upset that their house was now very wet. What was Bentley digging in? A. River B. Trash C. Dirt D. Street Answer: B What is the relationship between tissues and organs? A. Organs are made from one type of tissue. B. Tissues are made from one type of organ. C. Tissues are made from different types of organs. D. Organs are made from different types of tissues. Answer: D
Question: The weather across much of Europe and sections of Asia has been very cold since last week. Hundreds of people have died from the cold. It has also been a source of fun for winter sports enthusiasts and has raised doubts about global warming. Europeans were digging themselves out of heavy snow after a week-long cold snap in which the number of dead--most of them homeless--continued to rise by the day. The big freeze has caused traffic mess from Siberia to Rome, blocking roads, closing schools, shutting airports, and trapping thousands in remote mountain villages in Europe. Temperatures have fallen as low as 36 degrees below zero in Ukraine, the hardest-hit country. Serbia on Sunday declared an emergency situation, saying the extremely big snowfall has put normal life at risk. But the deep freeze has also offered opportunities for snowy fun. In Sarajevo, young people snowboarded down white streets. Others competed with videos on YouTube to show the craziest jump into the snow from second floor apartments--most of them wearing only bathing suits. In the Netherlands, Europe's deep freeze means the country's almost imaginary "Eleven Cities Tour" ice skating marathon could be staged later this month for the first time in 15 years. The race is expected to draw thousands of participants and more than a million viewers. The cold snap has also caused people to doubt global warming claims--if the Earth is getting warmer, why have recent winters been colder? Zhang Peiqun, assistant chief engineer of the National Climate Center, explained in an interview with xinhuanet. com: "Global warming refers to broad changes over a long time period, mainly in the past 100 years. It doesn't contradict with the phenomenon that some time in some places the temperature is lower than usual." He also added that it has been a long time debate whether the Earth is getting warmer or colder. "No matter which opinion is correct, a bigger question faces us: how do we deal with the resulting extreme weathers?" he said. What would be the best title of the passage? A. Hardest Winter To Go B. Weather Getting Crazy C. Snow Causes Mess D. Freeze Raises Issues Answer: D Question: There were two McDonalds--Mac and Dick--and they were brothers. In 1948, they owned a restaurant in California, they liked working in the restaurant, but they got tired of the customers ordering so many different things to eat. "If we gave customers a smaller menu, we could make some of the food before they came, and they wouldn't have to wait so long for their meals," said one of the brothers. The other brother agreed and said, "And if we made the customers come to the counter, we wouldn't need any waiters or waitresses. We could also use plastic plates so there wouldn't be any washing-up." These were such good ideas that McDonald brothers used them, and the customers were very pleased. They got their meals very quickly--in less than a minute--and they paid only 15 cents for hamburgers and 10 cents for fries. The first McDonald's restaurant had no seats for customers to sit on. This meant that people had to take their food away, and that no one had to clean up any tables after them. Then a man called Ray Kroc came to the brothers and asked to buy their business. They agreed to sell it to him for$27 million. After that, people paid Ray Kroc to open their own restaurants using the McDonald's name and menu. Before long, there were McDonald's restaurants all over the United States, and nowadays, they are all over the world--even in China and Russia. The most successful McDonald's business is in Hong Kong of China. The Hong Kong McDonald's sells more hamburgers every day than any other McDonald's anywhere else in the world. McDonald's restaurants are so successful because children love going to them. They like the food, and they like the toys and games they can get at McDonald's. This story mainly tells us _ . A. a restaurant in California in 1948 B. how Ray Kroc made money for the McDonald brothers C. where McDonald's restaurants are in the world. D. how the McDonald's business started and grew Answer: D Question: I was walking along prefix = st1 /Orchard Roadwhen I realized a tall young man wearing a jacket and tie was following me. I noticed him because not many people wear a jacket and tie in the middle of a hot summer day, and I had already seen this man four times that afternoon. To make sure he was following me, I walked on quickly, turned right into a shopping center and then stopped to look in a shop window. Soon the man appeared and stopped at another shop window. I walked on and stopped several times. When I stopped , he stopped too. I began to be rather worried and decided to try to lose this strange man. When I saw a taxi coming, I jumped into it. As I was telling the taxi driver where to go, I found the man get into another taxi, which then followed mine. As the two taxies slowly made their way alongOrchard Road, I looked back at the taxi behind, and saw that the stranger was looking out at me. At MRT station, I told the taxi driver to stop and I got out. As I was paying my fare, I saw the man was getting out of his taxi. By now I got angry, so I turned and walked straight to him. I asked him why he was following me. At first he said he was not following me at all, but when I threatened to call the police, he admitted he was. He then told me that he was a journalist(news reporter) and that he was writing an article on how elderly people inSingaporespend their time. He said he was observing me to gather materials for his article. How did the writer have the stranger admit he was following him? A. He threatened to take him to the police. B. He called the police. C. He said he would call the police. D. He talked to the police. Answer: C Question: Americans use many expressions with the word dog.People in the United States love their dogs and treat them well.They take their dogs for walks,let them play outside and give them good food and medical care.However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of 1ife.The expression,to lead a dog's life,describes a person who has an unhappy existence. Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world.That means many people are competing for the same things,like good jobs.To be successful,a person has to work like a dog.Such hard work can make people dog-tired,or sick as a dog. Still,people say every dog has its day.This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life.To be successful, people often have to learn new skills.Yet.some people say that you can never teach all old dog new tricks.They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and wilt not change the way they do things. Husbands and wives use this doghouse term when they are angry at each other.For example,a woman might get angry at her husband for coming home late or forgetting their wedding anniversary.She might tell him that he is in the doghouse.She may not treat him nicely until he apologizes.However,the husband may decide that it is best to 1eave things alone and not create more problems.He might decide to let sleeping dogs lie. Dog expressions are also used to describe the weather.The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year.A rainstorm may cool the weather.But we do not want it to rain too hard.We do not want it to rain cats and dogs. The correct statement about the dog in the expression"to 1ead a dog's life"is _ . A. a lucky dog B. a homeless dog C. a clever dog D. a tamed dog Answer: B Question: It was not until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that exploration of the _ world began on a large scale. European middle classes took great interest in collecting new plants. This attraction to exotic plants grew as European nations moved into other parts of the world such as Asia andprefix = st1 /Australia. Brave young men took the opportunity of going on botanical expeditions even though they were to be faced with deadly disease, near-starvation, severe environments and conflicts with the local people. Sir Joseph Banks was among the brave. In 1760, he collected vast quantities of plants in what is now known as Australia. None of these plants had been recorded by Europeans before. However, Banks was not able to bring those plants back to Europe and let them grow in his homeland because keeping plants alive during long land or sea voyages was a great challenge at that time. Large numbers of seeds failed to grow after long sea voyage or trips across land far away from Europe. In 1833 the invention of the Wardian case, a tightly sealed portable glass container, made it possible for two cases of British plants to survive the six-month journey to Australia. And the return trip in 1835 with Australian species lasted eight months at sea, all the species successfully arriving inLondon. China was a land the earliest European plant collectors would explore from time to time. . Not only did Europeans collect large numbers of plants to grow in Western gardens, but also they were very excited with the knowledge that Chinahad a vast variety of plants. A British man called Robert Fortune developed his fluency in Chinese and was disguised as a Chinese man so that he could travel aroundChinaunnoticed. He managed to ship 20,000 tea plants from Shanghai toIndia, where a successful tea industry was established. What was the major problem Sir Joseph Banks had transporting plants to his country? A. The plants did not survive the long journey. B. There were not good ships to carry the plants. C. Only seeds of the plants could be preserved. D. Transportation by land was not accessible. Answer: A
In the city of Chicago I met a man I will never forget. He drove a bus that ran from downtown to the edge of the city. Each night I watched him. As the passengers got on the bus, he smiled at each one. It was fun to see how many passengers forgot their troubles and smiled back. There was one passenger, I noticed, that had never smiled back. He usually coughed roughly through his mustache as he got on the bus. And he never covered his mouth. But that wasn't enough to stop the bus driver's smile. He gave the man with the mustache and the rough cough his biggest smile. The man with the mustache never seemed to see that smile. He would sit on the edge of his seat and complained about the way that the bus driver was driving. He only complained for a short time, but he spoke loudly enough so everybody could hear. It was enough to make me sick. But the driver never said a word. He just went on smiling at passengers as they got on the bus. I wanted to get to know this bus driver better. One night I stayed on the bus to the end of the line. I asked the driver, "Why don't you throw that man with the mustache out of the bus?" The bus driver looked at me and gave me one of his famous smiles. "I don't care about that," he said. "Let me tell you about my friend's dog. The man next door to me has a dog. Every time the moon shines, the dog barks and barks all night." "Well, what about the dog and the moon?" I asked. "Oh, the moon keeps on shining," he said. What does the passage imply ? Answer: We should learn to be generous . Picture a wasteland of old computer monitors and TVs, stretching as far as the eye can see. Imagine towers of boxes, all of them filled with broken glass and discarded electronic devices. Technology graveyards like this can be found in communities across the country. Experts say that landfills and warehouses will overflow unless a plan for the disposal and reuse of electronics is put into place . "We can't put electronics and glass aside and tell ourselves we'll deal with them later ," Lauren Roman , managing director of Transparent Planet said. Roman's group works to improve the disposal of electronic waste. She says about 660 million pounds of tech-trash is produced each year in the U.S. What's behind the tech trash pile-up ?About ten years ago ,major advances were made in computer and television technology . Manufacturers began producing devices like flat -paneled LCDs and plasma screen monitors. These new products provide a clearer image and take up less space than older models. It goes without saying that consumers choose them rather than heavy glass-based technologies. The new electronics are built with materials that are difficult to recycle. In addition, the new products have decreased the demand for recycled parts from the older monitors and screens. Older, heavier computer monitors and TVs used glass-based components called CRTs. CRTs have a high lead content and can be environmentally hazardous if not recycled properly . If crushed and put in landfills, the lead from CUTs could seep into groundwater and rivers, harming the water supply. For many years, plants and recycling programs safely processed CRTs. The recycled CRTs were reused in the construction of new monitors. Monitors being made today do not use glass tubes . "People are returning old -style TVs with CRTs , but no new ones are being made ," said Linnell. This is creating an imbalance in the amount of glass being disposed of and recycled properly. Many recycling companies have shut down. Others no longer have the resources or space to process these materials. This results in stockpiling. However , experts say there are ways to safely and responsibly address the tech-trash problem. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: New technology causes trouble for recyclers. I ran into a local store today to pick up a few things. With an important meeting to attend, I was in a hurry , so I didn't take a cart on my way inside. As I walked between the shelves in the store, I passed by a young couple and their baby. I continued going through the store, picked up a few items I needed and ended up standing behind this couple in the checkout line. While waiting, I noticed that the young father was holding his money tightly and nervously. The young mother was carrying a baby in her arms and asked the cashier for a job application. When the total was rung up, they had to pick items out of their cart because they didn't have enough money. But all their items were basic necessities that they needed most. It just broke my heart to watch the couple try to think about what they could do without. However, they were able to _ their items and paid the bill with the money that they had. After they left, I quietly asked the cashier to add those items to mine. The cashier rang everything up, and then got me a shopping cart. We put in their items and I hurried over to their car. "This is for you," I told them. The young father just looked at me with such appreciation and thanked me. I will never forget the expression in his eyes. As I was getting into my car, they drove over. The young mother said, "Miss, thank you so much." Tears welled up in my eyes---as they are again now, while I write this. "You are so welcome. Pay it forward some day," I replied. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: the young mother didn't have a job then Shake Shack is a new kind of restaurant becoming more popular in the U S.The restaurants are not"fast food."They are known as"fast casual." Observers say Americans want more choices and fresh food when choosing where and what to eat.This trend is one reason why the fast food restaurant McDonald's has struggled financially.In the last quarter of 2014,McDonald's net income dropped by about$300 million.The January earnings report brought more bad news.Worldwide sales dropped for the eighth month in a row and even more than expected.While McDonald's is struggling to get their customers back,Shake Shack,is doing well in making money.The New York-based burger chain had a very successful IPO,or initial public offering,of shares at the end of January.On its first day of trading,Shake Shack went from$21 a share to just under$46 a share.Being part of the"fast casual"trend has helped Shake Shack.Other fast casual restaurants in the U.S.include Chipotle and Panera. Bonnie Riggs,a restaurant expert with NPD has studied Americans'restaurant habits for almost 30 years.She says one reason why Americans like fast casual food is that it's new.It is creative,it is something different and people like to try new things.Her study shows Americans made 61 billion visits to restaurants last year.Three out of four visits were to fast food restaurants,like McDonald's.Fast casual is still a small percentage of restaurant visits,but it has developed fast.Just as Ms.Riggs says,"It's growing by _ ,because they meet consumers'needs.They know it's being prepared while they wait,it's fresh,quality food,good tasting food at what they say are reasonable and affordable prices." Many Americans still like their fast food.They just are not going as often.They are finding other ways to have a meal. Which of the following best describes fast casual? Answer: Fresh-made and tasty. Want to find a job?Now read the following advertisements. FAIRMONT HOTEL Five waiters and Ten Waitresses ---Aged under 22 ---At least high school graduate ---Good looking; men at least 1.72meters tall and women 1.65 ---Those knowing foreign languages preferred ---Paid 1600-2200dollars per month One Secretary ---Aged under 30 ---Female preferred ---Good at writing and skilled at computer If interested,call 465-4768or write to:Mr.Jack Hundris Room 0825,Fairmont Hotel 567Wood Street,San Markers,78003 Fax:6954828 WILSON BOOKSTORE Accountants ---Aged between 25and 40 ---With an experience of at least two years ---With a degree and an accountant certificate ---Paid 3000-4000dollars monthly ---With a knowledge of computer Salesclerks ---Basic education of 12years or more ---Good at computer ---Paid 1800-2200dollars monthly Tel:447-4398Fax:3485269 If you want to try for a job in Fairmont Hotel,you . Answer: should be younger than 30years old.
The other day I heard a few local musicians talking: "I hate all the pianos in this town and I hate that rubbish they play on the radio. They cannot even understand rhythm .""Nobody wants to pay musicians anything. I'm sick of all the people who want you to play without paying you."... One younger musician said, "There are a couple of clubs who want me to play for a few nights a month, and I'm trying to find other places to play. I'm also planning to join in several summer festivals this year." I really liked what the younger musician said so I made friends with him. Attitudes are important. Whether they're positive or negative , they're all rubbing off on you. If you're around people who are always complaining or blaming others, it is possible that you will start doing the same as well. If you spend lots of time with people who don't support your dreams, it is time to take a look at the people you call "friends". There is an easy exercise you can try. Make a list of the people who you often stay with, and simply stop spending time with the negative people on your list. Set a new standard for yourself and don't become friends with people who fall below that standard. The choice is always yours to make. Of course, this exercise is entirely different from making friends only for the good of oneself. We really should try to help and spend time with those who are working towards a goal or dream. The musicians' conversation at the beginning is to show that _ . A musicians' living conditions are not good B people in that town have poor taste in music C different people have different attitudes D young people are more likely to succeed Answer: C. different people have different attitudes From the beginning rivers have played an important in the life of man.Man of the earliest times used the rivers as a means of travel.Today rivers still serve as a great waterway for the transport and people. In ancient times, man settled near rivers or on river banks and built up large empires. Water is nature's most valuable gift to man.Man needs water to irrigate his crops, to cook and to wash.In nations all over the world, rivers mean life and wealth.They feed and clothe the nations around them. Water is also a source of energy and power.Man build huge dams across the rivers to control the water for irrigation and get the energy needed to drive generators.The electrical power is then directed to homes, cities, factories and television stations. Man uses water each day.In a small way rivers help to keep man in good health and provide for his amusements.Various forms of water sports keep man strong and healthy. Which of the following statements is true? A People get energy by building bridges across rivers. B In ancient times large empires grew up near dams. C People can be provided with amusements in small rivers. D Large rivers are still useful for transportation in modern times. Answer: D. Large rivers are still useful for transportation in modern times. In recent years, the black bear population in the US has risen. Forests once cleared for farming have started to grow back and black bears have returned to them. But the bears are finding that their forest habitat has changed. Instead of thick forests covering thousands of acres, bears now have neighbors nearby. Roads, homes, schools, and shopping centers have been built at the edge of their forest home. And with humans and bears trying to share the same space, problems arise. Black bears usually prefer to avoid people, but their nose may lead them into trouble. Their normal diet includes nuts, insects, and plants. But given the opportunity, they will gladly help themselves to whatever they can find. With the great sense of smell, the bears can _ a tasty treat 2 or 3 miles away. Food left out in a park or backyard is an invitation to dinner. And whileraiding a cooler, bird feeder , trash can, car, or even a home, they can do a lot of damage. When that happens, people get angry. If another solution doesn't immediately appear, they often want the bears killed. Bear Aware, Bear Wise, and Bear Smart are trying to keep that from happening. They want people to respect bears, not fear them, and are suggesting ways to reduce the chances of bears stopping by for a snack. They're convincing people that by following some simple steps, it's possible to live peacefully with our wild neighbors. More black bears have appeared in the US because _ . A farmers have grown more food B forests have increased in the US C people stopped killing black bears D roads were built nearer to the forests Answer: B. forests have increased in the US Last summer, as part of my high school graduation project, I volunteered at Saunders House nursing home. I choose this experience because it was something that I had never done before and I wanted to lend a helping hand. At first it was challenging because I was extremely shy. My goal in volunteering was to bring a smile to the residents by doing different activities from word games to playing chess. I feel as if I had finished that goal. At the nursing home, I did a lot of different activities with the residents ranging from Jeopardy to Wheel of Fortune. One of my favorites was a word game where I would write a ten -letter word on the board and the residents would try to come up with as many smaller words as possible. I could tell that it was one of their favorite games because they always seemed to be so enthusiastic when they played. I also transported residents to and from their rooms when they needed help; and whenever it was a nice day out, I would take them outside to get some fresh air and relax. On Saturday mornings, I would deliver the newspaper to the residents and on Sundays, I helped with morning church services. The most unforgettable part of this experience was when I had one-on-one conversations with the residents. It was incredible how many great stories they had to tell. Their stories were so interesting and the experience was unforgettable for me. What activity did the author and the residents prefer? A Jeopardy. B Wheel of Fortune. C Word game. D Playing chess. Answer: C. Word game. The ChinaDailynewspaper group is looking 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 percent 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 years' 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. Copy Editor 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 well-versed with Macintosh software, including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop; be fluent in English. For enquiries or to apply, write to job@chinadaily.com.cn. Which can be the title of the advertisement? ks5u 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. China Daily:New Employees Wanted
If you happen to find "On the Road" at a gas station or "Who Moved My Cheese?" in your grocery store, it might not be and accident. You could be the unwitting beneficiary of a "bookcrosser"---- a person who on purpose leaves books in public places hoping they'll be found by strangers. The idea o leaving a book for someone else to find and enjoy is not new ---- some people have been leaving just-finished books in airports and on buses since the dawn of the hurry-up-and-wait. Creating a system for book-leavers to find out what happened to those books adds a new way to the practice. Bokcrossing.com, the website that encourages books to be "released into the wild", has more than 18,000 members since its start last year, and averages 112 new participants daily. Its members have scattered more than 42,000 novels, self-help books, memoirs, technical manuals and biographies in 45 countries, leaving them in public restrooms, movie theatres, coffee studios or anywhere that they can imagine. The result: a worldwide living library. Peri Doslu, a California yoga instructor, has dropped three--- one on top of a telephone booth, one on a rock wall at remote Mono Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada, and another in one of the studios where she teaches. "I'm always looking for paces to pass on books," said Doslu. "To think my book's going to go off and have this future, and I might even get to know a little bit about it down the road." Which of the following about Doslu is true? A. She dropped her first book on top of a telephone booth. B. She had no idea who took her books away C. She always left books to her students D. She is a bookcrosser traveling around the world Answer: B "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." You probably heard those lines in grammar school, but do you really agree that harsh or negative words do not harm us? Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said. We may not say words to hurt others, but the way we interpret them and how we say them may cause great harm. Here's an example An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone! The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said, "Congratulations! King! You will live many more years. In fact, you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King!" Both interpreters gave the same interpretation, but there was a huge difference in the way they said it. Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words, but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive? People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm, but have you ever known anyone who is a _ ? They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person? Remember words have power. Use them wisely. According to the text, how can people understand each other better? A. By sharing different life experiences B. By accepting different habits. C. By properly using words D. By recognizing different values. Answer: C Which soil component has the least capacity for holding water? A. silt B. clay C. sand D. humus Answer: C Can you understand the beginning of this article? "My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & 3 kds FTF." The Scottish teacher who received it in class had no idea what the girl who wrote it meant. The essay was written in a form of English used in cell phone text messages. Text messages (also called SMS2) through cell phones became very popular in the late 1990s. At first, mobile phone companies thought that text messaging would be a good way to send messages to customers, but customers quickly began to use the text messaging service to send messages to each other. Teenagers in particular enjoyed using text messaging, and they began to create a new language for messages called texting. A text message is limited to 160 characters, including letters, spaces, and numbers, so messages must be kept short. In addition, typing on the small keypad of a cell phone is difficult, so it's common to make words shorter. In texting, a single letter or number can represent a word, like "r" for "are," "u" for "you," and "2" for "to." Several letters can also represent a phrase, like "lol" for "laughing out loud." Another characteristic of texting is the leaving out of letters in a word, like spelling "please" as "pls." Some parents and teachers worry that texting will make children bad spellers and bad writers. The student who wrote the essay at the top of this page said writing that way was more comfortable for her. (The essay said, "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three kids face to face.") Not everyone agrees that texting is a bad thing. Some experts say languages always evolve, and this is just another way for English to change. Other people believe texting will disappear soon. New technology for voice messages may soon make text messages a thing of the past. What is the writer's opinion of text messaging? A. It is fun and easy to do. B. It is not bad for children. C. It will make children bad writers. D. The writer does not give an opinion. Answer: D A serious earthquake can be a terrible experience, and it is easy to forget safety measures in disorder . _ , most earthquake safety measures are common sense, but if you forget everything else, remember the following instructions: drop, cover, and hold on. Also, most of earthquake deaths happen after the earthquake, so remember that the danger does not end when the shaking does! If you stay indoors during an earthquake, move away from unsupported areas and windows. Try to get under a doorway or another area of the building which is held up by strong beams . Stay under a table or desk only if it is very strong. Do not rush to lifts, because it is far safer to stay where you are. Cover your head with your arms around it and curl into a ball, and wait for the shaking to stop. If you stay outdoors during an earthquake, move to an area which is as open as possible. Don't move to buildings, electric poles and other objects which may fall during an earthquake and injure you. Protect your head and stay low to the ground till the shaking ends and it is safe to move. After an earthquake, many buildings are less strong, although they appear safe. If you stay indoors, move people from the building quickly and help disabled or injured people. Once outdoors, move well away from the building so that if it falls down, you will not be injured. Wait till public safety officials announce that it is safe to stay indoors. By planning ahead and keeping calm during an earthquake, you can greatly increase your chances of survival without injury. The purpose of the passage is mainly to tell us how to _ . A. stay away from an earthquake B. predict an earthquake C. control an earthquake D. keep safe during and after an earthquake Answer: D
