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By far the most common difficulty in study is simple failure to get down to regular concentrated work . This difficulty is much greater for those who do not work to a plan and have no regular routine of study . Many students muddle along , doing a bit of this subject or that , as the mood takes them , or letting their set work pile up until the last possible moment . Few students work to a set timetable . They say that if they did work out a timetable for themselves they would not keep to it , or would have to change it frequently , since they can never predict from one day to the next what their activities will be . No doubt some students take much more kindly to a regular routine than others . There are many who shy away from a self-controlled weekly timetable , and dislike being tied down to a fixed program of work . Many able students state that they work in cycles . When they become interested in a topic they work on it attentively for three or four days at a time . On other days they avoid work completely . It has to be admitted that we do not fully understand the motivation to work . Most people over 25 years of age have become used to a work routine , and the majority of really productive workers set aside regular hours for the more important areas of their work . The " tough-minded " school of workers doesn't fully accept the idea that good work can only be done naturally , under the influence of inspiration . Those who believe that they need only work and study _ have a mistaken belief either in their own talent or in the value of " freedom " . Freedom from control and discipline leads to unhappiness rather than to " self-expression " or " personality development " . Our society insists on regular habits , timekeeping and punctuality ( being on time ) , and whether we like it or not , if we mean to make our way in society , we have to meet its demands . A suitable title for the passage might be _ . Do you dream of having beautiful hair like a model ? Well, you can have it if you look after your hair in the right way. To get beautiful hair, you first need to get healthy. So start eating good food, and start exercising. This will make your hair look healthy and full of life. You also need to keep your hair clean to make it look nice. But not many people know how to wash their hair in the right way. Many people wash their hair too much. This dries out their hair. You should only wash your hair every day if you have oily hair. If you have normal or dry hair, you should wash it every two or three days. How often should you wash your hair if your hair is normal? What is the source of fuels such as coal and natural gas? Jean-Michael Lourdis was a promising young pianist. But when the young man played, it seemed to him, as if his hands were iron. He worried so much about his playing that he became oversensitive to the comments of his playing. Unfortunately, in those days, a critic was not considered a critic, unless he found something wrong. This attitude of the critics would often leave the young man ready to give up his dream and return home. He was invited to play in Helsinki. The rich, the famous, the leaders of State were all there. Jean-Michael had one of those days when everything went wrong. That night as he played, he felt as if it were the worst concert of his young life. The next day, in the newspapers, some of the comments were so unkind. The young musician was painful. That day, as he sat in his hotel room in total despair , there came a knocking at his door. He had a visitor.The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius had come by to congratulate the young pianist on his performance. Jean-Michael asked how he thought of that and began to quote some of the newspaper critics. " Hands of iron. No imagination. Little skill. No joy. Don't you hear what they say?" he asked. Jean Sibelius looked at young Jean-Michael and said, "Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have erected a statue for a critic." Jean Sibelius came to visit the young musician because _ . A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said, "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy heard his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was, " Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing? Of course, both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat. The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind. The first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. What can we learn from this passage?
Question: Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people's depression , physical activity, and life satisfaction. In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner. "I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice," says a seventy-year-old lady. "When I'm watching TV, he'll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind." The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog _ exercise and feeding concerns. "At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(......) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry." Beck says. "Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters' blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms . AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds." In the research, the old people are asked to _ . A. note the activities of AIBOs B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks C. record their feelings and activity D. study the collected information Answer: C Question: Jim found a job in a shop two years ago. Mrs. White, the shopkeeper trusts the able young man and pays him more. He's happy and works harder. Once Jim knew a beautiful girl called Mabel at a friend's party. They danced for several times and the girl was deeply in love. But Mabel's parents didn't agree to marry their daughter to a poor young man. So they began to travel in America and didn't let the girl come back to London. She wrote a letter to Jim and told him about it. Of course the young man hadn't enough money to go to see her. He was so sad that he began to drink. It was Saturday one day. Jim didn't go to work. He came to a bar and sat down to drink. Just then an old friend of his came in. He asked him to drink with him. Crying, he told Mike all and the young man felt sorry for him. After a while they were both drunk and left. Mike wanted to take his friend home. When they passed a zoo, they went in and walked to a cage in which there were two tigers. Having seen them, a tiger roared. Mike was afraid and said, "Let's go. Let's go. It's dangerous to stand here." "I don't think so," said Jim. " I'm watching TV now". Jim went on standing by the cage because _ . A. he was watching TV there B. he wasn't afraid of the tigers C. he had drunk too much in the bar D. he wouldn't live in the world Answer: C Question: In the more and more competitive service industry,it is no longer enough to promise customer satisfaction.Today,customer "delight" is what companies are trying to achieve in order to keep and increase market share. It is accepted in the marketing industry,and confirmed by a number of researches,that customers receiving good service will promote business by telling up to 12 other people;those treated badly will tell their tales of woe to up to 20 people.Interestingly,80 percent of people who feel their complaints are handled fairly will stay loyal. New challenges for customer care have come when people can obtain goods and services through telephone call centers and the Internet.For example,many companies now have to invest a lot of money in information technology and staff training in order to cope with the "phone rage"--caused by delays in answering calls,being cut off in mid-conversation or left waiting for long periods. "Many people do not like talking to machines,"says Dr.Storey,Senior Lecturer in Marketing at City University Business School."Banks,for example,encourage staff at call centers to use customer data to establish instant and good relationship with them.The aim is to make the customer feel they know you and that you can trust them--the sort of comfortable feelings people have during face-to-face chats with their local branch manager." Recommended ways of creating customer delight include:under-promising and over-delivering (saying that a repair will be carried out within five hours,but getting it done within two );replacing a faulty product immediately;throwing in a gift voucher as an unexpected "thank you" to regular customers;and always returning calls,even when they are complaints. Aiming for customer delight is all very well,but if services do not reach the high level promised,disappointment or worse will be the result.This can be eased by offering an apology and an explanation of why the service did not meet usual standards with empathy (for example,"I know how you must feel"),and possible solutions (replacement,compensation or whatever fairness suggests best meets the case). Airlines face some of the toughest challenges over customer care.Fierce competition has convinced them that delighting passengers is an important marketing tool,while there is great potential for customer anger over delays caused by weather,unclaimed luggage and technical problems. For British Airways staff,a winning telephone style is considered vital in handling the large volume of calls about bookings and flight times.They are trained to answer quickly,with their name,job title and a "we are here to help" attitude.The company has invested heavily in information technology to make sure that infomation is available instantly on screen. British Airways also says its customer care policies are applied within the company and staff are taught to regard each other as customers requiring the highest standards of service. Customer care is obviously here to stay and it would be a foolish company that used slogans such as "we do as we please".On the other hand,the more customers are promised,the greater the risk of disappointment. Customer delight is important for airlines because . A. their telephone style remains unchanged B. they are more likely to meet with complaints C. the services cost them a lot of money D. the policies can be applied to their staff Answer: B Question: My grandfather was a teacher. He was the headmaster of a school for boys between thirteen and eighteen. I know that he was a kind and gentle man at heart, because when I was young, he gave me presents, and seated me on his knee, and told me stories. But I believe the boys at his school were afraid of him. At school, when he walked into a room full of noisy boys, there was silence at once. When he looked at a boy with a certain look in his eyes, the boy went red in the face, and looked down at his shoes. If a boy brought him poor, careless work that was not the best the boy could do, my grandfather would pick up the boy's book and throw it across the room, shouting, "Do it all again, and bring it back to me in the morning!" If the boy was late, or if he forgot to bring the work, he had to do it again, and again, and yet again. My grandfather never forgot. He was a very different man at school from the man I saw day by day in his own home. This passage is mainly about _ . A. the author's school life B. how his grandfather treated him C. his grandfather's different characters D. the boys at his school were not afraid of him Answer: C Question: The deep sea is not an easy place to live in. It's cold and dark. The deeper it is, the less sunlight there is. At about 3,000 feet, there is no light at all. It's very dark in the sea. Many fishes have no eyes, but some have big eyes. A few have eyes only on one side. Besides the coldness and the darkness, deep sea animals face a third danger--other animals. Animals must find food to eat. Many animals eat plants, and some eat meat. This means these sea animals have two big jobs. One is that they need to find animals as their food, and the other is that they have to try not to become other animals' meals. ,. (5) How many dangers will animals meet in the deep sea? A. One B. Two C. Three D. Five Answer: C
Our company, Eastern Energy, is here to help and provide you with personal advice on any matters connected with your bill or any other questions about your gas and electricity supply. Moving Home Please give us as much notice as possible if you are moving home, but at least 48 hours required for us to make the necessary arrangements for your gas and electricity supply. Please telephone our 24-hour line at 0131 6753 219 with details of your move. In most cases we are happy to accept your meter reading on the day you move. Meter Reading Eastern Energy uses various types of meter ranging from the traditional dial meters to new technology digital display meters. Always read the meter from left to right, ignoring any red dials. If you require assistance, contact our 24-hour line at 0600 7310 310. Energy Efficiency Line If you would like advice on the efficient use of energy, please call our Energy Efficiency Line at 0995 7625 513. Please do not use this number for any other enquiries . Special Services Passwords-you can choose a password so that, whenever we visit you at home, you will know it is us. If you want more information, please ring our helpline at 0995 7290 290. If you need help or advice with any issues, please contact us at 0131 6440 188. Complaints We hope you will never have a problem or cause to complain, but, if you do, please contact our complaints handling team at PO Box, Stanfield, ST55 6GF or telephone us at 0131 6753 270. Supply Failure If you experience any problems with your electricity supply, please call free at 0600 7838 836, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Who is the passage most probably written to? A People applying for energy supply. B People moving home. C Persons in need of help. D Energy users of Eastern Energy. Answer: D. Energy users of Eastern Energy. Jack is a twenty-year-old young man. Two years ago, when he finished middle school, he found work in a shop. Usually he works until ten o'clock in the evening. He is very tired when he gets home. After a quick supper he goes to bed and soon falls asleep. His grandma who lives downstairs is satisfied with him. One day, on his way home, he met Mary. They were both happy. He asked the girl to his house, she agreed happily. He bought some fruit and drinks for her. And they talked about their school, teachers, classmates and their future . They talked for a long time. "Have a look at your watch, please," said the girl. "What time is it now?" "Sorry, something is wrong with my watch," said Jack. "Where's yours?" "I left it at home." Jack thought for a moment and found a way. He began to stamp his foot on the floor, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The sound woke his grandma up. The old woman shouted downstairs, "It's twelve o'clock in the night, Jack. Why are you still jumping upstairs?" ,. Why is he old woman satisfied with Jack? A Because he's her grandson. B Because he's clever. C Because he can keep quiet. D Because he gets home on time. Answer: C. Because he can keep quiet. If you like adventurous cartoons, then Koala Kid is the movie for you. Koala Kid tells us a story of a white koala named Johnny. It lives in a community of the gray koalas. He is not confident because of his color. But he thinks he has special talents. So the goes on a magic trip. On his trip he meets Miranda, Hamish and Lokie. And they become friends. They fight with their wits against Bog. I think this movie tells us: whatever you look like, you can become a hero. I give the movie five stars. It is a great movie for ages six and up. Because there are some scary parts in the movie, I wouldn't recommend it to kids under the age of six. ,. Who can't watch the movie? A A 35-year-old man. B A 8-year-old girl. C A 90-year-old granny. D A 5-year-old boy. Answer: D. A 5-year-old boy. If you can see the magic in a fairytale, you can face the future." --Danielle Steel Who have not read fairytales? We all have had the experience of reveling in the beauty and innocence of fairytales. May it be Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty... fairytale is a word which cannot be new to us. But have you ever traveled ages back to the earliest of times and uncovered the fascinating facts about these stories? Well, if not, then here are some mystical finds I discovered when I undertook this journey. A fairytale or fairy story is a fictional tale that usually features folkloric characters (such as fairies, talking animals). A fairytale often stars transformed princes, princesses, animals, as in "fairytale ending" where the humble but heroic princes defeat the wicked enemies or as in "fairytale romance" where after much ado the beautiful princesses marry their Prince Charming. One distinct feature of fairytales is that, they take place "once upon a time". The history of the fairytale is particularly difficult to trace. The oral tradition of the fairytale came long before the written page. The oldest known fairytales stem from ancient Egypt around 1,300 B.C and now, after traveling through various periods of time, they have grown and matured in various aspects and have become the most popular genre of stories for young children. The most famous authors of fairytales are the Grimm Brothers whose works include Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and many more; The Grimm Brothers collected their tales from farmers and edited them to suit their audience. But whatever may the form be, fairytales are after all fairytales! G. K. Chesterton said, "Fairytales do not tell children the dragons exist; they tell the dragons can be killed." This quote has great weight. Every child believes in fairies, dragons, etc. They do not need fairytales to tell them that. Instead fairytales tell that good always succeed over evil. So fairytales are necessary for young minds. Fairytales are narrated to children when they are young. This is very essential indeed, for if in the beginning of our lives our minds are touched by the beauty, innocence and the morals in these tales, we will be able to trace the optimistic side of happenings. The fairies are like our wildest dreams, which seem unreachable but we can make them plausible . What does the writer think about the fairytale? A He believes that we can make fairytale come ture. B He thinks the fairytale makes no difference to our lives. C He feels doubtful of the fairytale. D He thinks the fairytale is unreachable. Answer: A. He believes that we can make fairytale come ture. As a foreigner,I don' t know the situation in the US well. Seeing all kinds of recent shooting incidents,I think it should be controlled more strictly than now. Somebody said that the person who has it in mind to kill another can do it without a gun,so the causes of murders are not guns but the trend of despising life in the US. And they also insist that there is no clear evidence that the increasing number of murders is connected with possession of guns,so the personal rights should not be restricted by the reason that there is not enough evidence. Several months ago,I agreed with that partly. But as we know,the private groups like NRA have used the public opinion and persuaded the government to protect their profit. Other weapons such as knives,razors ,bats are made for their own usage. But guns are made for only one reason--to kill someone. Of course,there are people who have guns to protect themselves from the criminals. But crime is getting more cruel and severe nowadays,so actually even if someone has a gun,it is impossible to guard himself completely. As a substitute ,I think,if the possession of guns is controlled more strictly,people can live safer lives than now. There are other reasons to oppose the gun control (e.g.the possession of guns is historical inheritance and represents that people's resistance will be against tyrannical government),but none of them can justify and explain today's serious situation in the US. The writer's purpose is to give his opinion about _ . A personal possessions B American culture C personal rights D gun control Answer: D. gun control
Organisms that consume wastes to obtain the nutrients they need to survive are classified as Answer: Teenager Jake Deham was skiing with his family in the US when he fell over and lost one of his skis. His family didn't know that he had a problem. They kept on skiing. When they got to the foot of the mountain, there was no sign of Jake. Jake couldn't find his ski anywhere. In the end, he decided to take off his other ski and walk down the mountain. But he couldn't work out the right way to go. It was now getting dark and he was a long way from any place of safety. He knew that he might die that night in the cold temperatures. But Jake kept calm. At home, Jake watched a lot of programmes about living in difficult situations. He remembered the advice from these programmes and knew that he should build a hole in the snow. He made a hole so the wind couldn't blow into it. Outside his hole, the temperature fell to a dangerous -15degC that night, but inside it Jake was safe from the cold. After the long evening passed, Jake began to think his way out. He had to get down the mountain. The TV programmes always said, "If you are lost, you should find someone else's tracks through the snow and follow them." "I wanted to live my life." remembered Jake, "So I got up and I found some ski tracks and I followed those." He walked and walked and finally saw lights... His mum was very happy when she heard her son was saved. Amazingly, Jake didn't even have to go to hospital. He got through the terrible experience without any injuries. So, the next time someone says that watching TV is a waste of time, think of Jake. Sometimes TV can save your life! . What can we learn from the story? Answer: Fire Station No.6 in Livermore,California,houses a celebrity--a 107-year-old light bulb that has been on for over a million hours,earning the title of the"World's longest continuously burning bulb"by Ripley's Believe It Or Not!The bulb also holds the Guinness World Record. Nobody knows why this bulb has stayed alive for so many years.Most people believe that it is due to two reasons--it has almost never been turned off and it is really well made.Its perfect seal lets no air in.keeping its carbon filament from burning out. The bulb was first installed at the fire department hose cart house on L Street in 1901.In 1903 it was moved to the new Station 1 on First and McLeod,and survived the renovation of the Firehouse in 1937.when it was off for about a week.The last time the bulb was switched off was in July l976,when it was moved to Fire Station No.6.Thousands of people watched as the electrician tried to re-attach the bulb at its new location.At first nothing happened and people thought the bulb had finally died.However,a slight touch of its switch and then,the bulb came on and has been on since.Nobody at the station dares to touch it,even to clean it. A local reporter first discovered the bulb's significance in 1972.He recommended his readers to go visit it if they ever went to Livermore.All of a sudden thousands of people came to Fire Station No.6 and the bulb became famous. Needless to say,the bulb is now a big source of pride and joy for the city of Livermore.So when some folks offered to buy it,the answer from the city was"NO!" We can learn from the text that the bulb _ . Answer: It was graduation day at the university where I work and a beautiful day quite unlike the first graduation I attended as a young professor.On that cold day years ago, as we watched the students walking into the hall, one of my colleagues turned to me and said, "Graduation will be one of the happiest and one of the saddest time of your life." At my inquiry, he answered, "Because the students you have gotten to know have to leave." As years went by, my previous confusion about my colleague's words no longer existed.When I came across naughty students, I have had to rethink why I chose to be a teacher.It obviously isn't the money.Once a former computer science student of mine called me, asking me if I wanted to have a change.He was working at Nintendo Corporation.His salary was higher than my current one, though I have more education and have worked for over a decade.With my programming skills, he said he could get me hired.I thanked him, but declined his kind offer. A few days before this current graduation, while working on final grades, I found a note a student had slipped in with her homework.She thanked me for being her teacher and said the things she had learned in my class--not about math, but about life--would be things she would remember long after the math skills had faded away.As I finished reading, I remembered why I had become a teacher. Now, on this sunny graduation day, as I again observed the sea of _ , I did so with renewed dedication and a deeper sense of satisfaction--I will always be grateful that I am a teacher. Hearing his colleague's description of graduation for the first time, the author _ . Answer: The 87thAcademy Award nominations were announced on Jan 15, and The Grand Budapest Hotel stood out as a favorite with nine nominations, including Best Picture. Check out some other Best Picture nominees to see if you missed any of last year's top Hollywood films. The Imitation Game This historical thriller is about British computer scientist, Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the father of artificial intelligence. At the start of World War II, Turing was asked to join a select team of mathematical geniuses to decode the system the Nazis used to send military messages. Besides the actual breaking of the code, Cumberbatch's portrayal of Turing's personality, a mixture of decency and shyness, is also a highlight of the movie. Birdman This dark comedy film is about how Riggan Thomson, a faded star once famous for his superhero roles, struggles to regain fame. American actor Michael Keaton, 63, who has a similar experience to Thomson's, plays the leading role. Selma A stellar cast including talk show queen Oprah Winfrey may be one reason to see Selma. But that the film focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.'s struggle for civil rights also makes it worth viewing. Based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, the film is a chronicle of King's (David Oyelowo) campaign for political rights for African-American people. The Theory of Everything We know English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking for his significant scientific discoveries, especially his black hole theories. This biographical film reveals the scientist's (played by Eddie Redmayne) secret romantic relationship with Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones), whom he meets and falls in love with at Cambridge and who later becomes his first wife. Boyhood American Director Richard Linklater did an experiment in this film, using the same cast for 12 years to record a boy's growth. In two and a half hours, we see Mason, a Texas boy from a divorced family, grow from 6-year-old boy to a freshman in college. What is Boyhood mainly about? Answer:
A house of cards? Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? Not if the architect is 31-year-old Bryan Berg. He's made a career out of building fantastic card houses, stadiums, capitols, castles -- and the world's tallest card tower. How does he do it? Bryan's structures are amazing because they are made entirely of perfectly balanced, freestanding playing cards. He never uses glue, tape, or anything else to hold the cards together. Nor does he fold the cards. He's discovered another way to make a strong house of cards, using a trick from nature. To make plants strong, nature builds them with cells that have tough walls. Rows and rows of these cells form a grid that helps leaves and stems keep their shape. Bees use the same kind of repeating pattern to create strong honeycombs, where they live and store honey. Bryan designs similar grids, using cards to create a repeating pattern of cells. He begins with a single cell made by balancing four cards against one another to form a box. Then he repeats the cell over and over, expanding outward to form the grid, which makes a good foundation for a strong card structure. The larger the grid, the more weight it can carry. Sometimes Bryan uses several cards, instead of just one, to construct the cell walls, making the grid even stronger. The trick, he tells kids when he speaks in classrooms, is to place your cards as tightly together as possible when laying out your grid, making sure the cards are not leaning at all. After building this solid base, Bryan lays cards across the top to make the floor for the next "story" of the building. He may add towers, columns, steeples, or domes. Using the principle of repeating cells, Bryan builds structures of amazing strength. In the Cards Not surprisingly, Bryan has always been interested in building things. Growing up on a "big, old farm" in rural Iowa, he had plenty of room to play. "We were in the middle of nowhere," Bryan remembers, "with lots of space to do whatever we wanted. I was always making something, using things like sticks or bales of hay." Bryan's grandfather taught him how to stack cards. Bryan's two interests -- building and card stacking -- soon combined. But stacking in his family's farmhouse was challenging. "Our old house had wood floors that weren't all level," he reports. "And they weren't very firm. When people walked around, it was like 'earthquake action.' It was a challenge to build something that wouldn't fall down immediately." Bryan constructed tower after tower; he went through a lot of trial and error before he built anything taller than himself. When he placed a few decks of cards on top of his grid, he discovered how strong it was. Bryan's towers began to grow taller. How Tall Is Too Tall? Bryan's first Guinness World Record for the world's tallest card tower came in the spring of 1992, when he was in high school. Learning that the world record was 12 feet 10 inches, Bryan built a slim tower that topped out at 14 feet 6 inches. Done as a project for his geometry class, it took him 40 hours and 208 decks of cards. Since then he's gone on to win world records for even taller buildings. His latest winner measured 25 feet 3.5 inches and used about 2,400 decks of cards. _ Why don't these towers fall down? The key is in a good solid base, a repeating pattern of stories, and a tapering top. Bryan likes to point out how card buildings resemble real ones. They are built cell by cell, story by story. The separate parts make one strong whole. The heavier the building, the stronger and more stable it is. But the weight can't all be at the top. After spending so much time building something so cool, Bryan admits it's sometimes painful to see his structures destroyed. But he compares his work to the building of a sandcastle or an ice sculpture. "They wouldn't be as special if they were permanent," he points out. "My buildings are like snowdrifts, or clouds in the sky. They can't last forever. According to the article, which natural structure is a model for Bryan's card structures? A A sand dune. B A honeycomb. C A snowdrift. D A thundercloud. Answer: B I have a friend named John Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro.The last time I was there he shared a story with me. "It is a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer. When he was a senior,he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up." That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings,the stables and the track. "The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, 'See me after class.'" "The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, 'Why did I receive an F?'" "The teacher said, 'This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, 'If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'" "The boy went home and asked his father what he should do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.'" "Finally,after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, 'You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.'" John continued, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "If I had changed my paper at that time, maybe we would not have the chance to be here talking about the dreams ." What can we learn from the article? A Make decision by yourself. B Never give up dreams easily. C Praise makes a difference. D Success needs other's help. Answer: B "Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?" "If you must know, I make $20 an hour." "Oh," the little boy replied, with his head down.He thought for a moment, looked up and said, "Daddy,could you lend me $10?" The father was _ , "If you asked for the money to buy a toy or some other rubbish, then go straight to your room and think about why you are being so selfish!" The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. After about an hour or so, the father calmed down, and started to think, "Maybe I was too hard on you just now." said the man, "Here's $10." "Oh,thank you,Daddy!."he said happily.Then, the boy took out some coins.When the father found that the boy already had money, he got angry again. "Why do you want more money since you already have some?" the father shouted angrily. "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do."the lillte boy replied, "Daddy, I have $20 now.Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow.I would like to have dinner with you." From the passage, we can infer that the boy's father _ . A often played with his son B spent little time with his son C didn't love his son at all D often came back home early Answer: B Chances I really love my job because I enjoy working with small children and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important. There was a time when I thought I would never have that sort of career . I wasn't an excellent student because I didn't do much schoolwork. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and found I didn't have much to offer. I just accepted that I wasn't the type to have a career. I then found myself a job, looking after two little girls. It wasn't too bad at first. But the problems began when I agreed to live in, so that I would be there if my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week, she'd give me time off the next. But unfortunately, it didn't often work out. I was getting extremely tired and fed up, because I had too many late nights and early morning with the children. One Sunday, I was in the park with the children, and met Megan who used to go to school with me. I told her about my situation. She suggested that I should do a course and get a qualification if I wanted to work with children. I didn't think I would be accepted because I didn't take many exams in school. She persuaded me to phone the local college and they were really helpful. My experience counted for a lot and I got on a parttime course. I had to leave my job with the family, and got work helping out at a kindergarten. Now I've got a fulltime job there. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that you could have a career, even if you aren't top of the class at school. When staying with the two girls' family, the author _ . A was paid for extra work B got much help from her boss C took a day off every other week D often worked long hours Answer: D Every ten years there is a national census to count the number of people. The Census Office asks every household to answer questions on a census form. The census counts... * the number of people in each area * the numbers of men and women and whether they are single, married, widowed or divorced * how many children there are, how many teenagers, people in their twenties, thirties, forties... retired people and so on The census counts people by... * the kind of housing they live in * the country in which they were born * the kind of job they do and how they travel to work Some uses of the census: Housing: to work out present and future needs we must know how people are housed now, and the sizes and ages of their families. Hospitals, schools and other local services: the size of annual grants made by the Government to these services depends largely on the numbers and needs of people in the area. Many of the figures come from the census. Planning: the census shows how many people have moved from one area to another and how the local workforce is changing. This information is used when factories, offices, shops, public transport and places for leisure are being planned. In strict confidence The census is taken in order to provide figures about the nation as a whole; it does not give information about any named person, family or household. Names and addresses are needed to take the census accurately, but they are not fed into the computer. After the census, the forms are locked away and will not be released to anyone outside the Census Office for 100 years. The answers you give on your census form will be treated in strict confidence. NO one outside the Census Office will see your completed form. Everyone working on the census is sworn to secrecy and can be charged if he or she improperly reveals information. The census is not interested in _ . A how many houses you have B how old you are C what your job is D how much money you have Answer: D
One Canada, Two Languages Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these--Quebec is known as "French Canada". This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest. Canada left the British empire in 1867 to become an independent country, and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since. Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare. The same goes for traffic signs and menus. For example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you'll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it's almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels and instructions in both languages. In Canada's English speaking provinces, official bilingualism means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this programme, they are taught most of their subjects in French. If a student begins the course in kindergarten or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school,25 per cent of the teaching will continue to be in English. Which of the following sentences is right? Answer: You probably know that frogs hop ( ). But did you know that there's a small frog in the Pacific Northwest that bellyflops ? It's called a tailed frog. Dr.Rick Essner, who has been studying tailed frogs for the past few years, says, " I've looked at thousands of jumps and have never seen them land on their feet like other frogs." Most of the time, tailed frogs land on their stomachs and then bring their back legs in to prepare for another jump. Essner forst noticed these frogs because of the way they swim. Other frogs kick both of their back legs at the same time. But when a tailed frog swims, it pushes first with one leg and then the other. To try to find out why tailed frogs bellyflop, Essner and other scientists collected and filmed different kinds of frogs. They found that all of the frogs start their jumps the same way: they hold out their legs. The change comes in the landing. Tailed frogs can't move their back legs as quickly as other frogs do. Maybe they don't need to. Tailed frogs live around water and quickly jump into the water to escape danger. Early frogs developed around watery areas and could jump quickly into the water to escape danger. Scientists think those frogs blended in with (...) the green plants on the side of the rocky rivers, just like today's tailed frogs. "Iwould guess that other animals would have problems _ them, " explains Essner. When other animals find those early frogs, the frogs could jump into the river. They didn't need to continue hopping. Tailed frogs and other kinds of frogs went their own ways about 200 million years ago. Tailed frogs stayed by rivers. Other kinds of frogs moved to places where new hopping skills allowed them to survive. Why do tailed frogs bellyflop? Answer: It was Jimmy's birthday, and he was five years old. He got quite a lot of nice birthday presents from his family, and one of them was a beautiful big drum . "Who gave him that thing?" Jimmy's father said when he saw it. "His grandfather did," answered Jimmy's mother. "Oh," said his father. Of course , Jimmy liked his drum very much. He made a terrible noise with it, but his father did not mind . His father was working during the day, and Jimmy was in bed when he got home in the evening, so he did not hear the noise. But one of the neighbors did not like the noise at all , so a few days later, she took a sharp knife and went to Jimmy's house while Jimmy was hitting his drum. She said to him, "Hello, Jimmy. Do you know, there's something very nice inside your drum. Here's a knife. Open the drum and let's find it. " Why did Jimmy's father not stop him making a noise with the drum? Because _ . Answer: If you need to relax and want to head overseas, you can think of these four off-peak travel destinations to visit. Portugal With rich culture and history, Portugal continues to be one of the most affordable European destinations. Head to this beautiful capital city of Lisbon to attend the festivals and fairs, visit some 12th-century buildings, and stay at one of the newer hotels in the main city district. The Hotel Teatro is a four-star restaurant, and average nightly rates are under $ 150 a night. Porto, Portugal +351 220 409 620 Aruba Set your sights on Aruba for an unforgettable Caribbean holiday. You can get special offers from one of the larger beach resorts here. Some of the chain hotels, including Marriott and Radisson, offer discounts on spa relaxations. The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is offering a Super Saver Spring Rate at just $309 per night. Palm Beach, Aruba 800-967-9033 Oaxaca Escape to southern Mexico to explore the historic colonial city and learn about the region's traditions, culture, and colorful history. Oaxaca plays host to several cultural festivals and is a great place to just relax. A seven-night stay at the Camino Real Oaxaca is just $207 per night for a deluxe single or double room. Centro, 68000 01 951 501 6100 Turkey Another place to have some local culture is Istanbul, Turkey. Stay at a destination that will put you within easy reach of famous sites like the Topkapi Palace. The Modern Sultan Hotel is a deluxe hotel located in the heart of the historic district. Average nightly rates for the bed and breakfast package are just under $ 120 per night. Istanbul, Turkey +90 212 520 00 53 What can we learn about Portugal? Answer: Over the past decade, cheating--an act of academic dishonesty--has become more and more common. The latest statistics shows more than two thirds of high school students admitted cheating on an exam last year, and--even more surprising--often the best students cheat to get to the top of their class--and they don't think it is wrong. It's not a big deal. Everybody is doing it. It is a big deal! Cheating is basically wrong and must be punished. If students easily get away with it, they might be encouraged to do it again. They won't realize that this--in the broadest sense--is an attack on our society, which is based on values like honesty and fairness. The present spreading of cheating indicates a loss of those values and cannot be tolerated. An appropriate punishment for cheating incidents would make students aware of their misbehavior. If no one were punished for cheating, who would ever study for an exam? Tons of papers would be _ from websites, writing crib sheets would be more important than reviewing the subjects, and highly sophisticated cheating arts would be invented. Knowledge would only exist on the Internet and on cleverly created cheat sheets, but not in the minds of the students--a rather bad precondition to enrich our society wisely and intelligently. Students have to learn that they have to learn. Only doing what's right will bring them a feeling of pride and accomplishment and create self-confidence--the building blocks for a successful and satisfying life and a society that keeps its values. What is more surprising is that _ . Answer:
Every evening at six o'clock an old man goes to a restaurant near his house. He eats dinner. After dinner, he drinks coffee and talks to the people at the restaurant. The old man's name is Bill. Bill eats at the restaurant every evening because he is lonely. His wife died and he has no children. Every evening the same waitress brings Bill to his dinner. Her name is Cara. She is 17 years old. Cara is kind to Bill. She knows he is lonely, so she talks to him. If Bill is late for dinner, she calls him on the telephone. "Are you OK?" she asks him. One evening Bill doesn't come to the restaurant. Cara calls him, but he doesn't answer the phone. Cara calls the police. "Please go to Bill's house." Cara tells the police. Later the police call Cara at the restaurant. "Bill died in his sleep," the police tell her. Bill was 82 years old. A week later, a man comes to the restaurant. "I have something for Cara," the man says. The man gives Cara a check for $500000. The money is from Bill. "This money is for me? From Bill?" Cara asks the man. "Yes," the man answers. "But...why?" Cara asks the man. "Bill liked you," the man says. "You were kind to him" ---Why doesn't Bill come to the restaurant that evening? -- _ . A Because Cara isn't kind to him B Because he died in his sleep C Because he is very tired D Because he stays at home for dinner Answer: B Most high schools have at least four sports they offer to their students. In many districts, there must be an equal amount of sports for boys and girls. Some schools even have sporting clubs. High school sports have been an important part of the high school curriculum for many years. However, not all parents fully realize the importance. Some children are not even allowed to participate in school sports, because of the cost, the time commitment , or the possibility of injury. The truth is that high school sports are more than just fun. They are great tools to help students learn about life. They can teach students teamwork, cooperation, and leadership, etc. Students can take these things into their everyday lives as well. When they build their confidence on the sporting field, students are also building confidence against the world. They will be able to work well with others in all other areas of their life. High school sports are also the perfect way to keep teens away from drugs and other dangerous behaviors. Coaches are great role models that can often encourage players to be well behaved. Some schools even have limits on GPAs (grade point average) for their athletes. If a student athlete's grades fall below a certain point, they cannot play. Students who love sports will do anything to play, including studying more. They will also be less likely to try drugs or break the law in any other manner. So, allow your children to participate in school sports. Get involved and make friends with the parents of the other students. The whole family can have a great time and learn about sports together. Which of the following is NOT used to support the idea that school sports help keep students away from some dangerous behaviors? A Coaches have a positive effect on students. B Schools are strict with their students. C Students loving sports study more. D Parents can have a great time with their children. Answer: D Many years ago, there lived an old man with his three sons, Dharma, Harrison and Keith, in a village. The man worked hard when he was young, son he had the largest farmyard and the most beautiful house in the village. However, his sons were all born to be lazy, which mad him disappointed. He was worried that his sons would use up his money and starve to death. One day, the old man came up with a plan. He called his sons and said to them, "Look, my dear sons: in the land we have at the farmyard, there is lots of hidden gold. If you should work together, you may find it" In a wish to find out the gold, his sons worked hard from the morning to the evening digging and digging all through the land. The days had passed, but they didn't find what were they were looking for. They got frustrated and angry. They decided to give up and returned to ask their father. "There is no gold in the land. We are cheated." "Since the land has been dup soft. Why don't you pant some crops there?" was the reply of the father to the sons. Off went the sons. Soon the whole once-useless land was rich crops. "This if the real gold, my sons." Said the now proud father. What do we know about the old man? A He was the richest in his village. B He was unable to feed his family. C He loved daughters more than sons. D He was quite successful as a farmer. Answer: D We have entered a new age of embedded , intuitive computing in which our homes, cars, stores, farms, and factories have the ability to think, sense, understand, and respond to our needs. It's not science fiction, but the dawn of a new age. Most people might not realize it yet, but we are already feeling the impact of what's known as the third wave of computing. In small but significant ways it is helping us live healthier and more secure lives. If you drive a 2014 Mercedes Benz, for example, an "intelligent" system tries to keep you from hitting a pedestrian. A farmer in Nigeria relies on weather sensors that communicate with his mobile device. Forgot your medicine? A new pill bottle from AdhereTech reminds you through text or automatic phone messages that it's time to take a pill. Technology is being integrated into our natural behaviors, with real-time data connecting our physical and digital worlds. With this dramatic shift in our relationship to technology, companies can adapt their products and services. To understand how revolutionary the third wave is, we ought to consider how far we have come. The first wave began when companies started to manage their operations through mainframe computer systems over 50 years ago. Then computing got "personal" in the 1980s and the 1990s with the introduction of the PC (personal computer). For the most part, computing remained immobile and lacked contextual awareness. In computing's second wave, mobile computing and the smartphone took center stage. Billions of people, some of whom might not have had access to clean water, electricity, or even housing, were connected. Developers created applications and provided consumers with access to just about everything through their phone at the cost of a monthly data plan. As the third wave keeps developing, designers must meet the demands of consumers who want to experiment with new technology. Historically, designers have focused their attention on a product's form and function. While that still matters, of course, the definition of a meaningful user experience has expanded significantly and will continue to do so. Instead of creating a single product, designers will need to imagine a series of connected products and services that have awareness of each other and their surroundings. In the first wave of computing _ . A companies' operations were reliable on computer systems B computing had awareness of people's needs in the context C people could have access to computing almost everywhere D it was possible for people to experience computing at home Answer: D Paper was not made in southern Europe until the year of 1100.Thouth Scandinavia now makes a great deal of the world's paper, it had not begun to make it until 1500. It was a German named Schaeffer who found out that one could make paper from wood. After that, forest countries, such as Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the United States, became important in paper making. Today in Finland, for example, no industry is bigger than the forest industry. And the paper industry is the most important part of it. Modern paper-making machines are very big, and they make paper very fast. The biggest machines can make a piece of paper 750 meters long and six meters wide in one minute. When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books, letters, envelopes , and writing paper. But there are many other uses. Each year, more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups, plates, and dishes for a long time. But now we hear that chairs, a tables and even beds can be made of paper. The newest thing made of paper in the world may be a paper house. It is not a small house for children to play in, but a real, big house for people to live in. it is not expensive. You can put up a paper house yourself in a few hours, and you can use it for about 5 years. ,. What can be made of paper? A Paper cups. B Plates, dishes. C Chairs, tables, beds and houses. D All of above. Answer: D
Long, long ago the world was a happy place. Nobody was ever sick or sad. At that time there lived a little girl named Pandora. One day a fairy gave her a wonderful box. The fairy made Pandora promise not to open it. Pandora and her friends often looked at the box and wondered what was in it. For a long time Pandora kept her promise, but at last she couldn't help herself. She opened the box a little. Then hundreds of bad fairies flew out. They stung Pandora and her friends. The bad fairies flew out of the door and stung all the children in the land. Then Pandora heard a voice crying, "Let me out, and I will help you." She opened the box again, and a beautiful fairy flew out. She told Pandora that her name was Hope. She kissed Pandora and her friends, and made them feel well. Then she flew away to help the other children. Until now, when people are sick or unhappy, the little good fairy, Hope, comes to comfort them. Which of the following statements about Hope is TRUE according to the passage? A She was a beautiful fairy. B She was a bad fairy. C She was a friend of Pandora. D She was an unhappy child. Answer: A. She was a beautiful fairy. Did you ever look up at the moon and think you saw a man's face there?When the moon is round and full,the shadows of the moon mountains and the lines of the moon valleys sometimes seem to show a giant nose and mouth and eyes. At least,some people think so. If there were a man on the moon -- instead of mountains and valleys that just look like the face of a man -- what would he be like? He would not be like anyone you know. He would not be like anyone anybody knows. If the man on the moon were bothered by too much heat or cold the way Earth people are,he could not stay on the moon. The moon becomes very,very hot. It becomes as hot as boiling water. And the moon becomes very,very cold. It becomes colder than ice. Whatever part of the moon the sun shines on is hot and bright. The rest of the moon is cold and dark. If the man on the moon had to breathe to stay alive,he couldn't live on the moon because there's no air there.(He'd have to carry an oxygen tank,as astronauts do.) There's no food on the moon,either. Nothing grows -- not even weeds. If the man on the moon liked to climb mountains,he would be very happy. There are many high places there,such as the raised land around the holes,or craters,of the moon. Some of these _ are as tall as Earth's highest mountains. But if the man on the moon liked to swim,he would be unhappy. There is no water on the moon -- just dust and rock. When you think of what it's like on the moon,you may wonder why it interests our scientists. One reason is that the moon is Earth's nearest neighbor -- it is the easiest place in space to get to. Going back and forth between the moon and Earth,astronauts will get a lot of practice in space travel. Things learned on moon trips will be of great help to astronauts who later take long,long trips to some of the planets. Scientists are also interested in the moon because it has no air. The air that surrounds Earth cuts down the view of the scientists who look at the stars through telescopes. A telescope on the moon would give them a clearer,closer view of the stars. What is the main idea of the passage? A We can learn much from research on the moon. B There may be human beings on the moon. C If there were a man on the moon,there would be many similarities between the man on the moon and on the Earth. D A telescope on the moon would help scientists have a clearer,closer sight of the stars. Answer: A. We can learn much from research on the moon. Here are some easy tips for getting to sleep. They can help you deal with tension, stress and anxiety, and enjoy a good night sleep. Not every one of these tips alone will get you to sleep, but a few of them at least should be useful. Get some physical exercise during the day. Even 15 minutes a day of exercise (at least half an hour before going to bed, so your body will have a chance to slow down) will give your body the activity and oxygen it needs to help you relax more and sleep better. Listen to the light music. Play some soft, smooth music that help you sleep. Of course you must have a recorder or CD player that will automatically turn off because if you get up and turn it off in the end, it'll lose its effect. Drink warm milk. A glass of warm milk 15 minutes before going to bed will keep you calm. Keep regular bedtime hours. Your body likes regular routines ,.It likes to know that it's going to get up at the same time each day, eat at the same time, and go to bed at the same time. Keep far away from caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. Before you go to sleep, you'd better not drink coffee or cola which has caffeine. Don't drink wine, beer or champagne which has alcohol and don't smoke. Don't watch TV or read before going to bed. Wait at least half an hour before going to bed after reading or watching TV. Which is the best title for this passage? A Music and Sleep B Caffeine and Sleep C Keeping Regular Bedtime D Tips for Getting to Sleep Answer: D. Tips for Getting to Sleep When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern times, two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have shown that heroes still exist. According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post, the tragedy on the afternoon of December 14, 2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water. More than 20 university students who happened to be near the place where it happened immediately went to the rescue of the children. Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child's body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao, also died of cold and tiredness. The body of Hao who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day. A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children's cries for help, they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of them to fall into the icy water. Local people held mourning ceremonies at the lake. Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation , but their lives were no longer in danger. When the three students fell into water, the university students were _ . A skating on the ice B taking photos at the lake C having a picnic D walking along the lake Answer: B. taking photos at the lake Everybody has a home. People have homes. Animals have homes, too. People live in different kinds of homes. Animals also have different kinds of homes. Some animals live in holes under the ground. The woodchuck lives under the ground. Its home has two doors. If any enemy comes through one door, the woodchuck goes out of the other. Some animals live in holes in trees. Some squirrels build nests high in trees. Some birds live in holes in trees. Most of the birds live in nests . Crows build their nests high in trees. But hawks build their nests high in the mountains. Some animals even carry their homes on their backs . The passage is about _ . A some trees B some animals and birds C animals' homes D different animals Answer: C. animals' homes
They may be just passing your office, computer bag slung over one shoulder. Or they may be sitting in a car outside it, causally tapping away at a laptop. They look like innocent passers-by. In fact, they are stealing your corporate secrets. Drive-by hacking is the trendy term given to the practice of breaking into wireless computer networks from outside the buildings that house them. A recent study in the UK, sponsored by RSA Data Security, found that two-thirds of organizations with wireless networks were risking their data in this way. Security experts patrolled several streets in the City of London seeking evidence of wireless networks in operation. Of 124 that they identified, 83 were sending data without encrypting them. Such data could readily be picked up by a passer-by armed only with a portable computer, a wireless modem and a few pieces of software that can be freely downloaded from the Internet. The data could include sensitive company documents containing valuable information. Or they could be e-mail identities and passwords that could be used by hackers to log into corporate networks as if they were legal users. Most companies using wireless networking technology do not take even the simplest of measures to protect their data. Nearly all wireless network technology comes with some basic security features that need only to be activated in order to give a minimum level of security, for example, by encrypting the data being passed over the network. Raymon Kruck, business development manager at Check Point Software, a security technology specialist, believes this could be partly a psychological problem. People see the solid walls of their building as safeguards and forget that wireless networks can extend up to 200 meters beyond physical walls. Companies without any security at all on their wireless networks make it ridiculously easy for hackers to break in. Switching on the security that comes with the network technology should be automatic. Then there are other basic steps a company can take, says Mr. Kruck, such as changing the passwords on the network from the default setting. Companies can also install firewalls, which form a barrier between the internal network and the public Internet. They should also check their computer records regularly to spot any abnormal activity, which might betray the presence of a hacker. Whichof the following is NOT considered in the study? Answer: The number of computer hacking incidents. There are four people in the twins' family. They are the twins, their father and their mother. The twins' names are Lucy and Lily. They are fourteen. They are in the same class in NO.1 Middle School. They are very good students. They not only work very hard but also sing very well. They want to join the music club. Lucy wants to play the piano. Lily can play the guitar. Their father, Mr. King, is a teacher. He teaches English in a school near his home. Their mother, Mrs. King, is a teacher, too. She teaches Chinese. Mr. and Mrs. King are in different schools. But they have the same hobby--play the guitar. Mr. King is a good _ . Answer: teacher In every school there is a "top" crowd that sets the pace, while the others follow their lead. Let's say the top crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters. Pretty soon everybody is wearing a bright red sweater. There is nothing wrong with that, except the fact that on some people bright red sweater is extremely unbecoming. The situation can even become dangerous, if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink or to drive cars at seventy miles an hour. Then the people who follow the lead are endangering their lives. They are like the sheep being led to the butcher. Now, chances are that you have come across situations like these more than once in your life; chances are that one time or another you probably did something you knew to be wrong. You may have excused yourself by saying, "Gee, the crowd does it." Well, let the crowd do it, but don't do it yourself. Learn to say, "No." Develop your own standards and your own judgment. If you know the crowd is planning something you disagree to, have the courage to bow out mannerly. You'll have the satisfaction of standing on your own two feet. The author doesn't think it good wearing red sweaters if _ . Answer: you don't look good in red On any weekend throughout the year one can spend hours browsing through neighborhood flea markets.These are very popular for those who are in search of bargains and who have a keen eye for picking through what others have .They hunt and search for something they can reuse.Americans love secondhand merchandise which can be bought cheaply and restored to its original use.In many cases the condition and the quality are still good, though the style might be outdated. For some people searching through flea markets is a hobby which reaps rewards.They look for possible antiques among the items for sale or for old furniture which can be restored with a little care and used again.Many wise collectors often find rare items worth much more than their bargained price.Since prices are usually not fixed, if one is persistent a bargain can easily be struck.The owner may be selling a rare collectable and may not even be aware of its value.One of the great pleasures of shopping at such markets is the chance to bargain with the shop owner and settle for a price which one can afford and is willing to pay. Perhaps even more enjoyable than flea markets are the weekend outdoor garage sales which have now become very much a part of American culture.These are held usually in the spring and fall when the weather is still good.Usually a homeowner, having decided that he would like to clear his residence of accumulated items which are no longer useful to him, advertises in a local paper that he is holding a garage sale.More than likely the goods on display are in good condition and great buys can be found if one has the time and patience to search carefully.The home owner places items for sale on display along the driveway leading to his garage or on his front lawn and waits for people to look at what he has to sell.Old magazines, books, paintings, bicycles, ice-skates, items of clothing and electrical appliances of every sort appear on a regular basis.If the owner is in a position where he must sell his home or plans to move soon, then he may be forced to practically give things away at a price far below their true worth. What do we know about the garage sale? Answer: Garage sales are popular with Americans. Do you want to know something about children in Africa? What to they do for fun every day? Find out here: Education School is expensive for many African children. Lots of families can't afford school uniforms or exercise books even though they don't have to pay for school. For those lucky enough to go to school , they have a lot to learn. Some take two language classes: English or French, and their first language. There is also math, science, history, social studies and geography. _ take up much of children's time after school. They have to get water and firewood for the family every day. Also there's cleaning , washing and helping Mum with the meal. Daily fun It's not all work and no play. Sports are very popular. Children can make goals with twigs ( )and their own footballs with plastic and bits of string ( ). They play in the country and the streets of old towns. There're many football teams for teenagers in Africa. Internet It's really expensive to get on the Internet. To surf the net for 20 hours costs over 600yuan. This is more than the average monthly pay per person. Egypt and South Africa are the top two users of the Internet in Africa. All of the capital cities there can get on the Internet. Some schools offer computer lessons but few students can enjoy computer fun at home. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: children's daily life in Africa
