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Question: Micro-blog is no longer simply a platform for self-expression, gossip and networking, as it is becoming an increasingly fierce battlefield for businesses wanting to promote their products and services. Over the last year, micro-blogging has become wildly popular in China, with some 65 million China based micro-blog accounts registered by the end of 2010 and the number is growing by more than 10 million each month, according to Data Center of the China Internet (DCCI). At present, China's largest web portal Sina claims to have 5,000 company micro-blog users, including Starbucks, Channel, and IKEA. On the micro-blog pages of the companies, visitors can not only view advertisements, but also see consumer feedback and even commentaries on hot social issues. E-commerce expert Lu Bowang says micro-blogging has opened a whole new dimension of marketing. Through micro-blogs, companies can quickly grasp the attention of potential consumers and interact with them on a regular basis so to develop a friendly link with consumers, Lu said. An Internet surfer nicknamed Xiaoben posted on his micro-blog page that he enjoyed drinking Puer tea, and within 10 minutes, a micro-blogger who owned an online shop selling Puer tea recommended his shop to Xiaoben. "It is a little bit like magic. I just make a wish, and then I get a micro-blog response." However, with more and more people micro-blogging to make money, experts warn that marketing via micro-blog could be a double-edged sword. Huang Heshui, professor from Xiamen University says micro-blogging is highly personal and private, and that too many advertising messages can annoy micro-blog users leading them to dislike certain brands. Further, a brand can be as easily damaged as established through micro-blogging, as consumers' negative feedback about a certain product or company can be very quickly spread in the micro-blog community, Huang added. The micro-blog managers should set up some rules and regulation to supervise micro-blog marketing, and at the same time, business organizations need to strengthen self-discipline and try to build up an honesty-based business culture, e-commerce expert Lu Bowang suggested. From what Professor Huang says, we can learn that _ . A. Advertising information will lead to micro-bloggers' great anger B. A brand's reputation can be easily damaged because it's founded through micro-blogging C. Consumers' reaction plays a vital role in a company's survival in the micro-blog community. D. Self-discipline requires enhancing if business is to succeed through micro-blogging. Answer: C. Consumers' reaction plays a vital role in a company's survival in the micro-blog community. Question: It can be rude to talk politics over dinner...explicitly at least. But subtle linguistic cues might reveal more than you think about your political views, whether at the dinner table--or on Twitter. "There's a lot of information in the details of our language." Matthew Purver, a computational linguist at Queen Mary University of London. "The little words we use, the way we join together our sentences, and the kind of interactional patterns, where we react to other people." Purver's research team used Twitter as their communications forum, randomly selecting 28,000 users, half of whom clearly followed one political party's Twitter feeds, for example, @GOP, but not the other, for a more or less even split among Republicans and Democrats. Then they analyzed the words in those users' timelines during a two-week period in June 2014. As you might expect, the tweets of users who followed Republican accounts were a lot more likely to contain words like "obamacare" and "benghazi," whereas "bridge gate" came up more among Democratic followers. But the researchers also found that the left-leaners were much more likely to use words like sh#& and fu@$ than were the righties. And whereas Republican followers preferred plural pronouns like "we" or "us," Democratic followers used more singular pronouns, like "I" or "me.". That pronoun use could reflect previous work on how people on the right and left forge their political views. "People on the right end of the political spectrum are more likely to be concerned with group conformity. Whereas people who tend to be on the left are perhaps more likely to see their morals or their values deriving from individualistic ideas, if you like." The study is in the journal PLoS ONE. Of course, just following a political account is not proof of political belief. But these findings suggest that algorithms may increasingly be able to read between the lines, detecting nuances in human communication that even we humans can't perceive. Which of the following is true? A. It's right to talk about politics over dinner. B. People use Twitter to express their political views explicitly. C. Humans may not perceive what we convey through language. D. Linguistics has nothing to do with algorithms. Answer: C. Humans may not perceive what we convey through language. Question: Put an ice cube from your fridge into a glass of water. You have a piece of string 10 centimeters long. The problem is to take out that piece of ice with the help of the string. But you must not touch the ice with your fingers. You may ask your friends to try to do that when you are having dinner together. There is a saltcellar on the table. You must use salt when you carry out this experiment. First you put the string across the piece of ice. Then put some salt on the ice. Salt makes ice melt . The ice round the string will begin to melt. But when it melts, it will lose heat. The cold ice cube will make the salt water freeze again. After a minute or two you may raise the piece of string and with it you will raise your piece of ice! This experiment can be very useful to you. If, for example, there is ice near the door of your house, you must use very much salt to melt all the ice. If you don't put enough salt, the water will freeze again. How many things at least are used in this experiment? A. Three. B. Four. C. Six. D. Seven. Answer: B. Four. Question: The stars at night, though bright and glowing merrily, are A. distant B. close C. touchable D. near Answer: A. distant Question: Most earthquakes occur within the upper 15 miles of the earth's surface, but earthquakes can and do occur at all depths to about 460 miles. Their number decreases as the depth increases. At about 460 miles one earthquake occurs only every few years. Near the surface earthquakes may run as high as 100 in a month, but the yearly average does not vary much. The extent of the disaster in an earthquake depends on many factors. If you carefully build a toy house with an erect set , it will still stand no matter how much you shake the table. But if you build a toy house with a pack of cards, a slight shake of the table will make it fall. An earthquake in Agadir was not strong, but it completely destroyed the city. Many stronger earthquakes have done comparatively little damage. If a building is well constructed and built on solid ground, it will resist an earthquake. Most deaths in earthquakes have been due to faulty building construction or poor building sites. A third and very serious factor is panic. When people rush out into narrow streets, more deaths will result. There is one type of earthquake disaster that little can be done about. This is the disaster caused by seismic sea waves, or tsunamis . These are often called tidal waves, but the name is incorrect. They had nothing to do with tides. In certain areas, earthquakes take place beneath the sea. These submarine earthquakes sometimes give rise to seismic sea waves. The waves are not noticeable out at sea because of their long wave length. But when they roll into harbors, they pile up into walls of water 6 to 60 feet high. The Japanese call them "tsunamis" meaning "harbor waves", because they reach a sizable height only in harbors. Tsunamis travel fairly slowly, at speeds up to 500 miles an hour. An earthquake warning system is in use to warn all shores likely to be reached by the waves. But this only enables people to leave the threatened shores for higher ground: There is no way to stop the oncoming wave. According to the passage, the waves caused by submarine earthquakes are not noticeable out at sea because of _ . A. their high speed B. the wide shores C. their silent movements D. their long wave length Answer: D. their long wave length
If a city wishes to host the Olympics, it must submit a proposal to the IOC. After all proposals have been submitted, the IOC votes. If no city with the fewest votes is eliminated, the voting continues, until a majority winner is determined. Typically the Games are awarded several years in advance, allowing the winning city time to prepare for the Games. In selecting the site of the Olympic Games, the IOC considers a number of factors, and chiefly among them is which organizing committee seems most likely to stage the Games effectively. The IOC also considers which parts of the world have not yet hosted the Games. For instance, Tokyo, the host of the 1964 Summer Games, and Beijing, that of the 2008 Games, were chosen in part to popularize the Olympic movement in Asia. Because of growing importance television worldwide, the IOC in recent years has also taken into account the host city's time zone. Whenever the Games take place in the USA or Canada, for example, American television networks are willing to pay specially higher amounts for television rights because they can broadcast popular events live in the best viewing hours. Once the Games have been awarded, it is the duty of the local organizing committee----not the IOC or the NOC of the host city's country to provide them with money. This is often done with a part of the Olympic television revenues , and corporate sponsorships , tickets sales, and other smaller revenue sources. In many cases there is also direct government support. Although many cities have achieved amounts of money by hosting the Games, the Olympics can be financially risky. When the financial gains from the Games were less than expected, the city was left with large debts. If the Games take place in Canada, American television networks _ . are willing to pay much higher amounts for television rights Last week.we talked about Massive Open Online Courses.also called MOOCs.Tens of thousands,or even more,people Can take these classes all at once.You can be anywhere in the worht to take a MOOC.All you need is a computer and a network connection. MOOCs add to a tradition of what is known as distance learning.For years,many colleges have offered classes that are taught partly or mostly online.MOOCs are available in subjects like comlmter science,engineering or mechanics.Can MOOCs in subjects like arts or the humanities be as effective? Scott Anderson teaches philosophy at the University of British Columbia in Canada.He sees both good and bad sides to MOOCs.Scott Anderson says,"There are pails that will be tine,insofar as mostly when students listen to a lecture. there is no special reason why they need to be physically present to hear and get it."Mr.Anderson says increased numbers of students in MOOCs can mean less communication between them and teachers.He says two ways to deal with this are.by adding more teachers and setting up online discussion groups. Lisa Jadwin teaches English and American literature and writing at St.John Fisher College in New York.She says online education has some weaknesses for her subjects. She says,"What's lost in online education is face-to-face interaction.And that old-fashioned approuch is not going to be replaced very quickly by computer--aided instrnction."Professor Jadwin says some students could learn very well from talks and reading assignments,blogs and discussion groups.But she believes that hybrid courses work best.She describes hybrids as mixing face-to-face course elements with computer-aided teaching and writing proiects. Bill Pogue teaches communications at the University of Houston-Downtown.He sees good value in online education.He noted a strong sense of communitv in an online ciyrse he once took.He said the students worked together on a project while living on four continents. Bill Pogue's attitude toward online education is that of _ . approval What will you do if you get 5 million ? Some people give some different answers. Sally: I want to do business . If I am rich, I will do a lot of things for my family. For me nothing is more important than my family. I will buy a new house for them and travel around the world. Joe: If I have 5 million, I will use the money to do everything I like. At first, I will use 2 million to open my own shop. And I will use another 2 million to buy some new houses. In the future, the houses which I buy will become more expensive,and I will sell them to other people. Finally, I will use 1 million to buy some presents for my family and my best friend. Anna: If I have 5 million, I will put 3 million in the bank and spend 2 million. I will visit Paris, London and New York. I will eat delicious food, play games, and build a building with a swimming pool. Jack: I will buy an island if I have 5 million. Then I will be the king of the island nad I will invite my friends to my island. What will Anna do if she gets 5 million? Put three million in the bank and spend 2 million. Which of the following will help my non-electric lawnmower run? dinosaur remains A boy couldn't speak when he was 3 years old. A lot of people thought he was a foolish boy. When the boy was 9 years old, he could speak but he still couldn't speak well. His teacher didn't like him at all and his classmates laughed at him. He felt very sad, One day his father had a walk with him. They went to a wood and there were a lot of trees there. Then his father took him to two trees and said to him."Boy, this tree is sabal (,)and this tree is fir . Sabal grows very quickly at first but a few years later, it will stop growing, so the tallest Sabal can't reach ten meters. But the fir is different, it grows very slowly at first but it never stops growing so it can grow very tall." Then his father took him to another fir. It was so tall, so strong. It can reach the sky. The father said to his son, "Son, you are the fir."The boy understood his father's words. The boy became a very great scientist. Do you know who he is? He is the world-famous scientist. His name is Einstein. What do you think of the boy's father? He is a great father.
Question: steam is a kind of water above A. the stove B. 373 kelvin C. the moon D. jupiter Answer: B. 373 kelvin Question: If an object undergoes chemical change then that object will have new chemical properties, such as A. a drink with water in it B. a toilet with bleach in it C. a soda with lime in it D. a sink with hair in it Answer: C. a soda with lime in it Question: American researchers found females are the more talkative sex because of a special "language protein " in the brain. The study, conducted by neuroscientists and psychologist from the University of Maryland, concluded that women talked more because they had more of the Foxp2 protein. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that higher levels were found among humans that were women but in rats that were males. Their findings came after it was previously claimed that ladies speak about 20,000 words a day - over 13,000 more than men. "This study is one of the first to report a sex difference in the expression of a language-associated protein in humans or animals," said Prof Margaret McCarthy, who led the study. In their study, the researchers attempted to determine what might make male rats more vocal than their female friends. They separated four-day-old rats from their mothers and then counted the number of times they cried out in the "ultrasonic range", the frequencies higher than humans can hear, over five minutes. While both sexes called out hundreds of cries, the males called out twice as often, they found. But when the pups were returned to their mother's cage, she _ her sons first. Tests conducted on the parts of the brain known to be associated with vocalcalls showed the male pups have up to twice as much Foxp2 protein as the females. The researchers then increased the production in the brains of female pups and reduced it in males. This led to the female rats crying out more often and their mothers showing more interest to them. In contrast, males became less "talkative". The researchers then tested samples from ten children, aged between three and five, which showed that females had up to 30 per cent more of the Foxp2 protein than males, in a brain area key to language in humans. "Based on our observations, we assume higher levels of Foxp2 in girls and higher levels of Foxp2 in male rats is an indication that Foxp2 protein levels are associated with the more communicative sex," said Prof McCarthy. "Our results imply Foxp2 as a component of the neurobiological basis of sex differences in vocal communication in mammals. " Which of the following can be the best title for the passage ? A. Tests on humans and rats B. Why women are the talkative sex C. Sex differences in Foxp2 protein D. Foxp2 protein determines oral ability Answer: B. Why women are the talkative sex Question: A wet towel will dry when it is left in the Sun. Which process occurs to make this happen? A. melting B. boiling C. condensation D. evaporation Answer: D. evaporation Question: Everyone wants to know the secrets of a long and healthy life. Here are some discoveries from health experts. Many studies looking into the lives of centenarians look at what they eat. Many people who live into their hundreds live in the Mediterranean , so their diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil, gets a lot of attention. The diet has been linked to a healthier older age, lower risk for heart disease, and even protection against memory loss. Education is related to a longer life. A 2012 report from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found that people with a bachelor's degree or higher live about nine years longer than people who don't graduate high school. James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation, is also a supporter of the argument for staying in school for better life expectancy. His findings show education should be an even bigger factor than race and income. Educated people are more likely to land better jobs, plan for their future, and make healthier lifestyle choices. Being a hard worker doesn't necessarily mean job-stress will harm you. The Longevity Study found that plenty of hard workers lived long lives. "Skeptics may wonder if hard workers really are enjoying life." the authors write, "We found that productive, hardworking people (even in old age) are not stressed or miserable, but tend to be happier, healthier, and more socially connected than their less productive peers." Having a strong social group is associated with a longer life. We often turn to friends and family for support, and taking care of the people that matter to us may help us take better care of ourselves, some evidence shows. Some research even suggests that immune function is improved when we are around our friends, and that they help with stress management. Research shows that sitting for long period of time put people at risk for shorter lifespans and other health risks. A 2011 study found that each hour people spent sitting down and watching TV after age 25 was linked to 22 minutes from their overall life expectancy. According to James Smith, which makes the greatest difference to a long life? A. Race B. Education C. Income D. Diet Answer: B. Education
Marry is eight years old now. This autumn she begins to go to school. She likes her teachers and has some friends. She studies hard and is good at her classes. So we think she's a good girl. It's Sunday today. It's fine and after breakfast the girl and her parents are going to the zoo. She likes to watch the animals very much. Now they're standing at the bus stop and waiting for the bus. She sees her friend Jim and his grandpa there. "Good morning, grandpa!" says the girl. "Are you going to the zoo, too?" "Yes, we are," says the old man. Then he says to Mary's father, "You have a polite daughter. How old is she?" "Eight, grandpa." answers the girl. "Eight?" the old man says with a smile. "But you're shorter than my stick!" "How old is your stick, then?" says the girl. Mary is in Grade _ now. A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four Answer: A. One Now let us look at how we read. When we read a printed text, our eyes move across a page in short, jerky movement. We recognize words usually when our eyes are still when they fixate. Each time they fixate, we see a group of words. This is known as the recognition span or the visual span. The length of time of which the eyes stop ---the duration of the fixation ----varies considerably from person to person. It also varies within any one person according to his purpose in reading and his familiarity with the text. Furthermore, it can be affected by such factors as lighting and tiredness. Unfortunately, in the past, many reading improvement courses have concentrated too much on how our eyes move across the printed page. As a result of this misleading emphasis on the purely visual aspects of reading, numerous exercises have been devised to train the eyes to see more words at one fixation. For instance, in some exercises, words are flashed on to a screen for, say, a tenth or a twentieth of a second. One of the exercises has required students to fix their eyes on some central point, taking in the words on either side. Such word patterns are often constructed in the shape of rather steep pyramids so the reader takes in more and more words at each successive fixation. All these exercises are very clever, _ Reading requires the ability to understand the relationship between words. Consequently , for these reasons, many experts have now begun to question the usefulness of eye training, especially since any approach which trains a person to read isolated words and phrases would seem unlikely to help him in reading a continuous text. The tune of the author in writing this article is _ A. critical B. neutral C. pessimistic ( ) D. optimistic Answer: B. neutral Donald was not very good at math. He couldn't understand the teacher's explanations. Even when the teacher explained something a second time, Donald Still couldn't understand it. "Never mind." Donald told himse1f, "I'm quite good at other subjects. I'll cheat in the math exam to get a good grade, then I won't be in trouble. " "I'll sit next to the boy who does best in math," he thought, "and copy down this answers." The day of the exam came, and Donald sat next to Tommy, who was always at the top of the class in math. Donald carefully copied Tommy's answers onto his own exam paper. At the end the exam, the teacher collected the papers and graded them in time. Then she said, "well, boys and girls, I've decided to give a prize to the student who got the highest grade. It's difficult for me to decide who I'll give the prize to one of them." The students were surprised when they heard this. They said, "That's not fair. They got the same grade." "That's true." the teacher said, "However, Tommy's answer to Question 18 was 'I don't know' while Dona1d's was 'Neither do I ' ." Donald _ during the exam. A. sat behind Tommy B. copied from Tommy C. asked the teacher for help D. didn't copy others Answer: B. copied from Tommy You get all sorts of demands, and the mark of a good hotel is to supply whatever is asked for without sounding surprised. If a guest asks for rubbers gloves, you don't ask why. You say, "No problem. What color1 do you want?" There have been some demands which, much as I would have liked to fill, I couldn't. A Japanese businessman, for example, thought the manager of a hotel was like his girlfriend so he asked me to marry him to the woman he loved. There was one time, however, _ . A young man thought that if he asked his girlfriend to marry him at the Ritz she would say yes. He asked us to put the ring in a cake, and she accepted. Top hotels are used more and more to impress. They are used for doing business. If you've got something to sell, take your clients to the best hotel where the surroundings are quite helpful. A friend of mine working at Savoy Hotel tells the story about a man who gave him 5 pounds to say "Good morning, Mr. Smith saying, "I do wish they would leave me alone at this place." According to Julian Payne, the most powerful people in any hotel are the porters, who carry bags for hotel guests. "Porters can do almost anything. They can get you tables at the best restaurants or tickets for a popular concert. Don't ask me how they do it or what their deal is because I don't know. Most of them have been there for years. They know more about the history of the hotel and the guests than anyone else. They are invaluable. A head porter will come in even on his day off so he can say hello to someone he remembers visiting the hotel years ago." Why are the porters considered the most powerful people in expensive hotels? A. They sell tickets for concerts B. They can complete difficult tasks C. They know the history of hotels D. They usually work in a hotel for a long time Answer: B. They can complete difficult tasks Welcome to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences of the Queen, who sometimes stays here. Audio tours Free audio tours are available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. There is a descriptive audio tour for blind and poor sighted visitors. Guided tours Visitors can explore the history of the Castle through a tour of the Precincts with an expert guide. Tours depart at regular intervals throughout the day from the Courtyard and finish at the entrance to the State Apartments. Visitors with children For those visiting with children, a special family tour and various activities are offered during school holidays and at weekends. Please note that, for safety reasons, pushchairs are not permitted in the State Apartments. However, baby carriers are available to borrow. St George's Chapel Visitors arriving at the Castle after 15:00 from March to October are advised to visit St George's Chapel first before it closes. Shopping Shops offer a wide range of souvenirs designed for the Royal Collection, including books, postcards, china, jewellery, and children's toys. Please ask at the Middle Ward shop about our home delivery service. Refreshments Bottled water can be purchased from the Courtyard and Middle Ward shops. From April to September ice cream is also available. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain reentry permits from the castle shops. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments of St George's Chapel. Photography and mobile phones Non-commercial photography and filming are welcomed in the Castle. Photography, video recording and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments of St George's Chapel. Mobile phones must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George's Chapel in consideration of other visitors. Security As Windsor Castle is a _ , visitors and their belongings should get through airport-style security checks. For safety and security reasons a one-way system operates along the visitor route. A visitor can apply for a free audio tour _ . A. in the Courtyard B. in the State Apartments C. at the Admission Center D. at St George's Chapel Answer: C. at the Admission Center
Researchers have found more evidence that suggests a relationship between races and rates of lung cancer among smokers. A new study shows that black people and Native Hawaiians are more likely to develop lung cancer from smoking. It compared their risk to whites, Japanese-Americans and Latinos. Researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of Hawaii did the new study. The New England Journal of Medicine published the findings. The eight-year research studied more than 180,000 people. They included present and former smokers and people who never smoked. Almost 2,000 people in the study developed lung cancer. Researchers say genetics might help explain the racial and ethnic differences. There could be differences in how people's bodies react to smoke. But environmental influences, including the way people smoke, could also make a difference. African-Americans and Latinos in the study are reported smoking the fewest cigarettes per day. Whites are the heaviest smokers. But the scientists point out that blacks have been reported to breathe cigarette smoke more deeply than white smokers. This could fill their lungs with more of the chemicals in tobacco that cause cancer. Scientists know that some diseases effect different groups differently. And some drug companies have begun to develop racially targeted medicines. Last June, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a drug designed to treat heart failure in black patients. The name is BiDil. The agency called it "a step toward the promise of personalized medicine." People in the new study are made up of _ . A. heavy smokers in America B. the black and white people C. the Asians and Hawaiians D. smokers and non-smokers Answer: D All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep people healthy, happy and help them to live longer. Sports change with the season. People play different games in winter and summer. Games and sports often grow out of people's work and everyday activities. The Arabs use horses or camels in much of their everyday life; they use them in their sports, too. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. Some sports or games go back thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese boxing, for example, has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. Neither one is a hundred years old yet. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game they often become good friends. Sports help to train a person's character . One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace . From this passage we can see that _ . A. sports and games are unimportant things that people do B. sports and games should be treated only as amusement C. sports and games are only useful to the old D. none of the above is true Answer: D Mark Twain's First Money Mark Twain was asked one day if he could remember the first money he ever earned. He thought a long time and then said , "Yes, it was at school.I can remember everything about it .School boys in those days did not take good care of their chairs and desks.There was a rule in our school that if anyone damaged his desk or chair, he would have to pay five dollars or the teacher would beat him in front of the whole school." "One day I damaged my desk in some way, I had to pay five dollars or be beaten before the whole school.My father said it would be too bad to have our family disgraced in front of the whole school.He agreed to give me five dollars to hand over the teacher.But before he gave me the money, he took me upstairs and gave me a beating." "But as I had one beating and I decided I would take another beating at school and keep the five dollars.So that's what I did.That was the first money I ever earned." Mark Twain was beaten _ . A. at home B. only by his father C. at school D. both at school and at home Answer: D A few days ago I asked my sons' governess Julia to come into my study. "Be seated, Julia, "I said, "Let's settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you're too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month..." "Forty." "No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you've been here two months, so..." "Two months and five days." "Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... you know you didn't work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays... "Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but - not a word. "Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven - nineteen. Take nineteen off ... that leaves. hmm.... forty one dollars. Correct?" Julia's left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but - still not a word. "Around New Year's Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but- forget it. When didn't I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect , Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick's shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars." "You didn't. "sobbed Julia. "But I made a note of it." "Well... if you say so." "Take twenty seven from forty one -that leaves fourteen." Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl! "Only once was I given any money," she whispered, her voice trembling, "and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more." "Really? You see now, and I didn't know that! Take three from fourteen.. leaves eleven. Here's your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is !" I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them. "Merci(: ),"she whispered. I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. "For what, this - 'merci'?" I asked. "For the money. " "But you know I've cheated you - robbed you ! I have actually stolen from you ! Why this'merci'?" "In my other places they didn't give me anything at all." "They didn't give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you... I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless ?Why didn't you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws --to be such a fool?" Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression,"It is possible." I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little"merci"several times and went out. I looked after her and thought,"How easy it is to crush the weak in this world !" From the story, we can tell that Julia's employer was _ . A. greedy but honest B. ill - tempered but warm - hearted C. strict but forgiving D. none of the above Answer: D Do you know the Eiffel Tower when you see a picture of it? Of course you do! So do a lot of other people. In fact, I believe more people recognize the Eiffel Tower than any other famous structure in the whole world. That long, long capital A is easy to remember. The Eiffel Tower is the famous symbol of the city of Paris. It also stands for France just as the Statue of Liberty stands for the United States. The Eiffel Tower was not very well liked at first, even though the design had been chosen out of seven hundred designs. A contest had been held to find a design for a tower to be built in Paris by 1889.That year would be one hundred years after the war known as the French Revolution. The French Revolution marked the time when the French people broke away from the rule of kings. It was a very important thing to all Frenchmen, and they wanted a special tower to be built to mark the 100 years. When his design was chosen, Eiffel was fifty-four, rich, and well-known for his fine work. He had already designed dams, churches, railroad stations, bridges, harbors and, of course, the framework of the Statue of Liberty. But it was the Eiffel Tower that made him really famous. At first, the French hated the tower. When it was begun in 1887, people called it ugly and useless. They also said that it couldn't be built safely, and that it would fall down. As the tower gets close to her nineties, she is still in great shape. And the French people have changed their minds. Now they are very proud of their Eiffel Tower. They even think she is beautiful! What does this passage mainly tell us? A. Eiffel designed many different kinds of things. B. The reasons why many people know the Eiffel Tower. C. Some opinions that the Eiffel Tower should not be built then. D. Some interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower. Answer: D
Question: The British usually expect one or two snowfalls each year but the amount of snow rarely affects everyday life. However, this week Britain has had the worst snow it has seen in around 18 years. Some places had more than 30cm in a day. The bad weather caused severe disruption. More than 3000 schools had to close as teachers and pupils were unable to get to school. School children weren't too unhappy about it though as they headed out to play the snow, building snowmen, having snowball fights, sledging and some even snowboarding and skiing. In London, bus services were withdrawn for a day and tubes and trains were cancelled. Major motorways in the country had to close. Many people were unable to get to work and it is thought the cost of this lost labor is around &1 billion (10 billion yuan) to businesses and the economy. Anyone who wanted to leave the country had problems too. Runways were closed at all the UK's major airports because of the amount of snow. Hundreds of flights were cancelled leaving some passengers stranded at airports. So why is the UK so ill-prepared for snow? The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, explained that there aren't enough snow -ploughs and gritters and it doesn't make sense to buy such equipment when it snows so infrequently. The south-east of England was the hardest hit at the beginning of the week but the snow is now moving northwards where the chaos continues. More ice and snow is forecast throughout the week and the advice from travel and weather organizations is to stay indoors unless you really need to _ ! What can we infer from the passage? A. The heavy snow is what the British have been expecting for 18 years. B. The heavy snow has been a very rare heavy one in the UK for 18 years. C. The heavy snow doesn't please school children at all. D. The government isn't ill-prepared for snow. Answer: B. The heavy snow has been a very rare heavy one in the UK for 18 years. Question: The top ten hottest English words in 2015 Selfie is "taking a photo by yourself", Now "taking a selfie" is generally a way of self-expression. Budgetwife is the opposite of budget husband . By name, you can see that the economy strength of budget male is not strong as the "diamond man" , but he is both economically and emotionally reliable. Phubbing refers to impolite behavior that in social situations people don't pay attention to the people around, but just look at their mobile phones, we can call it "down". People are called phubber "down" . Bromeo are male girlfriends. He is one of your most loyal friends, will support you in every situation. "Fangirl" or "fanboy" refers to those who are crazy about something or a star, even to the point of sanity. Gayriage refers to two people of equal gender form of marriage. Two men to get married, the marriage is called gayriage. Mompetition, it is the competition between mothers, comparing whose child is more beautiful, more smarter, more fashionable. It can be compared two or more mothers, and the children being compared can be adult. Social bubble , which means that some people seem to know many people, but only few people could be friends. After "financial bubble", "housing bubble", personal bubbles begin to hit career people. Tom is a _ , crazy about selfies. A. fanboy B. phubber C. bromeo D. photographer Answer: A. fanboy Question: Teenagers who spend hours in front of the television may have a poorer diet as young adults. A study, which included nearly 1,400 high school students, found that those who watched TV for five hours or more per day had less healthy diets than their peers five years later. Why does this happen? Should the parents take any measures? On the one hand, people who spend a lot of time in front of the TV, especially teenagers may snack more, and that may affect their long-term diet quality. On the other hand, TV ads for fast food, sweets and snacks tempt teenagers to eat more of those foods. And TV time might also replace exercise time for some kids. Lead researcher Dr. Daheia J. BarrAnderson, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Reuters Health a clear correlation between TV time during high school and diet quality in young adulthood . While the heaviest TV viewers were eating the most junk food five years later, those who'd watched less than two hours per day had the highest intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-calcium food. In her opinion, parents should limit and monitor TV viewing. I think children should watch no more than two hours of television per day. And parents should set a good example by eating right, being physical active and curbing their own TV time. What's the best title for this passage? A. People should keep away from TV to keep healthy B. Teenagers' TV time may affect their diets later C. Why do teenagers like TV? D. Parents' own habits may affect children later Answer: B. Teenagers' TV time may affect their diets later Question: After a day of work and play, the body needs to rest. Sleep is necessary for good health. During this time, the body recovers from the activities of the previous day. The rest that you get while sleeping enables your body to prepare itself for the next day. There are four levels of sleep, each being a little deeper than the one before. As you sleep, your muscles relax little by little. Your heart beats more slowly, and your brain slows down. After you reach the fourth level, your body shifts back and forth from one level of sleep to the other. Although your mind slows down, from time to time you will dream. Scientists who study sleep state that when dreaming occurs your eyeballs begin to move quickly (although your eyelids are closed). This stage of sleep is called REM, which stands for rapid eye movement. If you have trouble falling asleep, some people recommend breathing very slowly and very deeply. Other people believe that drinking warm milk will help make you drowsy. There is also an old suggestion that counting sheep will put you to sleep. The average number of hours of sleep that an adult needs is _ . A. approximately six hours. B. around ten hours. C. about eight hours D. not stated here. Answer: D. not stated here. Question: John Steinbeck once said, "All Americans believe they are born fishermen. For a man to admit to a distaste in fishing would be like denouncing mother - love or hating moonlight." I can't say that I'm the biggest John Steinbeck fan. Actually, the only thing I can ever remember reading by him was "The pearl" when I was in middle school, but I couldn't agree more with the man when it comes to fishing. Whether I am on a boat in the middle of the Lay Lake, fishing off the shores of the Florida Keys for tarpon or catching rainbow trout in the Shoshone River of Wyoming, fishing is my life. According to the American Sports Fishing Association, the fishing industry brings in more than $ 116 billion per year from fishermen across the country. Though a beautiful picture to imagine, fishing is much more than that. Fishing is a way of life for many people and a way to escape everyday stress. Being a fisherman makes me a member of a wonderful group of people extending to all walks of life. Even President Obama can be found fishing on his farm in Texas with his good friend Roland Martin when the job gets too stressful. I can remember fishing with my grandfather when I was 5 years old on his boat at Lake Mitchell. Although I didn't understand what I was doing, I did know that my grandfather was happy and that made me happy. Since then I've spent the past 16 years on the rivers and lakes of Alabama. After days of practice, before and after work, I slowly developed an understanding of fishing. My boss, Ric Horst, took me back to the Shoshone, and I managed to bring in a 19-inch cutthroat trout. Fishing with Ric was a life-changing experience for me. He not only showed me how to fish correctly, but also told me how fishing could be a way to escape your problems. Since then, prime-time season seems to take forever to arrive. Now, with the ending of February and beginning of March in sight, the excitement of heading out Lake Tuscaloosa or Lake Lurleen before classes and catching something has finally returned. What can be inferred from the text? A. The author is at most 21 years old. B. The author regards fishing as a very important part in his life. C. The author agreed with John Steinbeck the most when he was in middle school. D. President Obama often goes fishing in public in order to collect idea for his job. Answer: B. The author regards fishing as a very important part in his life.
An old woman walked into a clothes shop. She asked the salesgirl to let her have a look at a new dress on display, but the girl stood still behind the counter, taking no notice of the request. The old woman spoke to the girl again, raising her voice a bit, but still received no answer. The old woman looked closely at the girl and nodded to her, "I am too old to see well." I can't even tell a plastic model from a real girl." On hearing this, the salesgirl shouted at the old woman, " What? Did you call me a plastic model?" The old woman was greatly surprised. "On, dear me," she said. "The model can speak. Then it must be a robot of a new type." The assistant took no notice of the old woman because _ . she was not a good assistant A very old lady won a million dollars in a lottery . Her son and his wife heard the news on the radio."How are we going to tell your mother?" the wife asked. "The shock might kill her! "That's true." the son said. "Perhaps we'd better speak to her doctor about it. He'll know how to break the news to her gently." They explained the situation to the old lady's doctor. "I'm glad you told me." he said. "A shock, even a happy one,could give her a heart attack. Leave it to me. I 'll find a way of breaking the news to her." He thought about the problem for several days, and then decided what he would say. He called on the old lady and sat by her side. He took her hand in his."Let's play a game, my dear." he said. "A 'Let's Pretend' game." ks5u "Oh, yes." the old lady said. "I love 'Let's Pretend' games." "Good. I'll ask you a question first." the doctor said. "Then you can ask me one." He pretended to think for a few moments. Then he said, "Tell me, what would you do if you won a million dollars in the lottery?" "Oh, that's an easy one." the old lady said. "I'd give most of it to you, doctor, because you have been so good to me all these years. Doctor!" But the doctor was now lying on the floor. He had died of shock. The doctor went to the old lady's house _ to tell her the news There is no place like home--as long as it is far enough away, it seems. Britain has become a nation of nomads ,with nearly half of us living more than 100 miles from the town or village where we grew up, research shows. The trend is being fuelled by the Internet, better communications and property wealth. People who move away fit into four separate categories--Sheep, Hens, Cows or Pigs. Sheep are people who change home for economic and emotional peace. Hens are home and environment care-seekers. Cows are career or work shifters, while pigs are people caught up in grand parental support. It is far from the common believed idea of Coronation Streets, where close-knit generations of the same family live within a few streets of each other throughout their lives. Less. Than 20 percent of people now live in the town where they were born. Instead, young adults move away to find work, get married or seek adventure. Many use the Internet to work from a home which need not be within easy traveling distance of their workplace. Also joining the moving crowd are older people who either move to be near grandchildren or retire to new homes. One in ten of those who do make away makes a complete break, and now lives 500 miles or more from where they grew up. Women are likely to leave as men, a sign of independence that would not have excited in the 1950s and 60s. People in the North-East, North-West, Yorkshire and prefix = st1 /Scotlandare the most likely to live in the community where they were born, the study found. Who are not likely to move away from home? _ . People in Scotland One rainy evening I went to fill up at the gas station. A pre-teen boy approached my car and asked me for money to help him and his mother stay in their hotel for an additional week. He stated that if they did not come up with $25 they would be _ that same evening. Having worked in social services before and having doubt about this, I asked why his mother hadn't applied for social services for assistance. The boy said that they needed to remain in their hotel for one more week until his grandmother, who lived out of town, could take them in. I gave the boy what I had -- $5. He thanked me and continued to wander the parking lot asking for help. I got my gas and drove away. Some weeks ago, a boy asked me for money and I told him I didn't have any though I did. Yet, I thought about it for a while and went looking for the boy to give him a dollar. But it seemed that he had disappeared into thin air. "This time," I thought, "I'll do it differently." I went to my bank and got an additional $20, then I returned to the gas station. The boy was still there. I observed him shyly approaching strangers who walked past him without notice. I pulled up and waved at the boy to come over. I handed him the $20 bill. He reached through my car window and gave me a huge hug. His hug told me all I needed to know -- that finally this kid could get out of the rain, the cold and the darkening skies and go inside where it was warm. From the story we know that the author _ . once worked in social services David hated spending money. When he had to buy something in a shop, he always tried his best to knock down the price, even for the cheapest things. If he wanted to buy a bottle of orange, for example, and the shopkeeper asked for $2, David would say, "Make it $1.90 and I'll buy it." Sometimes the shopkeepers agreed to _ their prices a little. "What's ten cents?" they asked themselves. "If it makes this man happy, it won't hurt me very much." In this way David saved a few cents here and a few cents there, and by the end of the year he had saved several hundred dollars. One day he had a very bad toothache and had to go to the dentist. The dentist looked at the tooth and said, "This tooth will have to come out. It's too serious to save." "How much must I pay you to take out a tooth?" David asked. "Forty dollars," the dentist said. "How long will it take you to pull out the tooth?" he asked. "About two minutes," the dentist answered. "Forty dollars for two minutes' work!" he shouted, "That's robbery ." The dentist smiled. "You're right," she said. "Thank you for telling me. I'll pull your tooth out very slowly. How about if I take half an hour?" After the dentist answered David's question, he became very _ . angry
NASA on September 28, 2015 announced the strongest evidence yet for liquid water on the red planet, increasing the possibility that astronauts journeying to Mars could someday rely on the planet's own water for their drinking needs. You may feel like you've heard about the hunt for liquid water on Mars before--and the researchers involved know it may seem played out. But science has yet to truly prove that water flows on Mars once and for all, and doing so could completely change the way we view the planet. This new data is a big step in the right direction. "Liquid water is an attractive topic, and we like the thousandth time someone has discovered water on Mars," Lujendra Ojha, the Georgia Tech PhD candidate who led the research announced Monday, told The Post. But there's a good reason that liquid water is so "attractive": Mars is now the only planet in our solar system to show evidence of the stuff on its surface, other than _ . Other worlds have it in subsurface oceans, or scattered around as vapor in the atmosphere. But Mars is the only place where we have solid evidence for liquid that sits right there in the open air. While it would be a major leap to suggest that Mars might harbor life--even microbial life--liquid water at least makes it possible that parts of the planet are habitable. The study builds on research from April, when scientists using data from the Curiosity rover noted that the planet had the seasonal potential for liquid water. We know that because of the extremely low pressure on Mars, water has a boiling point of just a few degrees Celsius, after which it evaporates. The April study noted the presence of perchlorates --a kind of salt--which could make the boiling point of Mars' water much higher, theoretically allowing it to remain liquid. They affirmed that the planet's temperature would be right for liquid, perchlorate-filled water to form every day during winter and spring. The best title for the passage can be " _ ". Answer: NASA confirms the best-ever evidence for water on Mars The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming. Let's see what my friends are going to do during the three-day holiday. Peter: I'm going to visit my uncle and aunt with my parents during the three days. They live in the countryside. It is far from our city, Beijing. We're going to take the train there. I am going fishing there with my cousin. Eliza: I'm going to visit my grandparents with my parents on the first day. They live in a small town. It is going to take us one hour to get there by car. On the second day, I'm going to have a party with my friends. On the third day, I have to do my homework and study for a math test. Gina: My cousin is visiting us. He lives in Tianjin. He is coming by bus. On the first day, I'm going to play ping-pong with him. On the second day, I'm going to take him to Eliza's party. On the third day, my cousin is going back and I am going to do some shopping with my parents. How is Eliza going to her grandparents' home? Answer: By car. I was always blamed for watching too much cartoons. As I have said goodbye to my teenage, I shift to watching more movies to prove that I was a grown-up. Surprisingly, I found that movies have something in common with cartoons. They are unrealistic. Sometimes movies give people hope, including the hope of justice, the hope of tomorrow and almost everything else. A great number of people were once touched by certain movies. From time to time, movies try to deliver some decisive ideas to the audience. In this way, movies do cheer up many people to go on with their lives. It seems that there is a set formula in movies. We usually see the hero or heroine in the movies suffer a lot in the opening. Gradually and likely, the destination of them always comes to a turning point. So they have to struggle or make some important choices. Then the movie ends up with a happy finale. Or at least the hero finally manages to face his poor life with great courage somehow. However, when audience watch movies in the cinema, most of them just follow the story. Few of them may ask, "Will it happen in the real life?" Movies are also imitating the real life. Thus a movie, just like a novel, can never be the same as the real life. The setting of a movie is so ideal that we could hardly find it out in reality. The moviemakers just try their best to persuade the audience to believe the story is true. In a word, it is all just _ . For quite a long time, I think that the adults' world is realistic in the opposite way of the children's cartoon. However, the movies from the adult world turn out to be a made-up thing. At the very moment, I suddenly realize that movies are somewhat of the adult's fairy tales or cartoons. To sum up, other than false comfort such as movies and tales, we are more in need of the maturity of mind, so that we can face our lives bravely and correctly. With time going on, the author shifts to watching more movies because he thinks that _ . Answer: they are for adult and that he is now an adult Face-to-face communication involves much more than the spoken word.In fact, we often communicate our feelings to others through our body language without realizing we are doing so.We communicate through posture, gesture and facial expression.But the eyes also play an important part in this unspoken language.William Shakespeare called the eyes "a window to the soul," and you can learn to look through that window and better understand a person's body language by reading eye movement. Begin a conversation and ask a simple question.Watch carefully for eye movement during the response.If the person looks up, he or she is thinking or forming pictures.This is also a sign of a visual thinker.Looking up and to the left shows recalling a memory, while looking up and to the right could show imaginative construction or lying. If the person looks down, this could be a sign of obedience or even blame.Looking down and to the left can show a person talking to themselves.Looking down and to the right can show that they are feeling strong emotion. Looking sideways can indicate distraction or checking out a potential threat, hut a sideways glance can also show anger.In addition, eyes that look side to side often show shiftiness and lying. A glance usually indicates a desire for something.Glancing at a door could show a desire to leave the room, while a glance, at a person could indicate a desire to talk to them.A glance is also used when it is forbidden to look at something. A person who is lying to you may hold eye contact longer than normal.In addition, this person might smile with his mouth but not with his eyes.Smiling with the eyes is difficult to do if the emotion is not genuine. Rapid blinking of the eyes can occur when a person is thinking, and this can also be another sign of lying.Again, a person who is aware of this sign might overcompensate and stare. Which eye movement cannot hide your feelings? Answer: Smiling with the eyes. Liu Xiaohua is 12 years old. She is from Mianyang, Sichuan Province. When Premier Wen Jiabao visited people in the Jiuzhou Gymnasium, he met Liu Xiaohua. Premier Wen held her hand and told her not to cry. He also encouraged her to live on. Ren Siyu is 6 years old. She is from Beichuan, Sichuan Province. She was buried under the rubble for two days and nights and her legs were trapped. When people came to save her, she sang the songTwo Tigers. She said singing the song could lessen the pain . Li Yue is 12 years old. She is also from Beichuan, Sichuan Province. Li Yue likes dancing, but she can't dance any more. Doctors had to cut off her two legs to save her. She was buried with her classmates. She told them to be quiet when people saved them. According to the passage, which of the following is RIGHT? Answer: Liu Xiaohua is from Mianyang, Sichuan Province.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez , who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982, passed away at the age of 86 on April 17, 2014. The world paused to remember the cultural giant. Garcia Marquez was born in Colombia, but he spent most of his adult life in Mexico City. As one of the most famous writers, he was widely regarded as "a giant of 20th- century literature." Garcia Marquez wrote in a style called " magical realism ." In such works, people live a daily life in a certain period of time in history. But meanwhile , magical things happen to them. Garcia Marquez is best known for his 1967 novel, One hundred years of Solitude (<<>> ), which has sold about 50 million copies. It tells the tale of the small and _ town of Macondo which was separated from the outside world- of its founding and its troubled history over a hundred years. The story is a metaphor for the development of Colombia since the 19 century. As Colombian President Juan Manuel Santons said, Garcia Marquez wrote about "the essence of the Latin American beings." Garcia Marquez was born in _ . 1928 Do you like traveling? How can you make your trip more interesting? Here's some advice. Read! Before we leave, we should find some information about the place you want to go to, such as its geography, its history and its famous people. And we should read them carefully. So, we can really understand that place during our trip even though we don't have much time. Take photos! Most of us take a camera when we travel, If you want to take some photos, remember to choose the most special sights, Don't choose the sight we can see in other places. For example,Beidaihe, Qingdao and Zhuhai are _ cities. Don't only take photos of the sea. You should take photos of something special, too. Taste! Don't buy the food that you like most because you can buy it in your own city or town. You 'd better taste something special in that place. Food in some places is very delicious. And from food, you can find its food culture. So why not taste it? Maybe you have just one chance to taste it in your life. Write! When you visit a place, you should take a pen and a notebook, so you can write down what you see and what you think during the trip. Later, when you read it, you'll feel that you can find the pleasure during the trip. ,. When we travel to Hainan Island, we'd better take photos of _ . the sea Miep Gies, the woman who hid the Dutch girl Anne Frank's diary from the Nazis to become one of the world's most-read books, died after a brief illness at the age of 100. It was Gies who guarded Anne's diary, and presented it to the girl's father, Otto, when he returned from the Auschwitz concentration camp at the end of World War II--the only one of his family to survive. In her diary, Anne Frank wrote about her teenage life hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam from 1942 to 1944, when the Nazi police discovered her and her family's hiding place. The diary, first published in 1947, has been translated into 70 languages. Anne Frank expressed a great wish to live on after death. Miep Gies saw it as her duty to help in making this happen. Born in Vienna in 1909, Gies moved to the Netherlands at the age of 11. In 1933, she began working for Otto Frank at his trading company. At great risk to her own safety, she and four other helpers brought food and supplies to the Frank family hiding in a secret office building for more than two years. When she turned 100, _ . "I'm not a hero," she said. " It wasn't something I planned in advance. I simply did what I could to help." Every day she received letters from all over the world with questions about her relationship with Anne Frank and her role as a helper. Gies received many honors for her role, including from the Netherlands, Germany and Israel. What can we infer from the passage? Miep Gies did a great favor to Anne's family. Who is greatest teacher in Chinese history? You can't think of anyone else when you hear people read Confucius 2,500 year-old words: "All study but no thinking makes people puzzled." All thinking but no study makes people lazy. Tuesday was Confucius' birthday. He was born on September 28,551 BC in the Kingdom of Lu , in today's Shandong Province. Chinese look upon Confucius as the greatest thinker and also the greatest teacher. He had about 3,000 students. For more than 2,000 years, Confucius' ideas have been around in people's everyday lives. Now they have gone far into Western countries and south Asia. People can still hear _ today. Why are his ideas so popular? They help not only in everyday life but also society. Confucius' most important ideas are kindness and good manners. Confucius said young people should take care of the old. People should give up thinking of themselves and work for others. As a great teacher, Confucius said that all should go to school if they wanted to learn. Some of Confucius' popular words are "A kind person should care others" and "Be strict with yourself, but be kind to others". People use his ideas to help themselves and society. Now, more than 100 Internet web sites are teaching people about Confucius and his ideas. "Kindness and honesty are the best values of the world today," said 79-year-old Kong Fanjin who was studying Confucius. According to the text you can find more about Confucius and his ideas _ . on the Internet Developing healthy eating habits starts from childhood, therefore it is important for parents to teach and provide children with a healthy diet. DPHSS administrator of the Bureau of Nutrition Services, Charlie Morris told KUAM News, "A healthy diet for a child consists of a lot of fruits and vegetables in the diet limiting the amount of simple sugars in the diet and high fat food and highly processed food." This means staying away as much as possible from food such as chips, cookies, candies and sugary drinks, as all children need to have meals which involve a well-balanced diet. Community nutritionist Thelma Romoso said, "The fruit, the vegetable, the grain, the protein, and also the milk, the diary product, so for the fruits it's easy for a mother to go into the two plus three concept of fruits and vegetables or five a day." This concept means that there are at least two servings of fruits a day, three servings of vegetables a day which can be served for lunch and dinner. As for protein parents can make a variety of dishes from chicken, beef, fish or even dried beans to pledge the child gets three servings a day. Morris said that the child's hunger level controls how much is eaten and the parent controls what and when the meal is offered, saying, "Mom needs to ensure that the food offered is good food for the child to eat and throughout the day depending on how active they are, snacks are not a bad thing, so the mom should offer good kinds of snacks." When it comes to preparing your child's lunch and snacks for school, make sure to keep in mind that the food you provide should not only be a source of energy but also be nutritionally beneficial such as fresh fruits, and whole grain bread. But parents must be sure to remember that a good nutritional diet must be balanced with physical activity, namely it is important that children get outside and run around and play and get activity in addition to eating a good diet. What does the author intend to tell us in the passage? Choose healthy food and snacks for your child.
Waste can be seen everywhere in the school. Some students ask for more food than they can eat and others often forget to turn off the lights when they leave the classroom. They say they can afford these things. But I don't agree with them. Waste can bring a lot of problems. Although China is rich in some resources , we are short of others, for example, fresh water . It is reported that we will have no coal or oil to use in 100 years. So if we go on wasting our resources, what can we use in the future and where can we move? Think about it. I think we should say no to the students who waste things every day. Everybody should stop wasting as soon as possible. In our everyday life, we can do many things to prevent waste from happening, for example, turn off the water taps when we finish washing, turn off the lights when we leave the classroom, try not to order more food than we need, and so on. Little by little, everything will be changed. Waste can be stopped one day, if we do our best. Which is the best title of this passage? Answer: Stop Wasting The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to install video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits . In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about 40 lawsuits. The chief said, "If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn't have had to pay one cent. We're always pulling over drunks or drug users who try to fight the police or shoot them. Then they always claim that the police start beating them first or start shooting at them first." The cost of installing cameras will be about $500 each. The city council will vote on the proposal next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members said that they like the idea. One member said that it makes good sense. The police officers enthusiastically support camera use. One officer said that too many people think the police often lie; cameras would show citizens that police tell the truth. "The money that we've been spending on lawsuits will be better spent on more cameras," said one officer. Citizen opinions to the idea of police car cameras are mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented. But an elderly man strongly objected. "These police are trying to stick their nose into everything," he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to condemn the proposal. He hoped that other citizens would join him. We can learn from what the chief said that with cameras on _ . Answer: the police will not be treated unjustly Thelma was such a life-loving and easy-going person that she was always full of energy and never felt sad. When she was at the age of 75, her husband passed away. Her children were afraid she was lonely and suggested that she move to a "Senior living community ". Thelma thought that was a good idea and decided to do so. Shortly after moving in, Thelma became many activities' director. She loved to organize all kinds of things for the people in the community. So quickly she became very popular and made many friends. When Thelma turned 80, her new friends showed their appreciation by throwing a surprise birthday party for her. When Thelma entered the dining room for dinner that night, she was greeted by a standing ovation and one of _ led her to the head table. The night was filled with laughter and entertainment, but throughout the evening, Thelma could not take her eyes off a gentleman sitting at the other end of the table. When the party ended, Thelma quickly rose from her seat and rushed over to the man "Pardon me," Thelma said, "Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable by _ at you all night. I just couldn't help myself from looking your way. You see, you look just like my fifth husband." "Your fifth husband!" replied the gentleman. "Forgive me for asking, but how many times have you been married? " With that, a smile appeared on Thelma's face as she replied, "Four." They were married shortly after that. Why was Thelma popular in the community? Answer: Because she was outgoing and life-loving. Jack Green is 75 years old. He is not in good condition. "I think I'm ill," he tells his wife, "I feel awful. I've got a headache and I don't feel like eating." "You've put on a lot of weight recently. You should see the doctor," his wife says, "ask him how to lose weight. It's not good for your health." "OK," says Jack. He goes to see a doctor. The doctor checks his heart and weighs him. Then he says, "You are too heavy. You need to do some excercise to lose about 30 kilograms. Run two miles a day for the next 100 days. Then call and tell me your weight." A week later, the doctor receives a call from Jack. "Doctor, I ran two miles every day and I feel much better. But I have a new problem." "What's that?" asks the doctor. "I'm 14 miles away from home, and I can't find my way back." Choose the right answer according to the passage. What's Jack's new problem? Answer: He can't find his way back home. Boys and girls, let's begin our English class now. This time I want to talk about my family. Then I want you to say something about your families. There are seven people in my family. They are my parents, my two sisters, my brother, his wife and I. In England, a family like this is a big one. My father has a factory . It isn't very big. It makes all kinds of boats. My brother is a doctor. He works in a hospital . His wife works in a hospital, too. She is a nurse. My two sisters are students. One wants to be a teacher. She studies hard and well. The other likes singing very much and can sing very well. So she wants to be a singer . I'm now in China teaching English and learning Chinese. My mother stays at home. Can you guess what she does at home? Yes, she does housework. She is a housewife. Where do I come from? Answer: England
A 13-year-old American has made a cheap machine that can help blind people read. The blind can read by using _ - a system of small bumps that the blind touch to read the letters. The machine that makes these small bumps usually costs at least $2,000. It is called Braille writer. The American schoolboy, Shubham Banerjee, made a new Braille writer from a Lego tool that lets people create robots. Banerjee has called his new machine the Braigo - a combination of the words Braille and Lego. It costs just $ 350. It works by changing electronic text into Braille and then printing it using a computer or mobile machine. Banerjee designed his Braigo last year for a school science exhibition. Since then, he has caught the interest of Silicon Valley in the USA. The big technology company Intel spent money on Banerjee's machine last November, but they did not say how much money they put in. Banerjee also got $35, 000 from his father to help him start the project. His father works as a computer engineer at Intel. He spoke about why he gave so much money to his son, saying:"We as parents started to be interested more, thinking that he's on to something and this invention has to continue." Banerjee told the AP News: "My dream would probably be having most of the blind people...using my Braigo." What does the Braigo change into Braille? A Photocopies. B Voices. C Electronic text. D Computer languages. Answer: C I was in my first year of college, making friends and enjoying life, but then my whole world turned upside down. I had a heart attack. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest with a knife over and over again. After three months of rest I went back to college, but then things took a turn for the worse. I was staying at my Nana's house and woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible pain in my chest. I knew I was having a heart attack again. I couldn't even shout for help. Luckily my grandpa was going to the toilet and heard me falling out of bed. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here. The two holes in my heart were causing the problems and I needed an operation immediately to repair them. Unfortunately, the surgery didn't go well and they only managed to repair one of the holes. When I woke up from the operation, I had a really dry mouth and couldn't wait to have something to eat and drink. The biggest shock of all came when I was told that I needed a heart transplant and was put on the register. The doctors were stunned at how quickly heart failure came on - it usually takes years, but it took my heart less than six months to get to that stage. My whole world came crashing down, but I stayed strong. It was a choice between crying every day and getting on with my life. As time went on, life became even harder. I hated feeling weak all the time and needing help with everything. It got to the point where I thought I would never get a new heart. I was diagnosed with depression. Even though I thought that Christmas 2008 would be my last, I really enjoyed it and even had a good New Year. Everyone was crying for me when the clock struck midnight and they told me to keep fighting. A week later, I got a call from the doctors saying they'd found a suitable donor . My wish came true and thankfully the operation went well. I spent four hours in surgery where they took out my old heart and put a new one in. When I woke up I burst out crying. I had a second chance at life. What happened when the author was having his second heart attack? A He felt less pain than he had during the previous one. B He realized what it was and shouted for help in time. C He narrowly escaped death thanks to his grandfather. D He decided to have an operation to repair the two holes in his heart. Answer: C From Mr. Ward Hoffman. Sir, I was halfway through Professor Raj Persaud's article "What's the tipping point?" (Financial Times Weekend, April 9-l0) when it occurred to me that what I was reading was not ironic . If Prof Persaud wants to know why Americans tip in restaurants, he need only ask the first American he meets inprefix = st1 /London. Americans tip in restaurants for one reason, and one reason only: we tip to supplement the salary of restaurant workers. Quality of service does not enter into it, beyond the fact that one may tip a bit less for poor service, or a little more for good service. Not tipping at all in a non-fast-food restaurant is not a choice. In the US, one used to tip about 15 per cent for dining in a family-style restaurant or in an up-market restaurant. Here, in San FranciscoBayarea restaurants, we are encouraged to tip 20 per cent or more, to help restart workers live in this very expensive area. After eating at an Italian restart in my city, I left a tip of 20 per cent on the non-tax part of our dinner bill. It was expected. There is nothing more complicated than that about Americastipping in restaurants. Ward Hoffman, Palo Alto, CA94306,US * * * From Mr. Philip McBride Johnson. Sir, I agree with most of Raj Persaud's opinion about the doubtful value of tipping, but with one exception. Tips can be very useful when one is a repeat customer or diner. It is only when the tipper is a stranger and likely to remain so that the system does not work to his or her advantage. But frequent a hotel or a restaurant, always tip a bit more, and the difference in service and treatment will be easily felt. Phfiip McBnde Johnson, Great Falls, VA22066,US From tbe two letters, we can learn Professor Raj Persaud _ . A feels doubtful about the value of tipping B believes tipping improves quality of service C wants to ask Hoffman about tipping in the US D thinks tipping a bit more one can get good service Answer: A Jane Austen(1775-1817),an English novelist, started writing young and completed six novels in her life. Today Austen's books are more popular than ever. In the last 10 years, five of her six novels have been made into Hollywood films, while her books continue to be best-sellers. Richard Jenkyns, a professor of English at Oxford University, says that her novels are about marriage, friendships and the family, which are still with us today. "The stories are timeless,"Jenkyns said. Pride and Prejudice (1813) is Austen's most famous work. It is a love story about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. At first, these two dislike each other. Elizabeth is pretty ,smart and lively. She is proud because Darcy doesn't know about her family. Mr. Darcy is handsome, rich and has a better family background. So, he is proud as well. At the same time, Darcy holds a prejudice against the Bennet family. He has no understanding of why the family, especially its mother and daughters should try so hard to find wealthy and powerful husbands. He thinks they are _ Anyway, Elizabeth and Darcy finally fall in love and become a romantic couple but their families don't want them to. In Pride and Prejudice, some of the main things that Jane Austen wants to teach people are as follows. Opposites can attract each other. Lovers should not ony make each other feel relaxed or comfortable, but also educate and improve each other. Austen is often called the greatest romanti writer, so it is surprising she remained unmarried. 'Maybe she was too romantic, waiting for the perfect man," Jenkyns says. From what Jenkyns says,we can learn _ . A opposites can attract each other B lovers should improve each other. C Austen's works go beyond her times D Austen married a perfect man at last Answer: C Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish choose to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about thinking is the key to critical thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes . Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education. The word "critical" here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one view against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen--beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning. Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are curious about life and desire to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker. Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today's world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure of intelligence , you may learn _ from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein, Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately put Hoffman at ease by saying, "Please go slowly. I don't understand things quickly." Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, _ . A it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast B we might be controlled by other people's ideas C we will follow the ideas of others naturally D we might be fooled by other people's ideas Answer: B
Anger is good for you, as lon g as you control it, according to new psychology research. A new study from Carnegie Mellon University shows anger may help people reduce the negative impacts of stress and help you become healthier. "Here getting emotional is not bad for you if you look at the case of anger," said Jennifer Lerner of Carnegie Mellon. "The more people display anger, the lower their stress responses." Lerner studied 92 UCLA students by asking them to count back from 6,200. They must say out loud every thirteenth number. Researchers disturbed them by asking them to count faster or ask them other questions. If they made any mistakes, they had to restart from the very beginning. Many students felt depressed about making so many mistakes or got angry because the researchers were interrupting them. Lerner used a hidden video camera and recorded all their facial expressions during the test. The researchers describe their reactions as fear, anger and disgust. Other researchers recorded the students' blood pressure, pulse and production of a high-stress hormone called cortisol. People whose faces showed more fear during th e experiment had higher blood pressure and higher levels of the hormone. Both can have lasting effects such as diabetes , heart disease, depression and extra weight gain. When people feel fear, negative impacts increase, but when they get angry, those negatives go down, according to the study. "Having that sense of anger leads people to actually feel some power in what otherwise is maddening situation," Lerner said. Lerner previously studied Americans' emotional response to the 911 terrorist attacks two months after the incident. She found people who reacted with anger were more optimistic. These people are healthier compared with those who were frightened during the event. So in maddening situations, anger is not a bad thing to have. It's a healthier response than fear. What is the story mainly about? Answer: The findings of new psychology research. MELBOURNE, Australia - A kangaroo frightened by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, throwing the pet underwater and hitting the owner in the stomach with its back legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old struck the kangaroo in the throat. Rickard said he was walking his blue dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, when the kangaroo turned and knocked the pet underwater. When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its back legs and tearing a deep cut into his stomach and across his face. "I thought I might take action to drag the dog out from under his grasp, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Rickard, 49, told The Herald Sun newspaper. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people." "I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just attacked me." He added, "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I struck him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit. "I don't think I'll ever be able to watch kangaroo programs quite the same as I used to -- it might bring back a couple of bad memories." Kangaroos rarely attack people but will fight if they feel threatened. Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and defend themselves there. Rickard said he ended the attack by hitting the kangaroo in the throat adding Rocky was "half-drowned" when he pulled him from the water. As a result of the attack, _ . Answer: Rickard was left a deep impression It takes courage to stand up at work.Now more and more people are standing up when they are working on something important.Standing up is in fashion.Medical researchers have found that people who stand at work tend to be much healthier than those who sit.But I wasn't just looking for better health -- standing would also improve how I work and relax my body. In recent years, many office supply companies have begun to sell adjustable desks.These so-called "sit / stand" models are equipped with an electric motor that lets them shift from chair height to person height at the push of a button.Unfortunately, sit / stand desks tend to be expensive, hard to find and not very easy to test in person. I discovered that when I worked standing up, my mind was clearer and new ideas kept coming to me.I suspect that this is because when you're standing, you feel a bit unchained from your desk.If I got stuck on a word or sentence as I wrote it, I found myself shaking my arms, bouncing on my feet or stepping away from the desk for a bit -- things I couldn't do in a chair.Often, standing up seemed to relax my mind enough for me to get over creative barriers. There's another thing about standing for a long time: I tend to get hungrier than I do when I sit on a chair.That feels like confirmation of the stand-up advocates' belief that you burn more calories when you stand than when you sit.For this reason alone, I' m hoping that one day mass-market furniture companies can make many low-priced versions of sit / stand desks.We could all work with a bit more standing up. What is the main idea of the text? Answer: Standing up at work is a better choice. American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird's eye view! No matter what activity you're enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun's powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block! 15 Street Boat Company Monday-Saturday 15 Street Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They're sure to have what you are looking for, whether it's a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they've got it. It's fun for everyone! Coconut's Watersports 9am-5pm Monday-Sunday Coconut's Watersports is open 7 days a week and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended. Jet Ski Tours of Miami 10am-7pm Thursday-Sunday Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch sight of dolphins, turtles or a crab resting in these splendid Florida waters. What's a must to ride alone in the Jet Ski activities? Answer: One must be at least 14 years old. Researchers Look Behind the Tears to Study Crying Many people found themselves unusually moved by the historic presidential inauguration last week in Washington. Watching the huge crowds, we saw laughter, cheers, hugs---but also many tears. It made us wonder why do people cry? Surely tears must be good for us--away to calm the mind and cleanse the body. Yet studies show that crying sometimes makes people feel worse. Three researchers in Florida and the Netherlands recently looked more deeply into the subject. They examined detailed descriptions of crying experiences. Psychologist Jonathan Rottenberg at the University of South Florida says they wanted to study crying as it happens in everyday life, not in a laboratory. The team analyzed information from the International Study on Adult Crying. As part of that study, three thousand people in different countries, mostly college students, wrote about recent crying experiences. They noted causes, surroundings and any people involved in the event. They also reported how they felt after they cried. Professor Roaenberg says the research showed that all crying experiences are not created equal. Crying does not always make a person feel better, he says. About ten percent of people reported feeling worse after they cried. But a third felt better after crying. And a majority reported the experience as helpful. The research showed that people who cry alone may not do as well as those with others around. People who reached out for emotional support at the time---and received it---reported better results from the crying experience. But Professor Rottenberg says those who felt shame or embarrassment while crying were less likely to report that crying had been helpful. Research has shown that women cry more often and more intensely than men. But it may not have better effect, says the psychologist. The new findings, he says, did not show that a person's sex was an advantage of beneficial crying. In other words, just because women cry more does not mean they are more likely to have a "good" cry. The paper entitled "Is Crying Beneficial?" appeared in December in Current Directions in Psychological Science and there is more to learn. Jonathan Rottenberg says the science of crying is still _ . How did the researchers carry out the research? Answer: They studied the crying experiences of grown-ups from various countries.