Question: They may be just passing your office, computer bag slung over one shoulder. Or they may be sitting in a car outside it, causally tapping away at a laptop. They look like innocent passers-by. In fact, they are stealing your corporate secrets. Drive-by hacking is the trendy term given to the practice of breaking into wireless computer networks from outside the buildings that house them. A recent study in the UK, sponsored by RSA Data Security, found that two-thirds of organizations with wireless networks were risking their data in this way. Security experts patrolled several streets in the City of London seeking evidence of wireless networks in operation. Of 124 that they identified, 83 were sending data without encrypting them. Such data could readily be picked up by a passer-by armed only with a portable computer, a wireless modem and a few pieces of software that can be freely downloaded from the Internet. The data could include sensitive company documents containing valuable information. Or they could be e-mail identities and passwords that could be used by hackers to log into corporate networks as if they were legal users. Most companies using wireless networking technology do not take even the simplest of measures to protect their data. Nearly all wireless network technology comes with some basic security features that need only to be activated in order to give a minimum level of security, for example, by encrypting the data being passed over the network. Raymon Kruck, business development manager at Check Point Software, a security technology specialist, believes this could be partly a psychological problem. People see the solid walls of their building as safeguards and forget that wireless networks can extend up to 200 meters beyond physical walls. Companies without any security at all on their wireless networks make it ridiculously easy for hackers to break in. Switching on the security that comes with the network technology should be automatic. Then there are other basic steps a company can take, says Mr. Kruck, such as changing the passwords on the network from the default setting. Companies can also install firewalls, which form a barrier between the internal network and the public Internet. They should also check their computer records regularly to spot any abnormal activity, which might betray the presence of a hacker. Raymond Kruck most probably agrees that wireless network security involves _ . A. wireless signal administration B. changes in user's awareness C. users' psychological health D. stronger physical walls Answer: B Question: One of the tough things about being a high school student is that you never seem to get enough sleep at night, which often leaves you nodding off during classes. "The best amount of sleep to get is about seven and a half to eight hours," Peter Venn at Queen Victoria Hospital, UK, told The Telegraph. Spending either less than six or more than nine hours in sleeping puts your health at risk. A popular solution to a lack of sleep at night is to take a "power nap" during the day, but does this work? Generally speaking, it can be beneficial. Research shows that a nap in the middle of the day --even a brief one as short as five or 10 minutes ---can clear your mind and leave you with increased energy and improved productivity , according to Forbes. However, as refreshing as it might be, if you are getting adequate sleep at night, taking a power nap isn't such a wise choice. The reason is that sleeping during the day can interfere with your body's biorhythms . The brain gets used to going to bed at roughly the same time each night and getting up at the same time each day, and you don't want to disturb this routine. One more thing to keep in mind is that a power nap should never be used as a replacement for a good night's sleep. "Twenty minutes of power nap during the day is not like a tablet which will definitely work," Rahul Mukherjee, an Indian sleep specialist, told The Telegraph. "An hour's sleep before midnight is worth a couple of hours' sleep after midnight." Why can taking a power nap in the middle of the day be beneficial? A. Because it refreshes people and thus improves their productivity. B. Because it is good for our body's biorhythms. C. Because it takes little time but always works well. D. Because it can be used as a replacement for a good night's sleep. Answer: A Question: If a noisy neighbor is blasting music at all hours of the day and night, drowning out your phone conversations and interrupting your sleep, you can call the police. But what is a whale to do? Natural noise from waves, wind, rain and even earthquakes is common in oceans. Unfortunately, man-made noise from oil and gas drilling, sonar, and ships is also present. Low frequency noise has doubled off the California coast every decade since the nineteen sixties. The main reasons are ships' propellers . They not only generate continuous low frequency sound, some propellers cavitate , which means they create air bubbles that collapse, creating loud popping sounds. Whales use low frequency calls to communicate across thousands of miles of ocean. They are threatened by noise pollution because it can prevent them from contacting each other and from locating their foods. Endangered humpback and right whales, which use fibrous baleen to strain food from the water, are the most at risk. Scientists studying right whales off Canada's east coast have discovered that whales are sending louder calls through the water to make themselves heard. Because they invest more energy in making calls, they have less energy available for finding food and mating. Other scientists measuring whale calls against background noise pollution have discovered that right whales have lost about eighty percent of their normal communication area. This could seriously affect survival of this already threatened species. Scientists don't have badges and guns, but they are trying to correct the noise pollution problem. By tracking ships and marine mammals and understanding how noise travels, they are creating sound maps. They hope to get shipping lanes moved so that the noise pollution ships create will not overlap with areas most important to the whales. According to the description of whales, we can know that _ . A. The noise made by the ships has a bad effect on the area where whales live. B. Whales can communicate with each other by diving into the deep water. C. Whales cannot find mates because they don't have enough energy. D. The communication between whales is through low frequency calls Answer: D Question: Liyuan style Peng Liyuan,wife of President Xi Jinping, has drawn extensive attention from people both at home and abroad for her charisma and grace. Accompanying her husband on his first overseas trip after becoming president, Peng Liyuan exhibited graceful demeanor, a pleasant personality and well-chosen dress, prompting people to coin the term "Liyuan style". Peng Liyuan, as one of China's best-known singers, was popular among Chinese people long before her husband became the president. Loved by her fans, she has been in touch with the people for years. "Liyuan style" is not only representative of a fashion idol, but also overpass cultural and diplomatic barriers. The beautiful handbags Peng has carried, and the plain but elegant and delicate dresses she has worn have become popular. Her choice of clothing, made-in-China instead of luxurious foreign brands, shows her belief in domestic dress designs. But "Liyuan style" is not only about clothing and a woman's _ . It is also about diplomacy and promoting, China's soft power. In Moscow, Peng visited a boarding school for orphans and children estranged from their parents, encouraging them to strive for a better life, which brought out the maternal side of her character. In Tanzania, she donated sewing machines and school bags to women and children. And as a World Health Organization ambassador in the fight against AIDS, Peng is devoted to many public causes, including those relating to charity and healthcare. Some observers have already started saying that Peng's activities have become part of public diplomacy in China. Also, "Liyuan style" has boosted the confidence of the Chinese people. Modern but not flashy, elegant but not arrogant, Peng has all the virtues of a Chinese woman and carries them to the international stage. Since the 18th Party Congress and the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC, the country's new leadership has vowed to adopt a down-to-earth work style to connect with the people. Peng's plain but elegant style shows that thriftiness and an earthy style need not be drab and boring. So it can be said that Peng's first appearance on the international stage has kicked off well. What's the meaning of the underline word "paraphernalia"? A. Things she carried with B. Her self-charm C. Her diplomatic measures D. Her support to her husband Answer: A Question: Happy birthday The China National Opera (CNO) will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday . Different generations of CNO vocalists , like Li Guangxi , Yao Hong and Ma Mei , will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like "The White-haired Girl" and "The Hundredth Bride", as well as , arias of such Western opera classics as "Madame Butterfly", "La Traviata" and "Rigoletto". Time/ date : 7:30 pm , September 7, 8 Location : Tianqiao Theatre Tel : 6551-4787, 8315-6170 Tickets : 60--500 yuan (US $7.2-- 60.2) Folk music A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works . The concert , given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre , will include such pieces as "Memory of Childhood ", "Memorial Ceremony for God "and "Wine Song". Time/date: 7:30pm, September 13 Location: Concert hall at the National Library of China Tel: 6848 -5462, 6841-9220 Tickets: 30-200 yuan (US$3.6-24.1) Moon music A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year. The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centered on the theme of the moon, such as "Moonlight", "Spring night on a Moonlit River" and "Lofty Mountain and Flowing River." A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra. Time / date: 7:30 pm, September 21st Location: Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities Tel: 6606--8888, 6606--9999 If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music "Memory of Childhood", you will dial _ . A. 6551--4787 B. 6848--5462 C. 8315--6170 D. 6606--9999 Answer: B
In the summer of 1999, a small town called Golcuk was shaken by a big earthquake in north-western Turkey. It destroyed the whole town and other nearby places. Soon enough, help from other countries flew there for one purpose, "saving lives". Nowadays wherever an earthquake strikes, other countries are ready to send help. That is really something that, as human beings, we should be proud of. When the earthquake struck, I was living in my hometown of Ankara, capital of the Turkey. Despite the 220-mile distance between the two locations, we still were able to feel the shakes. I had a chance to visit Golcuk a couple times when I was a kid. My uncle who lives in Germany has a summer house there, and every summer they stay in Golcuk for their yearly vacation. After the quake struck, we couldn't contact them, so we didn't know if they were in Golcuk or in Germany during the quake. Our unsuccessful attempts worried us, and the only thing we wanted to hear was that they were OK. Without wasting any more time, my brother, my sister's husband, and I decided to drive there to check on them by ourselves. When we were driving, the damage of the earthquake started to show itself right away. Big, wide, tall trees were laid down on the side of the road. Getting closer to Golcuk, we found the impact of the earthquake was getting worse. Inside the town was total destruction. It wasn't easy to figure out the streets among the ruins. Finally, we were able to find my uncle's apartment and thank God, it was still standing, but nobody was there. Later on we found that they hadn't yet visited Golcuk that year. What luck! Earthquakes are natural disasters and there is no way to avoid them, especially as earthquakes never give a warning in advance. They just strike mercilessly in the middle of the night when people are asleep in their beds. We cannot stop disasters but we can prepare ourselves for their consequences. On their way to search for their uncle, they found _ . Answer: Leaseco owned Blackacre, a tract of 100 acres. Six years ago, Leaseco leased a one-acre parcel, Oneacre, located in the northeasterly corner of Blackacre, for a term of 30 years, to Eatco. Eatco intended to and did construct a fast-food restaurant on Oneacre. The lease provided that: 1. Eatco was to maintain Oneacre and improvements thereon, to maintain full insurance coverage on Oneacre, and to pay all taxes assessed against Oneacre. 2. Leaseco was to maintain the access roads and the parking lot areas platted on those portions of Blackacre that adjoined Oneacre and to permit the customers of Eatco to use them in common with the customers of the other commercial users of the remainder of Blackacre. 3. Eatco was to pay its share of the expenses for the off-site improvements according to a stated formula. Five years ago, Leaseco sold Oneacre to Jones, an investor; the conveyance was made subject to the lease to Eatco. However, Jones did not assume the obligations of the lease and Leaseco retained the remainder of Blackacre. Since that conveyance five years ago, Eatco has paid rent to Jones. Eatco refused to pay its formula share of the off-site improvement costs as provided in the lease. Leaseco brought an appropriate action against Eatco to recover such costs. The most likely outcome would be in favor of Answer: 4-Day Classic Beijing Tour The 4-day classic Beijing tour is designed for tourists who come to visit China for the first time. It covers the most popular and typical places in Beijing, fully displaying the scenery, culture, history, local lifestyles and features, food and drinks, business, etc. for you. Day 1:Arrival in Beijing Your guide meets you at Capital Airport, and helps you check in at your hotel. Enjoy Beijing Duck as welcome dinner. Accommodation: Beijing downtown Day 2:The Great Wall & the Summer Palace Start your day at the most famous part of the Great Wall, the Badaling Great Wall. Leave the downtown for the Great Wall at 8 am. Since it is a long drive to the Great Wall (about 2 hours' riding) have a break at the Jade Museum on the way. Lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant. In the early afternoon come back to the city and have a sightseeing tour of the Summer Palace. Recommended Activity: Beijing Opera Show (Liyuan Theatre, 19:30-21: 10 every evening) Accommodation: Beijing downtown Day 3:Beijing city sightseeing & Local experience Your guide meets you at the hotel at 8 am and set out for the day's touring: Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City. After visiting the two sites, have a break and get ready for lunch. Hutong visit: see some traditional arts of the old Beijing, such as paper cutting and kite making, and visit a local family. Accommodation: Beijing downtown Day 4:Beijing Olympic sites Visit the Olympic sites: Bird's Nest, Water Cube and Olympic Park, witnessing the fast developing modern China. Enjoy some free time after visiting the sites. After lunch, it is shopping time and then the tour is over. If a tourist wants to enjoy Beijing Opera, he should _ . Answer: A US student has just spent 30 days on an "insect diet " - eating insects three times a day. Camren Brantley-Rios says traditional meats such as pork and beef are unable to continue and he wanted to try out what many consider the diet of the future. Many people would not like the idea of eating insects distasteful, even if it were not disgusting. Not so long ago Brantley-Rios was among them. But for the last month he has been eating insects for breakfast, lunch and dinner. "I'm mainly sticking to three kinds," he says. Occasionally he has included different insects. Preparing these he "actually cried", though he insists they were surprisingly good. Insects consume fewer resources than animals, like pigs and cows, to produce the same amount of protein , Brantley-Rios says - and more than two billion people worldwide include insects in their regular diet, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. "There's not really a need to eat insects in America because we have it so nice," Brantley-Rios says. "We have finer meats and we're lucky to have that luxury , so there's not much of a pressure to eat insects right now. But what a lot of people are trying to do is make it a little bit more marketable." He has ordered insects from farms that usually supply zoos, which need them "to feed certain animals". He has always made sure the insects have been fed on an organic diet, he says, and only bought species he knows are safe to eat. He knows that one person eating insects won't make much difference. To have a real environmental effect, millions would have to follow his example. Why has the US student tried out an "insect diet"? Answer: Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a person has lived using a strand of hair, a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims. The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinking water show up in people's hair. "You're what you eat and drink, and that's recorded in your hair," said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah. While U.S diet is relatively identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as rain clouds move. Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable, but traces of both elements are also present as heavier isotopes . The heaviest rain falls first. As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavier water to California than to Utah. Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand of hair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months. Cerling's team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a map of the regional differences. They checked the accuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops. They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad regions roughly corresponding to the movement of rain systems. "It's not good for pinpointing ," Cerling said. "It's good for eliminating many possibilities." Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learn more about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake. The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt and several strands of hair. When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researchers. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before her death, she moved about every two months. She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be more specific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming. "It's still a substantial area," Park said "But it narrows it way down for me." What does the author mean by "You're what you eat and drink" (Line 1, Para.3)? Answer:
Paris in springtime was, is and always will be, something rather special. Why not experience it for yourself with this excellent break for four days? This attractive city has something to offer everyone with prices at just PS 129. It's of great value too. Your break begins with executive coach transfer from a regional pick-up point and you travel to Paris via cross-channel ferry and arrive at your hotel in the evening. The Ibis is an excellent quality hotel with private facilities in all rooms: a satellite TV, a radio, a telephone and ban alarm clock. The following day, after a continental breakfast (included), the coach takes you on a comprehensive sightseeing tour of the city, during which you will see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, L'Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, in fact almost every famous landmark you have ever heard of. You then leave Paris and take a short drive to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, the home of Louis XIV. The tour ends mid-afternoon back in Paris where you will have the remainder of the day for your leisure. In the evening there is a "Paris By Night" tour that shows you the beautiful buildings with bright lights. Day three takes you to Montmartre, perhaps the most charming quarter of Paris and home of the Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. In the afternoon you are free to explore this beautiful city as you wish, perhaps a pleasure voyage on the River Seine. In the evening you will have the opportunity to visit the best nightclub in the city. On the final day it's time to go back to the UK via channel ferry. Included in the price of PS129 per person are the following: Return executive coach travel to Paris Return ferry crossings * 3 nights accommodation in a two-bed room in a Central Paris hotel with private facilities * Continental breakfast during your stay * Guided sightseeing tour of "Paris By Day" and "Paris By Night" * Visit to Palace of Versailles (admission not included) * Tour on Montmartre * Services of an experienced tour guide at all times The main purpose of this passage is to _ From bankers to factory staff, employees in the West face a cold _ of losing their jobs as a global recession starts to bite. For colleagues in the East, the pain is more likely to come through a pay cut. Human resource experts say cultural differences explain why Asian companies try harder to preserve jobs in difficult times, which will prevent unemployment and may help Asian economies survive at a time of slowing exports. The East Asian attitude may also make it easier for companies to recover quickly from the economic downturn since they will not need to rehire or train new staff, but build up a more loyal and devoted group. "In the Confucian mindset, the right thing to do is to share the burden, which is the sense of collective responsibility. While in the West, it's more about individual survival," said Michael Benoliel, associate professor of organizational behavior at Singapore Management University (SMU). In contrast, local Western companies from General Motors to Goldman Sachs plan to lay off workers by the thousand, but at the Asian units of Western multinationals or western units of Asian groups, job cuts will probably be less severe. Japan's jobless rate was 4 percent in September, up from 3.8 percent in January, while Hong Kong's was flat at 3.4 percent. But US unemployment is expected to have jumped to 6.3 percent last month from below 5 percent in January. Experts say that while there are noticeable differences in labor practices in East and West, the gap will narrow as more firms become more multinational and competition forces firms to adopt the best practices of rivals from abroad. According to Michael Benoliel, the Confucian mindset focuses on _ . Do you know that a Mom deserves a special gift this year for Mother's Day? Sure, flowers can always brighten Mother's day and a dinner out is always appreciated. However, doesn't she deserve something more personal or something that lasts longer than an evening? I'm talking about the gift of fitness. Improved fitness is a gift that is invaluable to everyone. When you give a woman the gift of fitness, you are helping her open a door to better health. I can't think of a more thoughtful gift that shows the recipient how much you care about their well-being. By giving the gift of fitness you are providing them with unlimited health benefits. And, its a gift that you can truly feel proud to give. Of course, we all know that exercising can help people stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great benefits of exercising? Daily physical activity reduces stress and can help you sleep better. Fitness has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis . Not to mention that exercising also improves self-esteem, increases energy and helps you be able to do continuous work for longer. All Moms would find these fitness benefits extremely invaluable. If they are like most of us, they have probably even mentioned how they would like to drop a few pounds or just get in better shape. In fact, experts say that about 62% of Americans are currently on a diet. By giving the gift of fitness you are helping provide your mom with extra motivation. She may be more motivated to actually get fit because she doesn't want to feel guilty about ignoring such a thoughtful gift . According to this passage the gift of fitness will _ . Get Your Degree at Home! Have you ever wondered what a degree might be worth to you in your job or career? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma . 1 Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields without having to go to college full time. 2 With Harcourt, you can study at home, in your spare time--so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking & Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! 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Then, write in the name and number of the one program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll send you free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities in the field you've chosen. Act today! Mail coupon today or call the number below! 1-800-372-1589 Call anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.harcourt-learning.com E-mail: harcourt@learning.com How can you contact Harcourt Learning Direct? Hellen Keller lived in the USA. She was a great woman. When Hellen was a baby, she got very sick. Several weeks later. The doctor said," She is better, but now she can not see and hear." Her mother and father were very sad. After a few years, things got worse. There was no way for Hellen to speak to other people, She heard nothing. She did not understand anything. Then one day a teacher came to live with Hellen and her family. The teacher helped Hellen learn about words. Hellen was a very bright child and soon she learned to spell her first word. When she was old enough, she went to college. Hellen was very famous. She helped many blind and deaf people. She travelled around the world and helped many people. The world remember her today as a brave and wonderful woman. She was blind and deaf, but she found a way to see and hear. After a few weeks, Hellen _ .
Last summer, after finishing our work in China, I took a trip of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Leaving Beijing early on a Wednesday morning in July, my wife and I traveled through some gorgeous countryside before we arrived in Moscow the following Monday evening. The first part of the journey took us past the Great Wall and through the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. At the Mongolian Republic border, we had a delay while the wheels were changed because the railway is different. On our way to the capital, Ulan Bator, we saw herdsmen on horseback looking after their cattle. There was a terrible thunderstorm as we crossed a vast open plain. Later we had a quick tour of Ulan Bator. Next, the train took us into Siberia. After a stop at Irkutsk, a popular holiday resort , where a tour group left the train, we passed the great Lake Baikal. Later, we saw some lovely wooden houses in pretty, sunny countryside. This surprised us, as we had imagined Siberia as being covered in thick snow. Over the next few days, we passed through Novosibirsk, Omsk and other cities in the heartlands of the Russian Federation. By now, our body clocks were losing their sense of time. We wanted to sleep and eat at the wrong time! At last we reached Moscow. We were too tired and slept for 16 hours that night. The next day we went sightseeing. We saw the Kremlin and some other great buildings in the Russian capital. Then, all too soon, it was time for us to return to our home in London. The passage mainly tells us _ . A. how to travel to Moscow from Beijing. B. the trip from Beijing to Moscow. C. How wonderful the capital of Russia is. D. The trans-Siberian Railway. Answer: B Short Skirts Are Out! After decades of skimpy skirts and sleeveless tops on game days, some schools in the US are saying cheerleader uniforms will have to meet stricter dress codes when they are worn in class. In Lake County, Florida, cheerleaders with uniforms too skimpy for the code are being asked to wear long shorts or trousers under their skirts and a T-shirt under the sleeveless tops, according to a district memo. Principals at two of Lake's eight high schools - Leesburg and Lake Minneola - are not allowing the outfits in school at all. Michelle Thomas, a cheerleader at Leesburg High School, was disappointed when she learned she couldn't wear her outfit to school on game days. "It shows that we're a team just like all the other sports," she said. But the school administrators did not agree. "During the educational portion of the day, they have to meet the dress code just like every other student," said school board chairwoman Debbie Stivender, who ordered the staff to bring the outfits into line with the dress code. Bare midriffs are banned across the state by the Florida High School Athletic Association, but no state rules mention cheerleader miniskirts. Sheila Noone, a spokeswoman for cheerleading uniform company Varsity Brands, says the outfits haven't become more revealing over the last 10 years. She says that the short skirts are designed to help the girls jump and kick. "Cheerleading is athletic," Noone said. "There's a lot of jumping, so you won't want a knee-length skirt that might hamper a tie touch." Most cheerleaders were sad to hear the news, but say they'll follow the rules. Even male cheerleaders, whose pants and tops meet dress codes, chose not to wear their outfits to show unity. "I understanding, because they are kind of short," said Holly Bishop, 14, a Lake Minneola High School cheerleader, about her miniskirt. "It would have been really, really cool to wear them to school." Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the article? A. School administrators believe cheerleader uniforms do not match school dress codes. B. Most cheerleaders show understanding of the new dress codes. C. Sheila Noone believes that cheerleading miniskirts are not revealing. D. School administrators don't take cheerleading seriously. Answer: A Can you be too beautiful? It is hardly a problem that most of us have to bother -- as much as we might like to dream that it were the case. Yet the blessings and curses of beauty have been a long-standing interest in psychology. Do those blessed with shiny faces and an attractive body live in a cloud of appreciation -- or does it sometimes pay to be ordinary? Combing through decades of findings, social psychologists Lisa Slattery Walker and Tonya Frevert at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte havereviewed all the evidence to dateand their conclusions are not what you might expect. At the most basic level, beauty might be thought to carry a kind of halo around it; we see that someone has one good quality, and by association, our deep mind may assume that they have other good ones too. Even in the courts, a pleasing appearance can work its magic. Attractive criminals are likely to get less strict sentences, or to escape punishment entirely; attractive plaintiffs , meanwhile, are more likely to win their case and get bigger financial settlements. "It's an effect seen everywhere," says Walker. But if beauty pays in most circumstances, there are still situations where it can have opposite results. While attractive men may be considered better leaders, for instance, hidden sexist prejudices can work against attractive women, making them less likely to be hired for high-level jobs that require power. And as you might expect, good-looking people of both sexes run into envy -- one study found that if you are interviewed by someone of the same sex, they may be less likely to employ you if they judge that you are more attractive than they are. More worryingly, being beautiful or handsome could harm your medical care. We tend to link good looks to health, meaning that illnesses are often taken less seriously when they affect the good-looking. When treating people for pain, for instance, doctors tend to take less care over the more attractive people. And the bubble of beauty can be a somewhat lonely place. One study in 1975, for instance, found that people tend to move further away from a beautiful woman on the pathway -- perhaps as a mark of respect, but still making interaction more distant. "Attractiveness can convey more power over visible space -- but that in turn can make others feel they can't approach that person," says Frevert. Interestingly, the online dating website OKCupid recently reported that people with the most beautiful pictures are less likely to find dates than those with less perfect pictures. Ultimately, Frevert points out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be harmful if it creates stress and anxiety -- even for those already blessed with good looks. "If you are crazy about attractiveness, it may affect your experience and interactions," she says. It's an outdated saying, but no amount of beauty can make up for a bad personality. As the writer Dorothy Parker put it so elegantly: " _ ." What can be inferred from OKCupid's finding? A. People with perfect pictures will find dates sooner or later. B. Less attractive women are lonely because of their appearances. C. We may feel more excited to approach those with attractive appearances. D. Don't use perfect pictures when trying to find dates online. Answer: D Mrs Weeks was reading a newspaper story to her class. The story said: Were you ever in a hospital when you were small? How did you feel? The doctors in Children's Hospital are asking for money for children's toys. Some children in the hospital must stay in bed for many weeks. Toys are needed to keep these sick children happy and quiet. Money for them can be sent to the hospital. After Mrs. Weeks read the story, she said,"This story gave me an idea." "You want us to bring some money for the toys.""We could bring some of our own toys for the children in the hospital, "said the boys and girls one after another. "Well, your ideas would be nice, "Mrs. Weeks said,"but mine is different." Mrs. Weeks smiled. "Do you think you could make toys?" she asked. "Yes, yes," the whole class answered. "Great! Let's begin to make toys tomorrow," said Mrs. Weeks. On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Weeks took the children to the hospital with the toys made by her students. The children in the hospital felt very happy to see the toys. The children in the class felt happy, too. A few days later, Mrs. Weeks read another newspaper story to the class: Some school pupils brought toys to Children's Hospital last week. The toys were made by the pupils of Grade Three in Green Street School. The doctors said, "We have never had so many wonderful toys. Our children are very happy with them. They say, 'THANK YOU, GRADE THREE'" At first, the doctors in Children's Hospital wanted to _ the sick children. A. give some money to B. make some toys for C. get money to buy toys for D. borrow some toys for Answer: C International students in Christine Rhodes' English class in Australia share theirimpressions of places they have visited in Australia. Canberra, the nicest city in Australia I went for a short holiday to Canberra. My uncle lives there. It's the nicest city in Australia, a little bit similar to Cairns. There're lots of big rivers and trees around the city. Siggi Siebold from Germany The small city of Mount Isa I went to Mount Isa six months ago. It's a long way from Brisbane -- about 2,000 km. It's a small city, with a population of 21,000, but it has all the basic _ such as a base hospital, six schools and supermarkets. Here the weather is hot and gets very little rain. There're two big lakes to keep rainwater for people in the city to drink. Indra Ekanayake Lake Moondarra and amine In Mount Isa, there's adam called Lake Moondarra. At weekends you can go there with your friends, and it is beautiful. On the lake, there is water skiing. Also, people can go fishing there. There's a big mine in Mount Isa. Many people go to work in the mine and earn a lot of money. Mount Isa isn't a beautiful green place, but many people love it. Ida Robb from Indonesia Which of the following is NOT mentioned by Ida Robb? A. People can go fishing on Lake Moondarra. B. There are 21,000 people in Mount Isa. C. There's a big mine in Mount Isa. D. Many people like Mount Isa though it isn't a beautiful green place. Answer: B