Question: Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of person's intelligence are fixed at birth, but whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways. It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people _ from population, it is likely that their degree of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical twins, they will very probably be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth. Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence. It is suggested in this passage that _ . A. close relation usually have similar intelligence B. unrelated people are not likely to have different intelligence C. the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely to be in intelligence D. people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees of intelligence Answer: A Question: Rose is an American school girl. She is now in Beijing with her parents. It's Sunday morning. Rose gets up early in the morning. After breakfast her parents take her to the zoo. They go to see the pandas and other animals. The pandas live only in China. There are not any pandas in America. So they like the pandas best. Outside the zoo gate there is a picture. It's a picture of a panda with "Welcome". In the zoo, Rose sees not only pandas but also many other animals. A panda is round and fat. It looks like a ball. It always moves slowly like a ball rolling . There are also elephants. The elephant is the biggest animal on land. There are many monkeys on the hill. Some of them are sitting in the trees. Some are picking nuts. And the others are running or climbing up the trees. Rose and her parents have a good time in the zoo. Rose and her parents are _ that day. A. very busy B. very free C. very happy D. not happy Answer: C Question: "It was all his own idea, " says Pat Peters, the 38-year-old wife of Palo Alto, California high school . Bob had just drawn up a "motherhood contract" ----- a document stating that for 70 days this summer he would take over the care and feeding of the couple's four children, plus all household chores . Although he didn't even know how to make coffee when he signed, he was quite confident.(He thought the experience would make a nice book.) After 40 of the 70 days, he was ready to give up. "I was beaten down, completely humbled, " admits Peters. Three weeks later he spoke to the local press (also part of the bargain), stating, "Not only is motherhood a difficult task, not only is it never-ending, it is an impossible job for any normal human being." Bob and Pat were high school sweethearts. After they were married in 1960, she worked as a secretary to help put him through university. Since then Bob has been the football and wrestling coach at Palo Alto's Cubberley High while Pat raised the kids. Then two years ago Pat went back to work as a secretary at Cubberley. "I had been around children so much," she sighs , "I couldn't talk to a grown-up." She continued to run the household, however----- until Bob signed the contract, whereupon she decided to relax and enjoy it. Although Peters had consulted with his school's home economics teachers and the head of the cafeteria , his meals were sometimes a disaster. "I tried to slip the butter I'd forgotten under the eggs after they were frying, " he says. For the last three weeks, the family ate out a lot--sometimes having Macdonald's hamburgers for lunch and dinner. As for housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean if the bed is made. "I found an easier way-----I shut the doors, " he says. Soon the kids were wearing the same clothes for a week. "I made them wear their shirts inside out, and when we went to pick up Pat at work they turned them right side out so they would look clean." Now that Bob has publicly admitted he was wrong, he is routinely sharing the child-raising and household tasks with Pat. The tentative title of his book about the summer is taken from something he shouted at the kids one day. The couple signed the contract because _ . A. Pat complained a lot about her doing the housework all by herself B. Bob loved taking care of children and wanted his wife to have a good rest C. they agreed that husband and wife should share household tasks D. Bob thought it easy to take care of the family and wanted the experience for a book Answer: D Question: As he looks up at the Jade Dragon Mountain, Zhang Jinpeng basks in the sunshine on the roof-top of his youth hostel in Lijiang, a popular tourist destination in Yunnan province in Southwest China. He is content and excited at the same time, since the hostel, which he named after his best-seller A Decade of Backpacking, opened earlier this month. Published in 2010, Zhang's book was considered a milestone in Chinese travel writing. It sold more than 600,000 copies and triggered a wave of travel books by other Chinese writers who were born in the late 1970s and 1980s. Different from travel guides and traditional Chinese travel literature that mainly depict landscapes and scenery, these books by young travelers tell stories of their personal growth through traveling. In A Decade of Backpacking, Zhang recounts his travels around the world since 2001, after he graduated from Nan Kai University in Tianjin and decided to see the world. "At the time my book came out, there were few books that catered to young people's longing while traveling." Zhang's book ignited a Chinese craze for travel writing. Featuring different themes, travel writing became a popular genre. But most of the books have one thing in common: The travelers are mostly young people. The Late Gap Year (2009), written by Sun Dongchun, tells the story of a young man who gave up a white-collar job and started a three-month trip for a volunteer program in Southeast Asia. The trip turned into a year-long travel. What's more, he even found his Miss Right and got married by the end of the story. We Always Travel Hand in Hand, published in 2012, was written by a young couple. Their travel romance, complete with beautiful pictures, first went viral on a Chinese micro-blog. Song Zhenshao, counselor at the psychological counseling center of Beijing Normal University, says: "To step out of ordinary life is a deep desire associated with freedom in people's hearts, and the hustle and bustle of city life intensifies the desire." But as more similar travelogues hit the bookshelves, the average sales for new travel books have dropped. "The market for travel writing has become saturated ," says Li Shen, editor of several travel books at the Beijing-based China Civic Press. "We have been very cautious in accepting manuscripts from new travel writers. We don't publish them unless they have a very unique perspective or unusual experiences." Zhang Jinpeng, too, has been changing the direction in his writing. After A Decade of Backpacking, he published Why We Travel in 2012. His next book will be titled Don't Forget the Road Back Home. If new travel writers want to impress the editors, _ . A. they should write from a special view point B. they should change their writing styles C. they should go to some dangerous areas D. they should provide their personal stories Answer: A Question: Flight Distance Any observant people have noticed that a wild animal will allow a man or other potential enemy to approach only up to a given distance before it escapes. "Flight distance" is the terms used for this interspecies spacing. As a general rule, there is a positive relationship between the size of an animal and its flight distance --- the larger the animal, the greater the distance it must keep between itself and the enemy. An antelope will escape when the enemy is as much as five hundred yards away. The wall lizard's flight distance, on the other hand, is about six feet. Flight is the basic means of survival for mobile creatures. Critical Distance Critical distance apparently is present wherever and whenever there is a flight reaction. "Critical distance" includes the narrow zone separating flight distance from attack distance. A lion in a zoo will flee from an approaching man until it meets a barrier that it cannot overcome. If the man continues the approach, he soon penetrates(,)the lion's critical distance, at which point the cornered lion turns back and begins slowly stalk the man. Social Distance Social animals need to stay in touch with each other. Loss of contact with the group can be fatal for a variety of reasons including exposure to enemies. Social distance is not simply the distance at which an animal will lose contact with his group --- that is, the distance at which it can no longer see, hear, or smell the group --- it is rather a psychological distance, one at which the animal apparently begins to feel anxious when it goes beyond its limits. We can think of it as a hidden band that contains the group. Social distance varies from species to species. It is quite short --- apparently only a few yards --- among some animals, and quite long among others. Social distance is not always rigidly fixed but is determined in part by the situation. When the young of apes and humans are mobile but not yet under control of the mother's voice, social distance may be the length of her reach. This is readily observed among baboons in a zoo. When the baby approaches a certain point, the mother reaches out to seize the end of its tail and pull it back to her. When added control is needed because of danger, social distance shortens. To show this in man, one has only to watch a family with a number of small children holding hands as they cross a busy street. Which of the following one can be the best title of the passage? A. Critical Distance B. Spacing in Animals C. Relationship Between Animals D. Psychological Distance Answer: B
"If there is one thing I'm sure about, it is that m a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It is not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation. The nature of what is news may change .What basically makes news is what affects our lives - the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though .It's already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do - as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are. It's quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact ,I'm pretty sure how it will happen m the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read - sports and international news, etc. I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media .They actually _ each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn't happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound lost in the air. And as for the Internet. it's never really pleasant to read something just on a screen. What will probably be on in the newspaper made by yourself? Answer: You wish to closely observe a small insect. Which tool is the best to use? Answer: Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spent time with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves.That's because we group people by age. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-olds in school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes. Why? We live away from the old for many reasons: young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It is much harder to watch .someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it's so hard that we stay away from the people who need us most. Fortunately, .some of us have found our way to the old. And we have discovered that they often save the young. A reporter moved her family onto a block filled with old people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter baked banana bread for the neighbours and had her children deliver it and visit. Soon the children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories and projects. "My children have never been less lonely," the reporter said. The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a rest home when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded. People who hadn't gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure. Grandparents are a special case. They give grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, "my grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end." Grandchildren speak of attention they don't get from worried parents. "My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and my grandparents told me to slow down," one friend said. A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter, calmer, more trusting. Seeing a baby, the old people get excited because _ . Answer: Promised yourself to quit smoking in the new year, but just can't stop lighting up? You're not alone, with an Australian survey showing that only 3 percent of smokers who made such resolutions stuck with them. An online poll of just over 1,000 people, conducted ahead of the launch of a video game designed to help smokers quit, showed one in four Australians made New Year's resolutions to quit ---- but more than half went back on their word within a week.Some 15 percent lit up within hours of making the pledge, the survey showed, The research revealed that seven out of ten smokers have tried to kick the habit at some point. "Our research shows that the majority of smokers in Australia want to quit but are struggling to stick to their resolution.For most people, the desire to stop smoking is not enough, "Edward Fong, general manager of Ubisoft, the videogame manufacturer selling the anti-- smoking software, said in a statement. According to the survey, Australian smokers light up an average of 13.8 cigarettes every day or 5,037 cigarettes a year.There are currently 2.63 million smokers in Australia, which equates to 16 percent of the population over the age of 18, with women on average making more attempts to quit than men.The World Health Organization says smoking kills about 4 million people each year, causing a quarter of deaths related to heart disease.The organization estimates that by 2030, more than 8 million people will die from tobacco - related causes each year, mainly in developing countries. The research shows that _ . Answer: When Christina Brouder was five years old, a drunk driver ran over her as she and her father were crossing the street in front of their home.Hurt badly, the young girl was forced to spend a long time in a full-body cast to recover from her injuries.Mostly, she traveled between the hospital and her home.Once out of the cast, Brouder sat in a wheelchair for almost a year. In spite of the horrible accident, Christina was grateful for her recovery.She was so grateful, in fact, that she and her four talented siblings ( three sisters and a brother) started a music group, Gilbride.The group performed at local hospitals and nursing homes, performing for the patients.Among them, the children could sing, dance and play about 20 different musical instruments.At their first show in 1988, held at Montefiore Hospital, the kids were 2,3,6,8 and 9 years old.That year alone, the group made over a hundred appearances. From the local public entertainment places, the group expanded to charity performances.They also entertained people at Disney World, Radio City Music Hall, and even the White House. Christina balanced her happy and successful musical career with academics.First graduating from New York City's High School of Music and Art,and then from Fordham.In 2000,as t he youngest graduate from Fordham,1 8year--old Christina and her siblings went on tour for a year.Not pleased with the applause she received from the audience, she entered Pace University Law School.On May 19,Christina Brouder realized part of her dream when at only 22,she received Health Law Certificate . According to the text,Christina was _ . Answer:
Beginning college is exciting: new ideas to explore, new challenges to meet and many decisions to make.Your future begins here. However, you will find college life is different from your previous school environment. Many of us can be easily overwhelmed by the details of running a well-balanced life.While some of us may have the _ , I guess there are more of us who can benefit from learning about the experiences of others who have walked the college halls before you. The following you may find of use about life on campus. * Plan well.There are so many new things to do at a new college or university.Give yourself time to make new friends and become familiar with the campus, but don't forget why you are there.Give some time for social activities and manage your time wisely. * If you don't have a "system" for planning your time now(like a day timer, a computer data book), get one.Most of all, don't depend on your memory. * Don't miss the guidelines.The restrictions, rules and regulations of all kinds can usually be found in your student handbook.Consider them well-balanced food for thought.What dates are important? What pieces of paper need to be handed in? What can/ can't you do in class? What can/ can't you do in your student residence? Who has right for what? What do you need to complete to graduate? * Write the word "STUDY" on the walls of our bedroom and bathroom, and maybe it will help to write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the telephone, TV and the kitchen table.Consider this--you are paying thousands of dollars for your courses. You pay every time you have to repeat or replace a course. * Build your identity.This is the time for you to decide what to do and what not to do.Take as much time as you need to explore new ideas.Do not be afraid of the beyond.This is learning to make good choices. What is the main purpose of the passage? Answer: Instagram is containing so many photos of food--now a pop-up diner in London is taking advantage of this new trend by letting people settle the bill for their meals simply by uploading photos of their dishes to social networks. I always thought people's taking pictures of their food was kind of silly, but at this new pop-up restaurant in the UK, I'd probably do it too. 'The Picture House' is the world's first pay-by-photo restaurant--you order, click a photo of the food, share on Instagram and eat for free! The restaurant belongs to frozen food giant Birds Eye, who came up with the idea to cash in on people's addiction with photographing food and sharing the pictures online. They conducted a survey and found out that more than half of the British population regularly took pictures of their meals. So they realized it was a better way to advertise their new dining range. The pop-up diner was open in Soho, London for three days in May, and is now moving to other major UK cities. They serve two-course meals that customers don't have to pay for, if they photo and Instagram it. The restaurant is a part of Birds Eye's 'Food for Life' campaign, a new marketing project that aims at changing the way people look at frozen food. "Taking photos of food enables people to show off and to share their mealtime moments--from the everyday to the special," said marketing director Margaret Jobling. The reaction to The Picture House has been great so far. And the pay-by-picture concept has proven to be an effective way. Alternative payment methods are actually gaining popularity among a lot of businesses. Last year, in a cafe in Germany customers pay by how much time they spend there, not by what they eat. 'The Picture House' encourages sharing photos of its food to _ . Answer: Everybody knows that words can carry messages. People communicate with words. Books, magazines, TV,radio and films all help us to know what is going on in the world and what people are thinking about. Do you think you can communicate without words? A smile on your face shows you are happy or friendly. Tears in your eyes tell others that you are sad. When you put up your hand in class, the teacher knows that you want to say something or ask a question. You shake your head, and people know you are saying "No". You nod and people know you are saying "Yes". Other things can also carry messages. For example, a sign at the bus stop helps you to know which bus to take. A sign on the wall of your school helps you to find the library. Signs on doors tell you where to go in or out. Have you ever noticed there are a lot of signs around you and you receive messages from them all the time? People can communicate in many ways without words. For example, an artist can use his drawings to tell about beautiful mountains, seas and many other things. How can people communicate with each other? Answer: Most teens I meet these days lack basic social courtesy when dealing with people. My own son, who basically grew up with his grandmother, the original manners expert, has perfect table manners. This is partly because he was exposed to manners at a very young age. However, when we eat at home, he would not practice manners. So I asked him why. He said, "I behave the way I am supposed to behave when I'm out, but when I am at home I want to be comfortable." That's when I realized that most parents, myself included, do teach their children the proper way to behave outside the home, but they are also brought up to believe that at home, anything goes. My answer to him was "good behavior has nothing to do with where you are or whom you are with". Then he answered, "But I behave properly when I'm with others so that they think better of me ." And that is when I realized that I was doing things all wrong. I explained to him that it had nothing to do with what people think. This confused him even more. So I went on to explain that behavior, whether in your everyday interaction with people or at the dining table at home, is an expression of who you are. Well, at the age of 13, he got it. So basically, what I am saying is that teaching your children manners comes with the underlying lesson that it is not about what to do or not to do, but rather , who they are. This way it is not mechanical : it comes from within. Teach your teens or children the basic courtesy of greeting their friends' parents and introducing themselves when they go to someone's home. Teach teenage boys to open the door of a car, or any door for that matter, for any girl, whether they are their girlfriends or not. This includes holding elevator doors or letting women step out of the elevator first. Just remember that teenage boys who practice good manners and courtesy grow up to become men who respect people in general. The author has written this passage in order to _ . Answer: I was born an albino.No one in my family had ever known what an albino was,what it meant to be an albino,and what had to be done differently because I was an albino. My parents treated me just like they treated everybody else.That was just about the best thing they could have done.It helped me trust myself,so when the annoyances came along,I could deal with them. True,my photo always looked like a snowball with two pieces of coal for eyes.Kids would tease me,asking if I was joining the circus and calling me "Whitey".Like most albinos,I had terrible eyesight,and my grades suffered until eventually I overcame my feeling ashamed of myself and realized it was okay to ask to sit in the front of the classroom so I could see the blackboard better.People stared at me when I held reading material right at the tip of my nose so I could see it well enough to read.Even when I was eight or nine.movie-theater clerks started asking me to pay adult prices because I "looked older". The worst part for me was that because my eyesight was so bad,I couldn't play sports very well.I didn't give up trying,though.And I studied harder. Eventually,I got better at school and loved it.By the time I got to college 1 was double majoring,going to summer school and devoting myself to every kind of extracurricular activity I could find.I had learned to be proud of being an albino.I did my best to make "albino" a positive word.And I decided to make my living with my eyes. I couldn't see well enough to play spots,but with a solid education and the drive to do it.I could make a living involved in the field I loved.I've done it now for more than thirty years in print and in video,and now in cyberspace.People make jokes about how I'm the only "blind editor" they know,but most of the time the jokes are signs of respect.And I make jokes about being an albino. I was just a proud albino kid from the coal country of Pennsylvania.I now realize that being born an albino helped me to overcome difficulties,gain confidence,and be proud of my personal achievement and humble about my professional accomplishments. Through the passage,the author tells us _ . Answer:
We all long for friendship, but how to make a friend? "The best time to make a friend is before you need one." Joy Steven said. The following are some tips for you. People equal friends Friends usually begin with strangers. Getting in touch with other people is the first step to make a friend. Friends can't be made in empty air. Best friends take time to make. Friends understand friends Friends understand each other when talking. Many unpleasant personal quarrels can be avoided if you will take the time to understand others' feelings and points of view. Friends touch friends Touching is a warm from of communication between friends. When you see best friends communicating, you will notice them stand close together, touch each other comfortably and listen to each other. Sometimes a friendly touch is more powerful than words. Friends praise friends Praise is a powerful tool to make a friend. Honest praise can affect your friends' lives. So try to praise your friends, including your general ones. Friends can loyal and trustworthy Trust and loyalty go hand in hand for friends. Friends can share secrets with you, because good friends never break confidence and are loyal forever. To make and keep many friends, you need to do the following EXCEPT _ . A. get in touch with people B. understand your friends C. praise your friends D. quarrel with your friends Answer: D. quarrel with your friends Teenagers with a bedroom television tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, US researchers said on Monday. While many studies have examined TV viewing habits of young people, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health said little had been known about the effects in particular for older teenagers of having a bedroom TV. They questioned 781 teenagers, aged 15 to 18, in the Minneapolis area in 2003 and 2004. Of them, 62 % reported having a television in their bedroom. Not surprisingly, those with a bedroom TV were more likely to watch it a lot, clocking four to five more hours in front of a television per week, the researchers said. Many more teens with a bedroom TV were classified as heavy TV watchers than those without one. Girls with a bedroom television reported getting less exercise -- 1.8 hours per week compared to 2.5 hours for girls without a TV. They also ate fewer vegetables, drank more sweetened drinks and ate meals with their family less often. Boys with a bedroom TV reported having a lower grade point average than boys without one, as well as eating less fruit and having fewer family meals. "It is clearly important not to allow your child to have a TV in the bedroom," said Daheia Barr-Anderson, one of the researchers. "When you upgrade your TV in the living room and you have this smaller TV that's out of date but still usable, you should really resist putting it in one of your children's bedrooms," she said in a telephone interview. Who do you think would be most interested in reading this passage? A. Doctors. B. Businessmen. C. Parents. D. Teachers. Answer: C. Parents. Linda and David have traveled by air from London to Sydney, Australia. Linda has promised her mother that she will ring her to let her know that they have arrived safely. This is something she had done ever since she was a child. David thinks it is not a good idea to ring so far, to spend too much, and to say so little. "If there were an accident. " He says, 'they'd know soon enough. Bad news travels fast. " But Linda has promised that she would ring. "However," she says, "'it doesn't cost much when you just think that it's the other side of the world. It's only six pence per second . " "If you're on that telephone for less than one minute, I'll eat my hat,' David says, "And one minute's nearly four pounds. " "That's no more than you'd pay for a new hat," ''Linda answers. She has asked the man at the hotel desk to get her the number. The telephone rings. Linda picks it up. "Hello, Mum. Is that you ?" She says. "Six pence per second," David reminds her. "Hello, love. " It is Mrs Lee, Linda's mother, speaking from London. "I can hear you very clearly just like you are in the next room. It's a better line than when you called me from your office. Do you remember? I shouted at that time, and still you couldn't hear me sometimes. " "Yes, Mum. "Linda puts in. . "I just wanted to ring to ....... " "I remember how you rang when you went to Betty's house to eat, when you were a little girl. And then when you ..." Mrs Lee is a great talker "Nearly four pounds. " says David. Linda tries to tell her mother that it is time to say goodbye. "Yes, all right, "says Mrs Lee," But you will write, won't you, as you did when you were at work ..." Once again, Mrs Lee talks about the pass. and there is no stopping her. "Four pounds fifty, 'says David. At last, Linda cuts her mother short, promises to write, and rings off. "There! That wasn't long, was it ?" "Four pounds, ninety pence." David answers. "And you didn't even say that we've arrived." Linda is telephoning home to _ . A. tell her mother some bad news B. say that she and David have arrived safely C. report an accident to her mother D. say that she and David have left London Answer: B. say that she and David have arrived safely It's hard to be the bearer of bad news,but most of IKEA's print and digital fascinating shots of picturesque rooms and products are fake.Those beautiful,"natural-looking" photos of gorgeous rooms and kitchens are mostly the work of computer magic,adjusted and corrected until they're picture-perfect. Martin Enthed,IT manager for IKEA's in-house communications agency,revealed,"In 2012,12 per cent of its product and concept images was CGI-rendered,increasing to 25 per cent in 2013.Since then,that percentage of rendered images appearing in the company's catalogue and online has tripled.75 per cent of the furniture company's product images today are created by computers." It's a move that first caught the attention of photographers and graphic designers a few years back when the furniture giant announced it would cancel photoshoots in favor of computer-generated imagery(CGI). Enthed said IKEA began shifting equipment in 2009 when company officials called in his team and said they weren't pleased with some previous photos and CG images. "So we looked at all the images they said weren't good and the two of three they said were great,and the ones they didn't like were photography and the good ones were all CG,"Enthed said."Now we only talk about a good or bad image - not what technique created it." It's a not-so-secret strategy used by top companies specializing in home and furniture design,though many consumers remain oblivious. The company claims the shift is another way to reduce its environmental footprint,saying constructing digital files produces less waste.It also helps the home furnishing empire's pocketbooks. It can be concluded from the passage that _ . A. IKEA should be punished because of fake photos B. IKEA set a good example as the furniture giant C. IKEA adjusted strategies to answer its need D. IKEA has a pioneering spirit in promotion Answer: C. IKEA adjusted strategies to answer its need The latest Chinese "god song"(an Internet term to describe pop songs that spread virally through the Internet is still making debates between those who view it as a milestone for Chinese pop music going global and those who regard it as a bad image of China. Last week,Little Apple, written and performed by the Chopsticks Brothers, won the AMA International Song Award and _ performed the song at the 2014 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Another Chinese pop singer, Zhang Jie, won the International Artist Award. But while fans of these singers are thinking highly of the awards and the performance by the Chopsticks Brothers at the AMA celebration, there are others who are less excited. They have questioned the value of the awards and what effect it will have on Chinese culture's "going abroad", saying it may leave foreign audiences with a poor impression of Chinese pop music, and even Chinese culture. The Little Applephenomenon, both home and abroad, can be more easily understood and judged if we look at it from a business view rather than a cultural view. The professional promoters behind the duo have developed a clear strategy to promote the duo and their works, not just this particular song.Little Applewas originally released to promote the duo's filmOld Boys: The Way of the Dragon. From the very beginning a marketing strategy was used to promote the song, which immediately went viral on the Internet due to its repetitive rhythm ,easy-to-remember lyrics , simple and funny dance and, most importantly, grass roots nature. The video accumulated more than 1 billion bits on China's major video websites. Although the song was generally disliked by music professionals who criticized it as "musical junk food",Little Apple's popularity nationally paved the way(...) for promoting the duo internationally. The writer's attitude to the song ofLittle Appleis _ . A. opposed B. negative C. objective D. critical Answer: C. objective
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. The author thinks that flattery can do good to those who _ . A are really excellent B lack confidence C are politicians or in high offices D think highly of themselves Answer: B. lack confidence The book, Aliens Ate My Homework, is set in a small town in the United States. By the way the characters talk to each other and the description of items from their daily lives, I think the story takes place within the last 10 years. It is a story about a boy named Rod Allbright who goes to school like any other normal kid. Unfortunately, the class bully always picks on him because he is overweight. While he's working on a school project for the science fair, tiny aliens come, crashing through his bedroom window in a spaceship. They have come to the earth to get another alien, an evil one named BKR. He is known in other galaxies for his cruelties. Rod gets bullied throughout the entire novel. The bully's name is Billy Becker, who is also called BKR! Rod does not discover that Billy is a bad alien until later on. This book has lots of action and the main character is fun to read about. The most exciting part is when the aliens and Rod find out that BKR is Billy Becker and they skip school and go to search his house. They get caught when BKR comes home from school. He traps them in a storing device where he keeps his alien items. They break free of the device and escape from his house with some difficulty. Rod Allbright is fun to read about because he can never tell a lie. This gets him into trouble when the aliens eat his homework and he can't make up an excuse for the teacher. The main idea that the author shares is that there could be other galaxies out in the universe with intelligent life forms who could be almost the same as humans. In this book, the aliens are just like humans in the way they think even though they look different and have a different language. I have learned that if you are nice to people they will be nice in return. This is proven in the book because Rod is nice to the aliens and they return the favor. The tiny aliens come to the earth to _ . A look for resources B do research on the earth C find an alien who has got lost D catch a cruel alien Answer: D. catch a cruel alien Chris left a glass of water on a windowsill. When he looked at the glass a few days later, some of the water had evaporated. Which of the following best describes what happened to the particles of water that evaporated? A They became larger in size. B They spread out into the air. C They were absorbed by the glass. D They passed through the glass into the air. Answer: B. They spread out into the air. I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Isidro. He lets me use his house to hold events to raise money for youth at risk programs. The last time I was there he greeted me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let you use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of a poor horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, farm to farm, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school was continually interrupted . One day in the last year of high school, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to do when he grew up. "He wrote a seven-page paper about his goal of owning a horse ranch in great detail. He put a great deal of his heart into the project and even drew a detailed floor plan for the dream ranch. Then the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. But he got a low mark with a note that read, 'See me after class.' "The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, 'Why did I receive a low mark?'" "The teacher said, 'This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from a poor family. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, 'If you will rewrite this paper, I will reconsider your mark.' "The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.' "Finally, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He wrote, 'You can keep the low mark and I'll keep my dream.'" The purpose of the text is to tell readers that _ . A seeing is believing B knowledge is power C all roads lead to Rome D where there is a will, there is a way Answer: D. where there is a will, there is a way When people first walked across the Bering Land Bridge thousands of years ago, dogs were by their sides, according to a study published in the journal Science. Robert Wayne of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Jennifer Leonard of the Smithsonian Institute, used DNA material--some of it unearthed by miners in Alaska--to conclude that today's domestic dog originated in Asia and accompanied the first humans to the New World about 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Wayne suggests that man's best friend may have enabled the tough journey from Asia into North America. "Dogs may have been the reason people made it across the land bridge," said Wayne. "They can pull things, carry things, defend you from fierce animals, and they're useful to eat." Researchers have agreed that today's dog is the result of the domestication of wolves thousands of years ago. Before this recent study, a common thought about the precise origin of North America's domestic dog was that Natives domesticated local wolves, the descendents of which now live with people in Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48. Dog _ from a Fairbanks-area gold mine helped the scientists reach their conclusion. Leonard, an evolutionary biologist, collected DNA from 11 bones of ancient dogs that were locked in permafrost until Fairbanks miners uncovered them in the 1920s. The miners donated the preserved bones to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where they remained untouched for more than 70 years. After borrowing the bones from the museum, Leonard and her colleagues used radiocarbon techniques to find the age of the Alaska dogs. They found the dogs all lived between the years of 1450 and 1675 A.D., before Vitus Bering and Aleksey Chirikov who were the first known Europeans to view Alaska in 1741. The bones of dogs that wandered the Fairbanks area centuries ago should therefore be the remains of "pure native American dogs," Leonard said. The DNA of the Fairbanks dogs would also expose whether they were the descendents of wolves from North America. Along with the Fairbanks samples, the researchers collected DNA from bones of 37 dog specimens from Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia that existed before the arrival of Columbus. In the case of both the Alaska dogs and the dogs from Latin America, the researchers found that they shared the most genetic material with gray wolves of Europe and Asia. This supports the idea of domestic dogs entering the New World with the first human explorers who wandered east over the land bridge. Leonard and Wayne's study suggests that dogs joined the first humans that made the adventure across the Bering Land Bridge to slowly populate the Americas. Wayne thinks the dogs that made the trip must have provided some excellent service to their human companions or they would not have been brought along. "Dogs must have been useful because they were expensive to keep," Wayne said. "They didn't feed on mice; they fed on meat, which was a very guarded resource." What does the passage mainly talk about _ . A the origin of the North American dogs B the DNA study of ancient dogs in America C the reasons why early people entered America D the difference between Asian and American dogs Answer: A. the origin of the North American dogs
Question: Approximately how many times does the Moon revolve around Earth during one revolution of Earth around the Sun? A. 1 B. 12 C. 28 D. 365 Answer: B Question: Which organ removes cell waste from the blood? A. the large intestine B. the small intestine C. the kidney D. the heart Answer: C Question: Plastics are considered one of the most serious pollutants causing environmental problems. The garbage containing plastics end up in the waterways that eventually flow into the oceans. Accumulation of plastic in the ocean endangers marine life and pollutes the water. Does a plastic continent exist? Yes, a plastic continent does exist and was discovered by Captain Charles Moore a decade ago. The plastic continent is twice the size of Britain and it is the region between the Hawaii Islands and California in the central Pacific Ocean. One of the causes of the lack of marine life in this region is due to pollution and pollutants are none other than plastics. Captain Charles Moore believes plastic waste started accumulating in the 1950s. The plastic continent is the man-made continent of floating plastic waste. The fisher men and the sailors have avoided this region for years. The reasons are: 1. There are no fish here because of the lack of nutrients. 2. The zone also lacks the wind that is essential for sailing. To do research on the ocean pollution, Captain Moore founded Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Other organizations such as Greenpeace supported his cause. The reports of The United Nations Environment Program show that millions of seabirds and marine animals are dying due to the invasion of plastics. The waste plastics can be recycled, but in fact they are being thrown into the oceans. The marine animals mistake these for food and eat them. This leads to their death that affects the marine food chain. To save the oceans from the plastic continent you need to reduce the use of plastics, reuse plastic bags and recycle plastics. What is the direct influence of the plastic continent? A. Local fishermen have to fish in other areas. B. The water becomes shallow and fish have to move away. C. The wind is too strong there and it makes sailing more difficult. D. It makes people realize the importance of protecting the environment. Answer: A Question: Watson entered Mr. Smith's office. The boss was a hard man. He fired people who didn't do well without giving them a second chance. "Watson," said Mr. Smith, "this past year your department hasn't earned money. We're going to drop that department. It's finished. I'm sorry, --but you'll have to go." "But, sir -- if I just had a little more time. For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School." "What's that!" said the boss. "Riverside! I didn't know you had a boy there. That's an expensive school for a man with your salary." "I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He's a star athlete and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ there." The boss sat perfectly still for a long time -- a faraway look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he said, "We've got to close your department, Watson. But you'll take over a new job in another department. It means longer hours--maybe more pay. Now get out. You're here for life." Watson got out, with surprise on his face. Then the boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. It was Herbie's last letter from Riverside School --written a few days before he died. He had read it over and over again with sick pain. The letter read: I can't say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were. I guess it's the same everywhere when you're a cripple . But don't worry about me, Dad. They've got a good chemistry department here. And there's one boy here who is really great. He's a track star and boxing champ and just tops in chemistry. The boys call him Champ. He made them stop throwing my books around. And he knocked a boy down who hit me. He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, when I grow up, 1 want to do something for Champ. Something big -- that he won' t even know about. Your son, Herbie We can learn from the text that _ . A. Mr. Smith didn't know that Champ was Watson's son at first B. Mr. Smith was told not to fire Watson by Herbie C. Mr. Smith decided to give Watson another chance in no time D. Mr. Smith wanted to realize Champ's dream Answer: A Question: It's important for us to be healthy. But how can we keep healthy? First,you should eat fruit and vegetables three or four times a week. Then eat some tofu every day because it's good for people, both the young and the old. Milk is also necessary ,especially for women. So you should have milk twice a day. It can help you to be strong. Next, doing more exercise is better. You can do morning exercises or evening exercises. After supper you should take a walk. The passage mainly tells us _ . A. how to keep healthy B. what health is C. why health is important D. how often you can eat tofu Answer: A
Question: House For Sale Red Rose Garden, Pudong 3-story home, 509 sqm total land area, 428.8 sqm built-in, 312.2 sqm garden. Asking RMB 13 million (USD 1.57 million). MP: 13761973547 Tel: 021-58609228 Fax: 021-58609728 Job Wanted Cherry, 24, a shining girl, good at oral English and Putonghua. Now I am working at an international trade company in Guangzhou. I am kind-hearted, hard-working and healthy, and would like part-time weekend work offering Putonghua lessons to foreign friends. If you are interested, please email me at _ . Beijing Snow World Ski Park Price: 18 yuan (ticket), 50 yuan/hour on weekdays and 70 yuan/hour on weekends, 120 yuan/four hours on weekdays and 190 yuan/four hours on weekends. Tel : 010-69191617 If you want to ski for four hours on weekdays, how much money will you pay at least? A. 138 yuan B. 200 yuan C. 208 yuan D. 280 yuan Answer: A. 138 yuan Question: Once an Englishman named Larry Belmont went to Russia for a holiday. After he got back, some of his friends came. "I had a very dangerous trip while I was in Russia," Larry said. "I went to see a friend in the country when the sun went down, I was still travelling through a forest in a sleigh . It was a long way from my friend's house when about twenty wolves began to follow my sleigh." www.ks5u.com "It was very dark in the forest. There was thick snow on the ground. First I heard the wolves. The noise was terrible! Then I saw long, grey forms among the trees, and soon the wolves were near me. They were running very fast, and they didn't seem to get tired like the horses." "What did you do?" one of Larry's friends asked. "When the wolves got very near," Larry answered, "I put up my gun and shot the first wolf dead. Then all the other wolves stopped and ate it, so my sleigh got away from them for a few minutes. Then they finished their meal, and I heard them coming again. The moon was shining brightly on the snow now, and after a few minutes I saw them running among the trees once more. They came nearer again, and then I shot another one of them, and the others stopped once more to eat it. The same thing happened again, and my horses became more and more tired and ran slower and slower until, after two hours, only one wolf was still alive and following me." "Wasn't it too fat to run?" one of Larry's friends asked. From what Larry's friend asked in the end,we know that _ A. Larry's trip was really dangerous B. the last wolf was too fat to run C. all the wolves had been shot by Larry D. his friend did not believe what Larry had said. Answer: D. his friend did not believe what Larry had said. Question: Many people like to live in big cities, because there are a lot of interesting things to do and to see there. You can go to different kinds of museums, see plays and films. You can also buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. It is expensive to live there. Every year many people move to the cities to find jobs, to study at good schools and to receive good medical care. But sometimes these people can't find jobs or good places to live. Also it is hard to keep the cities safe and clean. Some people enjoy living in big cities. Others do not. Before people move to a big city, they should think about the problems of living there. :1. serious adj. 2. medical care 3. hard adj. ,. Every year many people move to the cities to _ . A. find jobs B. receive good medical care C. study at good schools D. A, B and C Answer: D. A, B and C Question: The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single--engine airplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter failed.(The altimeter shows the height of the plane above the ground.) At night and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. Just before daylight, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except to keep going and to hope. Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and the rest of Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart became famous. What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she set a record of fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes. Amelia's successful flight proved that _ . A. women can do everything B. women can do tings that men have done C. men and women are equal now D. women pilots are more successful than men pilots Answer: B. women can do tings that men have done Question: Chlorophyll is good for allowing plants to absorb energy and A. is dry B. is dead C. is clear D. is healthy Answer: D. is healthy
Brigham Young University students can now receive the unconditional love of dogs without breakingrules prohibiting petsin university housing. Jenna Miller started her company Puppies for Rent this summer in the Provo area as a wayfor studentsand otherstorent puppies by the hour. The pups have been rented for first dates and surprise parties and by mothers rewarding their children. After signing a contract, customers can rent them for $15 an hour, $25 for two hours and $10for each additional hour. Miller offers her seven puppies for playtime rentals, with each dog hand delivered straight tothe customers' door. Her lawyer brother helps her with legal contracts and fees. She now has four employees helpinglook after and deliverthe animal. Carl Arky, spokesman for the Humane Society of Utah said his group is against the business. Puppies need consistency and stability in their lives, he said, and renting them to various peoplemight affect the animals' growth and development. Miller said the animals are treated well and she has a 100 percent success rate so far findingthem a permanent home. Money paid byrenters goes toward adoption fees if they decide to own a puppy. Miller's brother's mainresponsibility isto _ . A draft contracts B deliver animals C find adoptionfamilies D walkdogs Answer: A. draft contracts The MIT Museum is located near the north shore of the Charles River Basin in Cambridge, MA, a few blocks from the central part of the MIT campus. The MIT Museum is accessible via public transportation, and is within three miles of two major interstate highways. The Museum is approximately a 30 minute walk from downtown Boston or from Harvard Square. BY SUBWAY Take the Red Line to either Central Square Station or Kendall Square/MIT Station. From Central Square: Walk down Mass. Ave. toward Boston and the main MIT campus. The Museum is on the left at the corner of Front St. From Kendall/MIT Station at the east end of campus: Walk down Main St., away from Boston, to Windsor St., turn left, take the second right onto Front St., and continue to the museum entrance. BY BUS The Dudley/Harvard Square bus travels along Massachusetts Ave. between Boston and Harvard Square. The MIT Museum is across the street from Novartis and a gas station. From Harvard Square, get off at either Sidney St. or Albany St. From Boston, get off at Front St. BY CAR For directions from your doorstep to MIT, Google offers excellent mapping services including directions from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. Recorded Directions to the Museum: (415) 561-0399 Besides, you can go the Museum via Commuter Rail. You can easily connect to the MBTA Red Line from South Station, or take the green line to the red line from North Station and get off at Central or Kendall Square. If you go to the Museum by subway, you should go to_first and then walk down Main St. to Windsor St.. A Kendall/ MIT Station B Harvard Square C The MBTA Red Line D the main MIT campus Answer: A. Kendall/ MIT Station Joseph Rudyard Kipling, who enjoyed early success with his poems, was born on 30 December 1865 in Bombay, India. Some of Kipling's earliest and fondest memories are of his and sister Alice's trips to the fruit market with their woman servant, or walking with his parents alongside the sea at night. The beautiful days were to end when in 1871 Rudyard and Alice were sent to school in Southsea, England, to live with Captain Holloway and his wife. She ruled the boarding house with punishment and Kipling was often beaten by her and her son. "Then the old Captain died, and I was sorry, for he was the only person in that house as far as I can remember who ever threw me a kind word." So he wrote in his later books. Kipling soon learned to read and found comfort in literature and poetry. Freedom from the Holloway household was gained when he spent one month a year in London with his mother's kind sister Aunt Georgie and her husband, pre-Raphaelite painter Edward Burne Jones and their children. _ In 1877 Kipling's mother returned to England and collected him so that he could attend the United Services College in Devon. Now he was able to settle into the life of a student and in his second year started writing his own Schoolboy Lyric poems printed by his parents. In 1878 his father took him to the Paris Exhibition where he was allowed to wander freely and gained much appreciation for French culture which he wrote about in "Souvenirs of France". Kipling fell in love with literature and poetry _ . A before the old Holloway died B when he was a little boy with his parents C when he attended the United Services College D when he was in school, living with the Holloways Answer: D. when he was in school, living with the Holloways Just seven years ago, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart was being cheered as the model of human creativeness. The sight of Barney Clark----alive and conscious after trading his diseased heart for a metal-and-plastic pump----convinced the press, the public and many doctors that the future had arrived. It hadn't. After monitoring production of the Jarvik-7, and reviewing its effects on the 150 or so patients (most of whom got the device as a temporary measure) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded that the machine was doing more to endanger lives than to save them. Last week the agency cancelled its earlier approval, effectively banning the device. The recall may hurt Symbion Inc., maker of the Jarvik-7, but it won't end the request for an artificial heart. One problem with the banned mode is that the tubes connecting it to an external power source created a passage for infection. Inventors are now working on new devices that would be fully placed, along with a tiny power pack, in the patient's chest. The first sample products aren't expected for another 10 or 20 years. But some people are already worrying that they'll work---and that America's overextended health-care programs will lose a precious $2.5 billion to $5 billion a year providing _ for a ly few dying patients. If such expenditures cut into funding for more basic care, the net effect could actually be a decline in the nation's health. From the passage we know that Symbion Inc. _ . A has been banned by the government from producing artificial hearts B will review the effects of artificial hearts before designing new models C may continue to work on new models of reliable artificial hearts D can make new models of artificial hearts available on the market in 10 to 20 years Answer: C. may continue to work on new models of reliable artificial hearts Most magazines, whether online or print, will include book reviews. However, most editors and staff writers are usually too busy to read books and review them themselves. Therefore, writing book reviews can be a great way to get started with a writing career. How do you write a great book review that will be sure to be noticed? Follow these tips to write a really interesting and unique book review. Start with a description of the book. Many people that are reading your review may not know anything about the book you're reviewing. Instead of making readers go find information on their own by searching for the book title, start out with a little description of the book. Make sure you avoid too long of a summary. Start with a short paragraph or so that hits all the major points but doesn't give too much away. You don't want to tell your readers everything about the book, because then they won't have to read it at all. Just give enough information so your readers are interested in reading the book. Be objective. Some magazines like to publish book reviews that are completely impersonal. This means that they want a review of the book that doesn't share your opinion and that in which your opinion isn't obvious from reading what you wrote. If you hated a book, it might not be a great book to review. You probably want to review books that you enjoyed. Avoid talking about how much you liked the book, however. You should not include your personal reaction to the book until the very end, where you include a sentence or two about whether or not you would recommend a book and to whom you would recommend it. Look through a lens . A great way to get your review noticed is to look at a book through a specific lens. Read the book as a feminist would, for example, and talk about what a feminist might say to applaud or criticize the book. You can choose any number of lenses, and feminism is just one choice. An economic lens, a family lens, the lens of a different nationality, or the lens of a child could all be interesting ways to look at a book. If you look at a book in this way, instead of just reading it and forming your own opinion, it will be much more interesting and marketable. This is especially the case if you look at a lens that relates to the subject of the magazine to which you are submitting. Feminist magazines love book reviews about books read through a feminist lens, for example, because it is appropriate to their readership. Talk about the writer's style. Another great way to write a book review is to talk about the writer's style. Anyone can pick up a book and read the story, but it takes an experienced writer to note interesting things about another writer's style and write about them intelligently. Furthermore, most people want to know if a book is easy or fun to read over whether or not the subject matter will interest them. Compared with ordinary readers, a skilled writer does better in _ . A giving an objective description of a book B looking at a book through a specific angle C finding a book and understanding its story easily D paying close attention to another writer's style Answer: D. paying close attention to another writer's style
When a close friend dies, it often forces you to consider your own death. The more you have in common with the friend, the more his death will make you wonder about your own. Sometimes you will naturally say to yourself, "It could just as easily have been me." Such a death has a way of reminding us how fragile life is, and it may cause you to reassess the direction of your own life. Jack's story is a good example. A successful businessman making a lot of money, Jack didn't spend as much time with his family as he wanted. His job required him to work long hours. But three years ago one of his best friends, a man who worked in the same office, had a heart attack. He died while celebrating his daughter's eighteenth birthday in a restaurant. He was only fifty years old. Not long after his friend's death, Jack started to have a chest pain. Finally he had a good physical check-up. _ . But the chest pain continued. He kept thinking of the death of his friend. Jack thought about how much his friend missed in life and he saw how hard it was for his friend's family to manage after he passed away. Jack realized that he didn't want to end up his life that way. He talked his feelings over with his wife and children, and decided to change his way of life. The family moved to a small town where he started a simple life. Now he is running a small art gallery . He is relaxed, and says he has never been so happy in his life. And he has got no more chest pain. Your close friend's death is _ to you. a warning The police Tuesday identified the suspect of the Virginia Tech shooting as Cho Seung-Hui, a native of South Korea,who killed 32 people before taking his own life Monday. "He was a 23-year-old South Korean here in the U.S.as a foreign university student." Flinchum said at a press conference held at Blacksburg, Virginia where the university is located. Cho was an undergraduate student in his senior year majoring in English,Flinchum said.He lived on campus at Harper Hall and his residence was established in Centreville,Virginia outside Washington. Meanwhile,Colonel Steve Flaherty,Superintendent of Virginia State Police, said the same gun was used in the two shootings at the university,suggesting there was only one gunman. Previous reports had said there was a possible second gunman still at large . A total of two attacks took place at Virginia Tech Monday.The first attack happened at a dormitory around 7:15 a.m. and left two people dead, while the second attack took place at the campus two hours later. A total of 33 people, including the gunman,were killed in the worst campus shooting rampage in U.S. history. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said earlier Tuesday that all classes for the rest of the week had been cancelled. Before today,the deadliest campus shooting in the country took place in 1 966 at the University of Texas in Austin,in which 17 people,including the gunman,were killed. Founded in 1872, the state university has more than 25,000 full-time students.The school is best known for its engineering school and its powerful football team. The case which happened on the campus of Virginia Tech _ . led to as many as 33 deaths in all Is it worth it to go to college? This has been questioned a lot recently in America. According to a new survey released by the Pew Research Center, only 40 percent of Americans felt that colleges provided a good value for the cost. At the same time, 86 percent of college graduates still felt it was good for them. There are a number of reasons for such dissatisfaction with college. First, there are plenty of problems with higher education -- poor quality and out-of-control costs are two of the biggest. Second, it is true that college is not for everyone. Plenty of rewarding and important careers do not require college. And due to the slow economy, there may in fact be more graduates than the current job market needs. Besides, anti-college feelings are nothing new. Today, Microsoft's Bill Gates or Apple's Steve Jobs -- both college dropouts -- is often held up as evidence of why all that time sitting in class is better spent elsewhere. However, getting a college education is still a good idea. College graduates earn more, and are more likely to have a job in the first place. According to the statistics last year, the average weekly earnings for someone with some college education but no degrees were $712, compared to $1,038 for a college graduate. That is almost $17,000 over the course of a year and there is an even bigger divide for those with less education. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent for those with only some college education and more than 10 percent for those with just a middle school degree, but it was 5.4 percent for college graduates. The economic gaps between college completers and those with less education are getting larger. Although most Americans surveyed by Pew feel doubtful about the value of a college degree, an overwhelming majority of parents Pew surveyed still expect their children to go to college. "It can be inferred that the increased doubt has not significantly influenced decision making." Pew's Taylor says, "Despite the concern about rising costs and other problems, college remains a universal desire in this country." Recently many Americans question _ . the value of receiving college education Good manners play an important part in maintaining peace in society. A man with good manners doesn't hurt others' feelings, and therefore he's on good terms with everyone. In this way he helps to keep the peace in society. But a man with bad manners has no respect for others. He uses words carelessly and behaves rudely towards others and causes a lot of unpleasantness. In the end, he himself will suffer the most. Everyone avoids him and he is forced to live alone. To live well in society, money alone is not enough. Even the richest man cannot afford to have bad manners. He may have enough money to buy all things he wants; but if his manners are bad, he will have no friends, and no one can live happily without friends. We should have good manners, for it's human nature to try to get friendship; and friendship has to be earned through our own attitude towards others. If we are kind to others, they will be kind to us, and kindness is the most basic quality of good manners. Bad manners drive away friends as well as our own family members. On the other hand, a man with good manners has many friends. He commands the respect of all those who come into contact with him. He doesn't talk ill about others. Even when he's _ , he tries his best not to upset others. He also feels sorry about the weak and the disabled. There are, however, many people who behave so well outside their homes that they are respected by everyone outside. But in their own homes they are worse than the devil . Such people cannot be said to have good manners. Their behavior will soon be discovered by others. If one's manners are good, one behaves well everywhere, even when one is away from the critical eyes of others. Only such a person can live well in society. People with good manners bring society _ . peace The prefix = st1 /USgovernment has announced plans to list polar bears as a threatened species because of concerns that the ice where they live is melting. But as the BBC's Owen Clegg reports, theUSplans are also important for other reasons. It's estimated that there are no more than twenty-five thousand polar bears living in the wild, and this number could go down by a large amount as the floating ice upon which the bears survive melt away. Now, without admitting the cause of this melt, the US Fish and Wildlife Services are reviewing the bear's living conditions. That action is being taken at all, and marks an important change for the Bush administration; for the first time, it may be forced to acknowledge a link between global warming and its effect on a species. Such a conclusion by an unwilling Bush administration could force far wider changes inWashington's policy towards the environment. This review only came about after a union of environmental groups brought a legal case against the government to take action. Environmentalists, like David Doniger, believe that by calling on the protections of the Endangered Species Act, theUSgovernment may finally be forced to cut back on its sending out greenhouse gases: "It is a very important thing today to have the Bush administration notice that global warming is threatening the existence of the polar bear. Now, it's up to the administration to do something to stop the global warming that's threatening the polar bear." ( David Doniger) The United States is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases which are blamed for trapping heat from the sun and changing the earth's climate. Since taking office in 2001, President Bush has refused to make the link with global warming, but the bad, serious situation of the polar bear may force that position to change. What is David Doniger's comment on the review of the bear's living conditions? The US government may finally be forced to do something to stop the global warming that's threatening the polar bear.