Question: Moods, say the experts, are feelings that tend to become fixed, influencing one's outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That's great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or simply lonely. Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is to talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modern pharmacology offers a lot of tranquilizers What many people don't realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non-drug methods to set you loose from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous. So next time you _ don't head for the drug-store but try the following methods. Of all the mood-altering self-help techniques, aerobic exercise seems to be the most efficient cure for a bad mood. "If you could keep up the exercise, you'd be in high spirits, " says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty. Researchers have explained biochemical and various other changes that make exercise compare favourably to drugs as a mood raiser. Physical exertion such as housework, however, does little. The key is aerobic exercise--running, cycling, walking, swimming or other repetitive and sustained activities that increase the heart rate, increase blood circulation and improve the body's use of oxygen. Do some of the activities for at least 20 minutes a session three to five times a week. What is the main subject discussed in the passage? A. How to beat a bad mood. B. How to talk bad moods out. C. How to do physical exercises. D. How to join in aerobic exercises. Answer: A Question: Although 19-year-old George Dennehy is armless, he isn't letting that stop him from pursuing his dreams and sharing his passion with the world. Born without arms, the young boy's birth parents left him. Luckily, a warm-hearted couple _ him and took good care of him. However, his new parents never allowed him to use his disability as an excuse to be lazy. When George turned eight, they asked him to sign up for cello lessons. The instrument is tough even for people who have the use of both their hands, so it was even more challenging for George, who had to learn to play it with his feet. Thanks to his music teacher, the young boy not only mastered the cello, but also realized that he had a passion and talent for music. During middle school years, he also mastered the piano and guitar. His music talent caught the eye of an American rock band who invited him to perform alongside them at a ten-day-long music festival. The experience has inspired this once shy boy to pursue a career in music. He has also become a motivational speaker who encourages both able and disabled people to pursue their dreams, no matter how impossible these dreams may sound. Geoge Dennehy is armless, he isn't letting that stop him from pursuing his dreams and sharing his passion with the world. What's the best title ? A. Follow your dreams B. A poor boy C. An armless boy D. Challenge Answer: C Question: When you don't have anything planned for the day or it's rainy outside and your children are stuck in the house, why not sit around and tell them riddles? Telling riddles will make your family laugh and sometimes even scratch their heads, trying to figure out what the answer is. Riddles have been a pastime for centuries. Not only have riddles been something for passing the time, but they have also been used to pass on secret information during the Second World War. Even the ancient Greeks used riddles. They would tell riddles at parties and whoever was the first to get them right would receive prize. Most riddles use words that have double meanings or share the same sound like "hear" and "here". So in order to get the riddle, you will have to do some creative thinking and think of all the possibilities of different words. The difficulty of figuring out the riddle is based on the riddle itself. The riddle has to provide you with enough clues to come to the right answer, but that doesn't mean that the clues have to be easy. If you are looking to tell riddles but don't know any, you can look online and you will find a large number of sites that will have hundreds of different riddles to choose from. If you would like to look somewhere else then you could look at your local bookstore, where you will be able to find many different books with thousands of riddles to choose from. You can even find websites and books that will tell you how to write your own riddles. After you have found some resources that have different riddles, you will need to read through them to find the right ones for you and your family: You will also need to make sure that your kids will have a chance to figure out the answers. So take your time and choose the right family riddles to tell. What is the author's main purpose in writing the text? A. To recommend an interesting family activity. B. To stress the importance of family activities. C. To encourage children to read more books. D. To introduce the history of riddles. Answer: A Question: Grasslands need time to rest when cattle and other animals feed on them. Moving animals from one area of pasture to another can provide the time needed for new growth. This is called rotational grazing . Rotational grazing is good for the land and the animals, and it can save money. This form of grazing can reduce the need for pesticide treatments by reducing the growth of weeds. And it can limit the need for chemical fertilizers by letting animal wastes do the job of natural fertilizer. Rotational grazing can even help prevent wildfires by keeping grasslands in good condition. Letting animals feed continually and intensively in the same grazing areas can require costly replanting. Animals eat the most desirable growth first. When that keeps happening, the roots do not have enough time to recover. As a result, less desirable plants may replace them. Intensively used grasslands are also harmed as the soil is continually crushed under the weight of heavy animals. While rotational grazing can save money over time, it also requires planning. And that starts with a good map to mark fences, water supplies and grazing areas. Changing methods of grazing also requires time. Farmers may want to put up electric fences to enclose grazing areas, called paddocks. The paddocks will need water. Some farmers design a path for animals from different paddocks to drink from a common watering place. Farmers can start rotational grazing by removing animals from a pasture when the grass is eaten to less that five centimeters. The pasture is then kept empty until the grass grows to more than fifteen centimeters high. Sheep and goats may require special preparations. They may need stronger fences than other animals. And while they eat the grass, they may need guard animals to protect them from animals that would like to eat them. The function of putting up electric fences is to _ . A. divide the pasture into paddocks B. encourage animals to get around C. stop animals staying at one place D. provide water supplies for animals Answer: A Question: The question whether there is life on Mars has made the public think a lot for more than a century. The closest look showed Mars to be a dusty, cold world, covered by air too thin to breathe. A British spaceship and Europe's Mars spaceship plan to land on Mars or enter orbit around it. One of the NASA's spaceships is expected to land on January 3, the other is going to land on the opposite side of Mars on January 24. Since 1960, over twenty spaceships sent to Mars have failed. Most have been lost on flying up or landing because those are the most difficult times of any flights. Scientists wanted to find out whether there was water in Mars. In October, a team of scientists reported that Mars had been a dry wasteland. But weeks later, a second team reported differently that they had found some marks showed clearly that they were made by the rivers. Such marks told us that Mars was a warmer place billions of years ago -- just as life first appeared here on Earth. Scientists at once raise a question: if what they said is true, what happened on Mars? Then what about the earth? Two NASA's spaceships _ . A. will land on the different sides of Mars B. will land on the same day C. will enter orbit around Mars D. will land with a man Answer: A
Question: Sound pulses helps dolphins A. satisfy women B. find God C. find nourishment D. find ibexes Answer: C. find nourishment Question: There is a big supermarket near my home. Its name is Pricelow. It has lots of things. You can buy school things, like notebooks, pens, rulers, pencils, erasers and pencil boxes. You can buy vegetables, fruit and all kinds of food. You can also buy clothes. Some of the things there are cheap, and anybody can afford the price. But some of them are _ . The supermarket is open every day from 7:00 a.m.to 8:00 p.m. The workers there are very good. They work hard all day. They are happy to answer your questions. They help you if you want to buy anything. There are many people on weekends. They buy lots of things. Sometimes they have breakfast, lunch or dinner there. The supermarket near my home is _ . A. old B. new C. big D. small Answer: C. big Question: Dogs have an understanding of fair play and become angry if they feel that another dog is getting a better deal, a new study has found. The study looked at how dogs react when a companion is rewarded for the same trick in an unequal way. Friederike Range, a researcher at the University of Vienna in Austria, and her colleagues did a series of experiments with dogs who knew how to respond to the command "give the paw ". The dogs were normally happy to repeatedly give the paw, whether they got a reward or not. But that changed if they saw that another dog was being rewarded with a piece of food, while they received nothing. "We found that the dogs hesitated significantly longer when obeying the command to give the paw," the researchers write. The unrewarded dogs eventually stopped cooperating. Scientists have long known that humans pay close attention to inequity. But researchers always assumed that animals didn't share the trait. "The argument was that this is a uniquely human phenomenon," says Frans de Waal, a professor of psychology at Emory University in Atlanta. That changed in 2003 when he and a colleague did a study on monkeys. The monkeys had to hand a small rock to researchers to get a piece of cucumber in return. They were happy to do this. But if they saw that another monkey was getting a more delicious reward, a grape, for doing the same job, they would throw away the food and rock, and at some point just stopped performing. In that experiment, the monkeys considered the fairness of two different types of payment. But when Range and her colleagues did a similar study with their trained dogs, testing to see if dogs would become upset if they only got dark bread when other dogs received sausage, they found that as long as the dogs got some kind of food payment, even if it wasn't the most delicious kind, the animals would play along. How did the dogs in Range's study react to the order of "giving the paw"? A. They took the order even without being rewarded. B. They took the order only when rewarded. C. They turned a deaf ear to repeated orders. D. They hesitated longer when given repeated orders. Answer: A. They took the order even without being rewarded. Question: Mountain lions live in mountainous areas of the western prefix = st1 /United States. Lately, however, people have reported seeing them in quiet neighborhoods all across the country! Usually considered shy and seldom seen, these lions are becoming more noticeable. In addition, the lions appear to be moving east. They were even reported in the suburbs of Boston, Philadelphia, andChicago. It seems certain that these "Kings of the mountains" are moving. Why? Scientists are not sure. Some think that as the mountain lion population increases in the west, younger wild cats are leaving the area. These cats are searching for new homes and new places for food. "The young males are looking for new homes," says Lynn Sadler, who is the director of the Mountain Lion Foundation in Sacramento,Calif."People tend to create too many barriers, such as buildings, fences, roads, and noise. As the mountain lions seek new places and food and water sources, these barriers get in their way." The sightings have made people increasingly watchful . Sometimes the "mountain lions" that people report seeing turn out to be large dogs or even house cats. But at least a few of the meetings have been real. The building of new roads, the growing of suburbs and the growing popularity of outdoor activities are all increasing the chances that people in various parts of the country may meet up with a mountain lion. Because many people are concerned about the reappearance of the American lion, an expert outlined some ways they can avoid attracting the wild cats: Never leave pets or pet food outside; properly care for farm animals; and plan public land use to enable the lions to move safely from one place to another. "To be fair," says the expert, "mountain lions are trying to regain their homes. They were here first. Now we need to find ways we can live together." To avoid attracting mountain lions, people are advised _ . A. to build more roads for the lions to move safely B. to keep a close watch on their farm animals C. not to stay outdoors D. not to raise pets Answer: B. to keep a close watch on their farm animals Question: If you think you are too shy and want to be a little bit braver, just try the following things: You can make it. Tell people you are shy. There is no need to hide it. When they get to know you are a shy kid, they will understand you better. This also helps feel more _ in talks. Try to smile more. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk with. Remember that other people have feelings, too; and most people will stay away from an angry--looking face. Learn to be a good talker. If you find it hard to start a conversation, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person? Get your attention elsewhere. Think more about ways to enjoy parties or games. Don't waste time worrying about your book or whether people like you or not. Take one small step at a time. Each time when you say: "Hi!" or smile at someone, say to yourself: "You can make it." Keep trying and one day you'll never feel shy when you talk to others. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. Don't keep smiling too often B. Never say something nice about people. C. Think less about ways to enjoy parties or games D. One day you'll never feel shy when talking to others. Answer: D. One day you'll never feel shy when talking to others.
What is the basic unit of life? Answer: Every reader of this passage must spend the whole of his waking life looking at things. Looking, like breathing, is natural; we do it without noticing it. Looking is passive--but seeing is active. Once you start seeing things you really begin to wake up. People who see things which others have only looked at, and draw conclusions from what they see, can add to man's knowledge and help progress. Someone recently discovered a place where metal had been worked continuously longer than any where else in prefix = st1 /England. He "saw" a wall in theForestofDean. Thousands of people must have looked at it without really seeing it, but this man noticed that among the usual stones of that place were bits and pieces of a different color1; they also felt different to the hand. A closer sight showed that these pieces had been left behind in the fires of ancient people who had melted rocks to get metals. Looking around, he found more and more information, until the history of what men had done at that place over tens of centuries was known. The man found out that _ . Answer: The fossils that are found in the oldest layers of sedimentary rock were formed which types of organisms? Answer: Johnson likes swimming in a small river near his house. But then his father goes to work in a big city and Johnson goes with his family. Their new house has a garden, but the garden is very small Johnson is not very happy. "Is there a river near the house?"He asks his father on the first morning." No, there isn't. But there is a big park near here. And there's a pool in it. ""We are going there this afternoon. "says his father. Johnson is happy. Johnson and his father go to the park in the afternoon. Johnson wants to walk near the pool. But he sees a sign. His father reads it to him: "Warning: This pool is dangerous.365 people fell into it. "Johanson looks into the pool carefully, then he says,"I can't see them. There is a _ near Johnson's new house. Answer: I often walk dogs at an animal shelter near our house. When they see me, they look so happy, because they know they will get to go outside, play with me and get lots of love from me. -----Mandy, 12 Every weekend, I go to an animal shelter to help. They have adoption events at pet stores. I help out by talking to people about animals, feeding animals and making sure the cages are clean. It makes me feel great when a cat or dog gets a new home. ----Lucas, 11 Sometimes I do things for my neighbors and ask them to give me some money or clothes. Then I can give these to the unlucky people. ----Linda, 10 I love volunteering! Last week, I cleaned up the houses for people who couldn't do it themselves. I also made gifts for many women on Mother's Day. And I'll help the older people cook dinner next week. I love the feeling I get when the people smile and I know I made a difference in their life. ----Megan, 13 I volunteer at an after-school reading program. I help young children to learn how to read. My favorite part of it is seeing a little child feels excited when he or she learns a new word. ----Victoria, 12 Which of the following is NOT Lucas' job? Answer:
When people travel in another city or country ,they sometimes stay in the homes of the local people. This is called _ . It is a great experience because you can meet people from a different country or city and learn something new about that place . I am Wan Li from China. I came to the UK with my friends for a short visit . we are living with an English couple ,Mr. and Mrs.Green ,in the west of London. They have a wonderful four -bedroom house . This is a new house . It has two bathrooms and a garden with many beautiful flowers. I have a bedroom of my own . There are some shopping centres and restaurants near the house, and the house is close to an underground station. It takes about thirty minutes to get to the centre of London. I think a homestay may be a good choice for you if it is your first time to visit abroad . The local people are friendly and willing to help. If you happen to celebrate the holidays with them, you will get to know more about western culture and customs. Wan Li and his friends live with _ in London. Mr. and Mrs. Green Is it time to kick Russia out of the BRICs ?If so, it may end up sounding like a famous ball-point pen maker--BIC. An argument is being made that Goldman Sach's famous marketing device , the BRICs, should really be the BICs. "Is Russia really worth the name BRICs?" asks Anders Aslund, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, in an article for Foreign Policy. Aslund, who is also co-author with Andrew Kuchins of "The Russian Balance Sheet", thinks the Russia of Putin and Medvedev is just not worthy of inclusion alongside Brazil, India and China in the list of future economic powerhouses. He writes: "The country's economic performance has fallen to such a weak level that one must ask whether it has any say at all on the global economy, compared with the other members of its group. I have just returned from Moscow, which is always dull around this season. For the last seven years, Russia has taken very few measures to improve its economy. Instead, the state has been living on oil and gas." Economically, Aslund has the numbers on his side. The International Monetary Fund figures that the Russian economy will fall by 6.7 percent in 2009, while China will grow 8.5 percent and India 5.4 percent. There is less of a case for Brazil, with a fall of 0.7 percent, but it is still doing far better than Russia. But the BRICs are not just about economy. As is mentioned above, it is a marketing device to encourage investors to focus on the big promising players. From an investment standpoint, it could be argued that Russia is leading the BRICs. Its stock market is up 128 percent this year while around 80 percent is for the other three. At very least, despite Russia's economic underperformance, its stock market outperformance does suggest it is indeed one of the group. From the passage we know that _ . Russia outperformed the other three countries in stock market Cambodians are continuing to mourn the death of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, who died in Beijing this week. In an exclusive interview with CCTV, China's ambassador to Cambodia, Pan Guangxue, says Sihanouk made indelible contributions to Sino-Cambodian relations and his death will not affect the friendship between the two countries. Since its founding, the People's Republic of China has maintained close contact with Cambodia. Bilateral trade volume has increased rapidly in recent years, from 200 million US dollars in 2002 to nearly 2.5 billion US dollars in 2011. China is now not only Cambodia's third largest trading partner, but for many years has been Cambodia's number one investor. Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia's "King-Father" pioneered the relationship. Pan Guangxue said, "If we look back at previous decades, I think Sihanouk made the right choice, a choice good to Cambodian national development. It was because of his commitment to the development of Sino-Cambodia friendship that we've achieved what we have today." In 2010, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, during its Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to China. And 2013 is set to be China-Cambodia Friendship Year. Pan Guangxue said, "Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on many occasions that China does not tell Cambodia what to do or what not to do. China does not point fingers at Cambodia. I think this is a true evaluation of Sino-Cambodian relations. China pursues an independent peaceful foreign policy of non-alignment and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries." The ambassador says Sihanouk's death is a huge loss to both China and Cambodia, but that bilateral relations will not be affected. Pan Guangxue said, "I believe the bilateral relationship will be sustained and grow even stronger." With both countries enjoying the benefits of the fruitful relationship, the governments of China and Cambodia have promised that Sihanouk's legacy will continue to be the foundation of even stronger ties. What is Pan Guangxue's opinion on Sihanouk's death? It has very little negative effect on the bilateral relationship. Here are four famous festivals aroud the world .Are you familiar with all of them? Christmas is on 25 December.On the night before the festival ,young children hang up their stockings for the gift that Santa Clause gives .This festival is for the birth of Christ.All the people like this festival. In North America ,Halloween is on the last day of October . Families make lanterns from pumpkin .In the evening , children dress up well and go form house to house to ask for sweets or have parties at home. Mid-autumn Festival is a Chinese festival in the autumn . People wait to see a big around moon in the night sky . They eat moon cake and light lanterns . The longest day in the northern hemisphere is on 21 or 22 June each year . This is the middle of summer .There is a flower festival for four days each June in California , USA .There is a parade and people go to flower fields to look at the flowers. Christmas is for _ . Christ Doctors say obesity,also known as severe overweight,is a complex condition.A doctor may advise medical interventions in addition to changes in behavior.But experts say the more successful weightloss plans include a wellbalanced diet and exercise. People who want to avoid weight gain have to balance the number of calories they eat with the number of calories they use.To lose weight,you can reduce the number of calories you take in,or increase the number you use,or both.Experts at the National Institutes of Health say to lose weight,a person should do some moderate or intensive physical exercise most days of the week.This could include fast walking,sports or strength training. A recent study looked at four of the most popular dieting plans in the United States.Researchers at Stanford University studied more than three hundred overweight women,mostly in their thirties or forties.Each woman went on one of the four plans:Atkins,The Zone,Ornish or LEARN.The women attended diet classes and received written information about the food plans.At the end of a year,the women on the Atkins diet had lost the most,more than four and a half kilograms on average. Christopher Gardner led the study,reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. He said the Atkins diet may be more successful because of its simple message to lower the intake of sugar.Also,he said the advice to increase protein in the diet leads to more satisfying meals. But last week,another report suggested that only a small minority of people have longterm success in dieting.Researchers at the University of California found that most dieters regained their lost weight within five years.And often they gained back even more.But those who kept the weight off generally were the ones who exercised. Which one of the following is the best title for this passage? Successful Weightloss Plans
Why does the rate of heart attacks increase during the World Cup football finals? How can we help an overweight patient to lose weight? They're just some of the topics covered in a new book by University of Sussex academics, which is helping student doctors to consider the importance of psychology in medical practice. Psychology for Medicineis the first textbook of its kind, providing medical trainees and new doctors with all the relevant psychological knowledge they need. Previously, students had to refer to many different books for the relevant psychology. The book, by Sussex psychologists Dr. Sussex Ayers and Dr. Richard de Visser, has been well received by fellow academics and medical doctors and was finished with the help of the students and staff of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The studentsproofread the chapters, provided ideas for the content and even modeled for the photographs. The book provides a solid grounding in psychological study relevant to medicine, along with practical tips and advice for practice. One student, Simon Hall, drew cartoons for the book. The study psychology is important for doctors for a number of reasons. Psychological and physical symptoms are highly related. Up to a third of patients will have psychological disorders, while physical causes are usually only found in around 15 per cent of people's symptoms. In treatment, a lot of the effect drugs can be due to patients believing they will recover rather than the drug itself. Dr. Ayers says, "The important thing about this book is that it's applied science --- it shows why psychology is important to medicine and how we should use it. The book's presentation is really important. It's not just lots of theory, but full of tips and advice so that students can take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations." We can infer that the text is a(n) _ . Because of the stress and strains of modern life folks today would rather watch television than get together with neighbors. Their behavior doesn't mirror TV soaps like Coronation Street and East Enders. The Street's Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby know all their neighbors. But the Royal Mail survey shows that real-life under35s wouldn't dream of popping next door for a chat or to borrow a cup of sugar. Three out of ten say they wouldn't know their neighbors if they saw them in the street. The same proportion would only offer to help neighbors if absolutely necessary, while thirty-onepercent don't want to get to know them better. Twenty-six percent rarely or never speak to the person next door. Thirty-five percent only talk to neighbors occasionally, and six percent actively dislike them. The older generation are still sociable, with seventy percent of over55s taking time to chat to people next door. The report says: "In the past, the British tradition of village green gossip between neighbors was celebrated worldwide. But there's been a clear shift away from local links by the young generation." Londoners are least likely to be neighbors, with a third rarely or never chatting over the garden fence. People in the Midlands--where 65 percent often speak to their neighbors are most friendly. Sociologist Jane Blakeman said: "People are working longer hours than ever before, and are traveling further to work. It leaves them far less time at home." Almost a third of young people _ . Loulan, an ancient city in the Lop Nur, was first "discovered" by Swedish explorer Sven Hedin in 1900. The finding of Loulan brought about new and unexpected fame for the ancient history of the Central Asia and thus began the exploration of the Taklamakan Desert. The City of Loulan is known both in China and throughout the world as the Middle Kingdom's ' _ ' in the desert and one of the cradles of the civilization. It wasn't hard to imagine how excited Sven Hedin must have been when he was awarded the Victoria Medal by the Royal Geography Association. From that point forward, the mysterious covering of Loulan was gradually lowered and was no more a silent unknown hero but became an immediate worldwide sensation . Adventurers from America, Britain, Japan and Sweden, including Huntington, Stein, Otani Kozui and Bergman set foot here for several times. In the 1930s, Chinese archaeologist Huang Wenbi came here for the first time and made a survey of this area, which was found even then in terrible conditions due to uncontrolled digging with many wonderful cultural historic relics taken away to distant foreign lands. In 1979, a group of tombs called Sun Tombs, known for their unique and attractive burial forms, were unearthed in the Gumugou Graveyard, the public graveyard of the Lop Nur citizens in the Bronze Age. In early 1980s, in the Tiebanhe River Delta area of the lower reaches of the Peafowl River in Lop Nur, a female mummy dating back some 3,800 years was unearthed and was considered by the Japanese as the "Loulan Beauty". This set off a wave of current exploration of the Silk Road. The archaeological unearthing being currently conducted in the Xiaohe (Small River) Graveyard is now the focus of the world's most important academic event. The Xiaohe Graveyard, 175km west of the City of Loulan, is located in the lower reaches of the Peafowl River in the Lop Nur. When the Graveyard was found, it is said that there were some 1,000 coffins. It is large in scale with sand dunes as high as eight metres, on which about 140 wooden stakes in various shapes were closely arranged. These burial customs are, to say the least, unusual... with the unearthed relics dated back to China's most ancient days. From the passage, it can be inferred that _ . Like many new graduates, I left university full of hope for the future but with no real idea of what I wanted to do. My degree, with honors, in English literature had not really prepared me for anything practical. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world somehow, but I had no idea how to do that. That's when I learned about the Lighthouse Project. I started my journey as a Lighthouse Project volunteer by reading as much as I could about the experiences of previous volunteers. I knew it would be a lot of hard work, and that I would be away from my family and friends for a very long time. In short, I did not take my decision to apply for the Lighthouse Project lightly. Neither did my family. Eventually, however, I won the support of my family, and I sent in all the paperwork needed for the application. After countless interviews and presentations, I managed to stand out among the candidates and survive the test alone. Several months later, I finally received a call asking me to report for the duty. I would be going to a small village near Abuja, Nigeria. Where? What? Nigeria? I had no idea. But I was about to find out. After completing my training, I was sent to the village that was small and desperately in need of proper accommodation. Though the local villagers were poor, they offered their homes, hearts, and food as if I were their own family. I was asked to lead a small team of local people in building a new schoolhouse. For the next year or so, I taught in that same schoolhouse. But I sometimes think I learned more from my students than they did from me. Sometime during that period, I realized that all those things that had seemed so strange or unusual to me no longer did, though I did not get anywhere with the local language, and returned to the United States a different man. The Lighthouse Project had changed my life forever. What can we infer from the author's experiences in Nigeria? Comparative thinking and behavior is quite typical among teenagers, but it is the responsibility of the parent to set limits and hold firmly to them. Frequently, a parent will tell me in frustration about how their child has complained about not having the very best in fashion design like their friends, or the latest electronic gadgetry that all the other kids own. Parents need to teach their children selfconfidence. Those who are selfconfident resist the urge to compare themselves to other people, and do not overestimate others' experience while diminishing their own. But some people may have a mantra signified by the slogan, if only. "If only I had the money of my brother; if only I was smart like my classmates; if only I was as goodlooking as my friends." Comparing oneself with others is a trap. People who compare themselves with other individuals tend to feel that they are not good enough. They tend to perseverate about their shortcomings. Even if they try their best,it is not good enough because they can always find someone who performs at a higher level. When people compare, they generally focus on their negative traits. They ignore all that is going right in their life. They also tend to minimize their success and dismiss positive gestures and compliments. Those who are confident listen to their own inner voice. They are not influenced by other people's view of events. They are not overly impressed by others' success, money, health,and material possessions. They do not believe that others have a greater sense of emotional wellbeing than they do. Recently, The Harvard Mental Health Letter published an article which indicated that people with chronic pain had as significant a sense of wellbeing as those without chronic pain. However, those with chronic pain tended to overestimate the emotional wellbeing of physically healthy people. The study confirmed that it is how we view events that is important, not the nature of our circumstances which may include making comparisons. It seems that those who make comparisons don't _ .
Not being the best but touching the limits of your ability. This belief came from my third grade teacher, the most trusted and loved person in my life. Mr. Myrus was always perfectly dressed and spoke with the conviction that talking to small kids didn't mean that he had to sacrifice proper pronunciation or grammar. And he was demanding. Oh, he wasn't unreasonable or cruel; he simply felt that no matter what your best was, you should achieve it. As luck would have it, I met him again as my eighth grade math teacher. I was not, nor ever will be, gifted in math. And thirteen-year-old girls do not have the energy to devote to something like square roots . I remember our struggles, "I don't know the answer. I can't do it.!" "Perhaps you don't know the answer," he would say quietly. "Do you think we might figure it out together? How do you know what you can do until you try?" Mr. Myrus lived around the corner, and I would often stop by to talk while he worked in his wood shop. In this room of sawdust, wood chips, and the smoke from the woodburning stove, I felt respected and valued as a person. I knew there was someone who liked me for who I was, someone who, while he always wanted me to do my best, let me know that if I had really tried, that was enough. Mr. Myrus was my teacher and my friend. He taught me to be kind. He taught me my own value. He taught me about honor, about truth, and about doing my best--and that all feelings and beliefs have dignity and deserve respect. And of all the things I know, this I believe: We can't all be "the" best, but we can, each of us, be our best, and I know that's true because Mr. Myrus told me. Which of the following may Mr. Myrus agree with? English as a second language (ESL) websites for children can help build vocabulary, teach correct spelling and pronunciation of words, and assist with basic grammar such as understanding sentence structure, parts of speech, tenses, and singular and plural word forms. English learning websites for children include: * ESL Kid is an organized website that serves as a comprehensive directory of English as a second language resources for children, teachers, and parents. There are categories for different subjects, such as ABC games, dictionary, spelling, literature and music. Since this is just a directory, parents should help children explore the sites linked to it. * MES Games has several categories of interactive games. Some games are more suited to younger children and beginning learners, such as the vocabulary building games in which players must first listen to a spoken word and then identify the correct items. More advanced children will enjoy online sport games based on grammar concepts that go with multiple choice questions. * ESL Kids Lab has many resources for helping children learn English as a second language. These include free video English lessons categorized by grade level, ideas for games, and printable worksheets. However, the inferiority of this website is also obvious -- it contains lots of advertisements. * ESL Kid Stuff has a variety of resources, including a list of select online English learning games and song lyric sheets. Downloading worksheets and flashcards requires a yearly membership fee, however. * English Interactive lets children and beginning ESL students click on words to hear their pronunciation and build essential vocabulary skills. After viewing the words, students can try an interactive quiz. * English Vocabulary Games has a variety of interactive games designed to help ESL children build vocabulary. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about ESL Kid? During my visit to my parents, I decided to explore their attic . They have lived in their home in the mountains since 1953, so investigating the attic was a trip down memory lane for me. I climbed the unstable ladder to the dusty, cold third floor. I looked around and noticed a very old basket in the corner, in which I found letters piled high, faded and dirty-untouched there. As I opened each letter, I discovered a new and previously unrevealed page of my parents' lives. My father served in the Army. He wrote about his daily experiences with civilians, German POWs, baths and more. I was drawn to these letters. Each of my mother's letters was sealed with her 1944 lipstick kiss. Daddy wrote that he sealed his return letters by rekissing her lipstick kiss. Oh, how they missed each other! I finished reading six months of the letters and discovered there were at least eleven months missing. Where could they be? Just six weeks after my visit, Daddy became very ill and was hospitalized. He was scheduled for kidney dialysis when I decided to fly to visit him. We discussed the letters. He told me how much receiving those lipstick-kissed letters had meant to him when he had been so far from home. As I left, the thought raced through my mind that tomorrow was Valentine's Day. But I quickly dismissed this thought. My father wasn't in any kind of shape to shop for a valentine. My parents had been married for fifty-six years. My mother would understand that her valentine would just have to be skipped this year. Later that evening, Mother and I revisited the attic in search of the lost letters. Toward the bottom, we discovered an unmarked gold cardboard box. Yes! Here were the long-lost letters! I began looking through them. Lying separate, on top of the letters was the valentine card my father had sent Mother in 1944! The next day,Mother and I visited Daddy in the hospital. I joked with him, saying softly, "Today is Valentine's Day, and I know you have been a little busy lately, but I've got something you covered."I handed him the card. He carefully opened the card, and when he recognized it, his eyes filled with tears. There was nothing lacking that Valentine's Day after all. My father, in a voice shaking with emotion, read the loving message he'd sent to my mother fifty-six years earlier. And this time, he could read it to her in person. What information do we get from the passage? Kalle Lasn was in a supermarket parking lot one afternoon when he had an experience that changed his life.In order to shop at the store, he needed to put money into the shopping cart to use it.Annoyed that he had to "pay to shop," Lasn jammed the coin into the cart so that it wouldn't work.It was an act of _ --the first of many--for Lasn. Born in Estonia, Kalle Lasn moved to Australia as a young man and then later to Japan, where he founded a marketing research firm in Tokyo.Eventually, Lasn moved to Canada and for several years produced documentaries for public television.In the late 1980s, Lasn made an advertisement that spoke out against the logging industry and the deforestation going on in the Pacific Northwest.When he tried to show his ad on TV, though, no station in this area would give him airtime.In response, Lasn and a colleague founded Adbusters Media Foundation, a company for the "Human right to communicate. Adbusters produces magazine, newspaper, and TV ads with a social message.Many use humor and irony to make their points: In one, for example, a man chain smokes a brand of cigarettes called "Hope".In another, a child is dressed in an outfit used in fast-food ads.Next to the child is a note from its mother telling the restaurant to leave her child alone. Adbusters also has a magazine and a web site, the Culture Jammers Network, whose members include students, artists, and activists as well as educators and businesspeople interested in social change.Many of these "culture jammers" are working to raise awareness about different social issues by hosting events like "Buy Nothing Day" , " No Car Day" and "TV Turnoff Week" .Lasn and his partners hope these events will encourage people to think about questions such as; What kinds of things are we being encouraged to buy by the media? Should cars be our primary means of transportation? *How are television and radio being used now? How could we be using them? Some culture jammers are using other methods to challenge how people think.Some pretend to be shoppers.They move items in stores from one shelf to another making it difficult for people to find things easily.Other culture jammers break into large company well sites and jam them so that they become unusable.The goal in both cases ia to prevent "Business as usual" and to gel people to ask themselves questions such as "Why am I shopping here?" or "Why should I buy this product?" Lasn and members of the Culture Jammers Network want to make people aware of social issues, but they also believe it's important to think of solutions, too."A lot of people tell you everything that's wrong but they never say much about how to fix these problems," says Lasn."But there is plenty we can do.If you start despairing, you have lost everything." Though many TV stations still won't show Adbusters' " uncommercials" , some cable TV stations have started to.People all over the world have joined the Culture Jammers Network and are doing their part to promote social change. Which of the following best describes what Lasn has done? Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were not willing to work on farms along the Atlantic because they worried about the terrible storms that destroy buildings and crops. The farmer received a steady stream of refusals at the interview for a farmhand Finally, a short, thin man approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows. " answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer ,the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm ,busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly from offshore. Jumping out of bed,the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, " Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they are blown away! " The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows. " Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot ,Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement,he discovered that all of the hay had been covered. The cows were in the bam,the chickens were in the coops,and the doors were barred The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down, Nothing could be blown away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he also returned to his bed to sleep while the wind was still blowing. The farmer felt amazed because _
Sports account for a growing amount of income made on the sales of commercial time by television companies. Many television companies have used sports to attract viewers from particular sections of the general public, and then they have sold audiences to advertisers. An attraction of sport programs for the major U. S. media companies is that events are often held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons--the slowest time periods of the week for general television viewing. Sport events are the most popular weekend programs, especially among male viewers who may not watch much television at other times during the week. This means the television networks are able to sell advertising time at relatively high prices during what normally would be dead time for programming. Media corporations also use sports to attract commercial sponsors that might take their advertising dollars elsewhere if television stations did not report certain sports. The people in the advertising departments of major corporations realize that sports attract made viewers. They also realize that most business travelers are men and that many men make family decisions on the purchases of computers, cars and life insurance. Golf and tennis are special cases for television programming. These sports attract few viewers, and the ratings are unusually low. However, the audience for these sports is attractive to certain advertisers. It is made up of people from the highest income groups in the United States, to certain advertisers. It is made up of people from the highest income groups in the United States, including many lawyers and business managers. This is why television reporting of golf and tennis is sponsored by companies selling high-priced cars, business and personal computer, and holiday trips. This is also why the networks continue to carry these programs regardless of low ratings. Advertisers are willing to pay high fees to reach high-income consumers and those managers who make decisions to buy thousands of "company cars" and computer, with such viewers, these programs don't need high ratings to stay on the air. Television sport programs on weekend afternoons _ Answer: bring more money to the television networks Nowadays, there's a lot of debate about single sex education since it has begun to regain its popularity recently. According to long term studies of children from around the world, students achieve more and learn better in single sex schools. An Australian study of 270,000 students found that both boys and girls performed much higher on standardized tests when they attended separate schools. During an experiment in Virginia in 1995, 100 eighth graders were separated just for math and science courses. Almost immediately, the girls began to achieve more, become more confident and take part more often in class activities. In 2001, a British study concluded that nearly every girl regardless of her ability or socio-economic status performed better in single sex classrooms than co-ed ones. The study of 2,954 high schools and 979 primary schools showed that while boys at the lowest levels in study improved the most in single sex schools, single sex education was particularly beneficial to girls. Every one of the top 50 private elementary schools and top 20 private high schools in Britain are single sex schools. Girls became more confident in themselves as students and earned higher scores on their College Board and Advanced Placement examinations. A quarter of the female members of the US Congress and one-third of all female members of Fortune 100 boards graduated from all-women's colleges. While the statistics are not as dramatic for boys, however, boys tend to soften their competitive edge and become more cooperative in a single sex setting. They can just be boys and not worry about what the girls might think. Single sex education has a pleasant way of encouraging children to be fearless, to be curious, to be enthusiastic --- in short, to just be themselves. Children are subjected to pressures from every quarter to become adults before they are ready to do so. They grow up too quickly. Why not let them be children for a few more years? Single sex education with its gentler, more controlled social atmosphere is just the right answer for many children. What is the main point of the article? Answer: The advantage of single sex education. For many years there's been a debate about rewarding our children. Does it work? Is it effective? Some people think we should establish a standard with our kids and give them something for meeting this standard as a reward. Punishment is given out in much the same way, but it's used when certain standards of performance, behavior, etc. have not been met. Kids will often become more dutiful when threatened with punishment, and work harder when promised a valuable reward. The problem is what happens when you aren't around. To develop responsible, self-disciplined kids, parents need to promote certain ideas. One of these ideas is that everyone pitches in and helps in your family, even if someone is not crazy about helping. Another idea is that there can be enjoyment in doing any task if we choose to make it so. When a task is for a worthy cause (our family can enjoy the house more because I have helped clean it), and when parents are cheerful about their chores, this message can have a big impact. This is how we help our kids develop a sense of responsibility. When our children develop this responsibility, they'll be more disciplined, and they'll control their emotions better. When we give rewards to our kids, we reduce the sense of responsibility. We also create children who may temporarily perform to a certain standard, but who aren't likely to continue the performance without the carrot hanging in front of them. "Rewards and punishment can change behavior for a while, but they cannot change the person who engages in the behavior, at least in the way we want," said Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards. "Good values have to be grown from the inside out." Parents can help give their children a sense of shared responsibility and discipline which can last a lifetime. The real rewards that your children receive will be their readiness for the complex and demanding world that waits for them-- a world that rewards those who have learned the secrets of discipline and responsibility. So keep those shiny rewarding to yourself, and _ . According to the passage, when children are threatened with punishment,_. Answer: they may appear to be well-behaved Mr. Baker is retired at home now. He feels bored every day and he thinks he is growing older quickly. When he watches TV, he has to turn it up. But this often disturbs his neighbors. So he decides to buy a hearing aid. As he is a _ man, he doesn't want to pay much money for a hearing aid. One day, he went to a clinic and asked the clerk, "How much do these hearing aids cost?" "That depends," said the clerk. "They cost from 2.00 dollars to 2 000 dollars." "Let me see the $2.00 model," he said. The clerk put the device around Mr Baker's neck. "You just put this button in your ear and run this little string down to your pocket," he explained. "How does it work?" Mr. Baker asked. "For $2.00 it doesn't work," the clerk answered. "But when people see it on you, they'll talk louder!" Mr. Baker was angry, and he said, "I want a hearing aid that really works!" Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Mr. Baker didn't know how to use a hearing aid. While you're in Shanghai, please come and take a walk round some of our interesting places. Shanghai Museum You must see this beautifully designed museum. It is a wonderful place to study Chinese art and history. There are ancient treasures, fantastic Chinese sculptures, paintings from all ages and many other things for you to enjoy. Pay to enter. Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.(9:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday) Yu Gardens These famous Ming gardens are often rather crowded. Don't forget to try their delicious snacks. Pay to enter. Open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Lu Xun's Museum This is a great place for book-lovers. There are photographs of the famous writer, some of his books written by hand and many letters. A very interesting place for a few hours. Very cheap. Open 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Shanghai Natural History Museum Everything is about the natural world and science. You can study dinosaurs, hundreds of animals, plants, rocks and more, and see many unusual exhibition. Very cheap. Open 9:00 am -5:00 pm. Shanghai Art Museum An interesting building, once used as a race club and library. Drop in and see the latest exhibition. There are shows by painters from all over the country. The museum also encourages research into art. Pay to enter. Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. What makes Yu Gardens different from the other places in the passage? Answer: They have something nice to eat.
Honeymooning at Niagara Falls has become a standard for millions of newly married couples. In fact, Niagara Falls is often fondly called the Honeymoon Capital of the World. This title, however, did not happen overnight. There are various reasons that explain why so many people choose to get married surrounded by a waterfall backdrop. These reasons often include the wonderful natural setting, its unique history, and the inclusion of various activities and attractions that please newlyweds. The Niagara Falls is the waterfalls and twin cities of the same name located on the Niagara River. The waterfalls are situated in the international border between the United States and Canada and are part of both countries. The United States part of the waterfall is in New York state, while the Canadian section is part of Ontario. Both waterfalls are further divided into two major sections: the American Falls, located on the American side, and the Horseshoe Falls, which lies mostly on the Canadian side. A number of tourists who have watched the rush of water falling down Niagara Falls have described the view using many terms, including magical, magnificent, and breathtaking. For many recently married couples, visiting the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is generally more popular, as it provides a better view of the rushing water of both waterfalls. Both sides, however, function as destination wedding sites and offer engaged couples the opportunity to exchange their vows at various churches and gardens located within the area. Some couples, however, may prefer to get married on the Canadian side to receive a honeymoon certificate signed by the city's mayor. Another reason why couples state that they choose to celebrate their weddings at Niagara Falls is the sense of history and nostalgia associated with the area. The place first became connected with being a honeymoon destination in 1801, when Theodosia Burr, the daughter of Vice-president Aaron Burr, visited the region during her honeymoon. The French aristocracy is also believed to have been early fans of honeymooning at the falls. In fact, French prince Jerome Bonaparte supposedly traveled to the Ontario side of Niagara Falls after his own wedding in 1804 to an American heiress. By the early 1900s, Niagara Falls had claimed itself as the Honeymoon Capital and began to advertise as such. In the 21st century, some young couples choosing to honeymoon in the spot have stated that doing so was a chance to visit the same location previously enjoyed by their parents or even their grandparents. The fact that the destination may also be less expensive than some more exotic wedding locations has also helped it attract a large number of visiting newlyweds each year. Part of the charm of honeymooning at Niagara Falls might be the natural attraction's ability to combine old-fashioned romance with more contemporary attractions. Newlyweds seeking more private and separated activities may enjoy restaurants featuring candlelight dinners and dancing, quiet picnic areas surrounded by the signs and smells of nature, or a scenic lighthouse tour. On the other hand, couples seeking adventurous activities might find it appealing to visit a casino , take boat or air tours, or stay at a resort hotel. Why do more married couples prefer the Canadian side of Niagara Falls? A. It's less expensive than the other side. B. It provides a better view of both waterfalls. C. People can exchange their vows there while at the other side they can't. D. It combines old-fashioned romance with modern attractions. Answer: B A new pollen study showed that drought was responsible for the extinction of civilizations more than 3,000 years ago during the Bronze Age. The reason behind why the civilizations in and around modern-day Israel suddenly broke down more than 3,000 years ago has remained a mystery up until now. A new pollen study by Tel Aviv University researchers finally solved this Bronze Age mystery. Prof. Israel Finkelstein showed that owing to serious climate changes, the entire world of the Bronze Age _ in a short period of time. The discovery was made on the basis of a high-resolution analysis of pollen grains taken from sediments beneath the Sea of Galilee and the western shore of the Dead Sea. Prof. Finkelstein received support from the European Research Council to conduct research aimed at reconstructing ancient Israel. Researchers of the part of the project that dealt with climate change extracted about 60 feet of samples of gray muddy sediment from the center of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. They had to drill through 1,000 feet of water and into 65 feet of the lake bed and were able to recover evidence dating over the past 9,000 years. "Pollen is the most enduring organic material in nature," explained Dr. Dafna Langgut, a pollen researcher who carried out the actual work of sampling. "These grains tell us about the plants that grew near the lake in the past and therefore prove the climatic conditions in the region." Researchers noted a sharp decrease in Mediterranean trees like oaks and pines in the Late Bronze Age. According to study experts, this could be because of repeated periods of drought. The droughts may have resulted in long famines, forcing people to migrate from north to south. By conducting the study, scientists found _ . A. Mediterranean trees were rare in the Early Bronze Age B. climate change was to blame for the lost civilization C. people in the Late Bronze Age starved to death D. droughts were rare during the Bronze Age Answer: B Kerry made a simple flashlight. She recorded the following statements in her lab book. Which statement is an inference? A. The wire was 35 cm long. B. The flashlight contained a battery. C. The plastic switch was better than the metal switch. D. The bulb was lit for 20 minutes before it burned out. Answer: C After two weeks, Ling Qinghao finally sent a message to his wife in their hometown in Anhui, and told her her he was safe. Ling, 44, was a Chinese construction worker who went to Libya. The recent problems in Libya have left the country in disorder. Several Chinese were injured last month. Ling was one of the thousands of Chinese evacuees from Libya. The evacuee's first stop was Greece. They are staying there in a five-star hotel that the Chinese government paid for. According to the Foreign Ministry, by March 2, China has evacuated a total of 35,860 Chinese from Libya. Among them, 20745 have already returned to China. To evacuate means to quickly move people away from a disaster or disorder. An evacuation tests how a nation would deal with an emergency . From getting flight tickets to dealing with customs services , many parts of the government and companies have to work together. To protect the safety of overseas Chinese, China took action quickly. Since February 24, the nation has sent out airplanes and ships to evacuate its people from Libya.They even sent a navy ship to help. This is the first time that China has sent the army in an evacuation. "We have done a great job in no more than 10 days. This shows China's ability to protect its people overseas in emergencies," Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said. According to the Foreign Ministry, _ Chinese have returned to Chinaby March 2 ? A. 35860. B. 20745 . C. 56605. D. 15115. Answer: B Recently a friend of mine wrote to me about her experience in Holland: A very old man asked me to come to his apartment, and he would donate a bike to the project. I went over to get it, and it was half a bike, which was locked to a pole and had obviously been there for years. The temperature was well below zero. It became clear that he was in fact super-lonely, and torn between usual Dutch distrust of strangers and desperation for human contact. He finally begged me to come up to his apartment (where he obviously lived alone). You may know that Dutch people are the tallest in the world, reflecting a very high standard of living. But -- if this old man is not unusual -- reducing the loneliness of old people isn't part of the Dutch social contact, admirable as _ may be. I recently watched the Frontline program Sick Around the World. It suggested that the old man isn't unusual. In England, where doctor visits are free, a doctor said he has several patients who come weekly, purely because they're lonely. In Japan, some patients have their blood pressure measured very often -- most probably for the same reason. In Taiwan, if you see a doctor 20 times in one month, someone from the government will come to talk to you. Not about loneliness -- about overuse of medical care. The Frontline program made nothing of any of these facts, which were included to show that access was easy. Really the idea that everyone needs human contact isn't mysterious or controversial. My explanation is there's a double blow: Not only do lonely old people have little power, it's also clear that their problem (loneliness) isn't caused by a "chemical imbalance". So no drugs can be sold to treat it. And there's no diagnostic category. When these lonely old people use what little power they have by visiting their doctor, the doctor -- I'm assuming -- doesn't do anything to get rid of the loneliness. Even if you visit 20 times in a month. The story of the Dutch old man at the beginning of the passage serves as _ . A. an example of the lonely people B. an important reminder of her friend C. an introduction to Dutch social problems D. an example of Dutch suspicion of strangers Answer: A
New York is a very large city with 8 million people. How do so many people move on their way to work or school? In New York you can travel by subway, bus, taxi and private car. The subway runs on the railroad lines under the city. Travelling by subway is the fastest way to get around the city. The second way to travel around the city is by public bus. It is a slower way to travel. This is because the traffic is very heavy. You can also travel around the city by taxi. This is very expensive, but the taxi will take you to the very place you want to. If traffic is heavy, the taxi will be slow, too. During the mornings and afternoons, there is the "rush hour".This is the time when the traffic is very heavy with people going to and from work. The last way to get around New York is using your own private car. It is inconvenient because you will perhaps be driving during the "rush hour".The best time to travel around the city is from 9 am to 4 pm, because it isn't the "rush hour". How many ways of travelling around the city are mentioned in the passage? A Two. B Three. C Four. D Five. Answer: C. Four. A snack consists of peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, almonds, and chocolate pieces. Which statement describes why this is a mixture? A It is made up of more than one substance. B It is impossible to separate the substances. C The components retain their original properties. D The components chemically combine with each other. Answer: C. The components retain their original properties. When people travel in another city or country ,they sometimes stay in the homes of the local people. This is called _ . It is a great experience because you can meet people from a different country or city and learn something new about that place . I am Wan Li from China. I came to the UK with my friends for a short visit . we are living with an English couple ,Mr. and Mrs.Green ,in the west of London. They have a wonderful four -bedroom house . This is a new house . It has two bathrooms and a garden with many beautiful flowers. I have a bedroom of my own . There are some shopping centres and restaurants near the house, and the house is close to an underground station. It takes about thirty minutes to get to the centre of London. I think a homestay may be a good choice for you if it is your first time to visit abroad . The local people are friendly and willing to help. If you happen to celebrate the holidays with them, you will get to know more about western culture and customs. There is _ near the house. A a bus station B an underground station C a train station D an airport Answer: B. an underground station If your mother wants to tell you something , she uses words . Birds can not talk as we do . But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger . They have their own ways to make the young birds do certain thing . The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe . Jackdaws live together in flocks. Yong jackdaws do not know their enemies . When an older jackdaw sees a dog , it makes a loud tattling sound. The young birds know this sound means an enemy is nearby. The sounds warns them to know their enemy . If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind .The parent bird flies low over the young birds back, the parents' tail feathers move quickly from side to side, It is trying to say , " Follow me ." At the same time , the parent calls out , " Key-aw ,Key-aw ." The parent means , " Fly home with me ." The young bird then follows the older one home . Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean. They know the meaning of these sounds from the time they hatch (,). The jackdaw lives in _ . A Europe B Australia C America D Africa Answer: A. Europe If you are looking for the place that has everything, there's only one place to visit, and that's New York. It's a whole world in a city. The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit shows in one place? Only in New York. The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Centre. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere. The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you'll find in New York. The World of Fine Dining: Whether it's roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there's a world of great taste waiting for you in New York. The World of Sights: What other city has a statue of Liberty , a Rocketfeller Centre or a Bronx Zoo? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park, only in New York. Which of the following programme can a visitor have only in New York? A To enjoy Beijing duck. B To taste the finest French coq au vin. C To spend an evening with Beethoven. D To see the statue of Liberty. Answer: D. To see the statue of Liberty.
Pets provide an unconditional love that requires very little on the part of the human. Animals are so special to those of us who love them. We miss them when they are no longer with us. We grieve for them in ways which are just the same as grieving for a human loved one. Whether the end comes through old age, illness, or sudden death, the death of a pet can cause enormous feelings of sorrow, guilt, and loneliness for children and adults alike, as the animal was considered a family member, a child's favoured playmate, or an older person's loyal and faithful companion. Some people don't want a pet because they do die! It's understandable to be unwilling to expose yourself to death but, at the same time, _ . When we live with animals we're more in step with the rhythms of the planet from day to night and from season to season because our companions make us more aware of the changes around us. Our companion animals teach us about the simple gifts of a beautiful day, a good meal and a gentle touch. The death of a pet can make us struggle with our belief structure-a natural part of the grieving period. Whether grieving an animal or human, we question our beliefs and many people find their belief structure becomes stronger when they ask themselves hard questions. Others find a new way of acceptance. And we learn from our animals. Animals aren't afraid to die; they show us that the end of life can be faced without fear. They can teach us to accept death as an opening for love and wonder. Allow yourself to grieve in whatever way is appropriate for you. The loss of a pet is real grief and causes us to travel through the stages of grief-denial, anger, depression, guilt, and acceptance. These stages must be lived through for the mourning to allow full healing. What's the attitude of the author towards grieving a pet? A Neutral. B Negative. C Positive. D Critical. Answer: C British author JK Rowling was at the release of her latest Harry Potter book called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at the Natural History Museum in London, Friday July 20, 2007. J.K. Rowling has been spotted at cafes in Scotland working on a detective novel, a British newspaper reported Saturday. The Sunday Times newspaper quoted Ian Rankin, a fellow author and neighbor of Rowling's, as saying the creator of the "Harry Potter" books is turning to crime fiction. "My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel," the newspaper quoted Rankin as telling a reporter at an Edinburgh literary festival. "It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes," said Rankin, who is known for his own police novels set in the historic Scottish city. Rowling famously wrote initial drafts of the Potter story in the Scottish city's cafes. Back then, she was a struggling single mother who wrote in cafes to save on the heating bill at home. Now she's Britain's richest woman - worth $1 billion, according to Forbes magazine - and her seven Potter books have sold more than 335 million copies worldwide. In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Rowling said she believed she was unlikely to repeat the success of the Potter series, but confirmed she had plans to work on new books. "I'll do exactly what I did with Harry - I'll write what I really want to write," Rowling said. Why did Rowling like to write the "Harry Potter stories" in the cafes? A Because she was a romantic woman and the atmosphere in the cafes gave her lots of inspiration. B Because she was a single mother at that time and she wanted to find a husband there. C Because her children were so naughty at home and she had to go to a quiet place for her writing. D Because she thought that writing in a cafes could help her save some money. Answer: D Researchers may tell us that spending money on experiences produces more happiness than spending money on things. Going to a bar with friends is always pleasurable in slightly different ways. However, on the other hand, a table may also give us lots of positive experiences sometimes. I just moved from New York City to suburban Pennsylvania, It's been quite a change of pace, with some positives and negatives, One of the best parts is that I'm spending more time outside. I quite enjoy staying outside, especially eating outside. I had a goal to eat outside as often as possible this summer, so one of my first purchases for the new house was a table and a set of chairs for the yard. Is my yard table a thing or an experience? It's clearly a thing and yet it enables the experience of eating outside. I love eating outside, and so my yard table is one of my favorite purchases, ever. Therefore I find the dividing line between things and experiences is more nuanced than at first glance. However, to be happy, the most important thing is what kind of purchases you have made. Sometimes we may all have purchases that seem like a waste of money like probably half the clothes in our closets, but how does this happen?' There are many reasons for why this happens. The biggest is that we spend a lot of our time working to earn money to buy things. The problem is that we buy a lot of stuff that we don't actually need. There's nothing worse than looking in your closet and realizing how many hours you spent laboring to buy things you never wear. But how about a table that lets you enjoy being outside in the summer? That's worth every minute and penny and from it you will also get more happiness. What does the author want to tell readers about her personal experiences? A The suburban life in Pennsylvania is quite good. B It is really enjoyable eating outside. C Her first purchase was very successful. D Things can give us the same happiness as experiences. Answer: D Do you sleep well? Some people get off to sleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, but many others are not so lucky. In fact, the lack of quality sleep has become a public health issue around the world. According to me World Association of Sleep Medicine, 45 percent of the world's population suffer from sleep problems. One in eight people don't sleep well and are easily woken. 7.6 percent sleep less than 3 hours each night. Some even cannot fall asleep for several days in a row. As a basic bodily and mental need, sleep is essential for our survival, it helps us to fight diseases, strengthen our memory, perform better in work and school and improve our quality of life. Lack of sleep is known to have a significant negative influence on health, both in the short and long term. Poor sleep has been associated with obesity, diabetes, weakened immune systems and even some cancers, as well as depression and anxiety. The World Sleep Day, held on the third Friday of March, is an annual celebration of sleep to lighten the burden of sleep problems through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. To achieve this goal, we must figure out what causes sleepiness and sleeplessness. Unhealthy lifestyle may be the first to blame. More and more people use cell phones and computers in bed, with many staying up until midnight. Modern technology does make our life convenient, but abuse of it ruins our health. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, noise, light, bed comfort also play an important Pole in one's ability to get proper sleep. Besides, improper evening diet, like a full or an empty stomach, coffee and alcohol all contribute to sleep problems. Of course, when it comes to causing poor sleep, stress from finances, family or work should never be ignored. However, those who suffer from sleep disorders don't necessarily have to continue to do so -most sleep problems can be managed. Which best describes the author's attitude to sleep problem in the text? A Doubtful. B Disapproving. C Concerned. D Enthusiastic Answer: C When Jean Calment entered the world in 1875, telephones and automobiles still lay in the future. Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso were not yet born. The Eiffel Tower was 14 years from being built. As a teenager, she met Vincent Van Gogh, near her home in Arles, in the south of France. He was "very ugly, ungracious, impolite, sick--I forgive him, they called him loco." She recalled. When she died last week at age 122, she was the world's oldest person. (There were others who claimed to the title, but only Calment had the official documents to prove her age) Each February 21, her birthday, she would share the secrets of long life. Some years it was "a sense of humor", others it was "keeping busy". "God may have forgotten me," she once explained. The truth probably was that she had good genes. Her mother reportedly lived to be 86 and her father 94. Her life had its sadness: she outlived her husband, her only daughter and her grandson. According to a friend, she was _ "If you can't do anything about it," she reportedly said, "don't worry about it." In her last years she was nearly blind and deaf, but her health remained good. She ate a few bars of chocolate each week and continued smoking until a few years ago, when she could no longer light her own cigarettes. She never lost her sense of humor. On her 110thbirthday, she commented, "I have only ever had one wrinkle, and I am sitting on it." Her longevity made her famous. Her spirits made her eternal The author believes that Calment's longevity is mainly due to _ . A a sense of humor B being kept busy C belief in God D good genes Answer: D
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's 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 . The best title for this article is _ . Answer: Mind Your Manners Many people think it is very exciting and admirable to be an actor. The actors often wear the most beautiful and fashionable clothes and they can make a lot of money. Many people like them and they have so many fans. But in fact, the job of an actor can be very tiring and hard. To make good movies, for example, action movies, the actors need to go to some remote places. There they don't have good places to stay or nice food to eat. They often have to get up early and go to bed very late. When they are too busy, they don't have time to sleep or relax. It's very hard. Which is NOT true? Answer: Actors often have nothing to eat. Riding School: You can start horse--riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m.and 8:30 P.m.(3:30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat. Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6754 Fax :(412)396--6752 Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification .You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members , afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.~8 p.m.). Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6644 Fax:(412)396--6644 Diving Centre: Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week,in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel.Reduced rates for couples. Opening Hours:Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6312 Fax:(412)396--6706 Medical Center: The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university.The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation .Also,all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores. Opening Hours:24 hours from Monday to Sunday Phone:(412)396--6649 Fax:(412)396--6648 Water sports Club: We use a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing,and water-skiing,A beginners' course consists of ten 20-minute lessons.You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently,but must be able to swim.The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a.m to 4 p.m,with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. .If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings,you may fax _ . Answer: (412)396--6752 Stephen Hawking knew what he wanted to do by the time he was eight years old. His parents lived in London where his father was researching medicine. He did not want to follow his father as his parents hoped. Mathematics was not available at University College, so he did physics instead. Stephen was interested in studying the universe. When he was 21, however, he was told that he had ALS --an incurable nerve disease, which affects walking, speaking, breathing, swallowing, and many other things. The doctors predicted that he had only a few years to live, but he didn't die. Instead, as his physical condition became worse, Hawking became more well-known in scientific circles. Hawking himself said that his disease was a big reason why he focused his attention on what turned out to be his real strength: theoretical research. "What the doctors said made me determine to get the most from life, and life was no longer boring for me," Hawking says today, speaking from his wheelchair through a computer. In 1988, Stephen Hawking published a book called A Brief History of Time. The book tries to explain many of Hawking's physical and mathematical ideas and calculations without using maths. The book became a best-seller. His later books are Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays and most recently in 2001, The Universe in a Nutshell. Of the three, the first one was made into a film in 1991. Hawking says, "Nowadays, muscle power is out of date. What we need is mind power --and disabled people are as good at that as anyone else." Which one of Stephen Hawking's books was made into a movie? Answer: A Brief History of Time. Welcome to the entrepreneur's Club. Don't hesitate to contact any of the entrepreneurs if you are interested in. Recycled-Bath Bole Workshop Bath Bike Workshop is a recycling social enterprise initiative, unique to Bath and aims to rake action about environmental issues by getting mire people cycling. It makes cycling as green as possible by recycling used bikes for re-use and selling them at competitive prices. It also provides affordable bike repair and servicing. All our reeycled . repaired and serviced bikes are certified safe by a qualified bike mechanic before they leave the shop. Email: info@ bath-bike-workshop, org ok. Old Bank Antiques Centre Antiques are the very last word in rccyeling, and at Old Bank Antiques Centre, on the London Road in Bath, we do it with style. Among out fifteen dealers is Norman kemp, who not only restores furniture but gives abandoned timber a whole new lease of life. Norman has worked as a restorer specializing in painting effects for more than thirty years, and examples of his work have been exported to many parts of the globe. 14-17 Walecot Buildings. London Road. Bath Bal 6AD. Email: alexatontague@ aol.com Heyokah Photos My personal photography projects are concerned with the beauty in the ordinary. I like to celebrate real people and the way they interact with their surroundings and material possession. I also etcate images for businesses and performers in a documentary style, trying to get beneath the hype and show something about who they really are. These photos are part of my recent project: Boater on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Contact: www.ehyokah.co.uk Hannah Bartlett The garments are a mix of tailored wools and leather. I trained as the UCA as a creative pattern cutter so I like my work to be cut in a creative way. It is important for me not to waste too much fabric so I like to make some garments out of leftovers. Email: hannanh-bartlett@botmail.co.uk If a person is interested in clothes design, he will probably contact email _ . Answer: hannanh-bartlett@botmail.co.uk
If you hold the compass sideways while at the south pole, where do the needles point? Answer: up and down Mr Black goes into his usual teashop one morning, and sits in one of the seats at the counter . Many other people also come in, but none of them stays long. About fifteen minutes later, a young man and a young woman come in. There are only two empty seats at the counter, one on Mr Black's left, and the other on his right. The woman sits on one seat, and the young man sits on the other, but Mr Black immediately asks to change seats with the young man so that he and the young woman can be together. "Oh, that isn't necessary," the young man says, but Mr Black insists . When the young man and the young woman are side by side, he says to her, "Well, this old man is very kind. He wants us to sit together. May I introduce myself? My name is John. What's your name?" Why does Mr Black immediately ask to change places? Answer: Because Mr Black wants the young man and the young woman to sit together Don't invite crime--take basic, sensible precautions. Your house and possession are valuable and must be properly protected. When you buy a lock, you buy time --- and this is the one thing a burglar can't afford. Most thieves are casual opportunists to whom the best deterrents are delay and noise which could mean discovery. When you leave it, lock it! First of all, fit security locks to all doors and windows and a safety chain on the front door. Secondly, use them! If you have any ladders or tools, don't leave them lying about in the garden, lock them away. "Safe" or "secret" places for keys and valuables are not reliable - nine times out of ten, they are the first place a thief will look. When you move house... When you move into a new home even if it is fitted with security locks, change them. You don't know who else may have keys. Never let strangers into your house. An official - looking cap is not enough, ask for proof of identity and look at it carefully - if you are still not satisfied, don't let the person in. Valuables need special protection Valuables should really be given special protection - preferably by leaving them with your bank. A small security safe works too, but not to the most determined burglar. It is also important to keep an up - to - date list of valuables and their descriptions. In the case of fine art, paintings, or jewelry, color photographs can sometimes be of assistance to the police if you are unfortunate enough to have them stolen. Enter the details on the back of the pictures. But don't keep such documents in your house, keep them at the hank or with your insurance company. Going on holiday? Don't talk about your holidays and future plans loudly in public. Do remember to cancel the milk and newspapers and also to draw curtains back. Operate a "Good Neighbor" program to ensure that mail is taken in, the house is checked regularly and that lights are put on. Call at your local police station and tell them you are going away. Make sure that they know how to contact you in case of trouble. Don't leave cash or valuables in the house--take them with you or put them in the bank. When you are away for holidays,you _ . Answer: shouldn't make it known that your home is empty CANBERRA (Reuters Life!) - Think twice before eating those dropped crumbs off your computer keyboard -- you might as well be eating off a toilet seat, according to a new study on the amount of germs on keyboards. A study by British "Which? Computing" asked a microbiologist to examine for bugs on 33 keyboards in a typical London office, a toilet seat and a toilet door handle. Four keyboards were judged potential health hazards and the microbiologist recommended the removal of one keyboard as it had 150 times the pass limit of bacteria -- five times filthier than the swabbed toilet seat. "Most people don't give much thought to the grime that builds up on their PC, but if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet," said Sarah Kidner, the consumer magazine editor of "Which? Computing" in a statement. The study found that eating lunch at desks is the main cause of a bug-infested keyboard. Dropped crumbs and food encourages the growth of millions of bacteria. Poor personal hygiene, such as not washing hands after going to the toilet, may also add to the dirtiness of keyboards. But despite the health hazard of a dirty keyboard, a survey of 4,000 people by the magazine found one in 10 people ever cleaned their keyboard while another two in 10 never cleaned their mouse. Almost half -- or 46 per cent -- cleaned their keyboard less than once a month. To clear out bugs, the magazine recommends users unplug keyboards, turn them upside down and shake them. What are the main causes of a bug-infested keyboard? Answer: Dropped crumbs and food and Poor personal hygiene Mark Twain has been called the inventor of the American novel. And he surely deserves additional praise: the man who popularized the clever literary attack on racism. I say clever because anti-slavery fiction had been the important part of the literature in the years before the Civil War. H. B. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is only the most famous example. These early stories dealt directly with slavery. With minor exceptions, Twain planted his attacks on slavery and prejudice into tales that were on the surface about something else entirely. He drew his readers into the argument by drawing them into the story. Again and again, in the postwar years, Twain seemed forced to deal with the challenge of race. Consider the most controversial, at least today, of Twain's novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Only a few books have been kicked off the shelves as often as Huckleberry Finn, Twain's most widely read tale. Once upon a time, people hated the book because it struck them as rude. Twain himself wrote that those who banned the book considered the novel "trash and suitable only for the slums ." More recently the book has been attacked because of the character Jim, the escaped slave, and many occurences of the word nigger. (The term Nigger Jim, for which the novel is often severely criticized, never appears in it.) But the attacks were and are silly--and miss the point. The novel is strongly anti-slavery. Jim's search through the slave states for the family from whom he has been forcibly parted is heroic. As J. Chadwick has pointed out, the character of Jim was a first in American fiction--a recognition that the slave had two personalities, "the voice of survival within a white slave culture and the voice of the individual: Jim, the father and the man." There is much more. Twain's mystery novel Pudd'nhead Wilson stood as a challenge to the racial beliefs of even many of the liberals of his day. Written at a time when the accepted wisdom held Negroes to be inferior to whites, especially in intelligence, Twain's tale centered in part around two babies switched at birth. A slave gave birth to her master's baby and, for fear that the child should be sold South, switched him for the master's baby by his wife. The slave's lightskinned child was taken to be white and grew up with both the attitudes and the education of the slave-holding class. The master's wife's baby was taken for black and grew up with the attitudes and intonations of the slave. The point was difficult to miss: nurture , not nature, was the key to social status. The features of the black man that provided the stuff of prejudice--manner of speech, for example-- were, to Twain, indicative of nothing other than the conditioning that slavery forced on its victims. Twain's racial tone was not perfect. One is left uneasy, for example, by the lengthy passage in his autobiography about how much he loved what were called "nigger shows" in his youth--mostly with white men performing in black-face--and his delight in getting his mother to laugh at them. Yet there is no reason to think Twain saw the shows as representing reality. His frequent attacks on slavery and prejudice suggest his keen awareness that _ did not. Was Twain a racist? Asking the question in the 21st century is as wise as asking the same of Lincoln. If we read the words and attitudes of the past through the "wisdom" of the considered moral judgments of the present, we will find nothing but error. Lincoln, who believed the black man the inferior of the white, fought and won a war to free him. And Twain, raised in a slave state, briefly a soldier, and inventor of Jim, may have done more to anger the nation over racial injustice and awaken its collective conscience than any other novelist in the past century. Recent criticism of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn arose partly from its _ . Answer: frequent use of "nigger"
Question: Listen carefully, working people, we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free! It's "no". What do you ask? We'll say it again: "No". Sweet and simple "no". Say "no" at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears. "Saying 'no' to others means you are saying 'yes' to yourself, " said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan. "Time is precious. People are spending money buying time. And yet we are willing to give up our time because we can't say 'no'." Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say "yes" need to say "no" without guilt or fear of punishment. "I would rather have someone give me a loving 'no' than an obligated 'yes', " she said. Susie Watson says she feels "no" obligation to give an explanation when she says "no" either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? "Not at all, " said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middlebury, Conneticut. "Most people are afraid of saying 'no'... My advice is to say 'yes' only if you don't mean 'no'." Watson said "no" is the most effective weapon against wasting time. "Every year there are more demands on your time... Other people are happy to use up your time, " Watson said. Time saving appears to be "no's" greatest friend. "No" can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. "No" may even take you further in the business world than "yes". "No" is power and strength. "No" now seems completely correct. "Saying 'no' isn't easy. But finally it's greatly liberating," Charles said. But, he added, a "no" project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit. But, he also warns: "Don't go to extremes. Don't find yourself saying 'no' to everything. In return you should learn to hear 'no'." The sentence "Saying 'yes' to yourself" means _ . A. you can have more time to play with others B. you needn't care about other's feeling if you are happy C. you are selfish and treat others rudely D. you can deal with your business as you have planned Answer: D Question: An atlas is a book of maps. Atlases are made with different kinds of information about different parts and areas of a country or the world. They are prepared for desk use or travel use. Desk atlases are made for different groups of people with different needs. For example, students may use desk atlases to help learn geography, and other people may use desk atlases to study a place. A popular type of the latest atlas shows the recent fact of the world. New atlases are often carefully produced to help people learn about the changes, such as the name changes, boundary changes and other important new information. A desk atlas can also have some different maps of the same place. For example, an atlas may include maps showing population and important products of a place. Travel atlases usually show the information about both natural and man-made features . So it is not surprising to find universities, airports, forests, rivers, roads as well as cities, towns and villages in them. A travel atlas is often the first thing people need when they want to start a trip in a strange place. It often has a map of a whole country, and a map with more special information of each important place in the country. Take the atlas of the United States as an example, it often has a map of the whole country and then a map of each of the fifty states. A travel atlas may also point out the beautiful natural places. In the US, the atlas may include national parks such as the Yellow Stone Park and some others to show the beauty of nature and interesting places to tourists. From the passage we know people need newly produced atlases because _ . A. they can't see the old ones clearly B. they like to buy different ones C. something has changed D. something is missing Answer: C Question: The loneliest chimp in the world just got the best surprise--a hug from a new friend. Ponso has been by himself for nearly three years, finding himself alone after his wife and children died on the island where they were abandoned by a medical testing company many years ago. For years a nearby villager named Germain has been Ponso's only company, visiting him so often to bring bananas and bread--the chimp's only source of food on the tiny island. It was clear how much Ponso missed companionship when he was recently visited by Chimpanzee Conservation Centre Director Estelle Raballand. The chimp immediately embraced Estelle Raballand in a huge hug and laughed as she reached out for him, with his smile from ear to ear. For those who know Ponso's backstory, his immediate ease and trust in humans might be surprising. Ponso was one of 20 chimps, all between the ages of 7 to 11 years old, relocated to an island off the Ivory Coast after being used for testing by the New York Blood Centre. After the tests were completed in 2005, the lab reportedly transferred the chimps to a string of islands, occasionally dropping off food and water because there was none in the chimps'new homes. Disease and hunger soon left only Ponso, his mate and their two children standing. But at the end of 2013 they died within days of each other and Ponso was now completely alone. A group called SOS PONSO is trying to raise money for the poor lonely chimp, already achieving its goal of e 20, 000-all of which will be used for Ponso's care. How did Ponso feel about the visit of Estelle Raballand? A. Frightened. B. Excited. C. Embarrassed. D. Confused. Answer: B Question: One morning, Ann's neighbor Tracy found a lost dog wandering around the local elementary school. She asked Ann if she could keep an eye on the dog. Ann said that she could watch it only for the day. Tracy took photos of the dog and printed off 400 FOUND fliers , and put them in mailboxes. Meanwhile, Ann went to the dollar store and bought some pet supplies, warning her two sons not to fall in love with the dog. At the time, Ann's son Thomas was 10 years old, and Jack, who was recovering from a heart operation, was 21 years old. Four days later Ann was still looking after the dog, whom they had started to call Riley. When she arrived home from work, the dog threw itself against the screen door and barked madly at her. As soon as she opened the door, Riley dashed into the boys' room where Ann found Jack suffering from a heart attack. Riley ran over to Jack, but as soon as Ann bent over to help him the dog went silent. "If it hadn't come to get me, the doctor said Jack would have died," Ann reported to a local newspaper. At this point, no one had called to claim the dog, so Ann decided to keep it. The next morning Tracy got a call. A man named Peter recognized his lost dog and called the number on the flier. Tracy started crying, and told him, "That dog saved my friend's son." Peter drove to Ann's house to pick up his dog, and saw Thomas and Jack crying in the window. After a few moments Peter said, "Maybe Odie was supposed to find you, maybe you should keep it." What did Tracy do after finding the dog? A. She looked for its owner B. She gave it to Ann as a gift. C. She sold it to the dollar store. D. She bought some food for it. Answer: A Question: _ . Very attractive people tend to form partnerships that are less stable and satisfying than those enjoyed by _ . According to research by Dr John Blaine of the University of Southern California, relationships between people whose professions largely depend on their appearances, such as models or actors, tend to end much faster than those between lawyers, doctors or students. Blaine said the beautiful felt different from childhood. They are treated as special, which may create botharrogance and insecurity. All too often, beauty can be used as an alternative to education. Often they are pushed out of their class or town, told to go off and make their fortune in Hollywood or London and, when the majority fail, they have fewtalents to make a living. Blaine added that beautiful people score poorly on the "big five" -- the key factors American experts consider when helping distressed couples. These areneuroticism , including anger and anxiety;extroversion ; openness to new experiences; agreeableness; and conscientiousness, or sticking by agreements they have made. Attractive people often see no reason to try to change until their looks start to fade. Krista Sutherland, of the University of California Los Angeles, said partnerships that appeared to be perfect from the outside, such as the former "dream teams" of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise or Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley, where backgrounds andaspirations are often shared, did not necessarily lead to happiness. Which of the following is the best title? A. Five key factors affecting the partnership B. Beauties are doomed to fail in love C. Beauties or common? D. The beautiful are different. Answer: B