It would be hard for a family to live on 300 yuan a month, wouldn't it? That's how much Li Hua's family have to live on for a whole year. The world is now trying to help people like Li Hua to live better. From Tuesday until today, about 2,000 government leaders , scientists met in Shanghai to talk about stopping poverty around the world. According to the United Nations, the poorest people in the world live on less than 8.5 yuan a day. Most of those people live in African countries like Sierra Leone and Somalia. These countries often have wars and lots of diseases. Now, more than 1 billion people in the world live in poverty. The UN said that by 2015, that number should be cut in half. To help China's poor people, the World Bank has given more than 37 billion yuan to help China build railways and schools and stop river pollution and deserts. Many places in China's countryside, like Li Hua's home in Chongqing, are very poor. Li Hua, 13, lives with her mother, two grandparents and a 16-year-old brother in Chongqing. Her father is dead. The family make their living by planting crops. They have no TV, no electric fan and no telephone. Which is the best title for the passage? A. Li Hua's Family B. Still Too Many Poor People C. What Is Poverty? D. Present and Past Answer: B. Still Too Many Poor People Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. Jolie is keen on charity, and is noted for her work with refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has been recognized as one of the world's most attractive people, as well as the world's "sexiest" and "most beautiful" woman. Born in Los Angels, California, Jolie is the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. After her parents' separation in 1976, Jolie and her brother were raised by their mother, who abandoned her acting ambitions and moved with them to Palisades, New York. As a child, Jolie regularly saw movies with her mother and later explained that this has inspired her interest in acting. Jolie achieved wider fame after her performance of video games heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and since then she has established herself as one of the best-known and highest-paid actress in Hollywood. Jolie has had her biggest commercial successes with the action-comedy Mr.&Mrs.Smith. After divorcing her second ex-husband, Jolie lives with actor Brad Pitt, in a relationship that has attracted world-wide media attention. Jolie and Pitt have three adopted children, Maddox, Pax, and Zahara, and three biological children, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.ks#5u It's reported recently that Jolie and Brad Pitt have finally decided to legally become husband and wife, and the wedding ceremony will take place in September in their France castle. The couple will leave Hollywood, choosing to _ to southern France. They will also leave the U.S. to move to Europe. It seems that Jolie and Pitt will do this for their six children, who greatly desire this. Which of the following can'tbe inferred from the passage? A. Brad Pitt is likely to be Jolie's third husband. B. Jolie is likely to give up acting. C. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was Jolie's first film. D. Jolie's mother loved her brother and her very much. Answer: C. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was Jolie's first film. Here is some information about some people. I am a math teacher. I teach math very well. Do you need help with your math?Call me at 679-8840.(Mr. Brown) I lost my blue bag. It's from my mom and I like it very much. Did you find my bag?Please call me at 777-8953.(Lucy) I like playing the violin,but I can't play it well. Can you help me?My phone number is 235-7765.(Joan) Do you like reading?I have many old books and the books are free .Call me at 658-0034.(Mark) Here is some information on today's newspaper. FOUND A blue bag. I found it in the library. My name is Sue. Please call me at 889-0764. JOB Are you good at math?Are you good with kids?We need a math teacher at our middle school. My name is Nick. My e-mail is nick@gmail.com. MUSIC CLUB Do you want to be a musician?Do you want to learn how to play the piano and the violin well?Come to our club. Only 20 yuan for one lesson. Call Susan at 776-9898. BOOKS NEEDED We want to build a library for the kids in a small village. We need many books. Please call Mr. Han at 458-2217. Which of the following is TRUE? A. Lucy's phone number is 679-8840. B. Joan can play the violin very well. C. You can learn how to play the drums in the music club. D. If Mr. Brown wants to work at Nick's school,he can write an e-mail to Nick. Answer: D. If Mr. Brown wants to work at Nick's school,he can write an e-mail to Nick. There are robots all around us. Some do very complicated jobs like flying airplanes and driving subway trains. and some do one simple job. When an automatic washing machine is switched on, water pours in. The machine waits until the water is warm enough for washing clothes. It does this by "feedback" . Information about what is happening is feedback into the robot to tell what to do next. Our eyes, ears and other senses are our feedback. They tell us what is going on around us. So robots are like human beings in two ways. They work and they have feedback. In some ways robots are better than human beings. They work quickly and do not make mistakes. They do not get bored doing the same job over and over again. And they never get tired. So robots are very useful in factories. They can be taught to do many different jobs. First their electronic brain must be shown how the job is done. A person moves the robot's "arms" and "hands" through each part of the job. The most intelligent robots can move and see. Their eyes are cameras. Their fingers can feel shapes and sizes of the objects. These robots have computer brains linked to their eyes and fingers, which control their actions. The expensive robots are used in scientific research. They do such job as handling radioactive materials. What does the author seem to inform you about robots? A. They should be greatly improved. B. They will probably take over in the future. C. They are very helpful and useful to humans. D. They are machines that break down a lot. Answer: C. They are very helpful and useful to humans. "Dad," I say one day .....take a trip. Why don't you fly and meet me?" My father had just reired........... His job filled his day, his thought, his life. While he woke up and took a warm shower, I screamed under a freezing waterfall Peru. While he tied a tie and put on the same Swiss watch, I rowed a boat across Lake of the Ozarks. My father sees me drfting aimlessly, nothing to show for my 33 years but a passport full of funny stamps. He wants me to settle down, but now I want him to find an adventure. He agrees to travel with me through the national parks. We meet four weeks later in Rapid City. " What is our first stop?" asks my father. "What time is it?" "Still don't have a watch?" Less than an hour away is Mount Rushmore. As he stares up at the four Presidents carved in granite , his mouth and eyes open slowly, like those of little boy. "Unbelievable," he says, "How was this done?" A film in the information center shows sculptor Gutzon Borglum devoted 14 years to the sculpture and then left the final touches to his son. We stare up and I ask myself, Would I ever devote my life to anything? No directions, ...... I always used to hear those words in my father's voice. Now I hear them in my own. The next day we're at Yellowstone National Park, where we have a picnic. "Did you ever travel with your dad? I ask. "Only once," he says. " I never spoke much with my father. We loved each other---but never said it. Whatever he could give me, he gave."> In Glacier National Park, my father says, "I've never seen water so blue." I have, in several places of the world, I can keep traveling, I realize--- and maybe a regular job won't be as dull as I feared. Weeks after our trip, I call my father. "The photos from the trip are wonderful," he says." We have got to take another trip like that sometime. I tell him I've learn decided to settle down, and I'm wearing a watch. What could be inferred about the author and his father from the end of the story? A. The call solves their disagreements B. The Swiss watch has drawn them closer C. They decide to learn photography together. D. They begin to change their attitudes to life Answer: D. They begin to change their attitudes to life
Question: Dear editor, I live in a beautiful city. Many visitors come to my city every year because there are so many colorful peacocks here. The peacocks mostly live on the grassland of Dongfeng Square. Visitors usually throw food to them, but they don't think about at all whether the food is good or not. Some of the peacocks became ill, and some even died eating the bad food given by visitors. I'm sure most of the visitors who throw food to the peacocks really like the bird, but they don't realize that they may be doing them harm . Visitors should be told that what they have done is harmful to the birds, and this kind of thing must be stopped. Perhaps we can build some small shops beside Dongfeng Square to sell peacock food. For us every person, it is our duty to give more love to these beautiful birds to look after them carefully. Yours, Wang Yang Some peacocks became ill and died because _ . A. they weren't given any food B. they were given too much food C. they were given some bad food D. they weren't given enough food Answer: C. they were given some bad food Question: Billy and Sara are brother and sister. They went to the beach with their family last July for a week, and had the best time ever! On Monday, Billy and Sara wanted to build a giant sandcastle. They invited their new friends Jack and Jane to help build the sandcastle. Jack and Jane had a house on the beach, so they were really good when it came to building sandcastles. They hoped that they could make the sandcastle taller than themselves, but they soon found they needed more help. They asked their cousin Joey to help them build the biggest sandcastle in the world! Joey wasn't the friendliest cousin in the world, but to Billy and Sara's surprise, Joey was happy to help build the sandcastle. Billy, Sara, Jake, Jane and Joey had spent the whole day building the sandcastle, and finally, right before dinner time, they completed it. The sandcastle was huge! It had a river around the castle, and even a bridge to cross the river. It even had a flag at the top, and a wall that went around the castle too! They were so happy! \tab The rest of the week at the beach was a lot of fun for Billy and Sara. On Tuesday, they went for ice cream. Sara's ice cream fell and dripped all the way down to her tummy, but Billy gave her some of his. On Wednesday, they watched the fireworks at night. On Thursday, they went swimming all day long, moving like worms in the water. On Friday, they had to go back home. They were sad, so they started counting down the days until next year at the beach! What day did the friends complete the sandcastle? A. Wednesday B. Tuesday C. Monday D. Thursday Answer: C. Monday Question: A group of frogs were travelling through the bush when two of them fell into a deep hole. The other frogs tried to help them. When they saw how deep the hole was, they told the two frogs that they could not be saved and that they were almost dead. The two frogs didn't listen to their words and tried their best to jump out of the hole. But the other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs listened to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog, however, continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs shouted at him to give up and wait for death. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs asked, "Didn't you hear us?" The frog explained that he had poor hearing. He thought they were encouraging him the whole time. Words have the power of life and death. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through their difficulties. A destructive word to someone who is down can be _ . So always be careful of what you say. What can we learn from the story? A. We shouldn't try to give others advice. B. We should be careful of what we say to others. C. Destructive words can also be helpful. D. Words have nothing to do with life and death. Answer: B. We should be careful of what we say to others. Question: A Special Opportunity for Customers of Producers Choice Dear music producers, If you LOVE producing music, then you are going to LOVE our new monthly sample pack club. With Producers Choice Monthly, you'll get every single sample pack we'll ever make at theproducerschoice.com. You'll get every new pack we put on the website -- sent directly to your email inbox even before they go on our website! Also, you'll get a new sample pack (worth $36) to get started immediately. Other Benefits: Only $29.95 per month. Cancel the order anytime you like. Get sample packs that NO ONE else will get. Keep your inspiration flowing with new samples each month. I'm excited to be able to offer this subscription service to both new and existing customers. I hope you are looking forward to taking your music to the next level with our award-winning samples being sent to you each month -- good for keeping your inspiration flowing. 3 (8 ) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Producers Choice Monthly: Q -- How many sample packs will I get with my subscription? A -- You'll usually get 1--3 new sample packs per month. The sample packs are different in size, each of which is usually from 300MB to 2GB+, so you will get great value for money! Q -- How will my samples be delivered to me? A -- We send our members an email with a download link, so you can download your sample packs quickly and easily. Q -- How does the payment/billing work? A -- If you join our monthly plan, your credit card will be billed once a month. You can stop at any time. The website the producers choice.com. is most probably for _ . A. music producers B. email writers C. credit card users D. web designers Answer: A. music producers Question: If our earth is anything, it is this A. alien B. nearest to Pluto C. frozen solid D. mountainous Answer: D. mountainous
Life on Mars could become a reality and it could happen in your lifetime. A welcoming planet Scientists say Earth's neighbor Mars, a bright red planet about half Earth's size, is the most likely to support human life. Mars even has frozen water on its surface. Since the late 1990s, NASA has been exploring Mars using remote-controlled vehicles . Most recently Curiosity, a car-size vehicle, traveled through space on an unpiloted spacecraft and landed on Mars in August 2012. Directed by NASA scientists , the vehicles move on the surface, taking pictures , collecting and analyzing soil, and looking for signs of life. But what about human explorers? Plans are already in the works to send astronauts to Mars as soon as the mid-2030s. _ But before you start packing your bags, let's consider the challenges. For starters, Mars is far away. Just getting there could take up to 10 months. Scientists already know that time away from Earth's gravity harms the human body. Bones and muscles get weaker. The body produces less blood. What damage would months and months of living in space do? And then there is the matter of water, oxygen, food and fuel. Scientists will have to find solutions to these problems, or the first humans on Mars won't survive very long in their new home. Tiny Dangers There's another tinier risk. It's so tiny that you can't even see it: germs. Some scientists believe that our germs could pollute the whole planet of Mars. Potentially killing Martian life before we have the chance to discover it. Worse, there is a small but terrifying chance that any microscopic life already there might be harmful to us . Worse still, if any of those Martian germs were brought back to Earth, the result could be disastrous. Animals, plants, and people could be wiped out. Worth the $$$? A more practical concern is the cost. The price could approach $ 1 trillion . How can we justify spending that much when so many problems--poverty, disease--could use the cash here on Earth? Which section of a newspaper is the passage most probably taken from? Answer: Science Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun goes to Tahoua, West Africa to visit the children who have _ and war. Stefanie Sun is touched by those poor kids there: "Some children are already 3 or 4 years old, but they are so thin that you can hold them with your single arm. You can see scare and hopelessness in their eyes. The children only wish to have food to eat, and can survive and go to school. However, these basic needs are like dreams to them." Stefanie Sun is deeply touched by a 4-month baby who weighs only 2.5kg! Stefanie says that the children have nothing but leaves to eat during famine. The reconstruction in that area needs enough food, education, and clean water. The children in Tahoua, West Africa have suffered from _ . Answer: famine and war Everybody is afraid of something.That's what more than 1,700 kids told us when we asked them about fears and scary stuff.We gave kids a list of 14 scary things and asked which one frightened them most.Here are the top 5 answers from our survey :1 Scary movies and TV shows;2Scary dreams;3Thunderstorms,hurricanes ;and other horrible weather;4War and terrorism ;5Sounds heard at night. But not everyone is afraid of the same thing.And what makes one person scared can be of no big deal for someone else.Plenty of kids said their biggest fear wasn't on our list. What is fear? Fear is a feeling that eyeryone has--it's programmed into all of us--and that's a good thing because fear is there to protect us.We're born with a sense of fear so we can react to something that could be dangerous.The baby cries,and their mom comes over to comfort him or her,helping the baby feel safe and OK again.Real vs.Pretend The best way to get over a fear is to get more information about it.As kids get older,they understand more and start seeing the difference between what is real and unreal.So when William's imagination leads him to think of witches,he can tell himself,"Wait a minute.They're only pretend things.I don't need to worry about them." The same goes for the dark.A kid's imagination can start playing tricks when the lights go out.What's under my bed?Is that a thief I hear?With the help of a parent,kids can get more comfortable in the dark.Using a nightlight or shining a flashlight under the bed to see that there's nothing there can help kids fight that fear. What did the writer find out from the survey? Answer: All people are afraid of something. Mrs. Black is such a heavy woman in the world that one day she goes to see the doctor. The doctor tells her that she should eat more vegetables and less meat. So the next morning she only has an egg and a glass of milk for breakfast. And she has some rice and vegetables for lunch. In the evening, she feels very hungry. She begins to cook supper. She makes some hamburgers with chicken. She puts a little chicken and lots of vegetables in each hamburger. She has five hamburgers for supper. After that, she feels better and goes to bed. After a week, she goes to see the doctor again. The doctor is so surprised to find that she is heavier. But Mrs. Black tells him that she has more vegetables and less meat every day! What does Mrs. Black put in each hamburger? Answer: A little chicken and a lot of vegetables. The quality of drinking water in Shanghai will meet European Union standard by 2010 and, a decade later, citizens in Shanghai will drink the best water in the world. These were the goals set out by the Shanghai Water Authority. With the city's population expected to increase only slightly and the economy to boom by 2020, Chen Yin, an official in the water authority, said Shanghai's water consumption will not increase from its present amount. Zhang Yue, director of the Urban Construction Division under the Ministry of Construction, said, "Shanghai is the first city in the country to publicize these ambitions. They will not be easy to achieve." He said water saving will help keep the sustainable development of China's economy. Saving one cubic meter of water means saving the city's infrastructure costs by 10,000 Yuan. Last year, Shanghai saved 300 million cubic meters of water either from readjustment of industrial structure or the employment of new technology. "The aim is to arouse public awareness of the seriousness of water shortages," Chen said. "The abundant surface water and amount of rain of the city are so misleading that they result in improper use of water." Shanghai lacks drinkable water. The Huangpu River, which supplies 80 percent of the city's drinkable water, is nearing exhaustion. The city, therefore, has been exploring new sources from the Yangtze River and growing forests along it to conserve quality water. Besides penning regulations, the authority is popularizing technology among the public to efficiently cut the amount of water used. At present, the city has 600,000 family toilets, each using 13 liters of water per flush. These are to be renovated to use only 9 liters of water per flush. The authority is renovating the first 200 toilets for households - at a cost of Yuan each. In three years, all the toilets will be renovated, which saves the city nearly 15 million Yuan every year in water conservation. Another task the city is engaged in is the treatment of sewage to improve the water environment. At present the city can only treat 44 percent of its daily 5.04 million tons of waste water. To meet the total demand, 27 more sewage treatment factories are to be established with an estimated investment of 18 billion Yuan. According to the passage, some people have the wrong opinion of using water because _ . Answer: there is plenty surface water and large amount of rain at present
Facebook and Twitter have become a significant threat to marriage - with social media now a factor in an increasing number of divorce cases, say lawyers. One in seven married individuals have considered divorce because of their spouse's postings of Facebook or other online sites, according to research. A similar percentage admit that they search online for evidence of their spouse's _ , while nearly one in five say they have daily quarrels because of the way their husband or wife uses social media. The research was assigned by law firm Gordon in response to an increase in the number of its clients who said that Facebook, Skype, Snapchat, Twitter or other social media sites had played a part in their divorce. Andrew Newbury, of law firm Gordon, said: 'Social media is the new marriage. Five years ago Facebook was rarely mentioned in the context of a marriage ending, but now it has become common." Social media, specific pictures and posts on Facebook, are now being routinely raised in divorces.' The survey by Censuswide among 2011 husbands and wives, found the most common reasons for checking their spouse's social media accounts were to discover who they were talking to, who they were meeting and where they were going. A quarter of the married people said the resulting suspicions led to quarrels at least once a week, and 17 percent said such quarrels were daily events. Arguments were caused by contact with former partners, by the sending of secret messages, and by the posting of 'inappropriate' pictures. Some 14 percent said they looked at their spouse's social media with the specific intention of detecting evidence of adultery . By saying "Social media is the new marriage minefield", Andrew means that _ . A a new marriage needs social media field B social media is a good thing to marriage C social media is a new field of communication D marriage ending will be caused by social media Answer: D. marriage ending will be caused by social media An animal species' population may decrease because of A construction activity B mating C more food D growth Answer: A. construction activity Can we make animals work for us? Some scientists think that one day we can teach animals to do a lot of things for people. They say that in a film or on TV you may see elephants, monkeys, dogs or some other animals doing a lot of things. If you watch carefully, you may find those animals are always given a little food to eat after they have done something. Scientists say that people can teach many different animals to do some easy work if they know they will get something to eat. We all know elephants can carry large logs and dogs can look after houses. And we can even teach animals to work in factories. In America, for example, people use apes to help make cars. Scientists think that those big monkeys may, one day, drive trains. Now people are trying to let them do something just like man. People can teach animals to do some easy work if _ . A the animals have enough food to eat B the animals learn they'll get something to eat C the animals are as clever as man D the animals are big enough. Answer: B. the animals learn they'll get something to eat The porter brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know.Then he points to the phone and says:"If there's anything else you need, just call."All this time you have been thinking of one thing:"How much should I tip him?" To make your next trip a little easier, here's guide to tipping across some Asian countries. Bangkok In general, the more westernized the place is, the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip.Some top-end restaurants will add a 10% service charge to the bill.If not, waiters will appreciate your tacking on the 10% yourself.However, if you're eating at a lower-end restaurant, a tip is not necessary.If you're staying at one of Bangkok's many five-star hotels, expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht ,depending on how many bags you have.Taxis are now metered in Bangkok.Local custom is to round up the fare to the nearest five baht. Hong Kong Tipping is customary in this money-mad metropolis .Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner. If the service is good, add another 10% to the bill, up to HKMYMl00 in an especially nice restaurant.For HK MYM10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HKMYM20 bill may be more acceptable.When in a taxi, round up to the nearest dollar. Kuala Lumpur Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive westernized hotels, which often add a 10% service charge to your meal or hotel room.If you are at a hotel restaurant, expect a 10% service charge. But at local restaurants, there's no need to add a tip. At five-star hotels, one or two ringgit will satisfy a porter. At lower-end buildings don't feel you have to tip Like Bangkok, many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit. Seoul Tipping is not part of Korean culture, although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10% service charge is often added.If you're at a Korean barbecue joint , there's no need to add anything extra.But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10% contribution. If you're at a top-end hotel, so expect to pay 500~l,000 won per bag.Taxi drivers don't accept a tip.Keep the change for yourself. In which of the following cities is it unnecessary to tip the taxi-drivers? A Bangkok B Hongkong C Kuala Lumpur D Seoul Answer: D. Seoul When I was a high school student , mathematics looked like a big hurdle for me and several of my classmates.When we reached the ninth class, we got Mr. Iyer, a strict maths teacher who was also our class teacher.He always stuck to his discipline.We had to arrive on time, pay undivided attention to his lectures, and dared not neglect any of h is homework. Even so, as our class teacher, we got to know him better.Noticing some of us fidgeting one day as the mid -term exams approached, he stopped solving a mathematical problem to ask us why." There' s too much to do," we sighed."We're afraid we'll never manage to finish our revision before the exams." "Nothing is impossible," Mr. Iyer told us. "This classroom is on the second floor. Do you have a problem reaching here ?" We reacted with blank stares. "No, you don' t !"he said , answering his own question."You have a staircase to help you climb up to this level.No one expects you to make it in two giant leaps.You simply take one step at a time.Any task can be solved if you focus on the immediate action to be taken.The rest w ill take care of itself, if you keep at it.One step at a time.That' s the secret." Then he wrote down an o ld motto on the blackboard --the longest journey starts with a single step.Having heard his staircase analogy , w e understood why he asked us the question and we saw him in a new light. Most of my classmates scored distinctions in maths.And I went on to become an English teacher.To this day , whenever I pass on Mr.Iyer's invaluable advice to my own students , they brighten up at the prospect of a lighter academic burden. Why did the author and his classmates react with blank stares ? A Because they were too tired to understand what Mr.Iyer said. B Because they felt surprised at such an unbelievable problem. C Because they had no interest in any subjects that were no good for their exam s. D Because they first thought reaching the second floor had no connection with the worry. Answer: D. Because they first thought reaching the second floor had no connection with the worry.
Question: Have you ever had that fantasy to visit the moon, grab a rock and throw it into space so it would float forever? Soon, if you have got the cash, you can! Enter the Artemis Project. This new and exciting project is a private one that will "establish a permanent, self-supporting manned lunar base," which translates into a community on the moon for people to live in. "It's not a question of whether it'll work, but rather how long it will take." according to Gregory Bennett, the founder of the Artemis Project On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. That moment became a great achievement in both the space community and for humanity itself. Despite the significance of occasion, almost certainly when viewers saw images of his weightless, bouncing figure they thought, "That looks like fun!" So the Artemis team is taking realistic approach to a human fantasy: they are marketing the project of a lunar base as pure entertainment. Veronis, Suhler & Associates are investment bankers for the communications and media industry. Their research found that Americans spent over 40 billion dollars to be entertained in the movies, through home videos and television in 1999. California investor, Dennis Tito, recently took a trip to the International Space Station, after donating $20 million dollars to the Russian Space program. Wealthy celebrities like Canadian director James Cameron and the brothers of rock band Oasis have also voiced their interest to visit the big ball in the sky. In the same report by Veronis, Suhler & Associates, consumers spent close to 4 billion dollars on video-game software alone. So, for $1.42 billion dollars the Artemis Project is a drop in the entertainment bucket. University student, Al Dharsee says, "I would certainly go to the moon, if given the opportunity, so that I could look at the earth and laugh. But with the way we treat our own planet, I don't think we deserve to set foot on any planets or moons for that matter. However, if you're one of those ready to book a flight, don't pack your bags quite yet, your flight is not scheduled to depart for at least a couple of decades. What did Veronis, Suhler& Associates find through their research? A. Wealthy celebrities donated a lot of space programs. B. The Artemis Project would cost less than $1.42 billion dollars. C. Americans paid a large amount of money for entertainment. D. More than $40 billion are spent on communications and media industries in 1999. Answer: C Question: I went to technology _ where people were showing their ideas for better learning. At the show I got a chance to try out lots of new, interesting equipment that might be introduced to schools. I thought some of it were great and would make learning more fun. Cyber Coach Mat The first thing I tried was the Cyber Coach Mat. This allows children to learn things like yoga and tai chi with virtual instructors . Also you can play football or have dance battles on it. Sony PSP The second piece of equipment I tried was the Play Station Portable. or PSP. It lets you access lots of education materials and helps learning in many ways. It's really fun and even has a built-in camera and video so you can have fun with friends. Lego NXT The final thing I tried was the Lego NXT. This involves building a robot and programming it to follow instructions . The robot can pick up sound waves which can then be sent to the computer or a phone. I would really like to do this kind of thing in my lesson! Overall the fair was great and I learn how to use a lot of things that I think could really help children to learn and have fun at the same time. My favourite was the Cyber Coach Mat because it allows you to learn new skills and it"s a great way to do a PE lesson if it's cold and raining outside! Which equipment does the writer like best ? A. The first one. B. The second one. C. The last one. D. None of them. Answer: A Question: A farmer who lived in a small village had a bad pain in the chest. This never seemed to get any better. The farmer decided that he would go to see a doctor in the nearest town. But as he was a miserly person, he thought he would find out how much he would have to pay the doctor. He was told that a sick person had to pay three pounds for the first visit and one pound for the second visit. The farmer thought about this for a long time, and then he decided to go to the doctor in the town. As he came into the doctor's room, he said, "Good morning, doctor. Here I am again." The doctor was a little surprised. He asked him a few questions, checked his chest and then took the pound which the farmer insisted on giving him. Then the doctor said with a smile, "Well, sir, there's nothing new. Please go on taking the same medicine I gave you the first time you came to see me." Where did the doctor check the farmer? A. In the village. B. On the farm. C. At the doctor's. D. In the city. Answer: C Question: To explain why he liked his art teacher the best, 16-year-old Dainzin Tanam could not write more words than a simple sentence "Because he teaches me painting." In the eyes of his teachers at the Lhasa Special Education School, the deaf boy was a little painter. Five years ago, however, all Tanam could do was to stay in bed until noon, and then stare at the sky through the window, waiting for his parents' return. His mother Yangzom said she had no other choice but to lock him in the house every day as she and her husband had to work and they did not want to allow the boy to roam the streets. "Every day when I came back home and saw my lonely poor son, I felt my heart hurt. But now I can finally feel a bit relieved," the mother said. She said it was the school that changed his son. "Without the school, I dared not imagine how my son would be now." With a governmental fund of 4.5 million yuan, the special education school was founded in 2000. The only government-run school for handicapped children in Tibet, it now has 28 teachers and 120 school children in nine classes of 5 grades. Eight classes in the school are for deaf kids and the other one is for blind kids. Students can enjoy free food, boarding, clothing and medical services in the school, which is open to deaf and blind children from all over the autonomous region. Tibetan sign language and Tibetan Braille are basic courses here. Children also have Tibetan, Chinese, mathematics, science, painting, dancing and sports lessons. A "black and white" textbook seemed appealing among the color1ful books in Tanam's schoolbag. The text was handwritten. It was the Tibetan language textbook compiled and written by teachers themselves. "As textbooks for students in ordinary schools sometimes are too abstract and hard for our kids to understand, two other Tibetan language teachers and I compiled the textbook to make things easier for them," said teacher Dawa. Those books with the love of all the teachers, though not spoke out, will surely help children enjoy their life by supporting themselves after leaving the school. Who wrote the "black and white" textbooks for the children? A. Dawa B. The teachers in the special school C. Dawa and another two teachers D. nobody but sent by the government Answer: C Question: Why are so many people afraid to fail? Quite simply because we forget that failure is part of the human life and that every person has the right to fail. Every person is able to fight failure and finally succeed. Most parents work hard at preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards . When a child finishes making a table, the mother describes it as "perfect" even though it doesn't stand still. Another way is to blame others. If John fails in science, his teacher is unfair or stupid. There's a problem with the two ways. It makes a child unprepared for life in the real world. Young children need to learn that no one can be best at everything, no one can win all the time, and that it's possible to enjoy a game even when you don't win. A child often feels terrible, of course, when he is not invited to a birthday party, or is not chosen into a football team. But parents should not say "It doesn't matter." quickly. The young should be allowed to experience failure and be helped to come out of it. Failure never gives people pleasure. It hurts both adults and children. But it can be really good to your life when you learn to use it. You must learn to ask "Why did I fail?" Don't blame anyone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong and how you can improve. If someone else can help, don't be shy about asking them. Success just repeats what has been done. It is not as good a teacher as failure. You can learn how to give a good party from an unsuccessful one. Which would be the best title for the passage? A. Learning from Failure B. Ways of Preventing Failure C. Reasons of Failure D. Getting Pleasure from Failure Answer: A