Many years ago, there lived an old man with his three sons, Dharma, Harrison and Keith, in a village. The man worked hard when he was young, son he had the largest farmyard and the most beautiful house in the village. However, his sons were all born to be lazy, which mad him disappointed. He was worried that his sons would use up his money and starve to death. One day, the old man came up with a plan. He called his sons and said to them, "Look, my dear sons: in the land we have at the farmyard, there is lots of hidden gold. If you should work together, you may find it" In a wish to find out the gold, his sons worked hard from the morning to the evening digging and digging all through the land. The days had passed, but they didn't find what were they were looking for. They got frustrated and angry. They decided to give up and returned to ask their father. "There is no gold in the land. We are cheated." "Since the land has been dup soft. Why don't you pant some crops there?" was the reply of the father to the sons. Off went the sons. Soon the whole once-useless land was rich crops. "This if the real gold, my sons." Said the now proud father. Why did the old man ask his sons to dig the land? Answer: Many years ago, when I was working as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Lisa. The poor little girl had a very serious disease and was dying. The doctor had done his best but no medicine really worked. The only chance to save her seemed to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother. The little boy had the same disease before and had developed the antibodies to fight the illness. The doctor talked to the little boy about what they planned to do, and asked him if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for a moment. He took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I'll do it if it can save Lisa." As the transfusion was going on, the little boy lay quietly in bed next to his sister. He looked at her and smiled all the time. When everything was done and the colour returned to his sister's face, his smile disappeared and he looked a little afraid. He looked up at the doctor and asked, " Will I start to die now?" He was too young to understand the doctor. He thought he would have to give all his blood to his sister, but he agreed. The doctor waited the little boy to _ . Answer: Xinhua News Agency-The International Conference on Power Engineering (ICOPE) 2013, organized by the Chinese Society of Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, opened in Wuhan, on Oct 24. More than 300 energy experts, scholars and businessmen from countries and areas including the United States, Japan, the EU, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Nigeria, Arab and China are attending the three-day academic conference on the world's energy problems. Professor Zheng Chuguang, from the School of Energy and Power Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, gave a speech on the development of oxygen fuel technology in China, and said that settling the problem of cost ranks highest. George Saxon, vice-president of Conco Systems Inc, US, presented a report on the topic of Energy Engineer to Shape the Future. He said that the company's research and innovation are of great significance for the future and already contribute to reducing costs and improving efficiency . Professor Didier Mayer from the Ecole des Mines de Paris, France, spoke about "Wind Energy R&D Line Based on the Global Renewable Energy Status", and Professor Yasuo Koizumi of Shinshu University in Japan and Li Chun-Zhu of Curtin University of Technology in Australia also gave speeches at the conference. The academic meetings are expected to cover topics from various fields. In addition, the participants will discuss the most advanced academic research around the world, the latest progress and development trends in the various fields. The conference has attracted 232 academic papers, with 176 papers from China, and 56 from abroad. Which of the following statements is true? Answer: University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and it's one of the top university in the world. There is no clear date when the university started, but teaching began at Oxford in some forms in 1096 and developed quickly from 1167. There are 39 independent colleges at Oxford, attracting students and learned men from across the world. There are over 100 libraries for the students and learned men to use. At University of Oxford, they also provide a number of money for the best students. Of course, if you want to study here, first you have to reach a certain level of English language. College life at Oxford is very exciting but busy. The groups of college provide a friendly and welcoming home for students while the college are strict with students about their studies. Many Chinese students are studying here. The number of Chinese students at the university has grown quickly over the past 10 years. ,. (5,2,10) How many libraries are there at Oxford? Answer: Today, most people follow a routine, such that they are caught in a cycle of running around the clock without getting any breathing space to enjoy a satisfying life. If you could only take a pause and inspect your routine with a new outlook, you would find that it is actually easy to make some positive changes in life. Making time for yourself is one such positive change. Waking up early gives you ample time to exercise, have your breakfast peacefully, look after your garden, and then get on with the rest of your day. Morning time can be effectively used for planning the day ahead. As a result, you will get enough time to plan your schedule in a better manner. By maintaining a diary of daily tasks, you offer yourself enough time to prepare your schedule, besides not leaving out the important things that need to be done. By writing down the daily activities at hand, you can make necessary changes to the next day's schedule effectively. You don't have to spend hours in a gym every day to stay fit and healthy. In fact, even if you devote just around 20 to 30 minutes daily to exercises like stretching and walking, it can work wonders. Well, the option of using public transport to save time, at first glance, may not seem to be a good idea. However, by using public transit, you will get the time to read books or make those important calls. You would be amazed to know how reading transforms your thought process and personality as a whole. When you get habitual to watching TV, you waste so much time doing nothing constructive. Many a time, you are not really interested in watching TV. In such cases, you need to break free of this habit and invest your precious time in something worthwhile. Paint something or play a game of chess with your kids. This way, you not only make quality time for yourselves, but also create a positive environment at home. Internet surfing, these days, is one of the top time-wasting activities around. Internet users, over time, get habitual to surfing the Internet purposelessly. In fact, Internet surfing is a kind of addiction which many of us find difficult to get rid of. Thus, reducing the amount of time you are on the Internet is one way to save time for yourself. A fast-paced life should not be an excuse that is used not to look after yourself. In fact, such a lifestyle should be the very reason for you to treat yourself with great care and make more time for yourself. Which of the following does the writer agree with? Answer:
Remember those big, colorful books with large pictures of balls or apples when you were a little kid? Those have proven to be helpful, according to a number of studies. Between 1 and 5 years old, introducing books to Children can help greatly because this is usually the age when intellectual capabilities form. At age 1 to 5, a child can decide whether he wants to learn or wants to be a good learner. The road to learning starts here. Their curiosity and imagination are fed with the many pictures, sounds and colors in the books. Children normally began school at 5 years old. But today, they go to school when they are as young as one and a half years old. This is because many parents have recognized that influencing the child's formative years is very important. The fight influence can make the child want to read in the future. Parents should play a part in encouraging children to read. Even just reading them bedtime stories can help children feel the joy and amazement connected to reading. This can help them become better readers and better learners as they grow older. If children are interested in reading books rather than watching television, they can improve many skills besides reading and learning. Books can act as stepping stones to intelligence. However, parents must be very careful not to overpower their children. If they force children to read books that are too hard to understand, they might think reading is boring and lose interest in it. .It is implied in the passage that _ . In a jurisdiction without a Dead Man's Statute, Parker's estate sued Davidson claiming that Davidson had borrowed from Parker $10,000, which had not been repaid as of Parker's death. Parker was run over by a truck. At the accident scene, while dying from massive injuries, Parker told Officer Smith to "make sure my estate collects the $10,000 I loaned to Davidson." Smith's testimony about Parker's statement is Can software bring dead tongues back to life? Probably yes. A computer algorithm works almost as well as a trained linguist in reconstructing how dead " _ " would have sounded, says a new study. "Our computer system is doing a basic job right now," says Alex Bouchard-Cote, an assistant professor in the department of statistics at the University of British Columbia and lead author of the paper describing the algorithm. But the program does a good enough job that it may be able to give linguists a head start, the statistician added. For centuries, scholars have reconstructed languages by hand: looking at the same word in two or more languages and making educated guesses about what that word's "ancestor" may have sounded like. For example, the Spanish word for man ("hombre") and the French word for man ("homme") developed from the Latin word "homo." The way linguists compare words from descendant languages to reconstruct the parent language is called, appropriately, the comparative method. The early 19th-century linguist Franz Bopp was the first to compare Greek, Latin and Sanskrit using this method. Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm of fairy tale fame, used the comparative method to show how Germanic languages developed from a common ancestor. The difference between that and Bouchard-Cote's program, the statistician says, "is we do it on a larger scale." As a proof of concept, Bouchard-Cote fed words from 637 Austronesian languages (spoken in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and more) into the new algorithm, and the system came up with a list of what the ancestor words of all those languages would have sounded like. In more than 85 percent of cases, the automated reconstruction came within one character of the ancestor word commonly accepted as true by linguists. The algorithm won't replace trained human linguists, but could speed up language analysis. Using a computer to do large-scale reconstruction offers another advantage. Bouchard-Cote says, "With big data sets, you can really start finding regularities ... You might find that certain sounds are more likely to change than others." So Bouchard-Cote's team tested the "functional load hypothesis ," which says that sounds that are more important for two clearly different words are less likely to change over time. A formal test of this hypothesis in 1967 looked at four languages; Bouchard-Cote's algorithm looked at 637. "The revealed pattern would not be obvious if we had not been able to reconstruct large numbers of protolanguages," Bouchard-Cote and his coauthors write in the new study. In addition to simply helping linguists understand how people spoke in the past, studying ancient languages can perhaps answer historical questions. For example, Bouchard-Cote says, "Say people are interested in finding out when Europe was settled. If you can figure out if the language of the settling population had a word for wheel, then you can get some idea of the order in which things occurred, because you would have some records that show you when the wheel was invented." The author probably wants to prove the computer algorithm program led by Bouchard-Cote _ . Shi Fang spends more than 4,000 yuan a month shopping, but she rarely goes to the shopping mall."Why need a shopping mall if you have Taobao? I am a Taobaoer," says Shi, 28, a writer in Beijing. A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Shi have discovered the joys of online shopping.The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) announced in December that more than 87 million Chinese made purchases on the Internet in the first half year, which means one out of four Chinese netizens have online shopping experience. It is estimated that the consumption from online shopping will reach more than 250 billion yuan this year, and 80 percent of this is carried out through Taobao.com, China's fast-growing e-commerce hub set up in 2003. The biggest attraction for Shi Fang is the ly low price for online goods, compared with those in stores in bricks.Her favorite facial cream costs 1,680 yuan for a 30ml bottle in the local shop, but a 10ml sample of the same brand only costs 68 yuan online. The Taobao instant messenger, a communication channel for buyers and sellers, also makes onlrne shopping easier and ensures the overall experience for both parties Shi Fang regards it as a platform to promote trust and keep contact. "You can check the information easily.It is sweet that the owner will remember you once you have regular chat with him or her through the messenger.You may receive some personalized service such as getting more samples or certain discount," said Shi While some may question the security of online purchases, Yang Fei, another Taobaoer, gave a thumb-up for Alipay, the Taobao payment method started by Alibaba Group in 2004 in partnership with leading banks in China.It enabled her to make a lot of purchases online. "It's very safe and convenient.Unless you confirm the arrival and satisfaction about the purchase, the shop owner will not get the money.You can also get the refund if you want to return the purchase," she added. Which of the following would be the best title? A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor. Within a few days the whole neighborhood knew the story. The neighbor was deeply hurt. Later the woman learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old man to find out what she could do to repair the harm. "Go to the market," he said, "and buy a chicken, and have it killed, then on your way home, pick its feathers and drop them one by one along the road." Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told. The next day the wise man said, "Now, go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me." The woman followed the same road, but she was so _ when she found the wind had blown all the feathers away. After looking for hours, she returned with only three in her hand. "You see," said the old man, "it's easy to drop them, but it's impossible to get them back. So it is with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a gossip, but once you do, you can never completely undo the wrong." Which of the following statements is true?
Plants are very important. This is because plants can make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals and man cannot make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals can get their food by eating plants and other animals. Man gets his food by eating plants and animals, too. So animals and man need plants to live. This is why there are so many plants around us. There are two kinds of plants: flowering plants and non-flowering plants. Almost all the trees around us are flowers and fruit. Non-flowering plants don't grow flowers. You can't see many non-flowering plants around you. If you look carefully at the plants around you, you'll find that there are many kinds of plants. Some plants are very big and some very small. Most of them are green. We can live on the earth because of the plants around us. There are _ non-flowering plants than flowering plants around us. Answer: much fewer A mathematician who goes mad is not a subject most directors consider commercially attractive, but then Ron Howard isn't among most directors, despite an impressive list of credits, a Beautiful Mind is his most successful work to date, combining psychological drama with a moving love story to produce a film that is as interesting as it is entertaining. The Oscar winning Russel Crowe has put himself in line for further honors with his acting John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician troubled by schizophrenia . A Beautiful Mind pictures Nash as an unusual hero, not just because of his academic achievements, but also because of the courage he displays while battling his illness. In 1947, Nash was one of many great young minds at Princeton. "To find a truly original idea is the only way to distinguish myself." The proud and determined student declared. His exploration of such an idea afforded him little time for the normal socializing. His shyness and straightforward approach brought him few friends. After finally _ a revolutionary new idea, Nash's career took off and his reputation was secured. He balanced research work with teaching, which is where he met the bright and beautiful student Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). Things in his life were going well when his talent for code breaking brought him to the attention of the military who employed him during the early stages of the cold war with Russia. However, the stress of his work made Nash's illness develop. Crowe's performance is perfect. He and Connelly ignite (make something exciting) the film's passionate love story and Connelly's wonderful performance makes the audience moved by Alicia, whose courage, strength and faith in her husband are the primary reasons for his recovery. The passage is most probably _ . Answer: a movie review One evening Mr. Green is driving his car in the country and looking for a small hotel. When he sees an old man on the side of the road, Mr. Green stops his car and says to the old man, 'I want to go to the Sun Hotel. Do you know how to get there?' 'Yes, of course,' the old man answers, 'I will show you the way. Please let me sit in your car. I can go with you and tell you where to turn.' He gets in Mr. Green's car. They drive about twelve miles . When they come to a small house, the old man says, 'Stop here.' Mr. Green stops his car and says, 'But this isn't a hotel.' 'No,' the old man answers. 'This is my house. Thank you very much for driving me home. And I'll show you the way to the Sun Hotel. Turn around and go back nine miles. Then you will get to the hotel.' What does the old man ask Mr. Green to let him do first? Answer: The old man asks Mr. Green to let him sit in his car. Goddington Theater The Goddington Theater Ticket Office is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and for half an hour in the evening before the advertised start time of each performance. Telephone bookings Your tickets are held at the Ticket Office for you to collect or, if you prefer, a charge of 35 cents is made to post them to you if you pay by cash. We'll post them to you for free if you book by credit card. No extra charge. Postal bookings You can write to the Ticket Office requesting tickets, or to confirm a reservation. Where to find Goddington Theater Goddington Theater can be found within the Goddington University site, next to the car park, which is available for public use after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. If travelling by car Coming from the south end of Princes Street, you will see the library on your right. Next to the library is Goddington University. Take the next turning on the right, then first right into the car park gate straight ahead of you, stopping as close as possible to the orange machine. Put a $ 1 coin in the machine and the gate will rise. If travelling by train/bus/ taxi You will need to allow 30 minutes to walk from the train station. Taxis are available from the front of the station. The University is a 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the main bus station. When ordering a taxi from the theater, ask to be picked up at the bottom of North Street. Taxis will not come into the car park because of the entrance charge. You can book your tickets _ . Answer: at noon on workdays Why do satellites and spacecraft launched from Earth need to reach a specific speed to escape Earth's surface? Answer: to overcome Earth's gravitational force
Mrs White was going to have her first baby very soon. Yesterday her husband took her to a hospital.So Mr White helped her get into car and drove her there. A nurse took Mrs White to her room and told Mr White that he could go home and she could call him when the baby arrived . But Mr White said he liked to wait at the hospital. The nurse said ."You may wait outside." Mr White was walking up and down at about midnight when the nurse came out of the room and said with a smile."Which would you like better, a boy or a girl?""A girl," said Mr White."I have an elder sister,and she loves me.""Well,"said the nurse,""it's a boy this time.""That's all right,"said Mr White happily,"That's my second choice." Which of the following is NOT wrong? A Mr White didn't like to have wrong. B Mrs White told Mr White that they had a baby. C Mr White was very happy that he had a baby. D Mr White went to the hospital by bus. Answer: C More and more Chinese people care for their own health. I come from England. I came to China five years ago. I began to learn cooking Chinese food from my father. When I was fifteen, I began to help my mother in the kitchen. My father is a very famous cook in Beijing. So he taught me many things about cooking. In the past three years, I never stopped learning cooking. When I saw a book called The disease eating out can be gone back again by eating (<<>> ), I began studying the book. .The writer of the book is Zhang Wuben. He said he was a famous nutritionist and well-known traditional Chinese doctor. He asked the people to eat eggplant and gram . In China, Zhang Wuben's book has been popular in the past few years. My father was invited to talk about the book in May, 2010. A large number of Chinese people believe they should eat eggplant and gram to be healthy. I have visited a lot of Chinese restaurants in Beijing and studied hundreds of restaurant menus. I talked to lots of doctors about eating and nutrition . They thought that Zhang Wuben's words _ the science. He told a lie. The fact is that it's important for us to eat a balanced diet and not just to eat eggplant and gram. What do you think of Zhang Wuben's book? A It is a book about health. Now it is the most popular science writing. B It can keep a balance of yin and yang. C It is a trashy book. D It's a book on medicine. Answer: C Everyone knows what a needle is. Of course there are needles and needles. Needles for sewing machines, needles for injection , you name it. But few people think of the wonder a needle works in the hands of those who practice acupuncture . During the past ten years or so, I have been suffering from terrible headache. It seems to be getting from bad to worse these days . Last night I got a sudden pain in my head. It was so terrible that I could hardly bear it. Although I swallowed all kinds of pain-killers, I didn't feel any better, It seemed that there was nothing I could do but phone for a doctor. One of our neighbors happened to be with us. He was not a doctor, but he timidly offered his help, saying "Do you mind if I tried acupuncture on you? These needles may possibly do you some good." I agreed. In a moment, he had taken out a few needles from his purse. Without a moment's delay, he fixed a few needles into the skin on my head here and there, Before long, I felt thoroughly relieved. Just then, the doctor sped through my house and said, "Where is our patient?" "Sorry, Doctor, You are too late, It's killed!" I answered in delight. It's a miracle , isn't it? Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A the neighbor fixed needles on his own head B The neighbor is a kind-hearted person. C The man's pain was killed before the doctor arrived D Soon after the acupuncture, the man was completely recovered. Answer: A Music is an international language. Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly when they drive streets. Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio when they drive to work. They also listen to the News about sports, the weather, politics , and activities of the American people. Most of the radio broadcast is music. Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state . Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tape. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Whenever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star. There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk music. It has stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country boy and his girl is called western or country music. Serious music for the concert halls is called classical music. Music for instruments is called orchestra music, such as the symphonies of Beethoven. Almost every American student likes _ . . A popular music B American songs C folk music D classical music Answer: A Light travels at a speed which is about a million times faster than the speed of sound. You can get some idea of this difference by watching the start of a race. If you stand some distance away from the starter, you can see smoke from his gun before the sound reaches your ears. This great speed of light produces some strange facts. Sunlight takes about 8 minutes to reach us. If you look at the light of the moon tonight, remember that the light rays left the moon 1.3 seconds before they reached you. The nearest star is so far away that the light that you can see from it tonight started to travel towards you four years ago at a speed of nearly 2 million km. per minute. In some cases, the light from one of tonight's stars had started on its journey to you before you were born. Thus, if we want to be honest, we can't say, "The stars are shining tonight." We have to say instead, "The stars look pretty. They were shining four years ago, but their light has only just reached the earth." The scientific way of saying "The stars are shining tonight" should be _ . A the stars have been shining all the time B the stars seen tonight will shine four years later C the stars were shining long ago but seen tonight D the starlight seen today could be seen four years ago Answer: C
The Wife-carrying World Championship has been celebrated in a small town in central Finland since 1992. In 1992, the people of the town decided to restart some long-forgotten traditions. Back in the late 1800s, there was a robber called Rosvo-Ronkainen in that area. He was said to only accept men as members of his gang who proved their worth in challenges. At that time, it was also a common practice to steal women from neighboring villages. This event is becoming increasingly popular. A large number of competitors, people, and journalists from Finland to Canada attend the Wife-carrying World Championship every year. The event is famous for its warm and humorous atmosphere. The Wife-carrying World Championship is held on a 253.3 meters long official track. The track has two dry obstacles and a water obstacle, about a meter deep. There are a few basic rules and the winner is the couple who complete the course in the shortest time. The wife to be carried may be your own, or your neighbor's. The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49 kg. If she is less than 49kg, the wife will be given a heavy bag to carry. Each time a competitor drops his wife, that couple will be fined 15 seconds. Alongside with the Wife-carrying World Championship, there is also a team competition. The distance is the same but three men in the team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink official "wife-carrying drink". Then he may continue the race. A special prize is awarded to the team with the best costumes. While the Wife-carrying World Championship is being held, there are bands playing music, a wife-carrying dance and other forms of entertainment. If a husband drops his wife 3 times in the competition, he will be fined _ . A. 15 seconds B. 30 seconds C. 45 seconds D. 60 seconds Answer: C. 45 seconds Elvis Aron Presley, often called "the king of rock music", died on August 16th, 1977, at the age of forty-two. He left a great influence on popular music, and millions of fans. During his lifetime, Elvis sold more than four hundred million records. After Presley died, many of his records rose quickly. When Presley died, many _ journeyed to Memphis, Tennessee, Presley's home, to pay their last respects . While most of these fans knew a lot about the songs of Elvis, few of them knew the story of how Elvis had made his first recording. Elvis did not really want to become a recording star. His first record was for his mother. He paid four dollars to a small Memphis recording shop, and recorded two songs. The songs were "My Happiness" and "That's Where Your Heartaches Begin". Sam Philips, who owned the shop where Elvis made the record, liked Presley's songs. He said he would call him some day. About a year later, Philips did call and asked him to cut a record. This first record had "Blue Moon of Kentucky" on one side, and "That's All Right, Mama" on the other. The passage shows that _ . A. Elvis loved his mother B. many people loved Elvis C. Sam Philips kept his word D. all of the above Answer: D. all of the above An example of combining two substances is A. pouring queso into guacamole B. setting a laptop on a desk C. building a roof on a house D. putting clothes in a suitcase Answer: A. pouring queso into guacamole Some friends invite you over and serve you a delicious dinner. Someone lends you his car while there's something wrong with yours. You are sick, and a friend brings you a meal and cares for you. How do you show your gratitude ? Sometimes simply saying thank you is enough. At other times, it is thoughtful to say thank you in a more different way. Be sure to tell that person what you are grateful for and why you are grateful. Here are some common ways to say thank you. You can write a thank-you note. People are very busy these days. A handwritten note shows you took the time to tell someone you are grateful to him or her. Or you can call and thank the person. You would be surprised how this can _ . Another idea is to send a thank-you e- mail. This is not quite as personal, but it still shows your gratitude. There are many other ways to say thank you. To say thank you in a creative way, you can: Select some flowers from a shop. Write a thank-you note. Give the person a basket of fresh fruit or a homemade treat. Invite a friend to a movie, meal, snack or coffee. Give a gift card for a bookstore or a restaurant. That way the person can pick out a favourite book or eat out. Find out what the person likes and give something related to that. To say a big thank you to someone, have a party for that person. As you can see, there are many ways to say thank you. Think of some ways of your own. You will feel good trying one of the ideas, and the person being thanked will feel good too. It's a win-win situation ! Which might be the best title for this passage? A. Things To Be Grateful For B. Different Situations To Say Thank You C. Ways To Show Your Gratitude D. Reasons For Saying Thank You Answer: C. Ways To Show Your Gratitude I woke up late and had breakfast in a hurry. I had never been late and didn't want my boss to be unsatisfied. However, it seemed that day wasn't a lucky one for me from the very second I left my flat. The moment I wanted to rush downstairs one of my stiletto heels broke. I had to return to change my red shoes. I also had to change my purse and other little things that I had tried to match with the shoes. I was sure I would be late for work. On my way to work I had to wait for over half an hour because of an accident. I had no choice but to wait. I phoned my boss and he told me that it was no problem, but he needed me for the meeting with the Japanese clients that morning. Finally, I arrived at the office one hour later. I had to keep calm and be fresh for the meeting to make the clients sure that our plan was the best for their future commercial project. However, I left the plan I had made the night before at home and was going to present it to the clients. I was about to get angry when I realized that I had a draft of it in my office. At last, the presentation came to an end and it turned out to be a success. But I have to say that I had a terrible day, full of incidents . Which old saying could be used to describe the writer's incidents? A. Failure is the mother of success. B. A good beginning makes a good ending. C. Where there is a will, there is a way. D. One trouble never comes alone. Answer: D. One trouble never comes alone.
Dear Editor: While a new school term is about to begin, perhaps we should reconsider the matter of examinations. In July, two writers(letters to the editor) praised the cancellation of exams because they believe "Tests don't tell the whole story". As a teacher who has worked in four countries, I have had the experience that a student who earns good marks is generally a good student, and a student's final mark in a subject is usually a grade average of the year's work. Of course there are expectations, but they do not have the frequency that would give an unfair picture of a student's ability. The simple fact is that proper class work; diligent exam studies and good marks are almost certain indicators of a student's future performance. The opposite is, almost certainly, incompetence. There is no acceptable substitute for competition of quality. How can teachers and future officials determine what a student has learned and remembered? Should we simply take the student's mark for it? Any institution that "liberates" students from fair and formal exams is misguided, if not ignorant and surely the "graduates " of such institutions will lack trustworthiness , not to mention being rejected by foreign universities for graduate or other studies. When all is said and done, I sense that a fear of failure and a fear of unpleasant comparison with others are at the bottom of most ban-exam talks. Excellence and quality fear nothing. On the contrary, they seek competition and desire the satisfaction of being the best. According to the letter, a student's final mark _ . Answer: often gives a fair picture of the year's work My name's Mary. This is my family tree. These are my parents. Their names are Bill and Grace Brown. Those are my grandparents. Their names are Hery 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. ,. (2,10) Tony and Mary are Susan's _ . Answer: cousins What dense environment is often dark in color? Answer: tree land Several years ago Robert knew a girl at a party. He loved her at once. But he hadn't enough money to marry her. He went to another village and wanted to borrow five thousand dollars from Peter, one of his classmates. He said he was going to return the money in two years. Peter Black believed him and lent the money to him. And Robert thanked the young man very much. In the past four years Robert married the girl and she had a baby. They lived a happy life, but he didn't give the money back to Peter. One day Peter's mother was ill and needed an operation. He looked for Robert for a few times, but he never met him. One day Peter heard that the young man was in. He hurried there. He knocked at the door for a long time and Robert's wife came out to meet him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Black." said the woman. "My husband has just gone out." Peter thought for a while and said, "Yes, I met him on my way here. He told me that he had left all his money at home and let you return it to me." "Don't believe him, dear!" Robert came out in a hurry and called out. "I've never told him about it!" Robert wouldn't meet Peter because _ . Answer: he did not want to pay back the money Face masks are commonly used in ceremonies and performances. They not only hide the real face of the mask wearer but they often evoke powerful emotions in the audience--danger, fear, sadness, joy. You might think, because so many things vary cross-culturally, that the ways in which emotions are displayed and recognized in the face vary too. Apparently they do not. Recent research on masks from different cultures supports the conclusion that masks, like faces, tend to represent certain emotions in the same ways. We now have some evidence that the symbolism used in masks is often universal. The research on masks builds on work done by anthropologists, who used photographs of individuals experiencing various emotions. These photographs were shown to members of different cultural groups who were asked to identify the emotions displayed in the photographs. Emotions were identified correctly by most viewers, whatever the viewer's native culture. Coding schemes were developed to enable researchers to compare the detailed facial positions of individual portions of die face (eyebrows, mouth, etc.) for different emotions. What exactly do we do when we scowl? We contract the eyebrows and lower the corners of the mouth; in geometric terms, we make angles and diagonals on our faces. When we smile, we raise the corners of the mouth; we make it curved. Psychologist Joel Arnoff and his colleagues compared two types of wooden face masks from many different societies--masks described as threatening versus masks associated with nonthreatening functions. As suspected, the two sets of masks had significant differences in certain facial elements. The threatening masks had eyebrows and eyes facing inward and downward and a downward-facing mouth. In more abstract or geometrical terms, threatening features generally tend to be angular or diagonal and nonthreatening features tend to be curved or rounded, a face with a pointed beard is threatening; _ is not. The theory is that humans express and recognize basic emotions in uniform ways because all human faces are quite similar, skeletally and muscularly. According to the passage, masks are used in performances to _ . Answer: cause members of the audience to have strong emotions
Finally, there is some good news for older dads. A new study shows that their children and even grandchildren may get a health benefit because of their older age. It's based on research into something called telomeres--tips on the ends of chromosomes Some previous studies have connected having longer telomeres with better health and longer lives. Telomeres haven't been proven to cause those benefits in the general population, but a number of researchers think they may hold secrets for things like longevity and cancer. As you age, telomeres shorten. However, previous studies have shown that the older a man is when he becomes a father, the longer the telomeres his children tend to have. The new research confirms that and finds it's extended to the grandchildren. That's a cheerier result for older dads than some other studies in recent years that indicate their kids are at higher risk for things like autism Carol Greider of Johns Hopkins University, who shared a Nobel Prize in 2009 for telomere research but didn't participate in the new study, said it's no surprise that the telomere effect would extend beyond children to grandchildren. She also said that since older fathers also tend to pass more potentially harmful genetic mutations , it's "not at all clear" whether advanced paternal age gives an overall health benefit to children. In a statement, the researchers who conducted the study said their study shouldn't be taken as a recommendation that men reproduce at older ages because there's a risk of genetic mutations. Some previous studies of the impact of older fatherhood have been less encouraging. In 2010, for example, at least two big studies confirmed a link to having children with autism. In 2008, a big Swedish study strengthened evidence linking bipolar disorder to older paternal ages. Which of the following statements about telomeres is NOT true? They have been proven to cause better health in the general population. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is one of the most common sayings in the English languages. This is because apples were one of the first foods that medical professionals recognized as healthy---their benefits became obvious when, quite simply, doctors found that people who ate apples were sick less often than those who did not. Today we have a more specific understanding of why apples are so beneficial to overall health. Apples can help keep your levels of bad cholesterol down. The pectin in apples helps you to maintain cardiovascular health and reduce LDL cholesterol(which is the "bad" kind). Apples themselves do not add cholesterol to your diet and are full of water and fiber to help weaken the cholesterol in other foods you might digest. According to Health Diaries, people who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent. Apples are naturally low in calories and high in water content. Eating an apple can satisfy your hunger and keep you from reaching for high-sugar, high-calories snacks. By eating apples, you will be more able to maintain a healthy weight because they fill you up, potentially stopping you from eating food that encourages a waistline increase. Apples contain considerable levels of boron , which helps build healthy bones, and can also prevent diseases like arthritis. Apples are rich in vitamin C, which is known to help build immunity. Studies have shown that apples can decrease the risk of breast cancer and liver cancer. One theory is that the apple skins are responsible for this, so be sure not to take apple skins off before you eat them, as you could remove some of the health benefits. What's the main idea of the passage? Apples are beneficial to our health. Jim found a job in a shop two years ago. Mrs. White, the shopkeeper trusts the able young man and pays him more. He's happy and works harder. Once Jim knew a beautiful girl called Mabel at a friend's party. They danced for several times and the girl was deeply in love. But Mabel's parents didn't agree to marry their daughter to a poor young man. So they began to travel in America and didn't let the girl come back to London. She wrote a letter to Jim and told him about it. Of course the young man hadn't enough money to go to see her. He was so sad that he began to drink. It was Saturday one day. Jim didn't go to work. He came to a bar and sat down to drink. Just then an old friend of his came in. He asked him to drink with him. Crying, he told Mike all and the young man felt sorry for him. After a while they were both drunk and left. Mike wanted to take his friend home. When they passed a zoo, they went in and walked to a cage in which there were two tigers. Having seen them, a tiger roared. Mike was afraid and said, "Let's go. Let's go. It's dangerous to stand here." "I don't think so," said Jim. " I'm watching TV now". Mabel's parents didn't agree to marry their daughter to Jim because _ . the young man wasn't rich enough Have you ever ''Googled'' yourself? More Americans are Googling themselves-and many are checking out their friends,co-workers and romantic interests,too. In a report Sunday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said 47 percent of U.S.adult Internet users have looked for information about themselves through Google or another search engine.That is more than twice the 22 percent of users who did in 2002,but Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden was surprised the growth wasn't higher. "Yes,it's doubled,but it's still the case that there's a large number of Internet users who have never done this simple act of plugging their names with search engines,"she said. Americans under 50 and those With more education and income were more likely to self-Google--in some cases because their jobs demand a certain online persona.Meanwhile.Pew found that 53 percent of adult Internet users admit looking up information about someone else. celebrities excluded. Often,it's to find someone they've lost touch with.But looking up information about friends, s,colleagues and neighbors was also common. Although men and women equally searched for online information about themselves.women were slightly more likely to look up information about someone they are dating. In many cases,the search is just done to find someone's contact information.But a third of those who have conducted searches on others have looked for public records,such as bankruptcies and divorce proceedings.A similar number have searched for someone else's photo. Few Internet users say they Google themselves regularly-about three quarters of self searchers say they have done so only once or twice.And most who have done so consider what they find accurate. Pew also found that teens were more likely than adults to restrict who can see their profiles at an online hangout like Facebook or news Corp's MySpace. Which conclusion can we draw from the report? People are more likely to search for information of others than of themselves. Doe negligently caused a fire in his house, and the house burned to the ground. As a result, the sun streamed into Peter's yard next door, which previously had been shaded by Doe's house. The sunshine destroyed some delicate and valuable trees in Peter's yard that could grow only in the shade. Peter has brought a grow only in the shade. Peter has brought a negligence action against Doe for the loss of Peter's trees. Doe has moved to dismiss the complaint. The best argument in support of this motion would be that Doe's duty to avoid the risks created by a fire did not encompass the risk that sunshine would damage Peter's trees.
Question: I was asked in an email about learning idioms in a foreign language. Maybe I am different from most people,but I do not bother with them. To me they are kind of dessert of language learning. They come at the end of a meal. Once you have filled up with the key words and phrases that are used in a variety of situations,then you can add a few idioms. And by that time, you will be able to pick them up naturally anyway. I find that many learners have trouble with idioms,as if repeating some very colloquial expressions is going to upgrade how they sound in a language. In fact, it is the opposite. Idioms are difficult to use correctly. Yes,occasionally you hear idioms and do not understand. But,in my experience,there are always situations where you do not understand. It is best to focus on the most important words,what they mean and how they are used. Certainly,it is best for a nonnative speaker to stick to standard speech. Some teachers even try to teach the "real language".Then you hear nonnative speakers saying things like "I goanna", "You wane" etc. You will learn all the idioms you need just by exposing yourself to the language. In general,you can save any phrase that you find interesting,and if that includes idioms,go to it. But I would not make any special effort to go after idioms. I,in fact,avoid them. If I come across something in Russian that strikes me as a particularly idiomatic use of words,I just leave it aside; do not even bother trying to learn it. If it keeps on appearing,then I will learn it. How did the writer develop the passage? A. By inferring. B. By comparing. C. By listing examples. D. By giving explanations. Answer: D. By giving explanations. Question: Life in the future is different from now. There are not any paper money in the future. People use their _ when they go shopping. There are not so many stores. At weekends, people needn't go out. They usually do some shopping at home on the Internet. Children don't get up early to go to school. They have lessons at home on the Internet, too. Teachers teach their students and give them homework on the Internet. Children give the homework to their teachers on the Internet, too. People don't need to do much work. There are more robots . Robots do hard work for people. Parents don't cook or wash clothes. A cooking robot cooks breakfast. In fact, robots do all the housework for us. There are more holidays. Parents spend much time with their children. They spend a lot of time travelling around the world. I think life in the future is very interesting. Do you think so? In the future, robots can _ for us. A. eat dinner B. cook meals C. watch films D. talk with friends Answer: B. cook meals Question: Now, it's time for some brief news items. Teens Go Online Some 13 million European children under 18 use the Internet for schoolwork, games and music according to research done by Nielsen's "Net-rating". The study covered Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Experts advised parents to limit the time their kids spend on line and keep them away from chat rooms. Chat to the magic Mum British author J. K. Rowling, mother of magic boy Harry Potter, will do an Internet interview about her new book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" on June 26. Before the event, children are invited to send their questions about Harry to the website. The book will hit stores in the US and UK on June 21 and will arrive in China in August. School Soldiers Russian school students will have to do basic military training in their final year of school, the government has decided. The lesson will include learning to fire guns, marching drills and how to deal with a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. The activity is seen as part of a drive toward the education of their love for their country. Is it hard for you to get up early and get ready for classes? Some students at Winter Park High School just roll out of bed in their pajamas and go to class in their own bedrooms, Of course, their teachers and classmates do not see them because all their class work is on the computer. The Florida High School, the state's only online school, has 250 students who are taking classes at home by computer. Students in this first online program take classes in algebra , American government, chemistry, computer, economics, and web-page design. They also have to go to regular school to attend other classes. What is the second news item mainly about? A. J. K. Rowling will have an Internet interview. B. Children will meet Harry Potter's mother. C. The Harry Potter book will be available on the Internet. D. The Harry Potter book will arrive in China in early June. Answer: A. J. K. Rowling will have an Internet interview. Question: Last year I ruined my summer vacation by bringing along a modern convenience that was too convenient for my own good: the iPad. Instead of looking at nature, I checked my e-mail. Instead of paddling a small boat, I followed my Twitter feed . Instead of reading great novels, I stuck to reading four newspapers each morning. I was behaving as if I were still in the office. My body was on vacation, but my head wasn't. So this year I made up my mind to try something different: withdrawal from the Internet. I knew it wouldn't be easy, since I'm bad at self-control. But I was determined. I started by giving the iPad to my wife. The cellphone signal at our house was worse than in the past, making my attempts at cheating an experience in frustration . I was trapped, forced to go through with my plan. Largely cut off from e-mail, Twitter and my favorite newspaper websites, I had few ways to connect to the world except for the radio--and how much radio can one listen to, really? I had to do what I had planned to do all along: read books. This experience has had a happy ending. With determination and the strong support of my wife, I won in my vacation straggle against the Internet, realizing finally that it was I, not the iPad, that was the problem. I knew I had won when we passed a Starbucks and my wife asked if I wanted to stop to use the Wi-Fi. "I don't need it," I said. However, as we return to post-vacation life, a harder test begins: Can I continue when I'm back at work? There are times when the need to know what's being said right now is great. I have no intention of giving up my convenience completely. But I hope to resist the temptation to check my e-mail every five minutes, which leads to checking my Twitter feed and a website ortwo. I think a vacation is supposed to help you reset your brain to become more productive. Here I hope this one worked. What did the author do to keep away from the Internet this year? A. He handed his iPad to his wife. B. He cut off his cellphone signal. C. He refused to cheat in his house. D. He listened to the radio most of the time. Answer: A. He handed his iPad to his wife. Question: Working hard comes naturally to me. The medical billing company I work for hired me as a claims researcher and in one year promoted me to head of the Northeast Region Follow-Up Team. "When are you going to finish?" My husband Joe said as he climbed into bed. "In a few minutes," I replied. My track record offered Joe little reason to believe me. Finishing was always just a moment or two away. Then after I knew he was sound asleep, I'd gather my paperwork and move to the kitchen table and work for a few more hours. Somewhere along the way , I found my enthusiasm for living was replaced with hard boring work that robbed me of both peace and pleasure. As the company expanded, my responsibility grew heavier every day. Resigning would end the madness and Joe encouraged me to do so daily "Just do it, Annie. Quit . You're heading for a break down." One day an email appeared on my computer screen. When I opened it the words "Administrative assistant for senior vice president" caught my eye .No , I thought . They'd think I was crazy . Who in their right mind would stop back to a secretarial position from a management position? At home that evening my interest in the job persisted. I had ten years of experience as an executive secretary long before I ever arrived at the company. The next morning I told my boss I intended to apply for the job. "You're in for a huge salary cut, and you'll lose your bonus," he said, "You're a leader, Annmarie, not a follower. How is it that you think this makes any kind of sense? You're crazy." "Not yet," I said "But if I stay in this position much longer , I'm pretty sure I'll end up that way." Admittedly the manager of human resources was shocked too, but from a budgetary standpoint it's hard to say no to someone who's asking for a salary cut and a decrease in benefits. That's pretty much a novelty you don't run into every day. I brought to the table a skill set, which included a working knowledge of every department in the operations areas of the company . Though I negotiated to a salary I felt was reasonable for what I was offering , the lost bonus and salary cut brought me to a twenty percent decrease in my income. I closed the door to my office that last day with very few regrets about leaving my management position. By the end of my first day in the new position I knew I had made the right decision. No office, staff, salary , or bonus check can ever replace this new feeling of waking up every morning and actually wanting to go to work. The tasks I perform aid one vice president in particular. When I leave at the end of the day, I take nothing with me but my desire to come back tomorrow knowing that I am respected and appreciated. My husband always tells me I can't put a price on peace of mind, but divorce attorneys are plenty expensive. It looks like my path to peace turned up none too soon! The author decided to change her job , mainly because she _ . A. caught a disease B. wanted to live peacefully C. was not qualified for the job D. was afraid to break up with Joe Answer: B. wanted to live peacefully
Question: German academics believe they have solved the centuries-old mystery of the "Mona Lisa" in Leonardo ad Vinci's famous portrait . Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant, Francesco del Giocondo, has long been seen as the most likely model for the sixteenth-century painting. Art historians have wondered whether the smiling woman may actually have been da Vinci's lover or mother, or the artist himself. Now experts at the prefix = st1 /HeidelbergUniversitylibrary say old notes made in a book by its owner in October, 1503, confirm that Lisa del Giocondo was indeed the model for the famous portrait in the world. "All doubts about the identity of the Mona Lisa have been removed by a discovery by Dr. Armin Schlechter," the library said in a statement on Monday. "Until then, only 'scant evidence' from sixteenth-century documents had been available. These had left lots of room for doubt, and many different identities were put forward." The comments compare Leonardo to the ancient Greek artist Apelles, and say he was working on three paintings at that time, one of which was a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo. Art experts say the Heidelbergdiscovery is a break-through, and the earliest mention linking the merchant's wife to the portrait. Before this discovery the earliest link dated from around 1550, and was made by Italian official Giorgio Vasari, the library said, adding that there had been doubts about Vasari's reliability. The Heidelbergnotes were actually discovered over two year's ago in the library by Schlechter, a spokeswoman said. Although the findings were published in the library's catalogue, they were not widely publicized, and received little attention until a German broadcaster decided to do some recording there, she said. Who discovered the Heidelbergnotes? A. Francesco del Giocondo. B. Dr. Armin Schlechter. C. The spokeswoman. D. A German broadcaster. Answer: B. Dr. Armin Schlechter. Question: Diary of a Do - It - Yourself Book This book based on Greg Hefley's own "diary" lets kids express themselves in an exciting way. In the book, kids will be asked: What was the best dream you have ever had? The worst thing you have ever eaten? The best secret you have ever heard? This Do - It - Yourself Book is unique and special because it has blank pages for readers to write their own stories and keep their own diaries. Author: Jeff Kinney List Price: $10.95 Price: $6.57 Buy it on Amazon.com. You save: $4.38(40%) Train to Somewhere Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on a train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. Stop after stop goes by, and there is no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy Marianne, either. But that is all right. She has to be free for her mother to claim her. Then the train stopped at its final stop, a town called Somewhere... Author: Eve Bunting List Price: $6.95 Price: $6.95 Buy it on Amazon.com. You save: $0.00(0%) Chinese Children's Favorite Stories This volume of beloved Chinese stories contains a delightful selection from the rich store of Chinese legend. Discover many delightful animal characters as well as Chang'e and Guan Yin. Retold for an international audience, the stories with beautiful pictures will give children aged six to ten in other countries a chance to learn about both the tradition and culture of China. Author: Mingmei Yip List Price: $18.95 Price: $12.89 Buy it on Amazon.com. You save: $6.06(32%) The Way Science Works The perfect introduction to show how science explains the world around us! Eye-opening experiments and extraordinary photography bring science to life. Discover science in action from the principles that explain everyday facts to the theories behind the technology in today's fast-moving world. Full of facts about famous scientists, technology news and more. Author: Robin Kerrod List Price: $24.99 Price: $16.49 Buy it on Amazon.com. You save: $8.50(34%) Amazon. com gives no discount on _ . A. Diary of a Do-It-Yourself Book B. Train to Somewhere C. Chinese Children's Favorite Stories D. The Way Science Works Answer: B. Train to Somewhere Question: Yao Ming, the centre of the Chinese National Men's basketball team, joins the Houston Rocket in the 2002 NBA. The 2.2 m, 120kg basketball star becomes the first one to come from a foreign team. Yao Ming was born in Shanghai in September, 1980. His mother is a leader of the Chinese National Women's Team. His father plays basketball, too. Yao Ming is welcome in China. He becomes a very important basketball player in China Basketball Association. It's short for CBA. During the 2000-2001 seasons, he gets 27.1 scores for the Shanghai Oriental Sharks in every match. Yao Ming joins the Houston Rockets in November, 2002. He says this is a new start in his basketball life. He world do his best to learn from the NBA and improve himself. Sport analyst Bill Walton says, "Yao Ming is very strong. He has the capability of changing the future of basketball." Yao Ming _ in CBA during the 2000-2001 seasons. A. doesbadly B. isn'tgood C. isin America D. doeswell Answer: D. doeswell Question: The US company iRobot made a new kind of sub-marine , called the Seaglider, last week. The robotic submarine was developed by researchers at the University of Washington. It is about 1.8 meters long and weighs about 52 kilograms. It moves through water at a speed of up to 20-25 kilometers a day and can stay at sea for up to six months before needing a battery recharged. This special character results from its special propulsion system . Unlike a traditional submarine, the Seaglider does not have a propeller . It has an air tank that is emptied and filled to adjust depth, as well as a pair of wings that help to guide and lead the submarine. A traditional submarine, on the other hand, "puts water inside tanks to make it heavier, or it will expel the water to make it lighter," explained Frederick, a professor at the University of Washington. Each time the Seaglider comes to the surface, it sends the data which it collects to its controllers by satellite. Operators can also send the submarine new information. For example, they can change its course in their office through giving the computer orders. Seagliders are already being used for scientific research, such as environmental studies. iRobot also hopes to sell the submarine to the military . At $100,000 each, the Seaglider is a cheap way to keep an eye on the ocean. "These things can go out there and monitor large areas of ocean because they're very persistent. They can go for thousands of miles on their own. At the same time, you can tell them to stay in one place and they can circle," says Helen Greiner, chairwoman of iRobot. "This is science fiction stuff in many ways, but it's really out there and working." When the Seaglider comes to the surface, it will _ . A. change its battery B. send the data to its controllers C. force out a lot of water D. stay in one place Answer: B. send the data to its controllers Question: Which is considered a nonrenewable resource? A. oil B. soil C. food D. water Answer: A. oil