Question: Everyone wants to be healthy. Then do you know how to keep in good health? You may say, "Having a balanced diet and doing exercise can help us." I agree with you. _ 1 In fact, good sleep is also very important. Lots of people in the world have sleep problems. They can't sleep well at night. _ They are unhappy and stressed out. Then they may have some other health problems. _ 2 _ How can people sleep well at night? Here are some good ideas. _ 3 _ * Sleep in a quiet room. * Do some exercise before going to bed. It'll make you sleepy . * Wash your feet in warm water before you go to bed. * Have a glass of milk. It's pretty good for sleeping. * Don't think about boring things. _ 4Try to be relaxed. We can put "For example, heart disease and headaches." in _ . A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 Answer: B. 2 Question: Which is most like the way a stem supports a flower? A. the way water supports a boat crossing a river B. the way a flagpole supports a flag in the schoolyard C. the way bookends support books on a shelf D. the way a belt supports pants on a person's waist Answer: B. the way a flagpole supports a flag in the schoolyard Question: Thomas Edison was one of ten said to be the greatest genius of his age. There are only a few men in all of the history, who have changed the lives of other men as much as the inventor of the first useful electric light. But Edison could never be happy only because someone said he was a genius." There is no such thing as genius," Edison said. He said that what people called genius was mostly hard work. But Edison was a dreamer as well as a worker. From his earliest days as a child he wondered about the secrets of nature. Nature, he often said, is full of secrets. He tried to understand them; then, he tried to learn what could usefully be done with them. Edison enjoyed thinking. He knew that most people will do almost anything instead of the difficult work of thinking, especially if they do not think very often. But he knew, too, that thinking can give men enjoyment and pleasure. Edison could not understand how anyone could be uninterested in life. As he loved to think, he also loved to work. On the day he became 75 years old, someone asked him what ideas he had about life. "Work," he answered. "Discovering the secrets of nature and using them to make men happier." He said he had enough inventions in his mind to give him another 100 years of work. The last sentence in the passage most probably implies _ . A. life is too short for Edison to invent more for human beings B. Edison made 100 inventions in his life C. Edison was able to live and work for 100 years D. People of his time were ready to give Edison another 100 years' work Answer: A. life is too short for Edison to invent more for human beings Question: Pasta is the world's favorite food. A survey taken in 17 countries confirmed that pasta is what people like to eat most. Not only is pasta the number one food in its home country Italy, but it is also enjoyed in faraway places like the Philippines, Mexico and South Africa. Pasta has become popular, for one thing, because it is cheap and easy to prepare. Just cook noodles or other forms of pasta, make a sauce to go with it and you're finished. Many different types of meals can be created with pasta. It tastes good and fills your stomach. It produces energy in the form of carbohydrates , which is why athletes eat pasta regularly. Pasta can also be kept for a long time. You don't have to use it up at once. Pasta has also become popular because it stands for the Italian way of life. People all over the world like it because it's so simple. It has two basic ingredients, wheat and water, just like bread. Before it became popular in Italy during the 19th century, earlier civilizations also ate pasta. Legend has it that Marco Polo brought pasta back to Italy with him but this is not true. Arabs probably brought a noodle-like dish to Sicily in the 8th century. Farmers have been growing wheat, the main ingredient of pasta, there for ages. The worldwide sales of pasta have risen sharply over the past decade. $16 billion worth of pasta were sold in 2010, compared to $13 billion worth of the favorite food in 2003. Italy leads the pasta-eating community of the world. The Italians are the number one consumers followed by Venezuela and Tunisia. ks5u One reason why pasta is favored is that _ . A. it is rich in nutrition B. it smells just like bread C. it is easy to prepare and cook D. Italian food stands for fashion Answer: C. it is easy to prepare and cook Question: Have you ever had an embarrassing experience? Last week we asked readers to tell us about embarrassing experiences. We received thousands of letters! Here is a selection. Tony: My most embarrassing experience happened when I had just left university. I had just started teaching in a Liverpool middle school. One morning my alarm clock didn't ring. I woke up at half past eight and school began at nine. I quickly washed, dressed, jumped into my car and rushed to school. When I arrived, the students had already gone into class. I didn't go to the office, but went straight into class. After two or three minutes the students began laughing, and I couldn't understand why! Suddenly I looked down and understood. I had put on one black shoe and one brown shoe! Henry: The most embarrassing experience I've ever had happened two years ago. After seeing a film, my wife and I had lunch in our favorite restaurant in town. Then we decided to take a walk along the street. The street was very busy and we started holding hands. Suddenly my wife saw a dress that she liked in a shop window, and stopped. I started looking at some watches in the next window. After a minute or two I reached for my wife's hand. There was a loud _ , and a woman slapped my face. I hadn't taken my wife's hand. I'd taken the hand of a complete stranger ! Henry and his wife held hands _ A. at the cinema B. in the shop C. at the restaurant D. along the street Answer: D. along the street
Question: Land Art, sometimes referred to as Earth Art or Earthworks, is a form of art which involves using physical landscapes to create art, taking art out of the museum and into the outside world. Modern Land Art movement really got going in the 1960s when American artists began creating Land Art on a large scale. Today, works of modern Land Art can be seen all over the world, sometimes right alongside much older pieces of Land Art created by people who lived thousands of years ago. Land Art, which is not necessarily unchangeable, can take a number of forms. For examples, in 1970 Robert Smithson created the Spiral Jetty , made of a collection of stones and mud, in the Great Salt Lake. The American artist made a large jetty in a spiral shape which sticks out into the waters of the lake. Reshaping the landscape is a common characteristic of Land Art, which can be created by moving parts around. People can also add things to the environment to create Land Art, like salt, which is added to the Spiral Jetty. It is possible to use plants. In all cases, Land Art is immovable. Land Art is designed to gradually form, change, and eventually decay . That's one of the biggest differences between Land Art and most of the art one sees in the museums. Some works of art can exist only for a few hours or days. Others are exposed to rain and wind so that they develop and decay over time, which is part of the attractiveness in the eyes of the artists. What do we know about Robert Smithson? A. He is a great creative artist. B. He lives near the Great Salt Lake. C. He made the most famous Land Art. D. He was a pioneer in creating Land Art. Answer: A. He is a great creative artist. Question: Food webs show feeding relationships among different types of organisms. Those organisms each have a specific niche. Which of the following best describes a function of decomposers in food webs? A. to recycle nutrients into soil B. to convert solar energy into food C. to provide food for secondary consumers D. to compete with secondary consumers for oxygen Answer: A. to recycle nutrients into soil Question: Today there are policemen everywhere, but in 1700, London had no policemen at all. A few old men used to protect the city streets at night and they were not paid. About 300 years ago, London was starting to get bigger and more and more people began to live there. The city was very dirty and many people were poor. There were so many thieves who stole money in the streets that people stayed in their homes as much as possible. In 1750,Henry Fielding started to pay a group of people to stop thieves. They were like policemen and were called "Bow Street Runners" because they worked near Bow Street. Fifty years later, there were 120 "Bow Street Runners", but London had become very big and needed more policemen. So in 1829 , the first Metropolitan(or London)Police Force was started with 3,000 officers. Most of the men worked on foot, but a few rode horses. Until 1920 all the police in London were men. Today, London police are quite well paid and for the few police officers who still ride horses, the pay is even better than for the others. In 1700, the men who protected the streets were paid _ . A. a few B. nothing C. a little D. a lot Answer: B. nothing Question: After years of study, I have known there are only two types of people in this world:those who get to the airport early and those who arrive as the plane is about to take off. If there were any justice in this world, the early-airport people would be rewarded for doing the right thing and the late-airport people would be punished. But the early-airport people get ulcers , heart attacks and bite their fingernails to the bone. The late-airport people are hardly aware that they are flying. A guy of that kind once said, "Don't hurry. If you miss your flight, it's because God didn't want you to go."This is clearly a guy who is never going to get an ulcer. Early-airport people suffer another"name". They are called exactly what they are--wimps . I know. I am an early-airport person for years. My luggage will get on the plane first, which makes it the last luggage they take off the plane after landing. Another strange thing:No matter how early I showed up, I was always told that someone had called two or three years ahead of me and asked for the best seat. I figured it was a trick. I figured there was someone in America who called every airline every day and said, "Is that wimp Simon flying somewhere today? If he is, give me his seat. " After a lifetime arguing with my wife over whether I really have to pack 24 hours in advance and set the alarm clock four hours ahead, I have learned another fact about early-airport people and late-airport people: They always marry each other. The purpose of writing the passage is to _ . A. give useful tips on taking a plane B. offer advice about catching a plane C. express the writer's anxiety about taking planes D. show people's two attitudes towards catching planes Answer: D. show people's two attitudes towards catching planes Question: Many people think that the most popular way of communicating with other people is through the mouth. But what they don't know is that actual communication using mouth accounts for only around 10% (or even less) of all the means to communicate a message. Moreover, you can never determine the honesty of people by what they say alone. In fact, words expressed through mouth do not reflect what people really think or feel. The only way you can determine their true inner feelings and thoughts is by reading their body language. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you can "see through" the emotions of other people? For example, you ask a person if he can do an important task. He says "OK". But deep inside, you are questioning yourself, "Is he really willing to do this job?" or "Does he have the confidence to finish this task?" You can't question him directly because that would be like belittling him. And even if you ask him those questions, his replies will not tell you what he really feels or thinks. Then what is the final solution? Here are just a few of the magic tricks you're about to discover: Actions to make someone like or trust you. How to win in a negotiation . How to attract the opposite sex using body language. How to increase your sales using body language. *How to help you find out who is telling a lie. And a lot, lot more! Body language is very easy and fun to learn. With this book, you will make body movements to achieve the success you've always longed for. Do yourself a big favor and get a copy of Body Language Magic. We can learn from the passage that body language is helpful in the following ways EXCEPT _ . A. it makes other people believe you B. it can decide your success C. it makes you better understood D. it shows whether someone is honest Answer: B. it can decide your success
Question: While the rest of his family was happily feasting during Spring Festival, Zu Xinming, a Senior 2 student in Shaanxi province, was frowning. "Every time my s leave after dinner, almost half of the dishes are unfinished," he said, and we throw away a lot of food. Nowadays in China, food waste is a widespread problem. Each year, Chinese people throw away the equivalent of about 50 million tons of grain, an amount which could feed 200 million people, according to Xinhua News Agency. One reason is that people are unaware of the issue. "Some of my friends don't care at all when they can't finish the food on their plates," said Zu, "and they even throw it away if they don't like the taste." Gong Tao, an official from the Communist Youth League of China Committee of Central South University in Hunan province, is worried about the decreasing awareness of food waste on his campus in recent years. "Students don't know how much hard work others go through in order to provide their food," Gao told China Education Daily. One deeper factor is the Chinese cultural value of "face". In a Chinese banquet setting, the host feels great shame when guests' plates are empty. "Serving lots of food is the Chinese way of showing respect to guests and displaying generosity," Yu Changjiang, a sociologist at Peking University, told Xinhua. Huge public spending on government banquets is also worsening the situation. Government banquets at the taxpayer's expense have become "a major source of waste", commented People's Daily. The good news is that people are already beginning to take action. On Jan 16, 10 restaurants with 749 outlets in Beijing joined an "eating up" campaign promoted by Xu Xiake, deputy director of China Land and Resources News. These restaurants have begun serving half-sized meals and small dishes. So, how can you help reduce food waste? Discuss with your family regularly about your food preferences and how much you want to eat. Eat all of the food on your plate and in your bowl. And each week, help your parents clean the fridge so that all of the food gets eaten before it goes to waste. The passage is meant to tell the readers _ . A. everybody should do his bit to help reduce waste B. everybody must join in the "eating-up" campaign C. Chinese way of showing generosity is a waste of food D. some restaurants have begun to serve half-sized meals Answer: A Question: Yesterday was my first day of school. I had to wake up at 6 am and I had a bit of breakfast and got dressed in my school clothes. I got a service car to the Nile and crossed the Nile in a motor boat. Then it dropped me off at the Luxor museum and I walked to school which is at the back of the Luxor museum. By the time I got to school, it was 7 am. My mum came with me the first day. I got my school tie wrong. My tie was grey and everyone else's was red. The shop had sold me the wrong one. So I had to change it that evening. Everyone has mobile phones but theirs are better than mine. In the morning we did a stupid dance and sang the Egyptian national song. We had to hold on to each other's bag as we marched to class. We had English class and boring literature and then we had math. After math the teacher gave out the books we would need for all our lessons, all 22 of them. My bag was so heavy. We had a break at 12 and we could buy food and drink. It lasted for half an hour. I enjoyed English and science. Yesterday we finished at 2:15 pm and my dad picked me up. I finished my homework soon after school and I felt happy about that. Today, I had to go to school by myself. This morning I got there at 7:15 am. After school, I came back by myself in the motor boat again and got myself an ice cream while I was waiting for it. Today I had no homework to do. So, when I got home, I helped my mother with cooking. We can learn from the passage that _ . A. the school was far away from the Luxor museum B. the break lasted until 12:30 pm C. the writer's mother sent him to school today D. the writer had 12 books in all Answer: B Question: James Dean was not very tall-he was less than average height. He had thick, light brown hair and blue eyes. He was so near-sighted that he could hardly see anything without his glasses. He came to Hollywood when he was eighteen, hoping to get into the movies. At first, he was not successful at all, and for a time he was so short of money that he had to live entirely on dry oatmeal. Then he went to New York. He got a part in a play and was seen by the great director Elia Kazan. Kazan was planning the movie East of Eden and realized Dean would be perfect for one of the main roles. By this time, Dean already had a reputation for being odd and difficult to work with. He then went back to Hollywood to make East of Eden and then made two more movies, Rebel Withhout a Cause and Giant. He almost always wore the same overcoat and jeans and he had hardly any friends at all. "If he didn't like you, he wouldn't even give you the pleasure of his anger. You could be in the same telephone booth with him, but you wouldn't exist," someone who knew him said later. In spite of his poor eyesight, he loved driving fast motorcycles and even faster sports cars. A few days after he finished Giant, on September 25, 1955, Dean went for a drive in his new Porsche. It was evening and the light was poor. Dean was not wearing his glasses. Suddenly, he saw a car in front of him. It was slowing down and trying to turn off the highway. Dean tried to slow down too, but it was too late. He hit the car at high speed and was killed immediately. Two German girls killed themselves when they heard the news because "life would be unbearable without him." A few years later, a New York salesclerk wrote a book called Jimmy Dean Returns in which she claimed that she was in contact with Dean from the other side of the grave. Half a million copies of the book were sold. It was only the beginning of a strange legend that goes on, even today. Which of the following is probably TRUE about Dean? A. He acted in two plays in Hollywood. B. He was too shy to express himself. C. He committed suicide on a highway. D. He was a crazy fan in fast driving. Answer: D Question: Harbour Cruises LTD. Dining, Sightseeing and Special Events Get on board to experience Vancouver from a different perspective . Join Harbour Cruises Ltd. For Vancouver's only guided tour of the inner harbour, the always popular dinner cruise , or a luncheon cruise through a quiet coastal mountain bay . Special event cruises are available throughout the year including during the yearly fireworks competition and December's Christmas Carol Ships. Harbour Cruises Ltd. is located next to world-famous Stanley Park. Dates of Operation: April - October and December Seasonal Hours: 8 : 00 am - 7 : 00 pm, 7 days a week Directions: Drive west on Georgia and turn right at the lights at Denman Street. Take the # 135 Stanley Park bus or walk west along Georgia for 15 minutes towards Stanley Park from downtown. Information: 604.688.7246 Reservations : 1. 800. 663. 1500 Website: www. boatcruises. corn Email: tours@boatcruises . corn # 1, North Foot of Den-man Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2w9 The Lookout at Harbour Centre Tower Not sure where to start? The Lookout,which is high atop Harbor Center Tower,is your best first choice in Vancouver.Majestic cruise ships,mountains sprinkled with fresh snow and a west coast sunset are but a few highlights of this grand 3600 view.Drink your cappuccino,join a free guided tour,learn something new about Vancouver and enjoy the view! Dates of Operation:Open 365 days/year Seasonal Hours:Winter 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Summer 8:30 am - 10:30 pm Directions:Located downtown at the SeaBus and SkyTrain station. Just steps away from the Cruise Ship Terminal and historic Gastown. Infonnation and Reservations:604.689.0421 Website: www. vancouverlookout.com Email: info@vancouverlookout.com 555 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N4 Burnaby Village Museum And Carousel Step back in time to 1925. The museum features a village, a farmhouse and the historic CW Parker Carousel. Costumed townspeople welcome you to exhibits that include a schoolhouse, a blacksmith, a Chinese medicine store and an ice - cream parlour. Seasonal Hours: May 4 - Sept 2 (11: 00 am - 4:30 pm ) Christmas Hours: Nov 23 - Dec 13 & Dec31 - Jan 4(12:00 - 5:30 pm) and Dec 14 - 30 (12:00 - 8:00 pm) Closed Dec 24& 25 Directions: Take exit 33 from Hwy 1 to Canada Way. Follow the signs along the sidewalk to Deer Lake Park. 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Information: 604. 293. 6501 Telephone: 604. 293. 6500 Website: www. city. burnaby.cb.ca. 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3T6 Which of the following statements is true? A. A guide is necessary for people to visit Harbour Center Tower. B. There is fresh snow at Harbor Center Tower for people to enjoy. C. Harbour Cruises LTD is closer to downtown than Burnaby Village Museum. D. The ice - cream parlour provides you local delicious food at lunch time on Christmas Day. Answer: C Question: Grand Opening Bentwood Truck Museum Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 A. M. After eighteen months of hard work by more than 100 volunteers, the Bentwood Truck Museum is ready to open. The old factory had been scheduled to be destroyed. When Roger Haygood heard about the plan to tear down the building, he bought it so that he could store his collection of old trucks there. Then he had the idea of turning the building into a truck museum. During the past year and a half, the old building has been transformed into a treasure chest of memories. Instead of a dark and dull house, the building has become a cheery, bright home for all kinds of trucks from the past. The museum now houses 68 trucks, and we hope to have even more soon. There is a 1959 school bus, a 1942 bakery truck, and a 1937 fire engine. Our oldest vehicle is a 1919 milk truck. Our newest vehicle is a 1966 tow truck. You can take a ride on a fire truck, a mail truck, or an ice-cream truck. Rides are $ 2.00, but you can get a ticket for a free ride at any grocery store in Bentwood. Help us celebrate our grand opening by bringing your family and friends! There is something to interest everyone who attends. The Bentwood Truck Museum is a special piece of our history. To get to Bentwood Truck Museum, take Route 29 (Kingston Highway) to Palmer Street. Go south on Palmer Street for one block and take a left onto Norman Drive. You will see the museum building and the amusement park on your left. Parking is available across the street, on your right. What's the purpose of writing this passage? A. To introduce the old history of Bentwood Truck Museum. B. To persuade readers to attend the opening of the museum. C. To explain why Bentwood Truck Museum was set up. D. To call on the visitors to take a ride in old trucks. Answer: B
Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help. Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops. American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants - those that return year after year. Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good. He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year. The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity. The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight. Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature. Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that _ . A. Africa was going through a food crisis B. most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small C. there are not enough farmlands D. farmers may grow additional crops on farmland Answer: B There are many kinds of movies in the world. For example: comedies, scary movies, documentaries , soap operas, action movies... People love movies. Comedies make people laugh because they are funny. Scary movies make people frightened and cry because they are scary. Documentaries bring people knowledge because they are educational. People like soap operas because they are romantic . People also like action movies a lot because they are exciting. Different people like different kinds of movies. Girls always like soap operas. Boys like action movies and scary movies. But all girls and boys like comedies. . How many kinds of movies do you know from the passage ? A. Five. B. Six. C. Seven. D. Eight. Answer: A Alan Tong was the worst driver in town. He had an accident of some kind almost every week. Alan lived with his mother. His mother was always worried about him. Every day she worried that police would turn up to arrest him. This wasn't a foolish worry because they usually called on the Tong household about once a week to deliver a speeding ticket or to serve him notice to appear in court. Most of his accidents were caused by his carelessness. He drove through red lights. He turned right without signaling. He drove at night without proper lights. He overtook other cars on hills and sharp curve. In short there wasn't a traffic regulation Alan had not broken, and he had had so many accidents that it was a miracle he was still alive. But luckily for Alan, he had never hurt anyone in his accidents or even gone to the hospital. Although Alan wasn't popular with the police, he was very popular with his lawyer. Alan's lawyer, Mr.Tsui, had earned a lot of money from Alan's cases and always rubbed his hands expectantly when he saw Alan coming into his office. One day Alan was working in the garage spraying painting his car when his mother walked in. "What are you doing?" his mother asked. "Painting my car," Alan replied. "I can see that," his mother said, "but why are you painting one side of the car red and the other side blue?" "Because every time I have to go to court for a traffic offense, there are always two witnesses . "What color1 was the car?" the prosecutor always asks, and the two witnesses always give the same answer. Well, in the future, one witness will say it was blue. Mr. Tsui will then say to the judge, "Your honor, the witnesses cannot even agree on the color1 of the car involved in the accident." And the judge will have to dismiss the case against me. Mr. Tsui _ . A. always volunteered to represent Alan in court. B. wasn't popular with the police C. was good friends with Alan D. looked forward to Alan's visit Answer: D It is autumn, and the Indians ask their new chief what the weather is going to be like this winter. The chief looks at the sky and says it's usually cold, and he tells the villagers to collect wood for the winter. As a good chief, he goes to call the weatherman and asks, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?" "It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold," the weatherman answers. So the chief goes back to his people and tells them to collect more food. A week later he calls the weatherman again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" "Yes," the weatherman answers again. "It's going to be a very cold winter." The chief again goes back to his people and tells them to collect every piece of wood they can find. Two weeks later he calls the weatherman again. "Are you sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" "Yes," the weatherman answers again. "It's going to be very very cold." "Why are you so sure?" asks the chief. The weatherman answers, "Because the Indians are collecting wood !" The Indians wants to know the weather in _ . A. spring B. summer C. autumn D. winter Answer: D Most people think the first pies were made by early Romans. They may have learned about pie making from the Greeks. These pies were sometimes made in"reeds ", which were used for the purpose of holding the filling ( ), and were not eaten. The Romans spread the word about pies around Europe and the word"pie"became a popular word in the 14th century. The first pie recipe was also published by the Romans. Pies first appeared in England as early as the twelfth century. The early pies were mostly meat pies. There was actually more crust than filling. Often these pies were made from fowl ( ) and the fowl's legs were left to hang over the side of the dish and used as handles. Fruit pies were probably first made in the 1500s. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I made the first cherry pie. Pie came to America with the first English settlers. The early settlers cooked their pies in long narrow pans. As in the Roman times, the early American pie crusts were often not eaten, but simply used to hold the filling during baking(@&*). Over the years, pie has become what it is today --- "the most traditional American dessert". Pie has become so much a part of American culture that we now often use the phrase "as American as apple pie". The best title of this passage is " _ ". A. The History of Pies B. Pies, the Delicious Food C. Pies, American Dessert D. How to Make Pies Answer: A
Hello, everyone! I am Zhang Xin. Do you know what I see in America? Well, it is really an interesting trip. Now, 1et me tell you what I find in this trip. In China, I have five English classes every week. When I study English,my teacher teaches me to say "I am fine" when people ask me "How are you?" But in the US., I find people say "I am good," or "I' m not so good." One day, someone says to me with "What's up?" But I don't know what to say. All the girls want to be nice. US girls like to get at a _ in the sun. But in China, girls only want to get white. In China, study comes first, so we study hard and that's it. But in the US, a "good" student also does much for others , and they play sports or music after school. After I come back from the US, I think for a long time. I can't forget this trip! Zhang Xin has five _ every week. Answer: English classes You're standing with your classmates. Everyone is talking--except you. Perhaps you're afraid they will laugh at what you say. Or maybe you just aren't brave enough to speak. I've been there, and so have many other people all over the world. Shyness is like a snake that crawls into our mouths and stops us speaking. But we shouldn't let it stay there. I am 29 years old. Even today, that snake still sometimes visits me. But when I was in high school, I was so shy that I wouldn't talk to anyone except my parents and best friends. If a stranger asked me the way to a local shop, it was as if I'd forgotten how to talk. One summer, I got a job in a restaurant and that helped a lot. It meant I had to talk to customers. I had to tell them how much their meal cost. I had to ask them if they wanted to drink Coke or Sprite. I had to tell the people in the kitchen if someone wanted pickle on their sandwich. This job taught me how to speak with people. You may not be old enough to find a part-time job. But you can look for other chances to speak with people. You can offer to help an old woman carry her heavy bag. Or you can go to get a newspaper for your family. If you do these things for a while, the "shyness" snake will soon begin to leave you alone. It'll look for another mouth to crawl into. The author's duties in the restaurant included_. Answer: taking the customers' orders Mistrust _ Zhengzhou Ride-share Effort More than 300 private car owners from a central Chinese city volunteered to offer free rides to citizens to ease crowded public transportation, but many local people didn't accept the offer for fear of being cheated. The ride-share program was begun in October in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, when Ye Zhantong, a private car driver, started to gather volunteers to offer the free service. The drivers tied a green silk ribbon on the car to differentiate themselves from unlicensed taxi drivers. But the free rides haven't been popular among the public as increasing reports of dishonesty have dried up many local citizens' trust towards strangers. Ye said some of the volunteers have dropped out after they felt their kind intention was being questioned. Passersby walking in heavy rainfall or passengers who missed a bus would remain silent and walk away when the volunteers would stop and offer a ride. "It's so common that people give us the cold shoulder, and sometimes, take our kindness as ill will," said one of Ye's volunteers, identified as Binge. "Many would even say: 'Let's get out of here quickly to avoid being cheated by him.'" Some commenters on Weibo explained why they hesitated to participate in a ride-share program. "Trusting a stranger might bring huge risks. I can't take the risk," one Internet user wrote. Some said Ye's group wasn't authorized, and cheaters pretending to be kind drivers might volunteer. They suggested traffic authorities issue rules to regulate, protect and promote ride-share programs. Some of the ride-share car drivers _ . Answer: have left Ye's group Everyone takes drugs. Sometimes a drug might be called a herb but the effect is the same. Drugs and herbs can make life better for they are used to improve health. From the simplest headache to a cure for cancer, People believe that certain drugs can help them. But there is danger if the drugs are not used in a proper way. American teenagers sometimes use certain drugs to feel good. They call this "getting high". The problem is that once a young man or a young woman has the feeling of "getting high, they want to do it often. If school is boring or too hard, students might get depressed and a drug or herb might help them feel better. If a student takes too much of a drug, the body may change in a negative way such as a confused mind, poor vision, a headache, and an uncomfortable stomach. School mow have DARE programme which means Drug Abuse Resistance Education. This programme was started so that young students from age 10 to18 might understand how a drug affects their bodies. The main point of the programme is education. Once a student understands certain drugs can cause ill health, he will know he should not use them. Education is the key to good nutrition as well. If a student eats correctly, he or she will be full of energy which leads to good study habits and good grades. Poor nutrition may cause the need for more sleep and poor concentration. Proper food is similar to the proper use of drugs. Both allow a healthy body to grow while misuse prevents a person from developing normally. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? Answer: Drug Awareness A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ..." "Of course I have a job," said Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder. One day I found myself in the same situation. The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title. "What is your occupation?" she asked. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair. I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "Just what you do in this field?" Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't), in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. What can we infer from the conversation between the woman and the recorder at the beginning of the passage? Answer: Motherhood was not recognized and respected as a job by society.
Question: Hetty Robinson learnt all about money when very young. As a child, she read the financial pages of the newspaper to her rich father. Her father died when Hetty was 30, and she inherited $1 million. When she herself died in 1916, she left almost $100 million to her two children. Hetty made her money on the New York stock exchange. She was a financial genius. She made money so easily that people called her the Witch of Wall Street. But although she was one of the richest women in the world, she counted every cent and spent as little as possible. She didn't own a house, because she didn't want to pay taxes. So she and her children lived in cheap hotels. She spent almost nothing on clothes, and always wore the same long black dress. She washed it herself, but to save soap she only washed the bottom of the dress, where it touched the ground. Other people had their own offices, but Hetty used a desk in the bank where she kept her money, because it didn't cost anything. She sat in the bank and ate her sandwiches while she bought and sold stocks and shares. If the bank complained, she just moved all her money to another bank. Hetty's family paid the price for her meanness. When she was 33 she married a millionaire, Edward Green, and they had two children. But Green lost all his money, so she left him. When her son, Ned, injured his knee, Hetty didn't want to pay for a doctor, so she took him to a free hospital for poor people. Unfortunately the doctor knew Hetty was rich and he asked for money. Hetty refused and took the boy away. His leg got worse and two years later doctors removed it. But eventually Ned got his revenge . At the age of 81, Hetty had an argument with a shop assistant about the price of a bottle of milk. She became so angry that she had a heart attack and died. So Hetty's meanness finally killed her. Ned inherited half his mother's fortune, and he spent it all on parties, holidays and expensive jewellery. Which is the best title of this passage? A. A Mean Genius B. A Financial Success C. A Lifelong Bad Luck D. A Good Way to Earn Money Answer: A. A Mean Genius Question: My mother was a housewife. She thought that successful people spent a lot more time reading than watching TV. So she asked my brother and me not to watch too much TV, but to read two books every week in our free time. She would check them with marks, though she couldn't read the book at all. When I went to high school, I was an A-student, but not for long. I wanted cool clothes and hung out with friends. I became a C-student, but I didn't care. One night I complained about not having enough Italian shirts. Then my mother gave me all the money and said I could get the money left to buy shirts if I finished buying all the things the family needed. I was pleased with that, but after I bought those things, there was no money left. I got to know how difficult it was for my mother to do all these. I went back to my studies and became an A-student again. Finally, my dream came true and I became a doctor. My story is really my mother's story----a woman with little education greatly changed my life as a parent. So I believe there is no job more important than parenting. What was the writer's dream? A. To be a doctor. B. To be a teacher. C. To be an A-student D. To find a good job. Answer: A. To be a doctor. Question: There once lived in China a very foolish king and queen. One day the queen had a baby daughter. When they saw their baby, they both cried out, "My goodness! How small it is! It's hairless and toothless! It's a monster!" They sent for all the doctors in the country and ordered them to prepare some medicine for her. "When she drinks your medicine, she must grow to the right size and have hair and teeth," the king said, "If you don't do this, you'll have a beating." The doctors thought it impossible, but they dared not say anything against the king's order. Just then and old doctor stepped forward. "Oh, we shall certainly obey your order," he said, "but it takes time. We have to dig a mineral from the Kun Lun Mountains when the snow melts for the second time. The snow melts on those mountains only once in six years. So we need twelve years." At last the king agreed and the doctors took away the little princess. On her twelfth birthday, they brought her back to her parents with long black hair and beautiful teeth. The king and queen were very happy and gave the doctors expensive presents. The old doctor wanted to keep the king's daughter for twelve years because _ . A. they needed a lot of different plants B. they need a lot of different minerals C. this would give the baby time to grow up D. they had to dig a mineral the snow melted for the second time Answer: C. this would give the baby time to grow up Question: Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they don't act in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, "I love you" is too luxurious for them to say. Sending flowers on Valentine's Day is even more out of the question. One day, my mother was sewing a quilt . "Mom, I have a question to ask you." "What?" she replied, still doing her work. "Is there love between you and Dad?" My mother stopped her work and raised her head with surprise in her eyes. Then she said, "Susan, look at this thread. Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The _ really makes the quilt strong and durable. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. Love is inside." I listened carefully but I couldn't understand until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly got sick seriously. After they were back from the hospital, my mother helped him walk slowly on the beautiful country road every morning. My father had never been so gentle. But after two months he still couldn't walk by himself. All of us were worried about him. "Dad, how are you feeling now?" I asked him one day. "Susan, don't worry about me, "he said gently. "To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom. "Reading his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply. Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But from this experience, I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm. ,. Why couldn't her father walk by himself? A. Because her father was seriously ill. B. Because her father liked walking with his wife. C. Because his father didn't get good treatment . D. Because his father had a bad temper . Answer: B. Because her father liked walking with his wife. Question: An out-of-body experience? It's just your brain playing tricks on you. Some report feeling as if they are floating above their own bodies, while others find themselves drawn towards a blinding light. But out-of-body experiences are nothing more than a trick of the mind, scientists claim. They say that common spooky scenarios, such as floating above a hospital bed or walking towards the light at the end of a tunnel, can be explained by the brain trying to make sense of the process of death. Scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge reviewed studies into changes in the brain that cause certain strong feelings associated with near-death experiences. Researcher Caroline Watt said one common vision -- that of people seeing a bright light which seems to be drawing them into the afterlife -- is probably produced by the death of the cells we use to process the light picked up by our eyes and turn it into pictures. "It is simply your brain trying to make sense of the unusual experiences you are having," Dr Watt said. Feelings of being out of the body can also be explained by the brain's behavior, the journal Trends in Cognitive Science reports. "If you put on a virtual reality headset showing an image of yourself three feet in front, you can trick your brain into thinking that is you over there, and get the sense you are outside your body," Dr Watt added. The scientific evidence suggests that all aspects of the near-death experience have a biological basis. In another example, the hormone noradrenalin, which is released when we suffer from stress and injuries, could be behind the feelings of love and peace that many experience when they seem to be approaching death. However, other scientists say we should not be so quick to dismiss (stop considering) people's accounts (descriptions). Sam Parnia, of the University of Southampton, stressed that being able to trace something back to the brain does not mean it is not real. Dr Parnia, who is close to completing a three-year study of hospital patients' recollections of their near-death experiences, said, "Every experience, whether near-death or otherwise -- such as depression, happiness and love -- is mediated by the brain." How did scientists study the cause of out-of-body experience? A. By studying chemical materials in dying people's brains. B. By studying changes in the brain that cause such experience. C. By listening to people's descriptions of out-of-body experience. D. By monitoring patients' behavior on a screen. Answer: B. By studying changes in the brain that cause such experience.
One billion teenagers and young adults around the world are in the face of losing their hearing by listening to loud music. This is according to the World Health Organization. Few things can make people happy and full of energy like good music. Many people believe louder is better if you are listening to rock and roll. But if you really listen to the music loudly, even really good music, it can hurt your hearing badly. If a person takes a subway to go from one place to the other for half an hour in the morning and a half an hour in the evening, and every day has to _ on his audio device because there is so much of noise of the train and everything around, and is listening to for one hour every day, his hearing is going to be hurt seriously in a few years, in a couple of years time, for sure. There can be many kinds of unsafe levels of sound. It depends on how loud the sound is and how long you listen to it. Unsafe can mean noise levels of 85 decibels for eight hours a day or 100 decibels for just 15 minutes. There are simple ways to protect people from unsafe sound levels. Young people who wear earplugs during concerts can enjoy music at 90 decibels as much as they can at 110 decibels. But earplugs may not look very cool. The fact that earplugs may look un-cool may be true today, but if there is nothing wrong with your hearing in the future may be true and wearing earplugs may actually be cool. Another common suggestion is to turn down the volume on your personal audio devices. The World Health Organization also advises young people to limit their use of such devices to less than one hour a day. Besides, the World Health Organization reminds people to use technology, such as smart audio devices keep listening levels safe. What music can make people happy and full of energy? A. Sad music. B. Bad music C. Soft music D. Good music. Answer: D. Good music. Geologists have been studying volcanoes for a long time.Though they have learned a great deal,they still have not discovered the cause of volcanic action.They know that the inside of the earth is very hot,but they are not sure exactly what causes the great heat.Some geologists have thought that the heat is caused by the great pressure of the earth's outer layers.Or the heat may be left from the time when the earth was formed.During the last sixty years scientists have learned about radium,uranium,thorium,and other radioactive elements.Many scientists now believe that much of the heat inside the earth is produced by radioactive elements. Whatever the cause of the heat may be,we do know that the earth gets hotter the farther down we dig.In deep mines and oil wells the temperatures rise about 1degF for every 50 feet.At this rate of the temperature 40 miles below the earth's surface should be over 4 000deg.This is much hotter than necessary to melt rock.However,the pressure of the rock above keeps most materials from melting at their usual melting points.Geologists believe that the rock deep in the earth may be plastic,or puttylike .In other words,the rock yields slowly to pressure but is not liquid.But if some change in the earth's crust releases the pressure,the rock melts.Then the hot,liquid rock can move up toward the surface. According to the passage, _ prevents most rock from melting at its usual melting points. A. the pressure of the rock itself B. the pressure of the rock above C. the pressure of the earth's outer layers D. the heat given out by some radioactive elements Answer: B. the pressure of the rock above Guan Moye, better known as Mo Yan, is a Chinese novelist and short story writer. He has been referred to by Donald Morrison of U.S. news magazine, TIME, as "one of the most famous and widely pirated of all Chinese writers". He is best known to Western readers for Red Sorghum Clan , which was later adapted for the film, Red Sorghum. In 2012, Mo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Mo Yan was born in Gaomi County, Shandong Province. He was 11 years old when the Cultural Revolution started, at which time he left school to work as a farmer. At the age of 18, he began to work at a factory. During this period, his access to literature was largely limited to novels. At the close of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, Mo joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and began writing. During this period, the works of Chinese literature, as well as translations of foreign authors such as William Faulkner, made an impact on his works. In 1984, he received a literary award from the PLA Magazine, and at the same year he began attending the Military Art Academy, where he first used the pen name of Mo Yan. "Mo Yan" means "don't speak" in Chinese. He explained that the name came from a warning from his father and mother about not saying what he thought when he was outside. It also related to the subject matter of his writings. Mo's first novel was Falling Rain on a Spring Night, published in 1981. Several of his novels were translated into English by Howard Goldblatt, professor of East Asian languages and literature, at the University of Notre Dame. He published his first novella , A Transparent Radish, in 1984, and released Red Sorghum Clan in 1986, making him a nationally recognized novelist. Five years later, he obtained a Master's degree in literature from Beijing Normal University. Mo got his Master's degree in literature in _ . A. 1981 B. 1984 C. 1986 D. 1991 Answer: D. 1991 My 16-year-old son, Anton, had gone to the local swimming hole. Most of the kids swim there, and there are plenty of rocks for them to use as safe harbors, so I had no fears for his safety. Still, the firefighter's first words "You need to come up here to the Stillwater River" made me catch my breath, and his follow-up words gave me relief: " Your son is OK." When I got to the river, I immediately saw the firetruck, ambulance and Anton, wrapped with a towel about his shoulders, sitting quietly on a low platform of the fire engine. I hurried over to him. "You OK?"I asked. "Yeah," was all he said. But my eyes begged for an explanation, I didn't get it from my son, however, _ . The story was this: A woman was being swept under water. Hearing the cries, Anton and his friend Tyler, without hesitation, swam out to her, and brought her safely to shore. In an age in which the word "hero" is broadcast with abandon and seemingly applied to anyone who make it through the day, I realized the real thing in my son. The teens are stubborn and self-centred, but that didn't mean they have no desire to do good. Still shocked by my son's daring, I drove him home. Along the way, I tried to dig out some more information from him - but he had precious little to say. The only words he said were, "What's for supper?" I spent some time alone that evening, thinking about the tragedy that might have been. The next morning, when Anton got up, I half expected him to tell me the story. But all he did was toast some bread, pull himself together, and head for the door to start a new day. Watching from the window,1 was reminded that still water often runs deep. What might be the best title for the passage? A. My Son, My Hero B. Anton, A Silent Boy C. A Good Deed D. A Proud Mother Answer: A. My Son, My Hero Mrs. Green's telephone number was three-four-six-three, and the number of the cinema near her house was three-four-six-four. So people often made a mistake and telephoned her when they wanted the cinema. One evening the telephone rang and Mrs. Green answered it. A tired man said, "At what time your last film begin?" "I'm sorry," said Mrs. Green, "but you have the wrong number. This is not the cinema." "Oh. It began twenty minutes ago," said the man, "I am sorry about that. Goodbye." Mrs. Green was very surprised, so she told her husband. He laughed and said, "The man's wife wanted to go to the cinema, but he was feeling tired, so telephoned the cinema. The man's wife heard him, but she didn't hear you. Now they will stay at home this evening and the husband will be happy." When Mrs. Green answered the phone, who didn't hear her ?. A. Mr. Green B. The man C. The man's wife. D. Anybody. Answer: C. The man's wife.
Your beliefs are very powerful and have the power to create or to destroy your life. In most cases, whatever you believe is what you will become. If you believe that you are a loser, that you never get a breakthrough in life, and that you can't accomplish(succeed in doing) anything, these things will be your reality. Believe that you are unlimited, that you can do anything you hope to do and when you do, your accomplishments will know no bounds. You control your beliefs, and that is how you finally control your life. This is a very important point. So how do you develop beliefs that will empower you? Many of our beliefs come from our environment, the world we live in on a daily basis. If your environment is limiting your beliefs, then work very hard on changing it. If you are constantly around people who are negative and limiting, find other people to hang out with and get around positive, successful people. Beliefs also come from past experiences. That is why it is so important to experience success on a regular basis. Set small achievable goals, and then try your best to reach them. "I will finish this project by early afternoon." "I will make six calls on the phone in the next hour." "I will exercise 20 minutes tonight." When you start to experience success, then you start to believe in success, and that leads to more and bigger successes. Beliefs come from knowledge. The more you learn, the more things you will possibly know. Always take the advantage of opportunities to learn something new. It will bring new possibilities into your beliefs and your life. Most importantly, you can develop new beliefs by setting and visualizing goals for your life. Define your goals clearly. Then in your mind, see yourself achieving them in all of their sensory details. Mentally live the experience, see the sights, hear the sounds, smell the aroma, and feel the feelings. The beliefs formed in this way will lead you to their reality. Which of the following statements is true? Answer: You should try to achieve small success to believe in success first. Greenland is the largest island in the world.It covers over 2,000,000 square kilometers.Most of the island lies inside the Arctic Circle ,and a huge sheet of icecovers 85% of its area. Along the sea mountains rising from the sea,there are a few low trees in the southwest,but no forests.In winter snow covers everything,but in summer very low plants cover the ground between the sea and the ice sheet.Norwegians were the first Europeans to see the island in AD 875,but no one visited it until 982.Three years later a few Norwegians went to live there.In 1261 the people in Greenland decided to join Norway.Norway and Denmark united in 1380.This union ended in 1814,and Greenland stayed with Denmark.Greenland is fifty times larger than Denmark,but it is still part of this small country. How long did Greenland stay with Norway? Answer: About 550 years. A group of swans flew down to a beach where a crow was jumping around. The crow watched them with disdain . "You have no flying skills at all!" he said to the swans. "All you can do is to move your wings. Can you turn over in the air? No, that's beyond you. Let's have a flying competition. I'll show you what real flying is!" One of the swans, a strong young male, took up the challenge. The crow flew up and began to show his skills. He flew in circles, performed other flying tricks, and then came down and looked proudly at the swan. Now it was the swan's turn. He flew up, and began flying over the sea. The crow flew after him, making all kinds of comments about his flying. They flew on and on till they couldn't see the land and there was nothing but water on all sides. The crow was making fewer and fewer comments. He was now so _ that he found it hard to stay in the air, and had to struggle to keep himself from falling into the water. The swan pretended not to notice, and said, "Why do you keep touching the water, brother? Is that another trick?" "No," said the crow. He knew he had lost the competition. "I'm in trouble because of my pride! If you don't help me, I'll lose my life..." The swan took pity on him, and took him on his shoulders and flew back to the beach. Why did the crow keep touching the water? Answer: It was struggling to keep itself from falling into the water. I was going to Paris, which I'd always wanted to see. But now I was frightened to travel alone. I arrived at the train station in Paris. I hadn't spoken my college French for twenty years. On my first metro ride, I came across an incompetent thief. I just stared at him, and he stopped his hand from my purse and disappeared into the crowd. Somewhere in this confusing city was my hotel hidden, but the directions suddenly weren't easy to find. When I finally found the hotel, my heart was beating heavily, and I was sweating like a basketball player. I couldn't stay. Could I? The wallpaper looked like it had been through a fire. The bathroom was downstairs, and the window looked out onto the brick wall of another building. Welcome to Paris. I sincerely wanted to die. I missed my friends. I was entering my third week away from home and my kids, and I had arrived in the most romantic city in the world, alone, lonely and frightened. The most important thing I did in Paris happened at that moment. I knew that if I didn't go out, right then, and find a place to have dinner, I would hide in this small room my entire time in Paris. I might never learn to enjoy the world as a single individual. So I went out. Evening in Paris was light and pleasant. I walked along a path, listening to birds sing, watching children float toy boats in a huge fountain. No one seemed to be in a hurry. Paris was beautiful. And I was here alone and suddenly not lonely. My sense of accomplishment overcoming my fear and weakness had left me feeling free. I wore out two pairs of shoes during my week's stay in Paris. I did everything there was to do, and it was the greatest week of my European vacation. I returned home, becoming a believer in the power of traveling alone. Now when I meet difficulties I just say to myself, "If I can go to Paris, I can go anywhere." The lifestyle of French people can be considered as _ . Answer: relaxed This is Yoga! Experience this for yourself. How do you feel when you leave a yoga class? Do you feel relaxed, full of energy, prepared and ready to face anything and everything? Do you feel better than when you walked in? If you have answered "No"' to these questions then you are NOT doing yoga. After walking out of the class, do you feel that you have been pushed through, that theclass was hard,that you have less energy at the end of the class, that you have not got any energy, or that you are still tight and full of stress? If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you are NOT doing yoga. Are you forced into positions beyond what you can? Do you know why you are doing the actions in the "yoga" class you attend? Satyananda Yoga Center teaches YOGA. We know and understand yoga and YOU. We teach yoga with this knowledge and understanding. You are not forced into positions not suitable for you, or too early for you. You will leave Satyananda Yoga Center yoga classes feeing relaxed, free from stress, energized, and ready for whatever life brings to you. With regular attendance and practice, the quality of your life improves with betterhealth, and stress-free mind.Your family and friends will notice the difference. You will feel the difference forbetter. This is because you are doing yoga. Yoga for Everyone! Yoga is a science. You are the scientist, and you are the one in the science of yoga. New Saturday morning class from September -- 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Asian American Cultural Center, 11713 Jollyville Road, Austin, Texas. To sign up, call:2669862, or email: keepfitwithyoga@yahoo.com The passage suggests but doesn't tell directly that _ . Answer: some yoga centers are not teaching yoga in the right way
There are three airports in New York. When you arrive at one of them, you can take a bus or taxi to any place in New York. Public transport . In New York there's a good bus and subway service. If you are planning to use the subway a lot, you should buy a subway ticket for ten journeys because it's cheaper. But you don't have to use public transport, because there are lots of places you can go to on foot, like The Empire State Building , 5thAvenue and Central Park. The New York taxis are a part of the city experience , so you should take at least one taxi during your visit! Hotels. There are lots of good hotels in New York. The best is _ on 5thAvenue but you don't have to pay a lot to stay in the city; there are lots of small hotels. Eating out. There are many kinds of food in New York and you shouldn't eat at McDonalds every day. There are good restaurants in Little Italy and Chinatown, for example. Shopping in New York is fun. There are big shops on 5thAvenue. They are open seven days a week. But be careful when you look at the prices; you have to pay a special 8% tax on everything you buy in New York. Places to see. Finally, there are a lot of places to see in New York -- Times Square, the Statue of Liberty. And you shouldn't go home without climbing the Statue of Liberty. From the passage, we can learn that _ . A people can visit many places of interest in New York on foot B New York is not a good place for shopping C people must travel by public transport in New York D people have to eat only one kind of food in New York Answer: A. people can visit many places of interest in New York on foot Visiting the forest zoo Come and see the Indian elephants and the new tigers from Northeast of China. The beautiful birds from England are ready to sing songs for you, and the monkeys from Mount Emei will be happy to talk to you. The lovely dogs from Australia want to laugh at you. Sichuan pandas will play balls for you. The giraffes from Africa are waiting to look down on you. Tickets Opening time Grown-ups : 3 yuan 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. (Monday--Saturday) Children over 1.4 m : 2 yuan except Friday (closed) Children under 1.4 m : Free 10:00 a.m. --3: 00 p.m. (Sunday) Keep the zoo clean! Do not touch , give food or go near to the animals. What should we do in the zoo? A To spit everywhere. B To throw things everywhere. C To keep the zoo clean. D To keep the zoo full. Answer: C. To keep the zoo clean. A large source of heat can be seen in the A sky B cave C ocean D tree trunk Answer: A. sky Jeremy Kerr, a researcher at the University of Ottawa in Canada, and his colleagues analyzed more than 400,000 observations of bumblebee species collected in North America and Europe from 1975 to 2010. When the researchers recorded the locations of these bee populations, they found that many of the 67 species analyzed were moving northward from their southern limits while the northern edges of the bees' ranges are staying in place. What it results in is obvious. Bees have been paid more attention to in recent years, with populations of honeybees and bumblebees obviously declining in some parts of Europe. Previously, attention on the decline of bee populations has focused on causes including habitat loss, pesticide use and the spread of bee parasites . But the work by Kerr's team found something different. "For every species, there is one or two species declining and others that are not moving at all," says Kerr. This shift has also been observed in other species, such as butterflies. But due to a new cause -- the rise of temperatures instead of total pesticide use, a change in land use or parasites, bumblebees -- unlike butterflies -- have failed to extend the northern boundaries of their ranges into the territory that is now habitable for them, so bumblebee species across Europe and North America are declining rapidly, the latest study led by Kerr's team finds. "Our data suggest that the new factor plays a leading, or perhaps the leading, role in this trend," says Kerr. "This study shows that a fourth factor is also beginning to affect it. It is likely that the combined stresses from all of these pressures will have destructive impacts on bumblebees in the not-too-distant future," says Dave Goulson, a bee researcher at the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. Exactly what can be done to help bumblebees is not clear. Kerr's team suggests that relocating colonies might be an answer but Goulson says that because the insects are mobile they are capable of moving northwards if there is suitable habitat available. What kind of writing is this passage? A A book review. B An announcement. C A scientific report. D An official report. Answer: C. A scientific report. The baby elephant, Sheila, was moved out of Belfast Zoo because of fears she might be hit by bombers during the Belfast Blitz of 1941. She was one of the lucky ones. A lot of the animals were killed because of fears they might escape during the bombing and attack people. They included a tiger, a black bear, a wolf, a penguin, and two polar bears. But Sheila was walked down the road by zoo-keepers to a nearby house where a woman took her in and kept her in her backyard for several months until the bombing was over. The woman has never been identified and the zoo knows her only as "the elephant angel". As the zoo celebrates its 75thbirthday, people have decided to try to find the elephant's saver. Mark Challis is the manager of Belfast Zoo. He explained a bit more about Sheila's story. "Well, we know that Sheila, the elephant that was in the zoo at that time spent some time living with a lady relatively near to the zoo and we have one sweet photo, you can see it on our zoo website." "In the photo you can see the elephant with the lady in her back garden and that's almost all we know. So we're just trying to find a little bit more information and we are not even sure if the lady is alive today, but maybe her relatives or somebody will recognize the back of that house and we can fill in some detail on this story." Once the bombing was over, Sheila went back to the zoo and lived for another quarter of a century. She died of a skin disease in 1966. What happened to the unlucky animals in the zoo before the bombing? A They were taken to a safe place. B They started to attack people. C They were killed. D They all escaped from the zoo. Answer: C. They were killed.
Everyone hates to wait in lines. We get that anxious feeling that our precious life is slipping away while we're doing something so meaningless. But it's not always the length of the wait we find so unbearable. Some people camp outside Apple stores for an entire night just to get their hands on the latest product. But waiting 10 minutes in a grocery store just to buy a drink? Forget it. Our behavior when waiting is only partly decided by the length of the wait. "Often the psychology of queuing is more important than the statistics of the wait itself," notes the MIT researcher Richard Larson. One apparent aspect of queuing psychology is that we get bored when we wait in line. This issue is solved in many ways, from magazines in hospital waiting rooms to mirrors in elevators so that we can check our appearance. We really hate it when we expect a short wait and then get a long one. But studies show that we are much more patient when we are given an idea of how long we'll be waiting. Walt Disney Co knows this better than anyone else. It posts estimated waiting times for attractions in its theme parks. But according to Larson, these times are overestimated so that visitors get to the front of the queue more quickly than they expect. It keeps them happy. But perhaps the biggest influence on our feelings about waiting in a line has to do with our sense of fairness. When it comes to queues, the universally acknowledged standard is first come, first served. Any departure from this principle is regarded as unfair and can lead to violent queue anger. You've probably experienced mild queue anger yourself in fast food restaurants, watching people in the other line zoom ahead of you, cursing yourself for having chosen the "wrong" line. In order to solve this problem, the serpentine line was invented. The serpentine line guides all customers into one big snaking queue, separated by ropes or barriers. When you reach the head of the queue, you are directed to the next available server, or teller, or customs official. The serpentine line isn't always faster than multi-lines before an array of cash registers. But it offers important comfort: you absolutely never have to see someone arrive after you and get served before you. In life, waiting is inevitable. But a better understanding of the psychology of waiting can help make it a bit more bearable. When all else fails, bring a book or a smart phone will also do. Walt Disney Co makes people queuing happily by _ . A. having people queue in serpentine line B. letting people know how long they will wait exactly C. making people queue shorter than they are informed D. offering people magazines to read when waiting in lines Answer: C. making people queue shorter than they are informed Three years ago, five parrots were set free in a wild place of Arizona, thousands of miles from the Channel Islands in Jersey where they had been looked after by zookeepers. No evolutionary strategies informed them how to behave in this new landscape of mountainous pine forest unoccupied by their kind for 50 years. To the researchers' surprise, they failed to make contact with a group of wild parrots imported from Mexico and set free at the same time. Within 24 hours the reintroducing ended in failure, and the poor birds were back in cages, on their way to the safety of the Arizona reintroduction programme. Ever since then, the programme has enjoyed great success, mainly because the birds now being set free are Mexican birds illegally caught in the wild, confiscated on arrival north of the border, and raised by their parents in the safety of the programme. The experience shows how little we know about the behaviour and psychology of parrots, as Peter Bennett, a bird researcher, points out: "Reintroducing species of high intelligence like parrots is a lot more difficult. People like parrots, always treating them as nothing more than pets or valuable 'collectables'." Now that many species of parrot are in immediate danger of dying out, biologists are working together to study the natural history and the behaviour of this family of birds. Last year was an important turning point: conservationists founded the World Parrot Trust, based at Hayle in Cornwall, to support research into both wild and caged birds. Research on parrots is vital for two reasons. First, as the Arizona programme showed, when reintroducing parrots to the wild, we need to be aware of what the birds must know if they are to survive in their natural home. We also need to learn more about the needs of parrots kept as pets, particularly as the Trust's campaign does not attempt to discourage the practice, but rather urges people who buy parrots as pets to choose birds raised by humans. Why are researches on parrots important according to the passage? A. The Trust shows great concern for the programme. B. We need to know more about how to preserve parrots. C. Many people are interested in collecting parrots. D. Parrots' intelligence may some day benefit people. Answer: B. We need to know more about how to preserve parrots. Most gift-giving shows nothing more than the spirit of love and friendship.But it is possible to form some associations between the kinds of things bought and the people who buy them. Clothing The clothes you wear tell something about your personality.They tell the world not only how you want to be seen but how you see yourself as well. When someone gives you something to wear that corresponds to your self-image,they're saying,"I agree with you.I like you the way you are."Such a gift should be taken as a form of compliment.On the other hand,a gift of clothing that does not match your personality could be an insult to your character . Expensive gifts Naturally, some gifts like jewelry will be more expensive than others.But some people give higher priced gifts than necessary for the situation.Someone who gives an expensive gift often feels that he should receive more praise than if he had given a less expensive gift.Therefore he is giving himself a gift,too status. Homemade gifts Making something by hand has become the exception in many countries today--so much so that giving a homemade gift is sometimes considered extraordinary.If you receive a homemade gift,you're lucky.It may no.t be made perfectly, but it will show a certain quality of love.No matter what the results of the homemade gift look like,remember it's the thought that counts. Books People who gives books as gifts either like reading or would like everyone to think they do.A good way to know this is to find out whether or not the giver bought the book according to how large it is.If you happen to receive a large heavy book, its giver may be much more interested in the way things appear than in the way they actually are. Anyhow, giving a book can be a way of sharing a feeling or a newly learned meaning.The giver is probably trying to say to you what the books aid to him. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of this passage? A. Gift-giving may reveal the giver's personality in some way, B. Most gift-giving shows the spirit of love and friendship. C. Homemade gifts are more precious than expensive ones. D. We should be careful in choosing and giving expensive ones. Answer: A. Gift-giving may reveal the giver's personality in some way, Different countries and different people have different manners. We must find out their customs, so that they will not think us ill-mannered. Here are some examples of the things that a well-mannered person does or does not do. If you visit a Chinese family you should knock at the door first. When the door opens, you'll not move before the host says "Come in, please." After you enter the room, you wouldn't sit down until the host asks you to take a seat. When a cup of tea is put on a tea-table before you or sent to your hand, you'll say "Thank you" and receive it with your two hands, not one hand, or they'll think you are ill-mannered. Before entering a house in Japan, it is good manners to take off your shoes.In European countries, even though shoes sometimes become very dirty, this is not done.In a Malay house, a guest never finishes the food on the table. He leaves a little to show that he has had enough. In England, a guest always finishes a drink or the food to show that he has enjoyed it. This will make the host, especially the hostess pleased. In China, when the host opens the door, _ before he says "Come in, please!" A. you won't leave B. you won't walk C. you won't stand in front of him D. you won't get in Answer: D. you won't get in A study now lends support to the idea that meal-time distractions can mask the clues that we really have eaten quite enough. Moreover, it finds, the caloric fallout of not paying attention to what we're eating doesn't necessarily end when a meal is over. Rose Cooperfrom England, and her colleagues gathered 22 men and an equal number of women for an experiment. Each person dined alone, continuously receiving nine small shares of food items. These ranged from cheese twists and potato chips to carrots, cherry tomatoes and sandwiches or sausage rolls. Because the goal was to test the potential impacts of distraction on fullness, the researchers randomly assigned half of the participants to eat in front of a computer--and to gain as many wins as possible at the "card" game. Everyone else was told to focus on the sensory qualities of their meal. According to their instructions, the participants ate all of the food given to them. Yet people who played a computer game during lunch found their meal less filling than the mindful eaters had. Game players also swallow down twice as many cookies, almost an hour later, when they were allowed all the dessert they wanted (in the name of a taste test). The British scientists present their findings in the February American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The real question is why distracted eating should impact snacking. It appears, the scientists say, that memory plays some tricky role in how we register what we eat and the degree to which it satisfies. Interestingly, eight years ago, Britta Barkeling of Huddinge University in Stockholm and her colleaguesreportedsomewhat related findings. Their 18 overweight subjects had no choice other than to get rid of everything but lunch, on one day--because they were blindfolded. Compared to a day when they could view what they were dining on, these people consumed only three quarters as many calories. Yet even hours afterward, they reported being no less full than on the day they had been able to see their plates. Of course dining in the dark isn't practical. And sometimes what we eat doesn't really invite our attention. But there is certainly a growing mountain of data indicating that mindless eating is a waste of resources, a risk to our waistlines--and a costly threat to health. The reason why distracted eating influences snacking may be that _ . A. you eat less in that case B. you are cheated by your memory C. you have consumed more calories D. you digest what you've eaten faster Answer: B. you are cheated by your memory
Watching television makes it easier for toddlers to kick and scream, according to a U.S. study. Children under two should not watch any TV. The longer they sit in front of the box, the worse their behavior becomes. Just having the TV on in the background, even if the child wasn't watching it, was also connected to troublemaking behavior although the relationship wasn't as strong, said the researchers. "Parents should be smart about TV use," researcher Jennifer Manganello from the University at Albany, New York, said. "They should limit the time that children use TV, pay attention to the content of TV programs, and consider how TV is used throughout the home." The study looked at 3,128 women from 20 U.S. cities who had a child between 2005 and 2008. While there was some diversity of education among the women, one-third hadn't graduated from high school. Two-thirds of the mothers said their three-year-old watched more than two hours of TV a day, and the average viewing time for children was around three hours. On average, the TV was on for about five additional hours on a common day. After accounting for factors such as living in a violent neighborhood, scientists also found watching TV was strongly connected to behavior such as hitting others, having angry moods, being disobedient , and screaming a lot. The researchers thought that children may see violence on TV, and spend less time on positive development tasks such as reading or playing. The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests no TV at all for children at two and younger, and two hours a day or less for older kids. what is the main idea of the passage? Answer: Watching TV can make children violent. Sam, Thank you for asking me to play soccer with you. But I'm afraid I can't. I have a piano lesson on Tuesday. Maybe another time. Nancy Sandy, Thank you very much for inviting me to your birthday party on Friday. I'd love to come, but I have to go to New York that day. It's very kind of you. I hope you have a happy birthday party. Nancy Lucy, Thanks for your invitation. I'd love to go to your house for dinner on Thursday. But I have to get my things ready for travelling. How about coming to my house with Lily? My mother cooks fish very well. I think you'll like it. I hope to see you before I'm leaving. Nancy Rose, Would you like to come to my house for dinner tonight? Many of our good friends will come. Nancy Which of the following sentences is TURE? Answer: Nancy invites Rose to come to her house for dinner. If you live in a big city, there are many thing to drive you crazy on your daily route, and it's not just overcrowded subway trains. Vicky Zhao is a mainlander working in Hong Kong. For her, one thing she can't put up with is people standing on the wrong side of the escalator in subway stations. "Escalators help us move faster and save time. It isn't a place to rest," the 24-year-old says. "I often see tourists block the way with their suitcases or chatting on the escalators during rush hours. _ annoys me to no end." Admitting she is not the patient type, Zhao says things are much better in Hong Kong than in cities on the mainland where "stand right, walk left" signs are often ignored. The logic behind the "stand right, walk left" escalator etiquette seems obvious. Even though you may want to catch your breath while you're transported up or down, you should still consider others and leave enough space for people in a hurry, so that they can run and catch the train. Many cities' escalators, including London's and Beijing's, use the "stand right, walk left" system to speed up the flow of people. (Australia is an exception and you should stand on the left side instead.) But some cities discourage people from moving on escalators out of safety reasons. In Hong Kong's subway stations there are regular announcements asking people to "stand still" on escalators. Even so, most people in thisfast-paced cityobserve the "stand right, walk left" etiquette. But the people who stand on escalators defend themselves by telling the walkers not to be so impatient. The BBC quotes one stander as saying: "If the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and there's nowhere to move, I see these same people complaining about not being able to pass." Whatever the escalator etiquette is in the place you live or visit, do what most people are doing and always be mindful of others: leave enough space between each other, don't stay at the end of the escalator, and if someone is blocking your way, a simple "excuse me" is enough. When on the escalator, a majority of local people in Hong Kongg _ Answer: follow the "stand right, wail left" etiquette. Today,we are told,children don't spend enough time in the fresh air.Many of them are addicted to a screen either on a computer or a TV--they seem to be living in a virtual world.They have lost touch with nature. But now 400 organizations in the UK,from playgroups to the National Health Service,are encouraging children to have some"wild time".They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside.Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide and seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city,they can go on adventures in the garden or the park. Children often need a helping hand from mum and dad.They need to be shown what to do and where to go.Andy Simpson from National Health Service says,"We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids' development,independence and creativity,by giving wild time a go". So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now,it seems that going back to basics and experiencing"nature's playground"is what modern children need.David Bond from Project Wild Thing says,"We need to make more space for wild time in children's daily routine,freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted". This might sound a bit old fashioned to you or maybe,like me,it's made you think about sticking on your boots,getting outdoors and reliving your childhood.There's no age limit on enjoying yourself! According to Andy Simpson,we know that Answer: wild time is beneficial for children Everyone wants to be healthy. Then do you know how to keep in good health? You may say, "Having a balanced diet and doing exercise can help us." I agree with you. _ 1 In fact, good sleep is also very important. Lots of people in the world have sleep problems. They can't sleep well at night. _ They are unhappy and stressed out. Then they may have some other health problems. _ 2 _ How can people sleep well at night? Here are some good ideas. _ 3 _ * Sleep in a quiet room. * Do some exercise before going to bed. It'll make you sleepy . * Wash your feet in warm water before you go to bed. * Have a glass of milk. It's pretty good for sleeping. * Don't think about boring things. _ 4Try to be relaxed. The writer thinks people should _ to stay healthy. Answer: eat and sleep well, and do exercise
A college student has turned the act of telling someone off into an art form. Lama Ali, who attend school in Virginia, had three final assignments due on the same day for her fashion drawing class. Exhausted after working on painting for seven hours straight, the 20-year-old decided to include a message in American Sign Language to her professor: When your drawing teacher assigns 3 finals so you secretly write "you got me fucked up" in sign language on your final piece. ----Shawty Arabia(@LemAli23) December 7,2016 "You got me fucked up," a bunch of hands in the painting spell out in ASL, in a form of sign known as finger spelling , which uses signs for each letter, rather than for the words themselves. "Honestly the idea just came to me while I was finishing up the piece," Ali toldThe Huffington Post." I was looking at it and thought, 'This could really use something else'. And then the idea struck me: Why not secretly express how I was feeling while struggling at the library at 4 a. m.?" Once the fashion design major had finished her masterpiece, she posted it to Twitter on Dec. 7, where it has received over 113,000likes and 48,000 retweets . Ali, who does not know ASL, toldHuffPostshe taught herself a little bit just for this particular assignment. "You know it's bad when you have to learn a whole other language to express how done you are," she said. "I remembered seeing a post on Tumblr long ago with a similar phrase by the post, she decided to look up the letters in ASL to spell out the message. Someone on Twitter even did the good work of circling them in the painting. Ali toldHuffPostthat when she finally presented the piece to her professor in her class, he absolutely loved it. "Most of my friends in class actually knew about the secret message, so I was really surprised when no one laughed or blew my cover during critique ." She also admits that her professor still doesn't know about the message, despite her post getting so much attention. Which of the following is closest in meaning to "You got me fucked up"? A. I was greatly astonished. B. You really worn me out. C. I felt much appreciated. D. You left me impressed. Answer: B. You really worn me out. An artist went to beautiful part of the country for a holiday, and stayed with a famer. Every day he went out with his paints and his brushes and painted from morning to evening. When it got dark, he went back to the farm and had a good dinner before he went to bed. At the end of his holiday, he wanted to pay the farmer, but the farmer said, "No I do not want money, but give me one of your pictures", .The farmer smiled and answered, "It's not that. I have a son in London. He wants to become an artist. When he comes here next month. I will show him your picture, and then he will not want to be an artist any more, I think." What did the artist go to the country for? A. To look for the farmer B. To spend a holiday C. To teach the farmer's son D. To see the farmer's son Answer: B. To spend a holiday If you didn't look at them, they weren't there, right? On seeing those in rags on the corner, I only wanted the light to turn green fast enough so that I wouldn't have to keep pretending not to see them. Then, one day, as I was holding the hand of my best friend Jane who was young but dying of breast cancer, she told me that she made every moment count by slowing down and by seeing everything . I held her hand for five years and then she passed away. She did teach me something. It took a while for her words to really sink in. I can be a slow learner. I started by seeing everything, and focused on their presence. One day I saw a Vietnam veteran . I asked him what would make his day. "A hot cup of coffee," he told me. I bought him a cup of coffee, a stack of pancakes, some eggs, and so on. After our meal together, I asked him if there was anything else that would make his life a bit easier. "A new pair of socks, "he said. Socks, really? I actually happened to be wearing a nice pair of wool hiking socks at that very moment. I told him that I wanted to give him the pair I was wearing if he would accept it. Finally he agreed. We sat down on a bench, and he started to first take off his boots, and then remove the black socks that had once been white off his feet. I think a layer or two of skin might have come off with them. Taking his new pair of socks, he held the socks up to his cheeks and said they were warm and smelled as good as me, pools of tears in his eyes. Such a simple luxury I used to take for granted. Now I always have an extra pair with me in my car. They are always my best pair, just waiting to be given away. On seeing the homeless, the author used to _ . A. act as if they were not there B. show mercy to them C. hide in the corner D. make fun of them Answer: A. act as if they were not there Most of the people who appear most often and most gloriously in the history books are great conquerors and generals and soldiers, whereas the people who really helped civilization forward are often never mentioned at all. We do not know who first set a broken leg, or launched a seaworthy boat, or calculated the length of the year, or manured a field; but we know all about the killers and destroyers. People think a great deal of them, so much so that on all the highest pillars in the great cities of the world you will find the figure of a conqueror or a general or a soldier. And I think most people believe that the greatest countries are those that have beaten in battle the greatest number of other countries and ruled over them as conquerors. It is just possible they are, but they are not the most civilized. Animals fight; so do savages ; hence to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good, but it is not to be civilized. Even being good at getting other people to fight for you and telling them how to do it most efficiently -this, after all, is what conquerors and generals have done -is not being civilized. People fight to settle quarrels. Fighting means killing, and civilized peoples ought to be able to find some way of settling their disputes other than by seeing which side can kill off the greater number of the other side, and then saying that that side which has killed most has won. And it not only has won, but, because it has won, has been in the right. For that is what going to war means; it means saying that might is right. That is what the story of mankind has on the whole been like. Even our own age has fought the two greatest wars in history, in which millions of people were killed or disabled. And while today it is true that people do not fight and kill each other in the streets -while, that is to say, we have got to the stage of keeping the rules and behaving properly to each other in daily life - nations and countries have not learnt to do this yet, and still behave like savages. In the author's opinion, the countries that ruled over a large number of other countries are _ A. certainly both the greatest and the most civilized B. neither the most influential nor the most civilized. C. possibly the most civilized but not the most powerful. D. likely the greatest in some sense but not the most civilized. Answer: D. likely the greatest in some sense but not the most civilized. Don't be surprised when strangers talk to you in Canada! You will find that many Canadians will smile at you as they pass in the street, or say something to you like "Hi!" or "How's it going?" Just reply with something similar. In the UK the reply would be "I'm fine", but in Canada they say "I'm good". In company, when someone is offering you a second helping of food or more wine, if you don't want any more, use the same expression-- "I'm good". In this case, it means "No, thank you. I've had enough". Most Canadians don't press you to eat more than you want. In restaurant, your plate will be cleared away almost immediately you have finished eating. When you go into a shop or store, the shop assistant asks you how you are or if they can help you, it is their way of being friendly and making conversation with the customers. Canadians eat early and go home early. When you are invited to a Canadian's home, you may be asked to arrive at 5:30 pm or 6 pm. But guests in Europe don't expect to arrive until 7:30 pm or 8 pm. Remember to take off your shoes and leave them inside the door without being asked. It's not a religious custom, but it's practical. In winter, there can be a lot of snow and dirt on your shoes, once you are in the warm house it melts and falls off, making a mess. Canadians tend to have light colored carpets or hardwood floors. If you're invited for dinner, it will be a full sit- down meal. Meat is usually barbecued in the freezing cold of winter. Do take something with you, like a bottle of wine. Arrive on time and don't stay over 10 pm. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A. "I'm good" can mean you do not need more food in Canada. B. In Canada, you will meet strangers in the street saying "Hi" to you. C. In a Canadian restaurant, the plates will stay at the table until you leave. D. Canadians usually say "I'm good" to answer the greeting of "How's it going?" Answer: C. In a Canadian restaurant, the plates will stay at the table until you leave.