Why are newspapers and TV broadcasts filled with disaster, corruption and incompetence? It may be because we're drawn to depressing stories without realizing, according to psychologists. When you read the news, sometimes it can feel like the only things reported are terrible, depressing events. Why do the media concentrate on the bad things in life, rather than the good? In fact, many people often say that they would prefer good news. The researchers present their experiment as solid evidence of a so called "negativity bias ", psychologists' term for our collective hunger to hear, and remember bad news. It isn't just delight in other people's misfortune, the theory goes, but that we've evolved to react quickly to potential threats. Bad news could be a signal that we need to change what we're doing to avoid danger. As you'd expect from this theory, there's some evidence that people respond quicker to negative words. In lab experiments, flash the word "cancer", "bomb" or "war" up at someone and they can hit a button in response quicker than if that word is "baby", "smile" or "fun". We are also able to recognize negative words faster than positive words, and even tell that a word is going to be unpleasant before we can tell exactly what the word is going to be. There's another interpretation that researchers put on their evidence: we pay attention to bad news, because on the whole, we think the world is more hopeful than it actually is. When it comes to our own lives, most of us believe we're better than average, and that, like the cliches, we expect things to be all right in the end. This pleasant view of the world makes bad news all the more surprising and arresting. It is only against a light background that the dark spots are highlighted. So our attraction to bad news may be more complex than just journalistic prejudice or a hunger springing from the darkness within. What causes people to focus more on bad news than on good news? A. The world is believed to be more hopeful than it actually is. B. It is expected things will be all right in the end. C. The world is believed to be full of darkness. D. It is believed that we are better than others. Answer: B Robots are common in today's world. They manufacture cars, work in space, explore oceans, clean up oil spills and investigate dangerous environments. And now, scientists at the University of Manchester are using a robot as a laboratory partner. The researchers at the university created the robot in 2009 and named it Adam. Despite the name, Adam is not a humanoid robot. It is about the size of a car. Adam was built to do science and make discoveries. Ross King is the leader of the University of Manchester research team. He says the robot made a discovery about yeast , a kind of fungus used in science as a model for human cells. "Adam hypothesized certain functions of genes within yeast and experimentally tested these hypothesizes and confirmed them. So it both hypothesized and confirmed new scientific knowledge." Adam's success as a scientist led to the creation of another robot scientist named Eve. Researchers developed Eve to design and test drugs for tropical and neglected diseases. These diseases kill and infect millions of people each year. Drug development is slow and costly. Experts say it can take more than 10 years and about $1 billion to discover and develop new medicines. Drug manufacturers are unlikely to get their investment money back. So the University of Manchester developed a low-cost test that shows whether or not a chemical is likely to be made into an effective medicine. Mr. King says that other drug testing methods were not very effective. "How it works conventionally is you use robotics as well and you have a large collection of possible drugs. You test every single compound. And you start at the beginning of your library and continue until the end, and stop. So it's not a very intelligent process. The robotics doesn't learn anything as it goes along, even if it's tested a million compounds, it still doesn't have any expectation of what will happen next when it tests a new compound." Mr. King says that Eve is different because the robot learns as it tests different compounds. He says the robot is designed to ignore compounds that it thinks unlikely to be good. It will only test the compounds which have a good chance of working. Eve has discovered that a compound known to be effective against cancer might also be used to fight against malaria and other tropical diseases. Mr. King says he hopes to completely automate the drug testing process with robots like Eve to create and test new chemicals. But he says humans remain in control of the manufacturing process. WhichisNOTtrueaccordingtothepassage _ ? A. Adam looks like a car B. Adam's success led to the creation of Eve C. tropical and neglected diseases diseases kill and infect millions of people D. Drug manufacturers can get their investment money back Answer: D I was driving home one evening at about 5, caught in traffic, and the car started to die-- I hardly managed to get into a gas station, glad only that I would have a warm spot to wait for the tow truck . Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the " Quickie Mart" building, then suddenly she slipped on some ice and fell down, so I got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked like she had been overcome by weep than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked _ with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up and gave it to her. It was a coin. At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban packed full of stuff and three kids in the back, and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood at the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California for Christmas and that things were very hard for her right now. I took out my credit card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so that she could fill up her car completely, and I bought two big bags of food for her kids in the car who attacked it like wolves. While it was fueling, she asked, "So, are you an angel or something?" I said, "At this time of year, angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses common people." It was unbelievable to be part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. Sometimes, angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. the author was driving carelessly on the way home B. the kids were extremely hungry at that time C. the young woman didn't want to see her kids crying D. the young woman was interested in long driving Answer: B What tool would be most helpful in aiding indoor plants in photosynthesis A. music B. cover C. Fertilizer D. a large window Answer: D Scattered throughout the various reports on sleep research are several that describe some unusual behavior by people who are sleepwalking. These include eating, making phone calls and even murder. Now, there's a new case appearing in one more study on this strange phenomenon: sleep e-mailing. In an article published in journal Sleep Medicine, prefix = st1 /SetonHallUniversityresearchers document the following case of a 44-year-old woman: This woman received a puzzling phone call from a friend who said she was accepting her dinner invitation -- an invitation that the woman could not remember having made. The friend reminded the woman of the e-mail she had sent the night before -- an e-mail of which the woman also had no recollection . However, a quick search through her sent e-mail folder did turn up one strange e-mail. She had apparently sent it to her friend -- at 11:47 the previous night. The puzzling message said: "I don't get it. Please explain Lucy! Come tomorrow and sort this out! Dinner and drinks, 4 pm? Wine and caviar to bring only. Everything else, a guess? There were two other e-mails sent to her friend at 11:50pm and 11:53 pm, each of which seemed to be written in a strange language, full of capitalization errors and phrases that didn't make sense. According to Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, lead author of the case study, this particular sleepwalking case was unique and was the first and only published account of "sleep e-mailing". "Sleepwalking has occurred in the past where people would undertake other activities such as cooking or moving furniture around," Siddiqui said. " But this case is unique in that she wasn't just sleeping but doing complex things like turning on her computer, remembering her user name and password and typing entire e-mails." Just what is sleepwalking? It is actually a kind of sleep disorder. Studies have found that somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of people are sleepwalkers. It comes from a mixture of wakefulness and non-REM sleep. Sleepwalkers can carry out complex behavior such as driving, walking, e-mailing and telephoning in a sleep-like state. People with high levels of stress and anxiety, or those who have a family history of sleepwalking are more likely to experience it. What is the main idea of the passage? A. It analyzes what sleepwalking is and its effects on people. B. It explains to readers why and how sleepwalking forms. C. It mainly reports on a recent unique case of sleepwalking. D. It tells about various kinds of sleepwalking there are. Answer: C
Question: Every day,it is easy to see advertisements in English all around us.Look at your own bags and clothes,and at the bags and clothes of your classmates.How many different advertisements can you see which use English words? Often bags and clothes show the name of the company that made them. This is a popular form.A special picture or symbol called a logo is sometimes used.Logos appear on many different products .They are popular because when you see a logo,it is hard to forget that product or company. It is common to see advertisements on TV and hear them on the radio.Most advertisements are very short.Sometimes the advertisers use a short sentence which is easy for people to say and remember. Nike,for example,has a simple English sentence which is used all around the world:"Just do it."Advertisements often use funny situations as well.It is simple to remember it. All advertisements are designed to make people buy a product.An advertisement for a soft drink,for example,might show a group of young people who are having fun.The young people are al1 drinking the soft drink.Advertisers are saying to you,"Why don't you buy this drink and be like these people? You can be young and modern." You might think that advertisements are not after you,but the next time you buy a soft drink,ask yourself this question:Why am I buying this particular product? All advertisements are designed to _ . A. sell you something you don't want B. make you young and modern C. make you buy the product D. show you what you need to buy Answer: C. make you buy the product Question: Hiking If you like to hike during the warm months, you'll probably like to hike in the winter. The landscape changes completely from summer to fall to winter, and the snow can make for some really beautiful photos. Be sure to bring your camera with you to capture all the awesome scenery. Because it's cold out, you also have the added benefit of not sweating too much through your clothes, and it's a great excuse to grab some hot chocolate when you finish your hike. Cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is great exercise and a great way to see the winter scenery at the same time. If you've never done cross-country skiing before, be sure to check with an expert before trying it yourself. Knowing what to expect can keep you safe and prevent an injury. Snowball fighting Everyone remembers going outside, building a snow fort ,and having snowball fights when they were kids. The fun doesn't have to stop when you're an adult! Go outside with your friends, build a fort and start throwing snowballs at each other. If you have kids, get them in on the action. Throwing snowballs is a great way to use some extra energy and can be really fun for the whole family. Bird-watching Lots of birds migrate during the winter months, and these quiet, cold hours can be a great time to see them like never before. Eagles, for example, migrate through central Illinois in February, and watching them fly through Starved Rock State Park is a breathtaking sight. Check your local parks to find out what birds you can see in your area and get out there to see them. What can we know about Starved Rock State Park from the passage? A. It's the largest natural park in Illinois. B. It's a good place for bird-watching. C. It's well-known for its strange animals. D. It is home to a lot of birds. Answer: B. It's a good place for bird-watching. Question: The best UK cottages for Christmas and New Year _ It's a solid little Victorian gatehouse outside Ballycastle. It has an association with Irish nationalist Roger Casement. Close to the Causeway Coast, the closest beach is five minutes' drive away. It is a good choice for those who want to avoid stairs, since all the main rooms are on the ground floor. Sleeps 2 adults + 2 children, PS730 a week at Christmas or New Year (three nights from PS389), 353 1 670 4733, irishlandmark.com _ It is located in a peaceful island, where a priory was built 1,400 years ago. Guests at Coastguard's Cottage, the latest addition to English Heritage's portfolio of holiday houses, can explore the priory ruins. The attractive whitewashed house is decorated with calming tones and contemporary furnishings and has views of Lindisfarne Castle. Sleeps 6, PS1,600 a week from 19 Dec, 0370 333 1187, english-heritage.org.uk _ It sits on a 350-acre private nature reserve. Surrounded by woodlands, wetlands and wild meadows, it's a heaven for wildlife. You might meet a few animals on a walk around the reserve. Built by local craftsmen using natural materials, it is a light-filled living space with huge windows, a woodburner and other essential for winter evenings -- a home cinema system. Sleeps 6, PS1,430 a week from 29 Dec, 01580 720770 kentandSussexcottages.co.uk _ In snowy winter, the quiet 16th-century cottage near Stowmarket is like a perfect picture on Christmas cards. The inside is also appealing, with a big farmhouse kitchen, antique furniture, comfortable carpets and an impressive fireplace. A good selection of films, music and books are provided. Approached via a single track lane, the cottage sits in three acres of wild meadow, surrounded by plenty of farmland. Sleeps 5, PS1,003 a week from 30 Dec (three nights PS725), 01787 211115, grove-cottages.co.uk How much will be charged if a couple with two children stay in Victorian gatehouse for a week at Christmas? A. PS389. B. PS730. C. PS1,430. D. PS1,600. Answer: B. PS730. Question: Name: Off the Beaten Path Cover price: $30.00 Our price: $l9.80 The best-selling Reader's Digest travel book has 40% new content including over 200 new sites, over 200 new full-color1 photographs, and all-new, up-to-date maps. It spotlights over l, 000 of the United States' most overlooked must-see destinations. Name: Container Gardens by Number Cover price: $l5.95 Our price: $9.49 A unique book contains 50 easy-to-follow container designs. Each design provides a simple numbered planting plan that shows exactly how to create each display, with an instruction of the finished planter and in-depth plant information. The plans are easy to follow and for any type of living space or garden. Name: Best Weekend Projects Cover price: $l7.95 Our price: $l3.96 Choose from 80 unique ideas to create an extraordinary living space. The projects are practical, as well as attractive, and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow style that addresses readers in an accessible, user-friendly tone. Name: l80l Home Remedies Cover price: $40.00 Our price: $29.96 Plenty of health complaints can be handled at home. Each and every remedy will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound. Dozens of conditions are covered, from headaches, sunburn, bad breath, and blisters to allergies , and hiccups . What's the purpose of the passage? A. To share his opinion about the books with readers. B. To advise readers to read more in spare time. C. To share the pleasure of reading with readers. D. To advise readers to buy these books. Answer: D. To advise readers to buy these books. Question: Commander was my parents` cat but I knew him first. In fact, Commander was my college roommate`s cat. My roommate wanted to sell Commander, but no one would buy him. I called my parents to see if they would like to adopt him. My mom had always loved cats but my dad disliked cats very much. As predicted my dad said, "No way. No cats" Fortunately for me, my dad was out of town at a math conference. So I brought Commander home. By the time he returned, both my mom and Commander had decided that Commander was going to stay. My mom said that Commander was going to live at our house for a "trial period" while we looked for a buyer. As the months went by there was absolutely no effort to sell Commander and it became clear to my dad that Commander was there to stay. Commander started sitting by my dad as he read the newspaper and slowly my dad began to like Commander---just a little bit. By the time I came home that summer, I was surprised to see my dad carrying Commander around the house. Over the years, my parents` love for Commander grew to the point where they could not imagine life without him. Once I finished college, my parents built their dream house and they named the floor plan The Commander! They worked with the architect to design the house so that it was perfectly suited both for them and for Commander. Commander died at the age of eighteen. My mom still talks about him often and misses him, and so does my dad, which proves that not even the most determined cat-hating human being in the world can resist the charms of a cat once the cat decides he is moving in to your heart. What did the author`s parents do when they designed their new house? A. They designed a room for Commander. B. They named the floor plan the Commander. C. They opened a door in the wall for Commander. D. They worked with the architect to build a cathouse Answer: B. They named the floor plan the Commander.
Introductory Chemistry was taught at Duke University for many years by professor Bonk. One year, two guys took the class and did pretty well on all the quizzes and mid-terms. They each had a solid A. These two friends were so confident in going into the final that the weekend before finals week, despite the Chemistry final being on Monday, they decided to go to the University of Virginia to party with some friends. They had a great time there. However, with their hangovers and tiredness, they overslept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then, they found professor Bonk after the final and explained to him how they missed the final. They told him they went up to the University of Virginia for the weekend and had planned to come back in time to study, but they had a flat tire on the way back and didn't have a spare. So they were late getting back to campus. Bonk thought this over and agreed that they could take the final the following day. The two guys, happy and relieved, studied that night and went in the next day at the time that Bonk had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet. He told them to begin. They looked at the first problem which was something simple about solution . It was worth 5 points. "Cool," they thought, "this is going to be an easy final". They then turned the page. They were unprepared, however, for what they saw on it. The question contained only two words: (95 points) Which tire? From the passage we know _ . Answer: Bonk didn't believe the two guys' explanation This site , all-birds. com, is about bird watching. Enjoy your browsing. There is much to learn and see. Bird Watching Equipment Some items that might make bird watching more enjoyable are binoculars ( ) , a camera, some kind of system for keeping notes, and maybe a back pack. Birders often keep lists of the birds they see along with notes about the habits. There is some great bird log software that will let you keep records on your computer. For more details on choosing binoculars see our Binocular -Optics page. Clothes If you are walking through a wooded area just wear clothes you would wear on any hike or field trip. You are best off wearing clothes with dull colors that mix into the background. Greens, browns, and grays are good. Avoid fabrics that rustle easily. Depending on the birds you are watching you may want to get rain gear, rubber boots and warm clothing. For birds such as owls that you might look for in the evening a strong flashlight is also handy. Choosing a Bird Field Guide Take a good field guide to identify birds. Look for clear color pictures that make it easy to recognize one bird from another. Next to each picture should be detailed descriptions of each bird's anatomy, habits, and what it eats. The guide should have information about what habitat each species uses. Many guides have maps showing the range of different birds along with their migration patterns. Where and When to see Birds Learning the habitats of birds in your area will increase the number of birds you see, and make your birding more enjoyable. If you know that Meadow larks are likely to be in open grassy areas, and dippers are forage along stream beds, you may be looking for them if you are in those types of habitats. Edge areas where different types of habitats meet will likely have more species in them. You are more likely to see specific birds at certain times of the day. For example songbirds are easier to see two to three hours after dawn, or just before sunset. This is when songbirds are most actively feeding. Many small birds will be silent or even hidden during the rest of the day. After sunup is the best time to see eagles and hawks. Visibility is best for hunting at this time, and they can soar on the thermal currents from the warmed air. Birds like owls are more likely to be seen in the evening. Many shorebirds and waders rest at high tide and feed when the water rises or falls. Photographing Birds Patience in Bird Photography Most birds are afraid of people, and all species have their own comfort zone. With a little time you can learn the comfort zone of the birds you are photographing. Once they know that you are not a threat you may be able to get closer. Type or Style Your reason for photographing birds may determine your style and the kind of equipment you use. If you are just recording the kinds of birds you see you don't need to get as close, and you can use less expensive equipment, then you need for high quality prints. Photographing Birds in Flight Photographing birds in flight can be fun. Many digital cameras have a tracking function. With these you focus on the bird, and then as you track it the lens will keep focus. Use Your Yard Choose an open area where the birds will get direct sunlight, showing off their magnificent colors. Try using props Birds will often land on a stick or post near a seed feeder before going to the feeder. The background was just an out of focus fence but you can use anything you want for a background, and then wait for a bird to perch. The main purpose of the passage is to _ . Answer: help birders learn how to identify and understand birds China plans to make new rules to give more controls over the growing number of blogs and webcasts. Nowadays, advanced network technologies, such as blogging and webcasting, are being improved to challenge the government's ability to watch over the Internet. Chinese government is in the middle of making new rules over Internet publishing, and blogs and websites publishing webcasts will fall under these rules. Government officials hope the new rules will ensure a more healthy and active Internet environment and will fully respect and protect Chinese citizens' freedom of speech. Specific details on what kind of rules will be carried out are still unknown to the public. Despite the growing popularity, bloggers and webcasters have been unpopular with publication institutions. In 2006, a series of cases involving bloggers who had dived into other people's privacy and written materials ruining other's fame urged the government to consider whether to require bloggers to use their real names when they _ Webcasting without copyright and illegally "copying" products from copyrighted materials have also led government officials to consider starting a nationwide check of online video broadcasting, and allow only qualified websites to offer webcasts. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Publication institutions are unhappy with bloggers and webcasters. Smaller than your fist, your healthy heart just goes on and on. It will beat more than 60 times a minute for 70 years or more. That's something that most of us take for granted. But it's an amazing fact. 60 times a minute for 60 minutes is 3,600 times. What physical thing can most of us do 3,600 times in one hour? Blink? Maybe. Tap our fingers on the desk? No. Jump up and down? Certainly not! But our heart keeps beating, hour after hour. Every day, it pumps almost 2,000 gallons of blood through our blood vessels . It takes you about five years to drink 2,000 gallons of water. And, unlike your knees or your back, your heart does all this work without ever complaining ! You never know that it's even there. Your heart is such a reliable "silent partner" that people forget to care for it. For many, the first indication that their heart isn't working properly is a serious heart illness! Over 650,000 Americans die of some kind of heart disease every year. Cancer kills 560,000, stroke kills 143,000, and accidents kill 118,000 Americans annually. Like accidental deaths, many heart disease-related deaths can be avoided if people simply follow the advice of the experts. Unfortunately, most people seem to listen to a little voice in their head that says, "It won't happen to me. " So these people keep on smoking and drinking. They continue to eat too much meat. And their only "exercise" is getting off the sofa to get something out of the fridge. Please follow the following steps to keep your heart healthy. Which of the following physical activities can keep going on and on? Answer: Heart beat. I love to bake cakes for my granddaughter Abigail. She gets so happy when she eats them! So one day, I thought I'd surprise her at school with cake for her school class! I thought that would make her love me even more. I went into the kitchen and washed my hands. Then I dried them on a dishtowel. I went to the refrigerator and took out my cake mix. Then I took out the special bottle of vanilla sauce! I always pour it in for Abigail. Her mom and dad like orange sauce, but Abigail loves vanilla sauce. I mixed it in with the cake mix, and put it on the table. Then I went to turn on the oven. Then, a bad thing happened! My friendly old cat Billy jumped up to smell the mix! Billy also loves vanilla sauce! But then Billy accidently kicked the mix! It fell all the way from the table to the ground. My lip tightened as I started to cry. Now, Abigail wouldn't have a cake for her class. What a silly Billy! What was the surprise at school going to be? Answer: cake for the whole class
We can not live a modern life without traveling.The fastest way of traveling is by air.With a plane people can travel in one day to places which it took a month or more to get to a hundred years ago. Traveling by train is slower than by plane, but people can see the country when they are traveling through.Modern trains have comfortable seats and dinning-cars.They make even the longest journey enjoyable. Some people prefer to travel by sea when possible.There are large luxury liners or river boats.They are not as fast as trains or planes, but traveling by sea is a very pleasant way to spend a holiday. Many people like to travel by car.They can make their own timetable.They can travel hundreds of miles or only fifty miles a day, just as their wish.They can stop wherever they want to see something interesting or to enjoy a good meal at a good restaurant, or to spend the night at a hotel.That is why people choose traveling by car for pleasant trips, while they usually take trains or planes for business. _ is a very pleasant way to spend a holiday. For pet owners, the hundreds of pet food recalls taking place each year has raised a lot of alarm. "Most people are caring pet owners, and they want to do what helps protect their pet," explains Will Post, founder and CEO, Hound & Gatos Pet Foods Corporation. "Yet the problem is that most are not sure what that means and how to go about it. The more they learn about pet food, the better able they will be to make an informed decision that will keep their pet healthier and safer." Here are several tips that consumers may want to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a pet food that will help reduce the risks. Get to know the company. Most people may know a company name simply because they spend millions on advertising. But that doesn't mean they know much about the company or their morals. Research companies to find one that offers high standards, quality products, and great customer service. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to get in touch with a pet food company and ask them where something was made, where ingredients came from, or any other questions. They should have no problem answering questions about their products, or with being able to provide proof of their quality standards. Read reviews. Do some searches to read some reviews about various brands of pet food. Keep in mind that some reviews can be one-sided and even planted by the company itself, so look for fair third-party sources giving the review. Investigate ingredients. The source of ingredients is of major concern when it comes to reducing the risks of pet food recalls and keeping pets healthy. Read the labels and ask questions to determine where the ingredients are coming from. Understand pet foods. Cat and dog food should contain 100 percent protein, which will supply them with the nutrients their bodies require. The problem with many commercial pet foods is that it is full of numerous fillers, such as cheap fillers and grains. As for reducing the risks of pet food recalls, what should be mainly taken into consideration? The 87thAcademy Award nominations were announced on Jan 15, and The Grand Budapest Hotel stood out as a favorite with nine nominations, including Best Picture. Check out some other Best Picture nominees to see if you missed any of last year's top Hollywood films. The Imitation Game This historical thriller is about British computer scientist, Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the father of artificial intelligence. At the start of World War II, Turing was asked to join a select team of mathematical geniuses to decode the system the Nazis used to send military messages. Besides the actual breaking of the code, Cumberbatch's portrayal of Turing's personality, a mixture of decency and shyness, is also a highlight of the movie. Birdman This dark comedy film is about how Riggan Thomson, a faded star once famous for his superhero roles, struggles to regain fame. American actor Michael Keaton, 63, who has a similar experience to Thomson's, plays the leading role. Selma A stellar cast including talk show queen Oprah Winfrey may be one reason to see Selma. But that the film focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.'s struggle for civil rights also makes it worth viewing. Based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, the film is a chronicle of King's (David Oyelowo) campaign for political rights for African-American people. The Theory of Everything We know English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking for his significant scientific discoveries, especially his black hole theories. This biographical film reveals the scientist's (played by Eddie Redmayne) secret romantic relationship with Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones), whom he meets and falls in love with at Cambridge and who later becomes his first wife. Boyhood American Director Richard Linklater did an experiment in this film, using the same cast for 12 years to record a boy's growth. In two and a half hours, we see Mason, a Texas boy from a divorced family, grow from 6-year-old boy to a freshman in college. How many Best Picture nominees are mentioned in the text? Hello! I'm Sandy .I'm a Grade 8 students.I study at a secondy school .Now let me tell you about my school life. I get up at 6:15 a.m.Then I have my breakfast at six thirty. I go to school by bus .My home is about five kilometers away.from school.This often takes me 20 minutes.The first school begins at eight every morning.I usually have four classes in the morning and two in the afternoon.Each class lasts 45 minutes .I have lunch at school .I often eat rice ,meat and many vegetables.Then I can sleep about half an hour.After class, I play volleyball or football with my classmates.School is over and I go home.I spend an hour on my homework .I watch TV for half an hour . What time does Sandy get up every day ? Which is least likely to happen?