Question: In the past 300 years, more than 130 species of animals have become _ . One of these extinct species is the passenger pigeon . At one time there were millions of these birds in North America, but now there are none. The last one died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. Another extinct animal is the cape lion . The animal has been extinct since 1860. What cause animals to become extinct? Too much hunting is one cause; pollution is another. Governments around the world have begun to protect wild animals in danger. In the United States, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for endangered animals. It has listed nearly 200 species of endangered animals in North America. There were many cape lions in North America _ . A. last century B. in the twentieth century C. more than one hundred years ago D. in 1914 Answer: C. more than one hundred years ago Question: Some people have to use public transport, some dislike it and still some love it. If everyone has a car and drives anywhere they want to go, there will be serious traffic problems on the road. Luckily, trains are a good form of public transport. British people use trains a lot. This is especially so for people who are travelling from London to Paris. Every day about 20 trains leave London. They travel at a very high speed and people feel glad that the trains take only 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Paris. It's much faster to travel by train than by bus or by car. This is because people have to drive cars or buses very carefully and lowly for many reasons, such as speed limits and traffic jams. However, when you are travelling by train, the speed is almost the same and there is no traffic jam for a train. Besides, Londoners think taking a train is one of the safest ways of travelling on the ground. Trains take quite a number of quality tests while they are made. More importantly, they have to take many safety checks before they are used on the rail track. What's more, trains in Britain are comfortable and provide fine services for their users. When you are on a London train, you will find that the train has comfortable tables and seats where people can sit. They also provide food services and power plugs for personal computers or mobile phone. The main idea of the passage is that _ . A. British people enjoy public transport B. it's fast to travel from London to Paris C. trains in Britain provide fine services for their users D. trains are a good form of public transport for Londoners Answer: D. trains are a good form of public transport for Londoners Question: In times of economic crisis, Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our sky-high divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same. We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses. By 1932, when nearly one-quarter of the work force was unemployed, it had declined by around 25 percent from 1929. But this does not mean that people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes plummeting and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared that neither would be able to manage alone. Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households. Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes. After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities. A 1940 book, "The Unemployed Man and His Family," described a family in which the husband first reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work." He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do. The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain (continue). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually defeated their attempts to keep their families together. The rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold. Millions of American families may now be in the initial (earliest) stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment. Today's economic depression could well generate a similar backlog of couples whose relationships have been irreparably ruined. So it is only when the economy is healthy again that we will begin to see just how many fractured families have been created. In addition to job losses, what stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce? A. Mounting (increasing) family debts. B. Falling housing prices. C. Difficulty in getting a loan. D. A sense of insecurity. Answer: B. Falling housing prices. Question: Fire Station No.6 in Livermore,California,houses a celebrity--a 107-year-old light bulb that has been on for over a million hours,earning the title of the"World's longest continuously burning bulb"by Ripley's Believe It Or Not!The bulb also holds the Guinness World Record. Nobody knows why this bulb has stayed alive for so many years.Most people believe that it is due to two reasons--it has almost never been turned off and it is really well made.Its perfect seal lets no air in.keeping its carbon filament from burning out. The bulb was first installed at the fire department hose cart house on L Street in 1901.In 1903 it was moved to the new Station 1 on First and McLeod,and survived the renovation of the Firehouse in 1937.when it was off for about a week.The last time the bulb was switched off was in July l976,when it was moved to Fire Station No.6.Thousands of people watched as the electrician tried to re-attach the bulb at its new location.At first nothing happened and people thought the bulb had finally died.However,a slight touch of its switch and then,the bulb came on and has been on since.Nobody at the station dares to touch it,even to clean it. A local reporter first discovered the bulb's significance in 1972.He recommended his readers to go visit it if they ever went to Livermore.All of a sudden thousands of people came to Fire Station No.6 and the bulb became famous. Needless to say,the bulb is now a big source of pride and joy for the city of Livermore.So when some folks offered to buy it,the answer from the city was"NO!" Which of the following may not be a reason for the bulb to stay alive for so long? A. It was seldom switched off. B. It was made of high quality. C. Its carbon filament was special. D. Its seal was perfect. Answer: C. Its carbon filament was special. Question: Why should you learn Sign Language? Do you want to improve your communication with a family member or friend who is deaf? Do you want to be able to communicate with deaf people in general? Would you like to advance in your career by being able to communicate in ASL? Do you want to be a Sign Language interpreter? Sign language is not just a random collection of gestures but a full-blown language in its own right, complete with its own grammatical rules. Each country or region has its own sign language, as different from each other as English is from Spanish. Each version of sign language is somewhat linked to the spoken language in its region. For example, American sign language does share similarities with English, even though it is its own language. The advantages of knowing sign language in addition to a spoken language are many. Communication becomes possible on many levels with the deaf community, with other people either hearing or not in any of the above situations, as well as many more. While other languages take years to learn, American Sign Language can be taught in a much shorter time period. It is one of the easiest languages to learn because most of the signs were developed to mimic the actual word or phrase it is representing. Even the alphabet signs look like the letters of the English alphabet. American Sign Language, or ASL, is the third most used language in the United States. Used by the deaf community, interpreters, and friends and family of the deaf. There are a lot of sites on the internet that not only shows you the sign with video, but will help you practice reading signs as well. Teaching even hearing babies sign language seems to be the fashion in recent years and for good reason. Communicating in sign language is fun and natural as babies naturally use body gestures in early communication. Teaching baby sign language actually appears to enhance the learning of verbal skills and brain development of the children involved. One of the reasons for learning sign language is that it _ . A. increase self-confidence B. provides more choices of career C. trains brains D. is interesting Answer: B. provides more choices of career
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability. People with autism have trouble communicating and with social skills. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the person also might repeat some behaviors and not want change in their daily activities. Some people with the condition need a lot of help. Others need less. CDC officials say autism affects one in every 68 children in the United States. More boys than girls are believed to have the condition. But the number of cases appears to be growing. It is unclear whether the growing number shows a real increase or comes from more knowledge about this disorder. Symptoms of autism Common signs of autism include trouble making eye contact and a delay in learning how to speak. Some people with severe autism never learn how to talk. Many people with autism also have difficulty understanding facial expressions and the feelings of others. They also have trouble making friends of the same age. Doctors have learned how to recognize autism, but much is still unknown about its causes. Researchers at Harvard University have come closer to finding answers. They found that women exposed to the highest levels of fine particulate air pollution late in their pregnancies are two times more likely to give birth to a child with autism. The findings appeared in Environmental Health Perspectives -- a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The study found that the women who were around high levels of fine particulate matter air pollution were at highest risk of having an autistic child. The increased risk of these women was two times that of women who lived in areas with low levels of fine particulate pollution. The researchers found that the timing of exposure to pollution was important. They found no increased risk of autism in children whose mothers were around high levels of pollution before becoming pregnant. And the study found air pollution does not seem to increase the risk of children developing autism after they are born. What can pregnant women do? Mr. Weisskopf says pregnant women should avoid air pollution as much as possible. But he warns that other things may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. "You can avoid being in extremely polluted cities during pregnancy if possible. You can also choose to go running in a park rather than next to a street. But that said, I think also it's very important to recognize that autism spectrum disorders is a very multi-factorial disorder. And there are lots of reasons why risk could be increased." Autism is believed to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. For now, Marc Weisskopf says researchers are trying to identify the exact substances in air pollution that increase the risk of autism. Which is NOT the Common signs of autism _ ? A. low level of intelligence B. a delay in learning how to speak C. understanding facial expressions D. making eye contact Answer: A When nature is left alone, a balance is reached among the animals and plants living in one area. But when man starts his work in nature, the balance is likely to be destroyed. He grows a crop and takes it away to eat; then there are no dead leaves to fall on the ground, holding water while it sinks into the surface, or decaying and adding humus to the soil. Unless a farmer acts with knowledge and skill, he is therefore most likely to make the land poorer. To take the place of the useful matter in the crops that he removes, he uses some kind of fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers are of great help, but the waste products of animals and decaying remains of plants should also be put on the land. In some places, it is a habit to burn waste material lying about, but such burning destroys the useful matter in the dead plants. Although the ashes that are left are valuable when put on the land, a better practice is to bury the waste so that it decays and increases the humus in the soil. In the past, when the world population was much lower than it is now, a man had little difficulty in ordinary times in growing the food that was needed. When a field had been used some years and had become tired, the farmer could move to another place. The tired land then slowly recovered. Gradually grasses and other plants would appear on it and its productive power would slowly return to normal through their decay. But nature, left alone, would take a long time to bring back the land to its former state; the length of time required would depend on local conditions, but it might well be ten years. It is a bad practice to grow the same crop in a field year after year. If the crop is changed, the land will suffer less because it is treated and used in a different way. Different plants have different effects on the soil. Therefore, a change of crop will do less harm than the growing of the same crop year after year and a regular change to grass will do good to the soil. Much will therefore be gained if different crops are grown one after another, a method known as the rotation of crops. A modern farmer can hardly move to another place as he did before because _ . A. the productive power of a new field isn't higher than that of an old one B. there are few free fields left for him to do farming C. it takes a farmer more than ten years to start farming in a new field D. there will be too many grasses in a new field to grow crops Answer: B When kids at Archisha Singh's school in Loudoun County have a birthday, no parents buy them birthday cakes. Some schools are worried that children might become fat or eat unhealthy food, so they have banned cupcakes altogether. What do kids do? Birthday kids can donate a book. The headmaster of their school will then read it to their class. The headmaster also hands out birthday certificates , special pencils, and makes sure the kids' names are read out in the school's morning news. Parents can send stickers , pencils and other things to students. None of the things can be food. If a child donates jump ropes or other sports equipment, that child may get his or her name on a certificate. It will then be displayed at school. Archisha really misses cupcakes, especially those her mother used to make for her kindergarten class, but her school's way is fun, too. "I like both ways," she said. The headmaster says it's important that the school should be not only teaching, but offering healthy choices to kids. "There is a better life without cupcakes. If you eat a cupcake, then it's gone in two seconds, but a book lasts a lifetime. The sports equipment lasts, and the kids can use it day after day." Which can not be sent to students? A. Stickers. B. Sweets. C. Pencils. D. Books. Answer: B In America, when people say 'man's best friend', they don't mean another person. Instead, they are talking about a lovely animal--a dog! These words show the friendship between people and animals. Dogs and other pets can give joy to people's lives. _ Animals can help people, too. You can teach dogs to be the 'eyes' for blind people or 'ears' for deaf people. Scientists have found that pets help people live longer! They make people happier, too. Because of that, they bring animals into hospitals for 'visits'. Americans have 'Be Kind to Animals Week' in the first week of May. There are many pet shows during the week. Even if you don't live in America, you can also show your love to animals. How? First think about how animals make your life richer . If you have a pet, take more time this week to play with it. Remember to give it nice food. If you don't have a pet, be kind to animals around you. For example, if you see a street dog, don't kick it. Just leave it alone, or make friends with it. If others around you do bad things to animals, try to stop them. As people, we must protect animals because they can't speak for themselves. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Dogs can help people in many ways. B. Dogs can help people live happier. C. Dogs can help people make everything. D. Dogs can make people's lives richer. Answer: C Which of the following would be considered nonliving? A. a hair still on your head B. a rabbit hopping along C. a fallen palm leaf D. a human jogging down a track Answer: C
BEIJING, July 21-More and more parents in Shanghai have found that their children are forgetting how to use Shanghai dialect to express themselves, according to a report in the city's Jiefang Daily on July 11, and some have begun forcing them to speak it at home. Language experts say that the promotion of Putonghua, and the large number of non-Shanghainese setting down in the city have meant that the local dialect has lost its previous high social status, according to the report. They have urged that the dialect be protected alongside Putonghua (also known as Mandarin), the nation's common tongue that has been systematically promoted since new China was founded in 1949. In their opinion, dialects carry and preserve local culture . They say that a dialect is not only a linguistic tool. But is also like a person's "birthmark" and part of their local identity and feeling of belonging. They recommended that TV and radio stations set up channels and programs using dialects , and that schools offer selective courses in which the dialects are taught. The experts also suggested that dialect be protected while maintaining high standards of Putonghua and a multicultural environment in the city. Where can you read this passage ? Answer: In a newspaper . The campaign is over. The celebrations have ended. And the work for US president-elect Barack Obama has begun. The 47-year-old politician rose to the highest post because of his stand against the war in Iraq and his plans to fix a weak economy. But what will the first 47-year-old African-American president do for race relations? Obama's victory appears to have given blacks and other minorities a true national role model. For years, many looked to athletes and musicians for inspiration. As Darius Turner, an African-American high school student in Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times, "Kobe doesn't have to be everybody's role model anymore." Recent polls also suggest that Obama's victory has given Americans new optimism about race relations. For example, a USA Today poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe relations between blacks and whites "will finally be worked out". This is the most hopeful response since the question was first asked during the civil rights revolution in 1963. However, it's still too early to tell whether Obama's presidency will begin to solve many of the social problems facing low-income black communities. Although blacks make up only 13 percent of the US population, 55 percent of all prisoners are African-American. Such numbers can be blamed on any number of factors on America's racist past, a failure of government policy and the collapse of the family unit in black communities. It is unlikely that Obama will be able to reverse such trends overnight. However, Bill Bank, an expert of African-American Studies, says that eventually young blacks need to find role models in their own communities. "That's not Martin Luther King, and not Barack Obama," he told the Los Angeles Times. "It's actually the people closest to them. Barack only has so much influence." In the opinion of black British politician Trevor Phillips, Obama's rise will contribute more to multiculturalism than to race relations in the US. "When the G8 meets, the four most important people in the room will be the president of China, the prime minister of India, the prime minister of Japan and Barak Obama," he told London's The Times newspaper. "It will be the first time we've seen that on our television screens. That will be a huge psychological shift for both the white people and the color1ed ones in the world." What would be the best title for this passage? Answer: The First African-American President During my elementary school years,I used to compare my mom with my best friend Tiffany's mom. Tiffany's mom always gave her lots of money to buy the most fashionable clothes and favorite food. Her morn allowed her to do anything she liked. I really admired Tiffany. My mom didn't give me much pocket money and she always told me that I should behave my self. 1 was annoyed with her. Whenever I didn't get what 1 wanted,1 would complain to my mom,Tiffany's mom would give her that!1 wish she were my mom. "Every time,my mom would calmly say "Poor Tiffany". I couldn't understand her. "She shouldn't be feeling sorry for Tiffany!"I thought. "She should be feeling sorry for me. " One day,I couldn't help saying to Morn,"Poor Tiffany?Lucky Tiffany! She gets everything she wants! Why do you feel sorry for her?"I burst into tears. My mom sat down next to me and said softly , "Yes,I do feel sorry for her. I have been teaching you a lesson that she will never be taught. " I looked up at her. "What are you talking about?" Mom said with care,"One day she will really want something. Maybe she'11 find out that she can't have it. Her mother won't always be around to give her money,and what's more,money can't buy everything. " She continued,"I have taught you valuable lessons by not giving you everything you want. You'11 know how to look for bargains and save money,but she won't. You'11 under stand that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she won't. When Tiffany is a grown woman,she'11 wake up one day and she will be wishing that she had a mom like the one you've got. Life lessons are more important than modern clothes and delicious food. '' It took some time,but I eventually understood my mom's words. Now I am a happy and successful woman. What can we infer from the passage? Answer: The author is thankful to her mother now. Many people rely on a cup of coffee or two to wake them up in the morning or pick them up during the working day, but now a chemist has come up with a speedy alternative to crafting a cup of coffee. U.S. biochemist Ben Yu has created 'Sprayable Energy,' which claims to be the world's first caffeine - based topical energy spray. He said tired workers can spray a 'shot' of caffeine onto their skin without experiencing a strong buzz, loading up on unnecessary calories or being stuck with a nasty aftertaste like they might get from drinking energy drinks or coffee. The patent-pending caffeine spray is an odourless liquid that is absorbed through the skin and distributed through the body over a number of hours to deliver a caffeine hit that apparently lasts longer than guzzling a cup of coffee. Each small aluminum bottle of Sprayable Energy contains around 160 sprays - the equivalent amount of caffeine to 40 cups of coffee and the creators say it is a much cheaper way of getting a caffeine fix than popping to a cafe. The only active ingredient in the spray is caffeine, which can naturally enter the human body through the skin by passing through cell membranes as it is very similar to nicotine in structure. Each spritz of Sprayable Energy contains around a quarter of the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee, but apparently has the same effect as a full cup. The website said: 'The reason for this is our product not being ingested, isn't almost entirely metabolised by the liver before entering your system and becoming available to your body.''Thus, a smaller amount of caffeine can have just the same effect as a very large amount of caffeine ingested through an energy drink or cup of coffee. Sprayable Energy`s website recommends that users apply the spray in places where they normally spritz perfume, such as the neck or wrists, but warns users not to exceed 20 sprays a day. It claims that after spraying the product on the skin, users will feel 'awake and focused without being over-stimulated', which is common with coffee and energy drinks. What can we learn about Sprayable Energy from the passage ? _ . Answer: Sprayable Energy lets users not worry about taking in unnecessary calories.. The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina For the first time ever, two little fairy tale characters meet in one fun-filled, action-packed musical adventure. Trying to find their way in a great big world, Tom Thumb and Thumbelina join forces and face difficulties in a great journey to find their true home. Starring: Elijah Wood, Peter Gallagher Runtime: 1 hour 16 minutes Buy with 1 click Uptown Girls Carefree Molly Gunn loses her inheritance and must do something she's never done before---to get a job. She ends up as babysitter to an 8-year-old girl who teaches Molly to be a grownup, while Molly teaches her to be a kid. Starring: Brittany Murphy, Dakota Fanning Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes Buy with 1 click Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story Based on a true story, the movie Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story is about the British author's rise to fame, from poor single mother to author of the popular Harry Potter books, and one of the wealthiest woman in the world. Starring: Poppy Montgomery, Emily Holmes Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes Buy with 1 click The Book Thief To everyone's excitement, Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson star in this moving film based on the bestseller about a girl who changes the lives of those around her in World War II Germany. Starring: Emily Watson, Geoffrey Rush Runtime: 2 hours 11 minutes Buy with 1 click _ will be interested in the passage. Answer: People who enjoy films
England has a longstanding problem with youngsters dropping out of training. Almost half of 17-year-olds in some parts of England have dropped out of fulltime education or training. The statistics show 49% in Thurrock and 44% in Salford have dropped out of school or job training. Across England,31%of 17-year-olds are not in education or training. The figures also reveal deep regional divides,with wealthier areas such as Richmon and Harrow recording18% of 17-year-olds out of official education. The statistics confirm England's poor international standing for staying-on rates in education. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development considers England's drop-out rates as among the worst among the industrialised countries. Regionally,the statistics show Yorkshire and the Humber have the highest rate of 17-year-olds not in full-time education or work-based training at 35%. Outer London has the highest staying-on rate,with l3%of 17-year-olds having dropped out of official learning. In the east of England this figure stands at 31%and at 29%in the South West. Edward Davey,Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary,said the government "should be ashamed"that so many youngsters were dropping out of school. A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said the government had carried out a series of reforms,with aPS2.5 billion rise in funding for further education. What Edward Davey said suggests that the government _ . I was watching Sports center last night when one of those "human interest" stories came on and really caught my attention. The story was about a 27-year-old professional Bass Fisherman named Clay Dyer. At first, they played it off as another guy trying to make the cut on the Bass master tour until they showed a picture of him. No legs, no arm, or rather, he has only 1/3 of his right arm. That's all that he has. It was such an amazing story that I was wondering what this guy could do. Growing up, he learned to play baseball and basketball, but found that fishing was his true calling. And he does it all on his own. He holds the fishing pole under his chin and uses that and his stub arm to cast and reel in the fish. He uses his teeth to help him unhook fish. He ties his own hooks or lures on with his mouth, never really asking anyone else to help. Clay Dyer even knows how to swim. Since his body can't produce enough sweat on its own, he has to take a dip in the lake every few hours to keep cool. He dives in just like anyone else, then somehow treads water with his stub arm, then, with a little help, pulls himself back up into the boat and goes on fishing. Clay Dyer has never looked for others' pity, nor has he allowed his physical disabilities to prevent him from becoming a professional fisherman. His motto for life is "If I can, you can." He refuses to use special equipment, saying, "I want to do it with one hand the way they do it with two." Which word best describes Clay Dyer's personality? A bird has just hatched from an egg. Which of the following stages most likely comes next in the life cycle of the bird? Environmental activists in South Korea are condemning a government plan to hunt endangered whales for scientific research. They believe the plan is part of an effort to restart commercial whaling activities. Such activities are banned in many countries. South Korea announced the proposal in July at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Panama. The head of the South Korean delegation said the plan was needed to answer questions about minke whale populations. He said the hunt would take place near the South Korean coast. But he did not say how many of the animals would be caught. The International Whaling Commission has yet to make a decision on the South Korean plan. The organization banned commercial whaling in 1986 because of concerns about the survival of whale species. But now, some South Korean fishermen say they are facing a threat from minke whales. They say these animals are eating what would have been their catch. The plan was immediately condemned by anti-whaling nations. Wildlife activists also criticized the proposal. Han Jeong-hee works in Seoul for the environmental group Greenpeace."It's really regretful to hear that the South Korean government is, like, considering conducting scientific whaling. Scientific whaling is just, like, thinly disguised commercial whaling. And, you know, we are of course against all commercial whaling. Japan's the only country that is doing scientific whaling at the moment and South Korea is just trying to follow that." Apart from the plan in South Korea, an aquarium in the American state of Georgia also wants to import eighteen beluga whales from Russia. The United States currently has 31 beluga whales. They are living in six aquariums and marine parks. Four of them are at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The Georgia Aquarium has asked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for permission to import the beluga whales. If it was approved, aquarium officials would send some of the animals to the other facilities. The Georgia Aquarium says it hopes to use the beluga whales in research, education and breeding programs. They currently are being held at a Russian research center. Yet many people oppose the plan. They say it is wrong to catch any wild animal. NOAA officials are studying how the beluga whales might be affected by being brought to the United States. They also want to know whether the Georgia Aquarium and its partners can properly care for the whales and how they might be used in educational activities. The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act sets rules which NOAA must consider when deciding whether these animals may be imported. NOAA officials told VOA they plan to make a decision on the request by early next year. In which country is whale hunting permitted at the moment? Have you wondered why different animals or pests have their particular colors? Colors in them seem to be used mainly to protect themselves. Birds, especially seagulls are very fond of locusts, but birds can't easily catch locusts because locusts change their colors together with the change of the color of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But when crops are ripe, locusts take on exactly the same brown color as crops have. Some other pests with different colors from plants are usually easily found and eaten by their enemies. So they have to hide themselves in terror for lives and appear only at night. If you study the animal life in any part of the world, you will find the main use of coloring is to protect themselves, bears, wolves and other beasts move quietly through forests. They are usually _ to the eyes of hunters, because they have the color much like the barks of trees. An even more strange act remains to be noticed. A kind of fish living in seas can send out a kind of very black liquid when it faces danger. While the liquid is over, its enemies cannot find it, and it quickly swims away. Thus, it has existed up to now though it is not powerful at all. Locusts are _ but they aren't easily wiped out by their enemies because _ .
A man was walking on a mountain when he found an amazing cave. Stored inside were all kinds of treasure and precious stones. When he saw it, he _ the cave entrance and stayed there, guarding it. From that day on, the man hid all his valuables in the cave, and to avoid anyone suspecting he was rich, he gave up his job, his home, and his friends. He constantly watched the approaches to his cave, wanting no one to find out about it. Fearing thieves, he guarded the cave all night long. He was so devoted to the cave that he hardly ate or drank. Before long, he fell ill. Many days passed, and he got thinner and sicker, losing all his strength. One day, when he could hardly move at all, he realized that it was his greed that had brought him to this extreme end. He understood that guarding his treasure had been of no use and no good. He decided to share it with others. He crawled into the cave to fetch some jewels, but discovered that the cave was almost empty. All he could find was a small emerald . He took it and left the cave, intending to give it to the first person passing by. Soon a woman approached and accepted the emerald with great joy. The man said to her, "I could have given you many more riches, but I don't know where they went. This is all I have now." "Are you sure there's nothing else?" replied the woman. The man shook his head and pointed to the cave. He found that some riches were still there; he saw some gold coins. He said, "Take them with you." The woman took both the emerald and the coins, and went away happily. In a while, an old man passed by and asked the man what he was doing there. The man replied, "What bad luck! Just a moment ago I gave a woman the few riches left over from the treasure I was guarding." "Are you sure there's nothing else?" The old man asked him. The man showed him the cave, and they found a box filled with jewels and gold. The man was shocked. The old man explained to him, "At last! At last someone has freed himself from the spell of this cave. You see, this is a magic cave, and you're the first to pass its great test. Many people have devoted their lives to this cave, only to end up realizing there's nothing here ..." "And why does this happen?" said the man. "Why does the treasure appear and disappear?" "My son, this magic cave has as many riches as does your own heart. When someone discovers it, the cave fills with the treasure they bring with them, but later, when they all devote themselves to guarding the treasure, their hearts begin emptying, and so does the cave. The only way to fill it is to fill your heart with all that is good, as you did by giving that last jewel to the woman. That's the reason why the cave was filling up again ..." And so, the man understood it was better to share than to keep things to himself. And, from that day, thanks to the cave and the old man, the man became ever more noble and generous. What happened to the man in the end? A He became more generous. B He became the richest man in the world. C He became more careful about his health. D He became more grateful to others for their help. Answer: A If you are above the age of 40 then there are chances you would not know much about Snap Music. But if that is the case, then ask your daughter or son, and perhaps, they'd even perform it for you. Indeed, Snap Music is one of the cool hip hop rap styles that support hip hop music. In simple words, Snap Music is the music to which you "snap your fingers and move with the rhythm. This may seem ly easy, but sure enough, it has its share of uniqueness which makes it stand apart. The theoretical and technical characteristics of Snap Music are slow-paced beats, regular and timed snapping of fingers, which created pleasing rhythms. Often as rappers rap, they get the audience clapping or snapping along with them. Snap Music was from Atlanta. It gradually made its way to the other parts of America. It is generally believed that Snap was inspired by Crunk Music and it is Atlanta's Crunk style. But they are quite different. While Crunk has high energy, Snap has an unhurried feel to it . An occasional whistle or a polyrhythmic combination can he heard; this is done to improve the feeling of the music. It is also said that the music was made for the club-crowd and at first was meant for dance lovers; but as the form developed, it turned out to be rather slow. There is a wide audience for this type of music. Here , this type of hip hop music is often simple with not much depth or story. But then again, how many rap songs have depths and story these days? So , if you are a teenager or a young adult, you might just enjoy the change that Snap offers. We can learn from the text that US Snap Music _ . A is well known for its fast beats B is most popular in Atlanta C is very similar to Crunk Music D has changed in the development process Answer: D In early November of 1503,during Christopher Columbus's fourth and final trip to America,his ship was seriously damaged in a storm.Columbus and his men had to live on a small island for several months while they tried to repair their ship and return to Spain. At first,the local people on the island were very kind to the European visitors,giving them allthe food and clothes they needed to survive.However,as the months passed,the local people became more and more unhappy with their guests,who were tricking and stealing from them.Finally the locals decided to stop helping.Without food or any way to leave the island,Columbus's group was soon in serious trouble. Luckily for Columbus,he had a book about the stars and planets on his ship.It described the movements of all the objects in the night sky.The book,written by a well-known German scientist,said there would be a total lunar eclipse on the evening of February 29,1504 and how long it would last. Columbus worked out the difference in time between Germ any and North America.He then had a meeting with the local leaders just before the eclipse would take place.In this meeting,Columbus told them his god was angry because the local people were no longer giving food.So his god would take away the moon to punish them.The moment Columbus finished talking,just as he had planned,the moon began disappearing. The local leaders grew frightened and quickly agreed to provide Columbus with food and anything else he wanted.But first,Columbus's god had to return the moon.Columbus told them he would have to discuss the idea with his god on his ship.Knowing the moon would stay completely hidden for about 48 minutes,Columbus returned just before the moon began to reappear.From that day on,until they finally left,Columbus and his men no longer had any trouble getting the food they needed. At first,the local people helped Columbus and his men by _ . A giving them food B building a house for them C repairing their ship D providing them with a book Answer: A The greatest sales woman in the world today doesn't mind if you call her a girl. That's because Markita Andrews made more than $80,000 by selling cookies when she was 13 years old. Andrews and her mother shared a dream of traveling around the world. Once while reading a magazine ad, Andrews found that the person who sold the most cookies could win a free trip for two around the world. She decided to give it a try. To make her dream come true, Andrews went door to door every day after school and repeated, "Hi, I have a dream. I'm earning a trip around the world for my mom and me by selling cookies. " Then she asked," Would you like to buy one or two dozen boxes of cookies?" Andrews kept asking for a whole year, no matter how heavily it was raining or snowing outside. Her hard work _ She sold 42,000 boxes of cookies that year and she won her trip around the world. Andrews is no smarter than thousands of other people. The key to her success is that she has found the secret of selling: Ask, Ask, Ask! Many people fail before they even begin because they fail to ask for what they want. It takes courage to ask for what you want. And , as Andrews has discovered, the more you ask, the easier ( and more fun) it gets. ,. Which of the following is NOT true? A Andrew and her mother had a same dream. B According to the ad, two people could tour the world. C Andrews sold 42,000 cookies. D Andrews kept working even though it was raining heavily outside. Answer: C On May 28th, 1998 I was driving my 13-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son to school. Unfortunately my car crashed with a truck. All three of us were critically injured. Stacey's brain injury was the most severe. Despite all attempts to save her, she died two days later. When I became conscious, I heard my husband talking to the organ donor coordinator . We knew that Stacey would want that because that's the kind of person she was. She always wanted to assist people. She was always smiling and brought so much joy to others. She was friendly and enjoyed writing stories and poetry. It has been a comfort to know that Stacey lives on in the lives of others. I have even met the family of one of Stacey's kidney recipients . This little girl was 6 years old at the time of the transplant. She was suffering from Nephrotic Syndrome. I saw pictures showing the effects of the Nephrotic Syndrome and the pictures of her after the transplant. _ already showed an amazing difference. We correspond every year through letters, cards and pictures. The girl is doing really well at school and will be graduating from high school next year. I am so grateful that we have this relationship. I also feel relieved that my daughter has made so great a difference to a person's life. Over the years, I have had some kind of contact with all of the recipients except the heart recipient. I'm very sorry for that. I would love to hear something from the heart recipient's family. There are so many things that I wonder about her. I wonder if she is anything like Stacey. Does she smile all the time? Does she enjoy writing stories and poetry? I do hope that they can contact us! I feel guilty because I was the one driving in the accident which caused Stacey's death. I also feel proud that my daughter has helped so many people. What has the writer been looking forward to doing? A Contacting the kidney recipient's family. B Visiting kidney recipient's family. C Getting paid from the heart family. D Seeing the heart recipient. Answer: D
Bill McIntosh and Royce Wedding had been the best friends for 30 years. Now, living alone 12 miles east of the town, Bill earned his living by hunting foxes and rabbits. "Coming to the football match this afternoon?" Bill McIntosh asked 54-year-old Royce Wedding as they drank beer at the Eureka Hotel. Royce shook his head, "I promised Mom I'd burn off the weeds in one of our fields." "I'll give you a hand," Bill said. Driving slowly from the southern edge of the field, they worked their way upwind, leaving a line of burning weeds in their wake. Suddenly the fire was on them. Bill pushed open his door only to find himself thrown through the air, the gasoline tank exploded and the car jumped three feet off the ground. When it crashed back down Royce found himself unable to move. Bill lay where he fell. "Royce!" he cried, struggling to his feet and heading for the car. Pulling open the door, he seized Royce's arms through the smoke. "I'm stuck," Royce said. "Get yourself away!" The fire bit at Bill's arms, face and legs, but he said, "I'm not leaving you here." Now Bill pulled as hard as he could. Suddenly he fell backward. Royce was free and out of the car. "What's the matter with that dog?" said Vicky Wedding, Royce's mom. Shocked by noise behind her, she turned to see Bill leaning against the door. Six months after the fire, when Royce went out of hospital, he walked into the Eureka Hotel and bought Bill a beer. Bill and Royce became the best friends when _ . The marsh willow herb is a plant native to the northeastern United States. It grows best in damp habitats. Which of the following environmental changes would most likely cause a decrease in the marsh willow herb population in an area? We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. Why do we go wrong about our friends? Sometimes people hide their real meanings when they say something. And if we don't really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog." That's being friendly. But "lucky dog"? There's a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn't see himself. But "lucky dog" puts you down a little. He may mean you don't deserve your luck. How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Do his words agree with the tone of voice? His posture ? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. If you spend the minute thinking about the real meaning behind one's words, it may save another mistake. According to the passage, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that _ . When I told my father that I was moving to Des Moines , Iowa , he told me about the only time he had been there . It was in the 1930s, when he was an editor of the literary magazine of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas , Texas . He also worked as a professor at SMU , and there was a girl student in his class who suffered from a serious back disease . She couldn't afford the operation because her family was poor. Her mother ran a boarding house in Galveston , a seaside town near Houston , Texas . She was cleaning out the attic one day when she came across an old dusty manuscript . On its top page were the words , "By O. Henry". It was a nice story , and she sent it to her daughter at SMU , who showed it to my father . My father had never read the story before , but it sounded like O. Henry, and he knew that O. Henry had once lived in Houston . So it was possible that the famous author had gone to the beach and stayed in the Galveston Boarding house , and had written the story there and left the manuscript behind by accident. My father visited an O. Henry expert at Columbia University in New York , who authenticated the story as O. Henry's . My father then set out to sell it . Eventually , he found himself in Des Moines , meeting with Gardner Cowles , a top editor at the Des Moines Register . Cowles loved the story and bought it on the spot. My father took the money to the girl . It was just enough for her to have the operation she so desperately needed. My father never told me what the O. Henry story was about . But I doubt that it could have been better than his own story . Which of the following might explain the fact that the Manuscript was found in the attic ? In your life, there are a lot of people around you. They are your relatives, neighbors, friends or classmates. Sometimes you get along well with them, but sometimes don't. What can you do when someone hurts you? Most people may be angry or even fight with him. But it's not a good idea. You'd better forget all this and forgive(,) him. Maybe it's not easy for you to do that, but it's possible. Please remember: Keep a good mood, and you will keep healthy. Staying angry with others, in fact, means letting others' mistakes treat yourself unfairly. How can you forgive others? First, think of something pleasant and try to get yourself happy. Second, don't wait others to say sorry to you. If anyone hurts you, he won't say sorry to you. He may just want to hurt you or just don't see things the same way. Third, _ . You can understand their minds better and make yourself a little happier. At last, try to know yourself very well. Whose mistakes caused that, yours or others'? If it's your fault, try to say sorry to them. If it isn't, smile at the thing. ,. The writer gives us _ ideas to forgive others.
Treasure hunts have excited people's imagination for hundreds of years both in real life and in books such as Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Kit Williams, a modern writer, had the idea of combining the real excitement of a treasure hunt with clues found in a book when he wrote a children's story, Masquerade, in 1979. The book was about a hare, and a month before it came out, Williams buried a gold hare in a park in Bedfordshire. The book contained a large number of clues to help readers find the hare, but Williams put in a lot of "red herrings", or false clues, to mislead _ . Ken Roberts, the man who found the hare, had been looking for it for nearly two years. Although he had been searching in the wrong area most of the time, he found it by logic, not by luck. His success came from the fact that he had gained an important clue at the start. He had realized that the words: "One of Six to Eight" under the first picture in the book connected the hare in some way to Katherine of Aragon, the first of Henry VIII's six wives. Even here, however, Williams had succeeded in misleading him. Ken knew that Katherine of Aragon had died at Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire in 1536 and thought that Williams had buried the hare there. He had been digging there for over a year before a new idea occurred to him. He found out that Kit Williams had spent his childhood near Ampthill, in Bedfordshire, and thought that he must have buried the hare in a place he knew well, but he still could not see the connection with Katherine of Aragon, until one day he came across two stone crosses in Ampthill Park and learnt that they had been built in her honor in 1773. Even then his search had not come to an end. It was only after he had spent several nights digging around the cross that he decided to write to Kit Williams to find out if he was wasting his time there. Williams encouraged him to continue, and on February 24th 1982, he found the treasure. It was worth L3000 in the beginning, but the excitement it had caused since its burial made it much more valuable. What is the most important clue in the story to help Ken Roberts find the hare? Katherine of Aragon. Ballet NY Dancing can provide an outstanding cardiovascular workout, but this week the members of Ballet NY come to Pittshurgh to dance for people whose hearts need help. The performance will benefit the Artificial Heart Program of the Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute of UPMC. Ballet NY was founded 10 years ago by former New York City Ballet principal ballerina Judith Fugate and internationally famous dancer Medhi Bahiri, and former members of top dance companies. The performance starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Byham Theater, Downtown. Admission: $35~$125. The top price includes post-concert coffee and dessert reception with the dancers. Details: 412-453-7777. Classic rock, literally Mannheim Steamroller will bring a breath of "Fresh Air" to the Benedum Center, Downtown, Monday. The band, which blends classical and rock influences with electronic and ancient instruments, is on the road in its "Fresh Air" tour. The name comes from a series of eight albums with that title. Music begins at 8 p.m. Admission: $40, &50 or $60. Details: 412-456-6666. Expansive endeavors Outdoors adventure goes beyond fun. It is a way of encountering the weakness of our existence and seeing ourselves as rather small creatures after all. The Banff Mountain Film Festival helps us see that with movies that also are just downright good. Sponsored here by Venture Outdoors, the festival will be at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Byham Theatre, Downtown, with different films each night. Admission: $10, or $15 for both nights, in advance; $15 at the door. Details: 412-255-0564. In bloom Children with spring fever can find an outlet on Saturday at the Frick Art& Historical Center, which is hosting "Green Kids--What's up?" The program brings children aged 4-8 into the garden on Frick's Point Breeze grounds, so that they can see what flowers are coming up in the early spring. The program, which runs 11-11:45 a.m., is free and includes an interactive tour and take-home activity. Meet in the Visitors' Center at the Frick, 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. Details: 412-371-0600. If a person with heart problem goes to Ballet NY, he will _ . enjoy some wonderful dances Though there are about 400 languages from all over the world that are in danger of disappearing completely, Zoque-Ayapaneco, a native Mexican language is considered the most likely to become extinct, because the only two people in the world that speak it fluently do not talk to each other! And, it's not because they live in different countries, states or even villages. In fact, Manuel Segovia and Isidro Velazquez, both in their 70s, live within 500 yards of each other, in the village of Ayapa in the Southern Mexican State of Tabasco. They, however, refuse to communicate because they simply don't have much in common. Segovia is apparently a little flank in nature while Velazquez is described as shy. Segovia was at least able to talk in Zoque-Ayapanece with his brother until he passed away about 12 years ago, and still manages to practice it with his family, especially his son Manuel, who for the last five years has been trying to learn it and hopes to become fluent enough to teach it to the next generation. Velazquez on the other hand, has not been heard speaking in the language with anybody. The two men say the language used to be widely spoken in the village, but the younger generation _ it for fear of being laughed at, and it therefore began to die a slow death, as the elders passed away. Unless the two men get their acts together, the only way to hear the language will be to either listen to Manuel's not-so-fluent statement or see them talk in a documentary entitled "Lengua Muerta" (Dead Language) that is being filmed to capture Zoque Ayapaneco and 364 other native Mexican languages that are in a similar state. We sure hope Segovia and Velazquez soon find something common to talk about. Maybe the fact is that the language is dying and that they should start encouraging and teaching the next generation together. What's the main idea of the passage? An endangered language is spoken by only two people. Geography is the study of Earth and its climates. Scientists use it to study global warming and track the weather. Governments use it to learn where people live and work and to plan what to do with the land. It is now easier than ever to use geography because of a science called space technology. The United States launched its first satellite in 1958. Some space missions that followed were geographical studies. In fact, earth science is a big part of the work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Astronauts looked out of the space shuttle. They decided to take photographs of Earth from their vantage point. Over the years, picture quality improved. Shuttle photography now shows land features, such as rivers. It can even show the streets of large cities. Photos of the same places at different times show how the land is changing. NASA does not use just photographs, though. In 1958 it launched TIROS (the Television Infrared Observation Satellite). This first use of a satellite to study Earth was effective in giving weather forecasts. It led to the creation of new space tools to use in geography. The Landsat Program began in 1972. This satellite sent detailed views of Earth from space. The pictures were so precise that scientists could count the number and kinds of crops in a field. Landsat showed where Earth's surface had faults along which earthquakes might happen. This information helped in the planning of new cities and factories. Landsat also made discoveries. In Antarctica it located ranges of unknown mountains. It pinpointed small lakes in Virginia that were no ton maps. Landsat, now more advanced, still flies today. Another space tool is Earth Observing-1 (EO-1). This spacecraft flies right behind Landsat. It takes pictures of the same sites. The two sets of pictures, viewed together, show how cities grow and how other places, such as rain forests, become smaller over time. This helps scientists learn how people affect geography. One of the newest space tools is the Geographical Information Systems (GIS). GIS is computer software that helps scientists to study Earth. GIS is different from earlier space tools. Businesses, schools, and even average people -- not just the government --can use it to show them how changes in the planet might affect them. EO-1 takes photographs of the same places as Landsat because _ . the two groups of pictures can show the changes of Earth Mandara seemed to know something big was about to happen. So she let out a yell, caught hold of her 2-year-old daughter Kibibi and climbed up into a tree. She lives at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. And on Tuesday, August 23rd, witnesses say she seemed to sense the big earthquake that shook much of the East Coast before any humans knew what was going on. And she's not the only one. In the moments before the quake, an orangutan let out a loud call and then climbed to the top of her shelter. "It's very different from their normal call," said Brandie Smith, the zookeeper. "The lemurs (monkey-like animals of Madagascar) will sound an alarm call if they see or hear something highly unusual." But you can't see or hear an earthquake 15 minutes before it happens, can you? Maybe you can -- if you're an animal. "Animals can hear above and below our range of hearing," said Brandie Smith. "That's part of their special abilities. They're more sensitive to the environment, which is how they survive." Primates weren't the only animals that seemed to sense the quake before it happened. One of the elephants made a warning sound. And a huge lizard ran quickly for _ . The flamingoes (a kind of bird) gathered before the quake and stayed together until the shaking stopped. So what kind of vibrations were the animals picking up in the moments before the quake? Scientist Susan Hough says earthquakes produce two types of waves -- a weak "P" wave and then a much stronger "S" wave. The "P" stands for "primary". And the "S" stands for "secondary". She said she thinks the "P" wave might be what set the animals off. Not all the animals behaved unusually before the quake. For example, Smith says the zoo's giant pandas didn't jump up until the shaking actually began. But many of the other animals seemed to know something was coming before it happened. "I'm not surprised at all," Smith said. Why did Mandara act strangely one day? Because it sensed something unusual would happen.
Asia tops the OECD solving skills test QUESTION: Can you quickly learn to set a thermostat ? Don't look down upon such a task. It shows your ability to solve problems in creative ways, said the OECD . The OECD recently gave a problem-solving test to 85,000 students. They were all 15 years old, and from 44 countries. The test give each student four to eight everyday problems to solve. For example, they had to set a thermostat, and find the quickest way to a place. Students from Singapore and South Korea did the best job, said the OECD. They were quick learners, curious and able to solve problems that they were not familiar with. Students from Japan and China were also among the _ groups. They did a better job than those from countries like the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and France. Problem-solving skills are important, said the OECD. "Today's 15-year-olds with poor problem-solving will become tomorrow's adults struggling to find or keep a good job," said Andreas, acting director of Education and Skills at the OECD. "The world economy no longer pays you for what you know. Google knows everything .The world economy pays you for what you can do with what you know," he said. The students from _ performed best in the test. Answer: Children are children after all, and most of them speak their mind. When they are just toddlers , they are all lovely and lively. And it's so interesting to watch them speak like a grown-up. But as they grow, these same kids seem annoying and ill-mannered if they try to be a grown-up. Conflicts go between parents and children. It's hard to tell who are right and who are wrong. A child of 7-8 always finds some reasons to have a conflict with it's parents. Whether it is about some toy, studies, a party or a company, there is always a difference between them. And it becomes worse when they answer you back. Scientists tell us that children should be treated with care. Yes, sure they should respect their elders. We are partly responsible for this. At an early age we encourage children to behave like adults, just because we find it funny. The kids on the other hand consider this same behavior as normal and get used to it. And when it is not funny for us any more, we expect them to stop it, but by then it is already too late. Only when they reach a certain maturity will the children realize that answering back and being rude are not acceptable . Until then, most of the time their behavior is difficult to change, unless by force . And use of force is against the every good idea, as it weakens the child's confidence. So it is one thing to bring a child into this world but quite another to make them into well mannered citizens. The best way is to be a good example ourselves, as our children are the mirrors of us adults. Which is acceptable according to the passage? Answer: What fun the animals' party was! The zebras did a great job with the decorations.The lions and giraffes put together delicious food.No one knew music like the forest birds.The bears made clever posters to spread the news to all the animals. When the talent shows began, one of the monkeys hurried out to the dance floor.He was a dancing fool! The birds played some lively music.When the music stopped, the animals clapped and shouted.The monkey returned to his table.Friends gathered around to shake his hand and praised about his skills. The elephant saw all the attention the monkey was getting.He wanted some attention for himself."I can dance too," he told himself."I will show these animals what I can do!" The elephant hurried out to the dance floor.He started to dance.It was not pretty.The elephant knocked over the table that held the wine bowl! "Give up your dance!" a gorilla called. "What are you doing?" cried three frogs."Stop it!" The other animals shouted.They were sad about the elephant for making a mess! They chased him off the dance floor and away from the party. The bears shook their heads and said, "One should never try to be what one is not." What did the elephant learn? Answer: Most people will rest and relax when they are old. They do not work. And most people are certainly not famous. But Grandma Moses is different She starts a new job at the age of 76. This is her story. She was born in a poor farmer's family in 1860. Her parents named her Anna Mary Robertson. She married Thomas Moses in 1887. He was a farm worker. Now it is 1930. Anna Mary Moses is 70, and is a grandmother. She begins to paint pictures. She does paintings of country life. One day, her daughter takes her paintings to a store in town. Her paintings are put in the window. A man from New York sees the paintings in the window and buys them. And he wants more! The man likes Grandma Moses' paintings. He wants to help her. So he takes her paintings to galleries in New York City. Otto Kallir has a famous gallery there. He likes the paintings by Grandma Moses. Now it is 1940 and Grandma Moses' paintings are in Kallir's gallery. She is 80 years old. Grandma Moses suddenly becomes famous. Everyone wants her paintings. So she paints more and more. She wins many prizes for her paintings. She becomes famous in the United States and Europe . When she is 100 years old, the State of New York makes her birthday "Grandma Moses' Day". After her 100thbirthday, she paints 6 more paintings. She dies at age 101 and a lot of people think she is amazing. Grandma Moses' paintings are first bought by _ . Answer: Meals at the family dinner table could be the key to preventing a generation of teenage girls from developing eating disorders . New research shows girls who regularly have family meals are much less likely to adopt extreme weight-control behaviors such as vomiting, and using diet pills. The research, published in the international journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, surveyed students aged 13 to 17 in 2003 and followed them up five years later. Regular family meals were found to have a protective effect regardless of the age, weight, socioeconomic status, dieting habit or relationship with the family. Belinda Dalton, director of the eating disorder clinic The Oak House, said eating with family helped "normalize" young people's relationship with food. "When teens are feeling that they are not managing, they turn to something that they can control and food is something available and accessible for them to control. Clearly, if they are sitting with their family on a regular basis, then their family can be more in control of their eating," Ms Dalton said. "It's about young people feeling connected within their family, and _ builds self-esteem and a sense of worth and works very actively against someone developing an eating disorder. An eating disorder expert, Kirsty Greenwood, said meal times were often difficult for sufferers. "It's typical that they feel very ashamed of their eating habits and often won't eat with other people. Perhaps it's because they haven't experienced the important of the family meal while growing up," she said. The study found eating regular family meals made no difference to the future eating habits of boys. Which of following is NOT a benefit of regular family meals? Answer:
In a quiet house there was a dog named Bentley. Bentley was a little brown puppy and he was always getting into trouble. One day Bentley got outside and walked down the street. He found a trash can and started to dig through it. A cat came also to see what Bentley was doing. "Excuse me, but what are you looking for?" asked the cat. "Well, nothing important," Bentley told the cat. "I wanted to see if there was anything cool in there." The cat told Bentley that his name was Felix and asked if he could dig through the trash too. "Sure thing" Bentley told the cat. The two of them started to dig through the trash again. After a little bit the pair got bored and started to walk down the street going away from Bentley's house. They walked to a river and went to the edge of the water. They saw they were dirty because they had been digging in the trash so they went into the water to wash themselves. When they were clean they went back to Bentley's house. Inside the house they got water on everything because they were still wet. Bentley's human's came home and were very upset that their house was now very wet. What was the name of the cat Bentley met? Watching a child struggle to breathe during as asthma attack is frightening for any parent. So it is only natural that most moms and dads will try just about anything, including spending a lot of money -to keep an attack at bay. Trouble is, more than half of parents are trying strategies that simply do not work and wasting hundreds of dollars in the process. According to Dr. Machael Cabana, a pediatrician at the prefix = st1 /UniversityofMichigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, who led the study, one of the most common mistakes was to buy mattress cover to protect against dust mites for a child whose asthma instead was made by plant pollen . Many of those parents then neglected to do what would have helped a lot more; shut the windows to keep pollen out. Another was using a humidifier for a child who was allergic to dust mites; a humidifier tends to be a place where dust mites like to breed. With those allergies, a dehumidifier works better. Worst of all was the number of smokers with asthmatic children who didn't even try to quit or at least limit themselves to smoking outdoors rather than just moving to another room or the garage. Many smoking parents purchased expensive air filters that have what Cabana called " questionable utility. " Part of the problem, Dr. Caban and his colleagues believe, is that parents are bombarded by television ads that encourage them to buy products such as air and carpet fresheners, ionizers and other remedies that are often expensive but medically unnecessary. And doctors may not always take the time, or have the time, to explain to parents what will and won't work in their child's particular case. For example, allergies are usually a problem for older children with asthma, while kids 5 and younger more frequently have trouble with viral repiratory infections. So make sure you understand what the cause of your child's asthma really is. What can be inferred from the passage? Wind changes the surface of Earth. Which of these land formations is a result of transportation and deposition by wind? Potts sued Dobbs on a product liability claim. Louis testified for Potts. On cross-examination, which of the following questions is the trial judge most likely to rule improper? A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports. Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier of ice up to 12 metres thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer of water between glacier and the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what is happening today. Now airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe's biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane's engines, causing damage to the plane. The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp, glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them eating ash-covered grass or the sharp objects. how many passengers were forced to stay in the airport?