Question: What part of the backyard is cooler than the other parts? A. the part by the fence B. the part with the grass C. the part by the pool D. the part by the oak tree Answer: D. the part by the oak tree Question: Daredevil climber Alain Robert, known as the French Spiderman, stood strong winds and rain to climb the world's tallest skyscraper, Taiper 101, Saturday. Robert, dressed in a red rain jacket, tights and climbing shoes, climbed up ropes hung down the side of the 101-storey, 1,667-foot office tower, reaching the top in around four hours. "It was a very big moment and I felt a lot of satisfaction though I was already so tired and nearly all of my muscles were painful. I felt completely eased," said Robert after taking the ride down in one of the tower's lifts, the world's fastest. Several hundred onlookers and shoppers gathered at the base of the tower watching and cheering Roberts progress through live pictures on a large television screen. At times he disappeared from view as clouds passed by the top of the tower surrounding the upper storeys. The 42-year-old Frenchman has covered scores of well-known structures around the world including the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower-without permission or any safety equipment or ropes. This time Robert was wearing a harness fastened to safety ropes for the entire climb. He used the ropes to pull himself up most of the way, using his hands and feet to climb up the walls for only short sections. He said the management had requested he wear the ropes and safety equipment, which had also become necessary due to the rain making the windows and frames very slippery. Robert said he would not carry his pity the next time. During his climbing up Taipei 101, Alai Robert_. A. never felt tired all the time B. never used his hands and feet C. had stayed somewhere for a short rest D. was not seen on the television screen sometimes Answer: D. was not seen on the television screen sometimes Question: Tom was taken to the police station and put in a room with another thief, an older man. The man looked at Tom and said, "Why have they brought you here, boy?" "I stole a small radio one day after lessons," Tom said. The man laughed rudely at him, "you should steal something which is worth a lot if you want to be a thief. You ought to steal something really expensive, so that your name is put in the newspaper. Go and steal a lot of money from a bank next time!" Tom thought for a few seconds and then said, "I can't do that!" "Why can't you?" said the older man. "Are you afraid?" "No," said Tom, "I'm not afraid at all, but the banks are all closed at three o'clock, and my lessons don't finish until four." Having heard what the older man said, Tom thought carefully about _ . A. his lessons B. how to be a famous man C. stealing something worth a lot D. the plan to steal from a bank Answer: D. the plan to steal from a bank Question: Sometimes you just get so angry that you feel like you are going to burst . It may seem like your anger will be the boss of you, instead of you being the boss of your anger. What can you do to work off that anger and keep yourself and others safe? Here are some ideas to help you. Take a deep breath before you feel your heart slows back down again. Count to ten slowly in your mind before you open your mouth. Count to another ten if you are still feeling out of control. Stop and think about what to say and do, then make a good choice. Walk away the place that makes you angry and go somewhere else until you've thought about what you can do. Use your words to tell your feelings. You should never hurt someone with your hands, feet or by what you say. Say what you say in a strong voice, not a loud shouting voice. Doing a chore that you really hate is a pretty good idea. It can keep your anger away and you can feel good about getting that chore done too. In this way, you make anger useful. What will happen if you are the boss of your anger? A. You can burst. B. You can keep warm. C. You can shout loudly. D. You can be careless. Answer: B. You can keep warm. Question: Olaf Stapledon wrote a book called First and Last Men, in which he looked millions of years ahead. He told of different men and of strange civilizations, broken up by long 'dark ages' in between. In his view, what is called the present time is no more than a moment in human history and we are just the First Men. In 2,000 million years from now there will be the Eighteenth or Last Men. However, most of our ideas about the future are really very short-sighted. Perhaps we can see some possibilities for the next fifty years. But the next hundred? The next thousand? The next million? That's much more difficult. When men and women lived by hunting 50,000 years ago, how could they even begin to picture modern life? Yet to men of 50,000 years from now, we may seem as primitive in our ideas as the Stone-Age hunters do to us. Perhaps they will spend their days goallocking to make new spundles, or struggling with their ballalators through the cribe. These words, which I have just made up, have to stand for things and ideas that we simply can't think of. So why bother even to try imagining life far in the future? Here are two reasons. First, unless we remember how short our own lives are compared with the whole human history, we are likely to think our own interests are much more important than they really are. If we make the earth a poor place to live on, because we are careless or greedy or quarrelsome, our grandchildren will not bother to think of excuses for us. Second, by trying to escape from present interests and imagine life far in the future, we may arrive at quite fresh ideas that we can use ourselves. For example, if we imagine that in the future men may give up farming, we can think of trying it now. So set your imagination free when you think about the future. The text discusses men and women 50,000 years ago and 50,000 years from now in order to show that _ . A. human history is extremely long B. life has changed a great deal C. it is useless to plan for the next 50 years D. it is difficult to tell what will happen in the future Answer: D. it is difficult to tell what will happen in the future
As you know, the great American writer Jack London was often in need of money when he began writing his books. He worked hard but it didn't help him. Once he promised a New York magazine to write a story for it, but he was busy at that time and could not keep his promise. The boss of the magazine wrote letters to Jack London several times to ask him to send the story. At last he went to Jack London's room and left a note . "Dear Jack London, if I don't get the story in twenty-four hours, I'll come to your room and kick you downstairs, and I always keep my promise." Jack London read the note and answered, "Dear Dick, if I could do my work with my feet like you, I could keep my promise, too." Which of the following is NOT true? For many of us, a little time with our smartphones or iPads before sleep is the highlight of the night. But would you still think it is relaxing if you knew that it damages or destroys your sleep? Scientists say that's exactly what it does. In ancient times, when there were no lamps, telephones or smartphones, the sun was the main source of light. When the sun went down, our brains took that as a signal to start producing melatonin , a chemical that helps us sleep. However, a healthy amount of melatonin can only be produced in complete darkness.Any light in your bedroom--even the one on the alarm clock or the charging indicator on your cellphone--could disturb the process, not to mention something as bright as smartphone and iPad screens. We tend to hold these much closer than a television or laptop, which allows them to shoot far more light straight into our eyes. "This is particularly worrisome in populations such as young adults and adolescents, who already tend to be _ ," said researcher Brittany Wood at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute."Lack of sleep among teens is leading to depression, selfharm, low concentration and poor performance at school," she added. While all lights are the enemy of sleep, not all colors of light have the same effect. Our eyes are particularly sensitive to blue light, which is common during the day. Most of the light coming from electronic screens is blue light and it fools our brain into thinking it's still daytime. By contrast, orange or red light has less influence on melatonin production, because our brains recognize it as a signal that the day is ending, according to The Telegraph. Asking yourself to keep your hands off your smartphone before bedtime might seem unreasonable, but you should at least remember to dim the screen or hold it farther away from your eyes. You could also wear a pair of orange sunglasses that take away the harmful blue light. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Where: Becket, Massachusetts When: June 15-Aug. 24 Each summer, this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights this season include the Dance Theater of Harlem's production of Alvin Ailey's "The Lark Ascending", which opens the festival. Many events are free. Ticketed performances start at $22. jacobspillow.org. Moab Music Festival Where: Moab, Utah When: Aug. 29-Sept. 9 This area is better known for mountain biking than for music. But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical, jazz, Latin and other types of music to the land. This year there will be 16 concerts, including three "Grotto Concerts", where guests take a 45-minute boat ride down the Colorado River to performances. Events start at $25. moabmusicfest.org. Cheyenne Frontier Days Where: Cheyenne, Wyoming When: July 19-28 There's something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival, from an "Indian village" and Old West museum to country concerts. But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys and cowgirls competing for major money in the world's largest outdoor stage. Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at $23. cfdrodeo.com. The Glimmerglass Festival Where: Cooperstown, New York When: July 6-Aug. 24 Each summer, opera lovers from around the country (and the world) travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year's performances include Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" and Verdi's "King for a Day", in honor of the 200th birthdays of both composers . Tickets start at $26. glimmerglass.org. If you go to Cheyenne to watch a competition and enjoy a concert, how much will you pay at least? Here is a dog with a lantern in his mouth, he is looking for his master . Carlo, a lovely dog, had been taught to be useful. The roads, in the place where his master lived, were often so bad that it was not safe for any person to go out without a light on dark nights. So Carlo's master taught him to carry a lantern for him at night; and he did it as steadily as any boy could have done. Carlo never trotted too far before his master so that the bright light of the lantern might guide his master's steps. When he came to a deep rut or hole in the road, he would turn round to his master, seemed to say, /Take care, there is a hole here. " The dog's master lived about a mile from the town; and when he could not get home before dark, Carlo used to be sent to him with the lantern. Carlo knew where to go. He also knew the road which his master would take. But Carlo didn't always find his master right away. When he reached the town, he would run off to a house where his master often was. Still holding his lantern, he would scratch at the street-door with his feet and bark ; as much as to say, 6/Here am I, Master, with the lantern, are you ready for home? " Someone would perhaps come to the door and sa 6/Your master is not here. " Carlo would growl , seemed to say, "Then he is somewhere else, and I must find him. " He would then run off to one house after another, until he found his master, then the two went home together. When Carlo came to the bad part of the road, he _ . Melissa and Roman McCoy were looking forward to the Christmas. But on December 5th, Roman got a phone call that changed everything. Melissa had been in a terrible car accident, and the doctor had little hope she would make it. "He said the next six to eight hours were critical in determining whether she would live or not. And I just wept," Roman said. "A lot of pressure built up inside, and I just dropped my cell phone on the ground when I heard that. It was the worst feeling that I've ever felt." Melissa, a college English professor, was on her way to class when her car hit into a mound of dirt and rolled over several times. Roman recalled, "I could only think how I am going to raise my kids without their mother. If she did live, how would I take care of her and my kids? The questions you never want to ask yourself, I had to face." Melissa survived the first night. She had injuries to her stomach and lungs and worse, she suffered severe injuries to her brain. She didn't recognize anyone, even her own husband. "Over the next few days, she remained unresponsive to treatments. The brain surgeon never really gave us much hope." Days passed and Melissa didn't improve. Christmas Eve, Roman was by her side in the hospital. Then, he received a Christmas gift he would never forget. "That evening, she woke up and was just as clear as before, recognized everybody, and was able to read. It was just amazing. I saw her bright smile and her sense of humor. The only way I could describe it is that the weight of the darkness that had hovered over me was just completely gone." Melissa quickly improved, and she is back to being a wife, mom, and professor. There is no sign of damage from the brain. Melissa said, "I thank him for everything now. It's not just 'thank you for my job, thank you for my children.' It's 'thank you for every aspect of my life.'" The accident happened to Melissa when she was .
We often hear people talking about a generation gap . The name is new,but the idea is old. Young people and their parents don't understand each other. The world has always kept changing. During the second century after Christ a wise man said, "Bury me on my face because in a little while everything will be turned upside down." There has always been a gap between generations, but more people talk about it now. Old Mr. Ellis thinks he understands what has happened. "When I was a boy, I thought the world was a beautiful place. My life was very pleasant. But when I was older, I learned about people who were treated badly, people who didn't have enough to eat. I wanted to help them, and I married a girl who wanted to help them, too. We went to meetings and talked a lot, but it didn't seem to make much difference. ""Our children grew up in a world at war. They didn't know when the fighting would stop. They wanted their children to have nice clothes and toys. They didn't want to think about the future. They thought nothing could be done about it." "Now I have grandchildren, and they have their own ideas. They are trying to make the world better. They are trying to help other people. They're making people listen to them. I am proud of their generation." The wise man mentioned in the text told people to bury him on his face so that when everything is turned upside down he will _ . A. lie on his stomach B. lie on his back C. stand quietly D. sit in peace Answer: B Can you swim? Swimming is one of the most popular activities in summer. It can be learned early in life. Little children can learn to swim as soon as they walk. In fact, you need the same skills in walking as in swimming. However, I believe that five is the best age to learn it. By five or six, a child knows fear of water, a very important thing to know. It's wise to be afraid. The young understand that the water can sometimes be very dangerous. When you swim, you should follow certain rules: Never swim alone! No matter how good you are in the water, don't risk drowning by swimming alone. If you swim by yourself, you may get into trouble. Don't go beyond your abilities. Most swimmers know it clearly not to swim too far from the bank or the beach. Don't show off your skills by doing dangerous tricks. Don't smoke. Swimming depends on a healthy body. Work at any activity that builds muscles . According to the passage, you should not swim alone because _ . A. the water is too cold B. your parents would not be happy C. something in the water might attack D. you might drown Answer: D The research carried out by the University of Bari in Italy could help clarify hospitals who are charged with wasting money on art and decoration as it suggests a pleasant environment helps patients overcome discomfort and pain. A team headed by Professor Marina de Tommaso at the Neurophysiopathology Pain Unit asked a group of men and women to pick the 20 paintings they considered most ugly and most beautiful from a selection of 300 works by artists such as Lenoardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli. They were then asked to watch either the beautiful paintings, or the ugly paintings, or a blank panel while the team struck a short laser pulse at their hand, creating a sensation as if they had been hurt by a pin. The subjects rated the pain as being a third less intense while they were viewing the beautiful paintings, compared with when considering the ugly paintings or the blank panel. Electrodes measuring the brain's electrical activity also confirmed a reduced response to the pain when the subject looked at beautiful paintings. While distractions , such as music, are known to reduce pain in hospital, Prof de Tommaso says this is the first result to show that beauty plays a part. The findings, reported in New Scientist, also go a long way to show that beautiful surroundings could aid the healing process. "Hospitals have been designed to be functional, but we think that their aesthetic aspects should be taken into account too," said the neurologist. "Beauty obviously offers a distraction that ugly paintings do not. But at least there is no suggestion that ugly surroundings make the pain worse. I think these results show that more research is needed into how a beautiful environment can reduce suffering." Pictures they liked included Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and Botticellis' Birth of Venus. Pictures they found ugly included works by Pablo Picasso, the Italian 20th century artist Anonino Bueno and Columbian Fernando Botero. "these people were not art experts so some of the pictures they found ugly would be considered masterpieces by the art world," said Prof de Tommaso. The best title for the passage may be _ . A. Patients Don't Like Pictures B. Arts Can Be Used As a Medicine C. Ugly Patients Feel Less Pain D. Beautiful Art Can Ease Pain Answer: D While growing up in Jersey in the 1960s, I always seemed to be building things. One summer I build a model car with my father. It was a simple affair, and as a capable 12-year-old, I could have easily done it alone. But my father spent the time together with me, and before I knew it, we were both out in the garage, working away. I wish I had thought about this when I was raising my first son. We never built anything together. Oh, we had a lot of fun, for sure. But we never undertook a common work of our hands. A few years ago, when Anton, my second son, asked if we could build a treehouse in the big silver maple behind our house, his suggestion immediately reminded me of the memory. Yes, I thought. Of course. My second chance. And so, one day while Anton was in school and I had some free time, I bought some wood. But one thing led to another and we got only as far as the ladder and a simple platform. His vision for the treehouse was not fulfilled that summer, and the three following summers saw me involved with other things. In the middle of our quiet supper last night, I looked at Anton, a high school student now and asked, "Anton, are you still interested in finishing the treehouse?" "Sure, Dad," he said, and within that "sure" was contained, perhaps, his own self-awareness of a childhood to which he was still attached. We continued where we had left off. I was surprised at how good a worker Anton had become. Where four years ago all he could really do with confidence was hammer nails, now he was measuring and cutting. In one moment that took my breath away, he attempted to center a support beam while looking to me for direction. "Is it centered, Dad?" I waved him a little to the right. Then a little more. Then I said. "Perfect." And it was perfect. As was this second chance, I finally realized that my father hadn't had to help me build that model car in 1966. He wanted to. And that made all the difference. Not having built anything together with his first son, the author felt _ . A. disappointed B. satisfied C. regretful D. relieved Answer: C Everyone knows how a fishing calendar works: it tells you when you have the best chance of catching the most fish. This year, though, Kelson Poepoe, a conservationist on Hawaii's prefix = st1 /MolokaiIsland, helped publish an unusual version on this model. Poepoe and his colleagues decided to print a calendar telling people when not to fish. Many of the Homestead's residents still follow an existence lifestyle, gathering roughly one-third of their food by fishing in nearby Mo'omomi Bay. But, even though overfishing has exhausted fish populations throughout Hawaii, Mo'omomi Bay's fishery is booming, with a higher fish density than nearly anywhere else in the main islands. The new calendar is based on the ancient fishing practices that have helped keep those populations strong. Hawaiians have long known that carefully tended resources will renew themselves. To make this process easier, fishermen traditionally worked hard to understand and adapt to fish behavior. For example, they closely monitored where and when key species gathered to reproduce, and they prevented fishing during those times. By contrast, most of today's fishermen see spawning periods as a chance to get large numbers of fish, which can cause population break down. While these traditional methods have largely died out, they are still practiced by Poepoe and his fellow men at Mo'omomi Bay. "We have a rule of conduct that basically says, take only what you can eat fresh, don't stock your fridge, and don't take the fish when they spawn," Poepoe said. In 1993, Poepoe helped found the conservation group Hui Malama Mo'omomi to teach _ to new generations, and publishing the calendar is a key part of this move. It follows the lunar cycle, declaring when certain species are not available or "taboo." It also includes helpful hints about fish lifecycles, detailing exactly where in the bay certain kinds of fish like to gather, how to tell males from females, and which fishing methods are least likely to harm fish populations long-term. So far, these methods have helped keep Mo'omomi Bay's fish number totals far higher than elsewhere in the surrounding islands. With hopes of copying this success, a number of local groups are interested in creating similar calendars for other coastal areas. But that's a difficult project, partly because fish habits are highly local, meaning that the information in the calendar applies mainly to Mo'omomi Bay. Still, these groups believe the basic methods are transferable. What does the passage mainly tell us? A. New lunar calendar tells Hawaiians when not to fish. B. Traditional methods prevent fishermen from fishing. C. A conservation group was founded inHawaii. D. Less fish will be caught in Hawaii Mo'omomi Bay in future. Answer: A
Can you write down a Chinese word being read to you? Sometimes it can be difficult when you find the word is not included in most dictionaries. Lu Jialei, 14, from Hangzhou Foreign Language School, won the CCTV Chinese Character Spelling Contest on Oct 18th, 2013. About 160 people competed. The host read a word to the contestant, explained its meaning and gave sample sentences. The contestant was required to write down the word. Winning the contest was a "surprise" to Lu. "I was not the smartest one," she said. "But I paid attention to details." To prepare for the contest, she and her teammates studied the Modern Chinese Dictionary for 10 days. There are more than 56,000 entries including characters, words and phrases in it. She also had a secret weapon. She studied how Chinese characters were formed. "When others paid attention to the plot of a story, she looked at how authors use words and sentences to express themselves," said Su Yunsheng, Lu's Chinese teacher. Su is happy to see students like Lu find the beauty of Chinese language. "Besides using something Chinese and having Chinese traditional festivals, learning to write Chinese characters is also an important part of inheriting Chinese culture," said Su. From the passage we can infer _ isn't an important part of inheriting Chinese culture. One day when some government officials were building a barn , they found a mouse hole in a corner and used smoke to make the mice inside the hole come out. A while later they indeed saw mice running out, one after another. Then, everyone thought that all the mice had escaped. But just as they began to clean up, they saw two mice squeezing out at the mouth of the hole. With some efforts, the mice finally got out. However, it was strange that after they came out of the hole, they didn't run away immediately. Instead, one chased after the other near the mouth of the hole. It seemed that one was trying to bite the tail of the other. Everyone was puzzled , so they stepped near to take a look. They realized that one of the mice was blind and couldn't see anything, and the other was trying to allow the blind mouse to bite on his tail so that he could pull the blind one with him to escape. After seeing what happened, everyone was speechless and lost in thought. During the meal time, the group of people sat down in a circle and started to chat about what happened to the two mice. One serious American official said, "I think the relationship between those mice was that of king and guard ." The other thought for a while and said, "That is why!" A smart Frenchman said, "I think the relationship between those two mice was that of husband and wife." Again the others thought for a while, and all felt it made sense. A Japanese said, "I think the relationship between those two mice was that of mother and son." Once again the others thought for a while, and felt this was more reasonable. So they expressed agreement another time. At that moment, one Chinese asked, "Why did those two mice have to have a certain relationship?" Suddenly, the group looked back at the Chinese and stayed speechless. The American official, the French and the Japanese who had spoken earlier all lowered their heads in shame , and did not dare to answer. In fact, the true love is not built on friendship, loyalty or blood relationship. Instead, it is based on no relationship. It is clear that _ . When Ben Franklin was only a boy,he always wanted to know about things. He was always asking his father and brothers "What?"and "How?" and "Why?" They couldn't always tell him what he wanted to know. When they couldn't tell him,Ben tried to find out for himself. Many times Ben did find out things that no one knew before. The other boys would say,"That Ben Franklin!He's always finding out something new!" Ben lived close to the water.He liked to go there to see the boats. He saw how the wind blew them across the water. One day Ben said to himself,"Why can't the wind help me float across the water?And I'm going to try." Ben got his big kite.He took hold of the kite string and ran with it.The wind took the kite up into the air. Then Ben jumped into the water. The wind blew the kite high into the air.Ben began to float across the water. Soon he was on the other side, _ . One boy shouted,"Look at Ben floating across the water!His kite takes him to the other side without any work!" "Yes," said another."He's always finding new ways to do things." In the passage,the sentence "and he had not worked at all" means" _ ". Americans have used colors to create many expressions they use every day. We say you're 'in the pink' when we are in good health. It is easy to understand how this expression was born. When my face has a nice fresh, pink color, it is a sign my health is good. The color green is natural for trees, it is an unnatural color for humans. When someone doesn't feel well, someone who is sick, for example, we say he 'looks green'. When someone is angry because he doesn't have what someone else has, we say he is 'green with envy'. Some people are 'green with envy' because someone else has more dollars, or 'green backs'. Dollars are called 'greenbacks' because that's the color of the backside of the money. Blue is a cool color. The traditional blue music of American blacks is the opposite of red hot music. It is slow, sad and soulful ( ). To be blue, of course, is to be sad. The color black is often used in expressions. People describe a day in which everything grows wrong as a 'black day'. A 'black sheep' is the member of a family or group who always seems to be in trouble. If someone meets a 'black cat', something unlucky might happen to him. Not all the 'black' expressions have bad meaning. A company 'in the red' is losing money. If someone tells you to put someone 'in black and white', they want you to write it down. Which of the following is true? A friend asks you to be a volunteer. Your husband asks you to glance over an e-mail he is writing to his boss. You say you'd love to. Really! But..."I don't have time". It seems plausible( ). We're all busy these days, right? But there are reasons not to use these four words, at least with yourself. Here's the big one: _ is not true. You tell yourself "I don't have time" to exercise, but we all have 168 hours a week. If someone offered to pay you $100,000 a week to go to the gym for 5 of those 168 hours, you would probably find the time to do it. Since that isn't going to happen, this is a more exact description: " It's not a priority ." There are a million things we could be doing with our time; some are priorities and some are not, even if it's wrong to say so. Try it. "I'm not going to read to you tonight, sweetie, because it's not a priority. Daddy's present priority is to check my e-mails." Using the words "I don't have time" keeps us from admitting to the fact that how we spend our time is a choice. It puts the responsibility for our lives on someone else: a boss, a client or a family member. Better to be truthful: "I have another volunteer job on which I am focusing my energy right now. It is the cause that is most important to me." Or, to your husband "I wish you had mentioned this earlier. Right now, my priority is to get our children dressed and out of the door for school. I will be available around lunch time if you would like to talk". What is the text mainly about?
Question: If you're travelling in the following cities, these exciting events may drag you out of the house. CONCERTS Mayday Noah's Ark World Tour Info: Jul 13, Xiamen; Jul 19/20, Shanghai; Aug 3, Shenzhen; Aug 17, Beijing The rock band Mayday is about to bring their attractive tour to an end -- and, as usual, it's going to happen in a grand way. On Aug 17, they will rock the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest Stadium, and hold their last Noah's Ark concert in China, before heading to Europe in September. Tanya Chua 2013 Concert Tour Info: Aug 10, Shanghai; Aug 31, Beijing In her music career of more than 15 years, the 38-year-old Singaporean singer-songwriter has never been short of popular songs that astonish the heart. Now, for the first time since 2008, when she played a small Christmas concert in Shanghai, Chua is visiting China as part of a concert tour. THEATER What is Success? Director: Edward Lam Performers: Chu Hung-chang, Ethan Wei, Shi Yi-hsiu Info: Aug 9-10, Guangzhou; Aug 16-17, Chongqing; Aug 29-Sept 1, Beijing In Part Three of Edward Lam's Four Great Classics Series, which looks back at Luo Guanzhong's novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is sure to give you a surprise. Will it be true? Find out for yourself! To Live Director: Meng Jinghui Performers: Huang Bo, Yuan Quan Info: Jul 30-Aug 4, Beijing; Aug 6-7, Tianjin; Aug 9-11, Hangzhou; Aug 13-18, Shanghai After their world show in September, theater director Meng Jinghui and his team are back for another tour around China. While audiences can renew their memories of Yu Hua's new realism works, film stars Huang Bo and Yuan Quan will also impress audiences with their excellent performance. EXHIBITIONS Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal Info: Apr 29-Jul 28, Shanghai Launched in 2012 -- the 25th anniversary of the pop artist Andy Warhol's death -- the exhibition brings the largest ever collection of Warhol's work to Asia. It includes more than 300 paintings, photographs, drawings and 3-D art, including his works such as Marilyn Monroe, Mao, Campbell's Soup and Self-Portrait. Travelling in Hangzhou on Aug 10, you can watch film star Huang Bo's works _ . A. What is Success B. To Live C. Campbell's Soup D. Self-Portrait Answer: B Question: Kabb, the owner of a fleet of taxis, contracted with Petrol, a dealer in petroleum products, for the purchase and sale of Kabb's total requirements of gasoline and oil for one year. As part of that agreement, Petrol also agreed with Kabb that for one year Petrol would place all his advertising with Ada Artiste, Kabb's wife, who owned her own small advertising agency. When Artiste was informed of the Kabb-Petrol contract, she declined to accept an advertising account from the Deturgid Soap Company because she could not handle both the Petrol and Deturgid accounts during the same year. For this question only, make the following assumptions. Artiste was an intended beneficiary under the Kabb-Petrol contract. Kabb performed his contract with Petrol for six months, and during that time Petrol placed his advertising with Artiste. At the end of the six months, Kabb and Artiste were divorced, and Kabb then told Petrol that he had no further obligation to place his advertising with Artiste. Petrol thereupon notified Artiste that he would no longer place his advertising with her. In an action against Petrol for breach of contract, Artiste probably will A. succeed, because, on the facts of this case, Petrol and Kabb could not, without Artiste's consent, modify their contract so as to discharge Petrol's duties to Artiste. B. succeed, because Kabb acted in bad faith in releasing Petrol from his duty with respect to Artiste. C. not succeed, because, absent a provision in the contract to the contrary, the promisor and promisee of a third-party beneficiary contract retain by law the right to modify or terminate the contract. D. not succeed, because the agency relationship, if any, between Kabb and Artiste terminated upon their divorce. Answer: A Question: It is 1965, a 1ittle boy is on the beach with his parents. He is four years old. The boy plays near the water. He walks into the water. His parents aren't watching him. The water is over the boy's head! A woman sees the boy. She _ the boy and carries him to his parents. The woman's name is Mrs. Blaise. It is 1975, ten years 1ater.The boy is on the same beach. He is 14 years old now. He is big and strong. He is a good swimmer. A man is in the water. The man can't swim. "Help! Help!" the[:]man cries.The boy runs into the water. He swims to the man and pulls the man to the beach. "Thank you." says the man. Who is the man? His name is Mr Blaise. He is Mrs Blaise's husband Which is NOT right? A. The boy is very strong now. B. The boy saves Mr. Blaise. C. The man is Mrs. Blaise's husband. D. Mr. Blaise saved the boy. Answer: D Question: Roma Pass Kit enables both tourists and interested local residents the opportunity to benefit from various discounts and services that make it easier and cheaper to enjoy the sights of Rome. Free entry to the first 2 visited museums and / or archaeological sites of your choice. Concessionary ticket to all other museums and / or archaeological sites visited thereafter. Free use of the city's public transport network.Valid until midnight of the third day inclusive that of the first validation for ATAC public transport within the territory of the Municipality of Rome. Discounted tickets to exhibitions,events and other cooperating operators and businesses (Roma Pass Guide). Tourist cultural services Roma Passe. At the Colosseum a reserved turnstile is available for Roma Pass holders to get direct access to the monument. In the kit: The Roma Pass card:the card used to visit museums / archaeological sites and on the public transport system as described above. Roma MAP:A map with all the Tourist Information Points,Metro stations,museums and other sites of interest; Roma Pass Guide:the list of under agreement museums/sites.and the list of all the partners of the Roma Pass which offer discounts to card holders; Roma Passe:the card with the App activation code to download the best of the city. How to use it: The overleaf form must be filled with name,surname and validation date. The card is valid for three days and is activated at the time of the first entry to the museums/sites,and/or at the first journey on public transport,up until midnight of the third day, including the day of the activation. It must be produced along with your identity papers when required by the staff in charge. Please note that most museums generally are closed on Mondays (with the exception of the Colosseum and the Baths of Caracalla).Almost all the museums normally are closed on December 25 , January l and May l too.We advise you to check in advance. What can we learn from the passage? A. The Roma Pass card is valid for at least 72 hours. B. The Colosseum is not open to the public on Mondays. C. Only foreign tourists are qualified to buy the Roma Pass. D. You'd better avoid visiting Roma museums at Christmas. Answer: D Question: Which is true? A. hydrogen is composed of water and oxygen B. waiters are composed of hydrogen and oxygen C. most of our oceans, lakes, and pond are composed of hydrogen and oxygen D. water is composed of hydrojets and oxyclean Answer: C
Exercise seems to be good for the human brain,with many recent studies suggesting that regular exercise improves memory and thinking skills.But an interesting new study asks whether the apparent cognitive benefits from exercise are real or just a placebo effect -- that is,if we think we will be "smarter" after exercise,do our brains respond accordingly?The answer has significant implications for any of us hoping to use exercise to keep our minds sharp throughout our lives. While many studies suggest that exercise may have cognitive benefits,recently some scientists have begun to question whether the apparently beneficial effects of exercise on thinking might be a placebo effect.So researchers at Florida State University in Tallahassee and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign decided to focus on expectations,on what people anticipate that exercise will do for thinking.If people's expectations jibe closely with the actual benefits,then at least some of those improvements are probably a result of the placebo effect and not of exercise. For the new study,which was published last month in PLOS One,the researchers recruited 171 people through an online survey system,they asked half of these volunteers to estimate by how much a stretching and toning regimens performed three times a week might improve various measures of thinking.The other volunteers were asked the same questions,but about a regular walking program. In actual experiments,stretching and toning program generally have little if any impact on people's cognitive skills.Walking,on the other hand,seems to substantially improve thinking ability. But the survey respondents believed the opposite,estimating that the stretching and toning program would be more beneficial for the mind than walking.The estimates of benefits from walking were lower. These data,while they do not involve any actual exercise,are good news for people who do exercise."The results from our study suggest that the benefits of aerobic exercise are not a placebo effect," said Cary Stothart,a graduate student in cognitive psychology at Florida State University,who led the study. If expectations had been driving the improvements in cognition seen in studies after exercise,Mr.Stothart said,then people should have expected walking to be more beneficial for thinking than stretching.They didn't,implying that the changes in the brain and thinking after exercise are physiologically genuine. The findings are strong enough to suggest that exercise really does change the brain and may,in the process,improve thinking,Mr.Stothart said.That conclusion should encourage scientists to look even more closely into how,at a molecular level,exercise remodels the human brain,he said.It also should encourage the rest of us to move,since the benefits are,it seems,not imaginary,even if they are in our head. What can we know about the research Cary Stothart and his team carried out? A. They employed 171 people to take part in the actual exercise. B. The result of the research removed the recent doubt of some scientists. C. The participants thought walking had a greater impact on thinking ability. D. Their conclusion drives scientists to do research on the placebo effect. Answer: B People have strange ideas about food. In the 18th century, Americans never ate tomatoes. They grew them in their gardens because tomato plants are so pretty. But they thought the vegetable was poisonous . They called tomatoes "poison apples." President Thomas Jefferson, however, knew that tomatoes were good to eat. He was a learned man. He had been to Paris, where he learned to love the taste of tomatoes. He grew many kinds of tomatoes in his garden. The President taught his cook a way, for a cream of tomato soup . This beautiful pink soup was served at the President's next dinner party. The guests thought the soup tasted really good. They never thought their President would sever his dinner guests poison apples. Jefferson never spoke to his guests about the fact. Jefferson learned that tomatoes were good to eat _ . A. even when he was a little boy B. because his parents told him so C. from books D. while he was in Paris Answer: D Last week, I bought an alarm system for about $ 450. It consisted of a control unit with three small units. I put the control unit in the sitting-room and fastened the other units by the front door, back door and living-room windows. The instructions told us to choose three numbers, so we chose 491, the last three numbers of our telephone number. Now I will explain how the alarm works: 1. There is a power siren in the control unit. It makes a very loud noise. 2. Each of the small units sends out beams or rays in different directions. If anything moves, it breaks a beam. This sends signal to the control unit. The siren makes a noise which you can hear 50 meters away. 3. When we go to bed, I press the three buttons numbered 4, 9 and 1. Then we have 30 seconds to get out of the room before the alarm starts to work. That night I slept soundly because I was sure that no burglar could get into our house. However, at about 2:10 a. m. , I woke up and heard the siren. "There must be a burglar in the house?" Mary said, "What shall we do?" "I'll go and see who's there," I said, "Stay here. Don't make a noise. " I went down stairs quietly. When I reached the living-room, I switched on my torch and looked round the room. Then I turned the light on. I switched the siren off and searched the rooms downstairs. There was nothing wrong except that the back door was unlocked. I locked it, re-set the alarm and went back to bed. About an hour later, the alarm started again. I jumped out of bed, fell over a chair in the dark and bumped into the bedroom door. Mary woke up and started hitting me with a torch. "Hey! Wait a minute!" I whispered, "It's only me. I'm going downstairs to see what's wrong." I went down into the living-room and listened for a moment. The only sound I could hear was the siren. I tamed on the light and switched the siren off. As I did so, I glanced across at the curtains in front of the windows. I saw a house lizard (a kind of small animals) disappear behind the curtains. "Oh!" I said to myself. "That's our burglar." When the lizard moved, it started the siren. I guessed the alarm had been made in Europe, where there are no house lizards. Well, I won't finish this story but if you want an alarm system free of charge, let me know. I'll send you ours. We bought a dog this morning. It knows the difference between a lizard and a burglar . The writer bought an alarm system to _ . A. make sure that he got up early every day B. warn him when there were lizards in his house C. frighten burglars and tell him that somebody had got into the house D. make Mary feel safe to live in the large room Answer: C Alex stared through the cabin window at the darkness. Soon his dad would call him. And he didn't want to go. He wished he hadn't come to the lake for the weekend. "We're ready," Dad said as he came in from the porch. " Grab your rod." Alex turned away from the window and slowly picked up his fishing rod. "Have fun!" Mom said. "Sure," said Alex, trying to make his voice bright. "We should have done this before." Dad said. "Let's catch a big one!" Dad picked up his tackle box, rod, and bait can from the porch. He clicked on the flashlight. They walked down the hill toward the lake in the narrow beam of light. The only thing Alex could see was the circle of weeds and rocks at their feet, lit by the flashlight. Insect voices filled his ears---clicks, hums, buzzes, whines. Hundreds of bugs waited in the darkness to attack. "Ow!" he blurted as he felt a sting on his arm. "Mosquitoes," Dad said. "I have brought some spray to keep them off." When they reached the boat, Alex stumbled as he climbed over the side. "I don't like this much," he said. "It's so dark." Dad squeezed his shoulder. "Don't worry. It's not as dark as you think. After a while your eyes will get used to the night." Suddenly something rushed past Alex's head. He gasped. "What was that?" "Probably a bat," Dad said. How could Dad act as if it were nothing! "Will bats be flying around our heads the whole time?" "This is their time to be out catching insects," Dad explained. "They won't hurt you. They're too busy grabbing dinner." He pushed the boat off the gravel and jumped in. Alex gazed back at the cabin. A square of light from the window glowed in the darkness. Dad rowed to the middle of the lake and stopped. "We'll just let the boat drift. Keep the flashlight in the bottom of the boat. The fish won't bite if they see light flashing around. When we've done baiting our hooks , we'll turn the light off." Leaning down to get closer to the light, Alex tried to thread a worm on his hook, but he couldn't seem to work his fingers right. So what if the worm was only partly on the hook? He didn't want to fish anyway. He didn't even want to be there. Whom did Alex go fishing with? A. No one. B. His mother C. His parents D. His father Answer: D A brand is a name, word, sign, symbol, design, or a combination of these, intended to identify the goods or services of a company or a group of companies. Another purpose of a brand is to contrast one company from another. The most important skill of professional marketers is the ability to create, maintain, protect, and enhance the brands of their products and services. Branding has become so important that today hardly any company or product is without one. Therefore, brand management is an increasingly important element in marketing. Brand power refers to the relative strength of a company's brand in the minds of consumers, and can influence consumers' choice of products. Brands are powerful to the extent that they give high brand loyalty and strong brand associations, name recognition, perceived quality and other assets to a company. A strong brand can be one of a company's most important assets. High brand power provides a company with many competitive advantages. A powerful brand enjoys a high level of consumer brand awareness and loyalty. Because consumers expect stores to carry the brand, the company has more bargaining power when negotiating with retailers . And because the brand name brings high credibility, a company with a strong brand can more easily launch new products with the same brand name. Many companies use the advantage of a strong brand power strategically to expand their business. When a company introduces an additional item with a new flavour, form, colour or package size in a given product category and under the same brand name, it is called a line extension. Another strategy is called brand extension. This involves the use of a successful brand name to launch new or modified products in a new category, thereby employing brand recognition in order to increase sales of new products. Brand recognition is certainly important. Because consumers often hold long-standing perceptions about brands, high brand power ensure a company continued sales of its products. All of the following statements are the advantages of a high brand power EXCEPT that _ . A. a high brand wins the loyalty of consumers B. a high brand usually sets a much higher price C. it's easy for a high brand company to launch new products D. a high brand company is more competitive when doing business with retailers Answer: B
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, and then running 10km, without stopping. But what makes an attractive 17-year-old give up everything for the doubtful pleasures it offers? Melanie Sears has not yet learnt those often-repeated 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 the40kmcycle ride is over, you haveto run10km, 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 realized then that we had gone wrong. I ended up cycling 20 kilometers too far. I cried all the way through the running." But she didn't give up. "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 _ draws admiration from Steve Trew, the sport's director of coaching. 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 long-suffering 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 try25kmand100kmraces 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." How does Melanie differ from other athletes, according to the writer? A She worries less than they do. B She expresses herself differently. C Her family background is not like theirs. D Her aims are different from theirs. Answer: B. She expresses herself differently. Don't worry, be happy and, according to new research, you will also be healthy. It is estimated that over the course of one year, Americans suffer 1 billion colds. But new research shows that all it may take to avoid this common affliction is a positive and upbeat attitude. People who are energetic, happy and relaxed are less likely to catch a cold than those who are depressed, nervous or angry, finds a new study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Healthy volunteers first underwent an emotional assessment in which they were asked to rate their tendency to experience positive and negative emotions--how often they felt pleased, relaxed, happy, or anxious, depressed and hostile. The subjects were next given a squirt up the nose of a rhinovirus, the nasty little germ that causes colds. Researchers then watched the volunteers to see who came down with a cold and waited to see how the unlucky ill manifested their cold symptoms. "We found that people who regularly experience positive emotions, when exposed to rhinovirus, are ly protected from developing illness," said Dr. Sheldon Cohen, lead author of the study and a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University." Increases in positive emotional styles were linked with decreases in the rate of clinical colds, but a negative emotional style had no effect on whether or not people got sick," Cohen said. So how can your emotions influence your health? In simple terms, when the brain is "happy" it sends messages to our organs that help keep the body healthy and sound." It's like a drug that is released by your state of mind and simply changing the state of mind can produce effects on the rest of the body through the nervous system and hormones," said Dr. Neil Shulman, associate professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and author of Doc Hollywood. "Your chance of developing the common cold, pneumonia, or even cancer may very well be decreased by keeping your brain in a healthy state." In addition, happy and relaxed people tend to better health practices than their negative and stressed counterparts. They are more likely to get plenty of sleep and to engage in regular exercise, and have been shown to have lower levels of certain stress hormones. By saying " American suffer 1 billion colds." the writer means that _ A America has a population of at least 1 billion. B Americans tend to suffer colds because they live in cold areas. C The cold is a very common illness in America D Americans are always in a negative emotion. Answer: C. The cold is a very common illness in America The state of Atlantica spends several million dollars a year on an oyster conservation program. As part of that program, the state limits, by statute, oyster fishing in its coastal waters to persons who have state oyster permits. In order to promote conservation, it issues only a limited number of oyster permits each year. The permits are effective for only one year from the date of their issuance and are awarded on the basis of a lottery, in which there is no differentiation between resident and nonresident applicants. However, each nonresident who obtains a permit is charged an annual permit fee that is $5 more than the fee charged residents. Fisher, Inc., is a large fishing company that operates from a port in another state and is incorporated in that other state. Each of the boats of Fisher, Inc., has a federal shipping license that permits it "to engage in all aspects of the coastal trade, to fish and to carry cargo from place to place along the coast, and to engage in other lawful activities along the coast of the United States." These shipping licenses are authorized by federal statute. Assume no other federal statutes or Assume no other federal statutes or administrative rules apply. Although it had previously held an Atlantica oyster permit, Fisher, Inc., did not obtain a permit in that state's lottery this year. Which of the following is the strongest argument that can be made in support of a continued right of Fisher, Inc., to fish for oysters this year in the coastal waters of Atlantica? A Because the Atlantica law provides higher permit charges for nonresidents, it is an undue burden on interstate commerce. B Because the Atlantica law provides higher permit charges for nonresidents, it denies Fisher, Inc., the privileges and immunities of state citizenship. C Because it holds a federal shipping license, Fisher, Inc., has a right to fish for oysters in Atlantica waters despite the state law. D Because Fisher, Inc., previously held an Atlantica oyster permit and Atlantica knows that company is engaged in a continuing business operation, the refusal to grant Fisher, Inc., a permit this year is a taking of its property without due process of law. Answer: C. Because it holds a federal shipping license, Fisher, Inc., has a right to fish for oysters in Atlantica waters despite the state law. We may know that there are four basic periods for human beings to pass through when you enter and live in another country. This process helps you deal with culture shock . Culture shock begins with the "honeymoon period". This is the time when you first arrive in a place where everything about the new cu1ture is strange and exciting. You see new things, hear new sounds and language, eat new kinds of food. This period can last for quite a long time because you feel very happy. Unluckily, the second period can be more difficu1t. After you have got used to your new life, you can become very tired and begin to miss your motherland, your family, your friends, your pets and so on. Al1 the little prob1ems in life seem to be much bigger and more worrying when you face them in a foreign country. This period can be very difficult and lead to moving backwards quickly. The third period is called the "adjustment period". This is When you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the new country. Your sense of humor usually becomes stronger and you realize you are becoming stronger by 1earning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor . The fourth period can be cal1ed "at ease at last". Now you feel quite comfortable in your new place. You can deal with most problems that you have. You may still have prob1ems with language,but you know you are strong enough to deal with them. At this time, you may feel a little uncomfortable if you go back to your motherland. The fourth period can be regarded as a period of being A relaxing B worrying C tiring D adjustable Answer: A. relaxing We don't have beds in the space shuttle, but we do have sleeping bags. During the day, when we are working, we leave the bags tied to the wall, out of the way. At bedtime we untie them and take them wherever we've chosen to sleep. On most space shuttle flights everyone sleeps at the same time. No one has to stay awake to watch over the space plane: the shuttle's computers and the enginers at the Control Office do that. If anything goes wrong. The computers ring a warning bell and the engineers call us on the radio. On the space shuttle, sleep-time doesn't mean nighttime. During each ninety-minute flight around the earth, the sun "rises" and shines through our windows for about fifty minutes: then it "sets" as our flight takes us around the dark side of the Earth. To keep the sun out of our eyes, we wear black sleep masks. It is surprisingly easy to get comfortable and fall asleep in space, and we sleep differently. Some sleep upside down, some sideways, some right side up. When it's time to sleep, I take my bag, my sleep mask, and my tape player with earphones and float up to the flight platform. Then I get into the bag, and float into a sitting position just above a seat, right next to a window. Before I pull the mask down over my eyes, I relax for a while, listening to music and watching the Earth go by under me. When I'm in space I don't need as much sleep as I do on Earth Maybe that's because when I am weightless, I don't feel as tired. Or maybe it's because I'm excited to be in space and don't want to waste time sleeping. What do the shuttle people do with their sleeping bags while working? A Keep them where they work. B Leave them where they sleep. C Place them on the beds. D Fix them to the wall. Answer: D. Fix them to the wall.
Rae and Bruce Hostetler not only work very hard,they also relax just as well. Numerous vacations help the couple to maintain their health and emotional well-being-and it's no surprise to health care professionals. "Rest,relaxation, and stress reduction are very important for people's weLl-being and health. This can be accomplished through daily activities,such as exercise and meditation,but vacation is an important part of this as well," said primary care physician Natasha Withers from One Medical Group in New York. Withers lists a decreased risk of heart disease and improved reaction time as some of the benefits from taking some time off. "We also know that the mind is very powerful and can help with healing,so a rested,relaxed mind is able to help the body heal better," said Withers. Psychologists confirm the value of vacations for the mind. " The impact that taking a vacation has on one's mental health is great," said Francine Lederer,a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles who specializes in stress and relationship management. " Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation,even if it is a 24- hour time-out. " The trips could be good for their health,good for their family and good for their .businesses. The online travel agency Expedia conducted a survey about vacation time in 2010,and according to their data the average American eamed 18 vacation days-but only used 14 0f them. France topped the list,with the average worker earning 37 vacation days and using all but two of them. Americans' responses may not be surprising in a culture where long hours on the job often are valued,but that's not always good for the individual,the family or the employer. Psychologists have also found that people who don't take enough time to relax may find it harder to relax in the future. "Without time and opportunity to do this,the nerve connections that produce feelings of calm and peacefulness become weaker,making it actually more difficult to shift into less-stressed states," Mulhern said. Expedia's survey shows that Amencans _ . A. dislike family gatherings B. have the shortest vacation C. enjoy as many vacations as the French D. think much of spending long hours on the job Answer: D One morning, Daddy, Ethan, and I went out shopping for Mother's day gifts. First we went to buy some flowers. I found a nice big bunch of pink roses that were very pretty. Then we went and bought a card. There were a lot to choose from, some of them had pictures of kids and some of them had pictures of animals. Daddy wanted to get one with a kid hugging his mommy but Ethan wanted the one with a cat on it, and I wanted the one with a dog on it. We ended up getting all three. Then we went to buy ingredients so we could cook breakfast. On Mother's day I helped Daddy make breakfast. We made chocolate pancakes and eggs. It was very messy but a lot of fun. Mommy loved getting breakfast in bed and she liked the flowers and cards. We also went out to go to the park after breakfast. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun. I can't wait for mother's day to come by again! What did we do after buying the flowers? A. Bought more flowers B. Bought ingredients C. Went home D. Bought cards Answer: D During which of the processes below does water vapor change to liquid water? A. melting B. freezing C. evaporation D. condensation Answer: D Scurvy is a disease that sailors often got on long voyages. It was discovered that scurvy could be prevented by eating oranges and lemons. This suggests that scurvy is a disease caused by A. exposure to sea air B. a nutritional deficiency C. a microorganism D. lack of exercise Answer: B To the untrained eye it might seem like just a bit of a monkey trick. But when Milly the mandrill (, ) covers her face with her hand she is actually sending a serious message to her fellows: "Leave me alone!" Experts believe the 15-year-old mandrill invented the gesture to warn other monkeys at Colchester Zoo to give her some space. And, surprisingly, the signal has been picked by other members of the group, who use it when they too require _ . Biologist Mark Laidre believes the behavior is evidence of social culture among the mandrills. Importantly, the sign language is unlikely to have been influenced by human activities because mandrills do not copy humans. Mr. Laidre expects further research will uncover other monkeys using cultural gestures -- the ability to communicate with the hands in a meaningful way. "By covering their eyes with their hands, possibly conveyed to others that they wanted to be left alone and this message may have been respected as a 'do not disturb' sign," said Mr. Laidre. While the hand is in place, other monkeys are not likely to approach or touch the monkey. Those who rank lower in the social order also use the technique to avoid attacks from more powerful group members. As the discovery appears to be unique to Colchester Zoo, it suggests it is a local phenomenon that arose naturally in the community of 25 mandrills. Curator Sarah Forsyth said: "We believe Milly made up the signal and over the past five years some of the younger mandrills have picked it up. We're not sure why she started doing it but it could be as simple as 'I can't see them, so they can't see me'. It really does show you how intelligent mandrills are." What's the text mainly about? A. How humans influenced monkeys. B. A monkey invented a gesture. C. A new social culture was discovered. D. How experts made the new discovery. Answer: B
There are a lot of things that happen to me in China but would certainly never happen in the US. One of those things is being called "strong". The first time was last December. I was walking across the high school campus in Guangzhou where I taught when a student in a gray scarf waved hello. I smiled and waved back, but then she stopped and called my name. "You're so strong!" She smiled and pointed at what appeared to be my arm. I looked down at my arms. Let's get one thing clear: I'm a very skinny guy. Once, while rehearsing for a high school talent show, I was told by the teacher in charge that I couldn't participate in the men's shirtless dance routine because my visible rig cage would frighten the audience. "I'm so what?" "You're so strong!" _ repeated. "Um, thanks!" I didn't know what else to say, so we both waved goodbye. The next morning I stepped into my oral English classroom only to be greeted instantly by a unanimous "Waaa!" of shock and admiration. "What?" I asked. "You're so strong!" shouted a boy from the back of the class. "Okay, will someone tell me what that means?" I was curious as to the real reason for such praise. So I turned to the monitor, gesturing for him to speak. "We just mean, you look very strong today," he offered earnestly. "What?! You mean like this?" I curled my arm like a bodybuilder. "No! But it's so cold, and you're only wearing a shortsleeve shirt." Oh, I got it. My "strength" had less to do with my muscle and more to do with my apparent ignorance of the cold weather. The author used the example of being refused to join in the dance routine to show that _ . On the wall in my mother's bedroom there was a photo, which showed a soldier with a gun. Below the photo was the word "Speaking". "Who's that soldier called Speaking?" I asked one day. "He was Harold." She said. "He was my only brother. When the Second World War began, Harold was eighteen. I was twelve then, and my sisters were ten and nine". "Harold liked to play with us, and we often quarreled. When we quarreled, we said:We're not speaking to you. But before long we were all happy again, and then we said: I'm speaking now. Are you speaking to me?" "When the war broke out, Harold joined the army. A month later, he came to see us. He brought the gun to show us. Then he went miles away to the war. We didn't see him for three years, three long, empty years. We didn't often hear from him. But one day in May there was a loud bang on the front door..." "I ran to open it. It was Harold! He was an old Harold, a thinner Harold. He looked at me with his two green eyes and smiled. That smile was just the same as before, then he said one word: 'speaking'". "I didn't...I couldn't...answer. I just fell into his arms and he dropped his gun. He stayed with us for a month. We played all our old games again. Then he went back to the war, and never came back again. So I wrote the word on the photo." Harold never came back again because _ . NEW YORK (Reuters)-- The average number of monthly visitors to U. S. newspaper websites rose by nearly a third in the first half of 2006,a study released on Wednesday said,though print readership at some larger papers fell. The study, released by the Newspaper Association of America, underlines the internet' s importance to papers beset by failing circulation and advertising income in their print editions. The average number of unique visitors to online newspaper sites in the first half was more than 55.5 million a month ,the study said. That compares with 42.2 million a year earlier. "Newspaper websites have become a significant addition to the print product, and are driving large audience growth, " said John Kimball9the association' s chief marketing officer. The number of page views at newspaper sites rose by about 52 percent in the first half, the association added. US Newspaper publishers have been fighting to hold on to advertisers as many of them lose readers to other media, including the Internet, Key to the latest report is the finding that websites are bringing in more younger readers, the association said. The Washington Post, s website increased its audience reachamong readers aged25 to 34 by more than 60 percent, the report said. Audience reach^combines the average weekly print audience and the net 30 - day website audience. Overall, newspaper websites helped drive a 15 percent increase in the total newspaper audience for 25 - to - 34 - year olds and a 10 - percent increase for 18 - to 24 - year olds, the association said. It did not provide comparisons to the same period last year for total print newspaper readership. Readership numbers, which were provided by Scarborough Research, include circulation, shared copies and any other way that someone could end up reading a newspaper. Print readership fell, according to a comparison of figures from the two periods conducted by Renter,. ' The New York Times readership dropped 5. 8 percent, while the largest U. S. paper, USA Today, fell 3 percent. The Wall Street Journal saw readership remain nearly the same. The reason why online newspaper readership increase is that _ * If you wanted to see the source of sunshine you would look at A dentist's office may not be everyone's idea of a perfect holiday destination.But a growing number of Europeans are travelling abroad for medical treatment to save money,or maybe to combine a visit to the doctor with some sightseeing,creating a potential but fastgrowing market for traditional tour operators. "It was simply cheaper for me to go to a dentist in Hungary," said a 42yearold physical therapist from Berlin.He chose the clinic near Budapest from an Internet advertisement,attracted by hundreds of euros in savings compared with the same treatment in Germany.He was happy to find when he got there that the clinic was clean,the staff qualified and the work thorough. People travel abroad for medical treatment for various reasons:it's cheaper,they face a long wait at home,or the treatment they want is not available in their own country.The Britishbased Medical Tourist Company refers about 100 patients a year to hospitals in India for treatments.And Chief Executive Premhar Shah reports rapid growth in demand from customers in Africa,where it can be harder to find wellequipped medical facilities for complex surgeries. Some patients who have immigrated may prefer to return to be close to their families when they undergo surgery."People will want to take the opportunity to seek treatment in places where they have relatives who might be able to look after them.I'm seeing that especially with younger people from eastern Europe," said a professor at the University of Oxford. For some,there is the attraction of free treatment abroad.British lawmakers have called for tighter checks on patients arriving for treatment,out of concerns that foreign citizens are travelling to Britain to take advantage of the free service. The global medical tourism market is believed to be worth $40 billion to $60 billion and growing at about 20 percent per year. According to the article, _ for medical treatment.
A few years ago I asked my children's governess, Julia Vassilyevna, to come into my study. " Sit down, Julia Vassilyevna," I said."Let's settle our accounts. Although you most likely need some money, you stand on ceremony and won't ask for it yourself. Now then, we agree on thirty rubles a month..." " Forty." " No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay the governess thirty. Now then, you've been here two months, so..." " Two months and five days." " Exactly two months. I made a specific note of it. That means you have sixty rubles coming to you. Subtract nine Sundays... you know you didn't work with Kolya on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays..." Julia Vassilyevna flushed a deep red and picked at the flounce of her dress, but--- not a word. " Three holidays, therefore take off twelve rubles. Four days Kolya was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Vanya. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven---nineteen. Subtract...that leaves...hmm...forty-one rubles. Correct?" Julia Vassilyena's left eye reddened and filled with moisture. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but---not a word. " Around New Year's you broke a teacup and saucer: take off two rubles. The cup cost more, it was an heirloom, but---let it go. When didn't I take a loss? Then, due to your neglect, Kolya climbed a tree and tore his jacket: take off ten. Also due to your heedlessness the maid stole Vanya's shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more rubles off. The tenth of January I gave you ten rubles..." " You didn't " whispered Julia Vassilyevna. " But I made a note of it." " Well...all right." " Take twenty-seven from forty-one ---that leaves fourteen." Both eyes filled with tears. Perspiration appeared on the thin, pretty little nose. Poor girl! " Only once was I given any money," she said in a trembling voice, " and that was by your wife. Three rubles, nothing more." " Really? You see now, and I didn't make a note of it! Take three from fourteen... leaves eleven. Here's your money, my dear. Three , three, three, one and one. Here it is!" I handed her eleven rubles. She took them and with trembling fingers stuffed them into her pocket. " Merci," she whispered. I jumped up and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. " For what, this ---'merci'?" I asked. " For the money." " But you know I've cheated you, God's sake---robbed you! I have actually stolen from you! Why this 'merci'?" " In my other places they didn't give me anything at all." " They didn't give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you ... I'm going to give you the entire eighty rubles! Here they are in an envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless? Why don't you protest? Why be silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws--- to be such a nincompoop?" She smiled crookedly and I read in her expression: " It is possible." I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and , to her great surprise, gave her the eighty rubles. She murmured her litter "merci" several times and went out. I looked after her and thought: "How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!" Julia Vassilyevna accepted everything her employer said because _ Answer: she thought it was of no use to protest to her employer. Spring peepers are found in wooded areas and grassy lowlands near pools in the central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States. These loud animals are rarely seen, but as temperatures begin to rise in March and April, the males certainly are heard. Their peep...peep... peep creates an other-worldly whistling sound that, to many, is the first sign of spring, compared with that of some birds. Spring peepers are brown in color1 with dark lines that form an X on their backs. They grow to about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) in length, and have large special toes for climbing. These creatures are active at night, coming out to feed on ants, beetles, flies, and spiders. When the warmer weather arrives, male frogs attempt to attract a mate with a spring song. The frogs normally perform in singing. The one who starts each round usually has the deepest voice. The "vocal sacs" under their mouths allow the frogs to "sing". They fill their vocal sacs with air until they look like a balloon, and then they let out a "peep" as they release the air. They "peep" about once every second. These sounds can often be heard as far as a half-mile away After a female and male peeper mate, the female lays her eggs in water and spends the remainder of the year in the forest. During the winter, they sleep under logs or behind loose bark on trees. The music dies down during the cold months, but the sounds of peepers will soon be heard again, sounding the coming of spring. The text is written mainly to _ . Answer: let people know more about spring peepers Briana, a student at John Fenwick School in Salem County, US, has a lot of free time. The 13-year-old girl used to hang out on the streets after school. "I know it wasn't good, but I really had nothing else to do," Briana said. Briana was not alone. Many kids in her city had too much free time and nothing to do. To solve this problem, four school districts in Salem began a program called Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The program helps students make good use of their after-school time. Big Brothers/Big Sisters invites _ to help students in grades 6 to 8 build healthy relationships and take part in productive activities. The "Littles" and the "Bigs" are nicknames for students and mentors. Most mentors are teachers. The "Bigs" and "Littles" usually meet once a week. They play games, share stories and go on trips. The program has already helped many Salem students. Briana's mentor is the school principal , Syeda Woods. Woods took Briana ice-skating, to pizza parties and for a visit to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. "When I got out, I saw that Salem is a very small place," Briana said. "The program helps me experience the outside world and see many new things." Kathy Jennings, 13, said she was very shy before, but now is much more open. "In the program, I see my mentor as a big sister, not a teacher. I can tell her anything," Jennings said. "And she has taught me a lot about making good decisions. I think it will make a big difference in my life." The writer uses the examples of Briana and Kathy to show _ . Answer: the success of the program Everyone, please imagine, a big explosion breaks out as the plane takes us high in the sky. The plane is full of smoke and the engine sounds scary. Two minutes later, the engines are turned off. We are now sitting in a plane with no sound. And we can see: Life is over. That really happened. In January 2009, I had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York. Now let me tell you the three things I learned when the silence came. First, I thought about all the people I wanted to reach out to but didn't. I thought about all the experiences I wanted to have but never did. I no longer wanted to put off anything in life. Second, I really regretted the time I wasted on things that did not matter. I decided to remove negative energy from my life. Third, I realized, wow, dying was not scary. But it was very sad just because I only wished I could have seen my kids grow up. Fortunately, I was given the gift of a miracle of not dying that day. I was given another gift, with which I was to see into the future and come back and live differently. About a month later, my wife and I were at a performance by my daughter, not much artistic talent. Yet, I'm crying. I realized that above all, the only goal in my life was to be a good father. Audience, again, imagine the same thing happening on your plane. How would you change? What would you get done? And more than anything, are you being the best parent you can? Thank you. When does the idea "Life is over" come into being? Answer: When the engines were turned off. An eighteen-year-old high school student from Utah won the top prize in the Intel Science Talent Search in the United States. The winner received a computer and a scholarship for a college education. More than 1,500students from across the country entered projects in the competition this year. Their research included chemistry, medicine, physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science-almost every area of science. Forty students were invited to Washington, D.C. for the final judging. A group of scientists judged them on their research abilities, critical thinking skills and creativity. The judges also questioned the students about scientific problems before deciding on the winners. The top winner received 100,000 dollars for college. Shannon Babb of American Fork High School studied the water quality of tile Spanish Fork River in Utah for six years. She found that people have a harmful effect on the river through human activity, including agriculture. And she suggested ways to improve the water quality in the future. These include educating the public not to put household chemicals down the drains , which lead to the river eventually. Seventeen-year-old Yi Sun of the Hanker School in San Jose, California, earned the second place. He won a 75,000-dollar scholarship for new discoveries about a mathematical theory known as random walks. His work could help computer scientists and chemists. Yi Sun was born in China. The third-place winner was also seventeen and born in China. Yuan "Chelsea" Zhang of Montgomery Blair High School in Rockville, Maryland, won a 50,000-dollar scholarship. She researched the molecular genetics of heart disease. Her findings could aid the development of new medicines. The Intel Science Talent Search is the oldest science competition for high school students in the United States. It is 65 years old this year. Past winners have gone on to receive six Nobel prizes and other top honors in science and math. Where are you most likely to find this text? Answer: In a newspaper.