I hated writing thank-you notes as a child, but I had no choice: My mother was adamant about honoring other people's kindness and generosity. But now after a childhood spent crafting those notes, the music of gratitude flows naturally from me. I hire Brant to build an arbor around my front door. I drew it exactly as I wanted, and he realized my vision perfectly. Surprised at how the arbor's beauty uplifted me every time I stepped into my house, I called Brant a few weeks after the arbor went up. He answered the phone defensively. "What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice cold and distant. "You can say, 'You're welcome,' " I responded. "I don't understand," Brant shot back. "I am calling to say 'Thank you.' '' Silence. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I love my arbor, and I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your work." More silence. "I've been doing this work for 20 years, and no one has ever called to thank me for it," said Brant. "People only call me when they have problems." He was doubtful. I also had a similar experience with L.J. He answered my questions, didn't push, and gave me space to think and decide. I wrote to let him know that he completely exceeded my expectations of what a beat-them-down car sales experience would be like, and that I was happy with my car choice. L.J. called me a few days later. He said that this was the first thank-you note in the history of the dealership. Are we really living in an age when feedback only closes with complaint? It seems to me that when we focus on problems, we only have dissatisfaction and complaint. But when we focus on celebrating goodness, we are likely to turn it into something positive. When Brant heard the author's voice on the phone, he was _ . A few months ago, Dr. Ken Duckworth, a psychiatrist in Massachusetts, was swimming in his community's pool, chatting with other swimmers. When he mentioned his career, one man wanted Duckworth's opinion on his struggles with depression; another asked for advice on a family member's mental illness. "I was sort of amazed. They were talking openly about their mental disabilities with a stranger in a swimming locker room, " said Duckworth, "That wouldn't have happened 15 years ago. " New research shows that these swimmers aren't the only ones opening up. According to a new study, more American adults than ever are reporting being disabled by the symptoms of depression, anxiety or other emotional problems. The report, published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, found that people who said they couldn't perform everyday tasks or engage in social and leisure activities because of a mental illness increased from 2 percent in 1999 to 2.7 percent in 2009. That increase amounts to nearly 2 million more people disabled by mental distress in the past decade, the report said. Although people did not say they felt more mental distressed compared to past years, they reported that their mental health problems had a greater impact on their daily lives. Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, the study's author, said it's unclear whether the findings tell a sad story of greater mental distress in recent times or point to a victory for public education about the importance of acknowledging and evaluating mental illness. "It is possible that people are realizing the effects of mental illness more acutely now than before," he said. "People could be becoming more aware. " Mojtabai said it's also possible that a number of factors could be taking a toll on the population's mental well-being. High unemployment, economic hardships and a growing sense of isolation could be putting greater stress on Americans. But Duckworth said there could be a more positive explanation -- like his fellow swimmers, people may be getting more comfortable with talking about their mental distress. "I wonder if this tells us that American culture is becoming more open and is giving people the ability to speak about it," he said. "If people have this problem and are willing to acknowledge it, then we're getting closer to dealing with it." Which of the statements may Dr. Ramin Mojtabai agree? It was movie night at Tom's house. He was looking forward to watching a movie. He wondered what sort of movie it would be. Would it be a cartoon? Would there be knights? He really likes to watch movies about spaceships. His sister likes to watch movies about animals. Tonight they would watch his father's favorite type of movie. His mother came home and put it on the table. After dinner Tom cleared away the plates from the table. It was his sister's turn to wash the dishes. His father went to read the newspaper. His mother began to make popcorn. She made a big bowl of popcorn. There was plenty for everyone. She put lots of butter on it. Tom was excited he went to sit on the striped rug in front of the television. His sister came and sat next to him. His parents sat on the couch. The dog climbed on to the blue chair. The movie was about cars. Tom had a great movie night. What kind of movies does Tom's father like? London--coffee protects mice from radiation and could get the same way in humans, according to Indian scientists. Scientist at India's Bhabha Atomic Research Center discovered that mice injected with caffeine remained alive after high doses of normally _ radiation. Although the study was limited to animals, Kachadillilli George, head of the research team, believes the findings could have implications (something suggested ) for humans . "It does suggest that coffee might have some beneficial effects in protecting against radiation," he told New Scientist magazine late last month. George and his team injected 471 mice with caffeine and left them uncovered to 7.5 grays of gamma radiation ,enough to kill most mice. But 25 days later 70 percent of the mice that had received 80 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight were still alive. On the contrary all 196 mice that had been left uncovered to the same radiation but had not been given any caffeine died. Which is the best title of the article? Scott held up a drugstore at 10:30 at night, and drove away. His car broke down in an isolated area just outside the small city in which the crime occurred. Scott walked to the nearest house and asked Henry, the homeowner, if he could stay until the next morning, explaining that he had been searching for his sister's home and had run out of gas. Henry agreed to let him sleep on a couch in the basement. During the course of the night, Henry began to doubt the story Scott had told him. Early the next morning, Henry called the police and said he was suspicious and frightened of a stranger whom he had allowed to stay the night. The police went immediately to the house to assist Henry and walked through the open front door. They found Scott and Henry drinking coffee in the kitchen. When they saw Scott, they realized he matched the description of the drugstore robber. They arrested Scott and in his jacket they found drugs taken during the robbery. Scott moves to suppress the evidence of the drugs. If the court finds that the police did not have probable cause to believe Scott was the robber until they saw him inside Henry's house and realized he matched the description, the court should
From the time we were babies we have been taught manners. We are taught how to hold a knife and fork and not to talk with our mouths full. We are taught how to shake hands and when to stand and when to sit and the way to introduce people. Sometimes good manners in one place are very bad manners somewhere else. Almost everywhere eating together means that people are very friendly to each other. But in parts of Polynesia it is bad manners to be seen eating beside each other. So they politely turn their backs to each other when they are taking food. Some East Africans spit four times as a kind of blessing .They do it to show that they want a sick person to get well,or to bless a new-born baby. In most other places,spitting means something completely different. It usually shows an unhealthy habit. In many countries,it may mean that you hate someone. When we go to visit someone we say " Hello!" Or " How are you ? " or things like that. But if you are visiting an East African village , everyone will be very careful not to pay attention to you, The polite thing there will be for you to go quietly,without speaking to anyone, and sit beside your friend. You should wait until he has finished what he is doing and then he will begin talking to you. In a village in Arab , a visitor will walk behind all the tents until he gets to the one he wants to visit. If he passes in front , he will be invited into each tent and asked to eat. It is rude to refuse. If you visit an East African village , you _ . A. should say "Hello"or "How are you?"to others B. should talk to the villagers quietly C. should be very careful and not to pay any attention to others D. must wait until your friend has finished his work and then begin to talk to him Answer: D Dust and ash entering the atmosphere as a result of volcanic eruptions can affect Earth's A. tidal activity B. orbital shape C. weather and climate D. rotation and revolution Answer: C The Moon orbits Earth at a speed of approximately one kilometer per second. The Moon is kept in orbit by which of the following? A. gravity B. lunar phases C. magnetism D. ocean tides Answer: A Billy had a pet turtle that he took good care of, everyday. His turtle's name was Tumble. Tumble liked to walk around outside in the garden and dig small holes to sleep in. Billy loved Tumble and would visit him outside when he got home from school. Tumble's favorite food was oatmeal. So, every day after school, Billy would make Tumble a big bowl of oatmeal and take it outside for Tumble to enjoy. Tumble would see Billy and walk up to him as fast as a turtle can go. Billy would put the bowl down and wait for Tumble to come up to the bowl to eat from it. When Tumble reached the bowl, he put his nose on it. But, the oatmeal was too hot to eat. Billy reached down and blew on the hot oatmeal, to cool it down for Tumble to eat. Once the oatmeal was cool enough, Tumble could dig in and eat his big bowl of oatmeal. Billy loved to watch as Tumble ate his bowl of oatmeal, because Billy took good care of Tumble, everyday. What was Billy's turtle name? A. Toby B. Tumble C. Tutti D. Timmie Answer: B Do you have any friends from other countries? Do you know what they are like? The Germans are very quiet and they don't get excited easily. They don't want to say more words. They look serious , but they like all kinds of amusements . They work hard and like tidiness. Most German women like to keep their houses clean. In some ways, the English look the same as the Germans. They are also quiet and never talk too much with others. They are really polite, so we often hear "Thank you." or "Sorry." from them. The French have long holidays. They like travelling and usually spend their long time in other countries. The French are more outgoing than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them. Compared to (......) the French, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener. They don't like to depend on others. So it is very popular that students do part-time jobs. In Americans' eyes, working and success are important. _ are the most outgoing. A. The Germans B. The French C. The Englishmen D. The Americans Answer: D
Helen and Betty are very good friends. They are in the same class at school. Now they are eight years old. Helen's mother has a new baby. Helen is very happy to have a little sister, so she always talks about her to Betty. At first Betty is very interested in the new baby. But after some time she begins to get unhappy because Helen doesn't stop talking about it. One morning, the two girls meet in the library, and Helen says to Betty happily, "Do you know, Betty, my baby sister puts on about half a pound this week." "That is not much," says Betty. "I know a baby that puts on ten pounds a day." "Oh, that can't be true?" says Helen with a laugh . "Whose baby is it?" "An elephant's," says Betty. Betty and Helen are _ . Answer: classmates Efforts to reduce the damage from the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are under way . How can you help ?A number of organizations are recruiting volunteers. The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected . Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteers in the affected areas , call 1-866-448-5816. The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife , and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word "NWF" to 20222. That'ss donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill. United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund . which is providing emergency assistance and long-term recovery support for the communities affected by this oil spill . Those who need help or want to volunteer can dial 2-1-1.You can donate to this fund by going to liveunited . org/gulfrecovery.or text the word "United" to 50555 to donate $10 from your mobile phone. The First Response Team of America is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats . Their founder , Tad Agoglia --who was named a CNN Hero in 2008--has made their work on the oil . spill their top Priority until the disaster is contained.They are looking for volunteers . Call 941-388-3010. AmenCares is providing medical care and supplies to oilspill victims along the Gulf , and is funding and assisting mental health assessments and counseling needs for the immediate and long-term health and mental health issues affecting children as a result of this disaster . Mental health experts are in great demand . The Children's Health Fund can be reached at 1-800-535-7418. If you are good at treating mental health problems and willing to volunteer ,you can dial the telephone number _ . Answer: 1-800-486-4357 John is an American boy. His family is in China now. John likes chocolates very much. But his mother doesn't give him any. She thinks they are not good for him. But John has a very nice grandfather. The old man loves him very much, and sometimes he buys John some chocolates. Then his mother lets John eat them. She wants to make the old man happy. One Sunday evening John says in his room, "Please, God . Make them give me a big box of chocolates tomorrow. It's my eighth birthday. " His mother says,"God can't hear you, my boy. " "I know, but my grandfather is in the next room. He can hear. " John comes from _ . Answer: America An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money. Only a very expensive operation could save him now and there was no one to lend them the money. When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother, "Only a miracle can save him now," the little girl went to her bedroom and pulled her money from its hiding place and counted it carefully. She ran to a drugstore with the money in her hand. "And what do you want?" asked the salesman. "It's for my little brother," the girl answered. "He's really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle." "Pardon?" said the salesman. "My brother Andrew has something bad growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?" "We don't sell a miracle here, child. I'm sorry," the salesman said with a smile. "Listen, if it isn't enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs." A well-dressed man heard it and asked, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?" "I don't know," she answered with her eyes full of tears. "He's really sick and mum says he needs an operation. But my daddy can't pay for it, so I have brought all my money." "How much do you have?" asked the man. "$ 1.11, but I can try and get some more," she answered. "Well, what luck," smiled the man. "$ 1.11, the price of a miracle for little brothers." He took up the girl's hand and said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need." That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a famous doctor. The operation was successful and it wasn't long before Andrew was home again How much did the miracle cost? In the eye of the little girl, a miracle might be _ . Answer: some wonderful medicine Never try to work when you are very hungry. If you decide to do your homework right after school, you may get something to eat before going to work. Always do your homework before you get too tired. Don't wait until very late in the evening, or your work will seem much harder than it really is. If you have more than an hour's work, give yourself a break after an hour. On the other hand don't break it up so much that you can't get anything down. You should be able to work at least a half at a time without stopping. Don't put it off until the last minute. If you put off doing your homework, you will have it on your mind, and you won't enjoy your free time so much. If you put it off until the end of the week or until before a test, you will have too much catching up to do. A little bit each night, enough to keep up with what is happening each day in school, will take the fear out of tests and keep you on top of it all. Do your homework at the same time every evening. This will help you make it a _ . It will make it easier to do, and it will make your free time more enjoyable as well. Which is the best title for this passage? Answer: A Must for your homework in time.
Great speakers are not born but made. You too can become a good orator by taking up the public speaking courses. Those who are incapable of speaking in front of the public can' t come up in their life. The art of public speaking must be practiced by everybody who wants to reach great heights in their career. A lot of public speaking courses are available on the Internet. Choosing the best course that is right for you may be difficult but not impossible. The basic motive of public speaking courses should be to train you to become a public speaker and improve your skills of _ a public speech. The course should first educate you with the principles of public speaking and tell you how to overcome stress and anxiety. By overcoming fear, you will be able to deliver your presentation clearly to your audience. A speaker can have a great influence on the audience with his body language and your public speaking course should tell you the gestures on stage that can attract the audience. Non-verbal communication also has a major role to play in delivering a speech effectively to a group. Though body language is important, the content and the natural use of words are what the audience are closely caring about. Public speaking courses should give tips in using the right words at the right time. Even though you have prepared well, the real success of public speaking lies in the way your speech is delivered. Public speaking courses will train you to present the contents in a lively manner impressing the audience. Your presentation should be professional and stylish. You can add humor or interactive sessions to your presentation to gain the audience attraction. If you want to become a good speaker you should _ . Answer: practise speaking in public Psychiatrists who work with older parents say that maturity can be an advantage in child raising--older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with their children. But raising kids takes money and energy. Many older parents find themselves balancing their limited financial resources, decreasing energy and failing health against the growing demands of an active child. Dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents' biggest, and often unspoken fear. "Having late-life children often means parents, particularly fathers, end up retiring much later. For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream." says Brandy Gabrielle, an economics professor. Henry Metcalf, a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids. But he's also worried that his energy will give out first. Sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he's learned that young at heart doesn't mean young. Lately he's been taking afternoon naps to keep up his energy. "My body is aging," says Metcalf. "You can't get away from that." Often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock. Therapists who work with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at. "They worry they'll be mistaken for grandparents, or that they'll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery school," says Joann Gals, a New York psychologist. But at the core of those little fears there is often a much bigger one: "that they won't be alive long enough to support and protect their children," she says. Many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time. After marrying late and undergoing years of pregnancy treatment, Marilyn Nolen and her husband, Randy, had twins. "We both wanted children," says Marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth. The twins have given the couple what they desired for years -- a sense of family. Kids of older dads are often smarter, happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives. "The dads are older, more mature," says Dr. Silber, "and more ready to focus on parenting." The reason why psychiatrists regard maturity as an advantage in child raising is that _ . Answer: older parents tend to devote more love and patience to their children. This happened several years ago.But it has stuck with me so I wanted to share it. Every day on my way to work I would buy a newspaper from an elderly gentleman on the corner of the street.He would always smile and say,"Good morning."His smile always made my day. Most of the people who sell these papers are homeless or poor and they do it to make a few bucks. One day Charlie wasn't there!Someone else was in his place! This other guy told me Charlie was in the veterans' hospital. It troubled me all day long.All I could think about was Charlie being alone in the hospital.I never knew he was a veteran who had served our country.I just knew his smile always made my day. I asked my girlfriend if she would go with me to visit him and she agreed.When I showed up in Charlie's room he began to cry.He told us he had been feeling very lonely and was convinced no one would ever visit him.He said that we were his only visitors. We told him we were glad to do it and thanked him for all that he had done for others. I never saw Charlie after that,although I heard he moved to California.That was thirty years ago but I haven't forgotten my smiling friend.A big thankyou to those who serve our country and protect us and thank you Charlie,wherever you are! In the opinion of the writer,Charlie should be thanked because _ . Answer: he had ever fought for his country Hu Yizhou, also known as Zhouzhou, was born with intellectual disabilities. When he was 25 years old, he had an IQ of 30 and behaved himself like a 3-year-old child. But he does well in music. His disability has not prevented him from becoming a well-known conductor . Zhang Yiqing, a director with Hubei TV station, learnt of Zhouzhou's talent for music. He wanted to help the young man. Later Zhouzhou's story has made into a film and was spread in China, Europe and America. Ever since he was famous for his great musical talent, Zhouzhou has received a lot of attention from home and abroad. He has taken part in many art performances . Now he works in the Chinese Disabled Art Group as a conductor. To Zhouzhou, standing on the stage is already a big success. What kind of person do you think Zhouzhou is? Answer: He is not clever, but he is successful. Benjamin Franklin only studied in school for two years. But he liked to read and write very much. Once he discussed a question with his friend in letters. His father found the letters and read them. He felt Ben did not express himself well. Nor did Ben make his meaning clear. He agreed that his father was right, From then on, he paid more attention to the style of his writing so that he could write better. About that time he bought a copy of the British periodical called The Spectator (<<>> ). He read it over and over. He thought the writing excellent, and wished, if possible, to write in the same style. With this in mind, he studied some of the stories and made a note of the thought in each sentence. Then, a few days later, without looking at the magazine, he tried to write the stories. He tried to express each thought as fully as it had been expressed before. Then he compared his writing with the magazine. He found some of his faults in the compositions. In this way he discovered he needed to know many more words. He felt that writing poetry would help him since that needed to use many different words which had the same meaning. So he turned some of the stories into poems; and after a time, he wrote them as stories again. He insisted on doing this for a long time. He learned much from his efforts and went on to practise his writing. Then he became the first famous writer in American history. Benjamin liked _ very much when he was _ . Answer: writing; young
Question: Kindergarten outside? Yes, indeed. It's part of a growing worldwide trend toward outdoor education. The schools are called forest kindergartens. The numbers are small so far in the U.S., but the idea is well established in Europe, with schools in Scotland, England, and Switzerland. By far the most such schools are in Germany, which has more than 400 forest kindergartens. Some schools feature several hours of outdoor schooling. This is certainly the case with the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs. Children there will be venturing out on the nearby Hemlock Trail to learn more about the natural world. Some lessons are focused on nature; others are academic topics delivered in a natural setting. In all cases, students are active-not sitting at desks or on mats on the floor but walking, running, jumping, solving problems like how to get the mud off the bottoms of their shoes before their parents find out. Seriously, the focus is on activity at these schools. Studies have shown that children's immune systems actually get stronger after all of the outdoor activity, and that graduates of forest kindergartens show a higher ability to learn when they progress through their academic careers. Other schools are all outdoors, all the time. This is the case with the Cedar Song Nature School, on Vashon Island, Washington. Students at this school spend their whole three-hour day outdoors, in a private five-acre forest, doing all kinds of physical activities. At these forest kindergartens, students learn science by observing and doing it, learn math by applying it to the natural world around them, learn letters and words by putting them together using sights and sounds. These students learn how to get along with one another, individually and in a group. They also develop healthy levels of self-confidence. Nowadays many children become obese because of sedentary activities like watching television and playing video games. These outdoor schools give children chances to learn just as much, if not more, from opening their eyes to the real world around them. What do we know about forest kindergartens? A. The first one was created in England. B. They are very popular in Germany. C. There are 400 all over the world. D. Their number is huge in the U.S. Answer: B Question: Alex was right next to his close friend when he heard a strange noise. He was afraid of this noise so he built a shield. From behind the shield, Alex had to shout, "Who is there?" Then he saw an animal that had a green stripe across its back. Alex was scared. Then the animal stepped into a plate filled with frosting and the animal slipped and fell on the ground. Alex had to be quiet so he could get to the out and to the playground without the animal hearing him. After he was far enough away, Alex started to run very fast. He ran and ran until he finally made it to the playground where he hid for the rest of the day in the sand box. When he felt safe he called his mother and had her pick him up and get away. When his mom got there, Alex said, "Thank you for coming to get me mom, I was so scared." His mom told him, "You are very welcome Alex. I'm here whenever you need me." Why was Alex scared? A. he saw an animal B. he was next to his close friend C. he heard someone shout, "Who is there?" D. his mom wouldn't pick him up Answer: A Question: He could have been president of Israel or played violin at Carnegie Hall, but he was too busy thinking. His thinking on God, love and the meaning of life graces our greeting cards and day-timers. Fifty years after his death, his shock of white hair and hanging moustache still symbolize genius. Einstein remains the foremost scientist of the modern time. Looking back 2,400 years, only Newton ,Galileo and Aristotle were his equals. Around the world , universities and academies are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Einstein's "miracle year" when he published five scientific papers in 1905 that basically changed our grasp of space, time ,light and matter. Only he could top himself about a decade later with his theory of relativity. Born in the age of horse-drawn carriages, his ideas launched a technological revolution that has made more changes in a century than in the previous two thousand years. Computers, satellites, telecommunications, lasers, televisions and nuclear power all owe their invention to ways in which Einstein exposed a stranger and more complicated reality underneath the world. He escaped Hitler's Germany and devoted the rest of his life to human rights and peace with an authority unmatched by any scientist today, or even most politicians and religious leaders. He spoke out against fascism and racial prejudice. His FBI file ran 1,400 pages. His letters expose a disorderly personal life - married twice and indifferent toward his children while absorbed in physics. Yet he charmed lovers and admirers with poetry and sailboat outings. Friends and neighbors fiercely protected his privacy. Which of the following is not true about Einstein according to the passage? A. When he was absorbed in his research ,he didn't care for his family. B. He tried to amuse his family and friends in his spare time. C. He was so busy with the physical research that he showed no interest in politics. D. His theory led to much improvement in many technological fields. Answer: C Question: The music of your teenage years probably will stay with you for the rest of your life.I think music is deeply connected with memory because of the emotions it awakens.Music also helps to mark time because of the way the fashions and stars of pop culture come and go.I often connect some summers with particular records ( ) that came out while I was on holiday.But what's really the best way to record your youth? Is it your favorite song, or a picture of the singer? In my teenage years, one of the special things about Britain was the huge amount of information about music.There were 3 weekly newspapers about music:Sounds, Melody Maker and the New Musical Express.Buying records was expensive and it also meant making a choice.So it was wise to read about music instead, and in some ways, it was actually better as well.It was possible for a group to get onto the front cover of one of the music papers without even having made any records--but they needed things to say for the reporters to write about.In fact, the best pop stars of the 1980s were people whose main talent was exactly _ .They weren' t great musicians or singers and they weren't especially goodlooking, but they had some unusual acts or habits and a nice way with clever phrases.They were ideal for filling music papers. When The Face magazine first came out in May, 1980, it was meant to be a rock magazine.I have given away or sold all the records I bought as a teenager, but I think my old copies of The Face will stay with me for ever.Although it started out as a source of information about music, the writers quickly realized that it wasn't really the music that was important--it was the way people spoke and acted, and, above all, the way they looked. According to the author,music can NOT _ . A. improve memory B. awaken emotions C. mark time D. stay in the mind Answer: A Question: Dyslexia is a learning disorder, it interferes with the ability to recognise words, and for some readers to understand what they have read. Experts say dyslexia affects about five to ten percent of the population of the United State. Researchers have long known that people with dyslexia write or read words and letters backwards in the wrong order. But a new study shows that people with dyslexia may have trouble redirecting their attention between senses, from seeing something to hearing something. The study suggests something that might help dyslexic people learn more quickly - play video games. Vanessa Harrar of Britain's University of Oxford led the study. She reported the findings in the journal Current Biology. The study suggests that dyslexic people may have trouble moving quickly from what they read to what they hear. Doctor Harrar calls this a " _ shifting of attention across the senses." "So, if you are trying to read something and then trying to listen to somebody who's reading aloud and you're trying to follow along with what they are reading -- they have to switch their attention from hearing what they are saying to looking at the piece of paper and back again. So we found they have quite sluggish shifting of attention across the senses," said Harrar. In the study, Doctor Harrar tested 17 people with dyslexia, and 19 others without reading problems. The volunteers were asked to push a button as quickly as possible when they heard a sound, saw a light or experienced both together. Doctor Harrar compared the speed of their reactions. She found that people with dyslexia were just as fast as the others when they saw only a picture or heard only a sound. But the dyslexics had a slower reaction time when they heard a sound and saw a picture at the same time. Doctor Harrar feels like playing action video games could help dyslexic people shift from seeing to hearing more quickly. She adds that images in video games force the eyes to move and focus quickly. "Video game types of things pop out of here and there, they move your eyes around the screen quite quickly in response to things quite quickly, and the more you play a video game the faster you get that kind of thing. So, the video game is really training the attention system to move quickly," said Harrar. The study also shows that dyslexic people have the most difficulty going between what they saw and what they heard, this may have an effect on how dyslexic children are taught how to read. When children learn the alphabet,they usually see the letter first and then hear the sound, or they see and hear the letter at the same time. The study shows that dyslexics might learn more quickly if they hear the sound of a letter or word first before seeing it. Why can playing video games help dyslexic people learn more quickly? A. While playing video games, people will train their reading and hearing. B. While playing video games, people will have a good knowledge of the system. C. While playing video games, people should move their eyes around the screen quite quickly train the attention system to move quickly. D. Video games can arouse their interest in reading. Answer: C
Question: Paula Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday get up 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. morning school school school school school lunch pizza rice rice rice rice afternoon Yo--yo Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis football evening homework homework television homework clothes Go to sleep 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. Pizza is a kind of _ . A. drink B. fruit C. toy D. food Answer: D Question: One school night this month I walked quietly up to Alexander, my 15-year-old son, and touched his cheek gently in a manner I hoped would seem casual.A year ago he would have ignored this disturbance but now he reacted impatiently and leaned back to his computer screen. I made a mistake: breaking into my teenager's personal space. "The average teenager has pretty strong feelings about his privacy," Lara Fox and her friend Hilary Frankel told me. Mr.Frankel and Mr.Fox, both 17, are the authors of Breaking the Code, a new book that seeks to bridge the generational divide between parents and adolescents.It is being promoted by its publisher as the first self-help guide by teenagers for their parents, a kind of "Kids Are From Mars, Parents Are From Venus" that explains the language and actions of teenagers.The girls dealt with issues including hanging out late, money, school pressures, smoking etc. Personally, I welcome their opinions.The most common missteps in interacting with teenagers arise from the war between parents exercising their rights to know what goes on under their roof and teenagers firmly guarding their privacy.Teenagers can be quick to interpret their parents' remarks and respond with anger that masks their vulnerability . Ms Fox said, "What we want above all is your approval.Don't forget, no matter how much we act as if we don't care what you say, we believe the things you say about us." Nancy, a New York child-raising expert said she didn't agree with everything the authors suggested but found their arguments reasonable."When your kids are saying, ' _ ' there are lots of ways to respond so that they will listen and that is what the writers point out." " My parents helped me see that, " Mr.Fox told me, " even though they used to stay out late and ride their bicycles to school, times have changed and the way parents educate children is different.These days there is a major fear factor in bringing up kids.Parents worry about their child crossing the street." The writers said they hoped simply to throw light on teenage thinking. According to the two girls, teenagers nowadays are _ . A. independent B. intelligent C. inconsiderate D. sensitive Answer: D Question: Dear Fang, How are you these days? I have been in England for two months. It's not a long time for a newcomer, and there are still a lot of things to do. Sorry for not being able to write to you soon. London is an old but beautiful city. There are lots of places of interest to visit. Last weekend I went along Thames River with some friends from Japan, Korea and some other countries. The modern skyscrapers among the old buildings impressed(...) us deeply. The classes started two weeks after I arrived here alone. Besides the language, I'm trying to learn about the culture as well. British people are quite different from the Chinese. Do you know the people here do not shake hands as much as we do in China? And it's never a good habit to make noise when you eat. They think it's impolite. There is so much to say, but I have to stop. I will write to you soon again. Love, Harry Harry came to London from _ . A. France B. Japan C. Korea D. China Answer: D Question: Chen Guangbiao was born in Jiangsu in July,1968. He is the chairperson of a company in Jiangsu. Now he is one of China's richest men and he has donated a great amount of money to charity projects. He says he will donate everything he has to charity after he dies. When people are in need of help, he will appear at once. He helped people during the Wenchuan earthquake, the Yunnan earthquake and the Taiwan earthquake. He also gave a helping hand in Japan's earthquake. He has built many Hope Primary Schools to support the education in poor areas. He doesn't do charity for honour. He wants to encourage more people to make contributions to charity. After announcing he would donate everything to charity after his death, many businesses, overseas Chinese people and common people encouraged by him have also promised to do something for charity. As a philanthropist , he is asked for help every day. Sometimes he gets very tired, but he has never stopped caring. So far, he has received a lot of awards, including Pioneer of the Year, and National May Day Labour Medal. He is considered as one of China's top philanthropists. The article is probably taken from _ . A. a newspaper B. a novel C. a detective story D. a science book Answer: A Question: Mr. Smith lives in Toronto. He is a doctor. His wife teaches English in a middle school. They have two children, one is a son called Mike and the other is a daughter. She is only three months. Mike loves the baby very much. He often shows her to the guests. He is young and doesn't go to school. He stays at home to help his mother look after the baby. One day Mike's aunt comes to see the baby. She works in another city and sees the baby foe the first time. Mike shows the baby to his aunt. "Look at the baby, Aunt;" says Mike, "She's beautiful. I think she looks like me." "Does she like playing with you?" asks his aunt. "I don't know," answers the boy, "She can't speak yet." Mrs Smith is a _ . A. doctor B. worker C. teacher D. bookseller Answer: C
One early morning, I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again. My interest was aroused only by the fact that the word "Poems" appeared in big, hot pink letters. "Is it good?" I asked her. "Yeah," she answered. "There's one I really like and you'll like it, too." I leaned forward. "'Patty Poem,'" she read the title. Who is Patty? I wondered. The poem began: She never puts her toys away, Just leaves them scattered1where they lay,...1 The poem was just three short sections. The final one came quickly: When she grows and gathers poise2,2 I'll miss her harum-scarum3noise,3 And look in vain4for scattered toys.4 And I'll be sad. A terrible sorrow washed over me. Whoever Patty was, she was a mean girl. Then, the shock. "It's you, honey," My mother said sadly. To my mother, the poem revealed a parent's affection when her child grows up and leaves. To me, the "she" in the poem was horror. It was my mama who would be sad. It was so terrible I burst out crying. "What's wrong?" my mother asked. "Oh Mama," I cried. "I don't want to grow up ever!" She smiled. "Honey, it's okay. You're not growing up anytime soon. And when you do, I'll still love you, okay?" "Okay," I was still weeping. My panic has gone. But I could not help thinking about that silly poem. After what seemed like a safe amount of time, I read the poem again and was confused. It all fit so well together, like a puzzle. The language was simple, so simple I could plainly understand its meaning, yet it was still beautiful. I was now fascinated by the idea of poetry, words that had the power to make or break a person's world. I have since fallen in love with other poems, but "Patty Poem" remains my poem. After all, "Patty Poem" gave me my love for poetry not because it was the poem that lifted my spirits, but because it was the one that hurt me the most. It can be concluded from the passage that"Patty Poem"leads the writer to _ . Art, who owned Blackacre in fee simple, conveyed Blackacre to Bea by warranty deed. Celia, an adjoining owner, asserted title to Blackacre and brought an appropriate action against Bea to quiet title to Blackacre. Bea demanded that Art defend Bea's title under the deed's covenant of warranty, but Art refused. Bea then successfully defended at her own expense. Bea brought an appropriate action against Art to recover Bea's expenses incurred in defending against Celia's action to quiet title to Blackacre. In this action, the court should decide for A student is growing some plants for an experiment. She notices small white spots on the leaves. Which tool should she use to get a better look at the spots? Michael Jordan told me not to mention this until the season was over and I promised him at that time. Now I think it's time. Early last season, I wrote a column about an act of kindness I had seen Jordan do to a disabled child outside the Stadium. After it _ ,I got a call from a man in the western suburbs. He said, "I read what you wrote about Jordan, but I thought I should tell you another thing I saw." Here it comes, I thought. It always does. Write something nice about a person, and people call you up to say that the person is not so nice. A few weeks later Jordan and I were talking about something else before a game, and I brought up what the man had said. Was the man right? Has Jordan really been talking to those two boys in that poor and dirty neighborhood? "Not two boys," Jordan said, "but four." And he named them. He said four names. And what did they talk about? "Everything," Jordan said. "I've asked to see their grades so that I can check whether they're paying attention to their schoolwork. If it turns out one or two of them may need teaching, I make sure they get it." It's just one more part of Michael Jordan's life, one more thing that no one knows about, one more thing Jordan does right. The NBA season is over now, and those boys have their memories. So do I! When the expert reviewers begin to turn against Jordan, as they surely will, I'll think about those boys under the streetlight, waiting for the man they know to come, for someone they can depend on. What's the purpose of the writer writing the passage? Chinese New Year is next week in January this year. Do you need great furniture for your room? Come and buy things at our great sale at Helen's Furniture Store. Look! Here are some nice tape players in white, blue and red for mothers. We sell them for only $20. For students, we have desks and chairs for $25 a set. You can buy big tables for $50 and small tables for $40. What color do you like? Sofas in all colors are only $100 each. One interesting thing: You can buy great vegetables here, too. The vegetables are from Yunnan and Taiwan. Come to our store. You will like it. You can buy _ in all colors at the store.