Are you concerned about your body image? These days, both women and men are surrounded by magazines and websites full of tips about dieting, exercise and fashion. Not to mention hairstyles! Gone are the days when all men had to think about was wearing a nice suit to be smart and handsome. Things have changed. Now, a survey by the University of the West of England(UWE) has suggested that 80% of men confess to being unhappy about their body. The biggest body issues for them were beer bellies and lack of muscles. Some think this sudden vanity is due to the pressure or influence of role models we see on TV and in magazines. People end up with a perception of what the perfect body should look like. But not everybody wants to put in the effort to have perfect pecs and dazzling white teeth like Arnold Schwarzenegger. An opportunistic entrepreneur has even invented a muscle-enhancing shirt to be worn under a man's clothes to make him look more of a hunk. But Joe Warner, the former editor of Men's Fitness magazine in the UK, thinks the padded shirt is just a gimmick. He thinks many people in the country are obese, or overweight, and should accept they need to do more exercise. Warner says: "I think it's a real shame people still want shortcuts when it doesn't take an awful lot of effort to get to the gym or go for a walk." Exercise is always a good thing. But we mustn't forget that beauty is only skin deep. Character is more important than appearance. So before I head off to the pub, it might be worth spending an hour at the gym. I'm not looking to get a six-pack , but looking healthier would certainly improve my confidence and self-esteem. What about you: how much do you worry about your physique? From the survey by UWE, we can know 80% of men _ . are not satisfied with their body image The crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy center caused by the terrible earthquake has raised questions about the future of the nuclear energy industry. Arjun is president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in the United States. He says the disaster in Japan is historic. This week, the chairman of America's nuclear agency said there is little chance that harmful radiation from Japan could reach the United States. Gregory also said America has a strong program in place to deal with earthquake threats. No new nuclear power centers have been built in the United States since 1979. That was when America's worst nuclear accident happened at the Three Mile Island center in Pennsylvania. The accident began to turn public opinion against nuclear energy. At present, about twenty percent of electricity in the United States comes from nuclear energy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would close seven nuclear power centers for the time being while energy policy is reconsidered. The European Union is planning to test all centers in its twenty-seven member nations. Developing nations are less willing to slow down the development of nuclear. China says it will continue with plans to build about twenty-five new nuclear reactors . And India, under a cooperation agreement with the United States, plans to spend billions on new centers in the coming years. Nuclear reactors supply fourteen percent of global electricity. Nuclear energy is a clean resource, producing no carbon gases. But radioactive waste is a serious problem to be solved. So is the presence of nuclear power centers in earthquake areas like the one near Bushehr, lran. How does the author seem to feel about the future of nuclear energy? Worried. Below is a discussion on http://www.TalkingPoints.com/. Stuck on a desert island? Started on 23rd April by Steve Posts 1 - 7 of 42 Post 1 Steve USA Hi, everyone. What would you miss most and least if you were stuck on a desert island? For me, it would be the changing seasons in New England. I guess this will sound stupid but I'd probably miss the rain, too. I would not miss getting up at six every day to go to work, though! What about you? Post 2 Tomas Germany Good question. Steve, I think I'd miss different types of bread, and shopping at the supermarket. I'd miss the food most. What would I miss least? My mobile phone---I'd like to be completely quiet --- at least for a little while Post 3 Paola Italy I would miss the company of people because I know I'd like to have someone to share experiences with. I'd go mad on my own. And I sure would not miss junk mail--- I hate coming home every evening and a pile of junk mail in my post box. Post 4 Miko Japan Hi, I would miss Manga cartoon, the internet and Japanese food, like sushi. I'd also miss TV shows and shopping for clothes... In fact, I'd miss everything. Post 5 Roger UK I would miss my daily newspaper and listening to the news on TV and radio. I'd feel very cut off if I didn't know what was happening in the world. What I'd miss least would be traffic jams in the city, particularly my journey to work. Past 6 Jayne Why hasn't anyone mentioned their family? I'd be lost without my husband and two kids. They're the most important for me. And I can't get started in the morning without a cup of black coffee. I wouldn't miss doing the housework! Post 7 Jaime Mexico It would have to be music. I couldn't live without my music. I wouldn't miss going to school at all or doing homework! Who would miss his or her family most? Jayne Rose usually wakes up early in the morning. She always has her breakfast at half past six. She leaves home at about seven o'clock.. She is never late for school. She has many classes in the morning. At about twelve fifteen, she comes back for lunch. In the afternoon, she isn't so busy. After school she does her homework and plays with other children. In the evening, her parents come back from the factory. The family has supper together. After that, they usually read newspaper or listen to the radio for a little time. Sometimes, they watch TV. Rose goes to bed at half past nine. But her father often works late at night. Rose often goes to school at _ . seven o'clock A load of earth and stone that folds upon itself repeatedly could be considered a range
Blackbird A good sign Paradise Magic Seeing a blackbird for most is a good sign. It can also mean shyness and insecurity, which directly means a lack of self-confidence. The color black, as we know, is connected with supernatural power. Bluebird The arrival of spring Hard work Joy Bluebirds are connected with joy, and they most often mean a happy condition or good news coming your way. They may also refer to the hope of an individual for their inner child, which means innocence . Bluejay Fearless Truthful Talkative A bluejay can mean being faithful to others. Seeing a bluejay either in its natural habitat or in your dreams could also send across a message to develop an innate talent. Canary Joy Freedom Intellectual development Canaries are happy birds that spread joy and a sense of well-being. For some, a flying canary can be a sign of the spread of unwanted information. It can also mean that you are the cause of the gossip as an individual. A canary is also a symbol of selflessness. Which bird can be a sign that someone is not confident? Angus MacLeod was fifty and he had spent his entire life as a shepherd in the remote mountainous region of northwest Scotland. He had never owned a radio or television nor had he travelled further than forty kilometres from his birthplace. His knowledge of the world was gained only from his brief trips to the village to sell his sheep and buy food. However, he had lately come to rely on the growing number of hill-walkers in the region as sources of international news. In the spring of 1992, a Spanish student came across Angus high in the mountains. Eager to practise his English he engaged Angus in conversation. The student told Angus of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Barcelona. Excited by the student's colourful description of Spain and the Games, Angus decided to attend the event in person and two months later arrived in Barcelona. The ticketless Angus stood outside the stadium with his canny brain working overtime, watching a growing number of individuals entering the stadium through a small entrance at the side. He noticed that they all seemed to be carrying objects. Perhaps they were workmen, he thought. He moved closer and watched. Within minutes a thin young man came along carrying an extremely long pole. He approached the official at the door and said "Pole Vault". The official moved to the side and the man entered. Next came a heavy-set man with a spear. Angus wondered how a man could carry such a dangerous weapon in a modern city. The man shouted " Javelin " and was presently admitted. Angus was puzzled. Perhaps they were all connected with security. His puzzlement grew when a huge man appeared with a steel ball in his hand. He shouted "Shot Putt" and walked past the official. It suddenly dawned on Angus that these people were competitors. He opened his programme and sure enough under the heading "events" he saw the three words the men had said. Angus laughed to himself as a plan began to take shape in his mind. First he needed to buy one or two things. An hour later he reappeared dressed in a tracksuit with "Scotland" written across the chest. Over his shoulder he carried a roll of barbed wire . Smiling to himself he walked up to the official and as casually as he could, shouted, "Fencing!" Which was Angus' new way of getting information about the outside world? if a person gets some fruit wine for a gift, how can they measure its volume? The United States does not require business to pay workers who are sick or caring for a new baby. President Obama and some other U.S. lawmakers want to change time-off policies. Supporters say paid leave is the right thing to do. Opponents say it will kill economic growth. In 2014, the United Nations reported that Papua New Guinea and the U.S. are the only two -- out of 185 -- countries in the world that do not offer workers paid time off to care for newborns. However, several state governments and some private businesses in the U.S. have provided the benefits for their workers. Not every American agrees that requiring businesses to pay workers for leave is a good idea. Tricia Baldwin is a business woman. She is secretary and treasurer for her family's company. Her company employs 400 workers. She says giving all of them paid leave would ruin her company. Instead, Reliable Contracting gives paid leave to employees who have stayed with the company for at least five years. She says paid leave is simply another government order that adds more costs to doing business. President Obama supports paid leave for workers. Recently, he proposed a measure called the Healthy Family Act. It would allow workers to earn up to seven paid days of sick leave a year to care for themselves or family members. Mr. Obama also wants Congress to approve a measure giving all workers six weeks of paid leave to have and care for a new baby. U.S. lawmakers who support the proposed measure say paid leave is good for the families and for businesses. Representative Don Beyer says paid leave is an encouragement to parents to return to the job. Mr. Beyer says training a new employee can cost a company a year's worth of income. But U.S. lawmakers who oppose the bill say they do not want to restrict businesses by requiring them to provide paid leave. They are offering a different measure. The Working Families Flexibility Act would allow employees to work extra hours and earn either time off or more pay. If a woman in the U.S left to care for her newborn baby, she _ . Rush hour traffic is a problem in many big cities around the world. Commuters rush to and from their jobs in cars, buses, subways, trains, and even on bicycles. Large cities in the United States have two rush hours--one in the morning and one in the evening. But in cities in other parts of the world, there are four rush hours. In Athens and Rome, for example, many workers go home for lunch and a nap. After this midday break, they rush back to their jobs and work for a few more hours. In Tokyo, there's a big rush hour underground. Most of the people in Tokyo take the subways. The trains are very crowded. Subway employees called packers wear white gloves and help pack the commuters into the trains when the doors close. They make sure that all purses, briefcases, clothes, and hands are inside the trains. In Seoul, many commuters prefer to take taxis to get to work.. To hail a cab,many people stand at crossroads and raise two fingers. This means they'll pay the cab driver double the usual fare. Some people even raise three fingers! They'll pay three times the normal rate. Streets in Rome are very crowded with automobiles and mopeds during rush hours. The city can't make its streets wider, and it can't build new highways, because it doesn't want to disturb the many historic sites in the city, such as the Forum and the Coliseum. It took the city fifteen years to construct a new subway system. Construction had to stop every time workers found old artifacts and discovered places of interest to archaeologists . In many big cities, there are special lanes on highways for carpools. These are groups of three or more people who drive to and from work together. They share the costs of gas and parking and take turns driving into the city. Getting to work and getting home can be difficult in many places around the world. Rush hour traffic seems to be a universal problem. Most of the commuters in Tokyo _
The predictability of our death rates is something that has long puzzled social scientists. After all, there is no natural reason why 2,500 people should accidentally shoot themselves each year or why 7,000 should drown or 55,000 die in their cars. No one establishes a quota for each type of death. It just happens that they follow a consistent pattern year after year. A few years ago a Canadian psychologist named Gerald Wilde became interested in this phenomenon. He noticed that mortality rates for violent and accidental deaths throughout the Western world have remained strangely static throughout the whole of the century, despite all the technological advances and increases in safety standards that have happened in that time. Wilde developed an interesting theory called "risk homeostasis". According to this theory, people naturally live with a certain level of risk. When something is made safer, people will get around the measure in some way to get back to the original level of danger. If, for instance, they are required to wear seat belts, they will feel safer and thus will drive a little faster and a little more recklessly, thereby statistically canceling out the benefits that the seat belt offers. Other studies have shown that where a crossing is made safer, the accident rate invariably falls there but rises elsewhere along the same stretch of road as if making up for the drop. It appears, then, that we have an inborn need for danger. In all events, it is becoming clearer and clearer to scientists that the factors influencing our lifespan are far more subtle and complex than had been previously thought. It now appears that if you wish to live a long life, it isn't simply a matter of paying attention to certain precautions such as eating the right foods, not smoking, and driving with care. You must also have the right attitude. Scientists at the Duke University Medical Center made a 15-year study of 500 persons personalities and found, somewhat to their surprise, that people with a suspicious or mistrustful nature die prematurely far more often than people with a sunny disposition. Looking on the bright side, it seems, can add years to your life span. According to the theory of "risk homeostasis", some traffic accidents result from _ . A our inborn desire for risk B our fast and reckless driving C our ignorance of seat belt benefits D our instinctive interest in speeding Answer: A For thousands of years, people have lived with dogs. Ancient paintings on the walls of caves show people living with dogs. Almost a third of the homes in the United States and England have dogs, and these dogs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The largest dog in the world was a dog named Zorba. When Zorba, a _ , was seven years old in 1989, he was 94 centimeters (37 inches) tall. In other words, Zorba was more than half as tall as an adult man. At his largest, Zorba weighed more than a heavy weight boxer at 156 kilograms(343 pounds). In comparison, the smallest bog was a Yorkshire terrier from England. This dog was only the size of a matchbox, measuring 7.1 centimeters(2.8 inches) tall and 9.5 centimeters (3.75 inches) from nose to tail. It weighed about half as much as a common book, and even a young child could easily pick it up with one hand. It passed away in 1945 when it was only two years old. Some dogs are wonderful, not for their sizes, but for their brains. One incredible dog is Endal, the companion of a man named Allen Parton who has used a wheelchair since a car accident in 1991. In 2001, Parton was hit by a car while crossing a road with Endal, and thrown out of his chair. Endal quickly moved Parton into the recovery place, covered him with a blanket , and pushed his mobile phone close enough for him to reach. Then, once he saw that Parton was all right, Endal ran back and forth to a nearby hotel, barking until people came out to help. Endal was rewarded for his bravery by being awarded a medal, and he has been the subject of a number of TV documentaries. Why do people have dogs as pets? A Dogs used to live in caves. B Dogs are easy to be taken care of. C Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. D The passage doesn't tell us about it . Answer: D A city in South Korea has added a new attraction to its cultural landscape --the world's first "Toilet Theme Park". The Restroom Cultural Park in the city of Suwon is proving a huge hit with locals and tourists alike. The park was built to memorize the former city mayor Sim Jae-duck, known as "Mr. Toilet". He believed the toilet is a very important place and full of culture. Visitors to the park can enjoy its toilet- bowl- shaped exhibition hall as well as lots of bronze statues in all kinds of toilet positions. They can even sit on Mr. Kim's original toilet, which includes a full-length glass door that mists up when it is being used. Suwon has become well known because of the promotion of toilet culture. The city attracts toilet- related artwork from around the world to its galleries. It famously hosts the Golden Poop Art Festival- a celebration of one of the calls of nature. The city also lists lots of its own public toilets as tourist attractions on its website. Sim Jae-duck's toilet-shaped house, now a museum, should be the must-see for _ . It's said that Mr. Sim was born in the loo of his mother's house, so he loved toilets very much. He said in 2007, "The toilet can save humankind from diseases and is a place for introspection . The toilet is also a central living place that has culture." Where do reports say Sim Jae-duck was born? A In a toilet- shaped bed. B In the WC of his mother's house. C In a public toilet in Suwon. D In a hospital toilet. Answer: B Which of the following would likely reduce pollution the most? A using a truck instead of a car B using a car instead of the bus C using a motorcycle instead of a bike D using a bicycle instead of a motorcycle Answer: D Fran, who was driving at an excessive speed, applied her brakes to stop at a traffic light. Due to damp, fallen leaves, her car skidded and came to a halt perpendicular to the roadway. Sid, who was also driving at an excessive speed and was immediately behind Fran, saw Fran's car perpendicular to the roadway. Although Sid had sufficient distance to come to a slow, controlled stop, he decided not to slow down but, rather, to swerve to the left in an effort to go around Fran's car. Due to oncoming traffic, the space was insufficient and Sid's car collided with Fran's car, severely injuring Fran. Fran filed a personal injury action against Sid in a jurisdiction in which contributory negligence is a bar to recovery. Will Fran prevail? A Yes, if the jury finds that Sid was more than 50% at fault. B Yes, if the jury finds that Sid had the last clear chance. C No, if the jury finds that Fran's conduct was in any way a legal cause of the accident. D No, if the jury finds that, in speeding, Fran assumed the risk. Answer: B
If I raised the question, "What would be the last thing you would expect to happen while watching your son's flag football game?" you probably still couldn't come up with what happened to me and my family. As we were sitting on the sidelines enjoying the game, a low-flying bird came swooping in attempting to land on my daughter's head! It honestly came out of nowhere. We were seated by ourselves on the tree lined side of the field. I was able to calm my daughter's shock and fear once I showed her that the bird was not some wild animal, it was in fact, somebody's pet! Now, we're sitting at the outdoor fields of the Pontiac Silverdome, far from any populated area, wondering where this very social cockatiel, an Australian parrot could have come from. I walked up to the bird and put out my hand. Immediately, it hopped on and chirped in a friendly way. We looked around us and knew that we could not just leave and suppose that the bird would return to where it came from. This was a very bird that needed help or it would not survive. The flag football game had ended so we walked the bird over to other groups of adults and asked if they knew of anyone who had lost a bird. All the kids were excited about the bird and fed it with some post game snacks. The bird's nails were getting long and he was looking pretty dirty, so we knew it had been out here for a long time and was hungry. Since its wings were clipped, it could fly a little but probably not more than 100 yards or so at a try. We all just scratched our heads as a group wondering what to do with the lost bird. We explained to the kids that this bird needed our help since it was someone's pet and would not know how to get its own food, and it could not fly well since its wings were clipped. The kids understood, and all of them wanted to take the bird home! The parents however, knew this was not a good choice as one had a large dog, another two cats, etc. We explained to the kids that one of us could take the bird home for the night and then bring it to the Humane Society in the morning in hopes to connect it to its owners. We couldn't keep the bird. It wasn't ours. This was tough for the kids to understand at first. We couldn't just leave the bird either. There was no way it could attend itself. The group of us sat around the Silverdome practice fields for quite a while trying to determine the best course of choice for the lost bird. It was getting dark out but no one was willing to leave that parking lot until we had a game plan for how to help the bird. The owner of the football league, Chris Novak, offered to take the bird. It was extremely nice of him and he really stepped in to help while all the rest of us who had kids tugging on our shirts and begging to take it home. We took a box and put a bunch of holes in it and he brought it home for the night. Another mom went online and found a family that had lost a bird that looked just like the one we'd found. She emailed the info to Chris who got in touch with the family and the next day, reunited the bird with the family that lost it almost 3 weeks earlier! When Chris emailed us to let us know, we could not believe that this bird had traveled from The Rochester Tienken area all the way to the Silverdome! We were so happy to be able to save this bird and get it back to its family. I showed my kids the email about how the other family got their pet back. The family has 3 kids who were so happy to see their bird. My kids realized what a nice ending this story had. Not only had we been able to save this bird's life, but we were able to bring it back to the family that loves and misses him. The life lesson in the missing bird story seemed to miss its mark with my kids at first. They were a little bummed out that they couldn't keep the lost bird. I explained to them that when an animal or someone needs help, you just can't turn a blind eye and hope everything works out OK. The "lost bird incident" was also a reminder to them that teamwork and the kindness of strangers can make a world of difference and that a group of well-meaning strangers can work together to help someone. It wasn't a heroic act, but one that I knew had sunk in with my kids when they realized that trying to help was the best and only real course of action. What did the author want to tell in the text? Answer: Though war is something people hate, Director Feng Xiaoning often exposes his audience to it. "If we don't impress the audience, who are without the painful experience of war, with the cruel injury to life and human nature war causes, how can we bring them a love of peace and objection to war?" asked the director with a glance in his eyes. After Red River Valley and Lover's Grief over the Yellow River, both of which star Chinese model and actress Ning Jing, Feng drew a satisfactory full stop to his war trilogy last month with Purple Sunset. The film tells a story which took place in 1945, at the very moment when World War II was drawing to an end. A Chinese peasant and a Soviet woman soldier flee into a forest, where they seize a Japanese girl. They follow the girl in the hope that she will take them out of the forest, but instead they arrive in a Japanese base. Humanity prevents them from killing the young, innocent victim of Japanese militarism. This humanity, the longing for peace and eagerness to survive, make the three unite. "If people are touched by justice, tolerance and unselfishness, I think I have achieved my goal," Feng said. Feng admits that there are violent and bloody scenes in the film, such as tanks fighting and Japanese burning Chinese people alive, to show the cruelty of the war. But that's never his personal preference, he says. "Everyone who has watched my films can tell how much I hate war," he said. "I wrote all the things for my war films by myself. Whenever I finished one, I felt as though I had suffered great pain." Feng regards every one of his productions as an opportunity to learn about human nature and humanity. In spite of violent scenes which frighten and sicken the audience, a balance is sought with beautiful scenery. Just like the snowy mountains in Red River Valley and the grand plateau in Lover's Grief over the Yellow River, a beautiful vast grassland appears in this film. "I used to study art, and I appreciate beautiful things," Feng said. "I believe that films should offer the audience a chance to enjoy beauty." Scenes of Japanese burning Chinese people alive in the film are to _ . Answer: In every country, there are thousands of people who want to help out. Many join organizations run by their governments, for example, the Peace Corps in the United States and Voluntary Service Overseas in Britain. Since the powerful earthquake took place in Sichuan, more than 200 thousand volunteers across China have been helping there! They do all kinds of work or come up with ways to help improve life. Some offer their professional skills for free. Others have no qualifications , but they love to work hard to help. One of the most famous volunteers in the world was Mother Teresa. She could be the best volunteer because she gave her life to helping the poorest people of Calcutta. She helped the homeless, cared for the sick, gave out food, and became the mother of those without families. Now more and more teenagers actively look for volunteering opportunities, too. They volunteer because they think it will be fun or they will learn something. They also like the idea of being helpful to others, even if it is just handing out books for the teacher. As they get older, these reasons are still the same, but there are other important reasons for volunteering such as learning on-the-job, getting work experience, and improving their social life. All volunteers bring joy to the people they help in so many ways. They might read books to the blind, fix up broken homes, find ways to get water for villages. Could you be a volunteer? What kind of volunteer work could you do? There is someone in the world who needs you. The Peace Corps is _ in the United States. Answer: My parents always raised me to have strong values and hold firm to my confidence in life, and this was never more proved than when a situation arose when it would be easy for most people to ignore it. A gentleman at my father's work smelled awful and neglected his behavior, and as the months went by, he showed signs of confusion. After being told to pick up papers at another building, he would be found sitting at his desk staring at his shoes; after being reminded (to which he would completely believe he hadn't been told the first time), he would be found once again sitting at his desk in the same position. This happened to worsening degrees over a few months and his coworkers either ignored it or were ignorant to this due to a lack of social association with the man. My father began to mentally record all of this and finally sat down with him one day when he was found two hours after work was out, sitting in his car, looking like he didn't know where to go. Apparently the gentleman was in the beginning/middle stages of Alzheimer's and there was someone who used his forgetfulness as a reason to ask him for money every few days. My father took this man to a hospital (for the first time in years) to be properly treated, and then got a caretaker to watch over his condition. He then went to the man's house and helped him sort out all of his financial matters and get his retirement set up; they went to the bank and had a government worker ensure that his bills would be paid for and his children would no longer get to treat him like a personal ATM. That my father took his much personal time to help another man that so many had forgotten or would choose to neglect, or even make fun of, truly shows his character. In the eyes of the author, his father is _ . Answer: A new generation addiction is quickly spreading all over the world. Weboholism , a twentieth century disease, affects people from different ages. They surf the net, use e-mail and speak in chat rooms. They spend many hours on the computer, and it becomes a compulsive habit. They cannot stop, and it affects their lives. Ten years ago, no one thought that using computers could become compulsive behavior that could affect the social and physical life of computer users. This _ behavior has affected teenagers and college students. They are likely to log on computers and spend long hours at different websites. They become hooked on computers and gradually their social and school life is affected by this situation. They spend all free time surfing and don't concentrate on homework, so this addiction influences their grades and success at schools. Because they can find everything on the websites, they hang out there. Moreover, this addiction to websites influences their social life. They spend more time in front of computers than with their friends. The relation with their friends changes. The virtual life becomes more important than their real life. They have a new language that they speak in the chat rooms and it causes cultural changes in society. Because of the change in their behavior, they begin to isolate( themselves from the society and live with their virtual friends. They share their emotions and feelings with friends who they have never met in their life. Although they feel confident on the computer, they are not confident with real live friends they have known all their life. It is a problem for the future. This addictive behavior is beginning to affect the whole world. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer:
It's common for parents to feel emotional when the moment comes for their child to leave home and go to university. Even parents who don't speak about the event are likely to feel a sense of sadness because it's the end of an era where you and your family were at the centre of your child's world. As a parent you'll probably continue to support your child in different ways, but the main job of raising your child is over. It's a huge change for everyone involved. There are a few things that you can do to make the transition easier. Plan carefully for your child's departure and think about how you can help. Many parents take their child to university for the first time. If you decide to do that, be ready to feel a real wrench when the time comes to say goodbye. Your child will probably be as nervous as you are about the moment when you finally say goodbye - but that might not show! Be positive and cheerful about the choice your child has made to continue studying, and plan to leave once you've unpacked the car and looked around your child's new living accommodations. If you can, save your tears for the car - you'll make things easier on your child and yourself. The more you've invested in being a parent, the more you'll feel a sense of loss, so the sadness you feel now is a sign that you've been a good mom or dad. Remind yourself that parenting is all about raising an independent and confident child who functions well without you. If your child quickly settles and starts enjoying himself, you should congratulate yourself. It's also only fair to allow yourself some time to grieve . Don't expect to pick yourself up and move on straight away. But you may decide to find a hobby or sport to fill your extra time. Perhaps you've always wanted to learn a new language, go to yoga classes or take up swimming. You may decide to spend more time with family and close friends, who are likely to be feeling the absence of your child as well. Agree on the best approach to staying in touch before your child leaves, and stick to your agreement. Try not to panic if your child doesn't respond immediately - remember, they're starting a new and busy life.. What would be an appropriate title for the whole passage? Answer: Margaret Bourke-White was one of the leading news reporters of the 20th century. But she did not write news. She told her stories with a camera. Margaret Bourke-White began her career as an industrial photographer in the early 1930s. In 1936, she accepted the American publisher Henry Luce's invitation and went to his magazine, called Life, and later another magazine called Fortune. In the 1930s, Margaret Bourke-White met the American writer Erskine Caldwell. They decided to produce a book about poor country people of the South. They traveled through eight states. Their book, You Have Seen Their Faces, was published in 1937. It was a great success. In 1938, some countries in Europe were close to war. Margaret Bourke-White and Caldwell went there to report on these events. The next year they got married. During the World War Two, she became an official photographer with the United States Army. Her photographs were to be used jointly by the military and by Life magazine. She was the first woman to be permitted to work at the front during World War Two. After the war, she went to India and took a famous photograph of Mohandas Gandhi called "Gandhi at His Spinning Wheel". She was the last person to photograph Gandhi before he was murdered in 1948. Often, Margaret Bourke-White was not satisfied with what she had done. She would look at her pictures and see something she had failed to do, or something she had not done right. Reaching perfection was not easy. Many things got in the way of her work. She said, "There is only one moment when a picture is there. And a moment later, it is gone forever. My memory is full of those pictures that were lost." Margaret Bourke-White married Erskine Caldwell _ . Answer: Our brains work in complex and strange ways. There are some people who can calculate the day of the week for any given date in 40,000 years, but who cannot add two plus two. Others can perform complex classical piano pieces after hearing them once, but they cannot read or write. Dr. J. Langdon Down first described this condition in 1887. He called these people idiot savants. An idiot savant is a person who has significant mental injury, such as in autism or retardation. At the same time, the person also exhibits some extraordinary skills, which are unusual for most people. The skills of the savant may vary from being exceptionally gifted in music or in mathematics, or having a photographic memory. One of the first descriptions of a human who could calculate quickly was written in 1789 by Dr. Benjamin Rush, an American doctor. His patient, Thomas Fuller, was brought to Virginia as a slave in 1724. It took Thomas only 90 seconds to work out that a man who has lived 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours has lived 2,210,500,800 seconds. Despite this ability, he died in 1790 without ever learning to read or write. Another idiot savant slave became famous as a pianist in the 1860s. Blind Tom had a vocabulary of only 100 words, but he played 5,000 musical pieces beautifully. In the excellent movie Rain Man, made in 1988 and available on video cassette, Dustin Hoffman plays an idiot savant who amazes his brother played by Tom Cruise, with his ability to perform complex calculations very rapidly. Today we more clearly recognize that the idiot savant is special because of brain impairment. Yet not all brain injury leads to savant skills. Some studies have shown that people who have purposeful interruption of the left side of the brain can develop idiot savant skills. However few people wish to participate in such experiments. There are many excellent reasons for not undergoing unnecessary experimentation on one's brain. The term idiot savant is outdated and inappropriate. Virtually all savants have a high degree of intelligence and are thus not idiots. Which of the following can be done by Rain Man? Answer: Editors/Designers Wanted China Daily,a national English newspaper,is looking for English language senior editors/designers. Senior Business Editor You must: * assist the Business editor in setting goals and working on achieving them; * be an excellent team person who can come up with ideas and think creatively,be able to rewrite totally if needed and advise junior workers; * be working or have worked in a leading position and understand what leadership means; * have had at least five years' editing experience and be familiar with industry software. Business Copy-editor You must: * work on shifts in the Business Desk and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; * edit or rewrite copy and give brief headlines and captions ; * have had at least two years' editing experience and be familiar with industry software. Copy-editor You must: * be good at editing or rewriting copy and writing brief headlines and captions; * be able to work on shifts for different pages, and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; * have two years of editing experience and be familiar with industry software. Senior Graphic Designer Yon must: * have excellent skills in information graphics; * be good with illustrations and freehand drawings; * be experienced in newspaper or magazine designs; * have a good sense of typography ; * have good news judgment. If hired,you will be offered a competitive salary package,a room with furniture paid for,90 percent medical reimbursement ,seven days of paid leave,11 public holidays and a return ticket to your native land. According to the advertisement _ is a must for all the four jobs. Answer: This is a story about a boy called Sparky. For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He got a zero in physics. It made him the worst physics student in the school's history. He didn't do much better in sports. Although he tried to join the school's golf team, he quickly lost the only important match. He didn't have friends, either. Other kids didn't care about him. If a classmate said "Hello" to Sparky outside of school, he would feel very surprised. Sparky was a loser and everyone knew it. So he accepted it. But one thing was important to Sparky---drawing. He was proud of his artwork. In senior high school, he sent some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook but he was refused. Sparky was hurt. But he didn't lose hope because he believed in his ability and he _ . He decided to become a professional artist. He wrote a letter to the Walt Disney Studios after graduating from high school. The studio asked him to draw some cartoons on a certain subject. Sparky spent a lot of time on the cartoons. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios: they aren't like cartoons. Was it time to stop drawing? Sparky didn't think so. He started to put his own life in the cartoons. He created his childhood self----a little boy loser: Charlie Brown. He wasn't good at football.But Charlie Brown would soon become famous worldwide. Sparky, the boy who used to fail in school and who was refused again and again, was Charles Schulz. He created the Peanuts comic strip and the world-famous cartoon characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Which of the following about Sparky is true? Answer:
Question: Penguins live together,but each pair has a little piece of ground of their own.When a penguin wants to walk through its neighbor's ground,it must ask permission.If it does not do that,it will have to fight.Most of the time,penguins live on the water.They eat shell fish and look after their children carefully. All penguins are good parents--the male penguins are perhaps the best parents in the world. They walk in the sea in the middle of the dark Antarctic water. They choose their wives in the dark.They can only hear them--not see them.Then the female penguins lay their eggs and go away for about two months.The males take care of the eggs.If the eggs get cold,there will be no chicks.There is no food.The snow falls heavily and the wind blows strongly--sometimes at 150 kilometers an hour.The penguins do not move.When the females return from the sea,they will not remember their husbands.It does not matter.Only one thing matters--the eggs.Male penguins never fight--unless a penguin leaves a chick for a minute.They then fight because they all want it.They are strange and wonderful birds. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Female penguins take care of the eggs. B. Female penguins often have their new husbands. C. Male penguins use their ears to choose wives. D. Male penguins don't move when they take care of eggs,even though the wind often blows strongly. Answer: A. Female penguins take care of the eggs. Question: We each have a memory. That's why we can still remember things after a long time. Some people have very good memories and they can easily learn many things by heart, but some people can only remember things when they say or do them again and again. Many of the great men of the world have got surprising memories. A good memory is a great help in learning languages. Everybody learns his mother language when he is a small child. He hears the sounds, remembers them and then he learns to speak. Some children are living with their parents in foreign countries. They can learn two languages as easily as one because they hear, remember and speak two languages every day. In school it is not so easy to learn a foreign language because the pupils have so little time for it, and they are busy with other subjects, too. But your memory will become better and better when you do more and more exercises Before a child can speak, he must _ . A. make sentences B. think hard C. hear and remember the sounds D. eat all kinds of delicious food there Answer: C. hear and remember the sounds Question: The famous car Rolls-Royce has been largely hand-made and always one of the most expensive cars on the market. In fact, Rolls-Royce is made up of two men's names, Charles S. Rolls and Henry Royce. They came from very different backgrounds, received very different educations and when they met; their careers were going in very different directions. In 1903, Royce bought a second-hand France Decauville car. He found the car unreliable, difficult to start and overheated. Royce decided he could do better himself and set about building two-cylinder car of his own design. The first of these, built almost completely by Royce himself, was a success in almost every way: it started easily, ran smoothly and was very reliable. It never failed to impress everyone who saw it rode in the car, including Rolls. While he was a university student at Cambridge, Rolls acquired a French Peugeot. It was the first automobile seen at Cambridge and by the time Rolls finished his studies, he was probably the most skilled driver in Britain. In 1902, Rolls went into the business of selling cars and became a leading automobile . He was looking for a British car to market when he was told that Henry Royce had designed and built a two-cylinder automobile. In 1904, Royce and Rolls joined together to build and sell motor car. They combined their talents--Royce the engineer and Rolls the salesman and businessman. And, just two years later, the partnership produced the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a milestone car acclaimed by many by the time as the " best in the world". Over the years the automaker built a legendary reputation. The Rolls-Royce is expensive for its _ . A. procedure B. engine C. function D. impression Answer: A. procedure Question: Phil Donahue,the former television talk show host,had something of a reputation for giving clergy a hard time,and he has said the reason he's that way is that he has little respect for them.Most clergy will do anything for some media attention,he says.In his autobiography ,however, he tells about an encounter with a minister who was different.It happened while Donahue was a young television reporter in Ohio,and one day he was sent to West Virginia in the bitter cold winter to cover a mine disaster.He went by himself in a battered little car, carrying a mini camera to film the story. It was so cold when he got there,however, the camera wouldn't work.So he put it inside his coat to warm it up enough to run.In the meantime,the families of the trapped miners were gathered around.The),were just simple mining people--women,old men,and children.Several of the trapped men were fathers. Then the local minister arrived.He was tall and thin,and he didn't speak well at a11.But he gathered all the families around in a circle,and the held one another in their arms while he prayed for them. As this was going on,Donahue was still trying to get his camera to work,and he was extremely disappointed because he couldn't film the scene.Finally,after the prayer was over,Donahue managed to get his camera operating.So he told the minister he had his camera working now and asked if the minister would please do the prayer again so he could film it for the evening news. This simple West Virginia preacher, however,told Donahue,"Young man,we don't pray for the news.I'm sorry,but we've already prayed,and I will not pose." To this day,Donahue remembers that minister with respect.You don't forget that kind of character,no matter who you are or what you believe. What's the main idea of the passage? A. The clergy are having a hard time. B. Praying saved the trapped miners. C. A minister who gains Donahue's respect. D. A mine disaster happened in Virginia. Answer: C. A minister who gains Donahue's respect. Question: Like most cultures around the world, the Zulu people of Africa tell stories that have animals as heroes. These stories are meant to have fun, but they are also used to teach important lessons to children. This is one of those stories. One hot afternoon, Jackal was walking along the rocky road sniffing the ground. He was hoping to smell a mouse or a lizard , or something else that would be good to eat. He was so much lost in sniffing that he wasn't really paying attention to what was around himself. Suddenly, Jackal looked up to see his neighbor, Lion, walking straight toward him. He did not have enough time to run way. Jackal had played many tricks on Lion over the years, so he knew he would be in trouble if he was caught. Jackal needed to think of something quickly. "Help! Help!" cried Jackal as he quickly jumped upon a large rock hanging over the road. "The rocks are falling down, and I can't hold them much longer. We shall both be crushed if you do not do your best to hold these rocks back, Lion" At once, Lion pushed his strong shoulder against the rocks to keep them from moving any further. "I'll just run over here to get something to stop the rocks." shouted Jackal as he ran way to safety. Lion stayed _ against the unmoving rocks for quite a long time before he realized that Jackal had tricked him yet again! Which words can describe Jackal's characteristics? A. selfish and stubborn B. silly and unkind C. clever and creative D. impolite and dishonest Answer: C. clever and creative
Question: Are there fastest ways to lose weight? Yes, there are! This is no magic trick or miracle. It just needs sensible actions. Drink water No, you don't have to fill up like a tub, but ensure that you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Don't substitute for juice. With adequate water intake your body will be able to metabolize fat more effectively. And if you have a glass of water 10-15 minutes before your meal, you will feel full once you start eating. Another fun fact, did you know that you can lose 62 calories by drinking ice cold water? Eat 5 times a day Start with breakfast. The more you eat for breakfast, the less food you will want to eat at night. Please don't skip this meal as you'll end up swallowing everything in sight for the rest of the day. You don't need to gobble up 5 large meals. Eat sensibly so your body doesn't crave for food. Use weights Needless to say, exercise is crucial to weight loss. You can't expect to sit on the sofa all day, sip water and lose weight. Join a good gym that lets you work with _ It will help you build muscle and your metabolism rate will increase. You'll soon see the fat come off and in its place muscle will develop. Smaller bowls It's better to substitute the huge bowls you usually use for small ones - when food starts to fall off, you'll know it's enough. Try to get these new bowls in dark colors. Dark blue will be your best choice since it is the number one color that fights off the appetite. Avoid red/orange/yellow colors in your dining area - they are the ones making your appetite go sky high. Read between lines Food and drink products are all out to get you. They scream "Buy me! Buy me!" They could be "fat free" but they could still have a lot of calories. You need to analyze the nutrition label on the cover. Find out what's good for you and what isn't. Knowing in advance can help you stay away from products that are calorie-enriched. Don't punish yourself Go easy on yourself at least one day in a week. If you begin to dislike your diet then there's something wrong. Find a diet that suits your body type and your lifestyle. Which of the following belongs to "weights" mentioned in the text? A. beam B. shot C. barbell D. badminton Answer: C Question: "Gold Rush Alaska" has given America gold fever. A lot of young men put everything at risk to find gold in Alaska. They face problems with their machines and the Alaska wild animals. They're just ordinary people out trying to realize a dream. Todd Dorsey is one of them. He spent $100,000 on it and prepared for a year before going to Alaska. He brought his family and friends to help him out. He must get them mining and a place to stay. He also had to keep their spirits up and kept everyone working as a team. They had to run off bears sometimes from their camp. They had to face the fact that their lead mechanic's health was not good. They called him Harness, and he was on medication that was hard for him to take, because out in Alaska it was not easy to get to the hospital and so he didn't enjoy good health. He was the only one who could keep things running the way they were supposed to. There was one guy that didn't seem to get along with anyone. But didn't there always have to be someone that didn't get along and messed things up? They got excited when they found a few small pieces of gold, but they needed a lot more to cover the cost of mining every day. It cost Todd $1,000 a day to run everything they needed to mine. They had to make money before the Alaska summer came to an end or they would go broke . What does the author think of "Gold Rush Alaska"? A. He thinks highly of what Todd did. B. He believes Todd can realize his dream. C. He thinks Todd lacked team spirit. D. He thinks Todd was taking a chance. Answer: D Question: I got interested in the idea of standing desks about a year ago. The health advantages of standing instead of sitting for eight hours a day are clear, so when the company Ergotron invited me to review their WorkFit C-Mod Dual Desk, I jumped out of my chair---really. After several hours putting the desk together, I finally got to try it out. The standing desk had a desktop that I could use for writing. At first I absolutely loved it. Standing during the day instead of sitting was fantastic. Although I felt more tired after all that standing during the day, I knew the health benefits were worth the slight discomfort. However, after the initial novelty of the desk wore off, I realized that I could not use it in the long term. It was just not practical. While using the desk for a month , I could definitely foresee problems arising from using it full time. I enjoy having a lot of things on my desk. The standing desk just did not have enough room for all of my things. I can easily foresee awkward situations when I put that desk in an office space. When someone comes into your office, does your guest have to stand as well? If you office is big enough, maybe you have room for two chairs for you and a visitor, which is great. Yet for the ordinary worker in a small office, the standing desk creates a very awkward situation. Additionally, the amount of money I would have to spend to replace my current workspace with a standing desk was another issue. The desks I have looked at were highly expensive. Yes, spending the day standing can offset many of the negative effects of too much sitting, but we humans are designed for movement. Through activity changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, you can easily increase the time you spend on your feet. Best of all, those options are completely free. When first using the standing desk, the author _ . A. thought it was boring B. thought it was wonderful C. felt less tired than usual D. felt quite uncomfortable Answer: B Question: Suppose you work in a big firm and find English important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English. Here are some advertisements about English language training from newspapers. You may find the information you need. Global English Centre General English in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 3-month (700 yuan), 6-month (1,200 yuan) and one year (2000 yuan) courses. Choice fo morning or evening classes, 3 hours per day, Mon. ~Fri. Experienced college English teachers. Close to city centre and bus stops. Tel:67605270 Add:105 Zhongshan Road,100082 Modern Language School Special courses in English for business, travel, banking, hotel management and office skills. Small classes (12~16 students) on Sat.&Sum.from2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Native English teachers from Canada and USA. Language lab and computers supplied. 3-month course: (1050 yuan), 6-month course: (1850 yuan) Write or phone: Modern Language School, 675 Park Road, 100056 Tel: 67353019 The 21 sty Century English Training Centre We specialize in effective teaching at all levels. We offer morning or afternoon classes, both of which last three months and a half at a cost of 800 yuan. Entrance exams:1 June and 1 Dec. We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays. Only 15-minute walk from city centre. Call 67801642 for more information. The International House of English 3/6-month English courses for students of all levels at very low cost: 60 yuan for 12 hours per week; convenient class hours:9~12 a.m. and2~5 p.m. A 4-month evening classes for developing speaking skills (same cost as day classes). Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers experienced in teaching English as a 2nd foreign language. Free sightseeing and social activities. Very close to the Central Park. For further information call 67432308. You work from 9:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Which school will you choose? A. Global English Centre and Modern Language School. B. Global English Centre and the International House of English. C. Modern Language School and the 21st Century English Training. D. The 21st Century English Training Center and the International House of English. Answer: B Question: "How call I obtain more drugs?" I cried."I can't live without the help of drugs!''.You see,I was only 14 years of age when someone said to me,"Here,smoke this! It will make you feel good." So that is how my habit of d rug-taking began. Soon I felt I could not live without more and more drugs.So I found I needed more and more money to buy drugs.So I began to steal things from my family and from shops.Then in the street I pointed my gun at people,saying, "Give me your money,or I will shoot you!" I lost all my friends.My family also said,"Get out of this house and never return here!" I then realized the truth-drugs were killing me."Unless someone told me how to escape from the desire for drugs,I will soon be dead," I said . Then one day,I read in a paper, "We help drug-takers!'' I decided,"I will go and see what these people think they can do for me."So I stayed at their meeting place for seven months.But they failed.They did not take the desire for drugs from me. Then one day,I read something in the magazine called "La Paloma".I read how people said,"We could not escape from the desire for drugs.But now we have freedom.God gave us power to escape this desire.God gives us the power of the spirit when we believe what Jesus Christ obtained for us by dying for us."SO I decided,"I will go to this Betel meeting place as reported in 'La Paloma'.I will see if they can help me.'' Now I found these Betel people never left me alone.Yes,someone was always there with me day and night.Then one day I cried out to God,"God,please help me!" I know God heard my cry.I found I now had power to escape the desire for drugs. At last I am free from the desire for drugs.I have found real peace of mind.I now enjoy life and help other people to overcome their d rug problem. The passage mainly tells us A. how the author obtained more drugs B. how the author shot people for money C. how the author quit taking drugs D. how God helps people to quit taking drugs Answer: C
Today, home-ownership has reached extremely high levels. Modern generations tend to believe there is something wrong with them if they rent. However, is high home-ownership really as rosy as people imagine? Staring at data first, we realize that the most successful, stable, attractive country in the Western world is Switzerland. It has tiny unemployment; wealth; high happiness and mental-health scores. Does it have high home-ownership rates? Absolutely not. In Switzerland, about seven in ten of the population are renters. Yet, with Europe's lowest home-ownership rate, the nation thrives. Now go to the other end of the misery distribution. Spain has approximately the highest home-ownership rate in Europe (at more than 80%). But one-quarter of its population are unemployed. A likely reason is that high levels of home-ownership mess up the labour market. In a sensibly functioning economy it is easy for people to move around to drop into the vibrant job slots thrown up by technological change. With a high degree of owner-occupation, everything slows. Folk get stuck. Renters can go to new jobs. In that way they do the economy a favour. As Friedman said, the rate of unemployment depends on the flexibility of the housing market. Next we come to economic breakdown. Most analysts accept that at heart it was the housing market--obsessive pursuit of homes, the engendered mortgage lending and an unavoidable house-price crash--that sank the Western world. Germany, say, with its more efficient rental market, had a far smoother ride through trouble. As for the monetary system, in the past few decades, in the hope of getting untaxed capital gains way above their true labour earnings, many people threw their spare cash into buying larger houses or building extra bedrooms. TV programmes about how to make easy money, beautiful rising house prices, and most importantly, our falulty tax system encouraged that. When at some point market broke down, everyone suffered. Our countries ought, instead, to design tax systems that encourage people to invest in productive real activities and in innovation. Renting leaves money free for better purposes. That also points to the role of sensible budgeting over a person's lifetime. Why should we think that when we die it is necessary to have paid off an entire house? Our children do not deserve it. Let them pay for themselves. We should rent--and enjoy our lives with the money saved. Finally, moderation usually pays off. Our scientific understanding of how economies function is horribly limited. This suggests that the golden rule should be to avoid extremes. A 50-50 mix of home-ownership and renting, not the 70-30 split that is now observed in so many Western nations, makes sense. What opinion does the author agree with most? A People should learn the workings of housing market. B Laws should be set up to stop people from buying houses. C An adequate rate of home-ownership should be kept. D People should follow the good example of Europe in housing investment. Answer: C. An adequate rate of home-ownership should be kept. Li Ming is a runner, he runs for the spring sports on the playground every day.Our school is holding the sports meeting today.Li Ming is in the 1500 Meters'Race.At first he runs very fast,but then he falls on the ground.His left leg is hurt.It is a long way from the end of the race.What will he do? People are looking at him.Li Ming gets up a nd walks the rest of the way.Li Ming doesn't win the race,but he wins a prize for walking. Our school holds a _ sports meeting today. A winter B summer C autumn D spring Answer: D. spring Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881.His father was a painter and art teacher who gave his son the first lesson in drawing.He won a prize--"Science and Charity" for his first important painting when he was only fifteen.He studied in several cities in Spain.But there was no one to teach him all that he wanted to know.When he was nineteen,he visited Paris. Paris was then the center of the world for artists.Everything that was new and exciting in the world of paintings seemed to happen there.When he was twenty-three,Picasso moved there to live and lived in France for the rest of his life. When he was over ninety,this great painter still lived his life like a young man.He was still looking for new ideas and new ways to use his artistic materials. When he died in 1973,he was ninety-one years old. ,. What did he do when he was old? A He loved his life. B He looked for new ideas. C He lived his life like a young man. D He looked for new ways to use his artistic materials. Answer: D. He looked for new ways to use his artistic materials. New York Times--A gunman killed eight people at a mall in Omaha this afternoon and then killed himself, setting off panic among holiday shoppers, the police said. "The person who we believe to be the shooter has died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds," Sgt. Teresa Negron of the Omaha Police Department said at televised news. "We have been able to clear the mall," she said. "We don't believe we have any other shooters." The police said that at least five other people had been injured in the shootings. She did not give the shooter's identity. "We are still conducting the investigation," Sergeant Negron said, adding that the city's mayor, who was out of town, was on his way back to Omaha. She said the police received a 911 call from someone inside the Westroads Mall on the west side of Omaha, and shots could be heard in the background. The first police officers arrived at the mall six minutes after the first call, she said, but by then the shootings were over. It is reported that the gunman left a suicide note that was found at his home by s. A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the note indicated that the gunman wanted to "go out in style". The shootings broke the usually banal routine of holiday shopping. The gunman was said by some witnesses to have fired about 20 shots into a crowd. Some customers and workers ran screaming from the mall, while others dived into dressing rooms to hide from the shooter. Shoppers and store workers were trapped inside the mall, which has roughly 135 stores. Others streamed out of mall exits with their hands raised. The president was in Omaha this morning to deliver a speech, but he had left the city by the time the shootings took place. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A Nobody knows why the shooter did so and nothing was found at his home. B The city's mayor happened not to be in the city when the shooting took place. C The police arrived at the mall before the shootings were over and rescued customers. D The official who showed what the note meant had no request of his own identity. Answer: B. The city's mayor happened not to be in the city when the shooting took place. At 9:00 Dick Spivak's bank telephoned and said his payment was late. 'The check is in the post,' Dick replied quickly. At 11:45 Dick left for a 12:00 meeting across town. Arriving late, he explained that traffic had been bad. That evening, Dick's girlfriend wore a new dress. He hated it. 'It looks just great on you,' he said. Three lies in one day! Yet Dick Spivak is just an ordinary man. Each time, he told himself that sometimes the truth causes too many problems. Most of us tell much the same white lies, harmless untruths that help to save trouble. How often do we tell white lies? It depends in part on our age, education, and even where we live. According to one U.S. study, women are more truthful than men, and honesty increases as we get older. While most people use little white lies to make life easier, the majority of Americans care about honesty in both public and personal life. They say that people today are less honest than they were ten years ago. Although it is believed that things are getting worse, lying seems to be an age-old human problem. The French philosopher Vauvenarges, writing in the eighteenth century, touched on the truth when he wrote, 'All men are born truthful and die liars .' Vauvenarges' remark suggests that _ . A lying is an age-old human problem B dishonesty increases as people get older C people were dishonest in the 18th century D it is social conditions that make people tell lies Answer: D. it is social conditions that make people tell lies
I learned about life from an ant farm.When I was seven years old, my family created one.First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we waited for the live ants to arrive.Shortly after the chilly ants were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels.I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do.After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had assigned jobs.With my mom ' s help, I kept a diary of what happened each day and named the ants. One day a tragedy struck the ant farm.The pages of the diary, still wrinkled where tear drops fell, indicate the depth of the tragedy.'I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, caving in all the tunnels.Although the ants survived their earthquake, one by one they began to die.I was terrified as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a comer of the farm.My mother reported that the ants were dying of "frustration." They simply could not stand the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. 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 ants were a study in the benefits of teamwork.Working together, they were able to create an amazing world for themselves.I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work.Day in and day out, each labored at their task.The ant farm showed that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key ingredients to success.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, humans cannot give up when they face disappointment.Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.Giving up, I say, is not a choice. What did the writer finally realize? A Perseverance is the only way to success. B Humans cannot give up when facing adversity. C People should admire anyone for their hard work. D His mother taught him much more. Answer: B. Humans cannot give up when facing adversity. It's been seven days since a 7. 0-magnitude strong earthquake hit Ya'an, in Sichuan Province. How the earthquake has affected one of Sichuan Province's special residents--pandas. How are the animals coping? And do they have enough food to eat? There are more than 80 pandas living here at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Base. 7 baby pandas have just left their mothers and have begun to learn how to fend for themselves. The quake was felt strongly in Chengdu. Fortunately, all of the pandas here were out on the grounds when the earthquake hit, so they were very safe. Although no deaths or injuries have been reported among the Baoxing panda population so far, they've been badly frightened by the earthquake. Several days has passed and the earthquake seems to have made no discernible negative impact on the pandas. These two baby pandas Chengshuang and Chengdui are play fighting with each other and climbing trees. When they climbed too high, the breeders have to rescue them from the trees. The visitors are amused by the scenes and think it's like a fantastic acrobatics show. The quake zone is not only the home of these pandas, it's also the source of their food. Fortunately, enough bamboo has been stored away in five bamboo storehouses for the pandas, so there are no worries with regard to food supplies. Wu Kongju, Breeder, Chengdu Panda Breeding Base, said, "When the Wenchuan earthquake happened in 2008, we were unprepared and had a shortage of bamboo. But we've been able to handle this earthquake event more smoothly. There are no problems with the food supply. "Apart from the pandas' favorite Baijia Bamboo, breeders also give them bamboo shoots, which are very rich in nutrients. Wu Kongju said, "Bamboo shoots contain more protein than ordinary bamboo, and they're also very succulent because they contain more water. " The passage mainly tells us that . A a 7. 0-magnitude strong earthquake hit Ya'an B food supply to pandas is enough C impact of Ya'an earthquake on China's pandas D two baby pandas Chengshuang and Chengdui are in good condition Answer: C. impact of Ya'an earthquake on China's pandas Staying married has its benefits. A new U.S.-wide study shows the wealth of a married person is almost double that of somebody who is single. "If you really want to increase your wealth, get married and stay married. On the other hand, divorce can destroy your wealth," said Jay Zagorsky, author of the study. Married people will see an increase in wealth that is more than just adding the assets of two single people, ac-cording to the study published in the Journal of Sociology. Those who remained together saw a 93 percent gain in wealth compared to that of a single person, while individuals facing divorce saw their financial situation worsen long before they finally divorced, according to Zagorsky. The study used data from surveys taken over a 15-year period involving 9,055 Americans who were between 21 and 28 years old in 1985. Those who remained single had a steady, but slow growth in wealth, from less than $2,000 at the start of the surveys up to an average of about $11,000 after 15 years. However, those who married and stayed that way showed a sharp increase in wealth after marriage, growing to an average $43,000 by the 10th year of marriage or by about 16 percent a year. For people who married and then divorced, there was a slow build-up of wealth during the early years of marriage and then a steady decrease about four years before divorce. The study also showed doubt about a common idea that divorce was much harder financially on women than on men. In fact, it showed that women suffered financially only slightly more than men. If you married and then divorced, what would happen to your finances? A Your money wouldn't increase at all until you got divorced. B Your wealth would increase slowly first, and then decrease before you got divorced. C You would lose more money if you didn't get divorced. D You would find you made no more money than those who were single. Answer: B. Your wealth would increase slowly first, and then decrease before you got divorced. A few years ago I didn't knew my neighbour Mr Reed well. Now we're friends. It all started from a basketball game near his home. Peter passed the ball to me. But I didn't catch it and it went right into Mr Reed's garden.Everyone said that he didn't like children. Nobody dared to get the ball. And no one knew Mr Reed well because he _ came out of his house. And he _ talked with others. I walked into Mr Reed's garden slowly and quietly. My hands were sweaty . Suddenly I saw a tall man walking towards me. It was Mr Reed. "Is this your ball?" he asked. I said yes and said never to do it again. To my surprise, Mr Reed said, "Why don't you kids play here? No one has used this hoop for years. It's better than yours." My friends and I couldn't believe it. Mr Reed was inviting us to play in his garden! We all learned an important lesson: what many people say isn't always true. Which of the following can be the title for this passage? A My good neighbour. B A basketball game. C A strange man. D Seeing is believing. Answer: D. Seeing is believing. If you have a problem with speaking, you can do several things. Listen to English as much as possible. You can learn a poem or a song by heart. You can also learn more dialogues . And practice speaking with your friends as much as you can. Many people find it difficult to listen to English. The answer is to listen as much as you can. However, don't do too much at one time. It is better to practice listening for five minutes every day. Don't sit down and listen for an hour at a time. That's too much! Do choose listening passages that are interesting and not too difficult. Choose tapes on which the people speak clearly and not too fast. Take it easy, at first. Success with simple tapes at the beginning is the answer. Later on you can practice with tapes that are more difficult. Finally, how can you learn to write well? How do you use little words like in, on, of and for? There are two answers to this. First, do some study with new words. Keep a list of verbs like look for, look after and so on. Second, read as much English as possible. There are many things that can't be learnt. You must see them in books many times. Then you'll be able to use them correctly yourself. So, in order to write well, you must first learn to read much. Which of the following is not right according to the passage? A Many people find it difficult to listen to English. B Sit down and listen for an hour at a time. C Learn a poem or a song by heart can improve your speaking. D To improve speaking, you can practice speaking with your friends as much as you can. Answer: B. Sit down and listen for an hour at a time.