When liquid water freezes, it forms ice. What is the physical state of an ice cube? Answer: A crop of corn plants is genetically modified so that the plants produce a natural pesticide. People are concerned that these corn plants might transfer modified genetic material to other plants. Which of the following is the best way to further modify the plants to prevent them from transferring their genetic materials to other plants? Answer: Sir, Just over six months ago, I saw an advertisement in the Morning Mail for a set of the complete works of William Shakespeare. Your company, Cosmo books Ltd., offered this set (eight books of plays and two books of poetry) at what was claimed to be a 'remarkable' price: fifteen pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packing. I had wanted a set of Shakespeare's plays and poems for some time, and these books, in red imitation leather, looked particularly attractive; so I sent for them. Two weeks later, the books arrived, together with a set of the complete works of Charles Dickens which I had not ordered. So I returned the Dickens books to you, with a cheque for fifteen pounds and fifty pence for the works of Shakespeare. Two more weeks passed. Then there arrived on my door step a second set of the works of Shakespeare, the same set of novels by Dickens and a six book set of the plays of Moliere, in French. Since I do not read French, these were of no use to me at all. However, I could not afford to post all these books back to you, so I wrote to you at the end of August of last year, instructing you to come and collect all the books that I did not want, and asking you not to send any other books until further notice. You did not reply to that letter. Instead you sent me a bill for forty two pounds, and a set of the plays of Schiller, in German. Since then, a new set of books has arrived every two weeks, the works of Goethe, the poems of Milton, the plays of Strindberg; I hardly know what I have. The books are still all in their boxes, in the garage, and my car has to stand in the rain outside. I have no room for any more books, and even if I read from now until the Last Judgment, I should not finish reading all the books that you have sent me. Please send no more books, send no more bills, send no more angry letters demanding payment. Just send one large lorry and take all the books away, leaving me only with the one set of the complete works of Shakespeare for which I have paid. Yours faithfully, SIMON WALKER . The tone of the letter is that of _ Answer: Award-winning director Steven Spielberg will head up this year's Cannes Film Festival jury,the organizers announced Thursday,just days after he missed out on his third best-director Oscar. Spielberg,66,one of the most powerful and respected film-makers in Hollywood,said he was flattered by the appointment. "The memory of my first Cannes Film Festival,nearly 31 years ago with the debut of E.T.,is still one of the most vibrant memories of my career,he said in a statement."It is an honor and a privilege to preside over the jury of a festival that proves,again and again,that cinema is the language of the world," he added. Ever since E.T.screened at Cannes in l982, "I've often asked Steven to be jury president,but he's always been shooting a film,"said the festival's president,Gilles Jacob. The festival is one of the highlights in the international cinema calendar and this year runs between May l5 and May 26.Spielberg's works cuts across a wide range" between entertainments films and serious reflections on history,racism and the human condition",festival organizers said in the statement. Spielberg has directed more than 50 films in his five-decade career,including pop culture touchstones such as "Jaws,"E.T.," "Indiana Jones" and "Jurassic Park." But it was not until he turned to darker subjects that he won his first Oscars.He won his first best director award in l994 for" Schindler's List" and his second best director Oscar in l 998 for "Saving Private Ryan." This year's "Lincoln "led the nominations ahead of Sunday's Oscar ceremony with l2 nods,but took home only two prizes.Ang Lee beat Spielberg to best director for "The Life of Pi". Because of his films,he's year-in year-out the equal of the very greatest Hollywood filmmakers. He felt _ when he was invited to head up this years' Cannes Film Festival jury. Answer: Welcome to Our Clubs in Masonic Village Art Club The Art Club provides a place for aged people to paint, improve their artistic talents and show their works of art. Members can also sell items that they painted. The money raised goes toward providing painting supplies for club members. Anyone may join the Art Club, whether you already know how to paint or you want to learn how to better express your creativity. Painting supplies are provided by the club for free. Time: Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Freemasons Cultural Center Art Studio. Cost: $12 per year Computer Club This club is meant for aged people with little knowledge of computers. Various topics are discussed at each meeting about computers (such as the Internet, software and email) as well as related technologies. The club has a computer lab with high-speed Internet connection. Members of the club have free access to the computer lab. Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Computer Resource Room on Level 2 of Smith North. Open general lab sessions are available for free. Cost: $35 per year Tai Chi for Arthritis Arthritis is a common disease for old people. The joints in the patients' body often hurt badly. Tai Chi for Arthritis is designed to improve the quality of life of those people who are suffering from arthritis using Sun-style Tai Chi. This style includes quick-moving steps and exercises that may improve mobility, breathing and relaxation. The movements don't require deep bending. Time: Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Irem Clubhouse. Cost: $65 per year Members of the Art Club can do the following EXCEPT _ . Answer:
Frogs lay eggs that develop into tadpoles and then into adult frogs. This sequence of changes is an example of how living things One of the most common forms of public speaking is the --presentation\|\|. A presentation is one of the best ways of communicating your message. This article will give you seven of the most important areas to consider when giving any presentation. Preparation Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! Good preparation is very important for any presentation. With good preparation and planning you will be fully confident. This will give you control. With control, you will be --in charge\|\| and your audience will listen positively to your message. Structure A good presentation has a clear structure, like a good book or film. It usually has a beginning, a middle part and an end. Equipment You may use any of the following pieces of equipment as you want: whiteboard, flipchart, overhead projector, 35 mm slide projector and computer graphics. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages. The important thing is to know and understand your equipment perfectly, and then you can use it freely and properly. Visual Aids --A picture is worth 1,000 words.\|\| There are many types of visual aids - photographs, maps, tables etc. But you should use them with care. Do not overload your audience with too much information in a short time. A good rule is: use one image to give one message. Signposting When you read a book, you know where you are. You know the title of the book, the end of one chapter, and even the page number. But when you give a presentation, your audience does not know where they are - unless you TELL them! You can use special language called --signaling\|\| or --signposting\|\| to help you. Here are a few examples: Let's begin by...; Now we'll move on to...; To start with...later...; To finish up.... Audience Relations You need a warm and friendly relationship with your audience. How do you achieve this? Well, enthusiasm is contagious. If you are enthusiastic , your audience will be enthusiastic too. Try to make eye contact with each member of your audience. Each person should feel that you are speaking to him or her personally. *Body Language Your BODY speaks to your audience even before you open your mouth. From your clothes, walk, glasses, haircut and your expression, your listeners form their first impression as you enter the room. How will you be fully confident in a presentation according to the passage? One of the most famous writers from England by far is Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie's real name was Agatha Miller. She was born in England in 1890.She married Archibald Christie when she was 24 years old, and she changed her family name to Christie. She sold her first mystery book in 1920. This book was the first time that the world met Mrs.Christie's famous detective Hercule Poirot. Ten years after that, Mrs. Christie wrote her book with her second famous detective, Miss Marple. In 1928, Mrs. Christie's first marriage broke up. She married M.E.L. Mallowan in 1930, but she still wrote her books under the name Agatha Christie. In her life, Agatha Christie wrote 60 books, 16 plays, and more than 100 short stories. She passed away in 1976 when she was 85 years old. Her books can still be found on sale in bookstores all around the world. What's the best title of the passage? What are the products in the chemical reaction below? NaOH + HCl -> NaCl + H_{2}O The loneliest chimp in the world just got the best surprise--a hug from a new friend.Ponso has been by himself for nearly three years,finding himself alone after his wife and children died on the island where they were abandoned by a medical testing company many years ago. For years a nearby villager named Germain has been Ponso's only company,visiting him so often to bring bananas and bread--the chimp's only source of food on the tiny island.It was clear how much Ponso missed companionship when he was recently visited by Chimpanzee Conservation Centre Director Estelle Raballand.The chimp immediately embraced Estelle Raballand in a huge hug and laughed as she reached out for him,with his smile from ear to ear. For those who know Ponso's backstory,his immediate ease and trust in humans might be surprising.Ponso was one of 20 chimps,all between the ages of 7 to 11 years old,relocated to an island off the Ivory Coast after being used for testing by the New York Blood Centre.After the tests were completed in 2005,the lab reportedly transferred the chimps to a string of islands,occasionally dropping off food and water because there was none in the chimps' new homes. Disease and hunger soon left only Ponso,his mate and their two children standing.But at the end of 2013 they died within days of each other and Ponso was now completely alone. A group called SOS PONSO is trying to raise money for the poor lonely chimp,already achieving its goal of $20,000--all of which will be used for Ponso's care. What can be inferred from the text?
One summer when I was sixteen, I planted a vegetable garden. I wanted a bunch of different vegetables, so I planted seven tomato plants, three pepper plants, six corn plants, and two cucumber plants. My mom loves zucchini so I also planted ten zucchini plants. I watered the garden daily with a watering can. When weeds started to take over, I pulled them back. About a month in, I started getting fresh vegetables every day. I walked to the garden with a big basket every morning and picked the vegetables that were ready. Sometimes I ate them right off the vine. One day I walked down to the garden and saw that the zucchini plants were taking over. Each of my ten plants had many zucchini, giving me hundreds of zucchinis each week. I didn't know what to do with the zucchini so I gave some to my neighbor. I gave some to my parents to take to their friends. Then I went door to door and gave zucchini to everyone in the neighborhood. Who did I give the zucchini to? A my neighbors and my friends B my neighbors, my parents' friends, and everyone in the neighborhood C my friends D my parents' friends Answer: B A cancer-stricken British teenager said on Thursday she had been moved by messages of support from around the world after writing an online "Bucket List" of things she wanted to do before dying. Alice Pyne, 15, created an Internet blog in which she described her fight against a cancer of the white blood cells. "I've been fighting cancer for almost four years and now I know that the cancer is gaining on me and it doesn't look like I'm going to win this one," she wrote. For her list, at the site www. alicepyne. blogspot. com, she has included making everyone sign up to be a bone marrow donor , swimming with sharks, meeting boy band Take That and getting a purple iPad computer. Messages of support and offers of help quickly flooded her webpage and it became one of the most talked about subjects on Twitter. "Oh dear! And I thought that I was just doing a little blog for a few friends!" she wrote after her site attracted huge attention. "Thank you so much for all your lovely messages to me." Alice, who lives with her family in the northwest English town of Ulverston, said the manager of Take That had arranged for her to see the band after reading her blog. A group of local lawmakers have also made efforts with the Anthony blood cancer charity to encourage people to join its stem cell projects. About Alice Pyne's "Bucket List", which is NOT true? A To ask people to donate bone marrow. B To get a cool computer. C To swim with sharks. D To meet a boy. Answer: D Yawning sends out certain messages -either "Oh,this movie is so boring" or "I probably need to get some sleep". But did you know that a yawn can also help your brain to cool down when it is overheated? A new study, led by a research team at Princeton University, has indicated that yawning could be the brain's natural way of regulating temperature. People yawn more often when the temperature outdoors is lower than their body temperature but are less likely to yawn when it is hotter outdoors, according to Sciencedaily. com. The research team did an experiment on 160 people, 80 in summer and 80 in winter, to examine how often they yawned at different air temperatures. The study found that people yawned more often in winter than in summer. Scientists say that when the air temperature is lower outside the body, there is heat exchange between the overheated brain and the cool air. But when the air temperature is higher than or equal to the body, people are less likely to yawn because the hot air they breathe in will make the brain even hotter. When people yawn, their jaw is also stretched,which increases blood flow and may also help cool the brain The study showed that the amount someone yawned could be related to the amount of time they spent outside. The longer they spent outside in summer, the less they yawned. Nearly 40 percent of participants yawned within their first five minutes outside, but after that the percentage was reduced to less than 10 percent. However, the result was the opposite in winter. The number of people who yawned increased when they spent more than five minutes outdoors. But the change was only slight compared to summertime. According to Gallup, this is the first report to show that yawning frequencies change depending on season. This could help us to understand better the way our brains work. It may also help us understand the reason why frequent yawning can sometimes be a sign of brain disease. The purpose of the experiment is _ . A to find the frequency of people's yawning B to indicate brain can regulate temperature naturally C to prove people yawn in winter and in summer equally D to show the real reason why people yawn Answer: A In Britain, when people meet each other for the first time, they talk about things like family, work, school,or sports. They ask question like "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" "Where do you work?" "What school do you go to?" and "Do you like sports?" They also ask questions like "Where do you come from?" and "Where do you live?" These are polite questions. They are not personal or private. But some things are personal or private, and questions about them are not polite. People don't ask questions about a person's salary . They don't ask how much or someone is paid for something. It is not OK to ask people questions about politics, party or religion unless you know them very well. People don 't ask unmarried people "Why are you single?" and they don't ask a married couple with no children "Why don't you have any children?" Which is a polite question in Britain when people meet? A How's your family? B You're not married, why? C What do you think of the Labor Party? D How much does your boss pay you each week? Answer: A Big Brothers Big Sisters is based on the simplicity and power of friendship.It is a program which provides friendship and fun by matching _ (ages 7-17) with a volunteer adult who can be both a role model and a supportive friend. Volunteer tutors come from all walks of life--married, single, with or without children. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are not replacement parents or social workers. They are tutors: someone to trust, to have fun with, to talk and go to when needed. A Big Sister and Little Sister will generally spend between one and four hours together three or four times each month for at least twelve months. They enjoy simple activities such as a picnic at a park, cooking, doing sports or going to a football match. These activities improve the friendship and help the young person develop self-respect, confidence and life direction. Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations can be found throughout the world. It is the largest and most well-known provider of tutor services internationally and has been operating for 25 years. Emily and Sarah have been matched since 2008. Emily is a 15-year-old girl who has experienced some difficulties being accepted by her schoolmates at school. " I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me." Emily's mum came across Big Brothers Big Sisters and thought it would be of benefit to Emily by "providing different feedback about herself other than just depending on schoolmates to measure her self-worth. Sarah wanted to get involved in a volunteer program. "I googled it and found out how to be a part of it. I thought it would be fun for me to get involved in making time to do something because sometimes it is all work and no play." Big Brothers Big Sisters has been of great benefit and enjoyment to both Emily and Sarah. They love and look forward to their time together and the partnership has certainly helped Emily be more comfortable in being the wonderful and happy girl she is! What is the purpose of Big Brothers Big Sisters? A To offer students public services. B To help students improve their grades. C To organize funny sport activities for young people. D To provide partnership and fun for young people. Answer: D
Question: Should people be allowed to use cellphones while driving? Alejandra Pachecho from Venezuela: No. Why not? That is because in this world some people drive very crazily. Also, most people who use cellphones to talk in the car usually pay more attention to what they are talking about than to driving. One of the reasons that I feel this way is that ny friend had a car accident while using a cellphone. He lost his life and his friends did, too. Rodrigo Cruz from Colombia: That depends. The a dvantages of using a cellphone while driving are that you can call the police if there is a car accident, call for help when somebody's car breaks down, and call when somebody needs something before arriving home or at the office. The disadvantages is that people get distracted when they are driving at the same time they are talking on a cellular phone. It can cause car accidents. Carl Khalid from Saudi Arabia: No. I would recommend if you want to use a cellphone while you're driving, pull over and take your time. You will avoid a lot of trouble. There are many advantages of using cellphones in cars. In emergencies such as accidents, a flat tire or engine problem, the cellphone is useful for calling 911 for help. Using the cellphone while driving can save time, but using it while driving can alsocause a lot of problems such as missing a red light or signs, not observing cars, or not paying attention to the speed limit. It causes a lot of problems. All these problems could cause loss of concentration. Mirna Hazim: Yes. A cellphone is helpful; it is one of the most important communication devices. For example, if you want to talk with somebody for an important reason, you can. One time when I was coming back from work at 10 o'clock at night, I had a problem with my car. It wouldn't move. I was scared to go into a store to call my brother because I didn't know the places there. I thought it could be dangerous. That night, I found out that owning a cellphone is important. What do you think of cellphone? Send your opinion to our website. Which of the following groups have the same view about using cellphones while driving? A. Rodrigo Cruz and Mirna Hazim B. Rodrigo Cruz and Carl Khalid C. Alejandra Pachecho and Carl Khalid D. Alejandra Pachecho and Mirna Hazim Answer: C. Alejandra Pachecho and Carl Khalid Question: December usually marks the start of humpback whale season in Hawaii. But experts say the animals have been slow to return. The giant whales are an iconic part of winter on the islands and a source of income for tour operators. But officials at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary said they've been getting reports that the whales have been difficult to spot so far. "This isn't a concern. But it's of interest. One theory was that something like this happened as whales increased. It's a product of their success," said Ed Lyman. He is a Maui-based resource protection manager and response coordinator for the sanctuary. "What I'm seeing out there right now is what I expected a month ago," said Lyman. He said he was surprised by how few of the animals he saw while responding to a call about a distressed calf on Christmas Eve. "We've just seen a handful of whales." It will be a while before officials have hard numbers. That is because the annual whale counts don't take place until the last Saturday of January, February and March. This is according to former sanctuary co-manager Jeff Walters. "They don't necessarily show up in the same place at the same time every year," Walters said. More than 10,000 humpback whales make the winter journey from Alaska to the warm waters off Hawaii. There, they mate and give birth. Lyman said the whales' absence could just mean they're spending more time feeding in northern waters. That's possibly because of El Nino disruptions. Or it may be because their population has gone up. "With more animals, they're competing against each other for that food resource, and it takes huge energy reserves to make that long migration over 2,000 miles," he explained. What is the passage mainly about? A. The migration habit of whales. B. Why the whales are slow to return. C. How El Nino slows whale migration down. D. Worries about the slowdown of whale migration. Answer: B. Why the whales are slow to return. Question: Many people like to use microwave ovens rather than traditional ovens. The main reason for this is that microwave ovens A. take less time to cook food than regular ovens do. B. get hotter than regular ovens. C. do not leave spattered grease or food on the inside. D. cannot overcook food. Answer: A. take less time to cook food than regular ovens do. Question: My name is Mary. This is my family. These are my parents. Their names are Bill and Grace Brown.Those are my grandparents.Their names are Henry and Linda Brown.This is my uncle.His name is John.That boy is my brother. His name is Tony. This is Susan.She is my uncle's daughter. Mary's brother is _ . A. Susan B. Tony C. John D. Bill Answer: B. Tony Question: The British are being encouraged to holiday at home as a major tourism drive offering Olympic themed discounts is launched next week. A new campaign offering 20. 12% discounted bills at participating venues will be announced publicly for the first time by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday to encourage "staycations". The scheme includes hotel accommodation, meals, guided tours and entry to attractions, with discounts funded by the industry. Government officials said more than three million hotel rooms were already lined up under the project, which is being backed by a range of companies, including Butlins. Attractions, such as the London Eye and Alton Towers, are also taking part. Reduced prices will also be offered on stays on the Royal yacht Britannia, now harboring in Leith, Edinburgh, and visits to Chatsworth, the historic house in Derbyshire. Tourists will be able to take advantage of the discount by using a dedicated website before the end of the Paralympics on September 9 to make bookings for this year and 2013. Mr. Hunt said, "With the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games, this year is the perfect opportunity for more of us to holiday in the UK " Mr. Hunt has travelled the UK, urging companies to take part in the scheme, telling them, _ We will never have a year like 2012 to show the world that this is, quite simply, the most exciting, vibrant, cosmopolitan city on the planet. The unavoidable complaints in the run up to an Olympics must not cloud the scale of the opportunity --including our biggest ever tourism marketing campaign to make sure we get a lasting benefit from being in the global spotlight. " The scheme will be promoted by a PS3 million television advertising campaign -- the first of its kind in the UK. The government hopes the " Holidays at Home are Great" campaign -- launched by Visit England -- will create 12, 000 jobs, create 5.3 million extra short overnight breaks, and generate PS480 million in extra spending over three years. What Mr. Hunt said indicates that _ . A. he has no interest in the scheme B. he supports the idea of staycation C. he doubts the benefit of the scheme D. he cares most about London tourism Answer: B. he supports the idea of staycation
Is war unavoidable? Can war be prevented? History tells that there were wars, great or small, in every century, in every decade. Throughout the ages, from the Stone age to the Atomic Age, men have been fighting, first with swords and shields , then with guns and cannons, and now, hydrogen bombs and missiles are used for military purpose. But, in spite of all these, it is still my belief that war can be prevented and peace can be won, but it requires the effort of every one of us. I am sure that we would not like to experience another world war. If it ever happens, two-thirds of the world and much of the civilization which men have gained through time, patience and effort will be destroyed. Will then the remaining one-third of the world be able to survive on its own? Our task now is not to blame the past, but to plan for the future. If there is peace in the world, men can use their rockets to explore the mystery of space, their submarines to explore the depth of the sea, their missiles to deliver mails and their fine equipment to penetrate the jungles of Africa, instead of using them military. Governments can use their money to build more schools, so that more children can be educated to be useful citizens. Scientists can use atomic energy to propel steamships and planes. They can also design new machines to increase the production of goods and thus improve the way of living of the people. How can a peaceful world be achieved? It requires, in my opinion, the understanding and friendship between all people from all nations. Let no one suffer discrimination by reason of color, race, religion, or national origin. Let the rich support the poor and the strong help the weak. We know that neither peace nor such a dream world can come true in a day or a month. It may even take decades or centuries. But let us plan and begin now. Which word can best describe the writer's picture of the future of the world? A Optimistic B Pessimistic C Imaginative D Disappointing Answer: A Which set contains kingdoms that contain only heterotrophs? A Protists, Fungi B Bacteria, Animals C Plants, Fungi D Animals, Fungi Answer: D The Erie Canal was the first important national waterway built in the US. It crossed New York from Buffalo on Lake Erie Troy to Albany on the Hudson River. It joined the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal served as a route over which industrial goods could flow into the west, and materials could pour into the east. The Erie Canal helped New York develop into the nation's largest city. The building of the canal was paid for entirely by the state of New York. It cost $ 7 143 789, but it soon gained its price many times over. Between 1825, when the canal was opened, and 1882, when toll charges were stopped, the state collected $121 461 891. For a hundred years before the Erie was built, people had been talking about a canal which could join the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The man who planned the Erie Canal and carried the plan through was De Witt Clinton. Those who were against the canal laughingly called it "Clinton's Ditch ". Clinton talked and wrote about the canal and drew up plans for it. He and Governor Morris went to Washington in 1812 to ask for help for the canal, but they were unsuccessful. Clinton became governor of New York in 1817, and shortly afterwards, on July 4, 1817, broke ground for the canal in Rome, N.Y. The first part of the canal was completed in 1820. As the canal grew, towns along its course developed fast. The length of the canal is 363 miles. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A The Erie Canal brought profits of over $114, 000, 000. B It's 363 miles from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. C The West was more advanced than the East when the canal was built. D Many other states helped New York built the canal. Answer: A "Today is Mom's birthday, Mosh," Nick said. "Let's make her favorite banana bread and surprise her."Nick took out a cookbook. "I'll read the recipe, and you follow it. Get out a bowl and a spoon while I turn on the oven." Nick read from the cookbook. "First, mash the bananas in the bowl." The robot put the bananas into the bowl and was going to mash them with its hands. "Stop!" Nick said. "Let's try this again. Peel the bananas, put them in the bowl, and mash them with the spoon." Nick watched when Mosh peeled the bananas and put the peel into the bowl. Again, Nick told Mosh to stop. Then he showed the robot which part of each banana should go into the bowl. Then Nick read, "Add the eggs. No, wait," he said right away. Nick cracked the eggs into the bananas. "Last, add flour , milk and sugar," Nick said. "Mix everything together. Then pour the batter into the bread pan." Mosh followed Nick's orders while Nick read the cookbook. "I'll put this in the oven," Nick picked up the pan. Just then Kelly came into the room. "What happened in here?" she felt surprised. Nick answered, "Mosh and I are making banana bread for Mom's birthday. It is a lot of work, but I think she will be surprised." "If you want it to be a good surprise for Mom," Kelly laughed, "you need to give Mosh one more order. Clean up!" Why did Nick decide to make banana bread? A Because his robot liked it a lot. B Because it was his favorite food. C Because it was his mother's birthday. D Because no one else cooked dinner for him. Answer: C Scientists have always been interested in the high level of organization in ant societies. American researchers have watched ants build life-saving rafts to keep afloat during floods. They also have documented how ant colonies choose their next queen--the female whose job is to produce eggs rather than seek food for others. New technology is helping to improve researchers' understanding of the insects. But there is still a lot to be learned. Fire ants living in Brazilian forests are perfectly at home in an environment where flooding is common. To save themselves, the insects connect their legs together and create floating rafts. Some ant rafts can be up to 20 centimeters wide. David Hu who is a mechanical engineer with the Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, says, "If you have 100 ants, which means 600 legs, 99 percent of those legs will be connected to a neighbor. So they're very, very good at maintaining this network." David Hu and other Georgia Tech researchers want to study ants and the secret of their engineering. They freeze ant rafts and then look at them with the help of computed technology, or CT, images. The pictures show that larger ants serve in central positions to which smaller ants hold. The larger ants form pockets of air that keep the insects afloat. Scientists say small robots or materials that can change shape could be programmed in a similar way, working towards a shared goal. Researchers at North Carolina State University are also studying ants. They examined how Indian jumping ants choose the leader of the colony when they lose their top female or queen. The author takes fire ants as an example to tell us . A how ants survive B how ants communicate C how ants live together D that ants have a strict division of labour Answer: A
Dairy has things in it that would make humans sick, so in order for dairy to be edible, this process has to take place pasteurized Tu Youyou, the 85-year-old Chinese pharmacologist ,received the Nobel Prize for medicine in Stockholm on December 10,2015. Tu is the first Chinese Nobel winner in physiology or medicine. Also, in 2011, she became the first Chinese person to receive the US-based Lasker Award for clinical medicine. Based on a fourth-century Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) text, together with her team, she managed to get artemisinin from sweet wormwood through trial and error and developed an important drug that has significantly reduced death rates among patients suffering from _ . Tu delivered a speech titled Artemisinin is a Gift from TCM to the World. She has urged more research into the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine and called for joint efforts worldwide to fight against malaria and develop more potential uses for TCM, which she called a "great treasure" with thousands of years' history and empirical knowledge. She said that by combining TCM with modem scientific technologies, "more potential can be discovered in searching for new drugs " . According to the WHO, more than 240 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have benefited from artemisinin, and more than l. 5 million lives are estimated to have been saved since 2000 thanks to the drug. Apart from its contribution to the global fight against malaria, TCM played a vital role in the deadly outbreak of SARS across China in 2003. Besides treating viruses, TCM has been most effective in diagnosing diseases, cultivating fitness, treating difficult multisource illnesses, and using nonmedical methods such as acupuncture and breathing exercises. However, TCM, which is based on a set of beliefs about human biology, is seldom understood or accepted by the West. Tu's success will bring more recognition and respect for TCM, experts say. The Western world should learn to appreciate the value of the treasures of TCM, which will lead to more basic scientific research into ancient TCM texts and ways to explore research findings worldwide. What can we learn from the passage? More research into the value of TCM should be carried out worldwide. Decision-making can be extremely difficult. Decision-making styles are significantly different in different cultures. In any approach to a problem and in any negotiations, the Western world turns to the"I to you" approach while Japan,the "you to you" approach. The former means both sides present their arguments openly from their own point of view. Naturally, often comes a conflict situation, which Westerners are very skillful in dealing with.The latter is based on each side trying to understand the other person's point of view. Thus, the direction of the meeting is a mutual attempt to reduce confrontation and achieve harmony. Besides, Western decision-making goes mostly from top management and often does not consult middle management or the worker. However, in Japan great consideration is given to the thoughts and opinions of everyone at all levels. Based on "bottom-up direction", ideas can be created at the lowest levels, travel upward through an organization and have an effect on the final decision. Difference in decision-making also comes from different communication styles. The Japanese business person works to achieve harmony, even if the deal fallsthrough, and will spend whatever time is necessary to determine a "you to you" approach, communicating personal views only indirectly. They put a thorough job above the Western deadline approach. So the Japanese are thorough in their meetings. Thus Americans are often annoyed by the many meetings in many Japanese businesses. But where the American is pressingfor a specific decision, the Japanese is trying to think up a rather broad direction. On the other hand, once a given agreement is made, it is the Japanese who sometimes wonderat the slow pace in which Westerners carry out the decision. The Japanese are eager to move forward and Westerners, perhaps, fall behind as they take the time for in-depth planning. The author's attitude towards Japanese decision-making is _ . positive Since we started offering China private tour packages on North-America market in 2006, CTSI has enjoyed great reputation. Whether you design your tour route or choose one of our pre-designed packages, we will be able to provide a private tour for you.You will be served by professional bilingual personal guide, experienced bus driver and private air-conditioned van. Features Group organizer travels free, and even the Chinese visa is free. If you organize a group of 15 people or more with the same route, we will offer you, the organizer, a free trip, regardless of whether you design your own route or choose one of our tour packages.This is our way of showing gratitude to you as a tour organizer.We even give you a free Chinese Visa.Is that amazing? As an organizer, your main job is to find tour members.Once the tour route and travel arrangements are confirmed, your task as an organizer is completed and you get ready to enjoy the free trip. Pick your favorite Airlines Airfares are a big determining factor of the tour price.CTSI, with strong ties with almost all the airlines that fly between North America and Asia, offers the best price on flight tickets to China and meets various needs of customers. If you are seeking low-priced tickets to China, you can choose a flight with a layover ,such as Korean Air, Air Canada, and Cathay Pacific. Chinese Airlines usually offer huge discount on China domestic flights if you purchase both the international and China domestic parts together.[:,,Z,X,X,K] If you wish to save on flying time, we would recommend direct flight provided by America Airlines and United Airlines. Flexibility Sightseeing Spots: you can change or cancel, even add some sightseeing spots when you are on the tour. Timing: you set up the departure and return time of the day, as well as the sightseeing time in specific sightseeing spots. Trip cancellation: some member may cancel the trip in last minute, and huge fines may occur.Do not worry, if you can find someone to replace you, we save you more than 80% of the fines. What will happen when someone cancels his trip in the last minute? He will be fined only a little if he can find a replacement. My 13-year-old daughter Lisa remembers birthdays, makes people cards when they are sick, and sends encouraging notes written in colored pens in her neat, artistic hand. One day I got a call from her principal, "I called to tell you that in 20 years of teaching I have seen nothing like what Lisa did today", he said I held my breath again as I thought, my Lisa? My sweet daughter? She must be the wrong kid. What could she have done? My silence made him go on. "I've never seen a student do anything so nice for anyone who needed it more." "What did she do?" I asked. He explained to me about the cupcakes . When Lisa came home from school that afternoon, I told her the principal from her school had phoned me. "Yeah", she answered, "I got called out of math class to go to his office. Everyone thought I was in trouble, but he just wanted to know what was going on at lunch." Lisa and Ashley had sat with Jordan, a boy who is in special classes. They talked about birthdays, and Lisa asked Jordan when his birthday was. He told her it was coming up but that he lives in a group home and they don't celebrate birthdays there. "I remembered his birthday was today, so I made the cupcakes yesterday," Lisa explained. "Ashley bought a two-liter bottle of soda and some birthday cups, plates, and napkins left over from her little brother's party, and we got some other kids together at lunch today to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Jordan." "The principal wanted to know why they were having a birthday party for Jordan at school. When they told him, he just shook his head, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes," Lisa told me. "Finally, he said he was going to tell my parents that I wasn't in trouble, he was proud of what I did, and I could go back to math class." How different my daughter was from me. Better, in fact! I wouldn't have ever known how to help out disadvantaged kids like that. But my wise daughter knew how-- all it took was cupcakes and adventurous , independent , kind spirit. What can we know from the school principal's phone call? Birthday parties are usually not allowed at the school.
The Linguistic Habits of a New Generation In the year of 1914 a young girl named Monica Baldwin entered a convent ,remaining there until 1941 when she returned to the outer world. During these twenty-eight years wars and revolutions had come and gone in Europe. Her uncle, Stanley Baldwin, had led his country for some time. Technical developments had changed the conditions of everyday life almost beyond recognitions, but all these events had left as a matter of fact untouched the small religious community to which she had belonged. In 1949 Miss Baldwin published her impressions of those bewildering years of her return to a world in which the motorcar had replaced the horse and carriage and where respectable women showed their legs and painted their faces. Yet it was not only these odd sights that surprised her, for she was more puzzled by what she heard. During a railway journey the term "luggage in advance" meant nothing to her, so in desperation she asked the porter to do as he thought best. Reading the newspapers made her feel very stupid, because the writers of reviews and leading articles used words and phrases such as Jazz,prefix = st1 /Hollywood, Cocktail and Isolationism. These and many others were quite incomprehensible to Miss Baldwin, who was really bewildered when friends said: "It's your funeral or Believe it or not." This is a rare and valuable reminder to the rest of us that the English language does not stand still. All language changes over a period of time for reasons which are imperfectly understood. Or rather since speech is really a form of human activity, it is more exact to say that each successive generation behaves linguistically in a slightly different manner from its predecessors(,). In his teens the young man likes to show how up-to-date he is by the use of the latest slang , but as the years go by some of his slang becomes standard usage and in any case he slowly grows less receptive to linguistic novelties(,),so that by the time he reaches his forties he will probably be unware that some of the expressions and pronunciations now being used were frowned upon by his own parents. In this respect language is a little like fashions in people's dress. The informal clothes of one generation become the everyday wear of the next, and just as young doctors and bank clerks nowadays go about their business in sports jackets, they are allowed into their normal vocabulary expressions which were once limited to slang and familiar conversation. By the time a man is forty, he will_. A. be speaking the same language as his parents do B. have changed his way of speaking C. not use the slang he liked to use when young D. be using less new slang in speech and writing Answer: D More than a hundred years ago, an American produced a game. He called it indoor tennis. The Americans were not interested in it at first so he sent it to his London friends and it became very popular in Britain. The game was then played across the dining-room table or on the floor with the net hung between two chairs. In the early days ,the balls were made of cork or rubber. The bats were made of wood. A few years later a hollow ball like the one we use today was invented. The game then quickly spread all over the world. An Englishman once made a bat covered with rubber. He first played the game in England and called it "ping - pong". "Ping" was the sound of the bat when it hit the ball, and "pong" was the sound of the ball when it hit the table. In the early days,the ball was _ . A. hollow B. covered with rubber C. made of cork or rubber D. made of wood Answer: C Little Peter is a boy of nine. He began to go to school the year before last and now he's in Grade Three. He lives not far from the school but he is often late for class. He likes watching TV in the evening and goes to bed late, so he can't get up on time in the morning. This term, Mrs. Black, Peter's aunt, works in Peter's school. She teaches Grade Three math. She's strict with Peter and often tells the boy to obey the school rules and come to school on time. Yesterday morning Peter got up late. When he hurried to school, it was half past eight. His aunt was waiting for him at the school gate. "You're ten minutes late for the first class, Peter," Mrs. Black said angrily. "Why are you often late for class?" "Every time I get to the street corner, I see a guidepost . It says: "SCHOOL--GO SLOW!'" Peter is at school for _ . A. one and a half years B. two years C. more than two years D. more than three years Answer: C Movie Extras Would you mind lying in a coffin ? Would you shave your head? Are you willing to take out your false teeth? These are just a few of the questions Anne Marie Stewart and her staff sometimes ask the "talent" who serve as non-speaking "extras" in special films, television series, and made-for-TV movies produced in Toronto. Of course, the majority of extra calls are for more ordinary people, and Stewart has a list of about 650 registered extras. Crowd scenes, which are common, call for everyday people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and sizes. Over at Movie People, last-minute requests are not unusual. "We got a request once for an entire brass band of 30 people. They wanted it within the hour," said manager Yvonne McCartney. Another time, the company got a last-minute request for a newborn baby. "We found a baby that was three weeks premature," said Jonathan Aiken, an owner of the company. Then there was the worried call from a casting director whose "Star" got doggone stubborn one day and decided to just lie down and not work. The director needed a replacement dog, fast. "We got them two in one hour." said Aiken. "It was a matter of good connections and fast phone work." The eight phone lines needed to make 350 to 400 calls a day are one of Movie People's major expenses. Phone lines are the only way to stay in touch with casting directors and extras; but the latter are a group not necessarily interested in a long-term relationship. Most extra jobs pay only $7 an hour (with a six-hour minimum), while most agencies charge an annual $75 registration fee and get 10 to 15 per cent of extras' earnings. It's no wonder that the _ rate is fairly high. Some people who are between jobs do extra work as a temporary measure, said McCartney. But professionals, such as lawyers, also do the work because it's interesting. Others with flexible jobs have a desire to do something different. Some homemakers want to get out of the house and onto a movie set. Money's not the motivating reason. "One of the first things I say to people who walk in and ask about being an extra is, 'You have to be available,' "said a person at Karen Clifton Agency. Inc. "The next thing I say is, 'You can't make a living at this.' " Why do white collar workers most probably like to be movie extras? A. They want to make more money. B. They want to start a career in acting. C. They think their regular job is boring. D. They think being on the stage is enjoyable. Answer: D There is one foreign product the Japanese are buying faster than others and its popularity has caused an uneasy feeling among many Japanese. That product is foreign words. that come from outside - have been part of the Japanese language for centuries. Mostly borrowed from English and Chinese, these terms are often changed into forms no longer understood by native speakers. But in the last few years the trickle of foreign words has become a flood, and people fear the increasing use of foreign words is making it hard for the Japanese to understand each other and could lead to many people forgetting the good qualities of traditional Japanese. "The popularity of foreign words is part of the Japanese interest in anything new,"says University Lecturer and Writer Takashi Saito."By using a foreign word you can make a subject seem new, which makes it easier for the media to pick up." "Experts often study abroad and use English terms when they speak with people in their own fields. Those terms are then included in government white papers," said Muturo Kai, president of the National Language Research Institute."Foreign words find their way easily into announcements made to the general public, when they should really be explained in Japanese." Against the flow of new words, many Japanese are turning back to the study of their own language. Saito's is one of many language books that are now flying off booksellers' shelves. "We were expecting to sell the books to young people," said the writer, "but it turns out they are more popular with the older generation, who seem uneasy about the future of Japanese." What advantages do foreign words have over traditional Japanese terms? A. The ideas expressed in foreign words sound new. B. Foreign words are best suited for announcements. C. Foreign words make new subjects easier to understand. D. The use of foreign words makes the media more popular. Answer: A
Question: Susan Sontag (1933 ------ 2004) was one of the most noticeable figures in the world of literature. For more than 40 years she made it morally necessary to know everything----- to read every book worth reading, to see every movie worth seeing. When she was still in her early 30s, publishing essays in such important magazines as Partisan Review, she appeared as the symbol of American culture life, trying hard to follow every new development in literature, film and art. With great effort and serious judgment, Sontag walked at the latest edges of world culture. Seriousness was one of Sontag's lifelong watchwords , but at a time when the barriers between the well-educated and the poorly-educated were obvious, she argued for a true openness to the pleasure of pop culture. In Notes Camp, the 1964 essay that first made her name, she explained what was then a little-known set of difficult understandings, through which she could not have been more famous. Notes on Camp, she wrote, represents "a victory of 'form' over 'content', 'beauty' over 'morals'". By conviction she was a sensualist , but by nature she was a moralist, and in the works she published in the 1970s and 1980s, it was the latter side of her that came forward. In Illness as Metaphor ------published in 1978, after she suffered cancer ------ she argued against the idea that cancer was somehow a special problem of repressed personalities, a concept that effectively blamed the victim for the disease. In fact, re-examining old positions was her lifelong habit. In America, her story of a 19thcentury Polish actress who set up a perfect society in California, won the National Book Award in 2000. But it was as a tireless, all-purpose cultural view that she made her lasting fame. "Sometimes," she once said, "I feel that, in the end, all I am really defending... is the idea of seriousness, of true seriousness." And in the end, she made us take it seriously too. According to the passage, Susan Sontag would agree to the ideas except _ . A. We should try hard to follow every new development in literature, film and art. B. Cancer can be defeated because it is a special problem of repressed personalities. C. 'Form' should be over 'content', 'beauty' should be over 'morals. D. We should defend the idea of seriousness, of true seriousness. Answer: B. Cancer can be defeated because it is a special problem of repressed personalities. Question: At 18, many American young people go off on their own. They go away to college or find full-time jobs, and they often rent their own apartments. Some get married and start families. This independence is learned from childhood. From an early age, American children learn responsibility . Children as young as 2 begin to put away their toys and dress themselves. At 3, many children do simple chores like setting the table. Using money wisely is also taught early. As soon as a child understands the value of money, he or she receives a weekly _ . This is used for things the child wants, like toys or treats. The child can spend or save it, usually with little guidance from parents. If the child wants money besides his or her allowance, it must be made by doing extra chores. Children are taught early in life to think for themselves. They are allowed to make some decisions--and make mistakes. Failure often teaches more than success. Many American young people begin to live on themselves _ . A. at eighteen years old B. from childhood C. after they get married D. from an early age Answer: A. at eighteen years old Question: Which of the following describes an object that must have a net negative charge? A. It contains more molecules than atoms. B. It contains more electrons than protons. C. It is carrying an electric current. D. It is made of metal. Answer: B. It contains more electrons than protons. Question: Lines around the eyes mean the aging process in the body. Though aging is considered as one of the most unavoidable occurrence in one's life, it is not entirely the thing. You just need to know that you can deal with it in your life. For example, if you are willing to spend a considerable amount of money to make yourself look young again, then you can try eye lifts. However, if you are more of the money-conscious type, then you should decide to go for eye creams which bring the same results but with lower prices. Despite of the advantages of using eye creams, however, there is a disadvantage in trying them. This is due to the hundreds of brands o eye creams being marketed at present. If you do not know how to choose the best eye cream in the countless brands available, then you might fall victim to eye creams that do not really fulfill their promised effects. What's good is that looking for the best eye cream does not involve too much effort. You just have to look for eye cream reviews to know how a product performs and if it lives up to its promises. If you have a dermatologist , then you can ask for advice. If you have none, however, then you can just browse on the net for the best cream for your needs. In searching for eye cream reviews, look for those with reviews based on the results of product testing. Doing so can ensure you that you are not basing your decision on fake review sites that are only made to build up an image of a certain product. Follow these tips and guidelines and you are sure to finally spot the best eye cream that can solve your aging problem. To deal with lines around your eyes, you can _ . A. try your best to stop yourself aging B. make up by using eye shadow C. raise your hand to lift your eyes D. try to use eye creams Answer: D. try to use eye creams Question: Mr Parker was born in a small village. His father was so poor that he couldn't send him to school. The boy had to help his parents to do some farming and learned English and maths by himself when he was free. Later on he was made to leave his home village and hoped to find a job in a city. And as soon as war broke out, he joined the army . He couldn't forget his terrible past and fought with the enemies bravely . So he became a general when he was fifty. He was honest and friendly to his soldiers and often punished those who tried to pocket a portion of the soldiers' pay . And his soldiers liked him very much. Once Mr Parker heard from a soldier. In the letter the young man said the food in their military camp was very bad and he wished the general could go to find out the reasons. The old man went there at once without telling anybody. He went in the kitchen and examined everything carefully and found it was very dirty. Then he went in the soldiers' bedrooms and found there were a lot of fleas. He became angry and asked the soldiers, "What do you think of your food, young men?" The soldiers saw their officer standing by the general and said nothing. Only a new soldier said, "Very bad, sir!" "What did you have for lunch today?" asked Mr Parker. "A fried chicken, some fish and pork, a cake, six eggs and I had three cups of wine ." "Really?" Mr. Parker called out in surprise. "It's the King's lunch, I think!" "So do I, General," said the young man. "But it's my birthday today. I paid three hundred dollars for them all in the restaurant!" Which of the following is true? A. Mr. Parker found nothing in the military camp. B. The new soldier had a birthday dinner in the restaurant. C. The officer wanted to frighten the soldiers. D. The general no longer believed the soldiers. Answer: B. The new soldier had a birthday dinner in the restaurant.
Erik wants to climb Mount Everest. He loves to climb, and there is no place greater for climbers than the top of 29,035 feet, the world's highest mountain. Erik is blind. He has been blind since age 13, when an eye disease robbed him of his sight. His new book, Touch the Top of the World: A blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See, describes his blindness and climbing. He is the first blind man to attempt Everest. The team reached the base camp at 17,800 feet last Wednesday and began its climb Saturday. If all goes well, Erik will reach the top on about May 15. "I'm not just some broken blind guy," Erik, aged 32,said for hours before he left Los Angeles on Friday for Katmandu, Nepal. "1 put my life in my fellow climbers'hands, and they put their lives in my hands. It's an honor to reach that state. " "I want to experience the sense of adventure. Blindness has nothing to do with that. But a message of the climb is that a blind person can join a team and climb the highest mountain in the world. " Erik has climbed the highest tops on four continents: North America's Mount McKmley, South America's Aconcagua, Africa's Kilimanjaro and Antarctica's Vinson Massif. He is an expert rock and ice climber, having scaled El Captain in Yosemite National Park. When he was 16, he attended a school that taught blind people to be independent. One day, a group went rock-climbing. "1 really liked it," Erik said, "You can solve problems. It is sense in your inner mind. People didn't think blind people could go out and become expert rock climbers. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Nothing is impossible. Some of my friends are making big decisions in their life: Which universities should they apply to? I also notice that many high school students in China are thinking of studying at universities abroad. Unluckily, from what I've seen, the information given by some websites and other media about studying abroad is very limited and sometimes even wrong. There was once a Chinese girl who hoped that she could go to Columbia University in the US because she wanted to major in journalism. However, they have no journalism program at the undergraduate level! What's more, in both Canada and the US, it's not suggested that students throw themselves into journalism right after high school. School say that students should take in more knowledge about the world and writing before entering that field. The University of Waterloo, a Canadian university famous for its engineering program, is another example. The emphasis of engineering in this school may go beyond your expectations. According to our teachers, this university spent millions of dollars building a library just for engineering students. The school's computer science, mathematics and accounting are also great programs for students. But, to be honest, according to my friends who have visited this university, the campus and the food are not very nice. Maybe this is because the school stresses its academic( )strengths too much, thereby paying little attention to personal comforts. Now you see, choosing a university is really not that easy. We need to do good research and consult as many people as possible before making a decision. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: Choosing a university is not easy. The Sydney Opera House is a very famous building in the world. It has become Sydney's best-known landmark and international symbol. The Opera House with a " sailing roof" was designed by a famous Danish architect ,Utzon. The base for the building was started in 1959, years before the designs were finished. Utzon spent four years designing the Opera House. In 1962, the designs were finalized and the construction began. In 1967, they started the decoration inside. It took 14 years in total to build the Opera House. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it on October 20th, 1973. The Sydney Opera House cost around $100 million and was paid for by the public 6,225 square meters of glass was used to build it. The Opera House includes 1,000 rooms. It is 185 meters long and 120 meters wide. The building's roof sections weigh about 15 tons. Each year, this fantastic building attracts 200,000 tourists to come for a visit or enjoy events in it. The Opera House reaches out into the harbour . It is amazing and unforgettable, offering people a strong sense of beauty. The designer of the Sydney Opera House was from _ . Answer: Denmark Course A: Understanding computers 1. A twelve-hour course for people who do not know very much about computers but need to learn about them. You can learn what computers are, what computers can do and cannot do, and how to use them. 2. Course fee: $75, from June 1 to June 28, 9~12am every Sunday. 3. Equipment fee: $10. 4. Teacher: Joseph Saunders, professor of computer science at New Urban University, with twelve years of experience in computer field. Call 67801642 or 67801643 for more information. Course B: Learning to speak French 1. A course with a small class of less than 20 people, twice a week. Your French level is tested in the first class. Then you can begin practicing at one of eight different skill levels. This allows you to learn at your own speed, and prepares you to learn through situations of real life with a funny and easy method. 2. Course fee: $200, from June 1 to June 25, 4~7pm every Monday and Thursday. 3. Personal tutoring fee: $100. 4. Teacher: From the first day on you can have your own personal French teacher that corrects your exercises and assists you along the course, who has successfully taught French course before. Phone 67353019 for more information. Course C: Learning to swim 1. A course for people who have interest in swimming. We offer morning and afternoon classes, where swimming knowledge will be taught. Then you can gain swimming skills through practicing in water. 2. Course fee: $150, from June 9 to June 29, 10am~4pm every Tuesday and Friday.. 3. Personal tutoring Fee: $100 4. Teacher: Teachers from sports college and experienced swimming-loves. Very close to the Central Park. For further information call 67432308. With a personal swimming trainer helping you along the course, you should pay _ for the course altogether. Answer: $250 In the next five years, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs are projected to grow twice as quickly as jobs in all other fields according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics. While all jobs are expected to grow by 10.4 percent, STEM jobs are expected to increase by 21.4 percent. By this measure, future STEM jobs represent a huge opportunity to today's students. But, in fact, of the 3.8 million ninth graders in the U.S., only 233,000 end up choosing a STEM degree in college, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This means only 6 percent of ninth graders will become STEM graduates. And of these graduates, women will be even more underrepresented in most STEM fields. These are alarming statistics. How do we get more young boys and girls to be interested in STEM-related fields? It isn't an easy task. Schools do not always adequately prepare students for these severe subjects, and college programs are designed to get rid of those who are less persistent. Nationally, only 41 percent of initial STEM majors who begin a degree in STEM-related fields complete their degree in less than six years. In addition, social pressures continue to cast a shadow over girls who might otherwise consider the STEM fields. A couple of years ago, I met amazing parents, both of whom had a background in engineering and hoped their 10-year-old daughter would follow in their footsteps. They encouraged her to take an after-school science / robotics program. When she got there, she found she was outnumbered 6:1 by boys in the class. As the only girl, she came home crying much of the time because she was teased and told that geeky girls are not welcome in the boys' club. Ironically, by the time young boys are entering college programs in STEM fields, many complain about the lack of girls. Starting at an early age, even as young as kindergarten, we need to encourage and help the next generation leaders to consider taking up science, computing, math and technology. We also need to realize that for young girls to be inspired to take and stick with this educational path and later career field, they will benefit from the support of the people that surround them: parents, teachers, friends and family members. The STEM statistics are used in the passage mainly to show that _ . Answer: America will face serious shortage of STEM talents
Something caught my eyes when I was walking down the street. Two silver coins were shining in a melting snow bank, so I dug through the snow looking for more. Of course, I just ended up with really cold hands. I slipped the two coins into my pocket and went home, colder but richer. I began to think about how to spend the money... Two days later, Mary and her little sister were searching the snow banks. "Finders are keepers" was my first thought. I didn't want to hand them out even though Susy was already crying. " I dropped them right here," she said between tears. Her hands were cold and red for digging in the snow. Maybe they slid down the street with the melting snow. Let's dig over here." Mary's voice sounded confident. "They'll never know" was my second thought, and I walked past them. " Phil, have you seen two sliver coins?" asked Mary. Susy looked up from digging. _ . "Tell a lie" was my third thought. "As a matter of fact," I hesitated ,"I dug two coins out of that snow bank just a few days ago. I wondered who might have lost them." Susy hugged me with a big smile, "Oh, thank you, thank you." What might Phil do with the two coins in the end? Answer: Steve knew he'd been adopted as a baby, and when he turned 18, in 2003, he decided he'd try to track down his birth mother. The agency from which he'd been adopted gave him his mother's name: Tallady. But online searches didn't turn up any results about it, and Steve had to let it go. In 2007, though, he searched for the name again online. This time, the search results included a home address near the Lowe's store where Steve, then 22, worked as a deliveryman. When he mentioned the coincidence to his boss, his boss said, "You mean Tallady, who works here?" Steve and Tallady, a cashier, had said hello to each other a few times at the store, but they'd never really talked. He hadn't even known her name. Steve thought there was no possible way she was his mother though they shared the same name. For a few months, Steve avoided Tallady. "I wasn't sure how to approach her," he told a local reporter. Finally, the agency volunteered to arrange their reunion. When Tallady realized that the nice guy she'd been waving at was his son, she sobbed. She'd always hoped to meet her birth son one day. Later that day, mother and son talked for almost three hours at a nearby bar. She'd given him up for adoption in 1985, when she was 23. "I wasn't ready to be a mother," she told him. Married with two other children, Tallady says, "I have a complete family now." Steve gave up the online search for his birth mother in 2003 because _ . Answer: Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina, is one of the popular vacation spots on the East Coast of the US. There are 250 restaurants on the island You can try the excellent restaurants introduced below. Skull Creek Boathouse (843-681-3663) There's no shortage of interesting and tantalizing choices to satisfy any seafood lover's palate. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 am to 4 pm,dinner from 4pm to 9 pm, and weekend brunch is served from 10 am to 3 pm. The menu is mostly seafood, as you would think by the name of the restaurant. Quarterdeck(866-561-8802) The view from this restaurant is amazing. You have choices, such as beef or burgers, salads and soups. The hours are typically from 11:30 am to 5 pm for lunch, and from 5 pm to 9 pm for dinner. It couldn't get any better -- delicious food, surrounded by equally delicious scenery. Frankie Bones(843-842-4033) It is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner from 11:30 am to 8 pm, and Sunday lunch is served from 11:30 am to 3 pm. For lunch you can enjoy sandwiches, salads, rice, and pasta dishes. It has potato chips on the side, which they would be happy to substitute for veggies. The entree was served with soup or salad. The salad also has cheese, pine nuts, and dried berries. Mellow Mushroom(843-686-2474) If you want something different from your usual food, go to the Mellow Mushroom. It has specialty pizza, salads and sandwiches. If you enjoy wines, you'll surely find something you like, because it has a wall full of beer on tap, as well as a large variety of bottled wines. It is open 7 days a week -- Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm and Friday and Saturday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. What is special about Skull Creek Boathouse? Answer: Which would most likely be the characteristic of an object with a small volume and large mass? Answer: Some plants have developed the ability to do what with their seeds? Answer:
At the age of 16, Clara Barton was advised to become a teacher, since she was quite shy. She taught in Massachusetts for ten years, and was invited to Bordentown, New Jersey, to teach in a private school. She saw personally that these communities needed free education for their citizens, and she responded by creating a free school, one of the first in her state. Later, officials ignored her and appointed a male as principal instead. She resigned and moved to Washington DC, becoming the first woman employed by the U. S. Patent Office. Clara Barton was forever changed by her experience with the troops in the Civil War. She saw surgeons dressing wounds with cornhusks , since they had nothing else. The medical supplies for the Army were well behind the troops, who were moving faster than their medical supply lines. She brought in a wagon of bandages and medical supplies that she had collected personally beforehand. Barton continued to work on the battlefields throughout the war. She helped in the identification process of 13,000 dead Union soldiers. Afterward, she was an important figure in a campaign to identify missing soldiers from the Civil War. This non-stop work _ her, and upon recommendation by her physicians, she traveled to Europe to recover herself. While in Europe, and still in poor health Miss Barton was moved by the hardship on civilians brought about by the France-Prussia war. She helped in their relief effort, and in that work she was inspired to create the Red Cross, which served all troops and civilians. Clara Barton returned to America and then began the establishment of the American Red Cross. The US government did not think there would ever be another war, after the horror of the Civil War. But she convinced them that the Red Cross would be valuable to serve in times of natural disasters, as well. This was her lasting legacy , an agency that still provides aid to victims today. What is the greatest contribution made by Clara Barton? Answer: Amy was looking for a gift for her little daughter.Suddenly she stopped before a store of dolls."Girls like dolls,"she thought as she stepped into it.Looking around,she saw a grandma doll...one with gray hair and a pair of glasses.In her mind appeared Joyce,her mother. When Amy was a little girl,she got her first doll from Joyce for her birthday.Then the second,the third...A doll a year never arrived late. " Why always a doll? " This question had been in Amy's mind until one day her father gave the answer. Little Joyce dreamed to have a doll.Her parents promised one for her fifth birthday.Sadly ,they both died in a traffic accident before it arrived.The never-received gift was the most precious in her eyes. Her mother's story being recalled,Amy got an idea. It was Joyce's birthday.A package was sent to her with a card that read: Dear Joyce , I forget to send you the package that you should have received on May 20,1 956,your fifth Birthday.The gift inside has aged ,but I thought that you might still wish to have it. Love ,Angel of Joy Joyce opened the package and saw a lovely grandma doll.She clasped the doll that she had waited so many years for ,crying softly.The doll given by "Angel of Joy",made her the happiest "child" in the world. Who sent a grandma doll to Joyce indeed on her birthday? Answer: Children always did not do what their parents wanted them to do. They did the things in their own ways. But they always made their parents very happy. Old Mr. Brown had a little son named Tom. He was ten years old. He was very happy when his father wanted him to buy something for him. One day at five o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Brown gave him two pounds and let him buy some stamps in the post office. Tom was very excited, because for a long time he did not have so much money. Mr. Brown told him clearly where the post office was. He expected(,) that he would come back in twenty minutes. But nearly two hours passed, Tom did not return. Mr. Brown was surprised . "He lost his way?" he thought to himself. At seven in the evening, Tom came back with a box. He was very tired. When he saw his father, he said, happily, "Daddy, I ran out all of your money to buy a box of chocolates. It was very sweet , but didn't you think a box of chocolates was quite heavy for a little boy?" Why was Tom glad when his father gave him two pounds? Answer: Halloween is a festival on October 31st.The name of the holiday means --"hallowed" because it comes the day before All Saints Day. Before the festival, people paint homes, shops and classrooms in the traditional Halloween colours, orange and black. Some people make costumes at home. Some people buy them in shops. People also make decorations for the festival. These decorations look like witches, black cats, ghosts, skeletons and jack-o-lanterns. Jack-o- lanterns are pumpkins that are cut to look like faces. People think that Halloween is the children's New Year's Eve. On that day children dress up in special costumes and masks. They eat too much, and go to bed very late after celebrating. They go from one door to another saying "trick or treat". People give them candies,cookies,fruit or money. Adults and older children also celebrate Halloween with parades ,festivals and costumes parties. One kind of the parties welcomed by children is dunking for apples. Apples are put in tubs full of water. People try to get the apples using only their mouths; they cannot use their hands. What are the traditional Halloween colours? Answer: How men first learned to invent words is unknown, in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters, we call words. The power of words, then, lies in their association--the thing they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and the sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase. Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can _ his meaning in words which sing like music and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they make our speech silly and impolite. Where does the real power of the words come from? Answer:
Which would be the best method to use to dispose of cardboard boxes not utilized by a local grocery store? Answer: Do you feel lucky? You probably don't. You may think you've got where you are today through willpower and hard work. We tend to overlook luck's role,and this seems to get worse the richer we get; surveys show that the wealthiest are least likely to owe their fortunes to good fortune. Many such people oppose taxation and government spending: why should others get a handout if they don't need one? More often than not,they vote against the very policies that helped them get lucky to begin with. In a recent Atlantic essay,Robert Frank,an economist who has studied attitudes to chance,quoted EB White: "Luck is not something you can mention in the presence of self-made men." However, if we see this just as a problem of the super-rich people,we may let the rest of us off too easily. Anyone living in a highly developed economy in 2016 is already the one who benefits from luck--for example,not living in the modern-day Central African Republic, where few people can live a long life. In fact,we are lucky to have been born human. You might have been a battery hen,or a mayfly with only one day to live. Our blindness to such truths isn't only because we're self-absorbed but also we attach more significance to things that are easier to call to mind. It's not hard to recall countless times when you put in the effort to succeed: struggling through university finals,preparing for job interviews,tolerating a long-distance travel to work. On the other hand,it's rather difficult to realize you're privileged--like not being born in a war zone,or before antibiotics ,and so forth. According to the author,you are fortunate if you are not_. Answer: The sun is Answer: Over time, the ability to ship foods around the world has improved. Which is the most likely effect these shipping improvements have had on people? Answer: I was born in Tuckahoe,Talbot Country,Maryland. I have no accurate knowledge of my age,never having seen any record containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs,and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant .I do not remember having ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday. They seldom come nearer to _ than plantingtime,harvesting,springtime,or falltime. A lack of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood. The white children could tell their ages,but I could not tell. Why the same right ought to be taken away from me!I was not allowed to ask my master about it. He considered all such questions on the part of a slave improper and impolite. The nearest estimate I can live makes me now between twentyseven and twentyeight years of age. I come to this,from hearing my master say,some time during 1835,I was about seventeen years old. My mother was named Harriet Bailey. She was the daughter of Isaac and Betsey Bailey,both colored,and quite dark. My father was a white man. The opinion was also whispered that my master was my father;but of the correctness of this opinion,I know nothing and I have no means to know. My mother and I were separated when I was but an infant--before I knew her as my mother. It is a common custom,in the part of Maryland from which I ran away,to part children from their mothers at a very early age. Frequently,before the child has reached its twelfth month,its mother is taken from it,and hired out on some farm a considerable distance off,and the child is placed under the care of an older woman,too old for field labor. How does the writer feel about not knowing his age? Answer:
Which weight has the most resistance when being picked up? Bulgaria is famous for its roses and produces about 85 percent of all the rose oil in the world. Rose oil is called liquid gold and is used in making soaps, chocolates, perfumes and so on. The first records about growing roses on Bulgarian land go back many centuries. The Rose Valley developed in the area between the cities of Kazanlak and Karlovo in central Bulgaria. The roses seem to love the soil and weather there. The rose is the most important plant grown in Bulgaria, which could be called the country on the roses. The rose plantations in the Rose Valley are the largest in the world. Much of the population in the Rose Valley works in the rose industry. In Bulgaria, we produce rose oil, rose water and other products. Rose oil is used in high-quality perfumes produced in many countries. The main flower grown is the Kazanlak rose, which is famous around the world. The oil is prepared by distillation . Each flower is picked by hand, and you need 3,000 kilos to make one kilo of rose oil. That means about 30 flowers for just one tiny drop oil. So you can understand why it is so expensive and is called liquid gold. Each year on the first weekend in June, during the harvest, there is a Festival of Rose in Kazanlak with many performances. Judges choose the Queen of Roses as part of the summer festival. After this, she honors the most skillful picker of roses in the harvest. This festival is an old tradition and goes back more than a century. Today it also includes an International Folklore Festival and attracts many tourists. The festival ends with a concert in the evening. There are also festivals in Karlovo and other towns. Come to see and enjoy. According to the passage, the Rose Valley _ . How can you help kids cope with stress? Proper rest and good nutrition can improve coping skills, so can good parenting. Make time for your kids each day. Whether they need to talk with you or just be in the same room with you, make yourself available. Even as kids get older, quality time is important. It's really hard for some people to come home after a tiring day of work, get down on the floor, and play with their kids or just talk to them about their day -- especially if they've had a stressful day themselves. But expressing interest in your kids shows that they' re important to you. Help your child deal with stress by talking about what may be causing it. Together, you can come up with a few solutions. For example, he should cut back on after-school activities, spending more time talking with his parents or teachers, developing an exercise plan or keeping a journal. You can also help by predicting potentially stressful situations and preparing kids for them. For example, let a child know ahead of time, but not too far ahead of time, that a doctor's appointment is coming up and talk about what will happen there. Keep in mind, though, that younger kids probably won't need too much advance preparation. Too much information can cause more stress. Remember that some level of stress is normal, Let kids know that it's OK to feel angry, scared, lonely, or anxious and that other people share those feelings, too. When kids can't or won't discuss these problems, try talking about your own concerns. This shows that you're willing to handle tough topics and are available to talk with when they're ready. If a child shows symptoms that concern you and is unwilling to talk, consult a counselor or other mental health experts. Most parents have the skills to cope with their children's stress. The time to seek professional attention is when any change in behavior continues to exist, when stress is causing serious anxiety, or when the behavior is causing significant problems in functioning at school or at home. You are advised not to talk too much about a stressful situation in advance because _ . Americans think that travel is good for you. Some even think it can help to solve one of the country ' s worst problems ~: crime . Crime worries a lot of people. Every year, the number of crimes is up and up. And many criminals are young. They often come from sad homes, with only one parent or no parents at all. There are many young criminals in prison,but prison doesn ' t change them. Six or seven in ten will go back to crime when they come out of prison. One man ,Bob Burton, thought of a new idea. In the old days, young men had to live a difficult life on the road. They learned to be strong and brave, and to help their friends to be strong and brave, and to help their friends in time of danger. This helped them grow into men. So Bob Burton started "Vision Quest. " He takes young criminals on a long ,long journey with horses and wagons , 3,000 miles through seven states. They are on the road for more than a year. The young people in Vision Quest all have bad problems. Most of them have already spent time in prison. This is their last chance. It's hard work on the road. The day starts before the sun comes up. The boys and girls have to feed the horses. Some of them have never loved anyone before but they love their horses. That love can help them to live a new life. Not all the young people on Vision Quest will leave crime behind them. Three or four in ten will one day be in prison again. Bob Burton is right. Travel can be good for you. Even today, Americans still say, " Go west, young men. " Form the passage we may infer that . Beijing--No Car Day was first started by 34 cities in France on September 22, 1998. It was started to protect the environment. By now, more than 1,000 cities around the world have had a No Car Day. The first No Car Day in China was in Chengdu in 2001. Other cities, including Beijing, Taipei, Shanghai and Wuhan also support the day. In Beijing, more and more people are joining in the activity. It asks drivers to leave their cars for one day each week and walk, take a bus or subway or ride a bike to work. The slogan for the activity is,"If we drive for one less day, we can have one more nice day." Beijing is trying to have 238 blue sky days this year. In the first quarter of this year Beijing only have 52 blue sky days. This was 11 days less than the number for the same period last year. Car exhaust is one of the most important reasons of the pollution. We must do more for No Car Day. So far, more than 200,000 drivers have shown their support. "We can't control the weather, but we can choose not to drive." said Wu Zonghua, a car club chairman. The air pollution in Beijing is mainly caused by _ according to the passage.
Alabama Students in Alabama take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions. In the classroom, Alabama high school students must prove specific skills in English and take certain math classes. Among the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools in Alabama, two were awarded gold medals, 16 received silver medals and 72 were considered bronze medal schools. One of the gold medal schools, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, lies about 90 miles south of Birmingham in the state capital of Montgomery, within the Montgomery County School District. Alaska To graduate, Alaska high school students must get at least 21 credits, including a half credit in Alaska history. Alaska judges students from the third grade through senior grades. Students first take the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination at the tenth grade. It includes math, reading and writing skills. 10 schools were awarded silver medals and 21 received bronze medals among the U.S. News Best High Schools in 2013. While Alaska's capital is Juneau, several of the state's Best High Schools are in or near Anchorage, in the Anchorage School District. Delaware Delaware students have a high GPA and 10 hours of community service. If they hand in their FAFSA by a certain date, they may get the Inspire Scholarship, which helps pay for tuition at Delaware State University. Before they go to college, however, students must pass the Delaware Student Testing Program Exams. Among the Delaware schools in the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools, there are three silver medal schools and four bronze medal schools. The top school in the state is Delmar Senior High School. It is part of the Delmar School District and is about 50 miles from Delaware's capital, Dover. Which of the following in TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Delmar Senior High school is the best in Delaware. A being which has migrated may have Answer: sought warmth A large crevasse was carved in the western United States over many Answer: years Decker, charged with armed robbery of a store, denied that he was the person who had robbed the store. In presenting the state's case, the prosecutor seeks to introduce evidence that Decker had robbed two other stores in the past year. This evidence is Answer: inadmissible, because its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudic Kramer the kitten loved to hunt for mice. He was black with white boots. Kramer was still a baby, so he liked to play all night long and sleep during the day. His favorite toy is a little fake squeaky mouse. One day, Kramer was waking up from a long nap. He saw a little mouse out of the corner of his eye. He jumped up and began to chase him around the room. He ran and ran until the mouse went into a little hole in the wall. Mary the mouse was so scared. She sat in the hole in the wall and cried little mouse tears. Kramer heard the mouse crying and said "Don't worry little mouse I want to play with you! Do you want to play too? Let's play hide and seek!" The mouse poked her head out and said "Sure!" I'm it first!" And Kramer took off around the corner with Mary chasing behind him. What does Kramer like to do? Answer: He likes to play all night and sleep all day and he likes his squeaky mouse.