An Israeli law banning too skinny models went into effect with the start of 2013. The law, approved last March in Israel, requires models to prove they have maintained a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 18.5 for three months before a fashion show. That means a woman who is 5'8'' tall can weigh no less than 119 pounds. "This law is another step in the war against eating disorders," said physician Adatto. "Underweight models," he explained, "can no longer serve as role models for innocent young people who copy their false image of being skinny." But some critics in this country say it is misguided, focusing on weight instead of health. They also say the Israeli ban is bound to fail because of the strong power of the fashion industry. "I think it's an approach that isn't going to work." Said eating disorder expert Susan Ice, who worked with an organization which creates a healthy working environment for models. But Adatto told the reporter that he began to concern the issue after meeting an ambitious model who looked like she needed to be hospitalized. He said. "I realized that only legislation can change the situation. There was no time to waste, so many girls were dieting to death." However, the efforts to regulate models' weight in Spain and Italy have not resulted in significant changes in part because of difficulties in determining reliable methods of measuring weight and health. Still, folks including Ice say there's no denying that images from Hollywood and the fashion industry can be difficult for young women to deal with. "Certainly I don't believe the modeling industry has caused the rise in eating disorders, but it makes it harder," she says. "It's a difficult recovery environment, worshiping thinness as the beauty ideal." One benefit the new Israeli law may bring is _ . A. to change the working conditions of models B. to prevent models from suffering from eating disorders C. to lower the chance of skinny models' death D. to provide guidance for women worshiping thinness Answer: B. to prevent models from suffering from eating disorders Mrs Weeks was reading a newspaper story to her class. The story said: Were you ever in a hospital when you were small? How did you feel? The doctors in Children's Hospital are asking for money for children's toys. Some children in the hospital must stay in bed for many weeks. Toys are needed to keep these sick children happy and quiet. Money for them can be sent to the hospital. After Mrs. Weeks read the story, she said,"This story gave me an idea." "You want us to bring some money for the toys.""We could bring some of our own toys for the children in the hospital, "said the boys and girls one after another. "Well, your ideas would be nice, "Mrs. Weeks said,"but mine is different." Mrs. Weeks smiled. "Do you think you could make toys?" she asked. "Yes, yes," the whole class answered. "Great! Let's begin to make toys tomorrow," said Mrs. Weeks. On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Weeks took the children to the hospital with the toys made by her students. The children in the hospital felt very happy to see the toys. The children in the class felt happy, too. A few days later, Mrs. Weeks read another newspaper story to the class: Some school pupils brought toys to Children's Hospital last week. The toys were made by the pupils of Grade Three in Green Street School. The doctors said, "We have never had so many wonderful toys. Our children are very happy with them. They say, 'THANK YOU, GRADE THREE'" What Mrs. Weeks really wanted to do is to _ . A. let everyone know her class . B. save some money for toys . C. make herself famous . D. teach the pupils to do things themselves and be helpful to others . Answer: D. teach the pupils to do things themselves and be helpful to others . Haagen-Dazs from Europe started in 1989 and is 5-10 times more expensive than regular ice cream. There is no real advantage. However, it adopted a unique marketing strategy, and quickly occupied the market as a top ice cream brand. Haagen-Dazs did not set up shops in ordinary supermarkets or grocery stores. Haggen-Dazs leisure fashion shops are located in busy sections of malls. The layout is carefully planned to create an elegant atmosphere, and sometimes, a flagship store will cost several million dollars. Compared to other ice cream brands, Haagen-Dazs consumers are tightly grouped. It is understood that Haagen-Dazs seldom does television advertising. The majority of advertisements are high impact visually in print advertisements. In particular many advertisements target the wealthy consumers. Moreover, if the consumer spends 500 Yuan they can become a member. These members will be regularly sent advertisements by direct mail. Praise of customers is a powerful weapon. There is always much creative ingenuity in Haagen-Dazs advertising, so it is remembered by the people: initial advertisements such as: "Delicious Haagen-Dazs, like 24K gold, Kobe beef from Japan, original palm oil, mushroom truffles and Chinese ceramics...what 'ice cream'was waiting for." "love her, let her eat Haagen-Dazs" This classic advertisement attracted numerous Haagen-Dazs lovers who became regulars. Today, Haggen-Dazs has about 700 stores in 55 countries with annual sales of more than 1 billion US dollars. Haagen-Dazs has become the world's most popular ice cream brand. In the United States, its market share is 6.1%, 1%in France, 4.6% in Japan, 4% in Singapore, and 5% in Hong Kong. Determined to win the majority of wealthy customers they combined positioning in the marketplace with dedicated brand goals. This is the real secret of success. How is the text organized? A. Main idea-Comparison-Supporting examples- Conclusion B. Topic- Supporting examples- Conclusion C. Opinion-Discussion- Description- Conclusion D. Topic-Argument-Explanation-Conclusion Answer: A. Main idea-Comparison-Supporting examples- Conclusion Researchers around the world have been trying their hand at making better use of the huge amount of wind energy available in nature to produce clean energy. Apart from this, studies are being carried out to harness usable wind energy produced by man-made technologies. One useful source identified by Indian inventor Santosh Pradhan about two years ago is a speeding train, which produces fierce wind that can be transformed into electricity. According to Pradhan's proposal, with a few small improvements in existing trains running in Mumbai, the largest city in India, at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity could be harvested each day. Building on this principle, designers Ale Leonetti Luparinia and Qian Jiang from Yanko Design have created a device called T-Box that harnesses wind energy from speeding trains. T-Box can be placed within the railway tracks. It is half-buried underground between the concrete sleepers , which does not disturb the normal train operating at all. According to Yanko, around 150 T-Boxes can be fitted along a 1,000-meter railway track. A train running at a speed of 200 kph can produce winds blowing at 15 miles a second. Based on this calculation, 150 T-Boxes can produce 2.6 KWH of electricity per day. The T-Box's design won a silver medal in last year's Lite-On Awards and was exhibited last summer at the Xue Xue Institute in Taipei, Taiwan Province. Though the figures look impressive, it is important to remember that the design is still at a conceptual stage and hasn't taken into account issues such as pieces of waste material produced by the device and the efforts and costs involved in the maintenance of the device. We can expect the technology to see the light of the day only after it clears these issues. If so, rail travel, one of the greenest forms of travel, will become greener and more energy-efficient. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? A. The Indian inventor Santosh Pradhan invented the speeding train. B. The T-Box's design won a silver medal in Lite-On Awards last year.[:Z C. Rail travel has become one of the energy-efficient technologies in the world. D. The India harvests 10,000 megawatts of electricity each day on average. Answer: B. The T-Box's design won a silver medal in Lite-On Awards last year.[:Z Heat and moisture in the ocean is a good recipe for A. a violent storm B. violent sea animals C. condensation D. inland storms Answer: A. a violent storm
Question: Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is the most traditional American holiday. The first Thanksgiving Day was held in Massachusetts in 1621. After a year of great hardship, the colonist wanted to give thanks to God for their first harvest. They invited their Indian thanks. But it wasn't a regular national holiday until President Lincoln declared that the last Thursday in November would be there after Thanksgiving Day in 1863. It is a day of family reunion and it is customary to invite friends to share the meal. In some large cities, there are important football games that are played on Thanksgiving Day. For Americans, Thanksgiving Day is one of the few days of the year when the entire family gets together. Everyone is glad to see everyone else and there is a very busy exchange of greetings. The women soon disappear into the kitchen to help prepare the dinner. The men, meanwhile, settle down to watch a football game on television, or to discuss business or polities. If weather permits, some of the more athletic men go outside to play ball games with the children. Then everyone will sit down to dinner, in which traditional Thanksgiving foods such as stuffed turkey, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, and pumpkin pies are served. After dinner, people will sit around and talk. All of the following are customs associated with(...)Thanksgiving Day EXCEPT . A. family members usually get together on Thanksgiving Day. B. people send greeting cards to each other. C. in some cities, there are important football games. D. people usually have Thanksgiving dinner served with traditional Thanksgiving foods. Answer: B. people send greeting cards to each other. Question: The best evidence that two land areas were once connected is the discovery that both land masses A. have the same climate. B. are in the same stage of succession. C. exist along the same line of longitude. D. have similar types of rocks and fossils. Answer: D. have similar types of rocks and fossils. Question: Designed specifically for kids that live online, Discovery announced a new fun and interactive homework tool that uses the power of broadband and media to help achieve academic breakthroughs at home. It's COSMEO. With a click of a mouse, kids have instant access to the only online video destination for homework help, report research and learning games. COSMEO boasts more than 30,000 video clips from the top educational publishers and producers in the world, including Discovery. COSMEO also has 15,000 interactive quizzes and 200 subject-related Brain Games---making homework fun! And most importantly-----all the content is aligned by state curriculum standards and grade level----- COSMEO gives kids the tools they need to succeed and gives parents the reassurance that the content is not only safe, but powerfully engineered to help their kids with academic breakthroughs. COSMEO is built on the proven success of Discovery's in-school video streaming resource, which is available in 70,000 schools and reaches 30 million students in the United States. Students who were exposed to their service in the classroom have been scientifically proven to perform 12 to 15 percent better than those who were not. Now kids can access this proven content in their homes, and COSMEO presents the information in a way that is kid-friendly, interactive, appealing and fun. COSMEO is structured for use by multiple children in the same family. Parents simply select the grade level of the user for access to age-appropriate learning materials. COSMEO can help a third-grader with multiplication tables and an older student with algebra equations . COSMEO uses a multimedia, multi- sensory environment to let kids learn in the way they learn best----- in formats they know, use and, most importantly, enjoy! [ In the passage the author best describes COSMEO as _ . A. an online study tool B. a computer game C. a video destination D. a fun multimedia Answer: A. an online study tool Question: This Friday is TombSweeping Day, one of the three traditional festivals that are included as the Chinese mainland's public holidays starting this year. Together with the Dragon Boat Festival in June and MidAutumn Festival in September, the authorities say observing these days is aimed at protecting folk culture and customs. Chinese nationwide should thank Chen Jing, a 68yearold folk artist and professor from Nanjing University for the move. "It is certainly a favorable gesture for the promotion and preservation of folk culture and customs," Chen said. In 2006, Chen proposed to the authorities to make TombSweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, a public holiday. His suggestion received wide support from other folk artists. "TombSweeping Day means a lot to the Chinese," Chen said. It is a day for people to honour their ancestors. Two years ago, on his trip to honour his ancestor in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, he found the train full of people, most of whom were the elderly. From the conversation with them, he found the elderly thought it necessary to include young family members in the festival's activities, while working people also wanted the chance to honor their ancestors. Among those he spoke to was an elderly man from Hongkong, who told Chen TombSweeping Day is a holiday in Hongkong for paying tribute to ancestors. Chen was inspired by the experience and insight from these people and put forward the suggestion for the holiday during an interview by mainstream media. "If we do not take immediate action, our traditional folk customs will be forgotten by the younger generation," he said. His idea soon spread all over the country and was echoed by many scholars and experts. The best title of the passage is _ . A. How people observe TombSweeping Day B. The aim of protecting folk culture and custom C. TombSweeping Day, a traditional Chinese festival D. One man's mission to help keep a traditional custom alive Answer: D. One man's mission to help keep a traditional custom alive Question: When most people turn 21, they spend too much time partying and having fun. But when Adele turned 21, she did something completely different. After going through a tough breakup , the British singer turned her pain into glory and recorded one of the most moving albums of the year. The album,21, which was _ in January, has already hit the charts in 14 countries, according to the Billboard magazine. It also noted that Adele made history as the first artist since the Beatles to have two top five singles and two top five albums in the charts at the same time (Adele's first album,19, was released in 2008. Each album is named for her age when she wrote it). Now, after touring around the world for almost a year, the DVD of her live concert, released on November 29, is Adele's latest work. Having topped the pre-order list ofAmazon. comfor over a month already, this one seems set to stay on top for a while. Born in north London, Adele sang her way up honestly: In 2006, she was signed by England's XL Recordings on the strength of a three-song demo a friend of hers had posted on MySpace;within two years she had won the BRIT Awards 'Critics' Choice prize and been tipped by the BBC as the "Sound of 2008". In 2009 she got the best new artist Grammy Award, and went on a world tour in support of the album19with a sold-out show in Los Angeles. According to Adele herself, much of the inspiration of her music comes from one single breakup. That's probably what has made the singer's success-that emotional certitude , according to Dickins. "The key to great singers is believing every single word they sing, " he said. "And I think you believe every word that comes out of Adele's mouth. You can feel her life force through her voice. " When she wrote album19, she is at the age of _ . A. 21 B. 18 C. 20 D. 19 Answer: D. 19
Over 60%of pupils in South African schools choose English for learning and teaching, but only 7%of pupils speak English as their home language, a recent South Africa survey shows. Out of the country's 12.2 million pupils only 851,536 speak English at home, yet 7.6 million pupils choose English as their favorite language of learning and teaching. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language, spoken by over 3.1 million pupils. However, less than a third of them choose to be taught in Zulu. The same thing is true of Pedi-speaking pupils, only a third of such pupils choosing to be taught in their home language. Besides English, Afrikaans is the only language that has more pupils choosing it as their language of instruction than it has pupils who speak it at home. In primary schools, most pupils will choose African languages. As early as grade four, many would choose English or Afrikaans in their lessons. The rising number of English-learning pupils is mainly caused by social and cultural reasons. English is the most common spoken language in official and public life in South Africa, the survey reports. In April 2011, the leaders of higher education and training said that they would take some steps to improve the university teaching and prevent the continuing _ of African languages. They suggested that in future every South African university student could be required to learn at least one African language in order to complete their studies at school. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. Afrikaans is the most popular home language in South Africa B. it's easier for South African pupils to learn Afrikaans at school. C. the number of South African pupils learning Afrikaans has increased D. many South African pupils use Afrikaans at school instead of at home. Answer: D. many South African pupils use Afrikaans at school instead of at home. By the mid-nineteenth century, the term "icebox" had entered the American language, but ice was still only beginning to affect the diet of ordinary citizens in the United States. The ice trade grew with the growth of cities. Ice was used in hotels, taverns , and hospitals, and by some forward-looking city dealers in fresh meat, fresh fish, and butter. After the Civil War (1861-1865), as ice was used to refrigerate freight cars, it also came into household use. Even before 1880, half of the ice sold in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and one-third of that sold in Boston and Chicago, went to families for their own use. This had become possible because a new household convenience, the icebox, a precursor of the modern fridge, had been invented. Making an efficient icebox as not as easy as we might now suppose. In the early nineteenth century, the knowledge of the physics of heat, which was essential to a science of refrigeration, was rudimentary . The commonsense notion that the best icebox was one that prevented the ice from melting was of course mistaken, for it was the melting of the ice that performed the cooling. Nevertheless, early efforts to economize ice included wrapping up the ice in blankets, which kept the ice from doing its job. Not until near the end of the nineteenth century did inventors achieve the delicate balance of insulation and circulation needed for an efficient icebox. But as early as 1803, and ingenious Maryland farmer, Thomas Moore, had been on the right track. He owned a farm about twenty miles outside the city of Washington, for which the village of Georgetown was the market center. When he used an icebox of his own design to transport his butter to market, he found that customers would pass up the rapidly melting stuff in the tubs of his competitors to pay a premium price for his butter, still fresh and hard in neat, one-pound bricks. One advantage of his icebox, Moore explained, was that farmers would no longer have to travel to market at night in order to keep their produce cool. What was essential to to make an icebox efficient according to the passage? A. Keeping the ice from melting B. Knowledge of the physics of heat. C. Balance of insulation and circulation D. Making efforts to reduce the use of ice Answer: C. Balance of insulation and circulation A large number of women in Western European countries wish that they were born men. The number is said as high as 60% in West Germany. "Women often wish that they had the same chance as men have, and believe it is still men's world," said Dr James Holden, one of the scientists who did the study. Anne Harper has a very good job for an international oil company. She also believes in "Women' s Liberation ". "I don't wish that I were a man," she says, "and I don't think many women do. But I do wish that people would stop looking down upon us women. At work, for example, we often do the work that men do but get paid less. There are still a lot of jobs that are usually the best ones and open only to men. If you're a man, you have a much better chance of leading an exciting life. How many women pilots are there ... or engineers or scientists?" Anne Harper considers that women should _ . A. be really liberated B. live a better life than men C. be well paid D. get better jobs than men Answer: A. be really liberated For years, my family has vacationed in the same Florida town. In fact, we just returned home after spending a week of spring break there with our three sons. Many nights, we take the same scenic drive to dinner at a favorite restaurant. As we travel along Gulf Shore Boulevard, we admire a combination of small beach apartments, swanky high-rises and spectacular homes. A few years ago, we noticed that whenever we drive this particular route, there are always two men sitting in front of the same third-floor window of a low-rise apartment building that overlooks the road. All that is visible from the road are their two silhouettes. Even during off-peak months, they've always been there. Over the years, we've had great fun speculating about who they are, whether they're having a drink, and if so, what they fancy, where they're from, and what they might be discussing. Our guesses have become a modern form of car bingo. Widowers? Retirees? Partners? We've run through the gamut of possibilities.[:ZXXK] Eventually, I started beeping the horn as we passed. We'd wave. Our new friends would do likewise. There was something comforting in seeing them. In a world of constant change, it has been nice to look up and see that they are there, just as we remember from our last visit. And then last spring, we drove by and they were missing. The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Strangely, we drove by and they were missing The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Strangely, we grew worried about two people we'd never even met. Where did they go? A new round of the guessing game began. On our last trip at Christmastime, we were relieved to see them once again. We were driving past about 6 p.m., and there they were at cocktail hour. I told my wife that I suspected they were gin drinkers and said we should buy them a bottle. She said that if I bought it, she'd deliver it. I said, "Tomorrow." Driving along the scenic route, the author's family were to _ . A. meet their friends there B. visit the Florida town C. appreciate a place of interest D. have supper together Answer: A. meet their friends there Water is a very important part of the physical weathering of rock. Which of these properties of water is most important in causing some of the physical weathering of rock? A. Water is a liquid at room temperature. B. Water can contain different minerals. C. Water expands when it freezes. D. Water dissolves many chemicals. Answer: C. Water expands when it freezes.
Question: Hemingway was one of the famous writers. He was born in America in 1899. His father was a doctor and loved sports very much, and his mother taught music. Among the six children in the family, Hemingway was the second oldest. Hemingway had written many books in his life. The Old Man and the Sea is one of the most famous and also my favourite. It came out in 1952. The main character in the book is a fisherman. He is an old man and fishes alone. People think he is a man with bad luck, because he doesn't get a fish in eighty-four days. Every evening, he comes home with his empty boat. But the old man believes himself. Then on the eighty-fifth day the man takes a big fish. Although he meets a lot of trouble, the old man never gives up . ,. The Old Man and the Sea was published in _ . A. 1852 B. 1899 C. 1952 D. 1989 Answer: C Question: Mr. Weeks is fifty years old. He's taught maths in a middle school for twenty years. He works and always comes to his office on time. He hopes his students will be honest and he is strict with them. Some of his students have become famous persons, but they still remember him and often write to him. Of course the man is proud of them. This term he began to teach Grade One. Some of the new students were told about him, but the others didn't know about him. On the first day of school he told the students how to be an honest person. He gave them some examples and said, "I don't like telling a lie." Before class was over, he told all his students to finish Exercise 8 in Lesson 1. The next morning, as soon as he came into the classroom, he asked. "Who's finished Exercise 8?" A few students raised their hands. He shook his head and said. "Open your workbooks and see if there's Exercise 8 in Lesson 1." The students had a look at their workbooks and their faces turned red at once. In fact, _ . A. only some of the students finished Exercise8 B. there was no Exercise8 in Lesson1 C. the students found and finished Exercise8 D. all the students wanted to be honest Answer: B Question: Dr Wiseman started "the laugh lab" project in September 2001. It is the largest study of humour. Participants are invited to log on to the laugh lab website, give a few personal details, tell their favourite jokes and judge the jokes told by other people. The project will last for a year, and the organizers hope to finally discover the world's funniest joke. But there is also a serious purpose. The researches want to know what people from different nations and cultures find funny. And they want to find out the differences between the male and female sense of humour. The idea is that if we want to understand each other, we have to find out what makes us laugh. This is a subject that has long attracted psychologists and philosophers. Most of the time, people are not completely honest. We do things that society expects us to and say things that help us get what we want. But laughing cannot be controlled. When we laugh, we tell the truth about ourselves. By December 2001 over 10, 000 jokes had been submitted. This gave the scientists enough evidence to make early conclusions. It seems that men and women do have different senses of humour, for instance. "Our findings show the major differences in the ways in which males and females use humour, " said Dr. Wiseman. "Males use humour to appear superior to others, while women are more skilled in languages and prefer word play. " Researchers also found that there really is such a thing as a national sense of humour. The British enjoy what is usually called "toilet humour". But the French like their jokes short and sharp: "You're a high priced lawyer. Will you answer two questions for $500?" "Yes. What's the second question?" The Germans are famous for not having a sense of humour. But the survey found that German participants were more likely to find submitted jokes funny than any other nationality. Perhaps that proves the point. Is this joke funny? I don't know, but let's say yes, just to be safe. Dr Wiseman and his workmates also submitted jokes created by computer. But none of those who took part in the survey found any of them amusing. Perhaps this is relief. Computers already seem like they can do everything. At least they should leave the funny stuff to us. Scientist started " the laugh lab" project _ A. to find the funniest joke in European countries B. to know what funny people are like from different nations and cultures C. to find out the differences between the male and female sense of humour D. to get more personal details about participants Answer: C Question: The traditional distinction between products that satisfy needs and those that satisfy wants is no longer adequate to describe classes of products. In today's prosperous societies, the distinction has become unclear because so many wants have been turned into needs. A writer, for instance, can work with paper and pencils. These are legal needs for the task. But the work can be done more quickly and efficiently with a word processor. Thus a computer is soon viewed as a need rather than a want. In the field of marketing, consumer goods are classed according to the way in which they are purchased. The two main classes are convenience goods and shopping goods. Two lesser types are specialty goods and unsought goods. It must be emphasized that all of these types are based on the way shoppers think about products, not on the nature of the products themselves. What is regarded as a convenience item in France (wine, for example) should be a specialty goods in the United States. People do not spend a great deal of time shopping for such convenience items as groceries, newspapers, toothpaste, aspirin, and candy. The buying of convenience goods may be done routinely, as some families buy groceries once a week. Such regularly purchased items are called staples. Sometimes convenience products are bought without enough thinking; someone has a sudden desire for an ice cream sundae on a hot day. Or they may be purchased as emergency items. Shopping goods are items for which customers search. They compare prices, quality, and styles, and may visit a number of stores before making a decision. Buying an automobile is often done this way. Shopping goods fall into two classes; those that are recognized as basically the same and those that are regarded as different. Items that are looked upon as basically the same include such things as home appliances, television sets, and automobiles. Having decided on the model desired, the customer is primarily interested in getting the item at the most favorable price. Items regarded as essentially different include clothing, furniture, and dishes. Quality, style and fashion will either take precedence over price, or they will not matter at all. The example of wine is used to illustrate that _ . A. goods are classified differently in different countries B. the types of the product lie on the people rather than its nature C. Frenchmen often drink but Americans sometimes do D. one product may belong to many types Answer: B Question: Sydney Airport International Terminal--Arrivals Area Specialty Retail News link:Two separate News link stores cater to all your reading needs including newspapers.magazines and the latest best sellers. Downtown Duty Free:Make sure you shop at Downtown Duty Free for great saving on a range of items including perfume,alcohol,skincare and cigarettes.It's your last chance before customs! BEACH CULTURE:A must for those into the latest in beach clothing Top surf, street and fashion labels including Mambo,Stussy and Quicksilver, including children's sizes DINING BLUE Sky Cafe:Speedy service leaves you time to keep all eye on the arrivals gate Morning pastries.fresh juice.breakfast rolls and coffee while you wait. McDonald's:hamburgers,fries,drinks,muffins and shakes-all your family favorites.Breakfast served until 0:30 SERVICES ATM:ATMs are conveniently located throughout Arrival and Departures. Dollars. pounds. francs and RMB are all available. Vodafone Rentals:This communications center offers the very latest technology for mobile phone rentals.sales and servicing. If you want to have some coffee while waiting for your flight,you can go to_. A. Vodafone Rentals B. Blue Sky Cafe C. Downtown Duty Free D. Mc Donald's Answer: B
A program in the United States invites young people to visit a prison. The goal is to teach them to avoid bad choices and bad influences that could put them behind bars for life. Students can take a tour of the prison, in school groups or by themselves.At the end, the young people sit down for a discussion with some of the _ . The program is called Prisoners Against Teen Tragedy, or PATT. It takes place at the Maryland Correctional Institution-HagerstoWn, a medium-security prison for men. Sal Mauriello, a case specialist, said,"We have a group of eleven _ who are in the PATT program. They tell the youth what they went through as a child, what their crimes consist of. They try to teach them about peer pressure . They try to teach them about bad choices." The Prisoners Against Teen Tragedy program also includes an essay-writing contest, and most teens who visit come to understand what even one bad decision can mean. Prisoners Against Teen Tragedy began in 1988. It is one of Maryland's oldest programs to keep young people from a life of crime. But there are also others. Prison spokesman Mark Vernarelli said, "We found that girls really need special sit-down sessions sometimes more than boys do, so we have a program for girls only. we also have a program that travels across the state,which talks about the dangers of gang affiliation ." The prisoners in the PATT program also gain from the program. It offers them a chance to help repay society for their crimes, and keep others from following in their footsteps. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: A Program to Scare Youth away from Prison A horse is outside alone in the middle of summer on a sunny day in a desert. The horse is getting wet. The wetness is coming from Answer: sweat glands It's easy to observe an athlete like Tiger Woods and feel like he's from another planet. He has won 14 major tournament titles and about $122 million in prize money and ads. He also has a happy family. It seems that he is too perfect to be one of us. But Woods has more in common with you than you might think. Woods' parents -- particularly his father -- set high expectations for him when he was a child. Before Earl Woods' death in 2006, he told Golf magazine, "My purpose in raising Tiger was not to raise a golfer. I wanted to raise a good person." By age two, Woods was already swinging a golf club. But once he entered school, Woods' father was careful to send the message that school work came first. Woods wasn't allowed to practice until his homework was done. When Woods finally reached the professional tour, his father continued to expect a lot of him. "Tiger will do more than any other man in history to change the course of human. The world is just getting a taste of his power," he said in 1996. Clearly, Earl Woods had great expectations of his son. In this way, Tiger Woods is actually like a lot of us. Many of us feel a similar pressure to make our parents proud. When this happens, it's easy to let that pressure overwhelm us. In a perfect world, we would all grow up to be Tiger Woods-like successes in our own fields. But that isn't possible. There are many things that we can't control in this life, despite our best efforts. There is, however, one thing that we can do: we can try to be a "good person", as Earl Woods asked his son to do. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: Tiger Woods' father plays an important role on his road to success Cittaslow has discovered China, and it is awarding a little village in Jiangsu the title of "slow city" The bored teenagers of Gaochun are impatient with the leisurely pace of hometown life.For them there is no nightlife to speak of, no bright lights, no excitement and they cannot wait to grow up and leave for the urban attractions of the big cities.But it is this laid-back lifestyle that has attracted international attention.At least, a quiet village within Gaochun county has come under the spotlight.Yaxi village, population 20,000, is about to be designated China's first "slow city" by Cittaslow, the sustainable lifestyle movement that first surfaced in Italy 11 years ago. At home, the residents at Yaxi are unfazed and pretty much unimpressed by the honor.To them, life has been like this for as long as they can remember.Here, growing old gracefully is natural. Nobody living in this little county had heard of Cittaslow or the words "slow city" before this. "The first time I heard the term was last July, when the vice-president of Cittaslow, Angelo Vassallo, visited Yaxi village," says Zuo Niansheng, the chief editor of local newspaper Gaochun Today. "Vassallo was deeply impressed by this village's natural and cultural resources and said it perfectly fitted the requirements for a slow city," says Zuo."That was how Yaxi became connected with Cittaslow. The Slow City must also be committed to protect and maintain the natural environment as well as promote a sustainable way of development ?all of which are the current strategies adopted in Gaochun."We've been doing this for years," adds Zuo. Cittaslow was founded in Tuscany, Italy in 1999.It was a spin-off from the Slow Food movement which started, also in Italy, in 1986 as a protest against the first McDonald ' s opening near the Spanish Steps in Rome.The movement championed a return to healthy, nutritious home-grown, home -cooked food. Slow Food has since expanded globally to more than 130 countries.Its mission has also broadened to include the promotion of sustainable foods and local small businesses, and the localization as opposed to globalization of food production. Cittaslow is an expansion of the Slow Food movement, and it actively advocates a lifestyle that is sustainable, that will improve quality of life, and will preserve cultural and culinary heritage. What' s the reaction of the residents at Yaxi to the award according the passage? They feel Answer: indifferent Do you have back pain or difficulty with your eyesight? If you do, you are likely to have a problem of posture, which can be solved if you ask a help from a doctor promptly. The conference on posture held in Rome this year has brought out the fact that an Italian out of four have posture problems. Back pain is certainly the typical disease deriving from a wrong posture, which can also cause other problems: sight problems, for example, which affect above all children. You might think that women are most affected by these problems, as they are more used to following the trends of fashion, which imposes the use of heavy bags, flat pumps or high-heeled shoes, but the latest conference of the Italian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology has brought out the fact that men also have bad behavior. About two millions Italian men suffer from backache. Besides wrong shoes and the habits of keeping the wallet in the back pocket for a long time, hi-tech products can cause some serious problems: laptops, iPads, smartphones...all these electronic products together can weigh up to 5 kilos, while the maximum weigh to carry on shoulders should be 3 kilos. The handiness of modern netbooks can have negative consequences, as you can use them when you are lying down. However, it would be better to use them while seated, keeping your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. If you do not disregard the problem and you intervene in it in time, you can start having a right posture, perhaps doing posture correction exercises and more sport. A global posture re-education , a healthier lifestyle and a series of little devices might solve your back problems. According to the meeting in Rome_. Answer: a quarter of the Italians have a wrong posture.