Shark on the bait !" shouted Andre Harman, pointing to a spot a few yards behind the outboard motors. His voice gave no indication of panic, but the crew suddenly became tense and fixed their eyes on the water. Slowly, smoothly, Andre drew in the bait.The shark followed. No one asked what kind of shark it was. Everything about it, from its color to its shape, tells that it was a great white shark. Andre lifted the bait aboard. Placing himself between the two motors, he dropped his right hand into the water just as the great head reached the first motor. "My goodness Andre!" I said. His hand seized the big nose, moving it away from the tube of the motor, guiding the shark's head up as it rose out of the water. Andre's hand held the nose, touching it gently. No one spoke. No one breathed. The moment seemed endless. In fact, it lasted less than five seconds before Andre pulled his hand back. Still nobody spoke. Then Andre smiled and said: "The first time was an accident. I was just trying to move the shark away from the motor. Sharks are attracted to motors by their electrical signals and have a habit of biting them to see if they are eatable. " Andre has worked with great white sharks for years. "My hand landed on its nose, and it sort of paused, so I kept it there, and when I did let go, the shark bit and bit as if it was searching for whatever it was that had attracted it." Nearly every encounter we had had with the great whites had been totally illogical. The more we learned, the more we realized how little was really known about them in the past years. Back then, it was generally accepted that great whites ate people by choice. Now we know that almost every attack on a human is an accident in which the shark mistakes a human for its normal food. Back then, we thought that once a great white smelt blood, it would lead to death. Now we know that nearly three-quarters of bite victims survive, perhaps because the shark recognizes that is has made a mistake and doesn't return for a second bite. What does the author think of the encounters with great whites? A. Exciting. B. Educational. C. Frightening D. Reasonable Answer: B If a cat has a body temp that is below average, it is in A. good health B. a good place C. danger D. safe ranges Answer: C It is not a good idea for children to have to work hard. Children should study in school as hard as they can. They should not have to do heavy work with their bodies. When parents or others force their children to work hard, the results are never good. Many may be very bad. If a farmer makes his son work like a man, he may easily learn to hate farming. Children sometimes do too much in gardens, in shops, or even in their own homes. They soon begin to hate such work with a force, because that can destroy their happiness. But there may be a worse loss, child's love for its parents. The feeling may become something different. When that happens, the old kind of love never returns. The writer thinks children should study and play _ . A. hard B. happily C. heavily D. happy Answer: B A businessman, who was very fond of music, was asked by a poor widow to give her some help. Her husband, who was a musician, had died, and left her very poor indeed. The businessman saw that the widow and her daughter, who was with her, were in great distress. He looked with pity into their pale faces, and was sure that their sad story was true. "How much do you want, my good woman?" said the businessman. "Five dollars will save us," said the poor widow, with some hesitation, after she thought for a few seconds. The businessman sat down at his desk, took a piece of paper, wrote a few lines on it, and gave it to the widow with the words, "Take it to the bank you see on the other side of the street." The widow thanked the man, and then quickly walked to the bank with her daughter, without stopping to read the note. The banker at once counted out fifty dollars instead of five, and passed them to the window. She was amazed when she saw so much money. "Sir, there is a mistake here." she said. "You have given me fifty dollars, and I asked for only five." The banker then looked at the note once more, and said, "The check calls for fifty dollars." The banker then asked her to wait a few minutes, while he went to see the businessman who gave her the note. "Yes," said the businessman, when he had heard the banker's story, "I did make a mistake. I wrote fifty instead of five hundred. Give the poor widow five hundred dollars, for such honesty is poorly rewarded with even that sum." From the story, we can guess that a widow is a woman who _ . A. has lost her husband B. loves her husband very much C. is very poor D. has a daughter but no sons Answer: A I have a dog . It's a girl dog. She is two years old. Her ears and eyes are big. But she has a small nose and a small mouth. Her hair is long. She has four long legs, too. Does she have mum and dad? Yes! They come from Cuba. What's her name? Can you guess? Her name is Juzi, because she is orange. Wow, she is my toy dog. My toy's name is _ . A. orange. B. girl. C. Juzi D. dog Answer: C
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. Rose oil is called liquid gold because if its _ . A great value B bright color1 C growing places D wide uses Answer: A For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces. The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn't only change the kids' play time, but also makes a big difference to the people's lives. As the merry-go-round starts, _ pumps clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank . People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days. In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don't have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back. Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. " Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too." The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school. Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-----and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water. A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, " I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country." So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people. For Patricia Molope, getting water used to be hard because _ A She didn't know how to use a PlayPump. B She had no money to pay a taxi driver. C The only place to get water was far away from home. D There was not enough water in the well. Answer: C Jack is a twelve-year-old boy. One day, he was playing football. The ball went into the street and Jack ran for it. Unfortunately, a car hit him. Jack's parents took him to the hospital at once. Jack woke up after a month. When he woke up, he asked, "Who am I? Who are you? Why am I here?" He even didn't know his parents. The doctor said, "Jack's head was badly hurt. Maybe he can remember all the things he has lost one day. Maybe he will forget them forever." Every day Jack's parents told Jack something about himself, his friends and so on. But Jack still couldn't think of anything. One day, when his father talked about his dog, Tidy, Jack seemed to think of something. Then Jack's father had an idea. He took Jack back home. Jack and Tidy played together happily. After a year, with the help of Tidy, Jack's memory came back. What happened to Jack one day? A A car hit him. B His ball was missing. C He was ill. D He was lost. Answer: A If you're a male and you're reading this,congratulations:you're a survivor.According to statistics,you're more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer as a woman,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS.Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term,about 78 years for men in Australia, you'll die on average five years before a woman. There're many reasons for this--typically,men take more risks than women and are more likely to drink and smoke--but perhaps more importantly,men don't go to the doctor. "Men aren't seeing doctors as often as they should."says Dr Gullotta."This is particularly so for the over-40s,when diseases tend to strike." Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two.For those over 45,it should be at least once a year. According to a recent survey,95% of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year,compared to 70% of men in the same age group. "A lot of men think they're invincible ,",Gullotta says."They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think,'Geez,if it could happen to him...'" "Then there's the ostrich approach.Some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know,"says Dr Ross Cartmill. "Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,"Cartmill says.He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups. "Regular check-ups for men would surely place strain on the public purse,"Cartmill says."But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the disease.Besides,the final cost is far greater:it's called premature death." What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men? A They may increase public expense. B They will save money in the long run C They may cause psychological strain on men D They will enable men to live as long as women. Answer: B A person has to be sixteen to drive, seventeen to see certain movies, and eighteen to vote. People can get terrific discounts on all sorts of stuff-provided they're over sixty-five. Everywhere we look there are age limits that define what people can and can't do. But creativity has no boundaries, no limitations. Anyone can invent. And they do. Inventors are popping up at the youngest ages. Sitting in the car waiting for her mom to return from shopping, Becky decided she might as well try to finish her math homework. But it was growing dark and getting hard to see the paper. "I didn't have a flashlight, and I didn't want to open the car door because then the whole car would light up." recalled Becky. "So I thought it would be neat to have my paper light up somehow, and that's when the idea came to me." It isn't every day that a ten-year-old invents a product eagerly sought by several businesses, but that's exactly what Becky Schroeder did when she created a tool that enabled people to write in the dark. Her invention? The Glo-sheet. That night Becky went home, trying to imagine different ways of making her paper glow in the dark. She remembered all sorts of glow-in-the-dark toys-like balls and Frisbees-and wondered how they were made. She was determined to find a solution. So they very next day, Beck's dad took her on an outing to the hardware store. They returned with a pail of _ . She took the paint and stacks of paper into the darkest room in the house-the bathroom. There, she experimented. "I'd turn on the light, turn it off, turn it on," said Becky. "My parents remember me running out the room saying 'It works, it works! I'm writing in the dark!' " She used an acrylic board and coated it with a specific amount of phosphorescent paint. She took a complicated idea and made it work rather simply. When the coated clipboard is exposed to light, it glows. The glowing board then illuminates or lights up the paper that has been placed on top. Two years after her initial inspiration, in 1974, Becky became the youngest female ever to receive a U.S. patent. She didn't actively market her Glo-sheet. She didn't need to. The New York Times wrote an article about an incredible invention-patented by a twelve-year-old, and the inquiries and orders streamed in. With which statement would Becky most likely agree? A Experience is needed to be a good inventor. B Only by inventing things can you know what people need. C Always try to sell patent rights to large companies. D You never know what you can do unless you try. Answer: D
Japanese high school students either walk or ride bicycles if the distance is not too great. In other cases, students must take public buses and trains. After junior high school, students attend schools based on their high school entrance examination scores. So some students travel a great distance to attend the school. At School The school day begins at 8:30. Then students assemble in their homeroom classes for the day's studies. Each homeroom has an average of 40-45 students. Students stay in their homeroom classrooms for most of the school day. Only for physical education, laboratory classes, or other subjects requiring special facilities do students move to different parts of the school. Between classes and at lunchtime, classrooms can be noisy, lively places. Some schools may have a cafeteria , but most do not. In most schools, students bring a box lunch from home, prepared by the mother in the early morning hours. Japanese students spend 240 days a year at school, 60 days more than American students. Students in high schools take three years' each of the following subjects mathematics, social studies, Japanese, science, and English. Other subjects include physical education, music, art, and moral studies. All the students in one grade level study the same subjects. Given the number of required subjects, electives are few. Afterschool Activities Club activities take place after school every day. Students can join only one club, and they _ change clubs from year to year, so the clubs are relatively stable. Clubs are made up of sports clubs (baseball, soccer, judo, kendo, etc.) and culture clubs(English, broadcasting, science, etc.). New students usually are encouraged to select a club shortly after the school year begins in April. Clubs meet for two hours after school each day and many clubs continue to meet during school vacations. Students in the USA go to school _ days a year. Answer: 180 China is a country on the move--especially around its Lunar New Year holiday. This year, the holiday crush promises to be even heavier than before. Government officials estimate that Chinese people will take to the air, roads and railways 3.62 billion times over a 40-day period around the nation's most important holiday this year as people push their way home for family gatherings or to satisfy their new-found passion for travel. Getting tickets to all those would-be travelers is a _ challenge that annually tries patience. And it is the railway system that routinely is most unable to cope. Railways are the transport of choice for low-cost long-distance travel, and that's where the ticketing system routinely falls down. Much of the criticism has, focused on the railway's online purchasing system, which has been unable to keep pace with the huge demand and also failed to stop scalpers from ending up with many of the hard-to-find tickets. While insisting that online sales were the fairest way to get tickets for travelers, railway officials told reporters that the public need to be patient. Efforts were being made to provide online identity checks that would reduce the ticket scalping problems. While officials had little good news for rail passengers, they did manage to bring a few smiles to those traveling by car as the country's extremely expensive highway tolls will be free of charge for the period of the official holiday. According to the text, getting tickets _ around the official holiday. Answer: takes great effort Driver negligently drove his car into Pedestrian, breaking her leg. Pedestrian's leg was put in a cast, and she used crutches to get about. While shopping at Market, her local supermarket, Pedestrian nonnegligently placed one of her crutches on a banana peel that had been negligently left on the floor by the manager of Market's produce department. Pedestrian's crutch slipped on the peel, and she fell to the floor, breaking her arm. Had Pedestrian stepped on the banana peel at a time when she did not have to use crutches, she would have regained her balance. Pedestrian sued Driver and Market for her injuries. Pedestrian will be able to recover from Answer: Driver, for both of her injuries. Life is to be enjoyed. There's no point in giving up something you enjoy unless you get something back that's even better. When people eat more healthfully, exercise, quit smoking, and manage stress better, they find that they feel so much better that it reconstructs the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living. The latest studies show that when you exercise and eat right: YOUR BRAIN receives more blood flow and oxygen, so you become smarter, think more clearly, have more energy, and need less sleep. Two studies showed that just walking for three hours per week for only three months caused so many new neurons to grow that it actually increased the size of people's brains! YOUR FACE receives more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. You look younger and more attractive. In contrast, an unhealthy diet, chronic emotional stress and smoking reduce blood flow to your face so you age more quickly. Smoking accelerates aging because nicotine causes your arteries to narrow down, which decreases blood flow to your face and makes it wrinkle earlier. This is why smokers look years older than they really are. YOUR GENES change. In May, a study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that changing your lifestyle changes your genes. YOUR TELOMERES get longer. Telomeres are the ends of our chromosomes that control how long we live. As telomeres become shorter, then cells age more quickly, thus shortening your life. Besides, one of the most interesting findings in the study was that the mothers' awareness of stress was more important than what was really occurring in their lives. The researchers gave the women a questionnaire and asked them to rate on a three-point scale how stressed they felt each day, and how out of control their lives felt to them. The women who were aware that they were under heavy stress had significantly shortened and damaged telomeres compared with those who felt more relaxed. On the contrary, some of the women who felt relaxed despite raising a disabled child had more normal-appearing telomeres. In other words, if you feel stressed, you are stressed; if you feel fine, you are fine. In the author's opinion, when you exercise and eat right, you will experience some changes EXCEPT _ . Answer: arteries turning narrower Sea hares are poisonous slugs, with tiny bunny-like tentacles, that float in water currents and ocean waves. They squirt a purple colored chemical that's sticky and smelly Answer: to ward off predators
Question: One evening,June Griffith was on her way to pick up her son.Almost immediately,she realized that she had gone the wrong way.She'd driven onto railroad tracks and the underside of her car was caught. As Griffith tried to remove the car,its headlights attracted the attention of a passerby,Jordan Ricks,a college student.He ran over. Ricks,22,tried to appear calm as he instructed Gdmth to remove the car.Both of them could now see the wheel between the rails and the uneven track bed.Ricks put his hands under the front fender and gave it a push.It didn't move. He pushed it again with all his strength,Still,no movement. From about 50 feet away,a group of students from the nearby university watched the scene.Ricks signaled to them,and five of the guys came over. He directed them to different sides of the car,and they all put their hands under the flame. "One,two,three" Ricks yelled.They all pushed. "One,two,three!" he yelled again.The car didn't move. At that moment,they felt the ground begin to shake.Then four dings signaled an on coming train,apd the railroad gates dropped down.In the distance,an unclear line of light appeared,followed by the loud noise of a horn . The guys started yelling,"Get out of the car!Get out of the car!"But Griffith felt _ . When Griffith glanced in the mirror,she saw the train lights approaching.But she worried that the Arthritis in her feet would prevent her from escaping in time and that her car would bedamaged.One of the students,Tommy Stackhouse,20,saw her shocked face and knew he had to act.He reached for the car door and forced it open. The train was just a few hundred feet away.In the last few seconds,Stackhouse grasped Griffith's arm and pulled her from the car.His friend,Frank DiPietrapaul,18,grasped her other arm,and the pair pulled Griffith aside. They watched as the train,crashed into the car,cutting it into half its original size and sending metal pieces flying.Griffith sat crying as the police arrived and sorted through the ruins--and wrote her a ticket for no attention to driving.Eventually,the students went home. A few days later,a reporter asked the young men and Griffith to reunite at a local coffee shop.There a tearful Griffith hugged her rescuers."These boys are heroes,"she would later tell anyone who would listen."They saved my life." Ricks feels only grateful for the outcone."It was one of those moments," he says,"when we could have been gone together.It makes you think how precious life is." Which one is the best title for this passage? A. A Courageous Rescue B. A Brave Woman C. A Precious Life D. An Exciting Story Answer: A Question: In English nobody under eighteen years old is allowed to drink in a bar . Mr Thompson often went to a bar near his house.But he never took his son, Tom, because he was too young.Then when Tom had his eighteenth birthday, Mr Thompson took him to his usual bar for the first time.They drank for an hour.Tom drank a bit.Then Mr Thompson said to his son, "Now, Tom, I want to teach you a useful lesson.How do you know when you've had enough? Well, I'll tell you.De you see those two lights at the end of the bar? When they seem to become four, you've had enough and should go home." "But, Dad," said Tom, "I can only see one light at the end of the bar." (170) In fact,there _ at the end of the bar. A. was one light B. were two lights C. were three lights D. were four lights Answer: A Question: In a 2013 study, it was reported that almost 66 percent of recent high school graduates went to college, a 4 percent decline since 2009, when college enrollment reached an all-time high. So, what are the other 35 percent of high school graduates doing after they walk out of their school for the last time? Here are what some Robinson High students have planned. For Robbie Claiborne, graduation means the start of a military career.He plans to join the Coast Guard after graduation."I was born around the ocean.I love the water.I want to fight for my country and for what I love," said Claiborne. Others just want a break from school."I really want to take _ ," Liliam Clavijo said."I'd really love to work in Spain for a year before going to college." Most students, however, are rather excited.Eban Trunk, a junior, has been planning his future career since middle school."I really want to be a mailman.It just seems like a cool job.Everyone loves the mailman," Trunk said."One day the idea just came to me, and I knew that was what I wanted to do." For many students, a high school diploma means more choices."I'm not really sure what I'll do after high school," senior Joshua Loring said."I might do technical school.I'm in auto shop classes right now." Meanwhile, Cassidy Grunderson plans on working at Busch Gardens full time."I just want to live on my own, get a job and move out," Grunderson said. Stephen Hambleton, who teaches auto tech classes at Robinson, says many of his students choose to enter the automobile industry after graduation."It's an instant job, and after taking years of auto shop in high school, it's easy to get hired," he said.Several seniors in his class, including Loring, plan to enter the industry upon graduation. "College isn't for everyone, and I really respect people who decide to do their own thing," said Coleman Parks, a senior student."I think too many people feel that they're only as valuable as their degree." Graduates are proving that college isn't the only option when high school ends. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? A. Cassidy Grunderson plans to enter the automobile industry upon graduation B. For many students, a high school diploma gives them limited choices. C. Senior high school graduates are faced with more choices than just going to college. D. Eban Trunk plans to work in Spain for a year. Answer: C Question: Brazil is a federation that consists of twenty-six states and one federal district. The biggest majority of Brazil's population belongs to the Christian religion and almost all of them are Catholics. This is something Brazil inherited being Portugal's colony . Historically, the country was a colony claimed by people from Portugal and this made Portuguese the official language. The Portuguese reached Brazil in 1500 and until that moment it was inhabited by semi-nomadic people. The Portuguese changed Brazil into a country of slaves until 1800, when Maria I of Portugal came to live in Brazil. The Queen did not stay long in Brazil, but during the 20 years of royal presence a lot of changes occurred: commercial ports to United Kingdom were opened; Brazil stopped being isolated from other countries. So at the moment of getting the independence on the 7th of September, 1822, Brazil already had the potential to develop. The Brazilian Empire, Pedro I, abolished slavery in 1888 in the face of Princess Isabel. A lot of European people started coming to Brazil and the industry of the country started working. In the 19th and the 20th century as it has been said above foreign people immigrated to Brazil and basically 5 million European and Japanese people became the residents of Brazil. The beginning of the 20th century was especially marked by the immigration of a lot of Asian people: Japanese, Korean and Chinese immigrants. As a matter of fact Japanese people do not immigrate a lot, and the fact that the Brazilian-Japanese people are the largest Japanese minority in the world does astonish greatly. The majority of the cultural inherits of Brazil are actually Portuguese, due to the fact that Brazil was Portugal's colony for a very long time. The southern states mainly consist of European population and the north and the northeast consist of a mixed population including Africans, Amerindians and Europeans. Most of this population is Roman Catholic. No other country in the world has the same amount of Catholics. The modern tendency of Brazil is the growing number of people calling themselves Protestants. Around 7.4% of the population don't believe any god. Some Brazilians, especially in the northern states are mixed Africans who prefer following the traditional African religions. Only 1.8% of the population chose Buddhism, Islam or Judaism. Though Brazil always tried to maintain democracy, it was failed several times by the dictatorship of Getulo Vargas. This fact could not affect the political situation in the country. Brazil was ruled by Portuguese about _ . A. 22 years B. 300 years C. 322 years D. 328 years Answer: C Question: Pollution is anything that harms or disturbs the natural environment. Just as chemicals in a river or litter in the park are pollution, so unwanted noise can pollute too. Some people cause noise pollution by playing their radios too loud, but the main problems in many areas are aircraft and traffic noise. In science, a noise is a mixture of vibrations without any smooth, regular pattern, for example, the sound of an electric drill or a radio tuning from one station to another. Noise can be reduced by soundproofing. You have probably noticed the difference between the sound in a empty room and a furnished one. Some materials are very effective at _ sounds. They are often made up of fibres or foam, because these trap layers or bubbles of air. Sounds do not travel well through air. Most of the curtains, carpets and upholstery in your home are good sound absorbers and will stop sound travelling through windows, walls and floors. A lot of noise pollution can be avoided if a machine is designed properly. Modern cars contain different materials to reduce the amount of noise coming from the engine and other moving parts, as well as noise produced by the car as it moves through the air. Have a look around next time you are in a car. What soundproofing can you see? By replacing metal parts in cars and other machines with parts made of plastics and foams, there is now far less noise than there used to be. According to the passage, what will most probably cause noises? A. Using electric drills. B. Listening to light music. C. Laughing happily D. Playing the piano Answer: A
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. We can know that Claude Monet painted about 20 versions of the Rouen Cathedral _ . Answer: in different lighting conditions The behaviour of a building's users may be at least as important as its design when it comes to energy use, according to new research from the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). The UK promises to reduce its carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050, part of which will be achieved by all new homes being zero-carbon by 2016. But this report shows that sustainable building design on its own -- though extremely important- is not enough to achieve such reductions: the behaviour of the people using the building has to change too. The study suggests that the ways that people use and live in their homes have been largely ignored by existing efforts to improve energy efficiency , _ instead focus on architectural and technological developments. 'Technology is going to assist but it is not going to do everything,'explains Katy Janda, a UKERC senior researcher,'consumption patterns of building users can defeat the most careful design. 'In other words,old habits die hard, even in the best-designed eco-home. Another part of the problem is information. Households and bill-payers don't have the knowledge they need to change their energy-use habits. Without specific information,it's hard to estimate the costs and benefits of making different choices. Feedback facilities, like smart meters and energy monitors,could help bridge this information gap by helping people see how changing their behaviour directly affects their energy use; some studies have shown that households can achieve up to 15 percent energy savings using smart meters. Social science research has added a further dimension ,suggesting that individuals'behaviour in the home can be personal and cannot be predicted whether people throw open their windows rather than turn down the thermostat , for example. Janda argues that education is the key. She calls for a focused programme to teach people about buildings and their own behaviour in them. As to energy use, the new research from UKERC stresses the importance of _ . Answer: the behaviour of building users When the amount of food goes down, the amount of conflict between the organisms searching for it will Answer: go up Attention! Students ! Beach party comes ! We are going to have an outdoor party at the National Park on July 15. Activities: 1. Ride bikes from the Student Center to the beach. 2. A picnic on the beach. 3. Swimming and sailing contests. What to bring: sun cream, sunglasses, hats, swimsuits, hiking shoes and personal items. Deadline for signing up : Sunday, July 8 Fee: 200 per person. Meet at the Student Center at 10:00 am, July 15 P. S:All the food will be offered by the Students' Union. Where do you usually find a poster like this? Answer: In a school It often happens that a number of applicants with almost identical qualifications and experience all apply for the same position. In their educational background, special skills and work experience, there is little, if anything, to choose between half a dozen candidates . How then does the employer make a choice? Usually on the basis of an interview. There are many arguments about the interview as a selection procedure. The main argument against it is that it results in a wholly subjective decision. As often as not, employers do not choose the best candidate, but the one who makes a good first impression on them. Some employers, of course, reply to this argument by saying that they have become so experienced in interviewing staff that they are able to make a sound assessment of each candidate's likely performance. Those in favor of the interview insist that the well-structured procedure is valid in assessing a candidate's ability, an essential guarantee for the future job. They also argue that an employer is concerned not only with a candidate's ability, but with the suitability of his or her personality for the particular work situation. Many employers, for example, will overlook occasional inefficiencies from their secretary so long as she has a pleasant personality. Perhaps the real purpose of an interview is not to assess the assessable aspects of each candidate but to make a guess at the more intangible (, ) things, such as personality, character and social ability. Today, interview is still the key section of the entire selection procedure, though different employers have different standards for competence . Generally speaking, candidates who interview well tend to be confident, but never boastful ; direct and straight-forward in their questions andanswers; cheerful and friendly, but never over-familiar; and sincerely enthusiastic and optimistic. Candidates who interview badly tend to be at either end of the spectrum (, ) of human behavior. They are either very shy or over-confident. They show either a lack of enthusiasm or an excess of it. They either talk too little or never stop talking. They are either over-polite or rudely abrupt . What is the author's attitude towards the interview as a selection procedure? Answer: Objective
Which are you more likely to have with you at any given moment-your cell phone or your wallet? Soon you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over an electronic scanner. In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800 of its stores. This is the first pay-by-phone practice in the U.S., but we're likely to see more wireless payment alternatives as something called near field communication (NFC) gets into America's consumer electronics. Last December, some new smart phones which contain an NFC chip were introduced to the public. Already in use in parts of Asia and Europe, NFC allows shoppers to wave their phones a few inches above a payment terminal - a contact- free system built for speed and convenience. But before NFC becomes widely adopted in the U.S., a few problems need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable transaction fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave-and- pay systems that use NFC-enabled credit cards, cell phone service providers may try to muscle their way into the point-of-sale(POS)market. Three big cell phone service providers have formed a joint venture that will go into operation over the next 15 months. Its goal is "to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile phone." The other big NFC issue, apart from how payments will be processed, is security. For instance, what's to stop a thief from digitally pick-pocketing you? "We're still not at the point where an attacker can just brush against you in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone," says Jimmy Shah. A mobile- security researcher, "Users may also be able to set transaction limits, perhaps requiring a password to be entered for larger purchases." Still uneasy about this digital-wallet business? Keep in mind that if you lose your smart phone, it can be located on a map and remotely disabled. Plus, your phone can be password protected. Your wallet isn't. According to the passage, what can users do if they lose their smart phones? A Stop the functioning of their phones. B Set up a password. C Get all the money out of their phones. D Report it to the bank. Answer: A. Stop the functioning of their phones. In northern China during spring, big sandstorms often make trouble for people. Sandstorms usually happen in spring. They have happened in more than 10 provinces in northern China this year. People in southern China don't have to worry about this kind of bad weather. Most of the sand comes from the north of China. In northern China, lots of places have few trees and don't get much rain. When there aren't many trees, the ground can't keep enough water. Over the years, the ground dries up and turns into sand. When spring comes and the ice melts, the ground becomes loose. Strong winds take the loose sand into the sky. Besides, in northeast China, there is some vast desert. Sandstorms are bad for people's health. If people breathe in too much sand, they will cough or have serious illnesses. Sandstorms also give farmers lots of problems. Sometimes their sheep get lost in the storms and never come back home. The winds also tear the farmers' houses down. What can you do to stop sandstorms? Here's a piece of advice. Ask your parents to help you plant some trees in spring. If you see people cutting down too many trees, tell them about the dangers of sandstorms, and ask your government to stop them. Which of the following is NOT a way to stop sandstorms? A Plant more trees in spring. B Stop people to cut down too many trees C Don't stay outside when sandstorms happen. D Tell people about the dangers of sandstorms. Answer: C. Don't stay outside when sandstorms happen. Thank you for trusting me. I enjoy exchanging my ideas with yours The first thing I want to tell you is that if the boys are calling you names it is their fault, not yours. Boys, at your age, are different from girls. They are trying to prove that they are manly and then often do this by picking on someone who can't really fight back. This is, of course, wrong but it happens. In general, the boys know they are bigger and stronger than you are, so they can make fun of you and make you cry and then laugh about it. If you let them see that they are hurting you, they will only do it more. It isn't that they want to hurt you; they simply want to make themselves feel superior . It's stupid, but it is common. In English we say " sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Canadian children learn this from their mothers because the same thing that is happening to you in China also happens here. The best ways of getting the boys to stop calling your names is to simply ignore them, knowing that the names can't hurt you and that the boys are being stupid. If you can laugh at them they will get tired of trying to make you cry and they'll give up. It won't be easy, but, trust me, it will work. There is also something else working in your favor and that is that you are growing up and the boys are beginning to notice you as a young woman. I suspect some of them actually like you and are making fun of you just to get your attention. Again, it's stupid but it happens. In reality, you can control this situation by not letting them see you getting hurt. Laugh at them, tell them they're acting like children and they should grow up and then walk away with your head held high. One more thing, Nancy. It is very important that you stop hurting yourself. If someone else hurts you, it is bad enough but you should't make it worse by then hurting yourself. Even sticking a pen into your finger can cause an infection and give you a lot of trouble and besides, it hurts. The next time you are disturbed by a group of stupid boys, write to me. You and I can talk about anything you like; about China, about Canada, about travel, anything. Having a conversation with me is better than sticking holes in your fingers, at least I hope it is. It can be learned from the passage that the writer is _ . A a Canadian B an Englishman C Nancy's schoolmate D Nancy's father Answer: A. a Canadian NOWADAYS, most animated films rely heavily on computer technology. But his magical world - where witches cast spells and castles float in the sky - is brought to life by hand. Nevertheless, Hayao Miyazaki is referred to as Japan's Walt Disney and considered by many to be the world's greatest living animator. This month, the 72-year-old Miyazaki announced his retirement. The Japanese animator has directed 11 animated full-length films over the past four decades, including the Oscar-winning Spirited Away (<<>> ) and his latest release, The Wind Rises (<<>> ), which tells the life story of a man who designed Japanese World War II fighter planes. Just as The Wind Rises shows, Miyazaki is well-known for his obsession with flight, especially human flight. Other striking aspects of Miyazaki's films include his themes of environmental protection and the horrors of war. Miyazaki's work is also famous for its lack of clearly defined good and evil characters. He sees the 21st century as a complex time when old norms need to be re-examined. As a storyteller, he is an inventor of fairy tales full of mystery. In the Miyazakian universe, wizards turn into birds of prey; young girls are transformed overnight into 90-year-old women; greedy parents are changed into pigs; and shooting stars become fire demons . As a visual artist, most of Miyazaki's grace comes from his vivid colors and lovingly drawn landscapes - a rolling meadow covered with flowers and shadowed by clouds, or a range of rocky hills rising toward snow-capped mountain peaks People attribute Miyazaki's success to his long pursuit of his hand-drawn technique, although in an interview with CNN he called himself an "extinct species" in the age of digital animation. A recent television documentary on the making of The Wind Rises showed a disappointed Miyazaki throwing a pile of drawings into the trash. He is said to have redrawn thousands of frames of the much-praised Princess Mononoke (<<>> ) when they did not meet his standards. But his huge attention to detail has earned him the respect of the entire animated film world. Even John Lasseter - head of Pixar, the famous US computer animation studio - once called Miyazaki "one of the greatest filmmakers of our time". What is the main idea of this article ? A Miyazake's impact on Japanese culture B the characteristics of Miyazake's films C what inspired Miyazake to create his films D what made Miyazake succeed Answer: B. the characteristics of Miyazake's films In modem society there is a great deal of argument about competition.Some value it highly,believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity.Others say that competition is bad, that it sets one person against another and that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people. I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills.For them,playing well and winning are often life-and-death affair. In their single-minded pursuit of success,the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten. However,while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed,others take an opposite attitude.In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players,they strongly blame competition.Among _ are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society.Teaching these young people,I often observe in them a desire to fail.They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success .By not trying,they always have an excuse:"I may have lost,but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try.'' What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost,that would mean a lot.Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly,this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves.Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others.Both are afraid of not being valued.Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve can we discover a new meaning in competition. Why do some people favor competition according to the passage? A It pushes society forward. B it builds up a sense of duty. C It improves personal abilities. D It encourages individual efforts. Answer: A. It pushes society forward.
Question: The king was to pass by a beggar's small poor house and the man was excited, not because he was about to see the king but because the king was known to part with expensive jewels and huge sums of money when moved by sympathy. He saw the king's carriage just when a kind man was filling his begging bowl with uncooked rice. Pushing the man aside, he ran into the street, shouting praises of the king and the royal family. The carriage stopped and the king beckoned to the beggar. "Who are you?" he asked. "One of the most unfortunate of your people," said the beggar. "Poverty sits on my doorstep and follows me about like a dog. I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon!" "Have you nothing for your king except great sorrow?" said the ruler, putting out his hand. "Give me something." The beggar, astonished, carefully picked up 5 grains of rice from his bowl and laid them on the king's outstretched palm. The king drove away. The beggar's disappointment was great. He complained and cursed the king again and again for his miserliness. When he returned home in the evening he found a bag of rice on the floor. "Some generous soul has been here," he thought and took out a handful of rice from the bag. To his astonishment, there was a small piece of gold in it. He realized then that the bag had been sent by the king. He emptied the rice on the floor, feeling sure there would be more gold pieces in it, and he was right. He found 5, one for each grain of rice he had given the king. "It is not the king who has been miserly," thought the man, sadly. "If I had been generous and given him the whole bowl of rice, I would have been a rich man today." The real reason why the beggar got only five gold pieces is that _ . A. he complained and cursed the king again and again B. the king was only generous to rich people C. the king wanted to punish him severely D. he himself was miserly Answer: D Question: Hector always gave everything he had. But because he was only half the size of the other boys, he mostly had to sit out his high school football games. Even so, Hector's father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. A few years later, Hector decided to try out for the college team. The coach kept him on because he always put all his heart into each practice. But still, the boy never got to play. Unfortunately, shortly before the big playoff game, Hector was told that his father had died. The coach suggested he shouldn't come to the game. But the boy wanted to be there. On Saturday, the game wasn't going well. Hector kept asking the coach to give him a chance. Finally, the coach gave in. What a surprise! Hector ran, passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to catch up. The score was soon tied . Near the end of the game, Hector took the ball and ran all the way for the winning touchdown . Then the coach came up to him, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! How did you do it?" Hector replied, with tears in his eyes, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that he was also blind?" What is the best title of the text? A. All for a Father's Love B. An Experienced Coach C. A Promising Football Star D. A Determined Player Answer: A Question: We show an amazing tolerance for a form of pollution that is a growing problem: noise. Airplane traffic is increasing by five percent a year. Urban noise is doubling every ten years. By air, land and sea, we are facing an onslaught of noise that is threatening our ability to live in this world. We have granted ourselves the right to make noise. But what about our responsibilities? Have we developed a sense of acoustic responsibility? The evidence suggests that we have not. Many people seem to believe they have an unlimited right to make noise with cars and motorbikes, and with loud music at home and in the street. In some countries measures have been taken to force people to make less noise. In Britain, for example, a law has been passed preventing people from disturbing their neighbors with music at night. It is widely accepted that we should deal with our rubbish in a responsible way. Noise is in reality a particularly insidious form of rubbish. It destroys community life, pursues us into our homes, keeps us from sleeping and is the cause of many stress-related illnesses, as well as hearing loss. Our acoustic environment belongs to all of us. Everyone has the right to use it, but no one has the right to abuse it. Let's start using it responsibly. The passage is probably written to _ . A. introduce acoustic responsibility B. call for people to make less noise C. compare rubbish and noise D. describe people's attitude to noise Answer: B Question: Are you interested in travelling in the dangerous mountains in America? Here are some tour plans for you to choose. Tour 1 Garland Valley Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Book in advance. Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15 Tour 2 Flashlight Adventure Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly controlled on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours. Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22 Tour 3 Black Bear Count There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Remember to book in advance. Cost: Free When: May 8 Advice to be followed: Please bring enough water and food for all walks. Wear good walking shoes---no high heels. Wear a hat for day walks. Dress warmly for night walks. Children must be with an adult. Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks. Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are so dangerous that you have to care. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Extra batteries are needed for Tour 1 & 3. B. All three tours require booking in advance. C. It's clearly advised to wear a hat for Tour 2. D. Tour 3 will take the longest hours to finish. Answer: B Question: Gravitational force never affects A. balloons B. stars C. sunshine D. air Answer: C
While Mr. Wan, his wife and their little daughter were in Europe, they decided to drive three days to Germany. His little daughter had never travelled at night before. She was scared the first night in the car, with the deep darkness outside. "Where are we going, Daddy?" "To your uncle's house in Germany." "Have you been to his house before?" "No." "Do you know the way?" " _ ." "Do you know how to read the map?" "Yes, we will get there safely." "Where are we going to eat if we get hungry before arriving?" "We can stop at a restaurant if we get very hungry, my honey." "Do you know if there are restaurants on the way?" "Yes, there are." "Do you know where?" "No, but we will be able to find some." The same dialogue repeated a few times during the first night and second night. But on the third night, the daughter was quiet. He couldn't help wondering why she was not asking the questions anymore. "Honey, do you know where we are going?" "Germany, to uncle's house." "Do you know how we are getting there?" "No." "Then why aren't you asking me any more?" "Because Daddy is driving." Because Daddy is driving. That answer from his little girl gave Mr. Wan strength for many years after, whenever he had questions and fears about his life journey. What gave Mr. Wan more strength after this trip? Answer: In today's China, exchanges between Chinese and English-speakers are increasingly frequent. English skills are important to Chinese if China wishes to play a stronger role on the world stage. However, the general English level of the Chinese people is on the decline. China's ranking in the 2015 EF English Proficiency Index dropped 10 drops. The Middle Kingdom was ranked 47th out of 70 countries rated, and is now _ several Latin American countries. The report triggered widespread discussion in China: in an increasingly international nation, why is the peoples' level of English getting worse? A decline in the English level of the Chinese people is no accident. With China's exam-based education system, worsening English is inevitable. English education in China is too focused on grammar and ignored oral practice. This results in students that are often too scared to speak, for fear of making a mistake. Exam-based courses make it so students merely learn for the test, not learn the language. In Latin America, nations do not have a rigorous exam system for English, but focus on promoting the language itself. Such programs that promote English include Chile's "English Opens Doors" program, Panama's "Panama Bilingual Education Program," and Mexico's "10 Million People Plan." Brazil, which also has a government program, is ranked first in the region for English. The Chinese government should first think about how to reduce the amount of pressure on students taking exams in order to promote change in the current system of rote English education. This is the most important step. Everyone has been recently focused on overseas returnees. The number of Chinese studying abroad has rapidly multiplied in past years. At the same time, the number of overseas returnees is increasing as well. The job market is also increasingly competitive for them and it is often more difficult for returnees to find a suitable job than it is for domestic graduates. Difficulties and pressure in the job market for overseas returnees deters a number of Chinese from studying abroad. As a result, the number of Chinese with high-level English, carefully perfected abroad, has been reduced. This could be a major reason for why English is getting worse overall in China. While China's overall level of English has declined, it has not affected China's huge emphasis on English education and training. China remains one of the nations that is most committed to the study of English. What does the writer want to do with this article? Answer: This is my world now; it's all I have left. You see, I'm old. And, I'm not as healthy as I used to be. I'm not necessarily happy with it, but I accept it. Occasionally, a member of my family will stop in to see me. He or she will bring me some flowers or a little present, maybe a set of slippers--I've got eight pairs. And then they will return to the outside world and I'll be alone again. Oh, there are other people here in the nursing home. Residents, we're called. The majority are about my age. I'm 84. Many are in wheelchairs. The lucky ones are passing through--a broken hip, a diseased heart, something has brought them here for rehabilitation . When they're well they'll be going home. The help here is basically pretty good, although there's a large turnover of staff. Just when I get comfortable with someone he or she moves on to another job. I understand that. This is not the best job to have. I don't much like some of the physical things that happen to us. I don't care much for a diaper . I seem to have lost the control acquired so diligently as a child. The difference is that I'm aware and embarrassed, but I can't do anything about it. I've had three children, and I know it isn't pleasant to clean another's diaper. My husband used to wear a gas mask when he changed the kids. I wish I had one now. Why do you think the staff insists on talking baby talk when speaking to me? I understand English. I have a degree in music and am a certified teacher. Now I hear a lot of words that end in "y". There is little need for anyone to position their face directly in front of mine and raise their voice with those "y" words. Sometimes it takes longer for a meaning to sink in; sometimes my mind wanders when I am bored. But there's no need to shout. I'd love to go out for a meal or travel again. I'd love to go to my own church, sing with my own choir. I'd love to visit my friends. Most of them are gone now or else they are in different "homes" of their children's choosing. I'd love to play a good game of bridge, but no one here seems to concentrate very well. My children put me here for my own good. They said they would be able to visit me frequently. But they have their own lives to lead. That sounds normal. I don't want to be a burden. They know that. But I would like to see them more. One of them is here in town. He visits as much as he can. Something else I've learned to accept is loss of privacy. Quite often I'll close my door when my roommate--imagine having a roommate at my age--is in the TV room. I do appreciate some time to myself and believe that I have earned at least that courtesy . As I sit thinking or writing, one of the aides invariably opens the door unannounced and walks in as if I'm not there. Sometimes she even opens my drawers and begins searching around. Am I invisible? Have I lost my right to respect and dignity? I am still a human being. I would like to be treated as one. Back to my semiprivate room for a little semi-privacy or a nap . I do need my beauty rest; company may come today. What is today, again? The afternoon drags into early evening. This used to be my favorite time of the day. Things would wind down. I would kick off my shoes. Put my feet up on the coffee table. Pop open a bottle of Chablis and enjoy the fruits of my day's labor with my husband. He's gone. So is my health. This is my world. The author concluded her essay with a tone of _ . Answer: Mr. Johns and Mr. Brown worked in the same office. One day Mr. Johns said to Mr. Brown, "I'm going to have a small party at my house next Wednesday evening. Would you and your wife like to join us?" Mr. Brown said, "Thank you very much. That is very kind of you. We are free that evening, I think. But I will telephone my wife and ask her. Maybe she wants to go somewhere else that evening." So Mr. Brown went to the other room and telephoned. When he came back, he looked very sorry. " What's the matter?" said Mr. Johns, "Did you speak to your wife?" "No," answered Mr. Brown, "She wasn't there. My small son answered the telephone. I said to him, 'Is your mother there, David?' and he answered, 'No, she is not in the house.' 'Where is she then?' I asked. 'She is somewhere outside.' 'What is she doing?' 'She is looking for me.'" Mr. Brown spoke to _ on the phone. Answer: Timmy had the best grandmother ever. She was very nice because she would always help Timmy when he needed help with his homework. She would sit down with Timmy in the kitchen and help him with his spelling every night. Then she would go back to the living room and watch television when he worked on his math. After that she would cook Timmy a big dinner, and they would both eat it together before Timmy's mom and dad came to pick him up. When Timmy went home he would sometimes call his grandmother to say hello. Even when she was sleepy she would talk with him and tell him a bedtime story. One time she even told him a story about his grandfather who had been a farmer. Timmy loved this story because he never got to meet his grandfather. One day he wanted to be like him and be a farmer. Who helped Timmy with his homework? Answer:
"Mr. Mott often forgets important meetings. The robot will go after him all the time. It listens to everything he says. It sees everything he does. At night, it watches him sleep. It knows everything about Mr. Mott..." It sounds like a wonderful idea, doesn't it? But I'm afraid that Mr. Mott will not get on well with the robot, because everyone has something he doesn't want others know. It is privacy. Just imagine that there is a video camera around you all day. How do you feel? When you are taking an exam, a teacher sits in front of you and watches you all the time. How do you feel? Mr. Mott doesn't lose all his memory. At least he remembers that he always forgets. So why can't he do something for this HIMSELF? He can keep a notebook with him, like most people do. In the notebook he can write down the things he should do, the persons he should meet and the places he should go. Isn't the notebook much cheaper and safer than the robot? From this passage we know that the writer _ . A. doesn't like the robot to follow Mr.Mott all day. B. thinks it is a good idea to have a robot like Mr Mott's. C. If we always forget something important,we should have a robot. D. A notebook is cheaper than a robot but a robot is better than a notebook. Answer: A. doesn't like the robot to follow Mr.Mott all day. These days many students like to make friends online. Most of them think it's interesting to know an unknown person through the Internet. So, many students like to use computers to talk with those friends. And they spend too much time on it. Some of them can not do well in their school work. Their parents often don't think the children are as good as before. So many teachers and parents are worried about their children. In fact, only very few of them can get real good friends in this way. Most of them were _ by those unseen friends. And some of the students did wrong things online. It's terrible for students to use too much time to make friends and talk online. So we should be careful of making friends online and should not spend too much time on it. We'd better pay more attention to study. We will be really happy when we do well in school and at home. Many students like to make friends online because _ . A. they are interested in it B. they can learn better in this way C. they always get real friends in this way D. their parents worry about them Answer: A. they are interested in it Hello, everyone! My name is Winnie. I'm a 15-year-old girl. I live in the beautiful city of Rizhao. I'm an active , lovely and clever girl. In the school my favourite subject is Math. Maybe someone thinks it's difficult to study well. But I like it. I believe that if you try your best, everything can be done well. I also like sports very much, such as running, volleyball and so on. I'm kind. If you need help, please come to me. I hope we can be good friends! OK. This is me, a sunny girl! Which subject is Winnie's favourite? A. Chinese B. Math C. English D. History Answer: B. Math This sad story happened on a cold winter evening. It was so cold and snow was falling so heavily that the roads were covered with ice and a strong wind was blowing. Being outside in such weather was very unwise. However, Peter Lee had to walk home from work. Peter walked with difficulty along a country road, the cold wind beating against his chest. He thought, "If I wear my coat backwards, maybe, it will be a little bit warmer for me." He stopped walking, took off his coat, and put it on backwards. "That's much better," he said to himself happily. Walking on through the thickly falling snow, he was thinking about drinking a cup of warm coffee by the burning fireplace. A few minutes later, a car knocked down Peter. The driver hadn't seen him soon enough. When he tried his best to put on the brakes , the car skidded on the icy road. The frightened driver got out of the car and ran to see how the poor man was. After a while, a police car arrived. A policeman went up to see Mr Lee who was lying on the ground. He told the driver, "I'm afraid he's dead." The driver was so surprised. "This can't be the case, because I hardly touched him. Check my car carefully. There's not a mark on it." The policeman said, "I'm sure he's dead." "It's impossible," the driver said anxiously. "As soon as I hit him, I ran to help him. He was lying on the road, but he was breathing and there was no blood." "Did you touch him?" the policeman asked. "Yes, but only to turn his head around the right way," the driver answered. According to the writer, Peter Lee _ . A. was wise B. didn't need to walk home in such bad weather C. was in bad need of going home D. had difficulty in finding the road leading to his home Answer: C. was in bad need of going home One upon a time there was a dragon named Jack. He was large and had big scales, but did not have claws or a mean look on his face like other dragons did. He also didn't have wings and couldn't fly. Jack lived near a castle that had a princess trapped in it. This castle looked and was guarded by an evil dragon named Ryan. The castle was old and dirty. It wasn't clean or special like many castles are thought to look. One day Jack thought that he was going to try to save the princess Linda when Ryan was sleeping that night. After sunset, he slowly walked around and climbed over the back wall. After passing many sleeping guards, Jack put his nose near the princess's tower window. She climbed out on to it and they ran off. During their escape, Ryan woke up and started chasing them. However, he was too sleepy to catch them. Jack took the princess to a nearby safe town where she thanked him and said goodbye. What did Jack have? A. Wings B. Big scales C. A Mean look D. Claws Answer: B. Big scales
Question: We live in a sweet world. The average American kid consumes more than 20 teaspoons of sugar per day, and adults eat 50% more sugar today than they did in the 1970s. We all know that too much sugar isn't good for you. But did we know it could be dangerous? A team of researchers at the University of Utah used mice to conduct a study on the negative effects of sugar. They found it could have serious effects on people's health. Sugar is found not only in sweets and candies, but also in many household items like pasta and crackers. During the 58-week-long study, mice were fed a diet containing 25% more sugar. This percentage equals a healthy human diet along with three cans of soda daily. The team found that these mice were twice as likely to die as mice fed a similar diet without the sugar. Though the mice did not show signs of obesity or high blood pressure, male mice were 26% less territorial and produced 25% fewer offspring than the other mice. Scientists often use mice for research because they have a similar genetic structure to humans. "Since most substances that are dangerous in mice are also dangerous in people, it's likely that those physical problems that cause those mice to have increased deaths also work in people," says study author James Ruff of the University of Utah. Findings from this study reveal negative effects that are not as noticeable as weight gain or heart problems. Sugar can contribute to long-term changes in the body that can change development and even shorten lives. Cutting sugar out of the American diet altogether may be difficult. But making the effort to control our nation's sugar desire will provide for a truly sweeter future. According to the study, which of the following statements is wrong? A. Sugar can even shorten lives. B. Sugar's negative effects are not noticeable. C. Mice are more likely to diet when fed a diet containing 25% more sugar. D. Eating much more sugar can make mice put on weight and get high blood pressure. Answer: D Question: Thoughts on Shenzhen Airport Traffic Accident March 1 was a very sad day for everyone. On that day a huge traffic accident happened at the Shenzhen Airport. Nine people lost their lives and 23 people were injured. For those people, it was a night- mare! To learn a lesson, we must know who caused the accident and why. The answer looks obvious. It's the car owner's fault because she drove her car into the people. However, is that true? Is that her fault? What about the dead and injured people? Did they have their own faults as well? The answer is yes. According to news reports, at that time, many people were standing in the turning section of the viaduct watching the airplanes take off and land. Suddenly, a car appeared. Maybe the car owner got nervous, so she mistakenly stamped on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal, which caused the accident. In my opinion, of course the driver should be blamed because she caused the accident. However, for those dead and injured people, although we feel sorry for them, they have their own responsibilities as well. They should have been aware of their own safety. They shouldn't have been standing in a dangerous place to watch the airplanes take off and land. How many people died in this accident? A. 23 B. 9 C. 32 D. 25 Answer: B Question: Cursive writing is about to become extinct.Do we raise the red flag? To teach or not to teach cursive writing is a question that several state education departments are meeting with. Before you read this text, do a simple exercise.Pick a pen and paper and start writing in cursive.Yes, that fancy handwriting that you learned in grade school.You may not have forgotten the good times you had while writing curly Ms and Ns.However, the chances are that you won't be able to write it as excellently as you used to.Some people are good at making the perfect curls, while some are bad.I am still terrible at it. Cursive writing is hardly used by kids anymore as even adults don't write in this style, unless they are using it for their signature.Learning it was a usual practice in school for several decades.However, in 2011, the Indiana Department of Education made it optional for schools to teach cursive writing to the students.In fact, there are 46 more states that have also done the same. There are some who believe that it is high time for cursive writing to retire from school curriculum.After all, if we don't leave the past behind, we cannot make way for new things.If you walk into any classroom, you would find children using keyboards to communicate in the written form.On the other hand, fans of cursive writing insist on its usefulness.They remind us that if we stop teaching and learning cursive writing in school, very soon most of our historical documents will become hard to us.Where do we stand on this subject? Is it the right time to erase an almost forgotten writing style and live in the keyboarding world? Or can we do both without compromising on our school curriculum? Let me know your thoughts on this matter by leaving a comment in the section below. Which of the following could be the best title for the text? A. Is cursive writing necessary? B. Is the keyboarding world good? C. How to write in cursive D. How to improve cursive writing Answer: A Question: Dear Mike, How are you? Are you still coming to my birthday party in January? My family, friends and classmates are all coming. The party is on Monday, January 13 at 6:00. It's at Uncle Tom's restaurant in the city. First, we can eat and talk from 6:00 to 7:45. After that we can go to a movie in ZJG Shopping Park near Zhonglian(GDH) International Hotel. Every Monday, there's a movie on at 8:00. I hope you can come. You can meet my other friends and my sisters, too. Write soon! Kathy What can they do at 7: 00? They can _ . A. go to a movie B. eat and talk C. go to ZJG Shopping Park D. meet my friends and sisters Answer: B Question: Modern smart phones are fast becoming the must-have item. But what's in store for the next generation of smart phones? Tired of carrying around that heavy wallet? Soon you won't need to! The next generation of smart phones will have NFC technology, which lets you pay for things with your smart phones. All you do is enter your credit card information into your phone. Then, when you are in a shop that allows NFC payments, you just wave your phone over a special instrument at the checkout. The purchase is instantly charged to your credit card. Ever seen someone wearing something and wished you knew where to get it? Soon it will be easy with PicCommerce, new technology that uses image-recognition software. Here's how it works. If you see something you like, simply take a photo of it with your smart phone. Then, your phone will send the image to a special server, which will respond with information about where you can buy it and how much it will cost. Sick of your smart phone battery going flat? With so many applications draining the battery, the latest phones need to be charged every day. But next generation smart phones will come with built-in chips that can connect to an antenna in your home. And as long as your phone is within range of the antenna, you will be able to charge your smartphone wirelessly, even if it is in your pocket. Worried about getting your smart phones wet in the rain? A company called Hz0 has invented WaterBlock, new technology that makes your phone completely waterproof. And it's so effective that your phone will even work underwater. Fed up with carrying a heavy phone around? Soon, you will be able to get a PaperPhone! "Flexible phones are the future," said scientist Roel Vertegaal. So, what are the benefits of flexible phones? Well, it means that instead of carrying your phone in your pocket, you could wear it wrapped around your wrist, for example. Of course, there is just the problem: with so much new smart phone technology around, you will soon need to buy a new phone! To pay with your smart phone, you need to _ . A. go to a bank B. store money in the phone C. buy a special instrument D. have a credit card Answer: D