The Green Magic Tree House, in India, is the perfect hotel for anybody who likes adventure . Guests must drive for miles through the jungle to find it in the middle of tea and coffeeplantation . There are two tree houses to choose from, one 30 meters and the other 35 meters above the ground. Both houses have two floors. The bedrooms are above the living area and there are bathrooms and showers. You can get up to rooms and move between floors byusing ladders . You can go from one tree house to the other on a rope bridge. The houses sometimes move about in the wind but the views are fantastic. Guests can enjoy moving through the jungle, climbing in the mountains, and watching wildlife. There are many unusual plants, birds, and insects in the area. The Ice Hotel is in Jukkasjarvi, a village in Sweden 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Every winter, a team of architects , designers and snow builders build the hotel. This year there are 80 rooms. Everything is made of ice. The walls, the floors, the ceilings , and even the furniture are made of ice. The beds are made of ice, too, but guests sleep on warm deer skins. Outside it can be -37degC, so inside it feels quite comfortable. The hotel has a bar, where guests can drink vodka from glasses made of ice. It's very popular -- because there isn't much else to do. To spend a night at Jules Underwater Lodge in Florida, guests need to scuba dive seven meters under the sea. They enter a small house through a door at the bottom of the building. Inside, the kitchen is stored with food and there is a fridge and a microwave oven . There is a hot shower and comfortable beds and lots of books, DVDs and video games. Most guests, however, spend their time at one of the large windows watching different fishes swimming by. The writer tells us three _ hotels. Answer: Can eating a chocolate bar every day really prevent age-related memory loss? No. But a new research shows that large amounts of flavones, substances found in cocoa, tea and some kinds of vegetables, may improve age-related memory failure. Dr. Scott Small is a professor of neurology at Columbia University in new York City He is the lead writer of a research paper describing the effects of cocoa flavones on brain activity His study involved 37 volunteers aged between 50 and 69. Researchers gave them a high-level flavones drink made from cocoa beans or a low-level flavones drink. For a period of three months, some subjects got 900 milligrams of flavones a day. The others got 10 milligrams of flavones each day. Brain imaging and memory tests were given to each study subject before and after the study Dr. Small says that the subjects who had the high-level flavones drink showed much improvement on memorytests. The researchers warn that more work is needed to be done because this study was performed only on a small group. Dr. Joann Manson is the lead researcher of a four .year study involving 18,000 adults. This study will use flavones capsules The study subjects will be divided into two groups and will take two pills per day. The capsules used will all Look the same. But one group's capsules will contain flavones, while the other group will take capsules made of an inactive substance, or placebo Dr. Manson says it's not necessary for people to start eating more chocolate, because 3 person would have to eat a huge amount of chocolate to get the same level of flavones given to the Lest subjects. He adds many manufacturers have planned to remove the flavones from their chocolate products. Similarity, Dr. says a cocoa-based flavones extract may be developed in the future But he says that more studies are needed to see how much flavones is good for our health Why will Dr. Manson carry out the four-year study? Answer: What activity is a part of the wheel of organic life? Answer: Sydney is a young city. Its history goes back just over 200 years. But in Australia, it is the oldest city. It is also the country' s largest city. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the most popular city of Australia. The climate of Sydney is very good. It' s not too cold during the winter and not too hot during the summer. The sky is blue, the air is fresh, and birds sing in the garden. People who live in Sydney seem to have an easy life style. They will tell you, "Don't worry. " Many people think that Sydney is one of the most attractive cities in the world. It has many tall and modern buildings. Among them, Center point Tower is the tallest. Standing on the 305-metre(80 storeys)tower, you will have a great view of the city. Sydney is famous for its deep harbor . The harbor has many bays and beautiful surf beaches. Among them, Bondi beach is the most popular. Sydney Harbor is not only beautiful, it also serves as a large port. Ships carry wool, wheat and meat from Sydney to other countries. People living in Sydney like to call themselves Sydneysiders. They are mostly friendly and easygoing. When they are not working, they love to have a good time at the beach, swimming and sailing. What is true about the Center point? Answer: Deception is something that people do all the time ,and it plays an important role in military strategy. Now some researchers are trying to figure out how to get robots to do it, by looking at the behavior of squirrels and birds. At Georgia Tech, a team led by Ronald Arkin , a professor at the School of interactive Computing, studied the literature on squirrels hiding their acorns .Squirrels will hide their food m a certain place, but when they see other squirrels trying to steal from them, they attempt to fool the thieves by running to a fake location. Ronald Arkin and his Ph. D. student Jaeeun Shim used that as a model for robot behavior. They programmed the robot into tricking a "predator " machine by doing what ei squirrel does: showing the enemy a false location for an important resource. The team also looked at how other animals in this case,a species of bird called Arabian babbler~ drive off predators. A babbler will make an alarm call when they see a predator and other babblers will join the bird and make more calls. They then surround the predator, all the while flapping wings and making noises. The babblers don't ever actually fight the animal they want to drive off; they just make enough noises and flaps around enough so that it seems that attacking a babbler isn't worth it They found that the deception works when the group reaches a certain size--essentially, when enough birds arrive to convince the enemy that it's best to back off . Davis modeled that behavior in software using a military scene and found that it worked even if the group didn't have the firepower to confront the enemy directly. The military is interested in this because a robot that can fool an opponent is a valuable tool. It could lead an enemy down a fake trail or make itself look more dangerous than it actually is. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer:
Which type of energy does a person use to pedal a bicycle? Answer: Ptolemy was an ancient astronomer who thought Earth was the center of the universe. When he made observations that were inconsistent with this, he proposed a phenomenon called "epicycles" to explain the observations. How was Ptolemy's process similar to the modern scientific process? Answer: What do scientists mean when they refer to a population? Answer: An owl hunts mice that live in a farmer's field. After the farmer gathers the crops, the mice have fewer places to hide. Which is most likely to happen after the crops are gathered? Answer: 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? From the passage,we know that _ . Answer:
In England,factory holidays come mostly in the period between mid-July and mid-August. State schools usually only have six weeks off, from about mid-July to the end of August. The coast is the most popular place for the English people to spend their holidays, but there are few seaside hotels. Food in British hotels and restaurants is cheap, but rooms are not. Few English people rent houses for their holidays, but one of their traditional ways of spending a summer is in a boardinghouse . Some boardinghouse keepers give all meals to their guests, others provide breakfast only. The British may refuse to change the times at which they take their holidays, but they have shown themselves very ready to go to new places. Every year, more Englishmen, women and children go to some parts of Europe. Many take their cars, crossing the channel by ship. When they get home again, they always talk about how they spend their holidays. In the passage, a boarding house is a place where _ . Answer: guests can be given with food and living rooms Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to deal with feelings instead of to satisfy hunger. We've all been there, finishing a whole bag of chips out of boredom or eating cookie after cookie while _ for a big test. But when done a lot -- especially without realizing it -- emotional eating can affect weight, health, and overall well-being. Not many of us make the connection between eating and our feelings. But understanding what drives emotional eating can help people take steps to change it. One of the biggest myths about emotional eating is that it's prompted by negative feelings. Yes, people often turn to food when they're stressed out, lonely, sad, anxious, or bored. But emotional eating can be linked to positive feelings too, like the romance of sharing dessert on Valentine's Day or the celebration of a holiday feast. Sometimes emotional eating is tied to major life events, like a death or a divorce. More often, though, it's the countless little daily stresses that cause someone to seek comfort or distraction in food. Emotional eating patterns can be learned: A child who is given candy after a big achievement may grow up using candy as a reward for a job well done. A kid who is given cookies as a way to stop crying may learn to link cookies with comfort. We're all emotional eaters to some extent. But for some people, emotional eating can be a real problem, causing serious weight gain or cycles of binging and purging. The trouble with emotional eating (apart from the health issues) is that once the pleasure of eating is gone, the feelings that cause it remain. And you often may feel worse about eating the amount or type of food you did. That's why it helps to know the differences between physical hunger and emotional hunger. Next time you reach for a snack, check in and see which type of hunger is driving it. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: what emotional eating is and its harm My name is Ben. I live with my brother, mother and father in a flat. There are 27 floors in the tall building. My apartment is on the top floor. My father has a car .He parks it in the basement of the building. Our apartment is not in the centre of the city. It is 4 kilometers from the centre. My father works in the city, so he goes to work by train every day. He doesn't often drive his car. He uses his car only at weekends. He takes us into the country or to the beach on Saturdays or Sundays. Our apartment has three bedrooms. There is a bedroom for my mother and father, one for me and one for my brother. There is also a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom in the apartment. We do not have a garden, but there is a small balcony. There are some plants on the balcony. Where does Ben's father work? _ Answer: In the city. A week ago, Columbus Middle School asked the parents of their school to choose a sport for their child to play. Here's some information about the sports. Sports 1: Basketball We expect that this will be the most popular of the four sports. So students should sign up as soon as possible. Students will take a private bus to and from Kwun Tong Sports Park. Each student will have to pay $ 10 each time for the cost of the bus. There will be four basketball courts available for our use with one teacher watching over each game. Sports 2: Gym We will use St. Peter's Park. There are two reasons for choosing this park. First, it is not very busy and crowded before 6:00 p.m. Second, it has lots of trees with plenty of shade. Students must bring along two bottles of water to prevent from being thirsty. All the activities here are free. And there will be a teacher on duty for each activity. Sports 3: Hiking Hiking will be at Kowloon Peak. The activity will start at 2:30 p.m. and finish 90 minutes later. There will be 15 students in each group. And three teachers will be with the students. This sport will cost $ 75 per hour. Students should take plenty of water and sunglasses. Sports 4: Swimming The Kowloon City Swimming Centre is a 10-minute walk from our school. Four teachers will go to the pool and watch the students from the poolside. We will only be able to use the pool for one hour (2: 45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.). Only students skillful at swimming can take up this activity. The pool will have two lifeguards on watch. Girls must wear swimming suits. The cost is $ 15 per visit. A student need to pay _ if he goes swimming three times a week.. Answer: $ 45 We people have homes.Animals have homes,too. Some animals live under the ground.The woodchuck lives in the holes under the ground.His home has two doors.If someone comes in through one door,he will go out through the other door.Some birds live in the holes in the trees.They come out for food during the day and go back to sleep at night.But most birds live iust in the trees.It's very interesting that turtles usually carry their homes on their backs.Bees always work hard to make their homes.Cats,dogs and some other pets live in people's homes.And we can see many kinds of animals in the zoo,so the zoo is also a big home for animals. The woodchucks live _ under the ground. Answer: in the holes
Liu Xu is a student from a middle school in Guangxi. Once he was riding home when a robber suddenly jumped out from the roadside. He pulled Liu Xu off his bike and rode away. Liu Xu was scared, but he didn't run after the robber. He found a telephone and called the police at 110. "Safety is the first important in such a situation," Liu said, remembering what his teacher had told him in his first aid class. "It is not safe to run after an adult who is stronger than you." Liu's school has compulsory first aid education. Students must take the class once a week. Teenage safety has become a serious issue recently. According to a survey, about 16,000 teenagers die in accidents in China every year. At Liu's school the first aid classes are to "teach students skills how to protect and save themselves in emergencies ". Students there often learn by role-playing in first aid classes. For example, one student performed as a stranger knocking at a door. Another one stood inside the door and asked several questions before letting the "stranger" in. Then they changed roles and did it again. They learned a lot while having fun at role-playing. The topics of the first aid classes are regularly updated . The students have learned skills for surviving in earthquakes. The teacher also taught the students not to go out at night. If someone tried to do bad things to them, they should quickly run into crowed place. What did Liu Xu remember when he met the robber? Winston Churchill was born into a famous family.His father was a successful politician.However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries. In October 1900, Churchill began his political career.For the next sixty years Churchill's work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father's had been.In 1939 German attacked Poland.Churchill prepared to fight.In 1940 he became the Prime Minister of English. France fell.The Germans fought their way through Western Europe.It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war.Was it now possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler? Churchill spoke: "I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work , tears and sweat... You ask what is our policy? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea , by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us.You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory." The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go to war with British.The British had not enough guns to go around.Churchill gave the answer: " We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.We shall fight on the coast ; we shall fight on the landing grounds; we shall fight in the fields and in the streets; we shall fight in the hills; we shall never give up." By his courage and hard work, Churchill _ his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler.Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II. Churchill died in 1965 and was given a state funeral.This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen. Which of the following is NOT true? Sixteen-year-old Maria was waiting in line at the airport in Santo Domingo. She was leaving her native country to join her sister in the United States. She spoke English very well. Though she was very happy she could go abroad, she was feeling sad at leaving her family and friends. As she was thinking all about this, she suddenly heard the airline employee asking her to pick up her luggage and put it on the scales . Maria pulled and pulled. The bag was too heavy and she just couldn't lift it up. The man behind her got very impatient. He, too, was waiting to check in his luggage. "What's wrong with this girl?" He said, "Why doesn't she hurry up?" He moved forward and placed his bag on the counter, hoping to check in first. He was in a hurry to get a good seat. Maria was very angry, but she was very polite. And in her best English she said, "Why are you so upset? There are enough seats for everyone on the plane. If you are in such a hurry, why can't you give me a hand with my luggage?" The man was surprised to hear Maria speak English. He quickly picked up her luggage and stepped back. Everyone was looking at him with disapproval. Why are you so upset? Maria said to the man. She wanted to tell him that he should not be _ . Reading to oneself is modern activity which was almost unknown to the learned in the early days of the history, while during the fifteenth century the term "reading" undoubtedly meant reading aloud. Only during the nineteenth century did silent reading become popular. One should be careful, however, of supposing that silent reading came about simply because reading aloud is distraction to others. Examination of reasons connected with the historical development of silent reading shows that it became the usual mode of reading for most adult reading tasks mainly because the tasks themselves changed in character. The last century saw a gradual increase in literacy and thus in the number of readers. As readers increased, so the number of listeners dropped, and thus there was some reduction in the need to read aloud. As reading for the benefit of listeners grew less common, so came the popularity of reading as a private activity in such public places as libraries, trains and offices, where reading aloud would disturb other readers in a way. Towards the end of the century there was still heated argument over whether books should be used for information or treated respectfully, and over whether the reading of material such as newspapers was in some way mentally weakening. Indeed this argument remains with us still in education. However, whatever its advantages, the old shared literacy culture had gone and was replaced by the printed mass media on the one hand and by books and magazines for a specialized readership on the other. By the end of the century students were being advised to have some new ideas of books and to use skill in reading them which were not proper, if not impossible, for the oral reader. The social, cultural, and technological developments in the century had greatly changed what the term "reading" referred to. Educations are still arguing about _ . A young woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order", she asked her pastor to come to her house to discuss her final wishes. With everything in order, the pastor was ready to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "What's that?" asked the pastor. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor. The young woman explained, "In all my years of going to church meetings and dinners, I remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would always lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming, like chocolate cake or apple pie,some dessert like that. Something wonderful! I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork so that when they ask you why I have a fork, you can tell them: 'Keep your fork--the best is yet to come.'" The pastor hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "Why does she have a fork?" And over and over again he smiled. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it reminded you of this young woman gently. Send the message to everyone you consider a friend even if it means sending it back to the person who sent it to you. And, keep your fork!! In the author's opinion, the woman in this passage is _ .
My name is David. I'm 23and I'm a middle school teacher. I go to the school at 7:30 in the morning. I like sports. I play basketball every day. My name is Jake Smith. I'm in China with my kids . I have a daughter and a son. My daughter Lisa is in Huangzhou Middle School. She likes yellow and white. My son Eric is only 6, but he can play ping--pong. I'm Mary. I'm 10. My brother Nick is 11. He likes to play tennis after school. I have a nice room. It is tidy. But my brother's room is not the same. His books are always everywhere. Jake has _ kid(s). Which type of scientist would study the relationship between simple machines and energy? Look at the picture. Who is the girl? She is my friend. Her name is Alice Black. She is an English girl. Alice has a big family. Her grandparents have two daughters and one son -- her father. Alice lives with her grandparents, parents, two brothers and one sister. Alice has two dogs -- Bobby and Tony. Bobby is black and Tony is white. Alice likes them very much. Alice is a middle school student. She has a good friend at school. Her name is Helen. They are cousins, too. them" _ ". The following are four books that will help you change your mind and change your life. 1) You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay:A groundbreaking book when it was released in 1982.It is still the book that I turn to when I have physical unrest that requires deeper understanding.Louise Hay is the pioneer in looking at the connection between the physical unrest that we have in our body and the emotional connection.At the time that she wrote the book many people scoffed at this idea,but it is now widely accepted and millions of people refer to it on a daily basis. 2) The Four Agreements,Don Miguel Ruiz:Maintaining a sense of reliability and faith is developed through understanding according to The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz written in 1997.We are faced with rules and regulations:don't do this,don't do that,watch what you are doing,be kind,loyal,faithful, etc.The four agreements represent a simple system of maintaining your own inner authority while practicing being a true person with other people. 3) Slowing Down to the Speed of Life,Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey:This is a new one in my "bedside collection" and one that has made the biggest impact on me 1ately.Written in 1997, it is even more relevant today than it was when it was written.The idea of "slowing down'' to get there faster was extremely hard for me to understand.As a human species we seem to enjoy moving fast and expecting quick results,especially from ourselves,I should be successful now in contrast to ''in the fullness of time" when I am ready. 4) The Game of Life and How to Play it,Florence Scovel-Shinn:A classic book that was first published in 1925 and remains one of my favorite books of all time.Scovel-Shinn understood the power of our words to express either our deepest desires or our most horrible nightmares. So where does this leave you? The way I see it is if you want to "Heal Your Life" then you had better learn how to play "The Game of Life" by learning how to "Slow Down to the Speed of Life" and keep the "Four Agreements",the Solutions may not be easy to do but it is simple.In fact, most solutions are pretty simple,and it is us humans that want to complicate it. Which of the following books did the author read most recently? Millions of families around the world have been given a helping hand out of poverty by micro-credits. These very small loans , usually less than US$200, have enabled the very poorest people to set up or expand businesses and become self-sufficient. The micro-credit movement started with Professor Muhammad Yunus, who founded the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Professor Yunus, who won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, used his own money to set up a bank to benefit the poorest people in Bangladesh--families living on less than US$1 a day. There are now hundreds of organizations around the world following his blueprint to help people escape from poverty. So how does the system work? Local microfinance institutions (MFIs) make contact with families and offer loans, usually to women, to enable them to start or expand a business. These are very poor people who would not normally be able to get credit, but as no collateral is required they can get micro-credits. They pay back the loan on a weekly basis, over six months to a year. A very important aspect to the success of the micro-credit system is that receivers get local support. The MFIs educate local communities about ways to improve their lives, and offer practical support as well as collecting weekly loans payments. They encourage people to help each other, so that the whole community can pull itself out of poverty. MFIs may also help with literacy and health problems. Micro-credits are mainly given to women. Experience has shown that women are more motivated to improve their children's lives and will spend the money they make on better nutrition and schooling for their children. This may be the first chance they've had to contribute financially to the family, and their status in the home and the local community is raised. The micro-credit system is not charity. The payments are fixed-term loans and interest is charged. The costs of making such small loans, collecting them and giving personal support are high. This is shown in the interest rates, which range from 15 to 35 percent. Despite this, the repayment rate is very high, between 95 and 98 per cent, showing that micro-credit clients really value this opportunity to leave poverty behind. Bank loans are mainly made to women because _ .
Question: City traffic is a great problem. More cars are produced every year and the streets are getting more and more crowded. So during "rush hours", when people are going to or from their work, traffic is brought to a standstill. It has been suggested that commuters--the people who travel to work every day from outside the city--should share their cars and give each other lifts. So each car would carry four or five people instead of only one. It is an excellent idea., however, so far nobody has been able to think of a way to make people do so. To discourage motorists from leaving their cars in the streets all day, parking meters are used. When you park at a meter, you must put a coin in the slot . This pays for a certain amount of time. The meter records this and it shows when the time that you have paid for is finished. If the car is still there then, you have to pay a fine. Traffic wardens look after the meters. They walk around the streets and check that every meter shows that money has been paid for the car parked there. If a meter shows 'TIME EXPIRED', the motorist who has left his car there is fined. Of course, the traffic warden can not wait for the owner of the car to return. He carries many printed forms, and on one of these he writes down all the details, such as the number of the car, where it is parked, how much the driver must pay and where he must send the money. He leaves this form on the car, where the driver will be able to see it easily; he usually pushes it under one of the windscreen wipers so that it will not be blown away. And in case it rains before the motorist returns, the form is put in a little plastic envelope to protect it. When the driver comes back, he gets an unpleasant surprise, but it is his own fault for leaving his car too long at parking meter. The suggestion that commuters should share their cars is_. A. impossible to be accepted B. difficult to be put into practice C. liked by nobody D. not yet necessary to be put into practice Answer: B. difficult to be put into practice Question: While only about 200 astronauts have had the excitement of looking down at Earth and commanding systems on the International Space Station, actually thousands of everyday middleschool students have experienced by Middle School Students, or EarthKAM, a camera system. EarthKAM is an educational activity and outreach investigation that also results in remote Earth sensing and observation. Using the Internet, the students control a special digital camera fixed aboard the space station, enabling them to photograph the Earth's coastlines, mountain ranges and other geographic items of interest from the unique advantage point of space. While EarthKAM offers a powerful way for students to investigate Earth from the unique perspective of space, it is also inspiring the next generation of flight controllers for space programs--involving university students to control and operate the camera system and related activities from the ground. In the interview, Brion Au, one of the investigation developers at NASA's Johnson Space Centre, said,"EarthKAM is a payload by students, for students. They are in charge. This system provides a viewpoint that the astronauts have...it's just aweinspiring!"So far, students have captured more than 40,000 photos of the Earth from the space station as it orbited the Earth once every 90 minutes, traveling at 17,500 miles an hour. The team at EarthKAM posts these photographs online for the public and participating classrooms around the world to view. Au explains that this education investigation is inspiring students to explore the world by examining Earth, while promoting social studies, art, geography, science, technology, and math, among other important lessons involving research and teamwork. EarthKAM was started by Dr. Sally Ride, originally flying on the shuttles. The camera is located in the window Observational Research Facility, also known as the WORF, one of many the station's research facilities. What doesn't belong to the next generation of flight controllers for space programs? A. University students' controlling the camera system. B. University students' operating the camera system. C. University students' related activities from the ground. D. University students' investigating Earth from space. Answer: D. University students' investigating Earth from space. Question: Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds along Bay Area freeways are just too bright and too distracting. And they may be right. A Swedish study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention concludes that digital billboards hold the gazes of drivers longer than two seconds. Previous studies have shown that anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road for that length of time increases the risks of a crash. "This study proves what is common sense when it comes to digital billboards," says Mary Tracy, president of Scenic America, a national nonprofit group that seeks to limit billboards. "Bright, constantly changing signs on the sides of roads are meant to attract and keep the attention of drivers, and this study confirms that this is exactly what they do." The Federal Highway Administration allowed digital signs for the first time in 2007 after concluding they did not pose a significant danger. But a follow-up report is pending and could be released this year. California has no law banning the billboards, and is one of 39 states that allows them. "We would need to review more research, so it's too early to call for a ban," says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "There is a role for digital messaging, such as conveying urgent information and other safety messages." There are more than 1,800 digital billboards nationwide, more than double the number five years ago. While no data indicate an increase in accidents due to the Bay Area signs, many drivers are opposed to them. "Monstrosities" is what Merlin Dorfman of San Jose calls them, while insurance agent David Whitlock says he has found them a major distraction. "They're much too bright at night," he says. "When the advertisement switches from a bright color to a darker one, your eyes cannot adjust fast enough, and you end up losing sight of the roadway." Officials with sign companies could not be reached for comment, but Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, told USA Today last year that "there's no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction." Which of the following is TRUE? A. The brightness of digital billboards is harmful to people's eyes. B. The Federal Highway Administration banned digital signs in 2013. C. There is evidence indicating an increase in accidents duo to digital billboards. D. Digital billboards are used to convey messages. Answer: D. Digital billboards are used to convey messages. Question: I always feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations. When my three children were young, most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a battlefield. It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn't make it through a day without making his sisters, Alex 11 and Taryn 9, angry. My husband and I tried to be understanding the boy at such an age. We reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how he was hurting our family. His answer was "I say it because it's true." I even tried telling the girls to fight back. Bad idea. Now I had three children at war. Whatever I said to them, they paid no attention. When there was no way out, I told everything to my sister in an e-mail. She replied, "Don't e-mail me. E-mail him." Our son was online every day, mailing and talking with his friends. Maybe he would actually hear me this way. I didn't say anything different, but e-mail just took the tension away. There'd be no shouting or door banging. Zack wouldn't feel under attack. Zack didn't reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four small words. I smiled when I read them, "You're right. I'm sorry." The children still fought, of course, but Zack changed. Best of all, I now have a better way to talk with not one but three of them. I like it that they don't _ as much as they used to. They like not having to listen to me shouting to them. Or as Alex says, "You're so much nicer online." All I know is that the house is quiet. But we're talking. What was the trouble before the online talk in the family? A. The writer failed to understand her daughters. B. The children couldn't get along peacefully. C. The family found it difficult to keep the house clean. D. The parents were not willing to talk with their children. Answer: B. The children couldn't get along peacefully. Question: Even before they start school, many young girls worry that they are fat. But a new study suggests watching a movie starring astereotypically thin and beautiful princess may not increase children's anxieties. Nearly half of the 3 to 6 year old girls in a study by Professor Stacey Tantleff-Dunn and doctoral student Sharon Hayes said they worry about being fat. About one-third would change a physical feature, such as their weight or hair color. The number of girls worried about being fat at such a young age concerns Tantleff-Dunn because of the potential effects later in life. Studies have shown young girls worried about their body image are more likely to suffer from eating disorders when they are older. The encouraging news for parents is that taking their young daughters to see the new Disney film "The Princess and the Frog" isn't likely to influence how they see their bodies. "The media have a great effect on how young girls see their bodies. That's why it's important for parents to use movies such as 'The Princess and the Frog,' to start conversations with their children about weight, skin color and their views of beauty. They can explain that princesses' tiny waists are not realistic for girls and that children don't need Cinderella's golden hair or Snow White'sporcelain skin to look good," Tantleff-Dunn said. "We need to help our children challenge the images of beauty, particularly thinness, that they see and idolize, and encourage them to question how much appearance should be part of their self-worth," said Tantleff-Dunn. "We should help them build a positive self-image with an appreciation for many different types of body features." And as their children's most important role models, parents also should avoid criticizing their own bodies. Tantleff-Dunn worries that young girls caring too much about their appearance may _ . A. have diet trouble in the future B. cause trouble when they are older C. have mental problems later in life D. have difficulty in communication Answer: A. have diet trouble in the future
(NEW YORK)---Scientists have discovered small signs of awareness in some vegetative brain injury patients and have even communicated with one of them---findings that are beneficial to how to assess and care for such people. The new research suggests that standard tests may ignore patients who have some consciousness, and that someday some kind of communication may be possible. In the strongest example, a 29-year-old patient was able to answer yes-or-no questions by picturing specific scenes the doctors asked him to imagine. "We were stunned when this happened," said one study author, Martin Monti of the Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge. "I find it really amazing. This was a patient who was believed to be vegetative for five years." Ever since a research paper four years ago described obvious signs of awareness in a vegetative patient, families of patients have been demanding brain scans, said Dr. James Bernat, a spokesman for the American Academy for Neurology. But experts said more study is needed before the specialized brain scans could be used in medical treatment. "It's still a research tool," Bernat said. Experts also pointed out that only a few tested patients showed evidence of awareness. And they said it is not clear what degree of consciousness and mental abilities the signs imply. They also noted that the positive signals appeared only in people with traumatic brain injury---not in patients whose brains had been lacking in oxygen, as can happen when the heart stops. The new study used brain scanning called functional MRI, for 23 patients in a vegetative state and 31 that are minimally conscious. Patients are said to be in a vegetative state if they are tested and found unable to do such things as move on command or follow a moving object with their eyes. Minimally conscious patients show signs of awareness, but they are minimal and discontinuous. One is considered vegetative if _ . A. his eyes can't follow a moving thing B. his brain only has a little oxygen C. he has a traumatic brain injury D. his heart stops beating Answer: A Amos Dudley, a 24-year-old boy who studies digital design at New Jersey University of Technology, felt ashamed about his teeth. But being a student, Dudley didn't have the money to get braces . So, he decided to 3-D print his own and marked down the DIY project in a recent blog post. His braces totaled less than $60, and after wearing them for 16 weeks, his teeth are also getting straighter. Months ago, he mentioned on his blog that he avoided smiling for a while because he was unhappy with his teeth. However, clear braces can get pricey, costing up to $8,000. But after studying some images of these expensive clear braces, something comes up on him--they looked like that one which can come from a 3-D printer. So he decided to hit up his school's 3-D printing equipment and scanned and printed models of his teeth. He then made non-harmful plastic molds around them to make 12 sets of braces. Dudley, who does not recommend attempting any of this at home said that he didn't ask a dentist for his project. But the student did get information from journal articles and textbooks. And though this was a perfectly friendly choice to buy braces. He didn't accept the project just to save money--he was also up for the challenge. "When I realized that I could do something that was a little bit special, while proving my skills as a designer and a maker, and fixing something that was making me self-conscious for actually free, I felt it was more than worth the risk." he said. Why did Dudley choose a 3-D printer braces over-buying them? A. He didn't have enough money. B. He felt ashamed about his teeth. C. He studies digital design at school. D. He wanted to be a famous person. Answer: A "There's going to be one less boy in the room!" The words rang in my ears as the criminal pointed his gun against my head. The floodgates opened and tears ran down my face. No one in the courtroom moved. Everyone was held silent with fear. A few seconds passed and the criminal put down his gun, turning his back on me. "Cut!" the director shouted with joy. One take! We had done the scene in just one take. Then all the people who acted in the film went off for lunch. I got my food and joined them, and the criminal, who had moments before been so scary, took his seat beside me and told us many funny jokes. A table of adults surrounded me, but I was never uncomfortable talking with strangers. I worked with these people and they worked with me. We talked, we laughed, we got to know each other and sometimes we became friends. At the end of the day we all went our separate ways, but we had been drawn close by working together to make this play. After the show was broadcast, my friends asked if I had been scared of the criminal. At first this sounded funny. He was, after all, a kind and intelligent man. Then I realized that they didn't see that side of him. Television and films are about creating an alternate life that appears real even if for a while. We had been successful in doing that. Even my friends, who knew the real me, were drawn in the make-believe world of our story. Acting has helped me to feel comfortable in my own skin and in communicating with others. I feel relaxed during interviews and when leadership opportunities come. Change is not threatening to me, and I am grateful for the chance to learn and to grow in knowledge and experience in my life. In the film, what was the manner of the author's character when facing the criminal? A. Brave and calm. B. Anxious and terrified. C. Shy and quiet. D. Heroic and fearless. Answer: B Nowadays, people have a heated discussion on whether the pressure on international sports players kills the essence of sport --the pursuit of 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. The individual representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself; he has to think only about winning. He is responsible for the entire nation's hopes, dreams and reputation. A good example is the football Word Cup. Football is the world's most important sport. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit 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 _ about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1966. 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 sport? Certainly not! Do the Argentineans really believe that because eleven of their men proved the most skillful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others? Not really, But it's nice to know that you won and that in one way at least your country is the best. According to the passage, if a sportsman only thinks about winning, he will _ . . A. fail to succeed B. be successful C. lose enjoyment D. be unreasonable Answer: C This is a picture of Mr. Li's family. The man in the middle is Mr. Li. The woman is Mrs. Li's wife. They have two sons. The child behind Mr. Li is Li Lei. He's thirteen. The boy in front of Mrs. Li is Li Ming. He is seven. Li Lei and Li Ming are in the same school, but not in the same grade. Li Lei is in Grade Two. Li Ming is in Grade One. They are good students. Mr. and Mrs. Li have _ . A. one boy, one girl B. two sons C. two girls D. one boy Answer: B
Gary Locke, 61, who comes from a Chinese background and even looks Chinese, become the new US ambassador to China. "I can think of nobody who is more qualified than Gary Locke." President Obama said. Locke's new position is clearly a sign that US President is trying to improve relations with China. When he made his first speech to the Chinese press in Beijing, Locke said, " I think, being a Chinese-American, I have a greater understanding of the US government." Before becoming ambassador to China, Locke was US secretary of commerce . This means he has plenty of trade experience, which will be useful in building economic links between the two countries. Locke's grandfather went to the United States over a century ago to work as a houseboy for a family in Washington State in exchange for English lessons. His father moved to US as a teenager. "I'm going back to the birthplace of my grandfather, my father and my mom, and I'll be doing so as a devoted diplomat for America, the country where I was born and raised," Locke said. ,A.B.C.D . (4;1.5,6) We learn form the text that Locke's father _ was born in China High school graduation is worth celebrating. It marks a big change in the lives of young adults. However, it ought to mean even more. It ought to mean that the graduate is ready for college or career. In a report issued last year, we found that almost half of recent Illinois high school graduates required remedial courses upon enrolling a community college. These courses require time and money to complete, yet offer no credits toward a degree. Too often, students never get through those remedial courses and end up dropping out of college. Why is the remediation rate so high? A large part of the reason is that we have not set high enough standards for what our students need to learn from kindergarten to high school. They simply aren't equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. The same is true for careers. In Illinois, good jobs continue to go vacant even while we are trying hard to go through tough economic times. This is due largely to the mismatch between the skills and knowledge we provide our students with and what employers in a modern economy need workers to know. The good news is that in Illinois we have a plan to help get our students ready for life in the real world. We have already taken an important first step by becoming one of the 45 states to adopt the Common Core State Standards and have begun introducing them to classrooms this year. The new standards provide fewer, clearer and higher benchmarks for academic progress. They focus on deeper knowledge required at each grade level, give teachers the opportunity to explore topics fully and ensure students can apply what they've learned. Research shows that when expectations are raised, students rise to meet them. Adapting to higher standards and raising expectations may prove challenging, but they are the steps we must take so that our students are successful in high school and prepared for college and careers. Readiness is worth a celebration. Which of the following statements about the Common Core State Standards is TRUE? They benefit teachers as well as students. Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware of its symptoms. Although considered a rare form of cancer, each year the number of cases grows. With the prevalence of this disease on the rise, it is critical to understand why and how Mesothelioma develops and what courses of action can be taken in the event of diagnosis. The following is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that will provide you with some information on Mesothelioma, and the legal issues surrounding it. What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor found in the mesothelial cells of an organ. The organs where this form of cancer is most commonly found are the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Pleural Mesothelioma is cancer of the lung lining(,)and is the most common form of Mesothelioma. What causes Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos . Asbestos is often found in building materials used before the mid 1970's. In addition, materials such as pipes, boiler insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles may contain asbestos. How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma? Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is in accordance with the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. Also, your health is at risk if your exposure to asbestos is intense. It should be noted that Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. This means that you may develop the disease long after your exposure to asbestos. On average, people tend to develop Mesothelioma somewhere between 35 and 40 years after exposure. How quickly does Mesothelioma progress? The onset of Mesothelioma is quite slow. Patients will begin to experience symptoms such as lower back pain and chest pain. These symptoms may also be accompanied by weight loss, fever and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, once Mesothelioma develops, it quickly becomes aggressive and treatment must be sought immediately. Can Mesothelioma be treated? Doctors are able to use several traditional methods of cancer treatment for Mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Like all forms of cancer, detecting the disease at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the patient's chances for survival. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately. What legal courses of action can be taken? Anyone suffering from Mesothelioma is entitled to compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Additionally, if you are the spouse or child of someone who has died from Mesothelioma, you are entitled to file a claim and seek compensation. We can learn from the text that _ . Asbestos is to blame for Mesothelioma. MONTREAL--He may be the world's richest man, but that didn't prevent Bill Gates from falling for an April Fool's day joke by two Quebec radio comics pretending to be Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Montreal French-language station CKMF--FM said last Wednesday that staffers Marcantoine Audet and Sebastien Trudel had a 10-minute telephone chat with Microsoft Corp boss Gates on April 1. The broadcast was aired on their nightly show last Tuesday and repeated last Wednesday. "We were happy. We had been calling Microsoft persistently for four weeks," Trudel said. Trudel said he and his colleague had already fooled Canadian pop singer Celine Dion and Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve on their show. "This time, we wanted to give ourselves a challenge with somebody more difficult to reach," Ttudel said. He said he was surprised that Gates's assistants did not check to see if it was really the prime minister's office on the line. Trudel said they imitated Chretien's heavily accented English, talking about the economy, asking about Microsoft's Windows operating system and inviting the multibillionaire to visit a well-known Montreal strip joint . The radio host said that Gates was not amused by the fake interview. "He did not seem angry but he did not find it so funny," the comic said. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage? Gates 'April Fooled' This is the SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, I'm Barbara Klein. Animal experts say one of the world's most beautiful and rare kinds of big cat is close to disappearing from the wild. A study earlier this year found that about thirty Amur leopards still live free. The cats are also called Far Eastern leopards. Recently, their number has been reduced by one, Some person shot a female Amur, then beat her to death. The animal's body was discovered last month in the Barsovy National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Russia. An official of the World Wildlife Fund, Darron, said this was the third such killing in the area in the past fives years. Mr, Collins said the death of even one adult female is a huge loss for the endangered cat, He noted that the killing reduces the possibility for cubs or young. It is not clear how many Amur leopards still live free. One population count was performed in February and March. Wildlife expert Dmitry Pikuuov led this study. It found evidence of seven to nine males. The study identified three to seven females without cubs, Four leopards were identified as females with cubs. In all, five or six cubs were recorded, Six to eight animals could not be identified. Most of the land where the Amur leopard once lived was in China.New roads and climate change there threatened the animals. So did hunters who kill big cats for their body parts. Mr. Pikuuov says adult Amurs need about five hundred square kilometers with good forests to survive. He said they also need a large and continuing supply of animals like deer for food. He believes the answer to saving the Amur leopard is for governments to provide protected spaces for wildlife. This passage is probably from _ . a TV report
There are four seasons in a year. They are spring, summer. autumn and winter. Spring is a beautiful season. In spring, the trees turn green and the flowers come out. Everything looks new. We can have a trip in spring. Summer is a happy season. In summer, we can swim and eat lots of ice cream. Autumn is a season. In autumn, some leaves on the trees turn yellow or red. Winter is a cold season. In some places, it snows and everything looks white. The children like playing with snow. Winter is my favourite season. I like snow very much. In _ , the trees turn green. Answer: Ji Xianlin, a famous paleographer , historian, and writer, was born in 1911. In 1930, Ji was admitted to Tsinghua University as a major in Western literature. In 1935, he went to Germany as an exchange student to study ancient languages, receiving his PhD degree in 1941. Ji returned to China in 1946, and in the autumn of the same year, became a professor in Peking University. Ji Xianlin believes, "Cultural exchange is the main drive for humankind's progress. Only by learning from each other's strong points to make up for shortcomings can people constantly progress, the ultimate _ of which is to achieve a kind of Great Harmony. " Over the past ten years, Ji has actively participated in discussions on the cultural problems between the East and the West, based on the same ideology. According to him, human culture is divided into four parts: Chinese culture, Indian culture, Arabic-Islamic culture and European-American culture, with the former three making up the Eastern cultural system and the last the Western one. With his achievements in the history of Sino-Indian cultural relations, Buddhism history, Indian literature, and comparative literature, Ji Xianlin is known as a master of Eastern studies both at home and abroad. Which of the following is different from the others according to Ji Xianlin? Answer: When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter , and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him. Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was "No." Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said there weren't any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. He was told everyone knew that even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn't get his idea accepted. Paul later got married and had some kids. But, his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting. And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against _ . Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing. Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow he made to himself as a child. Why did Paul go to college to study the science of plants? Answer: Drawing is a universal language. It was probably our first form of self-expression when we were babies: long before we start writing, we're painting and scribbling , both in order to make sense of the world and because we enjoy it. In the history of human culture, too, painting and image making came before writing or even simple mathematics: 30,000 years ago compared to 5,000. Yet after we leave school most of us never pick up a pencil again--willingly. If asked to draw something, most adults and many older children will shake their heads and say, " Not me! I can't draw. I'm hopeless at it." When you think about it, this is very strange. Drawing involves coordinating the hand and the eye with the pencil. It's a basic skill, no more difficult to learn than other amazing things that humans do, such as hitting a tennis ball over the net or writing our own name. there's no special talent involved. Anybody who can learn to write can learn to draw. So, there you are - no excuse not to get out your pencil, pencil sharpener and rubber and take part in the Big Draw, a nationwide series of free art events taking place all over Britain next October. Everyone's welcome: all you need is a willingness to express yourself through drawing. The Big Draw, now in its fifth year, has already achieved two world records: one for the longest drawing in the world (1km) and the other for the greatest number of people drawing at the same time (7,000). This year, there will be an attempt to create a new Guinness World Record for the longest visitors'book: people will be invited to leave their name and a drawing on a three-kilometer piece of paper. The theme this year is Inside\Outside--People, Structure( ) and Spaces, and other events planned include drawing on a three-kilometer piece of paper. The Big Draw is not about turning the nation into artists, it is about helping people to acquire this universal language of communication. Its greatest achievement next October will be to bring hundreds of thousands of people together to look, imagine, draw and have fun. What can we learn about drawing from the text? Answer: When I was seven years old, my family made me an ant farm. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box. Then we waited for the ants to arrive. After the ants were in the glass farm, they started to make tunnels . I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. Each had its own job. On the fifth day a tragedy happened. I put my face so close to the glass farm that I knocked it over. All the tunnels fell down. Although the ants remained alive after their earthquake, one by one began to die. I was scared as I watched them give up building their tunnels to carry the bodies to a corner the farm. My mother said that the ants were dying of sadness. They simply could not stand that their tunnels were gone. Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more. Over the years, I came to realize the importance of teamwork. Working together, the ants were able to make an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, we cannot give up when we are sad. We have to realize that if a tunnel is gone, we must build another. Giving up, I say, is not a good choice. What is the best title for the passage? Answer:
Question: High-quality customer service is preached by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done. Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store , but instead will warn their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers and anyone who will listen. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints. "Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers," said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group. "The store loses the customer, but _ ." The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude sales people. During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting local police to work as parking attendants to direct customers to empty parking spaces. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store display, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, sales people should be skillful and polite with angry customers. "Retailers who're enthusiastic and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren't so friendly." said Professor Stephen Hoch. "Maybe something as a greeter at the store entrance would help." Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filling complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong. What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers? A. Hiring of efficient employees. B. Manners of the salespeople. C. Huge supply of goods for sale. D. Design of the store display. Answer: B. Manners of the salespeople. Question: Dec. 24, 1848 Dear Johnston, Your request for eighty dollars, I do not think it best to satisfy now. At the various times when I have helped you a little, you have said to me, "We can get along very well again," but in a very short time I find you in the same difficulty again. Now this can only happen by some fault in your behavior. What that fault is, I think I know. You are not lazy, and still you are an idler . I doubt whether since I saw you, you have done a good whole day's work, in any other day. You do not very much dislike to work, and still you do not work much, merely because it does not seem to you that you could get much for it. This habit of uselessly wasting time is the whole difficulty; it is vastly important to you, and still more so to your children, that you should break this habit. It is more important to them, because they have longer to live, and can keep out of an idle habit before they are in it, easier than they can get out after they are in. You are now in need of some ready money; and what I suggest is, that you shall go to work hard, for somebody who will give you money for it. Let father and your boys take charge of your things at home-prepare for a crop, and make the crop, and you go to work for the best money wages, or to pay back any debt you owe. And to secure you a fair reward for your labor, I now promise you that for every dollar you will, between this and the first of May, get for your own labor, I will then give you one other dollar. By this, if you hire yourself at ten dollars a month, from me you will get ten more, making twenty dollars a month for your work. Now if you will do this, you will soon be out of debt, and what is better, you will have a habit that will keep you from getting in debt again. But if I should now clear you out, next year you will be just as deep in as ever. You say you would almost give your place in Heaven for $ 70 or $80. Then you value your place in Heaven cheaply, for I am sure you can with the offer I make you get the seventy or eighty dollars for four or five months' work. You say if I furnish you the money you will deed me the land, and if you don't pay the money back, you will deliver possession-Nonsense! If you can't now live with the land, how will you then live without it? You have always been kind to me, and I do not now mean to be unkind to you. On the contrary, if you will but follow my advice, you will find it worth more than eight time eighty dollars to you. Affectionately Your brother A. Lincoln In the letter Lincoln suggested that Johnston should _ . A. keep himself from getting into trouble B. go to work hard for somebody C. manage well the things at home D. keep the children out of the idle habit Answer: D. keep the children out of the idle habit Question: "I'm seventy years old," says the gray-haired lady proudly to the entertainer at her Community Club dinner. "Did you hear that, everyone?" says the entertainer. "This lovely lady is just seventy years young! And she doesn't look a day over fifty. " He has been careful not to use the word "old". In a society where youth is so admired, old age is often seen as something sad, something to fight against. Americans prefer not to say "old" people. They use the expression "senior citizens". They do not talk about "old people's" homes, but "retirement" homes. In fact, the entertainer is not so wrong. Seventy is not very old these days. People in theprefix = st1 /USare living longer and longer. In1980, 12 percent of Americans were over sixty-five years old. By 2030, 21 percent will be over sixty-five. One reason for this is that families are getting smaller. The average couple now has only 1. 8 children. At the same time, improved medical care means that people are living longer. This change in the age of Americans is going to have serious results. For one thing, medical costs are rising. The government is unable to pay the elderly people's medical bills that have gone up very much. Some old people have to leave hospital "sicker and quicker" than they should, before they are really better. More fortunate senior citizens, though, who still have good health, want new laws to be passed to allow them to stay at work. In the past, the retirement age was sixty-five, but that is changing now. Older people are stronger and more energetic than ever before. Many of them refuse to stop working just because they have reached a certain age. There is a change, too, in the way in which elderly people see themselves. _ are no longer happy to accept the gray hair, bald heads, and boring clothes of their own parents. They like to wear younger-looking clothes and bright makeup . American women spend millions of dollars a year on operations to lift their faces and make those ugly wrinkles disappear. Men are prepared to spend even more on operations to plant new hair on their bald spots. It's worth any money to look younger. In America people try to avoid using the word "old" because _ A. the old age is seen as something that isn't admired B. it is now believed to bring bad luck to elderly people C. the standard of getting old has changed D. the change in the age has caused a healthy problem Answer: A. the old age is seen as something that isn't admired Question: Peng Liyuan, China's first lady, who has accompanied her husband to the United States, is no stranger to being in the spotlight. She has been praised by both mainland and international media for her sense of fashion on earlier state visits. Following her arrival in the U.S., she is set for a much-anticipated fashion face-off with her fellow, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama later this week. Here we take a look at four key differences between the two fashion icons. 1 Backgrounds Peng Liyuan Peng, a Yuncheng county, Shandong native, joined the People's Liberation Army when she was 18. She was one of the first people on the mainland to obtain a master's degree in ethnic music at the China Conservatory of Music. Her vocal talents made her a superstar as an army soprano , and she has given many singing performances at home and abroad. Michelle Obama Michelle grew up with her older brother, Craig, in Chicago. Her father was a water plant operator, and her mother was a full-time housewife until her daughter went to high school. She went to state school, and later graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She then attended Harvard Law School in 1988, where she earned a doctorate in law. 2 Professions Peng Liyuan Aside from being the first lady of China and a singer, Peng is also the president of the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Art College. She has since stepped down from public performances, but continues with her charity work. Michelle Obama After working as a lawyer, Michelle began to work in public service and was the associate dean at the University of Chicago. She then became vice-president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center before her husband's inauguration. 3 Campaigns Peng Liyuan The World Health Organization appointed Peng as a goodwill ambassador in its campaign against tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in 2012. In 2014, UNESCO named her as a special envoy to promote education for girls and women. She has also joined Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, in promoting World No Tobacco Day. Michelle Obama Michelle launched the"Let's Move!"campaign in 2010 to fight against childhood obesity. She has raised awareness of the need for higher education, and also spoken about empowering young women worldwide through a government initiative called"Let Girls Learn". 4 Styles Peng Liyuan China's first lady tends to wear tailored clothing, with clean lines on formal occasions. Internet users have praised her"elegant ensemble"and graceful outfits. The 54-year-old supports home-grown Chinese designers, such as Ma Ke, one of the founders of EXCEPTION de Mixmind, a largely unknown fashion brand until she sparked global headlines by wearing a fancy black overcoat and handbag on her first trip with Xi to Moscow in 2013. Michelle Obama Michelle is more experimental with her style -- her clothes range from casual dresses to off-the-shoulder ball gowns, and tailored trouser suits. The 52-year-old wears clothing mostly made by American designers, which include more affordable fashion retailers, such as J. Crew and Target, and the famous designer Alexander McQueen. According to the passage we know Peng Liyuan . A. contributes much to social activities B. pays more attention to girls' education C. cares more about children's health than Michelle D. engaged in the same career with Michelle before Answer: A. contributes much to social activities Question: Using mirrors to focus collected light from heavenly bodies allows A. detailed observation B. foregone conclusions C. radiation experiments D. celestial music Answer: A. detailed observation
Tech-Camp No.6 Devon Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong a technology day camp for students 12-17 About Tech-Camp Tech-Camp is a day camp with a focus on computers and electronics technology. We offer 2-week summer programmes for students of 12 to 17 years of age. We have a computer lab with the latest and fastest equipment, an electronics lab, and a video production studio. Our staff are special, too. They are experts in computers and electronics, of course, but they are also people who care about children and enjoy working with them. The benefits of Tech-Camp In all of our programmes, we show students how to work in teams and how to solve problems by themselves. We encourage them to think creatively. What students will do at Tech-Camp Each day Tech-camp is filled with useful, interesting and challenging activities. For example, in the Computer Programme, students learn the basic computer programming, and how to use the Internet. In the Tech-Camp Programme, they make radio-controlled model cars and produce their own short videos. Programme Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Computer Programme 15 June-26 June 15 June-26 June 15 June-26 June High-tech Programme 29 June-10 July 27 July-7 August 15 June-26 June Fee: HK $2,000 per student (10% discount available for groups of 10 or more students.) For more information about Tech-Camp, please contact Director of Summer Programmes, Ms Julia Brown, by phone, fax or e-mail. Telephone: 26548898 Fax: 26948850 E-mail: juliab@techcamp.com.hk From the brochure we can infer that _ . A. the Camp offers students accommodation during their two-week stay at the Camp B. high school teachers are in charge of the Tech-Camp all the time C. students can learn about the hi-tech through lectures given by the experts D. students can learn how to think and solve problems creatively and learn teamwork Answer: D. students can learn how to think and solve problems creatively and learn teamwork Films in Beijing Theater This Week HARRY POTTER (III) American film Director: Alfonso Cuaron Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson Time: From Monday to Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=50 KUNGFU HUSTLE Chinese film Director: Zhou Xingchi Starring: Zhou Xingchi, Liang Xiaolong, Yuan Hua Time: From Wednesday to Friday, at 9:00 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=40 A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Chinese film Director: Feng Xiaogang Starring: Liu Dehua, Liu Ruoying, Ge You, Li Bingbing Time: From Friday to Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. Ticket Price:Y=40 (Half on Sunday for children) TROY American film Director: Wolfgang Peterson Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis Time: From Tuesday to Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. Ticket Price:Y=30 There will be _ in Beijing Theater this week. A. one Chinese film B. two Chinese films C. three American films D. four foreign films Answer: B. two Chinese films Switzerland is the best place to be born in the world in 2013,and the US is just 16th. A new study made by the Economist Intelligence Unit says American babies will have a dimmer future than those born in Hong Kong,Ireland and even Canada. The EIU,a sister company of The Economist,tried to measure how well countries will provide the best opportunities for a healthy,safe and prosperous life in years to come. People born in Switzerland will tend to be the happiest and have the best quality of life in terms of wealth,health and trust in public institutions,according to the analysis. The Scandinavian countries of Norway,Sweden and Denmark also all make the top five in a'quality-of-lif e'index where it is best to be born next year. One of the most important factors is being rich,but other factors come into play including crime,trust in public institutions and the health of family life. In total,the index takes into account 11 factors. These include fixed factors such as geography,others that change slowly over time such as demography social and cultural characteristics, and the state of the world economy. The index also looks at income per head in 2030,which is roughly when children born in 2013 will reach adulthood. Small economies take up the top 10 countries,with Australia coming second and New Zealand and the Netherlands not too far behind. Half of the top 10 countries are European,but only one,the Netherlands,is from the eurozone. The crisis-ridden south of Europe,including Greece,Portugal and Spain,falls behind despite the advantage of a favourable climate. Interestingly,the largest European economies-Germany,France and Britain-do not do particularly well. Nigeria has the unenviable title of being the worst country for a baby to enter the world in 2013. The purpose of the text is to show people _ . A. the best place to be born in 2013 B. a new study made by the EIU C. the worst country to be born in 2013 D. the factors of measuring the best place to be born Answer: B. a new study made by the EIU Peter Jackson, currently one of the world's most well-known directors and the unofficial face of the entire nation of New Zealand, was born on October 31, 1961 in Pukerua Bay, New Zealand. He liked to take photographs, so a family friend bought the young Jackson a super 8mm camera. He has been a filmmaker even since. At age nine he even attempted to remake his favorite film, King Kong, using his own stop-motion effect. Unlike many of the filmmakers working today, Jackson never went to film school. Instead he created his own short films with the help of family and friends. He was turned down for a job at the National Film Unit, New Zealand's government agency that produces tourist films about the country. With that avenue closed, Jackson began working other jobs to support himself, while shooting shorts on the weekend. One of these weekend films, expanded from its original ten minutes length into a feature film. The project took four years to complete (1983-1987)and was called Bad Taste. After the success of Bad Taste, Jackson became recognized as a director and the door to fame and fortune was opened. He gave up his job at a local photographer's shop and became a well-known director of horror-movies. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is obviously a huge landmark in Jackson's career, not only did the films become some of the most commercially successful of all time, _ His digital effects company, WETA Digital, became one of, if not the most respected effects company in the world; similarly, Jackson has also expressed an interest in returning to his roots and directing some lower-budget splatter films again. The purpose of the passage is to _ . A. show us Peter Jackson is a most well-known directors B. tell us there is a famous person in New Zealand C. introduce some information about Peter Jackson D. tell some film stories made by Peter Jackson Answer: C. introduce some information about Peter Jackson Maps of the world's population show that the majority of people today live near water. We live along coastlines, around bays, up the course of rivers and streams and on islands. We also vacation at the beach and find comfort fishing on a lake. Nothing makes small children happier than the chance of playing in water. More surprisingly, this human favor for water makes evolutionary sense. Sure, we need drinking water to live, but we have also benefited from what's swimming under the waves. Neuroscientist Crawford of the University of North London has proposed that our ancient ancestors attached to the sea, and that their devotion paid off by allowing the human species to develop large and complex brains. Crawford claims that when humans separated from apes and appeared in the forests of Africa, they stuck close to rivers and beaches and started catching fish, clams and crabs. That seafood was packed with omega-3 fatty acids, essential fatty acids that promote brain cell growth. It's no coincidence, Crawford claims, that human brain growth began to increase rapidly once we left the woods and headed for the beach. Scientists have also discovered that people who eat fish regularly are less likely to suffer from depression than those who eat less seafood. Biochemist Hibbelin of the National Institutes of Health has shown that across cultures there is a direct link between amount of fish eaten each week and rates of depression. More interestingly, Hibbelin and researcher Laura have found that fish is commonly used as a symbol of happiness and good health in various religions and cultures. We know that fish and the sea are good for us, and so we seek them out. We vacation on the coast and see the waves come and go, feeling happiness has taken over our brain. When we move inland, or go home from vacation, we lose touch with our sea roots and feel unhappy. To explain human's favor for water, the author _ . A. lists some examples B. compares some facts C. analyzes some numbers D. raises some questions Answer: A. lists some examples
Many horses grow a heavy coat in autumn and shed that coat in spring. Scientists were not sure if temperature or the amount of daylight per day (called the photoperiod) caused the change. So, they conducted an experiment and concluded that the change in photoperiod was responsible for the biological changes. Shedding caused by which set of conditions would have helped them arrive at this conclusion? a varied photoperiod, but a constant temperature In the English language, there are many expressions using the word "mouth". For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say "Do not bad mouth me." Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that person's feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell. The speaker might say :"I really put my foot in my mouth this time." If this should happen, the speaker might feel down in the mouth. In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing. Information is often spread through word of mouth. This is general communication between people, like friends talking to each other. "How did you hear about that new movie?" someone might ask. "Oh, by word of mouth." Sometimes when one person is speaking ,he says the same thing that his friend was going to say . When this happens, the friend might say "You took the words right out of my mouth." Sometimes a person has a bad or unpleasant experience with another person ,he might say "I had my heart in my mouth." Some people have lots of money because they were born into a very rich family. You might say such a person "was born with a silver spoon in his mouth ." This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives from hand to mouth. This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life. Parents might sometimes keep sweet food from a child ad punishment for saying bad things, For example , if a child says things she should not say to her parents , she might be described as a mouthy child. The parents might even tell the child to stop mouthing off. I had my heart in my mouth has the same meaning as " _ ". I had a very unpleasant experience Claude Monet is surely one of the most famous French artists of all. Monet was particularly interested in the effect of light and would paint the same scene in different lighting conditions or times of the day. For example, he painted around 20 versions of the Rouen Cathedral from dawn to dusk. His most famous paintings include his Water lilies series. The paintings of Paul Cezanne had a lot of influence in the development of 20th century art, including Cubism and Fauvism . Cezanne is one of the most famous French artists and is known as a "post-impressionist", which was similar in some ways to impressionism but also broke away from some of its limitations. Famous French paintings include his Bathers and Mont St Victoire series. Henri Matisse was one of the most important famous French artists of the 20th century. He was considered one of the leaders of the Fauvist movement. He had a long and varied artistic career, painting in different styles ranging from Impressionism to Abstract. In 1941, Matisse was diagnosed with cancer and was forced into a wheelchair. But this didn't stop him completing the amazing Chapel of the Rosary in Vence. Degas is probably one of the most fascinating of all the famous French artists. He is known as one of the founders of Impressionism, but his paintings were also influenced by classicism, romanticism, and realism. His style is definitely very unique. He was a prolific artist, producing over one thousand works. He is best known for his paintings of ballet dancers. Which style does Bathers most probably belong to? Post-impressionism. Near the North Pole there are only two seasons:winter and summer.In winter,nights are long.For more than two months you can't see the sun,even at noon.In summer,days are long.For more than two months the sun never sets and there is no night at a11.The temperature is very low near the North Pole.Even in summer the temperature is below 0degC.So people there wear warm clothes all year round.They make their clothing from the skins of animals.From the skins they also make coats,hats and even boots. In the cold climate,plants cannot grow.So the people have to build their houses with skins,earth,stone or snow.When they go out to hunt something,they live in tents of skins.When they move,they take their tents with them.Sometimes,they build houses of snow.Now don't think that these houses must be cold.In fact,they are very warm and safe. The life near the North Pole is very interesting. The people near the North Pole wear warm clothes _ . all year round Made from the hide of bushy-haired animals, fur is known as the first material used for clothing.It was used by early humans like the hominoids to keep warm during the winter season or when they traveled to cooler regions.Traditionally, animals were hunted down to produce fur coats.At present though, some animals like the mink and the fox are bred and farmed for their fur.Now, wearing fur is considered a luxury because of its price and availability. Fur coats are produced and used all over the world especially in cooler countries like Russia and Northern Europe.These are usually made from the fur of bigger animals like bears, wolves and foxes which are hunted down for their meat and hide.Because of this, several of their species have become endangereD.Yet, until now, there has been no law passed to regulate the fur industry.That's why Animal rights groups, including stars, continue to campaign against fur clothing including fur coat manufacturing. Dennis Rodman is the first man, and the first sports star, to do a photo shoot for PETA's "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" series. During the Fashion Week of NYC in 2005, Rodman came not to sit in the front row at a show, but to unveil his provocative (, ) new PETA advertisement.In the very tents where designers were pushing fur.In PETA's advertisement, Rodman appears nude --- except for his tattoos --- alongside the caption ( ), " Think Ink, Not Mink," and urges :" Be comfortable in your own skin and let animals keep theirs." Rodman watched Pamela Anderson's three-minute video showing how animals live and die before being made into fur coats."If you actually look at the video firsthand, it gives you a different perspective on animals and how they're treateD.It's _ to see what they go through," he saiD. What is the best title for this passage ? Campaign Against Fur Clothing
Happiness is _ , researchers reported on Thursday. The more happy people you know, the more likely you are yourself to be happy. And getting connected to happy people improves a person's own happiness. Researchers have been analyzing a collection of facts from tracking sheets dating back to 1971, following births, marriages, deaths, and divorces. Volunteers also listed the information of their closest friends, co-workers, and neighbors. They assessed happiness with a simple, four-question test. "People are asked how often during the past week, one, I enjoyed life, two, I was happy, three, I felt hopeful about the future, and four, I felt that I was just as good as other people," Fowler said. The 60 percent of people who scored highly on all four questions were regarded as happy, while the rest were considered unhappy. People with the most social connections -- friends, spouses , neighbors, s -- were also the happiest, the data showed. "Each additional happy person makes you happier," Christakis said. And happiness is more infectious than unhappiness, they discovered. If a social contact is happy, it increases the possibility that you are happy by 15 percent. A friend of a friend, or the friend of a spouse or a sibling , if they are happy, increases your chances by 10 percent. A happy third-degree friend -- the friend of a friend of a friend -- increases a person's chances of being happy by 6 percent. But every extra unhappy friend increases the possibility that you'll be unhappy by only 7 percent. The finding is interesting and useful. Among other benefits, happiness has been shown to have an important effect on reduced death rate, pain reduction, and improved heart function. So better understanding of how happiness spreads can help us learn how to promote a healthier society. Other data suggested having extra $5,000 increases a person's chances of becoming happier by about 2 percent. A happy friend is worth about $40,000. Which of the following contributes most to your happiness? Answer: I hid the long black bag in the garage two days ago. Tonight, in the dark, I would finally take it away. If everything went OK, it would be done by morning. But I had to be sure no one, not even my wife, saw me. It was more difficult to get away from the party than I expected. I said that the children were tired and needed to get to bed. It was partly true. But the main reason for leaving was that I wanted to complete my plan. First I had to get the kids to sleep. That was never easy at any time and tonight it was even more difficult. The eldest one wanted to know why we left the party early. I told him 10:30 pm was not early. As usual, I read them a bed time story, but I had to stop myself reading too quickly or _ would learn my secret. Silence finally came, and feeling like a thief in the night, I went out of the house and into the garage. Taking one end, I pulled the bag out from its hiding place and took it into the garden. I was worried that my neighbours might see me and call the police. It was already eleven o'clock. By the light of the moon I started working, trying to make as little noise as possible. And that was not easy with a saw and a hammer . After much hard work, I finally completed my work. I looked down at my watch. It was exactly 4:00 am. Then I went inside to have a shower and get a few hours of sleep. It wouldn't be long now before the kids would rush into my room and wake me up to tell me about the new tree-house Father Christmas brought them this year. Why did the man feel nervous? Answer: Name: Edward Scott School: Revin Grove State High School Grade: 7 Term ending: 6 May Subjects : Mathematics He is a little weak in this, but he has tried his best to catch up with others. Science He can work out many difficulties.Well done! French He is the best in the class.Keep it up. History He is not so good at this, but has done better than before. Geography He is familiar with the names of many places in the world. Music He doesn't like pop songs, though sings very well. Conduct: Fair No.in class: 9 Absences: 8 Remarks : Edward has the ability to do a lot better.More work is needed next term. Class teacher: Ivy Principal: M.L.Martin School reopens: 11 September Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? Answer: I have a good friend at home. Her name is Mimi. She is white and yellow. She is very cute. I play with her when(......) I have time. She likes fish very much. When she is behind (......) the sofa or in her box, you can't see her. When I sit on the sofa, she sits with me. In the evening I do my homework at my desk, and she is on the desk. At that time I put her down . Then she sits next to me. Is she a good friend of me? When she is in the box or behind the sofa, you _ . Answer: The high noise of modern life may affect speech and language development in the very young, according to a study that found the auditory parts of the brains of young mice are slower to organize properly in the presence of continuous sounds. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reared a group of rats in an environment of continuous background noise and found that their brain circuits that receive and interpret sound did not develop at the same rate as animals that were raised in a quieter environment. Edward F. Chang and Michael Merzenich, co-authors of the study appearing in the journal Science, said that the continuous noise delayed the organization of auditory neurons during a critical two-to-three-week period after the rat pups were born. For rats not exposed to the noise, the auditory cortex neurons during this period gathered into a smaller area and began developing a selective response to sounds. But for the noiseexposed rats, this organization was slowed, causing a delay in the development of the ability to discriminate specific sound tones. The researchers said it took three or four times longer for the rats raised in a noisy environment to reach the basic bench marks of auditory development seen in the rat pups not exposed to noises. Although the rat is not a perfect model for what happens in humans, the authors note, the study does suggest that high levels of noise might possibly affect some language learning in babies. "These findings suggest that environmental noise, which is commonly present in contemporary child-rearing environments, can potentially contribute to auditory and language-related development delays,"the authors wrote in Science. The authors noted that although the brain development was delayed in rats exposed to the noise, their brains did eventually mature normally. The rats exposed to noise, compared to those not exposed, _ . Answer:
Helen's eyes are not very good, so she wears glasses. But she doesn't wear glasses when she is with her friend, Jim. When Jim comes to her house to take her out, she will take her glasses off, and when she gets back, she puts on the glasses. One day her mother asks her, "Helen, why don't you wear glasses when you are with Jim? He takes you to many lovely places in his car, but you can't see anything. " Helen says, "I look more lovely to Jim when I'm not wearing my glasses and he looks better to me, too. " Helen doesn't wear glasses _ . Answer: The city zoo bought a new kangaroo from Australia. It was famous for jumping very high. The zoo keeper was worried that the kangaroo would run away. He built special walls around it. But the next morning, people found that the animal was playing around outside. So the zoo keeper made the height of the walls 5 metres. But the kangaroo got out again the following day. The zoo keeper felt very angry, so he made the walls as high as lo metres, but the kangaroo still got out. "How high do you think he'll keep on building the walls?" a giraffe asked the kangaroo. "I don't know," said the kangaroo. "Maybe they'll reach 300 metres. It all depends on whether he remembers to lock the gate." What do you think of this zoo keeper? Answer: Lots of people make it as their aim to get to the top of Mount Everest. Mark is one of them. The difference between Mark and other climbers is that he lost both his legs when climbing. New Zealand's highest mountain, Mount Cook. He was caught in a big ice hole and he had to have his legs cut below the knees after he was saved. But that couldn't make Mark lose heart, who has become the first person with man-made legs to reach the top of Mount Everest. From the top of the world's highest mountain, Mark called his wife to say he made it. His wife, Anne got the phone when she was sleeping. She couldn't hear him clearly on the phone. She was unable to say when he reached the top but thought it was around mid-day. She also said his "legs" didn't work well sometimes, so her husband was carrying a spare leg and repair tools. Mark used to be a mountain guide before his accident. He said it was not important that no one like him had ever reached the 8850-meter mountain. "I'm not doing this to be the first. I have been climbing most of my life and I just feel Mount Everest is really a great aim. I want to send a message that I can do-anything better." Mark told us that he cared much about _ . Answer: I used to think that life in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, was filled with never-changing routines. I hated that everyone seemed to know everything about everyone else. Everyone seemed to enjoy talking about other people and their lives. I also didn't like the fact that people seemed very close-minded. I felt trapped. I felt like I was missing out on opportunities. It seemed to me that city life would be the opposite. Then I took my first trip to New York City. I couldn't wait to experience the city. However, when I arrived in the Big Apple, it wasn't at all what I had imagined. I knew it was home to thousands of people, but I hadn't had the least expectation to see so many people on the street at one time. All the streets were filled with people. I also felt a little surprised to see that everyone was in a hurry and everything moved at such a fast pace. When I took the subway for the first time, I said hello to the middle-aged woman next to me. She looked at me with dislike and didn't say a word. After just one day, I realized how important my small town is to me. Now I appreciate the familiar faces I see every day. I like the feeling of security and belonging my town offers. Jim Thorpe gives me a sense of community and togetherness that the city doesn't provide. I realize just how much a simple hello does for a stranger -- it really can make your day a little better. My big trip showed me that my small town really has instilled morals and values in me that I didn't even know I had. I never would have known what a big place my town holds in my heart if I had not taken that trip to New York City. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Following the success of S. H. E and Twins, another girl band . has arrived on the music scene. Eighteen-year-old Singaporean twin sisters Yumi and Miko Bai create the magic in the band BY2. The pair recently released their second album, Twins. With great voices and dance moves to match, the cute sisters have won the hearts of many fans since their first album NC-16 came out last year. At a young age,the sisters began to learn ballet dancing and the violin. When a music company wanted to work with them, the girls had to leave their home and parents to go to Taiwan for training. Miko and Yumi dropped out of school to focus on their music. This decision caused a hot debate in Singapore. Some people said that their mother was using her daughters to make money. But their father, who died of cancer when they were 15 years old, had encouraged the girls to work hard to make their dreams come true. The girls felt lonely in Taiwan when they first arrived. " We celebrated our birthday in Taiwan without any family and friends," Yumi said. " We cut our birthday cake ourselves. " The girls faced many challenges. "We had to learn Mandarin. Also, it was a killer to dance in high heels, " said the twins,who had to do so in their music videos. However,they are glad that they entered the entertainment scene at an early age. " When we are younger, we learn things faster and can gain more experience, " Yumi said. Why did their dropping out of school cause a hot debate? Answer:
I have a close friend who has a good family tradition, that is, each year after Thanksgiving dinner, all of the people sit around in the living room and each person takes a few minutes and gives thanks for what really matters and what has added value to their life over the last year. This is something I valued and followed. I have thought about a lot in the last year, and I finally came up with two things. The first one is the healthiness of my daughter. She's as healthy as she can be, and her weight and height are in good condition and she has no illnesses or genetic diseases. I am so thankful for having this wonderful baby in my life, and thankful that she has the gift of good health. Secondly, I am thankful for the discovery of the value of writing in my life. A year ago, my website. The simple Dollar was only a few weeks old and was far from popular, but on Thanksgiving Day Last year it had about three score readers who ordered it in advance. The process of writing was bringing me enjoyment, but I hadn't yet realized that I could be successful in it and attract many readers. This past year showed me a lot and I am deeply thankful for it. After thinking for a while, I began to realize that it was a very powerful and wonderful positive exercise. You spend time reflecting deeply on the positive things in your life, and you often realize that even when things are bad, you do have a lot to be thankful for because there is lots of good in your life, and it can shine a bright light even in a dark spot in your life. What's the purpose of this passage? It tells us that people should _ . Answer: Gary and Gavin were twin brothers who worked in a department store owned by their father. After their father had passed away, they took over the store. Everything went well until the day a twenty-dollar bill disappeared. Gary had left the bill on the cash register. But when he returned, the money was gone. Gary then asked his brother Gavin, "Did you see that twenty-dollar bill on the cash register?" Gavin said that he had not. But Gary did not let it go and kept questioning. "Twenty-dollar bills can't get up and walk away by themselves! Surely you must have seen it." There was accusation in Gary's voice. Tempers began to rise and anger grew. "I said I didn't see it!" Gavin raised his voice. The quarrel divided the young men and they could no longer work together. Later, a wall was built in the center of the store. For twenty years, they never said a word to each other. One day, a strange man came to the store. He walked in and asked Gary, "How long have you been here?" Gary replied that he'd been there all his life. "Then you are the person I'm looking for, since I must tell you the truth," the customer said emotionally. "Twenty years ago, I was totally _ and hungry. I entered this store from the back door and saw a twenty-dollar bill on the cash register. And I took it. All these years I hadn't been able to forget that. I had to come back and ask for your forgiveness ." The stranger felt very surprised when seeing tears come to the eyes of the middle-aged man in front of him. "Would you please go next door and tell the same story to the man in the store?" Gary asked. Then something surprised the stranger even more --- after hearing his story, the two middle-aged men hugged each other and cried together in the front of the wall of the store. After twenty years, the wall of anger that set them apart finally came down. After the twin's father died, the department store was managed by _ . Answer: Albert Einstein (1879--1955) was one of the greatest and most original scientific thinkers of all time. Born of Jewish parents at Ulm in Germany,he completed his education in Switzerland and got his Ph. D at the University of Zurich. He went to live in the United States in 1933 because of the rise of Nazism in Germany and Hitler's persecution of the Jews. In 1905, while still at Zurich, he published his Special Theory of Relativity, which was based on things everyone may have noticed. If two trains are standing alongside each other and one train starts to move, a person sitting in the train may wonder whether his own train is moving or the other is moving, and before he finds out what is happening, he can see that one train is moving ly to the other. From this and also from other more complicated facts, Einstein came to the conclusion that all motion is and that there are really no such things as motion. Some of the other conclusions he drew are that nothing can go faster than light, and that if something such as a ruler was moving faster and faster it would seem to get shorter and shorter as its speed was near the speed of light. By 1915, Einstein had made his General Theory of Relativity known. He also improved on Newton's theory of gravity. Most of his theories have been tested and found to be true though some may sound strange. For his important work he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics. Einstein added that if something such as a ruler was moving, it would seem to get shorter and shorter _ . Answer: With its private hidden coves and pink beaches.Bermuda is a perfect place for relaxation and romance.Though this tiny string of Atlantic islands covers only 21 square miles. there's much to see and do.Spend tile days boating,golfing,shopping or swimming with dolphins.Explore secret caves,visit historical museums and churches.Bermuda's nightlife offers everything from fine dining to fast food,jazz clubs to Irish pubs. Even though a large number of people live 011 this small island , you should never feel crowded.There are no ad boards or signs,and ly few cars to spoil the beauty of the countryside.Most houses seem to fit quite naturally into the scenery. Bermuda consists of nine parishes .Pembroke,which surrounds the capital city of Hamilton.is the largest parish in population;St.George has the largest land area. Because of its small size.it's easy to get to know tile island.There's much to see.Whether you travel by bike. ferry,bus,or taxi.You'll need plenty of time.though,because the pace is slow.Cars and other motorized vehicles must observe tile top speed of 15 mph in Hamilton and St.George,20 mph in the countryside.The speed limits are strictly enforced.and there are severe punishments for breaking the rules. Once you've done all the must-sees, you'll want to walk around and make discoveries on your own . The best parishes for walking are Somerset , St. George , and Hamilton. But don't fill your days with too much structured sightseeing . You'll want time to lie on the beach and play in the water ,and to enjoy moments like sitting by the harbor in the late afternoon, enjoying the views as the sailing boats pass by . Absorbing Bermuda's beauty at your own pace, and stopping to chat with the occasional islander , is really the point. In Bermuda , you can enjoy all the following except _ . Answer: Do you see many signs around you? Do you know the signs are an important part of our daily life? They can be in pictures or in words to give people information. What do people think are good signs? If you are thinking about making signs for others, what should you know? The most important thing is that signs should be simple and easy to understand. It is important to use clear language. On the other hand, the words should be easy to write and you just need to write down what you want to do. "Keep off the grass" is a very good example. It means "Don't touch or walk on the grass". Nowadays, there is a saying that "A picture paints a thousand words". Perhaps that's why we are seeing more and more signs in pictures, or a combination of pictures and words. However, that's the difficult part, because picture signs may have different meanings in different countries. First, a good sign should be _ . Answer:
Welcome to Banff, Canada's first, most famous and arguably most fascinating national park. If you've come to ski or snowboard, we'll see you on the slopes. Skiing is a local favourite too. While you're here, try other recreational activities available in our mountains. Popular choices include a Banff Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, bathe in the natural mineral waters at the Upper Hot Spring, horse-drawn sleigh ride, drive-your-own-team dog sled excursion, and snowmobile tour to the highland(but not in the national park). We also recommend you make time to enjoy simple pleasures. After looking around Banff Ave shops, walk a couple of blocks west or south to the scenic Bow River. True ice skating on frozen Lake Louise where Ice Magic International Ice Sculpture Competition Works are displayed after Jan 25. You can rent skates in Banff or at the sport shop in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. Banff's backcountry paths access a wilderness world of silence and matchless beauty--cross country skis and snowshoes provide the means. Banff sport shops rent equipment and clothes, or join an organized tour. Although we've been many times, we still find the cliffs and icefalls of our frozen canyons worth visiting. Wildlife watching also creates satisfying memories. We have seen hundreds of the elk and bighorn sheep that attract visitors, yet they still arouse a sense of wonder. And the rare spotting of a cougar, wolf or woodland caribou takes our breath away. See if simple pleasure work for your Fight in the snow with your kids, walk beside a stream or climb to a high place and admire the view. --Banff Resort Guide Editors Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: Watching wildlife is a memorable experience. So far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species ,and that's just a small part of what probably exists on Earth.With so many plants,animals,fungi,and other organisms covering the planet,it can be tough to figure out what type of spider is crawling up your leg or what kind of bird just flew by. A soon-to-be-launched Website might help.An international team of researchers has announced the creation of a Web -- based Encyclopedia of Life (EOL).The project aims to catalogue every species on Earth in a single,easy-to-use reference guide. To get the encyclopedia started,the creators will use information from scientific databases that already exist.And eventually,in special sections of the site,nonscientists with specialized knowledge will join.Gardeners,for example,will be able to record the dates that their flowers first bloom each year.Bird-watchers will be able to input which birds they've seen and where.The technology for this kind of tool has only recently become available. As the EOL develops, you might find it useful for school projects.The site will have special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods.To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate,scientists will review much of the information added to it.People who visit the site will be able to choose to skip pages that haven't been reviewed. Another convenient characteristic of the EOL is that you'11 be able to pick the level of detail you see to match your interests,age,and current knowledge. If you wanted to learn about polar bears for a science class report,for example,you could use the _ setting to get basic information about the animals.On the "expert" setting,on the other hand.you could get much more detailed information about the history,literature,and exploration of polar bears. It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species.The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new tool will speed that process. Keep an eye on _ .Pages will begin to go up sometime next year,and you might find them useful for your school reports.The EOL team might have the basics for all 1.8 million entries online as early as 2017.Someday,you might add your own notes. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: Nonscientists will be able to add their own notes to the website. Giving someone good news is easy, but what about bad news? Are there any good ways to give bad news without making people too upset? The following steps might help: Say something positive. Try to start or end the conversation with some good news, so that it's not all bad. For example, " You did very well in the interview, but unfortunately we've given the job to somebody else." Prepare your listener for the news. Use phrases to introduce what you're going to say, like "Unfortunately, ...", " I'm really sorry , but..." or " I'm afraid I've got some bad news." This gives the listener time to prepare for what you're going to say. Try to give a reason. People like know why things go wrong. Try to explain the decision. If someone doesn't get the job, can you explain why? If you have to cancel an appointment, try to give a reason. Use a soft _ of voice. If you're giving someone bad news, try to use a soft, calm voice to make your sound kind. Say things to show you understand, like "I'm really sorry." Or "I know this must be disappointing." The best title for the passage is " _ ". Answer: Good ways to give bad news "Charles Chaplin was horn in London on April 16,1889.His parents were music ball actors. The Chaplin family were very poor,and life was difficult in London. Charlie,as his job was an actor. What he did was to do silly things to make called, used to do his mother's job in the theatre when she was ill. When he was only 17 years old,Chaplin got his first real job as an actor. What he did was to do silly things to make people laugh in the theatre.Seven years later he went to the USA. And over the next four years,he formed his own way of art. He developed the character of a homeless gentleman which became very popular. From the 1920s to the 19S0s.Chaplin made his most famous films. The film Modern Times(1936) shows his care about the modern industry workers. Many of his films describe the poor life and hard time of the working people during that period. Although Charlie Chaplin was British, he lived in the USA until 1953. But he never got US nationality. Then Chaplin ,his wife and his five children had to move to Switzerland where he lived until he died. When he was 83 years old,he won his only Oscar for the music he wrote for the film . He was named Sir Charles Chaplin at the age of 85. Charlie Chaplin died in Switzerland on December 25th,1975. Chaplin won the Oscar for _ when he was 83 years old, Answer: the music Which example describes an organism taking in nutrients? Answer: a girl eating an apple
Bonus culture has become the subject of many studies nowadays. Many people have been angered by the way some bankers and high officials seem to have been rewarded for failure. Others find the idea of offering many-million-dollar bonuses morally disgusting. But few have asked whether performance-related bonuses really do improve performance. The answer seems so obvious that even to ask the question can appear ridiculous. Indeed, in spite of all the complaints about them, financial encouragements continue to be introduced in more and more areas, from healthcare and public services to teaching and universities. So it may come as a shock to many to learn that paying for results can actually make people perform badly in many circumstances, and that the more you pay, the worse they perform. No one is arguing that bonuses can help companies and institutions attract and keep the best staff. Nor does anyone argue against the idea that you can encourage people to do specific tasks by linking payments to those tasks. Rather, the point is about how to get the best out of people. Do employees really perform better if you promise to pay them more for getting results? There are some obvious reasons why such payments can fail. It has been argued, for instance, that cash bonuses contributed to the financial crash, because traders had little enthusiasm to make sure that their companies enjoyed long-term survival. Most bonus projects are poorly designed, says Professor Malcolm Higgs. He thinks the reason is that organizations try to keep bonus arrangements simple. Nevertheless, he thinks bonus projects can work as long as they link the interests of individual employees with the long-term goals of a business. Bonuses can also encourage cheating. "Once you start making people's rewards dependent on outcomes rather than behaviors, the evidence is people will do whatever they can to get those outcomes," says Professor Edward Deci. "In many cases the high officials simply lied and cheated to make the stock price go up so they got huge bonuses." But the work of Deci and others suggests the problem with bonuses runs far deeper than poor design or cheating. In 1971, he asked students to solve puzzles, with some receiving cash prizes for doing well and others getting nothing. Deci found those offered cash were less likely to keep working on puzzles after they had done enough to get paid. These studies suggest that offering rewards can stop people doing things for the pure joy of it. This was the basis for a series of books by Kohn in which he argues that rewarding children, students and workers with grades, scholarships and other "bribes" leads to low-quality work in the long run. Those who believe in the power of bonuses fail to distinguish between inner drive and outside pressure -- wanting to do something because you like it for itself in contrast to doing something because you want the reward, Kohn says. "It's not just that these two are different, it's often that the more you reward people for doing something, the more their inner drive tends to decline." A "do this and get that" approach might improve performance in the short term, but over longer periods it will always fail, Kohn says. People who receive bonus will naturally play safe, become less creative, cooperate less and feel less valued, he adds. What's more, the studies also suggest that offering rewards can also stop people taking responsibility. Which of the following do you think the author would most probably agree with? Answer: Many of the stories written by Mark Twain take place in Hannibal, Missouri. The small wooden house where he lived as a boy still stands there. Next to the house is a wooden fence. It is the kind described in Twain's book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," published in1876. In that story, Tom has been told to paint the fence. He does not want to do it. But he acts as if the job is great fun. He tricks other boys into believing this. His trick is so successful that they agree to pay him money to let them finish his work. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is considered one of the best books about an American boy's life in THE the1800s. Tom Sawyer's good friend is Huckleberry, or "Huck," Finn. Mark Twain tells this boy's story in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Huck is a poor child, without a mother or home. His father drinks too much alcohol and beats him. Huck's situation has freed him from the restrictions of society. He explores in the woods and goes fishing. He stays out all night and does not go to school. He smokes tobacco. Huck runs away from home. He meets Jim, a black man who has escaped from slavery. They travel together on a raft made of wood down the Mississippi River. Huck describes the trip: "It was lovely to live on the raft. Other places seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft... Sometimes we'd have that whole river to ourselves for the longest time... We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them---. " The stories of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" are probably _ . Answer: A way to illuminate a dark study is to Answer: In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They declare that if more people rode bicycles to work, there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown part of the city and so less dirty air from car engines. For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example. They want the city to draw special lanes for bicycles only on some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes. But no bicycle lanes have been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea-they say it will slow the traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don't like the idea-they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business. The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park-the largest place of open ground in New York-is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown. In New York, a group of bike riders _ . Answer: An eighty-year-old couple were having trouble with their memories . One day, they decided to see a doctor. The doctor told him that there was nothing serious, but he suggested that they should start writing things down to help them remember things. The couple thanked the doctor and left. Later that night while watching TV, the old man got up from his chair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?" "To the kitchen."he said. "Will you get me an ice-cream?" asked the wife. "Sure." Then his wife asked him to write it down. "No, I can remember that," replied the husband. "Well, I also want some strawberries and cream on top. You'd better write it down, or you will forget that," said the wife. "No, I can remember that," the husband got a little unhappy and went into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the husband returned with a plate of fish. The wife laughed, "Haha! Your bad memory! I wanted some bread with cream." What did the wife really want? Answer:
Where might you see light reflect? Answer: Is your TV connected to the Internet? What about your chair,or your fridge? Probably they are not. But in the future, most things in your home may be connected, thanks to the so-called "Internet of things". The Internet of things may be coming sooner than you think. Earlier this year, A Samsung CEO spent a lot of time talking about the Internet things. He said that five years from now,every Samsung product will be part of the Internet of things,no matter whether it's a remote control or a washing machine. So, how do household objects that are part of the Internet of things work? Well,think of a common chair. When connected to the Internet, the chair warms up when it knows the user has just walked into the room and is feeling cold. An Internet-connected camera could help people feel safer in their homes. It can know people's faces and has an infrared sensor ,so even if it's dark it can see when someone passes by and send you a message on your smartphone to let you know who's there. If the person is someone you don't know,it can tell you that ,too. But according to MIT Technology Roview, whether companies are connecting dog food bowls or security systems to the Internet, there may be some problems. For example, many early connected-home objects don't have much built-in security, which means they could be hacked . Morever, it could be difficult to get these new machines to work together especially when they are made by different companies. To fight this ,many companies have joined the Open Interconnect Consortium, which had 45 menbers by late 2014. So, picture this: you enter your home.The temperature changes to make you feel comfortable. Your favorite music starts playing for you. Do you think that this would be a good thing? I t may happen sooner than you think. Which of the following can support the idea "how will household objects connected to the Internet work?" Answer: If you have a bad habit of losing things, a new device that can be connected to any item that you might lose may be the way to solve your problem. The Tile, a small square linked up to your iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth, lets you see how close you are to the missing item, within a 50-to 150-foot range . If the item goes out of your phone's 150-foot range, it can still be detected on other smartphones with the same app. When you log into the app on your phone, it shows you, with green bars that increase or decrease, how far away you are from the Tile. You can also program it to make a sound when you get close to the Tile. And you can link up your phone with up to ten Tiles. And if your lost item -- a dog, for example, or a stolen bike -- goes out of your own phone's 150-foot Bluetooth range, you can set it as a "lost item". If any of the phones with the Tile app comes within the range of your lost item, a message will be sent to your own phone, reminding you of its position. The Tile app also has the function to remember where it last saw your Tile, so that you can easily find where you left it. Since the Tiles use Bluetooth rather than GPS, they never run out of battery or need to be charged, and they last for one year before needing to be replaced. The app, which will come into the market this winter, works with iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPad Mini, iPad 3rd and 4th generation, and iPod 5th generation. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Hi, I'm Sam from New York. I have a brother called Tim. We are twins. We are both eleven this year. I am ten minutes older than him. In some ways, we look the same and in some ways, we look different. However, he is taller than me. I am shy, but he is outgoing. We both like playing sports and we often play football together after class. We are in the same school but we are not in the same class. I am in Class One and he is in Class Three. Last Monday, Tim was ill and couldn't go to school. The next day, when I was in the hallway, his English teacher, Miss White saw me and asked, "Tim, are you feeling better now?" Haha...she and she couldn't tell Tim from me. Who is Miss White? Answer: Fun is, in fact, a word heard far more frequently in families today than in the past, when "duty'' and "responsibility" were often the words used. Parents today are more youthful in appearance and attitudes. Their clothes and hair-styles are more casual, helping to bridge the divide. Those who are athletically inclined also enjoy Rollerblading, snowboarding, and rock-climbing with their children. For the past three years, Kathy and Phil Dalby have spent at least one evening a week at a climbing gym with their three children. "It's great to be able to work together," Mrs Dalby says. "We discuss various climbs and where the hard parts are. Sometimes that leads to other Conversations. We're definitely closer." A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles. The philosophy encourages children to describe their feelings about various situations. As a result, says Robert Billingham, a family-studies professor at Indiana University, "Parents and children began talking to each other in ways they had not before." On the plus side, he adds, these conversations made parents realize that children may have important thoughts or feelings that adults need to be aware of. But Professor Billingham also sees a downside: Many parents started making decisions based on what their child wanted. "The power shifted to children. Parents said, 'I have to focus on making my child happy', as opposed to 'I have to act as a parent most appropriately'." Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow. Time-short parents encourage children's independence, making them more responsible for themselves. "They'll say, 'We trust you to make the right decisions' (whether they're ready to assume the responsibility or not) ,"says Billingham. The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics . Some parents worry that if they tell their child no, it will hurt the child's self-esteem. What's the best title for the text? Answer:
Question: One day Tom borrowed a pot from his neighbour, Ali. The next day he brought it back with another little pot inside. "That's not mine," said Ali. "Yes, it is." said Tom, "While your pot was staying with me, it had a baby." Some time later, Tom asked Ali to lend him a pot again. Ali said yes, hoping that he would once again get two pots in return. However, days passed and Tom still did not give the pot back. Finally Ali was angry and went to ask for it. "I am sorry," said Tom, "I can't give it back to you because it died." "Died!" cried Ali, "How can a pot die?" "Well," said Tom, "you believed me when I told you that your pot had a baby." What maybe happened to the pot at last? A. It died. B. The neighbour took it back. C. It was lost. . D. Somebody else bought it from Tom. Answer: B Question: prefix = st1 /SPAIN is unique. Enough sunshine, gorgeous beaches and delicious food make it a favourite holiday spot for millions of Europeans. But eating and sunbathing is not all this Mediterranean country has to offer. Its wild nightlife has given Spaniards a well--earned reputation as non-stop party animals. The traditional afternoon nap known as a "siesta" means millions of Spanish people can live a crazy life every day. Not into drinking and dancing? Take a look at the vibrant arts scece, with numerous galleries and museum featuring Spain's many famous artists like Salvador Dail, Pablo Picasso and Antonio Gaudi. Take our tour around the country. Barcelona, located on the Mediterranean sea, is famous as the host city for the 1992 Olympic Games. It is Spain's second largest city, afterMadrid. Barcelona is filled with landmark places and world-class museums, including Antonio Gaudi's famed La Sagrada Familia cathedral, the Museu Picasso, and the Las Ramblas street. Barcelona also has great nightlife. There are many outdoor squares in the city. So when the weather is good, which it usually is, there are also popular places for people to get together. Nightlife kicks off from about 8 or 9 pm. Then things quiet down until a second surge of energy brings out the post-dinner crowds from 11pm to midnight. Madrid, the capital of Spain, located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula , has a number of places, castles, museums and other unique places, such as the Plaza Mayor, the Cibeles Fountain, and the Palacio Real, as well as the fantastic bullring , Las Ventas. The city of 3.5 million people also has many theatres, live music venues and nightclubs because dinner is served late in Spain, usually around 9 pm, nightlife doesn't really get under way until after 11 pm. Native people are so fond of wandering around at night that they are known in Spain as gatos(cats.) Young people love to meet in nightclubs to drink and sing together. Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast, isSpain's third--largest city. It is usually a quiet city with a population of half a million. But during the Las Falls Festival in March, the number can reach 3 million.Valenciais famous for its nightlife and bars. In the summer, people enjoy gathering at open--air bars. The bars play music, often have dance floors, and are open from late May to September. The nightlife lasts from 7 or 8 pm to 2 am on weekdays, and 5 am on weekends. The author writes this text most probably to_. A. attract visitors to Spain B. show his or her pride in Spain C. sing high praise for Spain D. tell the readers Spain's long history Answer: A Question: Many skilled young people are being forced into part-time and unskilled work, the report says. It warns of a "crisis" with more than six million people so disillusioned they have given up looking for work. The ILO(International Labor Organization)wants governments to make job creation a priority. It wants more training schemes, and also tax breaks for employers. "The youth unemployment crisis can be beaten but only if job creation for young people becomes a key priority in policymaking and private sector investment picks up significantly," said Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, executive director of the ILO's employment sector. Since 2007, the number of young people without jobs has risen by four million - up from less than 12%, the Global Employment Trends for Youth Report says. Almost 13% of people aged between 15 and 24 - or almost 75 million - have no work, although this is slightly down on its peak in 2009. In the European Union, one in five young people are looking for work, the report claims. Some 27.9% of youths were unemployed in North Africa last year --a rise of five percentage points on 2010. In the Middle East, the figure stood at 26.5% in the report's regional breakdown. Even in East Asia, perhaps the most economically active region, the unemployment rate was 2.8 times higher for young people than for adults, the report said. But, the ILO report reveals, the true picture of youth unemployment is even more pessimistic. Many young people are extending their time in higher education because they cannot find jobs. Others are taking part-time unskilled work because they cannot find work in the fields they trained for. The ILO says that more than six million young people worldwide have given up looking for work and are becomingly increasingly detached from society. By not using their skills they are losing them, the report says, and if there is no improvement in the jobs market soon, they may be not only unemployed, but unemployable. The ILO suggests offering tax breaks to businesses hiring young people and offering more programmes to help kick-start careers. Which of the following is true according to Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs? A. Since 2007, the number of young people out of job has risen to 4 million. B. Nearly 13% of the young people have no work. C. Job creation should be made a key priority in policymaking. D. The youth unemployment rate can never go down. Answer: C Question: In the near future, all housework will be done without having a robot maid. Smart home technology will allow all sorts of electronics and appliances to be able to communicate with each other and perform various tasks. Whenever someone wants to have a snack, but does not feel like making something, why not have the refrigerator suggest something based on what it has inside of it. Not only that, it would communicate with the microwave to prepare the cooking power and time for that particular dish. Nearly all major appliances in the future will take advantage of this technology through home networks and the Internet. Smart home technology is a way for ordinary electronics and appliances to communicate with each other, consumers, and even manufacturers. Many consider a smart home to be one that is networked. Others feel it is a home that has appliances that will allow the consumer to do little or no work, but a smart home really is all of that combined, and more. Not only will all consumer products be networked, but they will also make life easier and more entertaining. Smart home technology is currently being developed and carried out for all rooms in the house, in particular the kitchen and the living room. Many of today's products are becoming "smart." Kitchen refrigerators, microwaves, and stoves are using this technology. Even washers and dryers have the technology today to be more automated to fit people's needs. Products in the bathroom will even start to use smart home technology. Electric razors, toilets, and showers will have some sort of automation built in. Smart home technology is still in its early stages but will soon make a great effect on everyone's lives. Because of smart home technology, electronics and appliances can _ . A. work at the same time B. communicate with each other C. act as a bridge between consumers and manufacturers D. work more effectively Answer: B Question: DU Lala is the hottest career coach in the country. The fictional character in the acclaimed novel Du La La's Promotion shows others how to take the high road to success in a multinational company. But does her story describe a real or distorted picture of work life? The answer is as complicated as office life itself. Over one million copies of the book have been sold since its release in 2007. Go Lala Go!, a movie adaptation of the novel set to hit cinemas next weekend, has stirred up even more interest in the story. The film stars Xu Jinglei and Stanley Huang, but fans seem to be more excited about seeing the story unfold on the big screen. According to a recent sina.com survey, 45 percent of the 6,810 netizens polled said they have drawn career pointers from the novel. Other office novels, such as In and Out of the Loop, Win and Lose and Drowning and Floating, seem to have been received with similar interest. "These books show me the life of white collars, and they teach me career rules and jargon that are not offered in class," said Zhang Shanshan, a 22-year-old senior at Beijing Forestry University. Zhang says the competition, humor and office gossip in the book intrigued her. "I can't wait to embark on my own career," she said. The popularity of office novels does not surprise Chen Ning, a senior career consultant at Zhaopin.com. "Novels about office fights and struggles satisfy the psychological demands of an ordinary office worker," Chen said. "The leading characters face great pressure, fierce competition and an uncertain future. This is what really happens in many readers' daily life." Li Ke, the author of Du Lala's Promotion, has been stressing the significance of her fiction. "I want to provide real and useful common sense, knowledge and experience to office workers," Li told the Qianjiang Evening News last year. Recent graduates say they have found the basic work principles highlighted in the novel to be instructive. "If these books had been published five years earlier, I might have avoided some problems," said Xu Jun, an HR manager at Guangqi Honda Automobile Company. "They often discuss basic office principles, which are relevant for staff working under the middle management level. They also help readers to see the importance of basic problem solving and organizational skills." But some veteran employees warn that the novels are not always realistic. They say this is especially true of the characters. "The protagonists appear to be unbeatable," said Hou Zhendong, an HR manager at General Electric. "Du Lala's team leader quit in an irresponsible way; her boss is inept; and the staff around her is either stupid or overly-sophisticated. Du stands out in emergencies and makes all the right decisions. The truth is, real-life colleagues are not that polarized ," Hou said. "You seldom get to negotiate your salary with a big boss. And, most of the time, you make wrong decisions far more than you make correct ones." The career principles in the books are also of limited use. "Most of the stories happen in Fortune 500 companies with a long history. Their cultures are well-established, and their rules are scientific," Hou said. "But if you work for a small foreign company, or a local enterprise, some principles are useless." Liu Rui, a project manager at IBM, suggests fans of these books focus on the little bits of wisdom they provide. "The novels give rookies some inspiration," he said. "They emphasize the importance of observation, practice and self-examination. These tips are precious and universally true." Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Recent graduates can learn a lot of useful career principles from the novel. B. The best novel shows readers how to be promoted in various companies. C. The book Go Lala Go! Sells very well. D. The movie adaptation of the novel will be a massive hit at the box-office in China. Answer: B
When you see the trailer for Coming Home, Zhang Yimou's latest project, you may not be attracted by it at first, due to the film's senior cast and historic setting. But rest assured, Coming Home will draw you in with its emotionally charged story of love, joy and sorrow. The movie follows a devoted couple, Lu Yanshi (Chen Daoming) and Feng Wanyu (Gong Li), who are separated when Lu is arrested as a political prisoner. Released during the last days of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), Lu finally returns home only to find that his beloved wife has amnesia and is unable to recognize him. As a stranger in his broken family, Lu decides to resurrect their past together and reawaken his wife's memory. Just like the story suggests, Coming Home is a tearjerker. But different from those movies that make the audience cry by being evocative , such as Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock or Pixar's Toy Story 3, director Zhang's idea of moving the audience is quite special, and makes the most of his delicate skills. In Coming Home, Zhang deals with a dramatic story in such a quiet way that the audience's emotions are drawn out little by little by the main characters, as they struggle in pain while their heroic inner strength shines. So, when you cry -- and very likely you will -- you will understand why: Because you wish a future happiness for the characters, and maybe because you can imagine the story having happened to your grandparents. Another impressive aspect is how Zhang uses "amnesia", a narrative technique that's more common in romantic comedies. For that, he has Gong Li to thank the most. Gong, one of Zhang's longtime collaborators, knows exactly what the director wants. With a limited number of lines throughout the film, Gong is fully committed to her character and touches the audience with great facial expressions and subtle changes of emotion. Maybe now you understand why everyone can relate to the film. Although it reflects on a big era through the story of a small family, the era is only a backdrop. What moves the young audience here is love, and you will leave the cinema with a new understanding of it. Tell us what you think about Zhang Yimou's new film Coming Home. The passage is most probably _ . A. a film ad B. a film poster C. a film review D. a film script Answer: C. a film review My dad loved pennies, especially those with wheat. Those were the pennies he grew up with in Iowa and he didn't have many. When I was a kid, Dad and I would go for walks together. We'd spy coins along the way. Whenever I picked up a penny, he'd ask, "Is it a wheat?" It always thrilled him when we found one of those special coins produced between 1909 and 1958, the year of my birth. He told me he often dreamed of finding coins. "I have that dream too!" I told him. It was our secret connection. Dad died in 2002. One grey day, not long after his death, I was walking down Fifth Avenue and I found myself in front of the oldest church in Manhattan, which my father had been attending. I was greeted in warmly. The song was Dad's favorite, one we'd sung at his funeral. After the service, I walked out, stepped onto the sidewalk--and there was a penny. I picked it up, and sure enough, it was a wheat, a 1944, a year my father was serving on a ship in the South Pacific. Then, wheat pennies began turning up on the sidewalks everywhere. I got most of the important years: his birth year, the war years, the year he met my mom, the year they got married. But, no 1958 penny-my year. The next Sunday, after the service, I was walking up Fifth Avenue and spotted a penny in the middle of the street. It was a busy street, but I risked my safety and got it. A wheat! There was my birthday. _ How did the author find the penny with his year? A. He searched hard and found it. B. He dug in the street in order to get it. C. He sang a religious song in order to find it. D. He found it by chance but got it by trying hard. Answer: D. He found it by chance but got it by trying hard. English is a language spoken all around the world. There are more than 42 countries where the majority of the people speak English. Most native speakers of English are found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand. In total, for more than 375 million people, English is their mother tongue. An equal number of people learn English as a second language. These people will perhaps speak the language of their own country at home with their family, but the language of the government, schools, newspapers and TV is English. However, the number of people who learn English as a foreign language is more than 750 million. Everywhere in the world children go to school to learn English. In China, students learn English at school as a foreign language, except for those in hong Kong, where many people speak English as a first or a second language. In only fifty years, English has developed into the language most widely spoken and used in the world. English is the working language of most international organizations, international trade and tourism. English is also the language of global culture, such as popular music and the Internet. You can listen to English songs on the radio or use English to communicate with people around the world through the Internet. With so many people communicating in English every day, it will become more and more important to have a good knowledge of English. How many people learn English as a second language? A. 37,500,000. B. 375,000,000. C. 750,000,000. D. 75,000,000. Answer: C. 750,000,000. BEIJING -- Rising smartphone star Xiaomi is moving upmarket and taking aim at Apple's iPhone. The Chinese maker known for low-priced phones on Thursday unveiled a new model that Chairman J un Lei said is comparable to Apple's iPhone 6 but thinner, lighter and much cheaper. The phone starts at 2, 299 yuan ($375), less than half the 5,288 yuan ($ 865) price of an iPhone 6 in China. Xiaomi, founded in 2010, passed South Korea's SaM:ung Electronics Co. in the second quarter of last year as the best-selling smartphone brand in China by number of phones sold. The company is expanding into India and other developing markets but has yet to announce plans to enter the United States or Europe. Xiaomi "is a respected brand that already has an Apple-like following" in China, said analyst Brian Blair, who tracks mobile device makers at Rosenblatt Securities. Apple is still a relatively small player in China, selling about 45 million iPhones there last year, Blair estimates, but will continue to grow. "Apple is very much a premium brand," said Blair. "The company that's more at risk is SaM:ung, which has been losing share in that market." Privately held Xiaomi said last year's sales tripled to 61. 1 million phones and revenue more than doubled to 74. 3 billion yuan ($12.2 billion). The company, based in Beijing, recently completed a round of fundraising from investors that it said valued Xiaomi at $ 45 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable technology brands. Xiaomi ran into legal trouble in India in December after a court blocked sales while it hears a complaint by Sweden's LM Ericcson that the Chinese company violated its patents. In a blog post earlier this month, Lei called the case a "rite of passage" for a young company. What can be inferred from the passage according to Brian Blair? A. More than 45 million iPhones will be sold this year. B. Xiaomi can beat Apple in the market of China. C. He thinks Xiaomi is superior to Apple. D. SaM:ung will be closed for losing share in the market. Answer: A. More than 45 million iPhones will be sold this year. Mrs. Black goes to buy a fish with her daughter. She doesn't know how to cook it, so she asks the shopkeeper to write down the way of cooking it on a note. She puts the note in her daughter's pocket and then they leave the shop with the fish. On their way home, a black cat sees them and follows them. Suddenly the cat jumps at her, takes the fish away from her quickly and runs off at once. Mrs. Black runs after it, but she can't run faster than it. At last she stops, not knowing what to do. But she suddenly remembers _ . She laughs and shouts at the cat, "You don't know how to cook it. The note is still in my daughter's pocket!" But she suddenly remembers something. Here "something" means " _ ". A. the fish B. the shop C. the note D. the cat Answer: C. the note
Traveling is very interesting. Many people love traveling. There are many ways to travel: by plane, by train, by ship or by car. Everyone has their favorite way. Greg:My favorite way of traveling is by car. I can bring my pet dog along. I can travel three hundred miles or only fifty miles a day. I can stop at a good restaurant to enjoy a good meal or at a hotel to spend the night. Eliza:I love traveling by train best! It's very exciting. I traveled most of Europe in 5 months by train. It's the best way to talk with the local people and make new friends on the way. Trains make even the longest trip enjoyable. The train ride to me is just like a big moving party. I also like traveling by ship. It is a very great way to spend a vacation. I can go to parties and movies on the ship, and enjoy the blue sky and water. Danny:Planes are my favorite. It's the fastest way of traveling. I can quickly get to another country. Planes have very comfortable seats. I can have something to drink and to eat. I can also read some free magazines and newspapers. . What does Eliza think of traveling by train? Exciting. As leaves turn from green to gold, another change is darkness comes earlier Sea horses require the sun Here's an advertisement from the newspaper.Read and choose the right answer to each question. WANTED: BABYSITED Do you like children? Do you have free time in the afternoon? We need a babysitter for our son. He is six years old. Hours are Monday to Friday, 3.00p.m. to 6.00p.m. Sometimes you will work at the weekend. Pay is S10 per hour. For the job, you will: Watch our son Read to him play with him You will work at our house. We live in London, near 10 Downing Street. Please call (020)296--8956. Ask for Miss Smith Which of these sentences is true? The child is less than nine years old. A man and his girlfriend were married. It was a large celebration. All of their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony and to partake(,) of the festivities and celebrations. All had a wonderful time. The bride was gorgeous in her white wedding gown and the groom was very dashing in his black tuxedo . Everyone could tell that the love they had for each other was true. A few months later, the wife came to the husband with a proposal, "I read in a magazine, a while ago, about how we can strengthen our marriage," she offered. "Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix them together and make our lives happier together." The husband agreed. So each of them went to a separate room in the house and thought of the things that annoyed them about the other. They thought about this question for the rest of the day and wrote down what they came up with. The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would go over their lists. "I'll start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many items on it, enough to fill three pages. In fact, as she started reading the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were starting to appear in her husband's eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Nothing," the husband replied, "keep reading your list." The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her husband. She neatly placed her list on the table and folded her hands over the top of it. "Now, you read your list and then we'll talk about the things on both of our lists," she said happily. Quietly the husband stated, "I don't have anything on my list. I think that you are perfect the way that you are. I don't want you to change anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and I wouldn't want to try and change anything about you." The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth of his love for her and his acceptance of her, turned her head and wept. In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us, and see the wondrous things before us? Why did the bride ask her husband to write a list of the annoying things? She wants to strengthen the marriage.
Some days, don't you think, "Wouldn't it be nice if the laundry would just do itself?" Self-cleaning clothes may sound crazy. But Australian researchers have found a way to make something like this possible! A team at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, found a way to put special nanostructures into clothing, which can then clean the clothes. When sunlight hits the nanostructures, they break down the dirt and stains that don't belong on your clothes. The nanostructures don't break down the actual clothing because cotton and the other clothing materials are too strong to be broken down. According to CNN, the researchers cover the clothing in a solution made of silver and copper nanostructures. All it takes is 40 minutes of sunlight and your clothes will look as good as new. So if you spill on yourself during lunch, you can step outside for a walk, and it will be clean by the time you go inside. It not only makes your life easier, but it can also be good for the environment. According to the US Department of Energy, the average load of laundry uses about 25 gallons (about 94 liters) of water. Water is a very important resource, so using less of it to wash clothes is better for the environment. But one of the scientists at RMIT University knows more needs to be done. "There's more work to do before we can start throwing out our washing machines," said Dr Rajesh Ramanathan, "but this is a strong foundation ." So what's the next step? Ramanathan wants to either start selling the solution by itself or convincing clothing makers to treat the clothing with the solution while clothes are being made. How do the clothing with the nanostructures get cleaned? Jyoti Amge, an Indian girl, is the world's smallest woman. She is only 0.628 metres tall. She is small, but her dream is great. On her 18th birthday in 2012, she shared the good news with others. She would act in two movies. Jyoti is the youngest of the five children in her family. She stopped growing after her first birthday. Because of her size, Jyoti has special clothes and jewellery . She even has her own desk and chair in a regular school. Jyoti also loves movies and fashionable dresses like others. Before 18, she acted in a music video along with a famous Indian singer. Jyoti said, "I'm just the same as other people. I eat like you, and dream like you. I don't feel I am different." Jyoti's _ is are not different from others'. Robert Owen was born in Wales in 1771. At the age of ten he went to work. His employer had a large private library so Owen was able to educate himself. He read a lot in his spare time and at nineteen he was given the job of superintendent at a Manchester cotton mill. He was so successful there that he persuaded his employer to buy the New Lanark mill in Scotland. When he arrived at New Lanark it was a dirty little town with a population of 2,000 people. Nobody paid any attention to the workers' houses or their children's education. The conditions in the factories were very bad. There was a lot of crime and the men spent most of their wages on alcoholic drinks. Owen improved the houses. He encouraged people to be clean and save money. He opened a shop and sold the workers cheap, well-made goods to help them. He limited the sale of alcoholic drinks. Above all, he fixed his mind on the children's education. In 1816 he opened the first free primary school in Britain. People came from all over the country to visit Owen's factory. They saw that the workers were healthier and more efficient than in other towns. Their children were better fed and better educated. Owen tried the same experiment in the United States. He bought some land there in 1825, but the community was too far away. He could not keep it under control and lost most of his money. Owen never stopped fighting for his idea. Above all he believed that people are not born good or bad. He was a practical man and his ideas were practical. "If you give people good working conditions", he thought, "they will work well and, the most important thing of all, if you give them the chance to learn, they will be better people." We may infer form the passage that no children in Britain could enjoy free education until _ . People have strange ideas about food. For example, tomato is a kind of very delicious vegetable. It is one of useful plants that can be prepared in many ways. It has rich nutrition and vitamin in it. But in the 18th century, Americans never ate tomatoes. They grew them in their gardens because tomato plants are so pretty. But they thought the vegetable was poisonous . They called tomatoes "poison apples". President Thomas Jefferson, however, knew that tomatoes were good to eat. He was a learned man. He had been to Paris, where he learned to love the taste of tomatoes. He grew many kinds of tomatoes in his garden. The President taught his cook a way for a cream of tomato soup. This beautiful pink soup was served at the President party. The guests thought the soup tasted really good. They never thought their president would serve his honored guests poison apples. Jefferson never spoke to his honored guests about the fact. From the passage we know all the honored guests invited by Jefferson were _ . Snooker is a big sport in China.It is said that there are 300 million snooker players in China, so it's not surprised that some of the world's best players come from China.Ding Junhui is one of them. When Ding Junhui was eight years old, there were not many snooker clubs.His father often played with his friends on a table in the street,and one day Ding Junhui played with one of his father friends and beat him.His father,a shoe salesman,discovered that his son was talented at snooker.He then took Ding Junhui to China's nation snooker training center in Dongguan,Guangdong Province.There.they lived in a room of five square meters.When they ran out of money.Ding's father phoned his wife and told her to sell their house. After years of hard training,Ding turned professional in 2003 and became China's No.1.In 2005.more than 100 million people watched Ding Junhui win the 2005 World Snooker China Open.Since then, snooker has become more and more popular in China. "When I was a small boy, snooker was not in the top 10 favorite sports in China,"Ding says."Table tennis was top, followed by soccer, basketball and badminton.Now,basketball is top,but snooker is surely in the top five." Ding Junhui's father usually played snooker ---When Ding Junhui was young.
#Ruffi Ruff! Where's Scruff? Reading level: Baby--reschool Hardcover: 16 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Sold by Amazon-com.Gift--wrap available. Book Description: It's bath time for Scruff.But does anyone know where he's hiding? Have the cows seen him? Moo--no! How about the pigs? Oink--no! But not for toddlers.If they look carefully, they'll find Scruffhiding on every pop--up page! #You and Me, Baby Reading level: Baby--Grade 1 Hardcover: 40 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Ships from and sold byAmazon.com.Gift--wrap available. Only 4 left in stock--rder soon. #The Giving Tree Reading level: Ages 4~8 Hardcover: 64 pages Language: English Availability: Sold all the year round and choose One--Day Shipping at checkout. Book Description: Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. #Where the Wild Things Are Reading level: Ages 6~10 Hardcover Comic: 62 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Ships from and Sold by Amazon-com.Gift--wrap available.Order it at once, and choose One--Day Shipping at checkout. #Goodnight Moon(Board book) Reading level: Baby--Preschool Board book: 30 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Ships from and sold by Amazon-com. Book description: Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book.Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit.He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." If you want a book for an eight-year-old, which one will you choose? Answer: Where the Wild Things Are Once a 10-year-old boy decided to learn judo though he had lost his left arm in a car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese sensei, a judo teacher. Three months later, he was still practising with the same move. So he asked, "Sensei, shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. The boy kept training. Months later, the sensei took him to his first match. Surprisingly, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match was more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient. The boy used his one move to win the match and now was in the final. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy seemed to lose the game. Being worried that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a break. Just before the referee wanted to end the match, the sensei came to him. "No," the sensei said, "let him go on." Soon after the match began, his opponent made a big mistake: he dropped his guard . Suddenly, the boy won the match. On the way home, the boy and the sensei talked about every move in each match. Then the boy gathered the courage to ask, "Sensei, how did I win the match with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've learned one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known guard for that move is for your opponent to catch your left arm." Why did the boy's last opponent lose the game? Answer: Because he failed to protect himself in time. In America: There are many more cars than in China. Maybe the number of cars in California is the same as the number in China. But there are fewer traffic jams and accidents in America than in China. We hardly see traffic police in the street, but all cars obey traffic rules strictly , and people hardly find that a car does not obey traffic rules in the street. About America traffic rules, there are many better terms , such as: 1. Stop line: There are stop line in all crossing without traffic lights(some have two stop lines and others have four stop lines); all cars must stop while meeting the stop lines. 2.Traffic lights: There are traffic lights in the crossing of the road .Cars may almost turn every direction. the traffic lights can give signals step by step including u-turn . There is a kind of middle lane of turning left. When a car wants to turn left in the road, he may enter into the middle lane of turning left and give a signal of turning left. When he thinks being safe he may turn left. 3. Specific item: Such as parking, there are three kinds of lines (its color are white, blue or red) in the roadside. Every line may park different kinds of cars. There are streets in some residential areas, and no car can park at any time or any period time. 4. About the priority of passengers and cars: At any case, passengers have the priority to cars. But only after passengers have passed the road and gotten the top of sidestep, cars may go ahead. In general, traffic rules of America are very specific, convenient and safe. When you meet a stop line while driving a car in the crossing without traffic lights,, _ . Answer: you must stop At a primary school in a small town in the east of South Carolina, second-grade teachers Garneau and Lynne are convinced that separating elementary-age boys and girls produces immediate academic improvement in both genders . David Chadwell, South Carolina's expert of single gender education says, "Boys and girls learn, hear and respond to their surroundings differently.We can teach boys and girls based on what we now know." Male and female eyes are not organized in the same way, he explains.The organization of the male eye makes it sensitive to motion and direction."Boys understand the world as objects moving through space," he says. The male eye is also drawn to cooler colors like silver and black.It's no accident that boys tend to create pictures of moving objects instead of drawing the happy colorful family, like girls do in their class. The female eye, on the other hand, is drawn to warmer colors like red, yellow and orange.To attract girls, Chadwell says, the teacher doesn't need to move as much as in boy's class.Using descriptive phrases and lots of colors in presentations or on the blackboard gets their attention. Boys and girls also hear differently."When someone speaks in a loud tone, girls understand it as yelling," Chadwell says."They think you're mad and can shut down." Girls are more sensitive to sounds.He advises girls' teachers to watch the tone of their voices.Boys' teachers should sound more forceful, even excited. A boy's nervous system causes him to be more cautious when he is standing, moving, and the room temperature is around 69 degrees Fahrenheit.Stress in boys, he says, tends to increase blood flow to their brains, a process that helps them stay focused.Girls are more focused when seated in a warmer room around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.Girls also respond to stress differently.When exposed to threat and conflict, blood goes to their guts , leaving them feeling nervous or anxious. These differences can be applied in the classroom, Chadwell adds."Single gender programs are about making the best use of the learning." To engage boy in a class, the teacher _ . Answer: had better move constantly while teaching An "apple polisher" is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe ,but is close to it. All sorts of people are apple polishers, including politicians and people in high offices -- just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed. There are other phrases meaning the same thing as "apple-polishing" -- "soft-soaping" or "butter-up". A gift is just one way to "soft-soap" somebody, or to "butter him up". Another that is just as effective is flattery, giving someone high praise -- telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how talented and wise he is. Endless are the ways of flattery. Who does not love or hear it ? Only an unusual man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is. In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who gets so little of it. We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it. But we just lap it up for its food value and nourishment, as a cat laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves. Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much of it. A good example is the famous 12th century legend of King Canute of Denmark and England. The king got tired of listening to the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers .They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless power. He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. Then he ordered the waves to stop coming in. The tide was too busy to listen to him. The king was satisfied. This might show his followers how weak his power was and how empty their flattery. Which of the following activities has nothing to do with "apple-polishing" ? Answer: A teacher praised his students for their talent and wisdom.
Ben was the illegitimate, unacknowledged child of Fred. Fred died intestate, leaving neither spouse nor any children other than Ben. The state's law of intestate succession provides that an unacknowledged illegitimate child may not inherit his father's property. The spouse, all other blood relations, and the state are preferred as heirs over the unacknowledged illegitimate child. Ben filed suit in an appropriate court alleging that the state statute barring an illegitimate child from sharing in a parent's estate is invalid, and that he should be declared lawful heir to his father's estate"The state's strongest defense of the statute would be that its interest in promoting family life and in encouraging the formal acknowledgment of paternity gives the law a rational basis. Do you want to make friends with a special man? Here is some information about him. He is quiet and shy. He likes to hide his eyes behind his hair. He doesn't smile very often. However, if you talk to him about music, he'll have a lot to say. This is Jay Chou, the 34-year-old Taiwanese pop king . His fans are so excited because he will have a singing party next month. Many pop stars will come, too. Chou grew up just with his mother. He did not talk much and did badly in many school subjects. His mother noticed the boy's special interest in music and sent him to learn piano when he was only three years old. He loved it and kept on practicing. Chou is not very handsome. He does not speak clearly when he sings or talks. But the singer has a lot of fans. "He is really good at music. It makes him attractive to me, " said Liu Jiajun, a Junior 2 student in No. 101 Middle School in Beijing. "He is true to himself. _ , "said Zhang Yujie, a Junior 1 girl at No.23 Middle School in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. According to one of his fans, Jay _ . is very attractive to them Which would likely result in a chemical change? a piece of meat submerged in lemon juice Hello! My name is Jim. I'm from the US. Now I am in China with my father and mother. I like China. I like Chinese food, too. I have breakfast at home. I eat an egg, bread and porridge in the morning. I don't like milk. I have no time to go home for lunch. So I have it at school. The lunch in our school is very good. I can have different food for lunch. I eat rice, meat and vegetables for lunch. Sometimes I have noodles and dumplings. I have supper at home with my parents . Sometimes we go out to eat with friends. We have meat, vegetables and fruit. Jim has _ for lunch. A and B What happens to water molecules during the boiling process? They move faster and move farther apart as they absorb heat.
Letters to the next president Dear Mr. President: I would like to personally thank you for your time and concern for our great country. I would like to take a few minutes to address a few concerns that I have with the United States. First of all, I would like to address the war. In my opinion, we should have never been involved with Iraq to the extent that we are now. I believe we should pull our troops out. However, I think there should be a time table that we follow but the time table should not be released because the enemy does not need to know when we are going to pull out. Also, the war takes out a ton of our money, which leads me to my next issue. The economy right now, in the opinion of many Americans is the biggest issue with which we are facing right now. No one can predict what will happen one day or the next. The obvious thing to do is to put 700 billion dollars in the economy, but that bill failed and was rejected by the House of Representatives . Instead of putting 700 billion dollars in, I think the money should be equally distributed among Americans to pay off their debts. I'm not sure if this would work, but I think it is a positive alternative we could take. My final issue I would like to call to your attention is teacher's salaries. The high school students of today are America's future. In a way, America's future depends greatly on the high school teachers of America. Saying this, it is sad that teacher's salaries are where they are. While teachers are working harder and harder every day to teach high school students, CEO's of big companies that are driving our countries economy into the ground are getting bonuses. I'm not saying that teacher's salaries should be the same of CEO's of companies, but I do strongly believe that action should be taken to increase the salaries of teachers because they have one of the most important jobs in America - - preparing our country for the future. Once again, thank you for your time and your effort you put in to making this great country a better place. Sincerely, Walker What's true about the time of pulling the troops out? Answer: If you knew a bottle of water had been recycled from urine , would you drink it? Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may soon do so. NASA said it would use a high-tech machine to recycle wastewater at the ISS. The machine will recycle everything from sweat , the water for washing hands, shower water, water used for brushing teeth, and even urine, to make drinking water. It will save NASA millions of dollars each year. At present, each ISS astronaut uses about 4.4 liters of water every day. It costs about $24 million a year to transport water up to ISS. NASA says that a liter of water costs about $11,000. The machine will be sent to the ISS in October 2008. NASA hopes it will recycle about 93% of all water used on the station. Will the water be clean? Scientists say the wastewater will go through a very complicated process . For example, different chemicals will be put in the wastewater; the water will be heated to 130degCto get rid of bacteria . The recycled water is thousands of times better than the water from a city tap, scientists say. NASA will use a high-tech machine to recycle wastewater at the ISS to _ . Answer: In the course of working my way through school, I took many jobs I would rather forget. But none of these jobs was as terrible as my job in an apple plant . The work was hard; the pay was poor; and, most of all, the working conditions were terrible. First of all, the job made huge demands on my strength. For ten hours a night, I took boxes that rolled down a metal track and piled them onto a truck. Each box contained twelve heavy bottles of apple juice. I once figured out that I was lifting an average of twelve tons of apple juice every night. I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much if the pay had not been so poor. I was paid the lowest wage of that time--two dollars an hour. Because of the low pay, I felt eager to get as much as possible. I usually worked twelve hours a night but did not take home much more than $ 100 a week. But even more than the low pay, what made me unhappy were the working conditions. During work I was limited to two ten-minute breaks and an unpaid half hour for lunch. Most of my time was spent outside loading trucks with those heavy boxes in near-zero-degree temperatures. The steel floors of the trucks were like ice, which made my feet feel like stone. And after the production line shut down at night and most people left, I had to spend two hours alone cleaning the floor. I stayed on the job for five months, all the while hating the difficulty of the work, the poor money, and the conditions under which I worked. By the time I left, I was determined never to go back there again. What is the topic discussed in the text? Answer: A thing which may be found at a special location for reusing materials is a Answer: I felt excited, curious and nervous at the same time. I was excited because I would be skipping two grades. I was curious because I didn't know how high school students were taught. However, I was most nervous at the idea that I would be doing high school homework. I had just walked into the class when the bell rang. This wasn't a good start. But the kid in front of me looked very friendly. Luckily, since it was the first day of school, my teacher talked for about half of the period and we just had the rest of the period to start the class. I didn't know what he was saying at first, but when I saw the problems on the paper, I knew what to do. The next day, the kid said hi and I said hi back. We got into a conversation. It seemed that whenever I was talking to my friend, everyone stopped staring at me. Then the class started. It was easy. But I was still uncomfortable because I couldn't look around without meeting others'eyes, so I just kept my eyes on the whiteboard and on my textbook. However, my friend didn't show up the next day, and the eighth graders just kept on staring at me. I didn't know why. The next day everything changed. My friend was back to school. I was praised for my homework. Everyone stared at me less. Some started to be a little friendlier towards me. I felt at home at last here. My teachers also seemed pretty nice. What may make the author curious? Answer:
Question: Our tours leave directly from the Las Vegas Strip, no terminals, saving up to 2 hours' time! Our prices include all fees -- including fuel and anything else you can think of; we also beat any competitor's price by 5%. South Rim -- Grand Canyon Luxury Coach Tour $79 Per Person Our Grand Canyon Tour is the only luxury Motor Coach Tour that stops at Bright Angel Lodge for a full three hours, at which point you can take the free shuttle to multiple viewpoints including Mather Point, Yavapai Point ... click above for more details. West Rim -- Grand Canyon Tour $125 Per Person This tour stops at Haulapai Indian Reservation of the Grand Canyon. These stops include Eagle and Guano Point. There're also extra stops along the way for shopping and smoking. This package not only includes the Grand Canyon, but a short photo stop at the Hoover Dam as well ... click above for more details. Airplane Tours & Helicopter Tours These breath-taking tours take you into the skies above the Grand Canyon for a once-in-a-life-time adventure that can be shared by the whole family or by yourself. Airplane Tours starting at $164 per person, and Helicopter Tours starting at $304 per person ... click above for more details. Hoover Dam -- AM / PM Mini Tour $37.5 Per Person Hoover Dam Mini Tour starts your morning or afternoon with a short drive to Lake Mead -- created by the Dam in 1935, and continues along to include the Power Plant Tour, guided by a Hoover Dam expert. A delicious lunch is included ... click above for more details. *Las Vegas to Hollywood 1 Day Tour $185 Per Person This tour takes you sightseeing down and around Hollywood Blvd/Beverly Hills, home of the world-famous Walk of Fame as well as Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It ends at beautiful Santa Monica Beach & Pier ... click above for more details. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Mather Point is included in the only luxury Motor Coach Tour. B. Two tours mentioned both involve the Hoover Dam. C. Lake Mead is a man-made project. D. Travelers can enjoy plays at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Answer: D Question: Everybody has one of those days when everything goes wrong. This is what happened to Harry. He got up one morning very late because he had forgotten to wind up his alarm clock . He tried to shave quickly and cut himself. When he got dressed he got blood all over his clean shirt, so he had to find another one. The only other shirt that was clean needed ironing , so he ironed it. While he was ironing it, there was a knock at the door. It was the man to read the electricity meter . He showed him where the meter was, said good-bye and found that the iron had burnt a hole in his shirt. So he had to wear the one with the blood on it after all. By this time it was very late, so he decided he couldn't go to work by bus. He telephoned for a taxi to take him to work. The taxi arrived and Harry got in and began to read the newspaper. In another part of the town, a man had killed a woman with a knife and was seen to run away in a taxi. When Harry's taxi stopped outside his office, a policeman happened to be standing there. He saw the blood on Harry's shirt, and took him to the police station. He was kept till 3 o'clock in the afternoon before the police were sure that he was not the man they wanted. When he finally arrived at the office at about four, his boss took a look at him and told him to go away and find another job. Why did Harry wear the shirt with blood on it? A. The iron had burnt a hole in his clean shirt B. The only other needed ironing. C. He had only one shirt D. He cut himself and got blood all over his shirt. Answer: A Question: Old age may not sound exciting.But recent findings offer good news for older pepole and for people worried about getting older. Researches found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty.In fact,they say by the age of eighty--five,people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old. The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States.The Gallup Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008.At that time,the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty--five.The searches asked questions about emotions like happiness,sadness and worry.They also asked about mental or emotional stress. Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study.His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of twenty--two and twenty--five.The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties.Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies.The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties. The study also showed that men and women had similar emotional patterns as they grew older.Hower,women at all ages reported more sadness,stress and worry than men.Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older.One theory is that,as people grow older,they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotion .They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences. The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children,being unemployed or being single.But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well--being related to age. Which is the best title for the passage? A. No Worrying about Getting Older B. Older Men are Happier than Older Women C. The Factors Affecting the Happiness of Old people D. For Lots of people,Getting Older Means Getting Happy Answer: D Question: The dollar is becoming weaker and weaker. What effects will it have? Look at the recordhigh price of oil. Even if the same amount of oil is being pumped out of the ground,since it is traded in dollars and the dollar has weakened,the price of oil has increased to make up for the lost value of the dollar,creating a sort of vicious cycle . Oilproducing countries don't want to keep all the dollars they are getting for their oil,since it's declining in value,so they exchange their dollars for euros or other currencies. That pushes more dollars back out into currency markets,which in turn pushes down the dollar's value. One expert told ABC News that Russia used to have 90 percent of its financial reserves in dollars. It now has 45 percent in dollars,45 percent in euros and 10 percent in British pounds. In the US itself,the news is mixed. It's good,because it makes what we produce here cheaper to sell in foreign markets,and that in turn spurs exports of our products around the world. That translates into more manufacturing and more jobs. But a weak dollar is bad,because it leads to inflation in this country. Imports from foreign countries will become more expensive,and in particular,oil will be more expensive. That puts pressure on businesses to increase prices for anything that uses oil or products that come from overseas. One benefit for American shoppers is that China has largely pegged its currency to ours,so that keeps the price of Chinesemade goods low and therefore,keeps a check on inflation. It can be inferred that _ . A. the American economy is having a hard time B. Russia is making the situation worse on purpose C. American export businesses would like a stronger dollar D. Chinesemade goods remain as competitive as before in the USA Answer: D Question: There is a one-day holiday in most western countries on New Year's Day. The real celebration begins on New Year's Eve-the night before New Year's Day. There are several interesting customs in the west, and there are many differences in different countries. Though Christmas is a good time for families to get together, New Year's Day is a time for some western people to be with friends. On New Year's Day, there are always parties. At such parties, there is food, drinks and dances until New Year comes At midnight, people often say "Happy New Year! "to each other. In many western countries, _ are let off at midnight and some people like to shout aloud to drive away evil spirits. In the west, _ on New Year's Day. A. friends always get together B. friends write to each other C. people can have a week's holiday D. people go from one country to another Answer: A
Terry Thomas has a very boring job ,although it pays very well .What Terry does is sitting in a rowboat all day long .He makes $ 16.37 an hour ,which is certainly an excellent wage for sitting in a little boat and doing nothing. The boat stays all day under a bridge that is being rebuilt. There is a distance of about 100 feet between the boat and the workers on the bridge overhead. The rest of Terry's fellow workers are up on the bridge working. Terry's job is to rescue anyone who falls off the bridge into the water. So far, no one has given him anything to do .Although he's delighted that none of his companions has fallen into the water, he also admits that the job is very boring because there is nothing to do. No one on the work crew really wants duty on the boat. But the job is a union requirement, and it must be filled. To quality for the job, a person must be an excellent swimmer and have training in lifesaving skills. Only a few men on the work crew meet those standards. Before Terry took the boat job, several others had it and gave up because they found it so tedious. What does Terry do in his little boat all day? He spends a good bit of time making sure that his suntan lotion is adequate for the job of protecting his skin. He reads and listens to the radio .Each day he looks forward to lunch and then to quitting time. The best part of Terry's job is _ . A. the books they give him B. getting to work with his friends C. the chance of promotion D. the pay, lunch, and quitting time Answer: D. the pay, lunch, and quitting time Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands but never made it because most people were afraid of the awful storms. Finally, a short, thin man, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer still hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy all day, and the farmer felt pleased with the man's work. Then one night the wind blew strongly. Jumping out of the bed, the farmer carried a lantern and rushed next door to the hired man's sleeping quarters. Farmer shook the little man and shouted, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" But the little man said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." The farmer had no time to lose his temper. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his surprise, he found everything had been prepared. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired man meant. When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally and physically , you have nothing to worry about. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired man in the story was able to sleep because he had protected the farm against the storm. The farmer was _ with the little man's word at first. A. angry B. pleased C. excited D. puzzled Answer: D. puzzled The blue tits have been inspecting the nest-box again this year. The male is the house-hunter but the female will make the final choice. He lands at the hole and turns his head to expose his white cheeks as a signal to attract the female from where she has been feeding. Among many birds that nest in holes, the male has a light-coloured patch on its plumage which acts as signal for drawing the female's attention to a suitable nesting-place. Unlike the blue tit, the redstart may be only the male that strikingly coloured and the female is not beautiful. A few years ago I was lucky enough to spot a pair of redstarts in action in a Walsh wood. The male was leading an interested female to holes that he had previously checked out. He sat at the entrance of each hole and put his head on to show off his white forehead, or his head in to reveal his tail. If the female failed to react to his visual signals, the male sometimes sang for extra effect, while gliding towards her on spread wings and tail. Once the female accepts by following the male through the hole the displays stop, you must be at the right place at the right time to watch them. You can spot a pair of redstarts in a Walsh wood _ . A. at any time B. regularly C. in April D. occasionally Answer: D. occasionally Mrs Smith is going shopping with her son.They are looking for presents for Mr Smith's birthday.They drive to the shop mall on Baker Street. Mrs Smith goes to the Electrical Shop on the third floor. When the woman gets to the counter,she finds the camera she wants to buy is sold out.She finds another kind of camera,but it is too expensive.Then she finds a compact camera. That is a small camera.There is a discount on it.but she does not know if her husband likes it.So she decides not to buy that one. Tom goes to the Men's Clothing Shop on the first floor.The boy is looking for a jumper for his father.He has only $ 10 in his pocket and it's not enough.Then he waits for his mother to come.At last,they buy the jumper for Mr Smith. What do they want to buy for Mr Smith at first? A. A camera. B. A jumper. C. A camera and a jumper. D. They don't decide. Answer: C. A camera and a jumper. Forty-three years seems like a long time to remember the name of a mere acquaintance. I have forgotten the name of an old lady, who was a customer on the paper route in my home town when I was a twelve-year-old boy. Yet it stays in my memory, for she taught me a lesson of forgiveness that I shall never forget. On a winter afternoon, a friend and I were throwing stones onto the leaning roof of the old lady's house from a spot near her backyard. The object of our play was to observe how the stones changed to missiles as they rolled to the roof's edge and shot out into the yard. I found myself a perfectly smooth rock and threw it out. The stone, however, slipped from my hand and headed straight for a small window on the old lady's back porch. At the sound of fractured glass, we knew we were in trouble. We ran as fast as possible. I was too scared about getting caught to be concerned about the old lady with the broken window in winter. However, a few days later, when I was sure that I hadn't been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune. She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer able to act comfortably in her presence. I made up my mind that I would save my paper delivery money, and after three weeks I had the seven dollars that I thought would cover the cost of her window. I put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost. I put the letter through the letter slot in her door. My soul felt _ and I could have the freedom of, once again, looking straight into the old lady's kind eyes. The next day, I handed the old lady her paper and was able to return the warm smile that I was receiving from her. She gave me a bag of cookies. I thanked her and felt an envelope in it. When I opened the envelope, inside it were the seven dollars and a short note reading, "I'm proud of you." Which of the following is NOT true according to the text? A. The writer broke the window on purpose. B. The incident happened 43 years ago. C. The writer felt guilty a few days later. D. The old lady didn't take the writer's money. Answer: A. The writer broke the window on purpose.