Question: The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said humorously, "England and America are two nations divided by a common language. If he were writing today, he might add 'divided by a common technology--- e-mail'". Two completely different styles of e-mail have formed on either side of the Atlantic-Euromail and Amerimail. Americail is informal and chatty. It's likely to begin with a "Hi" and end with a "Bye". The chances of Amerimail containing a smiley face or an "xoxo" are disturbingly high. We Americans are unwilling to dive into the meat of an e-mail. We feel we have to first inform recipients about our vacation on the island which was really excellent except the jellyfish were biting and the kids caught a cold, so we had to skip the whale watching trip, then about that investors ' meeting in New York. Amerimail is a bundle of contradictions, casual and yet direct, respectful yet over proud. In other words, Amerimail is America. Euromail is stiff and cold often beginning with a formal "Dear Mr. X" and ending with a simple "Sincerely". You won't find any mention of kids or the weather or jellyfish in Euromail. It's all business. It's also slow. Your correspondent might take days even weeks to answer a message. Euromail is exactly like the Europeans themselves. Recently about 100 managers were asked on both sides of the Atlantic whether they noticed differences in e-mail styles. Most said yes. Here are a few of their observations: "Americans tend to write (e-mail) exactly as they speak." "Why don't you just call me instead of writing five e-mails back and forth?" "Europeans are less interested in checking e-mail". "In general, Americans are much more responsive to e-mail--they respond faster and provide more information." So which is better, Euromail or Amerimail? I realized it's not popular these days to suggest we have anything to learn from Europeans, but I'm fed up with an inbox filled with casual, barely meaningful e-mails from friends and colleagues. If the alternative is a few earnestly written, carefully worded bits of Euromail, then I say, "Bring it on." What did George Bernard Shaw mean by saying "England and America are two nations divided by a common language"? A. There is sharp difference between England and America despite their common language. B. Both England and America speak the common language, so they are much the same. C. Either England or America is a divided nation, though they share a common language. D. There is not much difference between British English and American English. Answer: A. There is sharp difference between England and America despite their common language. Question: Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability. People with autism have trouble communicating and with social skills. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the person also might repeat some behaviors and not want change in their daily activities. Some people with the condition need a lot of help. Others need less. CDC officials say autism affects one in every 68 children in the United States. More boys than girls are believed to have the condition. But the number of cases appears to be growing. It is unclear whether the growing number shows a real increase or comes from more knowledge about this disorder. Symptoms of autism Common signs of autism include trouble making eye contact and a delay in learning how to speak. Some people with severe autism never learn how to talk. Many people with autism also have difficulty understanding facial expressions and the feelings of others. They also have trouble making friends of the same age. Doctors have learned how to recognize autism, but much is still unknown about its causes. Researchers at Harvard University have come closer to finding answers. They found that women exposed to the highest levels of fine particulate air pollution late in their pregnancies are two times more likely to give birth to a child with autism. The findings appeared in Environmental Health Perspectives -- a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The study found that the women who were around high levels of fine particulate matter air pollution were at highest risk of having an autistic child. The increased risk of these women was two times that of women who lived in areas with low levels of fine particulate pollution. The researchers found that the timing of exposure to pollution was important. They found no increased risk of autism in children whose mothers were around high levels of pollution before becoming pregnant. And the study found air pollution does not seem to increase the risk of children developing autism after they are born. What can pregnant women do? Mr. Weisskopf says pregnant women should avoid air pollution as much as possible. But he warns that other things may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. "You can avoid being in extremely polluted cities during pregnancy if possible. You can also choose to go running in a park rather than next to a street. But that said, I think also it's very important to recognize that autism spectrum disorders is a very multi-factorial disorder. And there are lots of reasons why risk could be increased." Autism is believed to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. For now, Marc Weisskopf says researchers are trying to identify the exact substances in air pollution that increase the risk of autism. What's the main idea of the passage _ ? A. what is autism spectrum disorder B. the reasons of autism C. autism and air pollution D. how to treat autism Answer: C. autism and air pollution Question: Weeks have passed since the world lost contact with Malaysia Airlines flightMH370and its 239passengers and crew. Although there is little hope of finding any of the passengers and crew alive,China has been making all-out efforts to find what remains of the plane in the southern Indian Ocean,where the plane is believed to have crashed.The search operations involve the navy,the marine police,scientific research and so on.While China's authorities and military forces have passed the test,the search operations have also shown some weaknesses.It is necessary to address these problems because China is a nation that faces many natural disasters. Lack of professional equipment has been the most notable problem.Among all the ships involved in the search for MH370,only Nanhai jiu 115and Donghai jiu 101and a few other ships have professional rescue equipment.There are also gaps between China and the US in other technologies such as sea-probing equipment and telecommunications.China mainly sent transporter planes,which lacked the necessary equipment to probe the ocean.While the United States sent P-3C and P-SA planes and MH60-R helicopters with equipment that can probe to depths of 76meters and cover 770sq kilometers in four hours. China's technology clearly needs to be improved,After the plane lost contact on March 8,more than one satellite received signals from it,but there is no report of any of China's satellites receiving a signal. Besides technology,China urgently needs to strengthen its international soft power,because almost all the important information was first obtained by Western media,which put pressure upon the Malaysian government for more timely and accurate information.Chinese media mainly forwarded the news broken by their Western colleagues. Last but not least,more attention should be paid to international cooperation.The search and rescue efforts could well have been a race against time to save lives,but limited by international laws and the absence of cooperation mechanisms,China and some other countries involved did not fully share timely information. Which of the following shows that China's technology needs improving? A. None of its satellites received any signal after MH370lost touch. B. Only a few ships have professional rescue equipment. C. The military forces did not find the missing plane. D. Chinese media mainly forwarded the news broken by their Western colleagues. Answer: A. None of its satellites received any signal after MH370lost touch. Question: Mr Jones and Mr Brown worked in the same office. One day Mr Jones said to Mr Brown "We are going to have a small party at our house next Wednesday evening. Would you and your wife like to join us?" Mr Brown said, "Thank you very much. That is very kind of you. We are free that evening,I think. But I will telephone my wife and ask her. Maybe she wants to go somewhere else that evening." So Mr. Brown went to the other room and telephoned. When he came back,he looked very uneasy . "What's the matter?" said Mr Jones. "Did you speak to your wife?" "No," answered Mr Brown, "She wasn't there. My small son answered the telephone. I said to him, 'Is your mother there,David?' and he answered, 'No,she is not in the house!' 'Where is she then?' I asked. 'She is somewhere outside!' 'What is she doing?' 'She is looking for me.'" The telephone was _ . A. in the same office B. near the office C. in the post office D. near Mr Jone's house Answer: B. near the office Question: It's too foggy to see more than two feet on a highway. This is because of A. ash from a volcano B. vapor of H2O condensed in the air C. helium vapor in the air D. a forest fire nearby Answer: B. vapor of H2O condensed in the air
"Children who eat less salt and drink fewer sugar-sweetened soft drinks may significantly lower their risks of obesity," researchers recently reported in the journal Hypertension. "Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are a significant source of calorie intake in children," said Feng J. He, a researcher at St George's University of London, England. "It has been shown that sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption is related to obesity in young people." They wanted to know whether there is a link between salt intake and sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption. Dr He and colleagues analyzed data from a 1997 national survey of more than 2,000 people between 4 and 18 in Britain. "We found that children eating a lower-salt diet drank less fluid," said He. "From our research, we estimated that 1 gram of salt cut from their daily diet would reduce fluid intake by 100 grams per day." The researchers also found that children eating a lower-salt diet drank fewer sugar-sweetened soft drinks. From their research, they predicted that reducing salt intake by 1 gram each day would reduce sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption by 27 grams per day, after. "If children aged 4 to 18 cut their salt intake by half, there would be a decrease of about two sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week per child, so each child would decrease calorie intake by almost 250 kilocalories per week," Dr He said. In previous studies, researchers found that a low-salt diet lowers blood pressure in children, and prevents the development of high blood pressure later in life. "Both high blood pressure and obesity increase the risk of having strokes and heart attacks," Dr He said. Dr He recommends that parents check labels and choose low-salt food products. "Small reductions in the salt content of 10 to 20 percent cannot be detected by the human salt taste receptors and do not cause any technological or safety problems," Dr He said. After reading the passage, who should take effective action? A. Children. B. Parents. C. Doctors. D. Researchers. Answer: B. Parents. An object that contains gas often goes A. in circles B. forward C. down D. up Answer: D. up We recently read a report on China's environmental problems, based on reports from Singapore's Straits Times. There was one statistic that shocked us. Environmental experts claim that without some great change, pollution might, within five years, make the Yangtze River just about unsuitable for all forms of life to live in. The baiji, or the Yangtze River dolphin, was only the latest victim. According to the first report, in the 1980s there were 126 forms of life in the river, and by 2002, that figure was already down to 52. Just how bad is the situation? The Yangtze River flows by 186 cities on its way from Qinghai to Shanghai, and in the process picks up 40% of China's polluted waste water. According to another report, in 2006, China produced a total of 53.7 billion tons of waste water. But that's not the worst news. By 2030, China might possibly use up between 89-100% of its sources of drinking water. All of this begs a deeper question: What kind of water are they using when they pump 10 kilos of water into pigs headed for the slaughterhouse ? This is an important question because if its waste water is not fit for human to drink, there's a chance that some of whatever was in that water was in the pork you had for lunch today. And if the water is safe to drink, that's a waste of perfectly good water. Another report we read, related to the Taihu algae blooming that has left 3 million people in the Wuxi area without drinking water, claims(quite believably) that Taihu's environmental problems will never end until all the factories along the lake close down. The algae bloom is so bad there that lots of people have to take the algae out of the lake all day long instead of fishing. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Yangtze River according to the passage? A. It goes by 186 cities on its way from the source to the sea. B. Lots of waste water in the country is poured into the river. C. The baiji in the river is now in danger of extinction. D. We can hardly see any forms of life in the river now. Answer: D. We can hardly see any forms of life in the river now. This is a picture of Kate Green's family. In the picture we can see her grandparents, herparents, her brother Mike and her. Her grandparents are on the chair. Mr Green and Mrs Greenare behind them. Mike is under the window. Kate is on the floor. What's behind Kate? It's a cat. It's black and white. Is Mike on the floor? A. Yes, he is. B. Yes, he isn't. C. No, he is. D. No, he isn't. Answer: D. No, he isn't. Television is a relatively stable advertising medium. In many ways, the television ads today are almost the same to those two decades ago. Most television ads still feature actors, still run 30 or 60 seconds, and still show a product. However, the different medium of the Internet causes unique challenges to advertisers, forcing them to adapt their practices and techniques. In the early days of Internet marketing, online advertisers used banner and pop-up ads to attract customers. These techniques reached large audiences, led to many sales leads, and came at a low cost. However, a small number of Internet users began to consider these advertising techniques annoying. Yet because marketing strategies relying heavily on banners and pop-ups produced results, companies invested growing amounts of money into purchasing these ad types. As consumers became more complicated, frustration with these online advertising techniques grew. Independent programmers began to develop tools that blocked banner and pop-up ads. A major development in online marketing came with the introduction of pay-per-click ads. Unlike banner or pop-up ads, which originally required companies to pay every time a website visitor saw an ad, pay-per-click ads allowed companies to pay only when an interested potential customer clicked on an ad. More importantly, however, these ads are not affected by the pop-up and banner blockers. As a result of these advantages and the incredible growth in the use of search engines, which provide excellent places for pay-per-click advertising, a great number of companies began turning to pay-per-click marketing. However, as with the banner and pop-up ads, pay-per-click ads came with their shortcomings. When companies began pouring billions of dollars into this emerging medium, online advertising specialists started to notice the presence of what would later be called click fraud : representatives of a company with no interest in the product advertised by a competitor click on the competitor's ads simply to increase the marketing cost of the competitor. Click fraud grew so rapidly that marketers sought to diversify their online positions away from pay-per-click marketing through new mediums. Although pay-per-click advertising remains a common and effective advertising tool, marketers adapted yet again to the changing elements of the Internet by adopting new techniques such as pay-per-performance advertising. As the pace of the Internet's evolution increases, it seems all the more likely that advertising successfully on the Internet will require a strategy that avoids constancy and welcomes change. As an advertising medium, the television and the Internet mainly differ in _ . A. the type of individual each medium reaches B. whether the medium is interactive C. the pace at which the medium develops D. the cost of advertising with each medium Answer: C. the pace at which the medium develops
It was very cold and I had been watching a homeless man make himself comfortable in a "shelter" on the river bank. His "shelter" was a tarpaulin tied to rocks to keep the wind from blowing it away. He had been living there for over a month. I never saw him with warm clothing or food. I knew what I wanted to do. When I told my parents what I wanted to do they were _ . They said I could be putting myself at risk, taking a box to a homeless person at night! But I knew, in my deep heart, that I would be safe. I got a box. My parents watched as I added warm gloves, a heavy blanket ... into the box until it was full! Then, I put a Christmas card on top. It said, "Even though we hardly know each other, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!" I put ten one-dollar bills inside it as well. My father insisted he went there with me as it was 10 pm on Christmas Eve. I said he could drive me but he had to stay in the car. He agreed. I took the box and walked towards his "house". I called, "Sir, I have a Christmas box for you!" "Go away!" he shouted. "Sir," I repeated. "Go away!" he shouted. "Why?" I asked him. He walked over and I expected to see an angry face. Instead I saw two of the most beautiful, gentle, blue eyes I have ever seen. "Merry Christmas!" I said. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. "Because you matter to me," I said. With that I gave him the box. Tears came to his eyes and he thanked me. I got back to the car and watched him carry the box like it was filled with gold. I didn't want to embarrass him by watching him any more so Dad and I left. When the homeless man saw the author first, he was _ . Answer: quite angry Last Thursday, Michael and Linda stood behind large food trucks distributing meals to 4,000 homeless people for their wedding reception on the border town of Kilis. The couple had decided that instead of hosting their friends and family for a traditional feast reception, they would feed the victims from an earthquake-stricken area. The idea came from the bridegroom's father, Ted, who volunteers for a Turkish relief organization. For the past few years, the organization has distributed daily meals to thousands of people who've suffered from natural disasters. He _ a representative of the organization and suggested that the family cover part of the costs of feeding them for the day. Then he told his son, who was surprised by the suggestion, but soon won over. When he told that to the bride, she was really shocked but finally accepted because in southeastern Turkey there is a real culture of sharing with people in need. They love to share their food, their table and everything they have. And afterwards she was quite amazed about it. So, they arrived at the distribution center on Thursday to spend the day serving food and taking photographs with their grateful recipients . On Tuesday evening, the newly married couple were still pleased with their decision to quit a personal celebration for one with a greater good. "It's like sharing a dinner with your friends and family who have this kind of thing on a daily basis or sharing something with people who don't even have the most basic things," Michael said. "Hopefully, this will also give the start for other wedding dinners to be held here with our brothers and sisters in need." We can know from the text that _ .. Answer: Kilis is a place which lies in southeastern Turkey Microsoft founder Bill Gates has opened up about being a parent, stating that 13 is an appropriate age for a child's first cell phone. The 57-year-old, father-of-three, revealed on the Today Show that his children Jennifer and Rory were not allowed phones until their thirteenth birthday and his youngest daughter Phoebe is still waiting for one. "We've chosen in our family that it's 13 where you get a phone," the self-made billionaire explained. He said as a result his children often return home from school complaining: "All the other kids have it.I'm the only one without it, and it's so embarrassing." Asked if he keeps passwords to his son and daughters' email and Facebook accounts, Mr Gates said that he doesn't for Jennifer, 16, who he describes as "independent". He admitted that monitoring online activity is "a very tricky is sue for parents now." Despite their vast wealth Mr and Mrs Gates, who live in Lake Medina, just outside Seattle, Washington, have said they want to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible. It was previously reported that their youngsters have to complete household chores and are given a modest smount of pocket money. And in 2010 Mr Cates said that he intends to give most of his $ 61 billion fortune away rather than hand it down." _ wouldn't be good either for my kids or society," he said. Also during the Today Interview with host Matt Lauer, Mr Gates, who stepped down from Microsoft in 2008 to concentrate on philanthropy , said that helping others gives him same excitement as creating software. " What you really feel is what you've achieved.If a piece of software gets out there and lots of people love it-it lets them get their work done in better ways-that's exciting," he explained. What can we learn about Bill Gates from the text? Answer: He now devotes himself to helping others. Sometimes having a teenager at home can be a real headache. Many teenagers smoke, drink, wear strange hairdos and even fight. Basically, they are often taking risks. Earlier studies have shown that teenagers are more likely to make _ decisions than people from any other age group, including children and adults. Is it that teenagers are too young to tell right from wrong? Not really. So what explains their risky behavior? According to Laurence Steinberg, a professor at Temple University, US, the reason is that teens care a lot about how their peers view them - that's the effect of "peer influence", reported Science Daily. As children enter their teenage years, they spend more time with their friends and classmates and also become more sensitive to their feedback . This sensitivity drives teenagers to concentrate on the short-term benefits of making risky choices and overlook the costs. In a test, a group of teenagers were asked to play a video driving game. When they played with their friends watching, they took more chances and drove more carelessly because that would increase their possibility of winning. But when they played alone, they tended to drive more safely. Why does pressure from peers have such a big influence on teens' behavior? As Steinberg sees it, a teenager's brain is like a car with a good accelerator but a weak brake . The "accelerator", the brain's ability to notice the benefits of things, is fully developed by teenage years while the "brake", the brain part related to controlling impulses and long-term thinking, is still immature . When teens are under the pressure of being judged by their peers, they tend to push hard on the accelerator. Given how weak the brake is, it is likely that they are going to end up in a crash. But the good news here, according to Steinberg, is that a violent teenager doesn't necessarily become a violent adult. About two-thirds to three-quarters of violent youth grow out of it. "They get more self-controlled," Steinberg told Live Science. Also, people who haven't committed a violent crime by age 19 are less likely to start doing it later, added Steinberg. How does Steinberg explain the influence of peer pressure on teens' behavior? Answer: By using a metaphor . We always read reports about costs of oil going up and we will think this is our most valuable material. However, water is the most valuable resource . People in the Middle East are more worried about this than oil. Maybe the next war will be about water. In the future, to control the quality and quantity , you will use different water for different usages. The water used to wash your car, water your flowers or wash your clothes doesn't need to be as clean as the water you drink. One in five people live in countries without enough fresh water and in 25 years, the number is believed to be one in every three people. Our world population is increasing. What do you suppose this will suggest for us in the future? Population control? Traditional management of the water industry has been out of date since the 1990s. When technologies develop so rapidly in the world, we have loads of information for technologies in the business world, but in the water industry we don't have any. Britain and France have already taken measures to successfully improve their water industries. All the water services in Britain have been provided by private companies since 1991. Since then, improvement has been made in the rules for their water quality and pricing. What can you do now for the future? Using water more efficiently in your house can make a great difference not only to the world but to your money. Even if you don't have to pay much now, you will when you start to pay big prices for different water usages. Which is the author's suggestion for us? Answer: Using different water for different usages.