Wanted: an English tutor Do you like kids? Are you outgoing ? Do you have three years' experience as an English teacher? Do you have free time on Saturday and Sunday? We need a woman teacher for our daughter. She is twelve and she is not good at English. For the job, you will. Teach from 3:00pm to 6:00 pm. Teach our daughter English. Tell her stories in English. You will work at our house. We live in Beihai Road, Garden District. The pay is Y=30 each hour. If you want to know more information , please call Mrs Yang at 82569876. What is not a part of the job? Answer: Cooking for the kid. Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth.Finances were a constant concern for his family.The expenses of having a large family were too much for his father's salary.In fact, when Charles was just four months old, the family moved to a smaller home to cut expenses. At a very young age, despite his family's financial situation, Charles dreamed of becoming a gentleman.However, when he was 12, it seemed his dream would never come true.He suffered a lot.Charles' education was unplanned, but he supplemented it with constant reading, particularly of the eighteenthcentury novels in his father's small library.He was poorly clothed, ill fed, forced to live in the cheapest place. Also,12yearold Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a factory to help support the family.Charles was deeply marked by these experiences.This childhood poverty, although unknown to his readers until after his death, would be a heavy influence on Dickens' later views on social reform and the world he would create through his fiction.He knew those kinds of feelings.He was lost at that time when he worked hopelessly in the factory.That period was so bitter to the sensitive boy.When he was a successful, happy man, he could not look back upon it without tears in his eyes. Luckily the situation improved within a year.Charles was released from his duties at the factory. Charles Dickens was removed from school because _ . Answer: he had to make money to support the family We've used the wind as an energy source for a long time. The Babylonians and Chinese were using wind power to pump water for irrigating crops 4,000 years ago, and sailing boats were around long before that. Wind power was used in the Middle Ages, in Europe, to grind corn, which is where the term "windmill" comes from. We can use the energy in the wind by building a tall tower, with a large propeller on the top. The wind blows the propellor round, which turns a generator to produce electricity. We tend to build many of these towers together, to make a "wind farm" and produce more electricity. The more towers, the more wind, and the larger the propellors, the more electricity we can make. It's only worth building wind farms in places that have strong, steady winds, although boats and caravans increasingly have small wind generators to help keep their batteries charged. The best places for wind farms are in coastal areas, at the tops of rounded hills, open plains and gaps in mountains - places where the wind is strong and reliable. Some are offshore. To be worthwhile, you need an average wind speed of around 25 km/h. Most wind farms in the UK are in Cornwall or Wales. Isolated places such as farms may have their own wind generators. In California, several "wind farms" supply electricity to homes around Los Angeles. The propellors are large, to obtain energy from the largest possible volume of air. The blades can be angled to cope with varying wind speeds. Some designs use vertical turbines , which don't need to be turned to face the wind. The towers are tall, to get the propellors as high as possible, up to where the wind is stronger. This means that the land beneath can still be used for farming. The best places for building the wind farm are places where _ . Answer: the wind is strong and reliable One day Mr. and Mrs. Black were driving to a party . Mr. Black drove the car very fast. "Please don't drive so fast." Mrs Black asked his husband to drive more slowly ."If you drive so fast , maybe we'll have some trouble.""Oh , no , Don't be worried , my dear . "said Mr. Black with a smile ."You know I'm good at driving . You won't be in danger . And there is little time . If I don't drive fast , we'll be late for the party." A few minutes later , his wife , Mrs. Black , said to him,"If you don't slow down ,We'll be in hospital." Just at this moment a car came out of a side road and crossed in front of their car . Mr. Black stopped their car quickly . It nearly hit that car: "Oh , dear , I'm sorry for that . You are right , my dear,"said Mr Black . "I'll never drive fast later . Now let me drive slowly . "Then car drove very slowly to the party . Of course they were very late for the party. Mr. and Mrs. Black were driving to _ one day. Answer: a party The Nadam Festival, usually held from June 4 to 9(lunar calendar), is one of the most exciting and colorful festivals in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. At the center of the festivities are the fierce horse racing, archery and wrestling competitions, the traditional sports of the Mongolian warriors (the three "manly" sports, though young girls and women participate in the horse racing and archery contests). In Mongolian, the word "Nadam" means "amusement and entertainment" and the festival began in 1225 AD, when Genghis Khan organized an expedition to the west and got control of Khwarezm. In order to celebrate the victory they held the magnificent Nadam Fari. The Mongolians used this exciting gathering as a big occasion to compete in the horse racing, Mongolian wrestling and archery, which were regarded as the three basic skills of men. Gradually more and more events were added to the festival, such as marksmanship , chess, reciting epics, polo , film, drama, singing, dancing, track and field competitions and so on. There are three kinds of Nadam, the big one, the medium one and the small one. The big Nadam requires the participation of 512 wrestlers and 300 horses and usually lasts 7-10 days while the medium Nadam will have the participation of 256 wrestlers and 100-150 horses, lasting 5-7 days. And 64 or 128 wrestlers and 30 or 50 horses will take part in the small Nadam, which lasts 3-5 days. Anyone can apply to compete in Nadam, regardless of his or her ethnic origin and religious belief. Nadam has become a popular artistic and sports event participated in by people of all ages. Boys and girls can also take the opportunity to show their love, i. e. the so-called "meeting at aobao". In addition to sports competition, people also make good use of this gathering to hold talks and establish relations in economic trade or to interchange goods. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: foreigners also have a chance to compete in the Nadam Festival
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. When reading reviews if the eye creams, you should _ . Answer: notice the function of the products Many years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a serious heart disease. He was put on permanent disability, but he still wanted to do something to keep himself busy, so he decided to volunteer at the local children's hospital. My dad loved kids. It was the perfect job for him. He would talk to them and play with them and do arts with them. One of his kids was a girl with a rare disease that paralyzed her from the neck down. I don't know the name of the disease, but I do know that it was very sad for a girl around eight or nine years old. She couldn't do anything, and she was very depressed. My dad decided to try to help her. He started visiting her in her room, bringing paints, brushes and paper. He stood the paper up against a backing, put the paintbrush in his mouth and began to paint. He didn't use his hands at all. Only his head would move. He visited her whenever he could and painted for her. All the while he would tell her, "See, you can do anything you set your mind to." Finally , she began to paint by using her mouth, and she and my dad became friends. Soon after, the little girl was discharged . One day, in the lobby of the hospital, my dad noticed the front doors open and then in came the little girl who had been paralyzed, but this time she was walking. She ran straight over to my dad and hugged him really tight. She gave him a picture she had done using her hands. At the bottom it read: "Thank you for helping me walk." My dad would cry every time he told us this story and so would we. He would say: "sometimes love is more powerful than doctors." Why did the author's father volunteer at the hospital? Answer: He didn't want to let himself lonely. Even people who don't understand English can enjoy Chaplin's films because they are mostly silent. It isn't what he says that makes us laugh. It depends upon actions which mean the same thing to people all over the world. He is _ of the art - a kind of world language. As a young man, he and his brother traveled to America in a small company of actors. Chaplin was then invited to join a new company that was making film comedies. Very soon he had made dozens of short films for this company. And it was in his second film that he wore the clothes which made his reputation - black hat, tight coat, baggy trousers, huge shoes, moustache and walking stick. He intended simply to make people laugh. But the odd make-up made him look both comic and sad. By the time he was thirty, Chaplin was the greatest, best known and best loved comedian in the world. He received thousands of dollars for each film he made. He had formed his own manner of acting. He was welcomed by excited crowds wherever he went. But he worked very hard and had few close friends. Perhaps that is why the sad side of the little tramp began to show more clearly in the films he made. The little man began to want more than food and a roof over his head. He began to want love. In one of his most famous films "The Gold Rush" a girl plays tricks on the little man. Then she begins to feel sorry for him and treats him kindly. He mistakes her pity for love. The girl in "City Lights" is blind. She thinks he is the most wonderful man she has ever met. But then she recovers her sight and sees what a foolish figure he is. This sadness gives Chaplin's films a depth of human experience which few comedians can equal. After living in America for forty years he moved to Switzerland. There he died on Christmas Day 1977. He once described himself as a citizen of famous pictures that were made during the 1920s and 1930s, the time of the silent films. But, to many people all over the world Chaplin will always be the king of comedy. Charlie Chaplin had few friends because he _ . Answer: spent most of his time in working and had no time to make friends To begin your expedition of wonder, get yourself a driver's license at your local department of motor vehicles, then rent a car and take off for New Hampshire's Crawford Notch State Park. This beautiful park is abundant in wildlife, natural vegetation and running rivers falling from high cliffs. It is a place of spectacular mountain views, hiking trails, waterfalls and fishing locations. All you need to do is jump in your rented car or SUV and head for the sunset! Okay, so you've just finished those crazy summer final exams and you're exhausted from all of the stress. That's okay because New Hampshire's State Park also offers a perfect way to recover at Coney's Flume Park where visitors can ride all the rapids in a hollowed out log, eat hotdogs and play on the amusement tides. Good times will be had no matter what your preference at Dry River Campground, which offers wood cabins, showers, electricity, flush toilets, laundry and fire rings. It's like a home away from home, so gather your camping gear and head for the journey! Lake Winnipesaukee If you're stuck on figuring out how to access your own wheels, how about finding a bus to take you to Weirs Beach? There are fall leaves tours running in the fall through the end of October. Let the captain do the driving while you enjoy the colors along the shoreline and the mountainsides. If you can't find some peace of mind from those nasty final exams while relaxing in your lakeside cottage, take a cruise and go fishing, go bird sightseeing, or just kick back in a rented boat and let the coo of the birds wash your troubles away. No matter where you go in New Hampshire, you'll meet the most friendly people you can imagine. Do dive into that rental car or SUV, take off for a vacation to New Hampshire and treat yourself to one of America's most beautiful states. Enjoy! What type of writing is this text? Answer: A tour introduction. The English policeman has several nicknames but the most frequently used are "copper" and "bobby". The first name comes from the verb to "cop", meaning to "take" or "capture", and the second comes from the first name of Sir Robert Peel, the nineteenth-century politician, who was the founder of the police force as we know it today. An early nickname for the policeman was "peeler", but this one has died out. Whatever we may call them, the general opinion about the police seems to be a good one except, of course, among the criminal part of the community where the police are given more bad nicknames which came from America, such as "fuzz" or "pig". Visitors to prefix = st1 /Englandseem, nearly always, to be very impressed by the English police. It has, in fact, become a standing joke that the visitor toBritain, when asked for his views of the country, will always say, "I think your policemen are wonderful." Well, the British bobby may not always be wonderful but he is usually a very friendly and helpful sort of character. A music-hall song of some years ago was called, "If You Want To Know The Time, Ask A Policeman". Nowadays, most people own watches but they still seem to find plenty of other questions to ask the policemen. In London, the policemen spend so much of their time directing visitors about the city that one wonders how they ever find time to do anything else! Two things are noticeable to the stranger, when he sees an English policeman for the first time. The first is that he does not carry a gun and the second is that he wears a very special type of helmet . His helmet, together with his height, enables an English policeman to be seen from a long distance, a fact that is not without its usefulness. From time to time it is suggested that the policeman should be given a gun and that his helmet should be taken from him, but both these suggestions are not accepted by the majority of the public and the police themselves. Visitors praise the English police because _ . Answer: they are polite and helpful
The president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is asking for foreign help to fight forest and agricultural fires in his country. According to Mr Widodo, Indonesian helicopters are only able to carry a small amount of the water needed to put out the fires. " _ " the Associated Press reported his comment. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space says more than 1,300 fires are burning across the country. The government has sent about 25,000 soldiers, police and firefighters in six provinces to battle the fires. Indonesian farmers and some businesses often burn rainforest to clear land at this time of year. The burning usually takes place during the country's dry season. But a large rise in palm oil production on peat lands is blamed for the many fires this year. Peat is made partly of dead plants, which burns easily and is often used as cooking fuel. The resulting thick, black smoke has polluted skies over Indonesia and four other countries. The burning has worsened air quality, closed schools and caused any outdoor activities to stop. The smoke is not only affecting people; it is affecting wildlife. In Indonesian Borneo, an animal rescue center says some of its animals have developed breathing problems. If the fires continue, a lot more could become sick and some could die. Scientists have warned that the fires this year could be worst ever because of a weather system called El Nino. They say the weather system has created extremely dry conditions in Indonesia. Which statement is true according to the passage? A. El Nino might help relieve the dry conditions in Indonesia. B. Many animals have become sick and died because of the fires. C. 25,000 people from home and abroad have been sent to fight fires. D. Some other countries besides Indonesia have been affected by the fires. Answer: D If food is being digested then it is in the body A. under foot B. in the ear C. in the leg D. above the knees Answer: D Once when I was facing a decision that involved high risk, I went to a friend. He looked at me for a moment, and then wrote a sentence containing the best advice I've ever had: Be bold and brave -- and mighty forces will come to your aid. Those words made me see clearly that when I had fallen short in the past, it was seldom because I had tried and failed. It was usually because I had let fear of failure stop me from trying at all. On the other hand, whenever I had plunged into deep water, forced by courage or circumstance, I had always been able to swim until I got my feet on the ground again. Boldness means a decision to _ . And there is nothing mysterious about the mighty forces. They are potential powers we possess: energy, skill, sound judgment, creative ideas -- even physical strength greater than most of us realize. Admittedly, those mighty forces are spiritual ones. But they are more important than physical ones. A college classmate of mine, Tim, was an excellent football player, even though he weighed much less than the average player. "In one game I suddenly found myself confronting a huge player, who had nothing but me between him and our goal line," said Tim. "I was so frightened that I closed my eyes and desperately threw myself at that guy like a bullet -- and stopped him cold." Boldness -- a willingness to extend yourself to the extreme--is not one that can be acquired overnight. But it can be taught to children and developed in adults. Confidence builds up. Surely, there will be setbacks and disappointments in life; boldness in itself is no guarantee of success. But the person who tries to do something and fails is a lot better off than the person who tries to do nothing and succeeds. So, always try to live a little bit beyond your abilities--and you'll find your abilities are greater than you ever dreamed. Why was the author sometimes unable to reach his goal in the past? A. He faced huge risks. B. He lacked mighty forces. C. Fear prevented him from trying. D. Failure blocked his way to success. Answer: C The gift of being able to describe a face accurately is a rare one, as every experienced police officer knows to his cost. As the Lancet put it recently, "When we try to describe faces precisely, words fail us, and we resort to identikit procedures." Yet, according to one authority on the subject, we can each probably recognize more than 1,000 faces, the majority of which differ in fine details. This, when one comes to think of it, is a tremendous feat, though, curiously enough, ly little attention has been devoted to the fundamental problems of how and why we acquire this gift for recognizing and remembering faces. Is it an inborn property of our brains, or an acquired one? As so often happens, the experts tend to differ. Thus, some argue that it is inborn, and that there are "special characteristics about the brain's ability to distinguish faces". In support of this, they note how much better we are at recognizing a face after a single encounter than we are, for example, in recognizing an individual horse. On the other hand, there are those, and they are probably in the majority, who claim that the gift is an acquired one. The arguments in favor of this latter view, it must be confessed, are impressive. It is a habit that is acquired soon after birth. Watch, for instance, how a quite young baby recognizes his mother by sight. Granted that his other senses help - the sound, his sense of smell, the distinctive way she handles him. But of all these, sight is predominant. Formed at the very beginning of life, the ability to recognize faces quickly becomes an established habit, and one that is, essential for daily living, if not necessarily for survival. How essential and valuable it is we probably do not appreciate until we encounter people who have been deprived of the faculty. This unfortunate inability to recognize familiar faces is known to all, but such people can often recognize individuals by their voices, their walking manners or their spectacles. With typical human ingenuity, many of these unfortunate people overcome their handicap by recognizing other characteristic features. This passage seems to emphasize that _ . A. the ability to recognize individuals is dependent on other senses as well as sight B. sight is indispensable to recognizing individuals C. the ability to recognize faces is a special inborn ability of the brain D. the importance of the ability of recognizing faces is fully appreciated by people. Answer: A You want to know about my staying in America ,right ? Well ,to tell you the truth ,it is really an eye-opening experience to study here . In China ,I had English classes five times a week since fifth grade .However ,I didn't know how different textbook English could be from everyday English until I came to Hotchkiss School ,Connecticut . When I first studied English ,I was told to say ,"I am fine"when people say"How are you ?"But in the US ,I found that people say ,"I am good "or"I'm tired". One day , someone greeted me with "What's up ?"It made me _ .I thought for a moment and then smiled because I didn't know what to say . Since then ,I have discovered more and more differences between Chinese and US cultures . To my surprise ,US girls spend a lot of time in the burning sun to get a tan .However , in China ,girls try every possible way to get their skin paler , or"whiter". I was also surprised by how hardworking US students are . In China ,schoolwork is almost everything ,so we study hard and that's it .But here ,a "good "student gets good grades ,does a lot for the public and plays sports or music . The kids here are so talented ,I am starting to be sorry that I gave up playing the piano at an early age and that I have never thought about sports . Which is the best title for the passage ? A. My Own Travel in the US B. My Studying in the US C. My Opinion about the US D. My Friends in the US . Answer: B
The word "sport" first meant something that people did in their free time. Later it often meant hunting wild animals and birds. About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games. This is the usual meaning of the word today. People spend a lot of their spare time playing football, basketball, tennis and many other sports. Such people play because they want to. A few people are paid for the sport they play. These people are called professional sportsmen. They may be sportsmen for only a few years, but during that time the best ones can earn a lot of money. For example, a professional footballer in England earns more than 30,000 dollars a year. The stars earn a lot more. International golf and tennis champions can make more than 500,000 dollars a year. Of course, only a few sportsmen can earn as much money as that. Perhaps the most surprising thing about sportsmen and money is that the stars can earn more money from advertising than from sports. An advertisement for sports equipment does not simply say "Buy our things". It says "Buy the same shirt and shoes as ...". Famous sportsmen can even advertise things like watches and food. They allow the companies to use their names or a photograph of them and they are paid for this. Sport is no longer just something for people's spare time. According to the passage, an international golf champion can make _ in a year. Answer: Tom walked into a shop. It had a sign outside: " Second-hand clothes bought and sold. " He was carrying an old pair of trousers and asked the owner of the shop, " How much will you give me for these? " The owner looked at them and said " Two dollars. " " What? " Tom said, " I had guessed they were worth at least five dollars. " " No. " said the owner, " They weren't worth a cent more than two dollars." "Well," said Tom, taking two dollars out of his pocket. " Here is your money. These trousers were hanging outside your shop. The list price was six dollars and a half. But I thought that was too much money, so I wanted to find out how much they were really worth." Then he walked out of the shop with the pair of trousers and disappeared before the owner could think of anything to say. From the story we know that _ cheaper than the list price. Answer: On March 19, Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old Pakistani student and women's education activist, returned to the classroom for the first time since being violently attacked by a member of the Taliban--a terrorist organization-- on October 9, 2012. Malala was shot on her way home from school in Mingora, Pakistan. A Taliban group took responsibility for the attack, saying the attack should serve as a warning to others. Members of the group follow a strict version of the local religion and believe girls should not go to school. Malala was targeted because she is appealing for girls' rights to education in Swat Valley, Pakistan. Malala recovers from the attack at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England. After a long period of recovery, Malala is starting as a ninth-year student at Edgbaston High School. It is the oldest independent girl school in Birmingham, England. Though she has no concrete plans to return to Pakistan, Malala still speaks out as a voice for change in her country, and everywhere. "I am excited that today I have achieved my dream of going back to school. I want all girls in the world to have this basic opportunity," Malala said in a statement. "I miss my classmates from Pakistan very much but I am looking forward to meeting my teachers and making new friends here in Birmingham." Malala has been an Internet blogger, or writer, since she was 11 years old. In 2011 she was awarded Pakistan's National Peace Award for her bravery in writing about the difficulties of life and education in the shadow of the Taliban. She has spoken publicly about children's rights and been nominated for an international children's peace prize. After the attack in 2012, support for Malala poured in from around the world. The United Nations declared November 10 Malala Day. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the day honors Malala and shows the world that people of all sexes, all backgrounds and all countries stand behind the heroine . Malala was violently attacked by the Taliban when _ . Answer: Why Doesn't Anybody Copy Apple? Apple's products are the envy of the world. They have been spectacularly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple crystallizes a product, everyone knows how to compete. This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple's products but nobody wants to copy being Apple? I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it's not successful; secondly, Apple's success cannot be copied because it is a magical process. There is a great deal of evidence for the first hypothesis. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P 500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, it's not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation and then that innovation becomes commoditized very quickly, why should one bother? When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful,the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical.The climax of this hypothesis is the "chief-sorcerer"theory of success which places one magician,like Steve Jobs,in charge of casting all the right spells What about Apple's own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It's a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no "move the Earth" panic to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft. My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it's not a formula. It's complex, it's subtle, but it's not magic. It's a process that requires a degree of faith and courage. When a new product of Apple comes out, often it _ . Answer: Fish and apple soup? Yes, and you won't believe how delicious it is. This first came out of a restaurant in Singapore, but it is now very popular as the du jour soup in Chinese restaurants. Ingredients (serves 4): 1 whole fish. 2 apples, quartered. 4-6 ginger slices . 1 bunch of spring onions, cut into pierces. 1 red tomato, cut into 8 pierces. Oil, salt and pepper. Methods: l. Remove the bones from the fish. 2 Pour oil into a pan. Fry the ginger slices, and the spring onions. Add the fish hones and oil. 3. Add enough water and boil it for about 15 to 20 minutes, 4. Add the apples, the fish and the tomato. When the apples go soft, add salt and pepper, This passage is probably _ . Answer:
Peter felt very sorry because he forgot to say "Happy Birthday" to his uncle yesterday. So he wrote a letter to his uncle : "My dear uncle, I'm very sorry because I forgot your birthday. But to teach me a lesson, you'd better forget my birthday on Tuesday, tomorrow." Peter wrote this letter on _ . Answer: Ordering from BookFirst is easy and safe. SELECTING YOUR BOOKS When you have found a book you would like to order, just click on Add to Basket and it will be added to your shopping basket. To make it easy to keep track of the books you've selected, My Shopping Basket will display your choices wherever you are on the site. When you're ready to place your order, select View Basket. VIEW BASKET This is where you select the postal destination for your order, indicate whether you would like Next Day Delivery in the prefix = st1 /UKand choose gift-wrapping. You can also modify. the contents of your basket by making any changes then selecting Update Basket. Overseas customers ordering three or more books can also request reduced airmail charges here. When you're happy with the contents of your shopping basket, go to the Secure Checkout. THE ORDER FORM After you've completed the order form, you will receive an on-screen acknowledgement. This will be followed by an email confirming the details of your order. We will then inform you when your order has been sent. If this is your first order, we will also inform you of your personal BookFirst account number. RETURNING CUSTOMERS If you have ordered from us before, online, by mail or telephone, you will have already owned a personal account number. You then only need to complete the full order form. Using your account number allows us to find your details from our records (they are not accessible online). The purpose of this advertisement is _ . Answer: I had a lot of teachers that I loved. However, the teacher that I remember most was Mrs. Green from Marianna, Florida. She was my 5thgrade teacher. Since I was a new student, not only in her class, but at the school, she made my time there much more pleasant. I immediately began to like her. She was really funny and I knew that she liked me. She made learning fun. I remember one day for Christmas holidays, she taught us how to make ornaments from eggs. My parents still have some of the ornaments I made. She made me leader for many group projects and that made me feel special. I think that would make any child feel special, especially when a child is in a new place with no friends. She made me want to be like that. Not to pick a "favorite" student, but to make every student feel that they are special. That year, I received the Presidential Academic Award . I was really proud and so were my parents. Looking back at it, I think the reason why I did so well was that I felt important. Students do better when they feel like they are important or loved. Mrs. Green always gets to know her students and forms personal relationships with them, which I will try to do some day. I just hope that there will be a student who finds me to be their favorite teacher as I found her to be mine. The author's life in the new school was very _ . Answer: Howling is a behavior commonly observed among a wolf nark. An animals, wolves work together to hunt and rely on howling was an important means of communication each other. There are different explants of a wolf's howl and it appears that there may be more to discover. One theory is that wolves howl to bend better together. It's almost as if howling together helps the pack stay together. Perhaps something similar to people feeling a sense of involvement with each other when singing a song together . But this theory may be wrong, explains Fred H. Harington, a professor who studies wolf behavior. Indeed, there have been tines when wolves have been seen one moment howling in a exhorts, and the next, quarreling anions each other. It appears that usually the lowest-tanking menthes of the pack may actually be "punished" for Joining in the churs at times. So is howling a way to strcagthen a social boad or just a way to reconfirm status among its members? ----Why do welves howl for sure? What is cleat, however, is that howling is often used among packmates to locate each other. Hunting grounds are distant and it happens that woloves may separate from one another at times. When this happens, howling appcars to be an ercellent means of gathering. Howling, interestingly, is a contagious behaviour. When one wolf starts to howl, very likely others will follow. This is often seen to occat in the morning, as if wolves were doing some sotr of "roll rall"where wolves all howl togeter to howl, very likely others will follow. This is often seen to occar in the morning, as if wolves were doing w some sotr of "roll call"where wolves all howl together to repotr their pteence. .What the por similarity between wolves' how humaes ting in chorus? Answer: In 1896, Einstein went to Zurich to study physics. There he met a girl from Hungary. They studied in the same class and the same interest in physics brought them together and they became good friends. Before long they fell in love. In 1903 when Einstein was 24, he married Merits, who was 4 years older than he. After their marriage, Einstein devoted himself to the research of the great theory. To give her husband more help, Merits gave up her own work, and became a good wife and assistant. She tried her best to encourage him whenever possible. She was sure that her husband would succeed. They often discussed the theory while walking outside or sitting together in the room. They even did that in their letters when one of them was away from their home. In1914, Einstein moved to Berlin and _ there. At that time his theory proved to be correct and he had become famous all over the world. But it was not long before the First Would War broke out. Merits as well as her two sons, who were on holiday in Switzerland, couldn't come back to Berlin any more. The war not only stopped Einstein's work but also broke up the warm, happy family. In 1919, Einstein and Merits had to get divorced . We can learn from the passage that Merits _ . Answer:
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was badly crippled , and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare, I would be ashamed of the unwanted attention. If ever noticed or bothered, he never let on. It was difficult to walk together--and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace. I will try to follow you." Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and even in bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. It was a matter of pride for him. When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help... Such times my sister or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., on a child's sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would try to grasp handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home. w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to suffer from shame and disability. And I am also surprised at how he did it--without bitterness or complaint. He never talked about himself as an object of pity, not did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a "good heart", and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don't know exactly what a "good heart" is. But I know the times I don't have one myself. He has been away for many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about my troubles, when I am envious of another's good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart". How did the man treat his father when he was young? Answer: Nickname: Hawaii's Island of Adventure Size: 4,028 square miles Population: 148,677.The most heavily populated areas are Hilo on the east side and Kailua-Kona on the west. Temperature: Averages between 71degF and 77degF year around . Beaches: 47 ; Golf Courses: 20 ; Highest Peak: Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet. Agriculture: The bulk of Hawaii's farming products are grown and processed on the Big Island, including coffee, macadamia nuts and papaya. Hotels: 9,655 rooms total; Nightly rates range from $ 35--$ 5,000. Airports: Hilo International Airport on the east side and Kona International Airport on the west side. Rental Cars: All of the nationally known rental car companies have locations at Hilo International and Kona International Airports as well as many resorts.In addition, Hilo, Kona and the major resort areas are serviced by taxi. Resources: Call (800) 648--2441 to order a video, poster, brochures and maps from the Big Island Visitors Bureau.See www.bigisland.org for updated information. Shopping: The large shopping centers are in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and the Kohala Coast. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a traffic means to get around the Big Island? Answer: Liang Xiyan still misses her long black hair, which was cut two weeks ago. Liang became a senior high school student in September. In her new school, the rules say that boys' hairstyles must be cropped and girls' hair cannot fall below their shoulders. Liang's school is not alone: many have similar rules on hairstyles. Teachers think a cool hairstyle is a waste of time and money. It may also _ students from their studies. "Your personality is not shown in how you wear your hair but in your ability," say teachers. It's difficult for students to follow these rules. Teenage students like to look nice but they are asked to wear school uniforms. Liang says the only way in which they can be different lies in how they wear their hair. And they want to copy their favorite stars' hairstyles. They wouldn't be happy in a school with strict rules. "I prefer a school with rules on hairstyles," said Li Man, a Senior 1 student. She said her school's rules on hairstyles are OK but there could be some little changes. "For example, boys should be allowed to have their hair a little longer," Li said. "But students must not dye or curl their hair . This way there will not be so many complaints." We can learn that students _ in Liang's school. Answer: Jamie Wardley is a special kind of artist - an ice sculptor. He first trained as a sand sculptor. Later, he learned about ice sculpture. Now he does sand sculpture in the summer. And in the winter, he sculpts ice. When sculpting ice, Wardley has to work in cold temperatures. If the weather is cold enough, he can work outside. But winter in the United Kingdom is not always very cold. So often he works in a large freezer where the temperature is about -12degC. Wardley enjoys sculpting ice outside in the winter. When he sculpts in the open air, people can watch. They can be part of the creative process. Wardley makes ice sculpting sound simple. But the tools Wardley uses are sharp and dangerous. And the ice is very heavy. Each block of ice weighs 120 kilos. And some larger sculptures are made from several combined blocks of ice. Sometimes ice sculptures can be as big as buildings. In Kemi, Finland there is an ice hotel called the Snow Castle. Each year, Wardley helps build the Snow Castle. Inside the Snow Castle, the temperature is -50C. Even the dining tables are made of ice. So you have to wear winter clothes when eating and wear a hat when sleeping. "The ice hotel is built every year in January. Then it melts in April. Each year we rebuild it and create a new design," Wardley said. The Snow Castle is a large and amazing work of ice, but Wardley's smaller ice sculptures are special too. One winter, in the city of Bradford, UK, Wardley created several small sculptures. He used the sculptures to tell a story which contained an important message about good will and understanding. Ice sculptures are temporary works of art. When the temperature rises, they will melt. But that does not mean that their beauty is lost. The sculptures from that day in Bradford have now melted away, but their message of good will, understanding, and acceptance remains. What words can best describe Wardley's sculpting? Answer: We all know about this famous Kitty. She has no mouth,and she wasn't born out of a TV show or a video game. So how did this cute character become popular? How did she change the world? Hello Kitty was created in Japan in 1974.Sanrio,a company in Japan,was working for a new character to put on their new purse. The first picture of Hello Kitty was introduced on November 1.She was so cute that it became popular soon in Japan and all over the world. Hello Kitty is only a character,but she has a story of her own. Her full name is Kitty White,and she's even not a Japanese. She lives in the countryside outside London with her family--George White,Mary White and her twin sister Mimmy. Hello Kitty wears a red bow on her left ear while Mimmy wears a yellow bow on her right ear. Kitty loves goldfish and baking cookies,but her favourite thing is to eat her mum's apple pie! She also loves stars and candies too.She is in the 3rd grade and she weighs as much as three apples but is five apples tall.She even had a blood (.) type,which is A. Hello Kitty's appearance hasn't changed much,though she turned 40 on November 1,2014. From the passage,we can see _ . Answer:
You've just come home, after living abroad for a few years. Since you've been away, has this country changed for the better or for the worse? If you've just arrived back in the UK after a fortnight's holiday, small changes have probably surprised you--anything from a local greengrocer suddenly being replaced by a mobile-phone shop to someone in your street moving house. So how have things changed to people coming back to Britain after seven, ten or even 15 years living abroad? What changes in society can they see that the rest of us have hardly noticed--or now take for granted? To find out, we asked some people who recently returned. Debi: When we left, Cheltenham, my home town, was a town of white, middle-class families--all very conservative .The town is now home to many eastern Europeans and lots of Australians, who come here mainly to work in hotels and tourism. There are even several shops only for foreigners. Having been an immigrant myself, I admire people who go overseas to find a job. Maybe if I lived in an inner city where unemployment was high, I'd think differently, but I believe foreign settlers have improved this country because they're more open-minded and often work harder than the natives. Christine: As we flew home over Britain, both of us remarked how green everything looked. But the differences between the place we'd left behind and the one we returned to were brought sharply into focus as soon as we landed. To see policemen with guns in the airport for the first time was frightening -- in Cyprus, they're very relaxed -- and I got pulled over by customs officers just for taking a woolen sweater with some metal-made buttons out of my case in the arrivals hall. Everyone seemed to be on guard. Even the airport car-hire firm wanted a credit card rather than cash because they said their vehicles had been used by bank robbers. But anyway, this is still a green, beautiful country. I just wish more people would appreciate what they've got. When arriving at the airport in Britain, Christine was shocked by _ . Answer: the tight security My sister Mary is 12 years old. Her birthday is on November 10th. Every year, on the morning of that day, my parents take us to Zig Zag's Clothes Store. There my mother buys some clothes for Mary. Then we go to Huaxing Bookstore. There I buy some CDs for Mary, and my father buys a book for her. In the afternoon my parents have a birthday party for Mary at home. Mary's friends Bill, Jim and Cindy come to the party. Bill brings some pens for Mary. Jim gives Mary some balls because she likes playing with them. Cindy gives Mary a cake. Mary is very happy. Oh, I'm Mary's brother. My name is Nick. Jim and Bill are Mary's _ . Answer: friends One midnight, a little girl woke up to pass water. She by herself got up and down her bed, walked to the bedroom door and opened it. She looked outside and walked back, for it was so dark in the hall that she feared. Her mother said, "Don't be afraid, honey. Take courage!" "What's courage?" she asked, running to her mother's bed. "Courage is the brave breath," her mother answered. "Mum, do you have courage?" "Certainly." The girl held out her little hands, saying, "Mum, blow some of your breath of courage to me." After her mother blew out two mouthfuls of breath into her little cold hands, the little girl clenched her fists nervously, afraid that the "breath of courage" would run away. Then with her fists clenched, she walked out of the bedroom towards the bathroom with nothing to fear. Her mother said to herself, "It will be nice if someone can blow some kind of 'breath' to me. Then I can hold it in my hands too when I feel terrified or lost." In fact, mostly, what we are terrified of is nothing but the fear in our mind. Who we should defeat is nobody but ourselves. We learn from the reading that _ . Answer: the girl went to the bathroom by herself Different countries have different customs. When you travel to another country, please follow their customs, just as the saying goes, " _ ." Very often people who travel to the United States forget to tip . It is usual to tip _ who help carry your bags, taxi drivers and waiters. Waiters expect to get a 15% tip on the cost of your meal. Taxi drivers expect about the same amount. In England, make sure to stand in line even if there are only two of you. It's important to respect lines there. It's a good idea to talk about the weather. It's a favourite subject of conversation with the British. In Spain, it's a good idea to have a light meal in the afternoon if someone invites you for dinner. People have dinner very late, and restaurants do not generally open until after 9 pm. In Arab countries, men kiss one another on the cheek . Your host may welcome you with a kiss on both cheeks. It is polite for you to do the same. In Japan, people usually give personal or business cards to each other when they meet for the first time. When a person gives you a card, don't put it into your pocket right away. The person expects you to read it. Don't forget to be careful of your body language to express something in a conversation. A kind of body language that is used in one culture may be impolite in another. What's the best title of the passage? Answer: Advice to International Travellers. Royal palace and fortress for over 900 years , scene of mystery , murder and home to the Crown Jewels . KENSINGTON PALACE Birthplace of Queen Victoria , this royal retreat is home to magnificent State Apartments and the stunning Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection , which includes dresses worn by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Diana , Princess of Wales . HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES Hampton Court Palace is part of Historic Royal Palaces , a registered charity (N 1068852 ) that receives no public funding . We rely on the income from admission tickets to the palaces to pay for vital protection work, necessary for the preservation of these national monuments and collections for future generations . Please ask at the ticket office for more information or visit www.hrp.org.uk . VISITOR INFORMATION CARRIAGE RIDES Take a trip around Home Park in a horse-drawn carriage. Rides begin and end in Home Park at the entrance by the East Front Gardens. Available all day. 20 minute duration . PS10.00 per carriage . Subject to weather and ground conditions . ENQUIRIES For details of admission charges , group rates , the Friends of Hampton Court Palace and facilities for disabled visitors , call 0870 752 7777 or visit www. Hampton-court- palace.org.uk RESTAURANTS &SHOPS Choose from the Tiltyard Tea-rooms or the Privy Kitchen Coffee Shop. There are also a number of ice-cream kiosks open in the summer . The palace shops offer a wide range of gifts and souvenirs . AUDIO GUIDES Audio guides are included in the palace ticket and are available in English , French , German , Italian , Spanish and Japanese . Where can visitors see the dresses worn by some royal members ? Answer: Kensington Palace .
Apologizing is both an Art and a Science. The Art lies in the manner in which the apology is delivered while the Science is the recipe that forms the apology itself. A proper apology should always include several ingredients. Now let's take a closer look at these ingredients. Give a detailed account of the offense, and make sure both you and the other person are talking about the same thing. Whether you make it in secret or public doesn't matter, but your apology should be focused on the particular event. Next, by acknowledging the hurt or damage done, you are making the recipient begin to sense that you understand the situation. It is important to rebuild your relationship because it makes them feel their anger is understandable. Don't try to defend yourself by offering any excuses, which is important to let them know that you understand the event and you actions do cause them harm. The apology is all about THEM and how they feel. It doesn't matter if the actions were intentional or not, the end result is the same and that is what needs to be focused on when learning how to say, "I'm sorry". Give a sincere statement of regret such as "I apologize" or "I'm sorry". Above all, tell them it won't happen again. After all, there is no value in apologizing for something that you will do again and again. Finally, asking for forgiveness at the end of the apology gives the power back to the recipient. It tells them, that you have done all that you can do by apologizing and providing whatever form of restitution you can. The next move is up to them. By including all these ingredients and applying them to your situation, you will know exactly how to say "I'm sorry" next time you need to. How will the recipient react when you admit hurting them? A They will be sorry for being angry with you. B They will treat you differently right away. C They will understand the situation better. D They will think their former reaction normal. Answer: D. They will think their former reaction normal. Do you hear the name--Rain? Yes, he is a popular star of South Korea. Rain's music teacher gave him that name. His real name is Jung Ji Hoon. The 27-year-old singer is very good at dancing, too. His eyes are bright and his smiles are sunny. When he was a child. Rain was very quiet. But in Grade Six. Rain surprised all of his classmates. He danced for them. After the excellent dancing, everyone looked at him in a different way. Rain's Songs sell well. and he acts in a few TV shows. Rain doesn't want to sing forever ."When I stop singing, I'd like to design clothes.Being a designer is my childhood dream."he said. What does the passage tell us? A Rain is a very popular star B Rain is a popular designer C Rain was very active when he was a child. D Rain will stop singing next Answer: A. Rain is a very popular star Fox was hungry. He was very hungry because he had not eaten in 3 days. Bird flew to Fox's home and talked to him. Bird asked Fox why he had not eaten in so long. Fox said it was too cold outside. Bird said "But you have such nice, thick fur!" \tabFox said, "Well I am really too lazy." Bird said he would bring Fox any food he saw when he was flying around and left. \tabBird flew to other side of the forest to visit Tiger, but he did not see any food on the way. Tiger was reading a book about cooking. "Hmm, there are so many delicious foods I have not tried yet." Bird arrived at Tiger's den and said "Hello Tiger, what are you doing?" Tiger said "I am trying to think of what to have for dinner." \tab"How can you choose?" asked Bird. \tab"Why don't we pick a color and eat something that is that color" said Tiger. \tab"How about red?" said Bird. \tab"Yes! Like a fox!" said Tiger. \tab"I know where a fox is!" said Bird, "I'll show you." So Tiger followed Bird all the way across the forest. Finally they arrived outside Fox's home. "Pretend you are asleep and wait right here", said Bird to Tiger. Bird then flew in to Fox's home very happy. "Fox, I have found a big yummy treat for you and you won't ever be hungry again! Follow me outside." Fox followed Bird outside and said "WOW! A whole tiger! Yum!" Then Tiger jumped up and gobbled up Fox in one bite. Fox was now inside Tiger's belly and he yelled out "Bird, you lied to me! Why?!" \tab"Because you ate my sister!" yelled Bird. \tab"That wasn't me, it was Snake!" cried Fox. \tab"Oh. Um, sorry Fox. Well at least you don't have to hunt for food now" said Bird. Tiger laughed so hard that he coughed up Fox. Then they all went and got ice cream. Who ate another character's sister? A Fox B Bird C Snake D Tiger Answer: C. Snake Weighed down by study? Pushed to the limit by the fast pace of life ? Frightened by the possible war ? Well, you're not alone. Men and women in France are seeking relief using the world's best medicine-----laughter. In the past year, more than 15 laughter clubs have been set up across the country. People of all ages go to release their stress with an hour group laughs. "People telephoned me and said they have forgotten what it is to laugh. They want to find a place where they can escape all their problems for a while. So they come," said 40--year--old Jocelyne Le Moan. She usually takes a class of around 60 people through a series of laughter techniques. Her pupils range from teenagers to 70 years old, but most are middle---aged white collars seeking 60 minutes of relaxation at the end of a busy day. Le Moan takes them through the "Lion Laugh"and the "Laugh Contest", where participants "speak"to each other in different ways. And instead of talking, they break into fits of laughter. At the end there are 15 minutes of "meditation", when they lie on their backs and let the laughs burst out of their mouths. "I love it. It's an experience that has changed my life. Through it I rediscovered the child's laugh inside me,"Said Romain Jouffroy, 24. "US President George W. Bush should give it a try. He has lost his laugh,"she joked . Like Jouffroy, many laughter club members find themselves changed into children again, and why not ? The average preschooler laughs up to 400 times a day. The average adult only a day seven to 15. The physical benefits of laughter are already well--recognized. Doctors say the act of laughing releases good chemicals into the blood--stream, while the quick breathing that accompanies it helps massage the digestive organs and strengthens the heart. "A full hour is like having your inside go jogging!One finishes out of breath, but feels revitalized(. And on top of that , you've had a laugh,"said doctor Alexisd' Estaing.And many participants in Paris also emphasize the psychological benefits. They believe that laughter is a way of making oneself feel more confident. Which of the following is not the reason why so many people join the laughter clubs ? A Those members feel too much pressure on them. B They want to find a place to relax themselves. C Laughters help massage the digestive organs. D The members don't know how to laugh. Answer: D. The members don't know how to laugh. Most teenagers in the United States spend their time trying to make time for school,family and friends.But some choose bigger goals. At age 15,Winter Vinecki has already had more successes than most people have in their lifetime."I recently completed a marathon on all seven continents and became the youngest person in the world to do so.And I was really doing this for my dad." Doctors discovered that Winter's father had a rare and deadly form of prostate cancer when she was nine years old.Then he died 10 months later."When he was first diagnosed with prostate cancer I immediately knew I had to do something to help him.That's when I formed Team Winter for prostate cancer research and awareness." Through Team Winter and social media,Winter Vinecki has raised almost 500,000 dollars.She has taken prostate cancer education worldwide through foot races called marathons,on seven continents.In the United States she travels continually to talk about prostate cancer and urge others to act. Winter Vinecki attended a conference recently in Los Angeles,California and spoke at the conference as one of several teenagers who spoke about young people who were living extraordinary lives. "So prostate cancer is much more common but men don't want to talk about it.So that is why a ten-year-old girl had to go out there and start talking about it for them." Another speaker was Jack Andraka who invented a sensor which is not as expensive as traditional equipment that can't be afforded by most common people.It can identify cancers of the pancreas and lungs.He was 15 at the time. Jack is now 17 and seeking patents for his latest inventions.He has developed low-cost water quality equipment which can help identify and remove heavy metals and poisonous chemicals from water. "I hope to see them used in the developing nations such as Bangladesh and parts of China and India,especially as well as in parts of Africa,where these heavy metal and pesticides and other kinds of waste are a major problem." We can learn that Winter Vinecki's father died _ . A about 5 years ago B not long ago this year C only 10 months ago D when she was about 15 Answer: A. about 5 years ago
Question: You can use what to fake sunlight for plants? A. love B. a flash light C. breathing D. water Answer: B Question: Choose the best answer (,) I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment , and sat down in my seat.Just before take-off,a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the empty seats. After flying for about an hour,an announcement was made that sack lunch were available for $5.As I reached for my wallet to buy one,I overheard the soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch."No ,that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch.I'll wait till we get to Chicago."His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers.None were buying lunch.I walked to the back of the plane,and handed the flight attendant a $50 bill." Take a lunch to all those soldiers." After we finished eating. I went again to the back of the plane,heading for the restroom.A man stopped me."I saw what you did.I want to be part of it.Here,take this."He handed me $25. Soon after I returned to my seat,I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle. When he got to my row,he stopped and said,"I want to shake your hand.I was a soldier and I was a military pilot.Once,someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot."I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs.A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand,wanting to shake mine.He left another $25 in my hand. We landed in Chicago,I picked up my belongings.Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me and put something in my shirt pocket.Another $25. Upon entering the terminal ,I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to their base.I walked over to them and handed them $75."It will take you some time to reach the base.It will be about time for a sandwich.God Bless You."I said. These soldiers were giving their all for our country.I could only give them a couple of meals.It seemed so little. The writer met the soldiers when he _ to Chicago. A. took a coach B. took a plane C. took a bus D. took a train Answer: B Question: For four lonely years, Evelyn Jones of Rockford, Illinois, lived friendless and forgotten in one room of a cheap hotel. "I wasn't sick, but I was acting sick," the 78-year-old widow says, "Every day was the same. I would just lie on my bed and maybe cook up some soup." Then, six months ago, she was invited to The Brighter Side -- Rockford's day care center for the elderly. Every weekday morning since then, she has left her home to meet nine other old people in a church for a rich program of charity work, trips, games, and -- most important of all -- friendly companionship. Just a few years ago, there were few choices for the elderly between a normal life in their own homes and being totally confined in nursing homes. Many of them were sent to rest homes long before they needed full-time care. Others like Mrs. Jones were left to take care of themselves. But in 1971, the White House Conference on Aging called for the development of alternatives to care in nursing homes for old people, and since then, government-supported day-care programs like The Brighter Side have been developed in most big American cities. "This represents a real alternative to the feared institution and makes old people believe they have not left the world of living", says Alice Brophy, 64, director of New York City's Office for the Aging, "They do well at the centers, and I hate it when people describe us as elderly playpens ." New York's 138 centers encourage continuing contact for the aged with the community's life. The centers serve more than 15,000 members, and volunteer workers are always looking for new ones. If someone doesn't show up at the center for several days in a row, a worker at the center calls to make sure all is well. And although participation in the center is free, those who want to can pay for their lunches. No normal studies have been made of these centers for the elderly, but government officials are enthusiastic. In the future, the Public Health Service will do a study to decide if the programs can receive federal Medicare money. And the old people themselves are very happy with the programs. "There is no way", says Evelyn Jones, smiling at her new companions at the Brighter Side, "that I will ever go back to spending my day with all those loses at the hotel." What is the main idea of the article? A. Day care centers may be able to receive federal Medicare money. B. Day care centers can make life better for elderly people. C. Many old people in the United States are lonely. D. Old people have no place in their society. Answer: B Question: The Spring Festival is the Chinese New Year's Day. It usually comes in January or February. Everyone in China likes it very much. All the families have a big dinner to celebrate it. Children like the Spring Festival best because they can get presents such as nice food, new clothes and red packets from their grandparents, their parents, their uncles and aunts. People eat dumplings on the Spring Festival. Chinese think eating dumplings can bring them money in the new year. The Spring Festival comes in _ . A. January B. February C. March D. A or B Answer: D Question: Nursing at Beth Israel Hospital produces the best patient care. If we are to solve the nursing shortage. hospital administration and doctors everywhere would do well to follow Beth Israel's example . At Beth Israel each patient is assigned to a primary nurse who visits at length with the patient and constructs a full-scale health account that covers everything from his medical history to his emotional state. Then she writes a care plan centered on the patient's illness but which also includes everything else that is necessary. The primary nurse stays with the patient through his hospitalization. keeping track with his progress and seeking further advice from his doctor. If a patient at Beth Israel is not responding to treatment. it is not uncommon for his nurse to propose another approach to his doctor. What the doctor at Beth Israel has in the primary nurse is a true colleague. Nursing at Beth Israel also involves a decentralized nursing administration; every unit is a self-contained organization. There are nurse-managers instead of head nurses; in addition to their medical duties they do all their own hiring and dismissing, employee advising, and they make salary recommendations. Each unit's nurses decide among themselves who will work what shifts and when. Beth Israel's nurse-in-chief ranks as an equal with other vice presidents of the hospital. She is also a member of the Medical Executive Committee. which in most hospitals includes only doctors. The main difference between a nurse-manager and a head nurse is that the former A. is a member of the Medical Executive Committee of the hospital B. has to arrange the work shifts of the unit's nurses C. can make decisions concerning the medical treatment of a patient D. has full responsibility in the administration of the unit's nurses Answer: D
Smoking in indoor public places including public working places, public transport vehicles and some other special outdoor working places has been banned in China since January 2011. Let's look at the following advantages of banning smoking. First, banning smoking will not only help in saving smokers from health problems and diseases, but will also be good for passive smokers. When the smoker is smoking in a restaurant, the people around him are sure to breathe in the smoke and suffer from the diseases an active smoker gets. If smoking is banned, spread of these diseases can be controlled. Next, banning smoking will put stress on smokers to give up. Since a smoker is prevented from smoking, he will learn how to live without smoking for long hours. When a smoker doesn't smell or see anybody around him smoking, it might reduce his wish to smoke too. As a result, people have to give up smoking. Smoking in public places influences non-smokers to start smoking, especially _ . When teens see people around them smoking, they will follow them easily. Thus the number of teen smokers will increase. Also asthma and other problems are often seen in children living around smokers. So if it is banned, these places will become safe for children and teenagers. Smoking should be banned to increase work productivity . Employees who smoke usually take breaks to smoke while working. So the number of hours they put in their work is smaller. If you see from the environment point of view, smoking should be banned. Smoking causes air pollution. If it is banned, it will help keep the environment from getting worse. _ doesn't belong to a non-smoking place. A A field B A hospital C A library D A restaurant Answer: A. A field Many famous painters worked in Antwerp during the city's period of greatest power but Peter Paul Rubens is undoubtedly the most famous one of them. Known as Rubens House, the palace-like residence and studio where Rubens worked and lived from 1616 until his death in 1640 is now one of Antwerp's most visited museums. Almost all of the works Rubens and his students created in the Rubens House have been dispersed over major museums across the whole world, but there is still an impressive collection well worth the visit. Besides paintings form the master himself you will find other works of art and furniture of the 17th century as well as paintings from his students, including works by Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van Dyck. The Rubens House was not only a studio but also a meeting place for the rich and famous. His clients included wealthy merchants, diplomats, and there were also many noblemen who often visited his studio to see how work progressed. The Rubens House even had a special viewing area which allowed visitors to see the artists at work. Ruben bought the house at the beginning of the 17th century after his eight-year-long stay in Italy. Influenced by Italian architecture, he rebuilt the building into an Italian-styled palace with a beautiful garden and moved in the house in1616. After his death the building was sold. New owners modified the building greatly and by 1937, when the building was purchased by the city of Antwerp, it hardly resembled the original structure. The impressive entrance hall, which connected the studio and the residence, is one of the few parts that survived. Other parts have been carefully restored and reconstructed after original plans and paintings of the house. As a museum, the Rubens House is popular because _ . A it lies in the famous city of Antwerp B it holds all the works by Rubens and his students C there are many people who enjoy visiting it D Rubens, a great artist, lived and worked there Answer: D. Rubens, a great artist, lived and worked there You'd expect the home of the Bakewell pudding to know a thing or two about keeping its visitors cosy and well-fed,and in this attractive market town,you're never more than a few steps away from a tea room or pub. And to walk off all the cake and ale, the spectacular Peak District is on the doorstep. Eat/drink The Manners is a traditional stone-built pub a few minutes' walk from the town centre, serving well-executed pub fare such as local venison with root veg and red wine sauce, and apple and plum crumble. Wyes Waters (Unit 8, Granby Road)is a charming little cafe with gingham table cloths and a great-value menu of homemade pies, sandwiches and cakes. Shopping Bakewell's thriving Monday market is always popular and its attractive cobbled courtyards and market square are home to independent shops and galleries. And of course, no visit to Bakewell is complete without a visit to the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop which will gift-wrap and post sweet treats to anywhere in the world. Out of town, the excellent Chatsworth Estate farm shop is the place to stock up on Derbyshire specialities such as oatcakes, handmade chocolates from family-run business Holdsworth, and bottled ales brewed on the estate. Stay On the river in the centre of Bakewell, One Castle Street (doubles from PS90 B&B), is a quaint B&B in a Grade II listed building, where substantial breakfasts will set you up for a day exploring. Alternatively, three miles out of town, Haddon Grove Farm has 11 attractive holiday cottages in converted farm buildings (from PS490 for a four night December break in a cottage for four). There's a communal games room and indoor heated pool, making it a perfect winter escape for families. Cottages sleep between two and 10. Travelling in Bakewell,a visitor_. A can only do shopping on Monday B can purchase sweet treats and have it mailed home C have to pay at least PS90 for a night D can participate in farming work on Haddon Grove Farm Answer: B. can purchase sweet treats and have it mailed home London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to stay in, but there are many budget hotels that offer accommodation at a reasonable cost. Please take careful note of the facilities described for each budget hotel; the very cheapest accommodation may offer good budget deals but a minimum of facilities. The higher the price per room, the greater the number and quality of facilities you can expect. Arriva Hotel This 2-star Arriva Hotel lies at the heart of the city centre--just a short walk from King's Cross Tube station London's famous attractions are all easily accessible by foot or public transport. A short stroll will bring you to the British Museum and the fashionable area of Bloomsbury. With 75 en-suite rooms available, the Arriva Hotel is a large budget hotel that offers accommodation for tourists at a very reasonable price. Also, Wi-Fi Internet connection is available in most rooms and a Continental breakfast is included in the rates. From: $ 50.00 Accommodation Rating: Beaconsfield Hotel The Beaconsfield Hotel is situated on Green Lanes, North London, famous for its Turkish community. The Beaconsfield Hotel is housed in an attractive Victorian building, which is also home to a traditional pub(, )--if you want to experience real British culture, an afternoon in the pub is the place to do it! Manor House Station is just a short walk to Beaconsfield Hotel, so you will find traveling around the city quick and easy. The Beaconsfield Hotel offers ten comfortable rooms, each with a television, fridge and kettle. There is a shared kitchen where you can prepare your meals. Bathroom facilities at Beaconsfield Hotel are also shared, but there are enough facilities for all guests to use. From: $ 30.00 Accommodation Rating: unrated Budget hotels attract guests mainly because of their _ . A good service B low prices C convenient locations D accommodation conditions Answer: B. low prices What if I took that big jump on my bike?What's the worst thing that could happen if I go out at midnight?Should try smoking?The teen years can play out like a choose-your-own-adventure novel. Teenagers must act on an endless parade of choices.Some choices.including smoking.Come with serious consequences.As a result, adolescents often find themselves trapped between their impulsive tendencies(-Just try it!)and their newfound ability to make well-informed and logical choices(-Wait, maybe that's not such a good idea!). So what makes the teenager's brain so complex? What drives adolescents-more than any other age group-to sometimes make rash or questionable decisions? If you have ever thought that the choices teenagers make are all about exploring and pushing limits, _ . Experts Experts believe that this tendency marks a necessary period in teen development.The process helps prepare teenagers to confront the world on their own. It is something all humans have evolved to experience-yes, teens everywhere go through this exploratory period.Nor is it unique to people:Even laboratory mice experience a similar stage during their development. For example,laboratory experiments show that young mice stay close by their mothers for safety. As mice grow.their behavior does too."When they reach puberty,they're like,'I'm gonna start checking out how this environment looks without my mom,...explains Beatriz Luna,of the University of Pittsburgh. As a developmental cognitive neuroscientist,Luna studies those changes that occur in the brain as children develop into adults.She and other researchers are showing how the teen experience can lead to powerful advantages later in life.Take mice again:Young mice that explore most tend to live longest----that is,unless a cat eats them,Luna adds. What may the text discuss in the next part? A How call a teenager make right choices B Why the parents shouldn't allow teenagers to smoke C What has been discovered in the lab experiment. D What really goes on in the teenage brain. Answer: D. What really goes on in the teenage brain.