Australia is sometimes called "the lucky country". One reason is the wonderful riches under the earth: gold, silver, iron, coal and many other precious metals. Oil and natural gas have helped to build big industries. Victoria, the southeastern state, has a large number of industries. Oil is no problem for them. The Bass Strait, off the coast of Victoria, has been one of the country's biggest oil fields for many years. South Australia is the driest of all the states, but it does have the Murray River. The river brings greenness and life to the state's southeast corner. In the early days of Australian history, the Murray River was South Australia's main road. Before real roads and railways came, the river carried people and goods from the coast up into the country. Some towns on the Murray still keep the old riverboats, and visitors can ride on them. People sometimes call Australia "the lucky country", because _ . the country has very rich natural resources "Humans should not try to avoid stress any more than they would _ food, love or exercise," said Dr. Hans Selye, the first physician to document the effects of stress on the body. While here's on question that continuous stress is harmful, several studies suggest that challenging situations in which you're able to rise to the occasion can be good for you. In a study of 158 hospital nurses, those who faced considerable work demands but deal with the challenge were more likely to say they were in good health than those who felt they couldn't get the job done. Stress that you can manage also promote immune function. In a study at the Academic Center for Dentistry inprefix = st1 /Amsterdam, researchers put volunteers through two stressful experiences. In the first, a timed task that required memorizing a list followed by a short test, subjects believed they had control over the outcome. In the second, they weren't in control. They had to sit through a bloody video on surgical procedures. Those who did the memory test had an increase levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that's the body's first line of defense against germs. However, the video-watchers experienced a fall in the antibody. Stress encourage body to produce certain stress hormones . In short bursts these hormones have a positive effect, including improved memory function. "They can help nerve cells handle information and put it into storage," says Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University inNew York. But in the long run these hormones can have a harmful effect on the body and brain. "Continuous stress is not good for you," says Richard Morimoto, a researcher at Northwestern University in Illinoisstudying the effects of stress on one's life, "It's the occasional burst of stress or brief experience of stress that could be protective. " Dr. Bruce McEwen ofRockefellerUniversitybelieves that _ . short bursts of stress hormones improve memory function Which of these are essential to people who commute to work in an automobile? dead dinosaurs Many French teachers and parents complain that their kids are less bright than they were. They say young people visit museums less often and spend too much time on the Internet. They only read comics and listen to music, and like American culture more than their own. But is this true? A recent survey shows that many French kids spend their time as other kids always have. Most French teens love music, with 86% putting it as their top hobby, above the cinema, sport and television. French kids read a lot and like different things, from Japanese cartoons to American novels. Many French people worry that their children watch too many American films and listen to too much American music. But the results of this survey show that French young people like their own culture. As Silvia Berlin, a student from Paris, says, " _ " Many French teachers and parents _ . don' t think their kids are as clever as they were Jack thought himself a basketball fan. He watched quite a lot of American NBA basketball games. Not only did he watch them, he spent much of his free time playing on the court too. Then came the final year of his middle school. All of his regular teammates stopped showing up on the court because they were simply too busy preparing for the high school entrance exam to play. He was, of course, under much stress himself, like everyone else. A good exam result meant a good high school; a mediocre score meant a mediocre school. _ . However, he loved basketball so much that he still found time to play, this time with a group of guys who were said to have skipped classes before. Some of his teachers started worrying about him. They asked his mother to go to school to let her know that Jack was hanging out with problem kids. When his mother returned home that day, she wanted to talk to Jack. Knowing the purpose of her visit to the school, Jack thought his mother would punish him for befriending those bad guys. To his surprise, his mother was not angry with him at all. She wanted to hear her son's side of the story. So Jack told his mother about what he knew of Simon and Peter. Simon's parents were badly ill; Peter's father had lost his job. They both seemed to Jack to be normal kids. Jack's mother thought for a moment, then went on to say that she was OK with her son playing with them and that she and her son should think of ways to help these kids. Soon Jack's mum introduced some part-time jobs to Simon and Peter, which they accepted. She believed in her son and cared about those who were less lucky. Jack's basketball friends and he have left for different places, but they still keep in touch. He knows Peter is now a manager of a local bank. Simon is currently a freshman at a university. Sadly, it is impossible to get together to play basketball again, but whenever they get on the phone, they talk about it all the time. The main idea of the passage is to _ . try to understand children and help problem kids
Question: Who hasn't found themselves reaching for the closest food available when they're tired and stressed? More and more research is proving that this isn't all in our mind. Some foods really do lead to a change in our moods . Carbohydrate for calm This is how some people medicate themselves with food -- by reaching for cookies or pasta whenever they're upset. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work. You must eat a meal consisting of 100% carbohydrate, on an empty stomach, to obtain the serotonin increase so that you have a good mood. To get the wishedfor effect, you must not eat anything for four hours and then eat at least 30 grams of straight carbohydrate. Dry cereal , a piece of bread with jam, or a potato should _ Protein for power Of course, sometimes we don't need to be calm and sleepy.Sometimes we need a great deal of mental concentration, so this is when it's important to mix protein and carbohydrate. The protein will prevent the tryptophan from flooding your brain,and the rise in serotonin won't occur. Why dessert makes us happy Fat and sugar cause the brain to let go endorphins , which send pleasure signals throughout the body. This would be fine, except humans are not particularly good at stopping at one cookie or cake. You can also satisfy your sweet tooth by choosing fruit for dessert. Timing your meals for energy Blood sugar drops after four hours of going without food, causing a decrease in energy. Eating usually fixes this within 20 to 30 minutes, but don't suppose that eating more will cause a faster increase in energy. When you eat has as much of an effect on your mood as what you eat. If you regularly go for a long period of time between meals, rethink your schedule and plan ahead. The function of protein is _ . A. to help you keep calm and sleepy B. to make you feel energetic C. to lead you to slowness D. to increase serotonin in your brain Answer: B. to make you feel energetic Question: When several different people look at the same person,it's not unusual for each of them to see different things;when you alone observe one behavior or one person at two different times,you may see different things.The following are but some of the factors that lead to these changing perceptions . (1)Each person's perceptions of others are formed by his or her own cultural conditioning education,and personal experiences. (2)Sometimes perceptions differ because of what we choose to observe and how we deal with what we've observed.It is not necessarily true that person's perception is based on observations of a particular person.Your observations may be totally controlled by what others have told you about this person;or you may focus primarily on the situation or role relationship.Most people do not use the same yardstick to measure their parents,their friends and strangers. (3)Sometimes we see only what we want to see or don't see what may be obvious to others because of our own needs,desires,or temporary emotional states.This is a process known as selective perception.Selective perception is obviously more difficult when contradictory information is particularly obvious,but it can be done.We can ignore the " _ ".He's basically a good boy so what I saw was not shoplifting. We can reduce the importance of the contradictory information--All kids get into mischief .Taking a book from the bookstore isn't such a big deal."We can change the meaning of the contradictory information." It wasn't shoplifting because he was going to pay for it later. The first factor given by the author that affects our perception is _ . A. the abilities of one's auditory and visual sensors B. cultural background and personal experiences C. experiences one learns from others D. critical measures taken by other people Answer: B. cultural background and personal experiences Question: Each nation has many good people who help to take care of others. For example, some high school and college students in the United States often spend many hours as volunteers in hospitals, orphanages or homes for the old. They read books to the people in these places, or they just visit them and play games with them or listen to their problems. Other volunteers go and work in the homes of people who are sick or old. They paint, clean up, or repair their houses, do their shopping or mow their lawns . For boys who no longer have fathers there is an organization called Big Brothers. College students and other men take these boys to baseball games or on fishing trips and help them to get to know things that boys usually learn from their fathers. Each city has a number of clubs where boys and girls can go to play games or learn crafts . Some of these clubs show movies or organize short trips to the mountains, beaches, museums or other places of interest. Most of these clubs use a lot of high school and college students as volunteers because they are young enough to remember the problems of younger boys and girls. Volunteers believe that some of the happiest people in the world are those who help to bring happiness to others. , Why do most of the boys' and girls' clubs use many high school and college students as volunteers? A. Because they have a lot of free time. B. Because they are very young and they can remember many things. C. Because they know how to do the work. D. Because they like younger boys and girls. Answer: B. Because they are very young and they can remember many things. Question: AROUND HANGZHOU is a special news program in English on HTV-1. It's about the city and lasts for 8 minutes. You can watch the program at 22:27 p.m. every Sunday and watch it again at 7:30 a.m. and 15:35 p.m. on Monday. Tel: 85195197 Add: 310004,139 North Ring Road, Hangzhou[ HANGZHOU WEEKLY is to help foreigners understand more about the city. It's a news edition in English in Hangzhou. It usually appears on the 48th edition of the city's most popular newspaper CITY EXPRESS every Thursday. Tel: 85051699 Add: 310041, 218 Tiyuchang Road, Hangzhou. IN TOUCH is an English language magazine. Turn the pages and inside you'll find passages on history, art, music, sports, travel and food of Zhejiang. At the end of every month you can get the magazine in hotels, restaurants and cafes all around Zhejiang without paying. Tel: 87630035 87633103 Add: 310007, 5 Huanglong Road, Hangzhou AROUND HANGZHOU can be watched _ . A. once a week B. twice a week C. three times a week D. four times a week Answer: C. three times a week Question: What's necessary for the production of honey? A. maple syrup or corn syrup B. a honey producing factory C. a can of pesticide D. liquid from plant flowers Answer: D. liquid from plant flowers
Paul was dealing with _ . The new girl Linda in class really liked him a lot. Paul was not happy about it. Paul's good friend, Sam, tried to comfort him. "What's the big deal? I think Linda is kind of cute and nice enough." Paul glared at Sam. "Then why don't you ask her to be your girlfriend? There she is, sitting all by herself at the other end of the cafeteria. Go there and ask her to be your honey!" "She's crazy about you, not me," Sam replied. "Well, I don't want any girlfriend, especially not a girl like her! "Paul growled. Sam wouldn't give up. "The only thing pesky about her is that she keeps writing you those notes ." "I don't like notes at all!" Paul interrupted. He took another sip of milk. "Did you notice those strange brown eyes? Why aren't they normal red or pink?" Sam took another look at Linda. "I think her face is a lovely shade of green. And her dark green curly hair is quite pretty. Besides, she's very gentle and that's what really matters." Paul stuck out his tongue. "I think I'm going to be sick! I'd better save my dessert for later." He crammed a small bag of Maggot Munchies into his even smaller shirt pocket. "The fact is, I have a problem. That girl is getting on my nerves! " Sam followed Paul's example and decided to save his dessert for later. However, he carefully placed the bag into his lunch box. "Do you have any ideas about how to solve your problem?" Tremor asked. "I'm going to be mean and rude to her," Paul announced. "I'll call her names and make ugly faces at her." "That's how you treat everyone," Sam reminded his friend. Paul nodded. "It's time that Linda got to know the real Paul !" Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Sam thought that Linda was cute. Wade is my good friend. We study at the same school. At weekends he usually turns on his computer. He sends and gets e-mails to and from his friends back in France. He also gets on the Internet to learn about what is going on in the world. His parents sometimes take him to some places of interest in China. Sometimes I ask him to come over to my home for a weekend. My parents say that they can't understand what we talk about because there are two languages in our talks--Chinese and English. My mother sometimes says to him,"Can you talk to my son in Chinese only,Wade?" He always smiles and answers, "Not today. I'm going to speak good Chinese very soon." He is not good at Chinese and I am weak at English. But we like these talks because we can learn when we are talking. Who writes the passage? A friend of Wade's American TV and movies once gave a tough and cruel picture of the American police, though now there are TV series which have _ as heroes and defenders of society. The police are grateful for the good publicity and their new image, especially in cities where there are black Jews, who live under poverty line. White policemen are now careful of how they speak and act towards their fellow black citizens. The cop is a city or a State employee. He cannot arrest anyone outside his city or his State. He cannot even cross the border into a neighbor State in search of a criminal. If he does, he can be charged with breaking the law of that State. The police who have to be really tough are those who operate in big cities, like New York,Chicago and Detroit, which have large ghettos and organized crimes. Since the majority of criminals are armed, American cops have to use their guns more often than most policemen in other places and the car chases through the crowded streets of Manhattan, which are a favorite feature of gangster movie, are not so exaggerated . American cops get shot down, run over, stabbed, beaten up, and their wives are in constant fear that one day their men will not come home. Many policemen do a lot to help children whose parents are criminals. They understand better than most citizens the terrible misery of the Jews. They feel sorry for the drug addicts, but often treat roughly the "pushers" who sell the drugs--when they can catch them. They have been accused of making no serious attempt to break up the various drug rings. They say that such task would be never-ending. American cops have to use their guns more often than most policemen because _ . most of the criminals in prefix = st1 /Americaare armed As the population grows and temperatures rise, it will become more difficult to grow enough food for everyone. So, scientists are exploring the planet for plants that do not need as much water as today's crops. The Mojave Desert in the US state of California is home to some of these plants. Scientist Heather Rose Kates of the University of Florida is in that desert. She is searching along roads for a plant called coyote melon which is a kind of squash .Coyote melon may not taste good, but it can be grown in places that have little rainfall. The desert where it grows gets just 15 to 20 centimeters of rain per year, or less. Other kinds of squash need at least two and a half centimeters per week to grow. Scientists are considering combining wild coyote melon with regular squash to see if they can make a tasty vegetable that doesn't need as much water to grow. That could be useful on a planet growing warmer and more crowded every day. Andy Jarvis works at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. He says farmers will need to produce 50 to 70 percent more food by 2050 to feed the world. So, he says, researchers are studying the wild versions of farm-grown crops. But he says there is a problem. He says many wild versions of farmed plants are disappearing. He says they are threatened and scientists have not collected their seeds for future use. Scientist Kates is part of an international effort to gather these plants and save their seeds while it is still possible. Workers are collecting wild potatoes in Argentina and wild peppers in Para-guav. The plants and seeds will be sent for storage to the Global Seed Vault in Norwav and at Kew gardens in Britain. Ms Kates spends most of her time in a laboratory. She says gathering plants has helped her understand more about them. Scientists want to combine wild coyote melon with regular squash in order to _ . produce a delicious vegetable with less water to grow In a recently published book, I came across some exercises with interesting names such as fishbone diagrams, lotus flowers and clustering. As I used these exercises in my classes, I noticed that students were interested. They said more and wrote more. They enjoyed expressing their ideas and sharing them in groups. They were no longer passively _ , but actively taking part in the lesson. I find that creativity can act as a way to increase participation and improve fluency. Creativity has become a popular word in recent years. Scholars in arts, psychology, business, education and science are all working to get a deeper understanding of it. Robert J. Stemberg is a creativity specialist and Yale professor of psychology. He defines creativity as "the ability to produce work that is both new (original) and appropriate(applicable to the situation ) ". This definition is useful, as we want our students to use language in a new way and to use it correctly and properly. Mot scholars say there are two types of creativity: big "C" creativity and small "c" creativity. Big "C" creativity refers to genius level thinking that results in artistic masterpieces and scientific breakthroughs. Small "c" creativity refers to everyday level thinking that can be used in any situation our emphasis is on the latter. While it goes without saying that any of our students could go on to be the next Picasso or Edison, our aim is to help students produce more ideas and use language in a new way. It can be inferred from the passage that the author thinks the exercises in the book were _ . Creative
Old George selected his food in the supermarket more carefully than NASA chose its astronauts. When he left the cashier, he was pleased to think that he had saved 80 cents today. At the exit, the cold wind made him think of his gloves. He looked for them in his coat and pants but could not find them anywhere. He had bought the black gloves at a good price, for just $35, years ago. They were soft and very comfortable. He had taken great care looking after them, so they were _ . George, calm on the outside but mad on the inside, re-entered the store. He followed the same route he had walked before. Several minutes of searching turned out to be in vain . His black gloves were gone. "People have changed," he said to himself. "Years ago, if somebody picked up something lost, they would give it back. Not any more!" He stared at anybody wearing black gloves to see if they looked like his. On his way to the dairy section, he noticed a lady wearing a pair of black gloves. He sped up and in three seconds was in front of her. But when the surprised woman looked over, his eyes dropped, for her gloves were just far too small to be his. He went over to the cashier to ask if she had received any lost gloves, but she said no. He finally walked out into the street. A few days later, poor George decided to buy another leather pair. Before getting on the subway, he stepped into the supermarket again to see if by any chance his gloves had been returned to the lost and found office. "What color are they?" the woman in the office asked. "Black," he gave the same answer. She looked into her drawer and drew out a pair of men's leather gloves. "Are they?" "Yes! Those are mine," George exclaimed, his eyes full of joy. When George entered the supermarket again a few days later, he _ . wanted to try his luck SAN FRANCISCO--The "Reading Wizard", an 11 - year - old - boy, whose offer to read to children without being paid at a local library was refused by libraries, will get to read to younger kids after all. Mayor Willie Brown last Wednesday ordered San Francisco Public Library officials to allow John O'Connor to read to preschool children to get them interested in books and stop them from watching television and video games. "I didn't expect this kind of attention. " John said, "It's just shocking." John has chosen his first book, "The King's Giraffe", and made up fliers inviting neighborhood children, aged from three to six, to the Presidio Branch every Wednesday afternoon. He planned to call himself the "Reading Wizard" and wear a special hat, fake glasses and a black coat. But his idea was refused - on the phone, in person and finally with a letter from Toni Bernardi, the chief of the library's children and youth services. Using terms like "age appropriate material" ,she wrote that only library workers are allowed to read to children. John then went to a member of the city board of supervisors , who advised him to write letters to the library officials. "Our libraries are supposed to turn kids on, not to turn them off." Brown said he enjoyed "the creative idea, the sense of civic duty and the caring for others that John clearly showed us." Who is the "Reading Wizard"? John O'Connor. San Francisco has long been a favorite place for travelers who are ready to learn languages.The mild year-round climate, shops and restaurants, bars and night-life, and some of the most beautiful scene in the US attract many visitors to this relaxing and welcoming city.Students are sure to find the San Francisco Bay Area an interesting, safe and friendly place in which they can live and study.This is the most important. English School in San Francisco is located in the heart of the city.It is one of the best San Francisco English language schools.You can see views of the city from your classroom! Many buses stop less than a five-minute walk from the school, which is also just a two-minute walk from the famous Union Square, San Francisco Shopping Centre, the Financial District, Yerba Buena gardens and the Museum of Modern Art.The school is minutes away from the cable cars to Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf and a boat ride on the bay. San Francisco is a great place to study English and learn about American culture, offering excellent opportunities in sports, entertainment and arts.The city borders excellent beaches, and you can sail or surf all year round. San Francisco has more restaurants than any other city in the US, and is the home of many theaters, music and dance companies, as well as museums.Just walking through the many areas of San Francisco, you are certain to find something wonderful. That San Francisco attracts students most might be _ . a good place to live and study in "I never did hate the Yankees . All that I hated was the war..." That's how my great-aunt Bettie began her story. I heard it many times as a child, whenever my family visited Aunt Bettie in the old house in Berryville, Virginia. Bettie Van Metre had good reason to hate the Civil War. Her brother was killed at Gettysburg, and her husband, James, a Confederate officer, was taken prisoner and sent to an unknown prison camp somewhere. One day in late September, Dick came to Bettie reporting that he had found a wounded Union soldier in a farmhouse half a mile away from the Van Metre home. When talking about her first sight of the man in the blood-spotted blue uniform, she always used the same words. _ She went out into the cool air, trying not to be sick at the thought of that smashed right hand, that missing left leg. The man's papers Bettie found in the farmhouse showed his identity: Henry Bedell, 30 years old. She knew that she should report the presence of this Union officer to the Confederate army, but she wouldn't. This is how she explained it: "I kept wondering if he had a wife somewhere, hoping, and not knowing--just as I was. It seemed to me that the only thing that mattered was to get her husband back to her." Slowly, patiently, skillfully, Aunt Bettie fanned the spark of life in Henry Bedell. Of drugs or medicines she had almost none. And she was not willing to take any from the few supplies at the Confederate hospital. But she did the best she could with what she had. The October nights in the valley grew cold. With the help of Dick and his wife, she moved the Union officer at night, to a hidden room above the warm kitchen of her own home. But the next day, Bedell had a high fever. Knowing that she must get help, she went to her family doctor, Graham Osborne. Dr. Osborne examined Bedell and said, "there was little hope unless proper medicines could be found." "I'll get them from the Yankees at Harpers Ferry." Bettie said. The doctor told her that Harpers Ferry was almost 20 miles away. Even if she reached them, the Yankees would never believe her. "I'll take proof," Bettie said. She found a blood-spotted paper bearing the official War Department seal . "When I show it, they'll believe me." Early the next morning she set off with a list of medical items. For five hours she drove, stopping only to rest her horse. The sun was almost down when she finally stood before the general at Harpers Ferry. The general listened, but did not believe her. "Madam," he said, "Bedell's death was reported to us." "He's alive," Bettie insisted. "But he won't be much longer unless he has the medicines on that list." "Well," the general turned to a junior officer, "see that Mrs. Van Metre gets the supplies." With the medicines, Bedell gradually recovered. Ten days later he was walking with sticks. "I'd better go back as soon as possible." Bedell told Bettie. So it was arranged that Dick should help Bettie deliver Bedell to Harpers Ferry in his wagon. Bedell lay down in a box filled with hay, his rifle and sticks beside him. At Harpers Ferry, the soldiers were amazed when the Union officer with the missing leg rose from his hay-filled box. Bedell told the story to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, who wrote a letter of thanks to Bettie and signed an order to free James Van Metre. It was arranged for Bedell to go with Bettie as she searched for her husband. Records showed that a James Van Metre had been sent to a prison camp in Ohio. Then at Fort Delaware, near the end of the line of prisoner, a tall man stepped out and walked clumsily into Bettie's arms. Bettie held him, tears streaming down her face. And Henry Bedell, standing by on his sticks, wept, too. Why wouldn't Bettie report the presence of Bedell to the Confederate army. Because Bedell was more a suffering human being than an enemy to Bettie. Parents are anxious about their children's education and should be more detached to allow them to develop naturally,a leading headteacher,Peter Tait,says. Writing in Attain,the magazine of the Independent Association of Prep Schools,Mr Tait said:"While parents are determined to do the very best for their child,they can end up doing the opposite."He said parents need to exercise"common sense and parental nature"when it comes to raising their children. He added:"Parents also need to have confidence in those whose job it is to look after their children's education.To do this requires a certain detachment,a willingness to trust the passage of time,focusing on whether their children are happy,challenged and purposeful and are learning the right values.If so,they will be fine." However,he said,some parents are changing from"sensible"and"moderate "people,who have faith in their schools and teachers,and are"turning into fighters ready to battle with anything and anyone on behalf of'their'child."What has made some parents put their own child at the centre of the universe and never to care about the rest?" And he also blamed the obsession over league tables for some parents'anxiety.He said:"League tables have caused too much anxiety for parents and have led to a boom in the number of tutoring agencies as parents feel they have no choice but to give their children a chance." Mr Tait acknowledged that being a parent has become increasingly difficult.He concluded:"While teachers may occasionally feel discouraged by over-sensitive and demanding parents,they should note that this parenting lark is rather more difficult than it used to be." What does Mr Tait think parents should care more about? Children's mental development.
Question: When policy experts debate climate change solutions, they often talk about "a price on carbon." They are arguing about whether companies should pay when they put carbon pollution in the air. Proponents say that it's simple economics -- if it's free to pollute, you'll get a lot of pollution. Opponents claim it will raise the cost of energy that's produced from high carbon sources, like coal. But here's the secret that most people seem to be missing: There already is a price on carbon, and it's paid by the taxpayers. Carbon pollution, like every other form of pollution, has an impact on the environment. Throwing waste into a river will cause the fish to die and the people who drink the water to get sick. And when you produce carbon pollution, you get climate change -- sea level rise, stronger storms, severe droughts, damage to agriculture, and more. All of those impacts cost money. Insurance rates go up when storms get more destructive. Taxes increase when cities have to rebuild bridges and roads. Military budgets go up when droughts and population changes cause conflicts. Not to mention impacts on agriculture and health care costs. In other words, the price on carbon is what we all pay when there is no market force to limit the pollution that causes climate change. So the debate is really about who will pay that price -- the companies who are making a profit from the fossil fuels, or the taxpayers who pick up the cost now? Right now, we have private profit and public cost. It's just like if we allowed every business to throw its garbage in the street because it's too expensive to have it moved away properly. Does it add a little bit to your dinner check to require that restaurants dispose of their trash properly? Sure. But it would be more expensive for you if the city had to clean the streets of their garbage every day. So just like we put a "price on garbage" we need a "price on carbon pollution." Now, a "price on carbon pollution" can mean a lot of things. You could tax companies based on the amount of carbon pollution they produce, and return the money to taxpayers. You could put a limit on how much they can produce, thereby requiring them to invest in ways to conduct business in a less polluting way. According to the passage, what does the "price on carbon pollution" means? A. Telling the taxpayers to refuse to pay taxes on carbon pollution B. Making the government invest to reduce carbon pollution C. Increasing prices of the products from companies. D. Taxing companies on carbon pollution they produce. Answer: D. Taxing companies on carbon pollution they produce. Question: When I was walking down the street the other day, I happened to notice a small brown leather wallet, lying on the sidewalk. I picked it up and opened it to see if I could find out the owner's name. There was nothing inside it except some change and an old photograph---- a picture of a woman and a young girl about twelve years old, who looked like the woman' s daughter. I put the photograph back and took the wallet to the police station, where I handed it to the desk sergeant . Before I left, the sergeant took down my name and address in case the owner might want to write and thank me. That evening I went to have dinner with my aunt and uncle. They had also invited a young woman so that there would be four people at the table. Her face was familiar. I was quite sure that we had not met before, but I could not remember where I had seen her. In the course of conversation, however, the young woman happened to mention that she had lost her wallet that afternoon. All at once I realized where I had seen her. She was the young girl in the photograph, although she was now much older. She was very surprised, of course, when I was able to describe her wallet to her. Then I explained that I had recognized her from the photograph I had found in the wallet. My uncle insisted on going to the police station immediately to claim the wallet. As the police sergeant handed it over, he said that it was an amazing coincidence that I had not only found the wallet, but also the person who had lost it. The young woman told of her loss of the wallet _ . A. at the beginning of the dinner B. during the conversation C. as soon as she saw the writer D. after the dinner Answer: B. during the conversation Question: "Blogging is helping students to think and write more critically ,"says an Australian researcher, "and can help draw out people who would otherwise not engage in debate." These are the preliminary findings of PHD research by Anne Bartlett-Bragg, a lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney, who has been using weblogs or blogs in her own teaching since 2001. "The students are thinking more critically." she says, "They are learning to be responsible and they're communicating outside the boundaries of the classroom and the institution, and they like that. "Bartlett-Bragg says in conventional teaching, students often rely on the lecturer as the main source of ideas and critique for their work. "I'm a bit over listening to my students giving me back in an essay what I've told them in class." she says. "I want them to think for themselves and get different perspectives." "What makes blogs useful is their interactive nature." she says. These web-based forums for discussing ideas, experiences or opinions allow students to discuss publicly what they are studying with other students and experts outside their own university. "I really encourage them to put their personal opinion in there, provided they are informed and backed up with evidence." Bartlett-Bragg says because a lot of academics in her field of electronic or e-learning now have their own blogs, students can engage directly with them. She says one of the most powerful facilities in weblogs is pinging, which involves a person positing a comment about someone else's work on their own blog. They use the "Trackback" tool to notify the author when they have published the comment, basically inviting them to discuss it. "They get such a buzz when they make a comment on another person outside the boundaries of the institution and that person responds, or even gives them some further reading." she says. "They are getting new perspectives that I can't give them in a normal lecture." What Bartlett-Bragg likes most is that blogs can help students to _ . A. think for themselves B. have stronger sense of responsibility C. know more about the world outside D. finish an essay assignment easily Answer: A. think for themselves Question: The world's premier spelling bee ended Thursday in the U.S.for a second year in a row after an in-tense lo-round showdown between two young competitors to deal with some of the English language's most obscure words. Vanya }hlvaShankar,13,and Gokul Venkatachalam,14,together raised the gold trophy in the 88th Scripps National Spelling Bee. Shivashankar,the sister of 2009 champion Kavya Shivashankar,initially gathered confidence as she went easily through such words as cytopoiesis,bouquetiere and thamakau.Venkatachalam,a basketball fan,also managed such tongue-twisters as poblacion,caudillismo and nixtamal. But as their eight fellow finalists failed one by one,the tension grew until they stood alone on stage* When Shivashankar,in the fourteenth round,correctly spelled scherenschnitte,the Germanderived word for artistic paper cutting, official bee pronouncer Jacques Bailly, broke the news to. Venkatachalam . contest,Bailly said,was about to run out of words,and if Venkatachalam spelled his next word correctly,he and his rival would be declared joint winnersa repeat of last year's surprise. The winning word came so easily to the eighth-grader from the branch St.Louis,Missouri suburb of Chesterfield that he skipped the bee contestant's routine of asking for the word's origin,meaning and usage in a sentence*"Nunatak,"the devoted LeBron James fan said,spelling the Inuit-derived word for an icy island as easily as if he was spelling d. -g or c-a-t. Asked afterwards what went through his mind upon hearing the word,Venkatachalam frankly replied:"Me and Vanya are going to be champions." Joint winners of the contest were made because A. .Vanya and Gokul were equal to each other B. .it was previously planned by the organizer C. .producers and sponsors made the final decision D. .there's no more word prepared for contestants to spell Answer: D. .there's no more word prepared for contestants to spell Question: With its budget of $80 million , John Woo as director, and an all-star cast ,Red Cliffis the most expensive and ambitious Asian-financed film ever. Last week I saw the release of the second part, and _ does it shows. But watching the film as a foreigner I felt I was missing out on something. Not knowing my Cao Cao's from my Zhou Yu's, I was not even sure whom I wanted to win. Certainly after the opening scene, in which Cao Cao is seen watching a game of Cuju, an ancient Chinese variation of football, I knew who had my support. After all, any man who enjoys his football is someone after my own heart. But after Cao Cao resorted to some evil strategies against his enemies in the south, I wasn't so sure he was the man I should be rooting for. And there is a lot more toRed Cliff 2than just extravagant battle scenes. The film does not take itself too seriously. Conversations between leaders are littered with one-liners, many of which had the audience in laughter. There is even enough to keep fans of more romantic entertainment happy too. This includes a charming relationship between a southern spy and an innocent northern soldier. The characters' interaction provides some genuinely heart-warming moments in the middle of the battle. Clocking in at around two hours, the film certainly does justice to the history story. When I walked out the cinema, I felt as drained as Cao Cao's soldiers must have 1,800 years ago. When did the author change his attitude toward Cao Cao? A. When he read the history story about Cao Cao. B. When he saw Cao Cao was watching a game of Cuju, C. When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his enemies. D. When he saw the romantic love story of Cao Cao and a southern spy. Answer: C. When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his enemies.
Which of these will take the LONGEST time to observe? Answer: An acorn growing into an adult tree Which of the following organisms produces energy from sunlight? Answer: grass Parkour is a new sport that is developing quickly in the world. The aim of parkour is to jump, climb or run over any all stair, or fence on your path easily. Usually, it is done in a city environment. Practicers take very wall or roof as their training place. If you have seen the beginning of the James Bond movie Casino Royale, then you have seen an excellent example of parkour. David Belle, a young Frenchman, developed parkour in the 1990s. His father's experiences as a fireman as well as an acrobat influenced him a lot. His childhood friend, Sebastien Foucan, is the actor in the movie Casino Royale with his parkour performance. Foucan is thought to have developed free-running, which is a more artistic and skillful type of parkour. David belle traveled to India and said one way he trained was by watching a physical one. The aim is to become so skillful, and it is almost unnecessary for you to think about the different actions in running through a path full of barriers . Parkour is not exactly a sport. It is not developed fro competition. It is more about learning to control mind and body in difficult situations. There are many basic movements in parkour. One example is where practicers swing through the narrow space between two bars while keeping their body level with the ground. This is called the underbar. Other movements are the tic-tac and the kong vault jump. Skillful practicers seem to get out of control of gravity. The popularity has spread largely because of parkour videos and organizations on the Internet. And if you search on the Web, you will find parkour groups performing their skills near you. Who performed parkour in the movie Casino Royale? Answer: Sebastien Foucan. Experts do not really know when people began keeping fish as pets. But they say that people have been interested in fish for thousands of years. Some say the ancient Sumerians were the first civilization to keep fish in ponds more than four thousand years ago. The Chinese kept and studied carp and goldfish more than one thousand years ago. The ancient Romans kept eels as pets. And the Greek philosopher Aristotle made what is believed to be the first known study of sea life, including sharks and dolphins. Keeping fish at home in small water tanks called _ is extremely popular today. And everyone seems to enjoy visiting huge public aquariums that have opened around the world. By the middle of the eighteen hundreds, science had shown that plants, fish and other sea creatures could survive together under water. So it was no longer necessary to change the water in a tank for the fish to live there. This led to the building of the first public aquariums. The first aquariums opened in London, England in 1853. in the next fifteen years, other aquariums opened in Europe and the United States. By 1928, there were about forty-five public aquariums. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been recognized as the first aquarium in the United States and it shows visitors the underwater life in the bay. The Georgia Aquarium opening in 2005 says it is the largest in the world. It has more than one hundred thousand sea animals in thirty million liters of water including two whale sharks---the world's largest fish. Another aquarium re-opened in 2005 in Camden, New Jersey. The Adventure Aquarium first opened in 1992. It spent about fifty million dollars expanding its building and improving its exhibits. Aquariums provide the public with many chances to experience life under the sea. They can be found in most areas of the world. People might even want to start an aquarium at home and join the millions of people around the world who keep fish as pets. Which of the following is correct? Answer: The Moneterey Bay Aquarium is regarded as the best aquarium in America. Cars are an important part of life in the United States. Without cars most people feel that they are poor. And even though a person is poor, he doesn't really feel poor when he has a car. Perhaps you have heard of Henry Ford. He first started making cars in large numbers. Perhaps he didn't know how much the car was going to be to American culture . The car made the United States a nation on wheels . And it helped make the United States what it is now. The car has become popular in the United States. The Americans like to move around in cars. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money. In the United States _ . Answer: most people have cars
School Open Day Dear students, We have some interesting and fun things for you this term. On September 9th 2014, we have a School Open Day. It begins at 9:00 a.m. and finishes at 4:00 p.m. All parents can come to our school, have a cup of coffee, and meet our teachers and other parents. Your parents can go to your children's classrooms, have a talk with the principal , have a look at the clubs and ask any questions. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m, the parents can go to Room 106 for lunch. If you have any questions about the School Open Day, you can call John Smith --- the principal. The telephone number is 021-4899688. Welcome to our school and join us. School: Apple Tree Middle School The parents can be in the school for _ hours. A one B three C seven D eight Answer: C. seven Dear Mrs. Smith, I was a students of yours in Grade Six, and I hope you still remember me. I'm writing this letter because I want to let you know that the school year with you was important and special to me. It made a big contribution to my life. I know I was very quiet in your class, and you never said much to me. But you did something that made a big difference in my life. You see, all through my first year in school, I hated to read. Books were just words that had very little to do with me, and I was bored by them. I'll never forget the first day of Grade Six when you took out a thick book and began to read the story to our class. Your voice seemed to change with the people in the story, I couldn't wait until after lunch when you would read to the class. You read us all kinds of wonderful books. During the summer after my year in your class, I missed hearing the stories you would read. So one day I picked up a book and read it all on my own. I found out that I could make the words interesting, too. I love to read! Thank you for opening the world of books for me. Yours, Jenny How did Mrs. Smith teach reading? A She changed the story with the people in the books B She read aloud, so the students could remember the stories. C She read only the thick books to her students. D She drew pictures as she read. Answer: B. She read aloud, so the students could remember the stories. Ship tourism to Antarctica is on the rise: More than 35,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctic this summer. In 1992-1993, 6,750 visited Antarctica, according to the Antarctica Treaty. All of this tourism, however, is putting both tourists and the environment in great danger. Among the tourist ships that visit the continent, the Explorer, a Canadian ship, was one of the first. Put to use in 1969, it was built to carry tourists to Antarctica. Last week, however, it became the first commercial passenger ship to sink beneath the waters. Fortunately, all of the passengers and crew members were rescued from the ship. However, the sunken ship endangered the Antarctic's fragile environment. The ship was estimated to be holding 48,000 gallons of fuel. The accident was not unexpected. Both the US and UK had warned a conference of the Antarctic Treaty member countries in May that the tourism situation in this area was a potential disaster. The US said in a paper, people "should take a hard look at tourism issues now, especially those related to ship safety." Although the Antarctic seas are relatively calm, floating ice causes a potential threat to ships. The owner of the Explorer blamed the sinking on a fist-like hole in the ship created by ice. Many of the other large ships now visiting Antarctica are not designed especially against thick ice. Such ships generally can only come to the continent in summer. But the tourist rush is pushing ships into dangerous situations. "The increasing number of ships operating in Antarctic means that the ship are under great pressure to get there in time for the key visiting sites," the British government wrote in a paper at the meeting of member countries. As a natural frontier, Antarctica is in a messy legal situation. There are no obvious answers as to who is responsible for dealing with the threat that tourist may cause to human life and the environment. There is no coast guard for Antarctica. Do we want it to become Disneyland, or do we need some controls? Which of the following is true according to this passage? A Antarctica tourism has a history of about 17 years B The number of tourists to the Antarctic is over 5 times as large as that of 17 years ago. C The tourism boom has caused holes in the floating ice in the Antarctic. D The Antarctica Treaty is responsible for the problem. Answer: B. The number of tourists to the Antarctic is over 5 times as large as that of 17 years ago. Dragons are not real animals, but look like a combination of many animals such as snakes, fish and deer. They have two horns and a long moustache . With fantastic powers, they fly in the sky or swim in the sea. They can make rain, too. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and good luck. The emperors of ancient China loved dragons. Their clothes were covered with pictures of dragons. We are proud to call ourselves the "descendants of the dragon". In Chinese, "excellent" people are often called "dragon". A number of Chinese sayings and idioms talk about dragons, for example, " _ ," which means he or she will be successful. It is said that people born in the Year of the Dragon have certain characteristics. They are creative, confident, brave and quick-tempered. There are some famous "dragons" who have done excellent things, for example, Deng Xiaoping, the famous businessman, Li Jiacheng and the movie star Zhao Wei. They are all successful. There are also some traditional festivals about dragons in China, such as Dragon Head Raising Day and the Dragon Boat Festival. We have different kinds of activities to celebrate them. These two festivals come every year, but the Year of the Dragon comes every twelve years. The dragon is very important in Chinese culture. As the "descendants of the dragon", it is necessary for us to know the views on dragons in our culture. It can help us understand why our parents always want us to be "dragons". The year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Good luck to you! Which of the following years is the Year of the Dragon? A 1988 B 1998 C 2008 D 2018. Answer: A. 1988 Canada geese are large blue and white birds .When autumn arrives ,they have to fly south where the weather is warmer .The winters are so cold in Canada that the birds will die if they stay there . Last spring ,Bill Lishman found sixteen young Canada geese on his farm "They had lost their parents , "Bill thought . "These young birds won't know what to do in the autumn . Bill had a small plane and he decided to teach the birds to follow him .All through the summer ,he went on short trips in his plane and the young geese flew after him ." When the cold weather arrived in autumn ,Bill flew to Virginia in the United States ,600 miles south from his home in Canada .The geese follwed him all the way .Bill flew to Virginia and returned home . This spring ,Bill was waiting for the birds to come back .They didn't arrive ,so Bill flew to Virginia to get them .He looked for them for two weeks but he couldn't find them . When he arrived back home ,Bill found the geese waiting for him .Then had found the way home without him ! Canda geese have to flly south _ . A in spring B before autumn C in the winter D after summer Answer: D. after summer
The Appleton Club is the focal point of undergraduate ministry in The Memorial Church. The Appleton Club provides a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for undergraduates to grow and develop as faithful Christians as they grow and develop as intellectuals and professionals. We focus on building community through worship, study, and service, as well as through social gatherings and outings. All are welcome! For details on all the activities of The Appleton Club, or to be added to our e-mail list, contact _ or 617-496-1426. You can also visit us on Facebook at _ Our life together is centered around three weekly gatherings: Sunday Night Student Service 9:00 p.m., Appleton Chapel Every Sunday night we gather for a "come as you are" worship service that includes the celebration of Holy Communion. The service is designed to provide a peaceful and contemplative space to find peace and encounter the divine at the start of the week. Following the service, we gather downstairs in the Buttrick Room for food and some social time together. Wednesday Night Discussion Group 9:00 p.m., Sparks House, 21 Kirkland Street, Cambridge Throughout the academic year we will come together during the middle of the week to read and discuss the works of the late Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes. This spring we will continue discussing his best-selling book The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart as an entry point to conversations about what scripture is, what it isn't, and what it means for our lives as faithful contemporary Christians of the 21st century. Food will be provided. Friday Afternoon Social Gatherings 4:00 p.m., Sparks House, 21 Kirkland Street, Cambridge Every Friday afternoon we gather as a community to check in and wind down from the busy week. This is our time to plan special events, service trips, and retreats, as well as a safe place to ask those burning questions about faith, theology, and scripture that you've always wanted to know about but have been afraid to ask. From three weekly gatherings, which activity is not included? A Every Sunday night we hold the celebration of Holy Communion. B On Wednesday night of this spring we will discuss The Good Book. C Every Friday afternoon you can ask what you have been afraid to ask. D You can enjoy delicious food after gathering each time. Answer: D. You can enjoy delicious food after gathering each time. How could we live without the Internet? That's how most of us keep in touch with friends, find homework support, research cool place to visit, or find out the latest news. You can use it to do research for school, find out what movie is on near you, check out a college you're thinking about, or find a job or volunteer opportunity. Almost anything you can think of has a website about it. You've probably heard stories about people who get into trouble in chat rooms. Because users can easily _ , you may be cheated in the chat room. Everyone in the chat room looks like wearing a mask . Chat rooms often attract people who are interested in more than just chatting. They will sometimes ask visitors for information about themselves. The information might be about their families, or where they live. It shouldn't be given away. Usually, the people who request personal information like home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses use the information to do some illegal things. This might harm a person's or family's well-being. Of course, the Internet is home to millions of places you can and should visit. However, remember to protect yourself while online. Which can't the Internet do for you according to the passage? A Find out the latest news. B Research a cool place to visit. C Do homework D Get information of your school Answer: C. Do homework Unless we spend money to spot(,) and prevent asteroids now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists. Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don't threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth. But $500 million worth of new telescopes right now, then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we'll have a way to change its course. Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are (i) How likely the event is; (2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall. It would be the end of the world. "If we don't take care of these bid asteroids, they'll take care of us," says one scientist. "it's that simple." The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets(,) of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? "the world has less fear from doomsday rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them." Said a New York Times article. Which of the following best describes the author's tone in this passage? A Optimistic B Critical C Objective D Arbitrary Answer: C. Objective I'm a school girl. My brother and I are twins. We are both at school. We like school. My parents are both teachers. They work hard. My brother and I study at No. 1 Middle School. There are twenty-five boys and eighteen girls in our class. We go to school from Monday to Friday. We have no classes on Saturdays and Sundays. We usually get up at six o'clock, and have breakfast at half past six. We come to school at seven o'clock. Classes begin at eight. We have four lessons in the morning and two in the afternoon. We have lunch a fifteen past twelve. At three fifty we have sports. We study Chinese, math, English, geography, physics, history, politics and other lessons. We like Chinese. We like English, too. Some of us are good at it. We go home at five o'clock. We have supper at six o'clock. We do our homework at seven every evening and go to bed at half past nine, but sometimes we go to sleep at about ten. We work hard, we study for the people. We have _ a fifteen past twelve. A breakfast B lunch C supper D dinner Answer: B. lunch Traveling by bicycle is a very popular means of transportation throughout China. China has a huge population, and it is said that there is at least one bicycle for every two people within the country. Of course, many people in China ride bicycles purely for sport or exercise, but it's also a much more commonly accepted means of everyday transportation, as compared to countries such as the United States. If you are living for a long period of time in China, chances are you will want to purchase your own bicycle so that you can use it whenever you want for transportation or just for the enjoyment of riding. Even if you don't use a bicycle for everyday transportation, owning one can be a great way of enjoying some of the trails in the rural areas, just for fun. However, if you are just visiting China, renting a bicycle can be a more convenient choice. It is important to choose the correct bicycle for your use. You'll find that in China, the one-speed style of bicycle is extremely popular. These bicycles are great if you want to ride around in the city to see the sights. They are quite comfortable and easy to ride. You can often rent a bicycle for an entire day for around $15. However, if you wish to ride on some of the rural paths, a mountain bike style would be a better choice. They are great for different kinds of road surfaces, providing for a safer ride. If you are planning to have a desire to tour and still be able to carry packages with you, then a touring bike would be the best choice. These are generally the most expensive to rent, but are extremely handy for carrying packages and even some of your luggage along with you. You would like to own a touring bike probably because _ . A you have to ride on the road in the countryside B you have some packages to carry while traveling C you want to enjoy the sights in the big cities D it is suitable for all kinds of road surfaces Answer: B. you have some packages to carry while traveling
If a creature wishes to hunt, which senses would be avoided? Answer: People who put a smiley face at the end of a message, in an attempt to show feeling, show no feeling. I wish there was a symbol for two fingers in the air. I had some bad news this week. My manager informed me of this news via email. It was like hearing about the death of a loved one via pigeon. Bad news should only ever be delivered face to face or voice to voice. We seem to celebrate our numerous methods of communication, but really there is no communication at all. I talk to my plants more than I talk to my neighbors, I get text messages that take me three hours to read because they're written like this: "Hi, I ope you av a gr8 day. Call me La8tr." I had an email from someone this week that read, "Da ut ov 2day are really annoying me!" Ut? I had to say this 20 times before I understood it. Youth has now become ut. Haven't we taken enough from them--now we have to take their letters? I had an email recently from a girl who used to live over the road from me as a child. She wrote, "Hi Shazia, howz u? Im sure u used 2 live across the road from me. We sumtimes played tennis 2 gever at the park and you was in your eliment. I am married now wif 3 daughters." Then, to my horror, she ended the email with: "Im now teachin in Leeds. Luv Clare." Teaching? With English like this. It's like saying you're a train driver when you've never seen a train. It was like reading modern Morse code. Getting bad news via email makes it seem so much worse than it actually is. Just a few lines, no emotion, no comfort, not really an explanation. Just a few cold hard words. It's an excuse. Just write a few words and the problem of delivering it is no longer yours. A close friend recently told me she was very happy to announce she was getting married--and made the announcement by email. I don't know how she didn't fall off her chair with excitement while writing it. If you are really happy or really sad to announce something important, wouldn't you like a human reaction? Some euphoria, elation, tears, a punch in the face? I receive long text messages every day with information and explanations that I don't bother reading. They're boring, and annoy me. In the time it took someone to write me three laborious texts, they could have called, spoken to me, made some tea. People who put a smiley face at the end of a sentence, in an attempt to show feeling, show no feeling. I wish there was a symbol for two fingers in the air, because that's the one I'd send back. The telegram has been responsible for reporting world-shattering events when there were very few other options . Now we have options, and people opt for the least humane one. My mum, in an attempt to get down with the ut of today, asked me to teach her to text. Now she constantly texts me in block capitals, so it looks as if she is still angry and annoyed with me after all these years. People don't even write by hand any more. My doctor prints out prescriptions from his computer; even my mechanic prints out a receipt. I get typed Christmas cards and my friends send me emails. I get very excited when hand-written letters come through my door, only because they rarely do. When I was at school, the girls used to write letters to each other, even though we sat side by side and spoke to one another all day. I think it was a way of expressing private things we were afraid to say when we were 14 and too shy. We used to write things like, "You are my best friend, can't wait to sit next to you in math." I miss the personal method of communication. Once the pen was mightier than the sword, now it seems the keyboard is mightier than the pen. According to the writer, which of the following can support her opinion? Answer: Windows 8, apart from Windows 95, is the biggest surprise and the only version of Microsoft' s operating system that has been changed from the core when compared to its former one. However, a recent study has shown that under 20% of business owners would be willing to upgrade to the new version of Windows. The reason for this remains to be discussed and debated, and we will try to throw light on this research by providing you with some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of Windows 8. Generally speaking, there are a great number of plus sides related to upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Speed -- This is the biggest advantage to mention. Boot time has been reported to be up to nine times shorter than that with Windows 7. New passwords -- Instead of typing your passwords, Windows 8 will let you use gestures on your favorite photos to enter your password. This is not only practical but also extremely cool! Windows 8 experience -- Apart from computers, Windows 8 will be used on all devices, including smart phones, tablet PC's and so on. Also, owing to the fact that it has been specifically designed with touch screen users in mind, Windows 8, besides using keyboard and mouse, will offer a whole new user experience. However, there are still some disadvantages. The first one that has to be mentioned is that there is no Start Menu from Windows. Yes, there is no Start button in the lower left corner, and this might be a real puzzle of many Windows users. Also, many users have had a problem to get used to the new interface introduced by Windows 8. The biggest problem that is worth noticing is that Windows 8 was originally designed for touch screen users, and this may have a bad effect on desktop users who have gotten used to doing everything with the help of their keyboard and mouse. The most attractive aspect of Windows 8 is its _ . Answer: Welcome to Our School Library Our Library is in the south of our school. The Library is open to every student and the library card is free. You can borrow five books, one CD and four videos --three weeks for books, one week for CDs and videos at the same time. BOOKS 1. You can borrow picture books for children and all kinds of story books 2. You can enjoy newspapers and magazines in the reading room. 3. You can't take any newspapers or magazines out of the library VIDEO 1. You can borrow all kinds of video films, TV plays and music videos. 2. You can't watch videos here. AUDIO , You can borrow music audios and language audios. , You can enjoy listening in the special rooms here. If you want to get a library card, you _ . Answer: Tom was not old, but he did not have much hair. His wife, Grace, had thick, beautiful, black hair. They had one daughter. Her name was Jane, and she was four and a half years old. There was a photo of her father in the living-room, and a few days ago, Jane looked at it for a long time and then said to her mother, "Mummy, why had Dad got very little hair? " Grace laughed and said, "He's got very little hair because he thinks a lot, Jane. He' s a clever man." Jane looked at her mother's thick, black hair for a few seconds , and then she asked, "Mum, why have you got a lot of hair? " There was a photo of _ in the living-room. Answer:
Recently, one of my best friends, whom I've shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me.Since I moved to a new town several years ago, we've both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other. Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with.She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other self-destructive behavior.I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even stealing out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him.No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn't believe me.Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared. I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble.I felt like I was getting nowhere.I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang with a bunch of losers, especially her boyfriend. By the time she left, I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience.It had been so frustrating, I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship,but I didn't.I put the power of friendship to the final test.We'd been friends for far too long.I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself.I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything. A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend.I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face.It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life.Never had I been so proud of a friend. What did the writer worry about? Answer: The word "shanzhai" originally means "mountain village",but it means"copy"in Chinese now. I started to research this topic and found a whole new shanzhai world.There are shanzhai products and online games,even shanzhai culture.It is so popular that some people say to each other "have you shanzhaied today"?Like it or not,shanzhai has become part of our life in China. I even met a famous engineer recently who has just had his shanzhai mobile phone.He was so proud of it and would not stop talking about all the functions while showing off the look of his phone.I could hardly see the back cover as he had stuck fake logos "iPhone","No-kia"&"LG"on it. But why has shanzhai become so popular in China? Why do over 50 percent of the people surveyed by CCTV support it? Firstly,many may not realize it but for Chinese people,the word "shanzhai" also reminds us of" the heroes of Liangshan".Secondly, there would be no shanzhai without the Internet.Shanzhai has caught the interest of millions of Chinese online. There are also shanzhai celebrities.Many shanzhai singers can be seen performing in some places where people cannot see performances by the actual"real"stars.These events are very successful,even though people know that they are not getting the"real"thing. Shanzhai is a popular word in _ . Answer: Some young Cambodians are learning a new sport -- skateboarding. The country's first skateboard park is located on the grounds of a local charity group at the edge of Phnom Penh, the capital. Sports like Khmer boxing and soccer are wildly popular in Cambodia. But Chea, who has been skating for 6 months, says skating has already become his favorite sport. The skaters are learning tricks like launching off a jump or half-pipe and flying through the air on their narrow wooden boards. A non-governmental organization called Skateistan Cambodia organizes weekly programs at the park. Skateistan started its work in Afghanistan years ago. Rory Burke is working with the group which expanded to Cambodia last year. Rory Burke points out, "Yeah, it's definitely not a typical Cambodian pastime . And I think the idea of 'why skateboarding' is that it's not been done before here. We want to use skateboarding as something saying, 'Hey, this is new, this is something different.And that kind of itself becomes _ . People see it and they think and they say, 'Wow, what is that?' and they want to get involved. " Skateistan partners with local groups that work with young people. The park is on the grounds of the group known as PSE, where children attend school and learn a trade. There are almost one hundred twenty participants. They all come from troubled lives. Seventeen-year-old Sang Rotha is a student at PSE. "Sometimes I don't do well in subjects like math," he says, "I feel bad when I find it hard to keep up with my lessons. So that is why I skateboard ---to improve my bad feelings. ', He says he began skateboarding more than a year ago. Before he started training, it seemed very easy. But it was very difficult to learn tricks, and he got hurt a lot from falling off. Rory Burke says learning to deal with the difficulties is part of the lesson for these young skateboarders. It can be inferred from the passage that skateboarding is becoming _ . Answer: I have been in Limoges for a month now. since living here, I have tried to integrate into the local community and one way I have found to do this is by following the local rugby team. I decided to look for information on the local rugby team after the tourism office could not help me. I searched for the club office online and decided to look into _ . The following day I went back to the club after speaking with them and decided to get a season ticket for the rest of my stay here. I will now be going to each home game as well as travelling to the away games with the team and the fans. I am sure that it is going to be a great experience during my time abroad here. I will also be travelling through various regions of France so I will be visiting new places throughout the season. There is another team in a town called Brive not so far away who play in the top league in France, but I decided to stay local. I may go and see them with other assistants if possible during our stay. I witnessed a friendly match on Saturday when they played Stade Dijon in the division below them. The match finished 70-12. After the match, both teams went to the club house to see the Rugby World Cup semi-final between New Zealand and Australia. Both teams respected each others which is something you don't always see in other sports. I spoke to the president of the club after the game and he told me, "This is a family club." Hopefully this year will be a good year for Limoges. Why did the two teams go to the club house aft6r the match? Answer: Every year, it costs British students more and more to attend university. Students are graduating with larger and larger debts. So is a college degree really worth it? In 2006, the UK government started to allow universities in England and Wales to charge British students tuition fees. As a result, more than 80 percent of students in England and Wales now take out a student loan in order to go to university. They use the loan to pay for tuition fees and living expenses. Although the interest on student loans is quite low, it begins as soon as the student receives the loan. The average student in England and Wales now graduates from university with a debt of around PS12,000 (122,952 yuan). It means graduates have to struggle to pay rent on a flat, because they have to start paying back the student loan when they reach April after graduating. If you start to earn over PS15,000 (153,630 yuan) a year, the government takes repayments directly from your monthly salary. You might think that a person with a degree would find it easy to get a well-paid job. However, most people in "white collar jobs" seem to have a degree, so there is a lot of competition. Also, British companies tend to value work experience over . All of the above is beginning to make British people question whether a university degree is really worth the money. Even before the credit crisis started, the BBC stated: "The number of British students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recent history, from 1.97 million in 2007 to 1.96 million last year." Meanwhile, the British universities offer more and more of the available places to richer international students rather than poorer British students. What does the future hold for British higher education? Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? Answer:
Question: In Britain you're allowed to drive a car when you're seventeen. You have to get a special two-year driving license before you can start. When you're leaning, someone with a full license always has to be in the car with you because you aren't allowed to drive the car on the road alone. You don't have to go to a driving school --- a friend can teach you. The person with you isn't allowed to take money for the lesson unless he's got a teacher's license. Before you're allowed to have a full license, you have to take a driving test. You can take a test in your own car, but it has to be fit for the road. In the test you have to drive round for about half an hour and then answer a few questions. If you don't pass the test, you're allowed to take it again a few weeks later if you want to. In 1970 a woman passed her fortieth test after 212 driving lessons! When you've passed your test, you don't have to take it again, and you're allowed to go on driving as long as you like. Britain's oldest driver was a man who drove in 1974 at the age of 100. Before 1904 everyone was allowed to drive, even children. Then from 1904 car drivers had to have a license. But they didn't have to take a test until 1935. On the early days of car driving, before 1878, cars weren't allowed to go faster than four miles an hour and someone had to lead the car with a red flag. A person can't take money for driving lessons unless he _ . A. has learnt to drive in a driving school B. has a full driving license C. has a teacher's license D. is given a special two-year driving license Answer: C. has a teacher's license Question: Solar pumps move liquids continuously from the A. space B. glaciers C. sky D. ground Answer: D. ground Question: The shocking disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has captured the attention of millions around the world as the search for the airplane and its passengers and crew continues. What happened to the flight's 239 passengers and crew after the plane left Kuala Lumpur on Saturday? It is becoming an increasingly desperate question as the days pass. But it's hardly the first mystery of its kind. Here are some half-solved and unsolved airline mysteries that kept investigators clueless for years. Air France Flight 447: An Airbus A330 flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris _ into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, killing all 228 passengers and crew on board. But it took a full five days for search and rescue teams to find the wreck and another three years for investigators to report that ice crystals had caused the autopilot to disconnect. The bodies of 74 passengers remain unrecovered. Amelia Earhart: Ace pilot Amelia Earhart disappeared in her twin-engine monoplane Electra over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. No trace of her plane was ever found even after a multi-million dollar search effort, and Earhart was officially declared dead in 1939. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739: A U.S. military flight left Guam in 1962 with more 90 personnel headed for the Philippines, but it never arrived. The pilots never issued a distress call, and 1,300 people involved in the U.S. military search never found any trace of wreckage. British South American Airways: It took more than 50 years to find any trace of the 11 people aboard a 1947 flight that disappeared in the Andes Mountains. A pair of Argentineans rock climbers discovered engine wreckage in the Andes in 1998, and an army expedition later found human remains as well. Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571: A flight headed to Santiago, Chile carrying 45 passengers and crew crashed into the Andes Mountains in poor weather in 1972, killing twelve people. In the meantime, eight were killed in an avalanche that hit the plane's wreckage where they were taking shelter, and the rest stayed alive by eating the flesh of the dead before they were finally found more than two months after disappearing out of the sky. What can we learn from Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571? _ . A. 12 people were lost until now. B. 25 people were rescued instantly. C. The rest who stayed alive killed 8 people. D. 8 were killed by a fall of a large mass of snow down a mountainside. Answer: D. 8 were killed by a fall of a large mass of snow down a mountainside. Question: We arranged that Kissinger would fly to Vietnam early in July and then stop in Pakistan on the way back. There he would develop a stomachache that would require him to stay in bed and not be seen by the press. Then, with President Yapha's help, he would be taken to the airport where a Pakistani jet would fly him over the mountains to China. Kissinger's trip was given the name Polo after Marco Polo, another Western traveler who made history by journey in China. Everything went quite smoothly. His slight illness in Islamabad received only small attention from reporters covering him. They accepted the story that he would be kept shut up for at least a few days and began making arrangements for their own activities. Because of the need for complete secrecy and the lack of any direct communication facilities between Beijing and Washington, I knew that we would have no word from Kissinger while he was in China. Even after he had returned to Pakistan, it would still be important to keep it secret, so before Kissinger left, we agreed on a single code word - Eureka - which he would use if his missions were successful and the presidential trip had been arranged. On July 11, Al Haig, who knew our code work, phoned to say that a cable from Kissinger had arrived. "What's the message?" I asked. "Eureka". he replied. From the passage we can infer that Kissinger's cable carrying the message "Eureka" must have been sent _ . A. before he had left Beijing B. soon after he had returned to Pakistan from China C. as soon as he had arrived in Washington on July 11 D. before he returned to Pakistan on July 11 Answer: B. soon after he had returned to Pakistan from China Question: A2 and AS Level Revision at Easter 2012 Course Dates Courses run from Monday to Friday each week. * One Week Courses Monday 6 April--Friday 10 April Monday 13 April-- Friday 17 April * Two Week Courses Monday 6 April--Friday 17 April Students may arrive a day earlier (Sunday) and/or depart a day later (Saturday) at extra cost. Number of Students per Class The average number of students is usually between 1 and 4 per class. As the numbers increase in a class, the number of "contact hours" is suitably increased to allow extra time. Many students will find themselves in privately tutored classes giving them ultimate flexibility and attention of the Revision Tutor. Fees One Week Boarding Fees: 1,495 GB Sterling (5 days/4 nights) Two Week Boarding Fees: 2,895 GB Sterling (12 days/11 nights) One Week Day Fees: 1,095 GB Sterling (5 days) Two Week Day Fees: 2,165 GB Sterling (10 days) Optional Extra Elements Extra Night's Accommodation : 70 GB Sterling (including meals) Additional Private Tutoring: 60 GB Sterling per hour How to Apply We provide you the majority of A2 and AS subjects. Before you apply, please contact us to tell us which subject areas you would like to cover. We will then be able to check whether a space is available. Once a space has been confirmed as available, you will need to apply online or via the PDF, and also compete the Additional Information PDF. After you apply, we will require you to fill in a detailed form explaining your requirements. If you have any question, don't hesitate to ask us. This passage most probably is a (an) _ . A. arrangement for the Easter 2012 B. timetable for a new school C. advertisement for vacation courses D. instruction on how to apply Answer: C. advertisement for vacation courses
For a stay-at-home mom, a computer with an Internet connection can truly be a lifeline . When diapers and baby talk become just too much, adult talk is just a click away. But for some moms, the attraction of the online world becomes too strong to resist and instead of being an occasional thing, it becomes an addiction . Coleen Moore of the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery says she is seeing a growing number of young stay-at -home moms for whom blogs and social networking have become a passion, which will harm their real-world lives. Now, Internet addiction is not officially recognized as a mental disorder. But a recent survey showed 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from their computers for several days at a time, and that 8 percent use the Web to escape problems. Considering this, it is probably just a matter of time before it is. What drives a mom to the Internet is not different from what drives an alcoholic to drink: an empty place that needs filling. "In addiction treatment, we talk about the fact that there's a void ,"says Moore. "Whatever that void may be -- whether it's emotional, spiritual, physical--we're trying to fill it." So, how can you find the void? A journal tracking when and why you go online and what you may be avoiding when you do so can be helpful in finding it out. But what makes Internet dependence special is the fact that usually it is not just a way to escape the tiring parenting or make a connection with others, but also a way to make a statement and be heard. According to the passage, for some moms, the Internet is all of the following EXCEP _ . Answer: I often hear some students say English is difficult, and it gives them a headache. But English is very easy for me. I'm good at it. I'm very glad to tell you something about how I study English. First, I think an interest in English is very important. When I learned English first, it was fresh for me. I was interested in it, so I worked hard at it. Soon we had an English exam and I got a very good mark. How happy I was! After that, I learned English harder and harder. Our English teacher often teaches us English songs, and the songs sound nice. I often think how interesting English is! Second, I think English is a foreign language. I should learn it well in the following ways: Listen to the teacher carefully, speak bravely, read aloud and have a good vocabulary. Then practice again and again, never be tired. And I also have a good habit: Asking whenever I have a question. I must make it clear by asking our English teacher. How happy I am when I understand! Besides this, I often read English stories, jokes and easy novels. They help me understand a lot of things. So to do more reading is an important way to learn English well. And I also write English diaries. English has become a close friend of mine. Which of the following is not the way the writer studies by? Answer: For thousands of years,we have looked for ways to measure time. Early humans found that the regular movements of the sun,the earth,the moon,and the stars made good ways to measure time. The rising and setting of the sun were used to distinguish day from night. But,eventually,people needed to tell time more accurately,or exactly. So,by using the sun's position in the sky,they divided the day into dawn,morning,midday and evening. Then it was noted that the sun cast a changing shadow as it moved across the sky. Time could be told more accurately by setting up a stick and marking the positions of the sun's shadow. It was the ancient Greeks who divided each position of this "sundial " into hours. But the sun doesn't always shine. So,for the past 6,000 years,many other ways of keeping time have been tried. Slowburning candles were divided into hours,and the hourglass was invented. When all the sand in the top of an hourglass has shifted to the bottom,an hour has passed. Later,the pendulum ,with its regular backandforth movement of weights,was used to move the hands on a clock. Pendulums are still used in grandfather clocks. Today,even more accurate clocks are in use,such as batteryoperated quartz clocks ,digital clocks,and clocks run by electrical tuning forks and tiny atoms. These atomic clocks are the most accurate clocks ever invented. The exact time can be kept to within 1 second a century. Humans in the old days used _ to tell day from night. Answer: Laws to stop tigers, camels, zebras and snakes being used as performing animals in circuses have been announced by the government. The environment minister, Jim Paice, hoped the laws would be brought in before the end of the parliament in 2015, which is the main law-making institution of the UK. At present between 35 and 50 wild animals are thought to be used by circuses in England and Defra offered to help find new homes for the retired performers. The announcement follows a campaign by animal charity organization for the ban , which became worse when a video appeared last year of a circus elephant being beaten by a worker. Campaigners were angry when Paice previously announced tougher licensing instead. Circus Mondao, whose website shows zebra and camels, said it would probably challenge the suggested ban. The circus is a member of the European Circus Association, which previously challenged Austria's ban, saying there was no scientific evidence that the animals were harmed by the travelling or conditions. On its website, Mondao says that when it travels animals are the last to be loaded and the first to be unloaded; they are moved to tents within an hour of arriving, and are usually moved 20-50 miles. Animal charities welcomed the move, but called for ministers to speed up the laws. Asked why circuses would be banned from keeping wild animals but not domestic animals such as horses, a Defra spokesman said a key difference was that domesticated animals were more used to conditions such as travelling. "Wild animals aren't domesticated: we feel it's not right ethically for wild animals to perform," he said. According to the text, which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Most dog owners feel that their dogs are their best friends. Almost everyone likes dogs because they try hard to please their owners. One of my favorite stories is about a dog who wanted his owner to please him. One of my friends has a large German shepherd ( ) named Jack. Every Sunday afternoon, my friend takes Jack for a walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much. One Sunday afternoon, a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time, and he talked and talked. Soon it was time for my friend to take Jack for his walk, but the visitor didn't leave. Jack became very worried about his walk in the park. He walked around the room several times and then sat down directly in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention. He continued talking. Finally, Jack couldn't stand it any longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down again in front of the visitor, but this time he held the man's hat in his mouth. German shepherds aren't the only intelligent dogs. Another intelligent dog is a Seeing Eye dog. This is a special dog which helps blind people walk along the streets and do many other things. We call these dogs Seeing Eye dogs because they are the "eye" of the blind people and they help them to "see". Seeing Eye dogs generally go to special schools for several years to learn to help blind people. Jack came to sit in front of the visitor in order to _ . Answer:

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