I remembered that when I was a little child, I used to look for Sunday of the week. Yes, I was so looking forward to an adventure. Now, I still have a strong _ for buses. I used to wonder where those gigantic buses finally stopped. On sunshine Sundays, that's my adventure times. He took me to the bus stop. Time passed, while I was growing impatient, he was smiling, as he always does. It was really not that easy to get on a bus as often as we do today. I was so worried that the bus driver would have missed us. I waved my hands so high with all my strength. I looked hopefully at him. He didn't move at all. He was still standing. It seemed that the late and infrequent coming of the bus wasn't any trouble to him at all. He took my hand. We managed to find seats on the upper deck. I was so excited. Only sitting beside the windows made me happy. Looking at the rewinding buildings, streets and people through windows from a higher ground was so much fun. Then, he was sitting peacefully by me and whispered to me where the bus finally would stop. I was curious about what would be the next stop of our destination as much as what really means something to him. That is me. I know now. I am all he cares. He wants me to be happy, as he always does. That's the strong bond between father and son. Childhood, naive and precious, you showed me the world and the way I look at the world. I am so grateful for your presence in my life. Thanks, you are so wonderful! Who is "he" throughout the text? The father of the writer. Are you a bookworm? Is your head stuck in a book for long? If so,that's a good thing.There are many benefits to reading.Getting into a good novel improves our literacy .But who or what encourages us to pick up a book and start reading? Of course,when we are young,our parents and teachers inspire us by introducing us to characters that we love--or love to hate.And there are the authors--the people who invent and write about these characters.Good writing can really catch our imagination. One modern-day children's author is J.K.Rowling,who's known for her books about the wizard,Harry Potter.Last year she was named as a'literacy hero'for her part in improving people's love of reading.The UK's National Literacy Trust awarded her the title for"turning a generation of children into readers." The Trust also honoured schoolchildren,a librarian and teachers for their effort in trying to get people to read.The actor, Henry Winkler, who has dyslexia ,was also named for the books he has written about a boy with learning difficulties. Reading books is more than an enjoyable pastime;it can also help people in difficult circumstances.The author Pat Winslow worked as a writer in prisons and found reading and discussing stories helped prisoners reflect on their patterns of behaviour.She says"Very often we would have discussions about the moral compass of a character, what was the motivation of somebody, why did they behave that way?" Today I like to read factual books such as biographies,where you get an insight into the lives of important and well-known people.I also enjoy looking at travel books and learning about journeys and new destinations.It's a good substitute if you can't visit in person. But the main benefit of reading is the improvement it brings to our literacy.The more we do it,the better we get and who knows--one day you may become the next Tolstoy,Jackie Collins or even William Shakespeare. For what purpose does the author like to read factual books? Because they supply inspirations for life. A camera and a computer can "see" something that perhaps millions of pairs of eyes failed to see for 480 years: the Mona Lisa's necklace. The discovery about the famous painting was made by an American physicist. The Mona Lisa, painted by the Italian, Leonardo da Vinci, has been on show for many years in Paris. Now a row of white spots on the neck have been "seen". They are said to be the remains of a necklace which the artist later painted over. The painting will be examined further by using infrared scanning techniques. Laser technology can be used to show what lies directly under the surface of the finished work, too. This will help us to understand how the artist drew the picture: Did he begin with a quick-made drawing or have second thoughts as he painted the picture? This kind of knowledge will show us the famous artist at work. It may also help to explain Mona Lisa's smile, which has puzzled art lovers for centuries. The Mona Lisais _ . a famous painting On October 10, 2014, Malala, 17, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for struggling for the right of children to education. Malala is the youngest Nobel winner in history. Malala Yousafzai has never been ordinary. When she was just 11, she started blogging about the Taliban takeover of her hometown of Mingora, Pakistan. Taliban members follow an extreme belief of Islam and forbid girls to go to school. Classrooms were closed for several months. Malala spoke out about her desire to go back to school. "All I want is an education," she told one television broadcaster. Malala was later able to return to class. But she continued to blog and speak out about girls' right to education. On October 9, 2012, the Taliban tried to silence her. A gunman boarded her school bus and shot her in the head. Malala survived and showed great courage and optimism during her long recovery. At that time she became a symbol of the struggle for girls' rights all over the world. Nine months after she was shot, she gave a now-famous speech at the United Nations. "They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed," she said. "And then, out of that silence came thousands of voices. ... Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power, and courage were born." Malala has also become an international symbol for peace. In 2011, she won Pakistan's National Youth Peace Prize, which is now renamed the National Malala Peace Prize. Malala said the 2014 Nobel Prize was an "encouragement" to go forward to help kids. "I want to tell children all around the world that they should stand up for their rights," she said. "This award is for all those children whose voices need to be heard." How many peace prizes have gone to Malala so far according to the passage? 2. An old couple was having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to makesurenothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctor's, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory. After checking the couple out, the doctor told them that they were physically fine but advised them to start making notes to help them remember things. Later that night, while watching TV, the old man got upfromhischair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "To the kitchen." She asked, "Will you get me a cup of icecream?"He replied, "Sure." She then askedhim, " Shouldn't you write it down so you can remember it?" He said, "No, I can remember that." When the man was walking towards the kitchen, the woman shouted , "Dear, I would also like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down because I know you'll forget that." He answered, "I can remember that. You want acupof ice cream with strawberries." She added, "Well, I also would like somecreamon top. I know you will forget that so please write it down." With anger inhisvoice, he said, "I don't need to write that down! I can remember that." He then went into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, he returnedfromthe kitchen and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and said angrily, "You forgot my bread!" After seeing the doctor, the couple _ . did anything as before
From my father I have learned a lot. And I'm very thankful to him. I remember when I was a child my father always got up very early, quietly putting on his clothes and going off to work. To arrive in time to open his tiny store at 8:30, he needed to leave our apartment at 6:30. After all, he had to take a bus and then the subway. The last journey was a long walk through a neighborhood much of which was full of the smell of rubbish. I learned: it is very important to work. No excuse. When I was 12, I would, on some Saturdays, go to my father's store to help out. After helping set up the outside clothing display, for the rest of the day, I'd watch to make sure no one stole anything. When I noticed someone looking unusual or strange, I would look the person in the eye, smile and say, "May I help you?" Usually that worked, but sometimes, someone would run off with something. The first time, I ran after the thief but my father shouted, "Martin, stop! There is no need to do that." It's true that safety is more important than money. After 10 years of hard work, he saved up enough money to buy his first car, a cheap one--he wouldn't buy one until he could afford to pay for it without borrowing money. I learned: buy only what you can afford. Buying necessary food and clothing won't make us go in debt . The unnecessary things won't give us happiness, which comes from achievement only. According to the author, what usually makes people go in debt? To enjoy something unnecessary. Over the years, Americans have become used to salt.Most people have no idea how much salt they consume-on average, about 9 to 12 gram per person per day, according to the American Heart Association.That's twice the amount recommended by the government. A new study last week showed eating even a little less salt could greatly help the heart.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. Researchers also found that the benefits would be greatest for African Americans and women.As a group, African Americans tend to have higher blood pressure than the general population, and "many studies suggest that they may be more sensitive to salt," says Dr.Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco.Her analysis found that a reduction of 3 gram of salt per day would reduce heart attacks 8% on average; among African Americans, that rate would drop 10%.A similar result was found in women, whose stroke risk dropped 8% with a 3-g reduction in salt intake; in men, the risk fell 5%. They and public health professionals in the United States are interested in a national campaign to persuade people to eat less salt. However, other scientists say such a campaign is an experiment with the health of millions of people. Michael Alderman, a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, 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. "Salt has other biological effects. Calling for reductions in the national diet could have good effects, as well as harmful results. There is not enough evidence either way,"said Michael Alderman. Eating too much salt may lead to the following EXCEPT _ . lung cancer Extreme negative temperatures can cause a gaseous cloud to condense to solid Jim was looking up at the sky when he saw it. He saw a bright light. It got brighter and brighter. But after a few seconds, it started getting less bright. It took him a second to know for sure, but he knew he had seen a shooting star! This wasn't the first time that Jim had seen something strange in the sky. It was last year, when he was driving home from work at night. He saw another light in the sky that night, but it wasn't anything like this one. The one he saw last year didn't get brighter. The one he saw last year didn't get less bright. The one he saw last year was round, and Jim was sure that it was a space ship. When Jim saw the shooting star tonight, he was even more sure of what he saw last year. Some people said that the space ship was really a shooting star. But now that he had seen a real shooting star, he knew for sure that this one was different. Jim wondered what planet the space ship had come from. Where was Jim looking when he saw the shooting star? At the sky. "Babies are supposed to instinctually know who they daddy is," Gerald, Dooriya's daddy, said, holding Dooriya before him."But she don't recognize nothing." Everybody had something to say about raising my baby, but none of them actually did any raising.Taking Dooriya to see the ocean had become the only thing that kept me from feeling like my life was an everlasting losing race, this vision of what could be for my little girl.When I told Momma about my plans to visit the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras, she just spun her broken record. "That baby'11 never understand a thing of what she's seeing." "My baby book says I should treat her just like any other child.It's good to show her beautiful things even if she don't know what she's seeing.It helps her brain develop.How's her brain gonna develop if all she ever sees is the walls inside this crummy house?" "That child's brain ain't never gonna develop.We love her, but it's not like she's ever gonna not be a Mongoloid ." I had read a half-dozen books about Down Syndrome that said stimulation might improve a child's chances of developing to her fullest potential.And what's more stimulating than a trip to see the ocean? Guidebooks described the area as the land of beginnings, which I liked the sound of.But before I could map out a plan, I woke up one night when Dooriya hiccupped .Then she just stopped breathing.The ER doctor gave me a pamphlet on SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and said, children with Down Syndrome are much more likely to be affected by this sort of thing. I didn't remember much about driving to Cape Hatteras, especially taking Dooriya from the hospital. But up on that lighthouse, with its broad spiral running up and around it like a black and white barber's pole, I saw my life twist into the air. As I climbed the winding stairs, I counted the steps, 268 in all, stopping on 77, Dooriya's very number of days on this planet.At the top, I held Dooriya up to the Atlantic, its cold air raising the thin soft hair on her head.With her eyes closed and her arms spread out, it looked like she was bathing in the warmth of the sun. Did anybody else besides her mother actually take the responsibility to raise the baby? Nobody.
The decisions that we make shape us throughout our lives. No matter what decisions we make, good or bad, each one puts us on a new road in the future. Make a bad decision? No problem. Learn from the decision and make another decision to get on a different path. This is advice that I got from Tony Robbins in his book Awaken the Giant Within. This is a book that I recommend to anyone wanting to develop a fire to make changes in their life. It helped me to understand how fear of making poor choices was _ me from becoming the great man who I am today. Now I am not saying I am a well-known person in any particular circle. But I am the king of my castle working hard and trying to make good decisions in regard to the paths that I have chosen. I am a great man in the eyes of my wife and my children. And that is all the recognition that I need in my lifetime. And I know that my past failures have been the building block that I continue to use to build my career and self-image in my community that I live in. Ben Lerer, cofounder of the CEO of Thrillist Media Group, is a good example of this. In an article on the Fast Company website, Lerer talks about this very subject. He says, "I've had to make some really tough decisions but finally, I think the best companies are those that can recognize when something isn't going right, and fix it, instead of just turning a blind eye because it's easier." Great people make decisions. When a decision does not have the desired result, make a different decision. It does not get any simpler than that. What could be the best title of the passage? A Overcome Your Fears B Take Action C Make Decisions D Trust Yourself Answer: C. Make Decisions While hospitalized, Marsh asked her attorney to draw a deed conveying her home to her son, Simon. While Marsh remained in the hospital, the deed was drawn, properly executed, and promptly and properly recorded. On being informed of the existence of the deed, Simon told his mother, "I want no part of the property; take the deed right back." Marsh recovered and left the hospital, but shortly thereafter, before any other relevant event, Simon died intestate. Marsh brought an appropriate action against Simon's heirs to determine title. If Marsh wins, it will be because A the court will impose a constructive trust to carry out the intent of the deceased son. B the presumption of delivery arising from the recording is not valid unless the grantee has knowledge at the time of the recording. C Simon's declaration was a constructive reconveyance of the land. D there was no effective acceptance of delivery of the deed. Answer: D. there was no effective acceptance of delivery of the deed. It is common to have difficulties sleeping during the day. Humans are naturally wired to sleep best at night and be awake during the day. However, modern work schedules require some people to try to accommodate the unnatural schedule of shift work -- being awake at night and sleeping during the day. In order to make this adjustment, you need to pay special attention to your sleep environment and your preparation for sleep. If shift work is a necessary part of your work life, here are some suggestions that may help. Arrange to sleep uninterrupted in a quiet, dark room. This means you may have to turn off or unplug your phone, hang darkening curtains on the windows or wear a sleep eye mask, and train your family and friends to leave you alone while you sleep. Fit in a nap . When your daytime sleep period is too short, taking a short nap of less than 30 minutes just before work or on a break has been shown to improve alertness and enhance performance. Develop and follow a sleep routine. It's best if you go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Try not to vary this too much on weekends. Your body likes routine. Take extra care to make healthy choices. You may be tempted to reach for unhealthy foods or nicotine to stay awake or alcohol to try to sleep. But ultimately these choices are more harmful than helpful. If you have tried all these things and are still having problems getting enough quality sleep during the day, talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist. Sometimes medications may be helpful and safe. In other cases, there may be an underlying sleep disorder that needs to be addressed. The purpose of the text is to _ . A persuade workers to have a god sleep. B advise night workers to keep healthy C encourage workers to do day work D help night workers to sleep well Answer: D. help night workers to sleep well Every foreign student who has been accepted to study in this country must have a legal document called a visa from the prefix = st1 /United Statesgovernment. A visa permits a foreign citizen to travel to theUnited Statesand request permission to enter the country. The rules for getting a visa can be found on the State Department Web site. The address is unitedstatesvisas. gov. Unitedstatesvisas is all one word. Another State Department Web site for students from other countries is educationusa. gov. If you are requesting a visa for the first time, you may have to appear at the American Embassy in your country to talk to an official. Each student should communicate with the Embassy to find out if such an interview is needed and when it can take place. It is important to apply for the visa early. State Department officials say national security is the most important issue in deciding if a person will be permitted to enter the United States. Officials must find out if a student is on any list of people with possible links to terrorists. Embassies can not issue a visa more than ninety days before the start of the educational program in the United States. If you are a student studying in theUnited Statesfor the first time, you will not be permitted to enter the country more than thirty days before the start of your classes. Foreign students accepted at an American school will receive a document called a Certificate of Eligibility. The State Department says each student must enter the country using the certificate provided by the school he or she will be attending. It is a violation of the law to enter the country on one school's certificate but attend another school. You are permitted to stay in the United Stateson a student visa for the length of your period of study. That means you can stay as long as you are a full-time student. Your college or university will provide the government with reports about your education as long as you continue to study there. We will have more information about that next week. If you are applying for a USstudent visa for the first time, you _ . A you may get your visa 30 days in advance B you may get your visa any time you like C you can't get your visa unless you have something to do with terrorists D can be given the visa 90 days ahead of time Answer: A. you may get your visa 30 days in advance The Great Fire of London started in the very early hours of 2 September 1666. In four days it destroyed more than three-quarters of the old city, where most of the houses were wooden and close together. Over one hundred people became homeless, but only a few lost their lives. The fire started on Sunday morning in the house of the King's baker in Pudding Lane. The baker, with his wife and _ , was able to get out through a window into the roof. A strong wind blew the fire from the bakery into a small hotel next door. Then it spread quickly into Thames Street. That was the beginning. By eight o' clock three hundred houses were on fire. On Monday nearly a kilometer of the city was burning along the River Thames. Tuesday was the worst day. The fire destroyed many well-known buildings, old St Pauls and the Guildhall among them. Samuel Pepys, the famous writer, write about the fire, "People threw their things into the river. Many poor people stayed in their houses until the last moment. Birds fell out of the air because of the heat ." The fire stopped only when the King finally ordered people to destroy hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire. With nothing left to burn, the fire became weak and finally died out. After the fire, Christopher Wren, the architect , wanted a city with wider streets and fine new houses of stone. In fact, the streets are still narrow, but he did build more than fifty churches, among them the mew St Pauls. The fire caused great pain and loss, but after it London was a better place: a city for the future and not just of the past. How was the fire put out according to the text? A The soldiers came to help. B All the wooden houses in the city were destroyed. C People managed to get enough water from the river. D Houses standing in the path of the fire were destroyed according to the King's order. Answer: D. Houses standing in the path of the fire were destroyed according to the King's order.
The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel. The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sport car. Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras. The bride wore a silk wedding dress. She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time. Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station's competition. The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other. Miss Germaine, 23, is a model. Mr. Cordell, 27, is a TV salesman. They were among the two hundred people who entered a special "experiment" organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham, England, Greg, and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on a radio. They took a lie detector test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities. The competition judges include an astrologer who declared that they were suited. The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening, but not everyone shared their joy. Miss Germaine's mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr. Cordell's parents are reported to be less than delighted. Organizations, including the marriage guidance Service Relate, have criticized the marriage. As one person put it, "We have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously without this. Marriage should always be about love." The couple are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists. Their other prizes include a year's free use of a wonderful apartment in the center of Birmingham, and a car. But will it last? Some experts believe that _ . young people nowadays are too careless about marriage Hello, I'm a middle school student from Hainan. My Chinese name is Li Ying. My English name is Alice. I am Chinese. I'm in No. 26 Middle School. I am a good student. Now I am thirteen years old. Our school is very nice. Ms Smart is my English teacher. I like her and she loves us very much. There are three people in my family. This is my father. He is a teacher. This is my mother. Her name is Han Jing. I love them very much. Li Ying's father is _ . a teacher Jim is a basketball fan. He is very good at playing basketball. Jack is his favorite basketball player. Jim is in the school basketball team. Every Friday afternoon, he plays basketball with other members after class. In the team, Jim's best friend is Mike. He is also good at playing basketball. Jim's sister Mary loves swimming. Every Saturday she has a swimming lesson with ten other girls and boys. Their mothers and fathers come to watch them because the children are only one or two years old! When Mary began to have swimming classes, she was only six months old. Now she is two years old and she can swim well. Many people are afraid of water, but the children in Mary's class aren't! They always have a good time in water. Jim is good at _ basketball Duracell's convert chemicals to voltage Are you nervous about climbing because you think it's too dangerous? Do you feel you're not fit enough to climb? Do you know how to start climbing? Let's consider the idea that climbing is dangerous. Being afraid is natural, but if you use suitable ropes and other climbing equipments you will feel completely safe. Climbers are usually very careful because they know what they are doing is dangerous. Accidents happen, but when they do, they tend to attract a lot of publicity. As a result, people think there are many more accidents than there are in reality. You cannot expect to start climbing straight away. Climbing is a challenge and challenges take time. It is necessary first of all that you achieve a good level of fitness. Begin as soon as you become interested in climbing--go to the gym, go swimming, take up jogging and continue to do so throughout your training period. Discover as much as you can about climbing. Visit the library and find books especially for beginners or buy climbing magazines and look for articles which describe your situation. Look up information on the Internet. Find out about equipment, methods and places to go. Next, take a course on a climbing wall. There are plenty of climbing walls all over the country which have trained and qualified people as instructors. Call your local leisure centre to find out if there is one in your area. These training sessions are a quick way to get experience and you are likely to meet other beginners. After this, you can do an outside course or join a club where you can meet climbers of all abilities and eventually join in group-climbing events. At first you may not understand the importance of a good training period, but after you have completed your first climb and you are standing safely at the top of a rock feeling thrilled, then you will know was the right thing to do. The writer thinks a new climber should _ . begin by becoming fit
The Airport Art Program is proud to have three Youth Art Galleries at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Georgia students, from kindergarten to twelfth grade, are given the chances to have their artwork exhibited to an ever-changing audience in the millions. In return these talented youths provide new artwork every three months to enrich the airport. The first gallery opened in the summer of 1997. In December of 1998 a second gallery opened. Both of these galleries are organized by the Airport Art Program and Georgia Art Education Association(GAEA). The GAEA aims to improve the conditions of teaching art across Georgia. They organize meetings for art students to improve their skills and provide exhibition chances for them to show their artwork. They also hold meetings twice a year for teachers. The third Youth Art Gallery is organized by the Airport Art Program and the Youth Art Connection(YAC)of Atlanta. YAC is a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. YAC uses the arts as a way to connect with children and teens who don't get enough help or services. They also work with the community to provide cultural enrichment programs for young people. To join in or get information about the first and second Youth Art Galleries, please visit the Georgia Art Education Association's website at _ or click _ for a brochure . For information about the third Youth art Gallery and the Youth Art Connection, please visit _ . To buy artwork from any of the three Youth Art Galleries, please call(404) 382-2455. Which of the following organizations helps students who don't have enough services? The Youth Art Connection. Some people argue that the pressures on international sportsmen and sportswomen kill the essence of sport-seeking for personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. A single person's representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself; he has to think only about winning. He is responsible for an entire nation's hopes, dreams and fame. A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world's most important sport. It is even more important now that the United States is seriously taking it up. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the greatest of international sporting success. Mention "Argentina" to someone and the chances are that he'll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup "put Argentina on the map". Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1996. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses and spent all their money traveling to Argentina where the finals were played. So am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sports? Certainly not! Do the Argentineans really believe that because eleven of their men proved that most skillful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others? Not really. But it's known that you won, and that in one way at least your country is best. What is the writer's main purpose in the passage? To explain the role of sport So, there was this kid named Jack that came up to my beanstalk one day. I couldn't believe my eyes, so I put down my ham sandwich I was eating and looked at him. I'm not sure what he thought he was doing there, but he sure did talk a lot. He kept asking me questions about this and then he asked me some questions about that and I was getting a little bit tired of all of the questions. When I thought I wouldn't hear the end of everything, this Jack kid asked me about the one and only secret that I've always kept to myself. That no one even knew about! No, it wasn't about my golden guitar or even my goose that laid eggs filled with coins. No, he was asking me about my beans and their roots. You see, I'm a giant and my job is to make sure the bean roots that we use to get down to earth are well protected and guarded. They're what helps us get down to the little person world when we need to. I became a little bit worried as the little kid asked more and more questions about my roots. I didn't want to tell him that my roots were hidden in the library! I walked over to him to pick this little kid up to get him to quiet down about the bean roots, well, he got me with his little knife and I dropped him! Thankfully, he didn't get hurt or I would've been so sad! He ran down the beanstalk when I chased after him. I guess he wanted to get back to his little people. I didn't follow him, but I sure hope he doesn't come back for my stuff. What was the giant eating? Ham sandwich DCULS is the English Language Training Center of Dublin City University. Our courses are designed for adults (18+). We offer a lot of English language courses throughout the year in addition to special programmes in summer. Our school proudly has the same high standards which have gained Dublin City University a national and international reputation for the excellence of its courses. Recognized by Department of Education as an English language school for the teaching of English as a foreign language. DCULS offers you a friendly atmosphere in which you can improve your English skills. Because we are a university based company, we also offer our students ways to university facilities . For more information please contact : DCU Language Services, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland Tel: +353 1 705552 Fax: +353 1 70511 Email: Is.elt @ dcu.ie Web: www.dculs.dcu.ie Who can take part in the courses offered by DCULS ? Adults over 18. If you have a chance to go to school in prefix = st1 /America, you should keep the following in mind: If a teacher asks you a question, you are expected to give an answer. If you do not understand the question, you should raise your hand and ask the teacher to repeat the question. It is all right to tell the teacher that you do not know the answer. Then he or she knows what you need to learn. There is no excuse for not doing your homework. If you are absent ,you should call your teacher or your classmates and ask for the assignment. It is your responsibility to find out what homework you have missed. It is impolite to eat, drink or chew gum during class. This is allowed for the break. Removing one' s shoes in the classroom is also not polite. You must not be absent on a test day. If you are seriously ill, you must call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows a make-up test, you should take the test within one or two days after returning to class. It is rude to be late. If you must come in late, be sure to do it quietly by having your books and papers out of your bag, then go to your seat and sit very quietly. In the U. S., it is not necessary to knock before you enter the classroom. Most teachers will give you a low grade if you are often late. *Copying another student' s test or paper is never acceptable. It is called cheating. Students who cheat are kicked out in most schools. According to the passage, you can have a make-up test once_. you have got the agreement of the teacher
Most of the guests who come on our trips have never been to Egypt before .We want to make everyone comfortable and at ease, but we do always get the same questions in advance of trip. So here I will give you some travel tips. What should I wear? If you're lucky enough to visit Egypt between November and February, pack a sweater. You'll need it----the desert gets rather cold at night. During the day, the temperature will be agreeable and comfortable. Any other time, pack as if you're going to Phoenix of Vegas in August. For the ladies, bathing suits are normal if there's a pool where you are going, but leave the string bikini at home -it is a Muslim country, after all. Last, if you are planning on visiting any mosques or certain parts of upper Egypt, ladies will need to plan on bringing something that comes at least to the elbow , and no shorts for men or women in those areas. What special things do I need to pack? One of my favorite things in the world to bring to Egypt is an Evian Mister, a sprayer with a fine mist of Evian water. You may be able to find it in your local drug store. Spray a little on your face or head , and your body temperature will feel like it's dropped 10 or 15 degrees. Other items include your camera, sun block and extra batteries. How do I communicate with home? Internet cafes are plentiful everywhere, especially in Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria. If you have international calling on you phone, you should be able to use it-AT&T and Sprint both work internationally for sure, but make sure you have the international coverage. A satellite phone is best if you are certain to need coverage in the middle of the country, like while sailing up the Nile , but for most people these days a cell phone is fine. What medical preparation do I need? In a word: none! The one thing you may come down with in Egypt is politely called "Pharoah 's Revenge. " The thing that gets rid of pharoah's Revenge is a regionally produced medicine, and is available at every drugstore for $1 a box . DON'T drink local water. DO drink bottled water, avoid the skins of fresh vegetables, and you'll be fine. What's the use of an Evian Mister? Answer: To cool yourself down. If you are a TV addict, you can't have missed the popular sitcom Home With Kids. The lead characters, 17-year-old Xiao Xue and 14-year-old Liu Xing can remind us of our own behavior or our classmates. We love the two teenagers, but are they good students? And what makes a good student? "Being a student is a kind of occupation, so a good student should have good grades. Based on their school reports, clever and diligent, Xiao Xue is a much better student than her brother, Liu Xing," says Wu Hao, 16, Chifeng in Inner Mongolia. "The boy should work harder at studying since our duty as students is to study well." It is generally accepted that getting good scores is crucial for a student. So to some, being a good student means ranking high in your class or even your school. However, Wu also admits that a student's personality is more important in being a role model student. "Honesty and kindness make you admirable. But Xiao Xue can be selfish, dishonest and arrogant, which make others feel uncomfortable to be around her. So she has a lot yet to improve on," Wu said. Many teenagers do not think it is fair to judge students by their grades. Take Liu Xing for example. He is bright, good at computers and does everything else well like any other 14-year-old student except studying. "He is smart, humorous and always has fancy ideas which makes him popular. I guess he could be an excellent student if he attended school in the United States, where high grades are not so important and creativity is hailed," says Jia Xiaoxu, 17, Hefei, Anhui. From the US hit movie High School Musical, Jia discovers her role model. "Gabriella in the movie is an ideal student. She is ranked top but is not seen as a bookworm. She is sweet and sociable. Most importantly, Gabriella is always 'hungry' to try new things and actively participates in different kinds of activities," she said. Which statement is NOT true according to Wu Hao? Answer: A good grade is the most important for a good student. 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 challenge are travelers most likely to face while visiting Lake Paravani? Answer: Altitude sickness. People use money to buy food, furniture, books, bicycles and hundreds of other things they need or want. Most of the money today is made of metal or paper. But people used to use all kinds of things as money. One of the first kinds of money was shells. Shells were not the only things used as money. In China, cloth and knives were used. In the Philippine Islands, rice was used as money for a long time. Elephant tusks, monkey tails, and salt were used as money in parts of Africa. Some animals were used as money too. The first metal coins were made in China. They were round and had a square hole in the center. People _ them together and carried them from place to place. The first coins in England were made of tin . Sweden and Russia used copper to make their money. Later countries began to make coins of gold and silver. Later the Chinese thought of a way to improve money. They began to use paper money. Money has had an interesting history from the days of shell money until today. The word "strung" in the passage probably means_." Answer: tied Certain animals know without analysis the difference between a number of objects and a smaller number. In his book The Natural History of Selbourne (1786), the naturalist Gilbert White tells how he _ removed one egg a day from a kind of bird Plover's nest, and how the mother laid another egg each day to make up for the missing one. He notes that other kinds of birds ignore the loss of a single egg, but if more than one egg has been removed, they will give up their nests. It has also been noted that a certain type of bees always provides five--never four, never six--caterpillars for each of their eggs so that their young have something to eat when the eggs have hatched out. Research has also shown that both mice and pigeons can be taught to distinguish between odd and even numbers of food pieces. These have led some people to think that creatures can actually count. They also point to dogs that have been taught to respond to questions about numbers with the correct number of barks. Animals respond to quantities only when they are connected to survive as in the case of the eggs, or survive as in the case of food. They can "count" only when the objects are present and only when the numbers involved are small--no more than seven or eight. In lab experiments, animals which are trained to count one kind of objects were unable to count any other type. What interests them are the objects, not the numbers. Animals' achievements simply are not equal to evidence of counting. They only show the results of clever, careful training. The author mentions all of the following are aware of quantities in some way EXCEPT _ . Answer: caterpillars

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