When Bill is very young, he loves picture. His mother often draws some for him on old pieces of paper. She is very bad at drawing, but bill likes her pictures and always wants more. Then, when he is a little older, Bill's mother gives him some pencils and a drawing book, and he begins drawing pictures, too. But they are never good .When Bill is five years old, his mother gives him a small blackboard and some pieces of a baby on the blackboard, he draws lines and rubs them out too for ten minutes , but when he looks at his picture , he is not happy. "Well", he says at last to his mother, "I'll put a tail on it and make it a monkey." Bill wants to put a tail in the picture , so _ . Answer: it looks like a monkey Tom and Bill were both pushing on a large plastic ball but it stayed in one place. Why? Answer: they were pushing from opposite sides using the same muscle power There was great interest when a big hole mysteriously appeared in the middle of a field. Engineers were called in to explain how it had got there. They offered various explanations but were not at all sure how the hole had been caused, it was thought that a large bomb which came suddenly exploded, but it was not possible to prove this. A simple, but highly improbable explanation was offered by a man who declares to know well about "flying saucers"; the strange objects which are round in shape and are said to visit the earth from outer space. The man's explanation may have been nonsense , but at least it was imaginative. At any rate, it was far more interesting than the one given by the army. After examining the ground carefully the man declared to have seen special marks on the soil quite near the hole, these, he said, could only have been caused by a flying saucer. Moreover the leaves on some bushes nearby had turned yellow because of a strange hot gas which had come from the saucer just before it landed. Even a small tree some way off appeared to have been burnt slightly. A small piece of metal found in the hole itself gave further proof that a strange object had been there. According to the man, it was quite clear that people from another world had been going around the earth trying to pick up information, when something had gone wrong. Because of this they had been forced to land in a field so that the damage could be repaired. The hole had been caused when the saucer struck the earth, while the strange marks nearby were made when it took off again. This, said the man, was the simplest explanation of how the hole had appeared. Judging from the interest the public took in the matter, there must be quite a few people who secretly believe or hope that this simple explanation is the true one. It's said the outer-space people were circling the earth _ . Answer: to. collect information Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course that he attends gives him a credit, which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses, each lasting for a term. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend two terms a year. It is possible to spread a period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this in fact is not done as a regular practice. For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded and available for the student to show employers. All this imposes a constant pressure and strain of study, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activities in student affairs. Elections to positions in the student union arouse great interests. Students who are qualified usually perform the effective work of the student union. With the big numbers of students, the operation of the system does involve a certain number of activities. A student who has held one of these positions in the union is much respected and it willbe of benefitto him. How many classes does an American student have to attend each term to get a credit? Answer: 45 These are some signs that you can see on the roads of Great Britain. Number one is a sign with the number thirty on it. When drivers see this sign they must not go at more than thirty miles an hour. We see this sign when we get to parts of the country where there are many houses and other buildings, for example, when we are getting near a town. Thirty miles an hour is the speed limit. Number two is sign for the end of the speed limit. We are out of the town now and may go at more than thirty miles an hour. Number three is a sign that we are near a crossroads, that is, a place where two roads cross. We must drive carefully. Number four is a sign that there is a bend in the road. Again, we must drive slowly and carefully. Number five is a sign that there is a hill and number six is a sign that the roads get narrow. Drivers must go slowly and carefully. Number seven has the word "school" on it. This is a sign that there is a school at the side of a street or road. Perhaps there are children going to school or leaving school. So drivers must look carefully and go slowly until they are past the school building. Number eight is a sign with the letter P on it. The letter P is for "parking." A parking place is a place where drivers may leave their cars. If the driver of a car wants to leave his car and go to the shops, he looks for this sign. Then he knows that he may leave his or her car there. When a driver sees the sign number one, he must _ . Answer: not go at more than 30 miles an hour
When Marilynne Robinson published her first novel, Housekeeping, in 1980, she was unknown in the literary world. But an early review in The New York Times ensured that the book would be noticed. "It's as if, in writing it, she broke through the ordinary human condition with all its dissatisfactions, and achieved a kind of transfiguration ," wrote Anatole Broyard, with an enthusiasm and amazement that was shared by many critics and readers. The book became a classic, and Robinson was recognized as one of the outstanding American writers of our time. Yet it would be more than twenty years before she wrote another novel. During the period, Robinson devoted herself to writing nonfiction. Her essays and book reviews appeared in Harper's and The New York Times Book Review, and in 1989 she published Mother Country: Britain, the Welfare State, and Nuclear Pollution, criticizing severely the environmental and public health dangers caused by the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in England--and the political and moral corruption . In 1998, Robinson published a collection of her critical and theological writings, The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought, which featured reassessments of such figures as Charles Darwin, John Calvin, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Aside from a single short story--"Connie Bronson," published in The Paris Review in 1986--it wasn't until 2004 that she returned to fiction with the novel Gilead, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Her third novel, Home, came out this fall. Her novels could be described as celebrations of the human--the characters in them are unforgettable creations. Housekeeping is the story of Ruth and her sister Lucille, who are cared for by their eccentric Aunt Sylvie after their mother commits suicide. Robinson writes a lot about how each of the three is changed by their new life together. Gilead is an even more close exploration of personality: the book centres on John Ames, a seventy-seven-year-old pastor who is writing an account of his life and his family history to leave to his young son after he dies. Home borrows characters from Gilead but centers on Ames's friend Reverend Robert Boughton and his troubled son Jack. Robinson returned to the same territory as Gilead because, she said, "after I write a novel or a story, I miss the characters--I feel like losing some close friends." From which section of a newspaper can you read this passage? A. Career. B. Lifestyle. C. Music. D. Culture. Answer: D Sydney has a huge bus system. No buses accept cash, and a ticket needs to be bought ahead of time. The buses often run at busy hours and regularly during the day. The Sydney Explorer bus provides air-conditioned service and stops at 27 tourist attractions. Its partner, the Bondi Explorer, stops at 19 attractions. _ It's an easy way to see the city and the surroundings. Sydney's train service runs throughout the central city area and the surroundings. Tickets can be bought from machines that operate 24 hours a day or from ticket offices. The monorail travels through central Sydney. It is the most excellent way to gain a good view of the whole city. The monorail runs every three to five minutes, and it takes 15 minutes to complete its journey. Sydney is built around a harbor, and the Parramatta River has a large ferry system. It serves the area around the harbor. These include Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbor, Rose Bay, the North Shore, Cockatoo Island and Sydney Olympic Park. The ferries have operated for more than 135 years and 14 million passengers take the ferries each year. Water taxis can offer special services that some visitors enjoy, such as transporting passengers to specific locations, offering guided tours of waterways and so on. The tickets sell for 20 Australian dollars for a day or 57 Australian dollars for a week. It is strange,isn't it? What should people take when getting on the bus in Sydney? A. Cash B. Tickets C. Change D. Bank cards Answer: B Jill Jones got a new job in a different part of the city. She had to go to work every day by train. There was only one other person on the train with her. He was a well-dressed man reading a newspaper. Suddenly, about halfway through the journey, the man began tearing his newspaper into hundreds of small pieces. Then he picked them up, opened the window and threw them all out. Then he sat down, closed his eyes, and slept for the rest of the journey again. The next day, Jill got on the same train. The same well-dressed man was there, reading a newspaper. As before, about halfway through the journey, the man began tearing his newspaper into hundreds of small pieces. Then he picked the pieces up, opened the window and threw them all out. This done, he sat down, closed his eyes, and slept for the rest of the journey. This happened every day for a week. At last, on Friday, Jill spoke to the man. "Excuse me, sir," she said, "I don't want to be rude, but I must ask you a question. When we are halfway through our journey, you tear your newspaper into hundreds of pieces and then throw them all out of the window. Please tell me, sir. Why do you do this?" The well-dressed man smiled. "There is a simple reason," he said. "I like to sleep for part of the journey, but I cannot sleep if the train is full of elephants. So I throw the pieces of paper out to the elephants. It stops them from coming into the train." "But there aren't any elephants on the train, "Jill said."I know," the man said. "It works well, doesn't it? Why did the man on the train do this? A. He was playing a game. B. He wanted to get rid of the elephants. C. He was angry. D. He couldn't sleep. Answer: D What is an example of protecting the environment? A. flushing the toilet twice B. using water flow limiter C. driving shorter trips more often D. using fancy, more expensive paper Answer: B Greece today is a small country in southeastern Europe. The population is about nine million, and the capital city is Athens. High mountains with rich, fertile land between them cover northern Greece. The hilly southern part is a peninsula called the Peloponnesus. Hundreds of islands surround the mainland. The largest island is Crete. No part of the nation is far from water. The Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea _ deep bays and gulfs into the long coastline. Greece has been a seafaring nation for centuries, and Greece is very well known for its shipping industry. More than three thousand years ago, the Greek people developed a very sophisticated society. They have a great civilization, one of the greatest that the Western would have ever seen. Greek architecture, thinking and art influenced other languages, including English. For example, the English words alphabet, democracy, and arithmetic come from Greek. Today Greece is one of the most popular nations with the tourists who visit Europe. Thousands of people are attracted to the country because of its beautiful scenery, magnificent ancient buildings, and its excellent summer weather. Hills can be found _ . A. in the southern part B. on the Peloponnesus C. both A and B D. in the Aegean Sea Answer: C
Going to a friend's house is very exciting. You may spend time with a friend and get to see where he lives. So remember to be polite. When to arrive The first thing to remember is that when a friend invites you, you need to arrive on time. If your friend tells you to come "about 3:00", that means you can arrive before 3:05. But usually it is a good idea to arrive at the right time. What to bring Often it is also nice to bring something to your friend's house. This could be a box of chocolates for you two to share, or maybe a movie that you can watch together. You can also bring some flowers. A little gift is a nice way to show your friend that you are excited to be at his house. How to greet When you visit your friend's house, you may also meet his parents. You should tell them who you are and they may tell you their names. As a child, I went to visit my friend Paul. I called his parents by their first names John and Mary. But now I know it is more polite to call them Mr. or Mrs. Smith. This will show them more respect and then they may tell you to call them by their first names. Another way to show respect is to call them Madam or Sir. It is a cool thing to visit a friend's house. Be polite to your friend and your friend's parents, and you will be welcome again! When you go to your friend's house, you shouldn't bring _ as a present. A. a box of chocolates B. a movie C. some flowers D. some money Answer: D A private sixth grade is set to start its lessons at 1.30 pm every day because the school's teacher thinks his students will study better after a morning lie-in . Instead of rising early for a 9 am start, students at the PS15,000-a-year Hampton Court House, in East Molesey, Surrey, will get to enjoy a lie-in and work from 1.30 pm until 7pm. Head teacher Guy Holloway says the move for all sixth grade students, set to begin from September, has been made according to research by scientists. He predicts that not only will his students aged 16 and upwards get great night's sleep, but their productivity will also be improved. The co-educational school will have the latest start time in the UK, and will be the only one to begin lessons in the afternoon. Experts say young people are programmed to get up later, and that rather than laziness it is simply a shift in their body clocks. 'There are 168 hours in a week and how productive they are depends on how they choose to use those hours,' said Mr Holloway. 'At Hampton Court House we don't think we have the answer for everybody; it's about what works in our school. We want to get them into a condition where they can get great sleep and study well.' He said students would also benefit from reduced journey times as they travel to and from school after rush hour . Year 10 student Gabriel Purcell-Davis will be one of the first of 30 A-level students to start at the later time. 'I want to wake up in my bed, not in my maths lesson,' said the 15-year-old. Lessons for all other students at the school will still begin at 9 am as usual. Why did the school decide to start the class at 1.30 pm? A. It may be good for students' study. B. Students wanted a morning lie-in. C. Students were often late for school. D. Teachers wanted to have a good sleep in the morning. Answer: A Do you know the Chinese saying "He who doesn't reach the Great Wall is not a true man"? Mr. White knows it. Next month he is going to Beijing with his wife. They are going to visit the Great Wall. They are staying in Beijing for about a week. They have a lot of Chinese friends there, so they are visiting them. Then they're flying to West Lake in Hangzhou. They are going boating there and staying there for about three days. Mr. White knows that the Yellow Mountain is very famous in China. So they're going to Anhui to go hiking in the great mountain. After two days in Anhui they'll have to go back to Sydney. "I'm taking lots of photos in China. When I get back to Sydney, I am going to show the photos to my friends. I want my friends to know more about China." said Mr. White. Who is Mr. White going to China with? A. His friends. B. His parents. C. His wife. D. His children. Answer: C Google, the Internet search and mapping company, has developed a car that can steer without a driver. Sometimes the reality is stranger than science fiction: Google is road-testing cars that steer, stop and start without a human driver. The goal is to "help prevent traffic accidents, free up people's time and reduce carbon emissions." says Sebastian Thrun, who is the project leader for the driverless car, or Carbot. By developing the car and the software that drives it, Google wants to change how people get from place to p1ace. Eric Schmidt, one of the company's top officials, said, "Your car should drive itself. It just makes sense." So far, the driverless autos have gone about 140,000 miles on California roads without people taking over the driving. Many of the roads are very busy or full of curves that challenge human drivers. The autos' software makes it possible to know speed limits, traffic patterns and road maps. The vehicles use radar, lasers and video cameras to find other cars and avoid people crossing streets. There has only been one accident during the testing. And in that case, the Carbot was hit from behind by a human driver when Goog1e's car was stopped at a red light. Engineers say the driverless cars are safer than autos with people behind the wheel because the computers react much more quickly than humans. The Carbot is still in very early testing stages. Experts agree that it will be years before you will be able to buy one. But it is likely that one day you will be sitting in the driver's seat of a driverless car. When the auto was first invented it was called a "horseless carriage". Now it seems that it is time for the "driverless carriage" to be part of our 1ives. 70. The author's attitude towards the Carbot is _ . A. unfriendly B. desperate C. critical D. optimistic Answer: D Just outside the northern Italian town of Bra, there rises a church tower with a clock that is a half hour slow. Though not far from the industrial city of Turin, Bra smells of roses, and leisure is the law. It is both the home of an international movement that promotes slow food and one of Italian cities that have joined the slow cities. In Bra, population 27,866, the town fathers have declared that all small food shops be closed every Thursday and Sunday. They forbid cars in the town square. All fruits and vegetables served in local schools must be organic . And as the movement goes well, the slow concept gradually spreads across Europe. The argument for a Slow Europe is not only that it is good, but also that it can work. The Slow City Movement, which started in 1999, has improved local economies by promoting local goods and tourism. Young Italians are moving from larger cities to Bra, where unemployment is only 5 percent, about half the nationwide rate. Slow food and wine festivals draw thousands of tourists every year. Shops are doing well, many with sales rising at a rate of 15% per year. "This is our answer to the world." says Paolo Samrnini, the founder of Slow Cities. France is in favor of slow economics. Most outsiders have long been doubtful of the French model: short hours and long vacations. Yet the French are more productive than those in the United States and Britain, and have been for years. The mystery of French productivity has risen an Europewide debate about the advantages of working more slowly. The low unemployment in Bra proves that _ . A. the population is not large B. tourism brings great job chance C. the Slow City Movement is successful D. the slow concept works well only in its birth place Answer: C
Some people think only school children do not agree with their parents,however,it is not true. Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages.If it's hard for you to communicate with your parents,don't worry about it.Here are some advice for you to bridge the generation gap . Don't argue with your parents.Don't get to your parents when you are angry.Your parents probably won't consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can't express yourself well if you are angry. Go someplace to _ . Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don't think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter. Try to reach a compromise . Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael's mother didn't agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days. Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something. In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong. Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values might help them see your purposes in life. A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person. From the passage we learn that _ A. parents and children should not have a generation gap B. parents should show love and respect to their children C. there are some good ways to bridge the generation gap D. there are so many serious problems in families today Answer: C. there are some good ways to bridge the generation gap If you intend using humor in your talk to make people smile, you must know how to identify shared experiences and problems. Your humor must be relevant to the audience and should help to show them that you are one of them or that you understand their situation and are in sympathy with their point of view. Depending on whom you are addressing, the problems will be different. If you are talking to a group of managers, you may refer to the disorganized methods of their secretaries; alternatively if you are addressing secretaries, you may want to comment on their disorganized bosses. Here is an example, which I heard at a nurses' convention, of a story which works well because the audience all shared the same view of doctors. A man arrives in heaven and is being shown around by St. Peter. He sees wonderful accommodations, beautiful gardens, sunny weather, and so on. Everyone is very peaceful, polite and friendly until, waiting in a line for lunch, the new arrival is suddenly pushed aside by a man in a white coat, who rushes to the head of the line, grabs his food and stomps over to a table by himself. "Who is that?" the new arrival asked St. Peter. "Oh, that's God." came the reply, "but sometimes he thinks he's a doctor." If you are part of the group which you are addressing, you will be in a position to know the experiences and problems which are common to all of you and it'll be appropriate for you to make a passing remark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman's notorious bad taste in ties. With other audiences you mustn't attempt to cut in with humor as they will resent an outsider making disparaging remarks about their canteen or their chairman. You will be on safer ground if you stick to scapegoats like the Post Office or the telephone system. If you feel awkward being humorous, you must practice so that it becomes more natural. Include a few casual and apparently off-the-cuff remarks which you can deliver in a relaxed and unforced manner. Often it's the delivery which causes the audience to smile, so speak slowly and remember that a raised eyebrow or an unbelieving look may help to show that you are making a light-hearted remark. Look for the humor. It often comes from the unexpected. A twist on a familiar quote "If at first you don't succeed, give up" or a play on words or on a situation. Search for exaggeration and understatements. Look at your talk and pick out a few words or sentences which you can turn about and inject with humor. The best title for the text may be _ . A. Use Humor Effectively. B. Various Kinds of Humor. C. Add Humor to Speech. D. Different Humor Strategies. Answer: A. Use Humor Effectively. "Hey, don't read in the hallway. Your eyesight will be damaged." You must have heard such warnings many times. Don't read in dim light! This is one of the "pearls of wisdom" that are supposed to help us live a healthy life. Such common beliefs, however, lack scientific basis, according to a paper published recently in theBritish Medical Journal. Do you believe in the following everyday wisdom? Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight. In dim light, you might blink more, feel discomfort from drying and have trouble focusing. But the majority of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any permanent damage. We must drink at least eight glasses of water a day In 1945, the Nutrition Council in US suggested that people need to consume 2.5 litres of water a day. But the water contained in food, particularly fruit and vegetables, as well as in milk, juice and soft drinks, also counts towards the total. We only use 10 percent of our brains. This myth arose as early as 1907. People have long argued about our power of self-improvement and our brains' potential abilities. But detailed imaging shows that no area of the brain is silent or inactive. Shaving your legs causes hair to grow black faster and thicker. This theory is also illusion. Shaving has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair growth, studies say. Just over time, the edge of hair gets worn away and thus the edge of long hair becomes finer . So hair that is newly grown gives the impression of darkness. What does the paper say about some common beliefs? A. They are pearls of wisdom B. They help us live in healthy ways C. They are well-known theories. D. They do not have scientific basis. Answer: D. They do not have scientific basis. 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?" In Britain, which of the following questions is NOTpolite? A. Where are you from? B. Do you like play football? C. Which subject do you like best? D. You look much older than your husband. How old are you? Answer: D. You look much older than your husband. How old are you? Which would provide the greatest benefit to animals in an ecoystem? A. a plastic tree B. a long-dead stump C. a new sprout D. an old oak Answer: D. an old oak
Question: The United Nations is warning that the world is not prepared to deal with the fast growth of cities. The World Economic and Social Survey 2013 calls for new ways to meet the needs of city populations. More than 6.5 billion people are expected to be living in cities by 2050. Most new city dwellers will be in developing countries. The United Nations says the effect on limited resources in many countries will be huge. The World Economic and Social Survey points to the increasing demand for energy, water, sanitation, public services, education and health care. The world population is expected to rise to more than nine billion by 2050, two-thirds of all people are expected to live in cities. The United Nations says about 80 percent of this growing urban population will be found in Africa and Asia. The report says sustainable development of urban areas requires coordination and investments to deal with important issues, these include land-use, food security, job creation and transportation. Willem Van Der Geest is with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, he says cities need to work closely with rural communities, so that food supplies can be secured, and the environment can be protected. "We need enough integration(,) with cities... An integration between the rural and urban economies is absolutely vital for issues of nutrition, food security, and environmental sustainability." The report says development in a sustainable way is important to end poverty. The report also examines the problem of food insecurity, which affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. One in eight people still severely lack nutrition. UN officials say some things are clear. The Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Shamshad Akhtar, says world food production will have to increase by 70%, that increase will be needed to feed the additional 2.3 billion people expected on the planet by the middle of the century. She says an important part of meeting that need is to waste less food. "There has to be efforts to reduce food wastage. ." Food and nutrition security are core elements of the sustainable development agenda. The passage is chosen from _ . A. a textbook B. a travel guide C. a novel D. a newspaper Answer: D Question: Love is a telephone which always keeps silent when you are longing for a call, but rings when you are not ready for it. As a result, we often miss the sweetness from the other end. Love is a telephone which is seldom program-controlled or directly dialed. You cannot get an immediate answer by a mere "hello", let alone go deep into your lover's heart by one call. Usually it had to be relayed by an operator, and you have to be patient in waiting. _ Love is a telephone which is always busy, When you are ready to die for love, you only find, to your disappointment, the line is already occupied by someone else, and you are greeted only by a busy line. This is an eternal regret handed down from generation to generation and you are only one of those who languish for(...) followers. Love is telephone, but it is difficult to seize the center time for dialing, and you will let the opportunity slip if your call is either too early or too late. Love is a telephone which is not always associated with happiness. Honeyed words are transmitted by sound waves, but when the lovers are brought together, the phone serves no purpose that many lovers observe that marriage is the _ of love. Love is a telephone which, when you use it for the first time, makes you so nervous and excited that you either hold the receiver upside down or dial the wrong number. By the time you've calmed down, you will beat a loss to whom you should make the call. Love is a telephone which often has crossed lines. And this usually happens to you unexpectedly. Your time will either cross or be crossed. Both cases are referred to as "triangle". Fortunately, all such occurrences are transient . In which part can this passage probably be found ? A. advertisement B. financial C. emotion D. lottery Answer: C Question: Two good friends, Sam and Jason, had a car accident. The next morning, Sam woke up but Jason was still unconscious . When Dr. Smith saw Sam awake, he smiled at him and asked, "How are you feeling today?" Sam smiled back and said, "Wonderful! Promise me you won't tell Jason anything." Dr. Smith was moved by Sam's words and said, "You are a very brave man. You know I won't do that. Trust me." Months later Jason recovered. He stopped hanging out with(...)Sam. He felt unhappy to spend time with a disabled person like Sam. Sam was lonely and heartbroken. One day Sam died in despair . When Jason was on his burial , Dr. Smith gave Sam's letter to him. The letter read, "Dear Jason, I have kept my promise to give you my eyes if anything had happened to them. Now there is nothing more that I can do. You will see through my eyes that you will always be my best friend ... Sam." When he finished reading, Dr. Smith added, "I had promised Sam to keep it a secret." Jason stood there with tears on his face. Why did Jason stop hanging out with Sam? A. He recovered but still couldn't move freely. B. He felt upset to be with a disabled man like Sam. C. He just found another friend. D. He didn't know what had happened to Sam. Answer: B Question: The deserts of the world are not all covered with sand. Many of them have surfaces of rock or clay or small stones. They are not flat, either. They often have high hills and deep valleys. There is some plants' life in many parts of the desert. There is little rain in the desert, but it does fall often enough for most plants. The deserts of the world are not uninhabited (not lived by people). People also live outside oases , but these people are not farmers. They have camels, goats, donkeys, sheep, etc. These animals can live on the desert plants and do not need much water. The people of the desert have to move constantly from place to place, they must always look for grass or desert plants for their animals. They usually live in tents. When there is no more food for their animals, they fold up their tents, pat them on their camels and donkeys, and move to another place. In good years, when there is enough food for their animals, they trade their skins and their goats and camel hairs with the people of oases for wheat and fruit. But in bad years, when there is not enough food for their animals, the people of the desert would attack the oases people. But they are also _ , no man in the desert would ever refuse to give a stranger food and water. In the desert _ . A. it rains in spring only B. it rains for a short time every month C. there is some rain, but far from enough D. the rainfall is just enough for the plants Answer: C Question: The first Beijing Fair of National Culture and Art kicked off August 3 and ran till August 12. The fair features more than 21 old Beijing business brands, more than 80 examples of intangible cultural heritage and 6 official Olympics merchandise. One of the highlights is a show featuring 15 lanterns. The fair aims at starting cultivating the cultural atmosphere for the Beijing Olympic Games, by highlighting the long history and culture of the city. The fair is divided into 12 districts and is open from 430--930 pm. There are both exhibitions and performances and interactive items tourists can enjoy. Sports competitions and craftmaking are available to teenagers, who can learn from old masters. Some of the most notable art elements include three luxury items worn by nobles in ancient China:a wooden craft called"pillow of Lu Ban", after a legendary civil engineer and carpenter who lived from 507--444 B.C., and whose designs are still used, and glass grapes. Some items are for sale and shoppers can hear about the history of the items from craftspeople. The lantern show includes 15 pieces installed along the park's main roads, providing both light and decor. There will be lantern shows accompanied by music and some lanterns feature designs including flowers, the moon and animal paintings. The fair also provides opportunities to teenagers to take part in interactive activities. For example, children can learn how to make dough figures from artist Wang Xingshan. They can also learn the art of papercutting, get some practice of braiding Chinese knots, and learn how to make sugar figures. Lantern Show with Distinctive Featureswould be a good title for _ . A. paragraph 2 B. paragraph 3 C. paragraph 4 D. paragraph 5 Answer: C
Question: New Movies You Need to Know Ahout This Month Sherpa Type; Documentary Release Date: Friday, December 18, 2015 Duration: 96 mins "Unforgettable"..."unbelievably absorbing".With praise like that, this doc looks like acan't-miss. Director Jennifer Peedom travelled to Nepal in 2014 to film the climbing season fromthe point of view of the local peopleSherpas. During the climbing, a disaster struck killing 16 Sunset Song Type: Drama Release Date: Friday, December 4, 2015 Duration; 135 mins The classic 1932 Srnttish romantic novel is adapted into a beautiful film by Director Terence Davies. In only her second film role, London supermodel Agyness Deyn proves her talent foracting as the daughter of a farming family who must live on all by herself when both her parentsare killed. When Harry Met Sally Type: Comedy Release Date: Friday, December 11,2015 Duration; 95 mins The perfectand we do mean perfectromantic comedy returns. _ The script, written by the much missed writer and director Nora Ephron, who died in 2012, is a joy. Snoopy and Charlie Brown:The Peanuts Movie Type: _ Release Date: Monday, December 21, 2015 Duration: 93 mins The most loveable character of them all, Charlie Brown, is back on the big screen with astory written by Craig Schulz. His father Charles Schulz created the famous cartoon characterSnoopy in the 1950s. We really look forward to this hit, but is the 3D really necessary? Please click here for more information. (A) Who is the leading actress of the coming comedy? A. Jennifer Peedom. B. Agyness Deyn. C. Billy Crystal. D. Meg Ryan. Answer: D Question: New York, the city that never sleeps, fell silent last week--schools were closed; bus and subway services were stopped; flights were canceled, and even the stock market closed for the first time since 1985. All the disorder was caused by one thing, the arrival of hurricane Sandy. This big storm landed on Oct 29 on the US east coast and brought damaging winds, flooding, blackouts and heavy snow. Sandy is one of the largest storms that have ever hit the US, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. By the afternoon of Nov1 (Beijing time), about 140 deaths were caused by the storm as it traveled across the Caribbean islands and into the US. Unlike most hurricanes that happen during summer, Sandy was strengthened not only by warm ocean water, but also by the cold air coming from the northwest. Sandy's power grew because of the difference in masses between the warm and wet air and cool and dry air. It became a kind of "super-storm", the Guardian reported. The flooding was particularly severe. Scientists said it was because Sandy's arrival happened together with a full moon, which normally means higher-than-usual tides . "The most worrying aspect of Sandy is the high tides," Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee told Reuters before the storm arrived. "With the full moon on Monday, with Sandy coming up the bay, we're very concerned about flooding in our low-lying coastal areas." Apart from the power of Sandy itself, another reason why her arrival has caused so much damage is that its target area is crowded with big cities such as New York and Philadelphia. These urban areas are home to tens of millions of people. The flood, the snow and the blackout have brought the country's financial and political centers to a stop. "The size of this alone, affecting a heavily populated area, is history making." Said Jeff Masters, a hurricane specialist. The author mentioned the disorder in New York city at the beginning of the article to _ . A. remind us of the problems people might face when disaster strikes B. introduce the disastrous influence of hurricane Sandy C. criticize the poor management of the city by the New York government D. prove New York suffered most from hurricane Sandy Answer: B Question: The view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched roof cottages around a church, a drive through a narrow village street lined with thatched cottages painted pink or white, the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched farm buildings--these are still common sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside. Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts practised in the British Isles. Although thatch has always been used for cottage and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too. Thatching is a solitary craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practised toady has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time thatchers are employed in England and Wales today, keeping and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching newer houses. Many property owners choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world lives under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries are often unwilling to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to get the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done the British way lasts from twenty to sixty years, and is an effective defiance against the heat. Which of the following remains a special feature of the English countryside? A. Narrow streets lined with pink or white houses. B. Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings. C. Cottages with thatched roofs. D. Churches with cottages around them. Answer: C Question: Aimlessness has hardly been typical of the postwar Japan whose productivity and social harmony are the envy of the United States and Europe. But increasingly the Japanese are seeing a decline of the traditional work-moral values. Ten years ago young people were hardworking and saw their jobs as their primary reason for being, but now Japan has largely fulfilled its economic needs, and young people don't know where they should go next. The coming of age of the postwar baby boom and an entry of women into the male-dominated job market have limited the opportunities of teenagers who are already questioning the heavy personal sacrifices involved in climbing Japans rigid social ladder to good schools and jobs. In a recent survey, it was found that only 24.5 percent of Japanese students were fully satisfied with school life, compared with 67.2 percent of students in the United States. In addition, far more Japanese workers expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs than their counterparts did in the ten other countries surveyed. While often praised by foreigners for its emphasis on the basics, Japanese education tends to stress test taking and mechanical learning over creativity and self-expression." Those things that do not show up in the test scores, personality, ability, courage or humanity are completely ignored," says Toshiki Kaifu, chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's education committee." Frustration against this kind of thing leads kids to drop out and run wild." Last year Japan experienced 2,125 incidents of school violence, including 929 assaults on teachers. Amid the outcry, many conservative leaders are seeking a return to the prewar emphasis on moral education. Last year Mitsuo Setoyama, who was then education minister, raised eyebrows when he argued that liberal reforms introduced by the American occupation authorities after World WarII had weakened the "Japanese morality of respect for parents." But that may have more to do with Japanese life-styles." In Japan," says educator Yoko Muro, "it's never a question of whether you enjoy your job and your life, but only how much you can endure." With economic growth becoming centralization, fully 76 percent of Japans, 119 million citizens live in cities where community and the extended family have been abandoned in favor of isolated, two generation households. Urban Japanese have long endured lengthy commutes (travels to and from work) and crowded living conditions, but as the old group and family values weaken, the discomfort is beginning to tell. In the past decade, the Japanese divorce rate, while still well below that of the United States, has increased by more than 50 percent, and suicides have increased by nearly one-quarter. Which of the following is true according to the author? A. Japanese education is praised for helping the young climb the social ladder. B. Japanese education is characterized by mechanical learning as well as creativity. C. More stress should be placed on the cultivation of creativity. D. Dropping out leads to frustration against test taking. Answer: C Question: We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change for I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears (ancestors) prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago. The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forbears fought are still at issue around the globe, the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe (enemy) alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge (promise solemny) and more. In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility. I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the Freedom of Man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. What should friends and foes know? A. That the United States is powerful. B. That a new generation of Americans are responsible for their government. C. That the United States is governed by liberals. D. The rights of man come from the hand of God. Answer: B
Many people like animals such as dogs and cats and keep one or more of them as pets. If you keep a dog or a cat as a pet, you must know how to look after it. A grown-up dog needs two meals a day --not more. It can eat meat, fish, rice and some other things. Dogs like large bones , but you can't give them chicken bones. Remember to give them much clean water. A dog should have a clean, dry box for sleeping. Washing it once a week is good for its health. If it is ill, take it to a doctor. A healthy dog will bring you more pleasure. Be careful when you choose a cat. A cat has two meals a day with some meat or fish. It drinks a little milk every day. Sometimes you can give it vegetables to eat. Don't forget that it needs clean water to drink. Take good care of your pets, they will be your good friends. Maybe they can give you some help when you are in need. Cats usually drink _ . A. orange B. red ink C. apple juice D. milk and water Answer: D. milk and water Do you get angry at your friends' singing loudly while you are working? Or when your best friend does not wait for you after school? If you do, you need to control your feelings and stop getting angry so easily. Getting angry with people can make you lose friends. Gary Egeberg, an American high school teacher, has writtenMy feelings Are Just Like Wild Animalsto help you control your feelings. It tells teens how to stay cool when bad things happen to them. The book says that getting angry only makes problems worse. It can never make them better. Getting angry is not a natural way to act. It is just a bad habit, like smoking. The book says you can control your anger easily--all you have to do is telling yourself not to be angry. When a baby falls over, it only cries if people are watching it. Like a baby, you should only get angry if you are sure it is the right thing to do. Keep a record. Every time you get angry, write down why you are angry. Look at it later and you will see you get angry too easily. Ask your friends to stop talking to you when you get angry. This will teach you not to be angry. *Do something different. When you get angry, walk away from the problem and go somewhere else. Try to laugh! The writer wants to tell us _ . A. not to get angry B. to work hard at school C. to do more exercise D. to help each other Answer: A. not to get angry A flock of hungry pigeons were flying across the sky in search of food. Having traveled a long distance, they felt tired and settled down on a tree. Just below the tree, they saw grains strewn all over the ground. The pigeons were happy to have found enough food to eat. All the pigeons came down from the tree and started eating the grains. As they were doing so, a huge net fell on them and trapped them all. The pigeons were taken aback. They noticed a hunter sitting at a distance from the tree, a bow and arrow in hand. The pigeons realized it was the hunter who had trapped them in the net. The hunter got up and began to move towards the pigeons. The leader of the pigeons spoke, "Friends, we are in great trouble. The hunter will catch us if we do not act swiftly in a few seconds. There is only one _ available at this moment. Let all of us use our force together and fly up along with the net. If all of us use our force and fly together, we can fly carrying the net along with us. Let us start now." All the pigeons agreed with him and flew high carrying the net along with them. After traveling enough distance away from the hunter, the pigeons settled on a tree and carefully came out of the net one by one and thus escaped the evil design of the hunter. How did the pigeons react when they got trapped? A. They didn't know what to do. B. They tried to fly in all directions. C. They remained rather calm. D. They decided to fight for their lives. Answer: C. They remained rather calm. A father and his young son get into a bus in a small city and sit down. The bus conductor comes to them for their money. The man says "I want one ticket to Oxford." and gives her a shilling( ). The conductor looks at the small boy for a few seconds and then says to him, "How old are you young man?" The man begins speaking,but the conductor stops him,and the boy says, "I'm four years old at home, and two and a half in buses and trains." The man has to take six pence out of his bag and gives the money to the conductor. The conductor gives him one and a half tickets. The father gives the conductor _ pence in all that day. A. 12 B. 16 C. 10 D. 18 Answer: D. 18 In two days, I will be turning 30. And I was not looking forward to a new decade . I was afraid that the best years of my life were behind me. One day, I met with my friend Nicholas. He was a 79-year-old man. He noticed something was different about me and asked if anything was wrong. I told him what I was anxious about and asked him: "What was the best time of your life?" Without hesitation, Nicholas replied: "Well, Joe, when I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me, that was the best time of my life." "When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life." "When I got my first job and got paid for my work, that was the best time of my life." "When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life." "World War IIcame, and my wife and I had to leave Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship, that was the best time of my life." "When I became a young father and watched my children grow up, that was the best time of my life." "And now, Joe, I am 79 years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am just as in love with my wife as I was the day we met. This is the best time of my life." From the passage, we can learn that _ . A. it's never too old to learn B. believing in yourself is the key to success C. be thankful for what you have today D. time and tide wait for no man Answer: C. be thankful for what you have today
I love collecting old paving bricks ( ). It is my favourite hobby. I started it last year when I needed to help our teacher to hold a fair display ( ) for our school. A few years earlier, I read an article about paving bricks in a fashion magazine. I found it was very interesting, so I decided to do the display on the bricks. But we didn't have so many bricks for a good display. Then I decided to go out and look for them. Now I have collected hundreds of bricks. Most of them are from Ohio ( ). Actually , there are more than one thousand different kinds of bricks in Ohio. Sometimes, I bought some old but special bricks on the Internet. The price is from 5 to 10 dollars for one brick. Sometimes, people can't understand why I buy bricks. I must say that it's my favourite hobby. I came to know paving bricks _ . Answer: in a magazine "Mum,what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton in the closet ?"Jessica asked. "A skeleton in the closet?"her mother paused thoughtfully. "Well, it' s something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example,if in the past,someone in Dad' s family had been arrested for stealing a horse,it would be 'a skeleton in his family' s closet'.He really wouldn' t want any neighbor to know about it." "Why pick on my family?" Jessica' s father said with anger. "Your family history isn' t so good,you know. Wasn' t your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?" "Yes,but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners." "Gosh,sorry I asked. I think I understand now," Jessica cut in before things grew worse. After dinner,the house was very quiet. Jessica' s parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband,who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica' s closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt,a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica' s mother sank into a faint ,waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter. "What happened?Where am I?" she asked. "You just destroyed the school' s skeleton,Mum," explained Jessica. "I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you,but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets,it caused a problem between you and Dad." Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. "They' re both crazy," she thought. Why did Jessica bring a skeleton home? Answer: She needed it for her sc hool task. It's a sure sign that summer is over and winter is on the way -- leaves that were once deep green turn red, yellow and bright orange. It happens every autumn. But did you ever wonder why? The leaves start changing color when the nights start getting longer and the temperature starts getting cooler. Some scientists think that as the number of daylight hours _ the leaves stop making chlorophyll which makes plants green. The reason is that the process of making chlorophyll requires sunlight. But according to horticulture educator Susan Rose from Colorado State University, it turns out leaves don't really change color at all. "The fall colors are actually there all along," she said. "But they are covered by the green chlorophyll. As the chlorophyll stops being produced, the other colors can shine through." The kind of color that the leaves are going to change to is determined by the plant's genetic background. In some places, the leaves start changing color in September -- before autumn even officially begins. In other places, they don't change until late October or even November. Some scientists say the leaves have been changing color later than usual in recent years. And they think global warming has something to do with that. In one study, researchers found that the growing season in the Northern Hemisphere was nearly a week longer, on average, in 2008 than it was in 1982. And a professor from Harvard University found that the leaves, west of Boston, Massachusetts, are changing color about three days later than they used to. However, other scientists disagree with the global warming theory. Susan Rose said the leaves in her part of Colorado are changing "right on schedule." But the leaves in other parts of that state are running a little late. "The lateness in the mountains may have something to do with the really warm late summer and early fall," she said. "But I'm afraid that's just a guess." According to Susan Rose, _ . Answer: the fall colors are always in leaves Indoor Plants As with any house guests,indoor plants require a certain amount of basic,regular attention if they are going to feel at home. The first consideration when purchasing plants is to make reasonably sure that they are suitable for the condition in which they are going to be housed. A general rule for most plans being brought indoors for the first time is to ensure that they have reasonable temperature of not less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit,a position out of cold air,safe from pets and not exposed to strong sunlight. Plants love company. When plants are growing together,they create an atmosphere of damp around themselves which is far more beneficial than hot dry conditions. A group of plants will also present a more pleasing picture and provide an opportunity for a creative arrangement. There is no secret to this. Just rely on your natural feeling for harmony. Watering and feeding plants are probably the two areas of care that are the least well understood,but,again,if you follow a few simple rules,your plants should do well. Cold Slightly warm water is therefore the answer. It is usually better to pour water on to the soil on the surface of the pot rather than put the water into the pot holder at the bottom. Avoid giving small amount of water at regular intervals- it is much better to wet the soil right through the pot in one go and then to allow it to dry noticeably before giving it a further watering. The majority of indoor plants will be in active growth from March until October,and during this time,the established ones will benefit from regular feeding. This may mean feeding with a weak liquid fertilizer at each watering or at intervals of a week or ten days with fertilizer at a standard strength. It is important,however,to ensure that plants are not fed when growth is inactive,when the soil in the pot is dry,or too soon after the plants has been potted up. What's the benefit of plants growing together? Answer: It helps the air around them slightly wet. Most painters discover a style of painting that suits them and stick to that, especially if people admire their pictures. But Picasso, the great Spanish painter, was like a man who had not yet found his own particular style of painting. He kept on struggling to find the perfect expression till his death in 1973. Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft color1ed and beautiful. Others are ugly and cruel and strange. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They force us to say to ourselves, "What does he see that makes him paint like that?" And we begin to look beneath the surface of the things we see. Picasso painted thousands of pictures in different styles. Sometimes he painted the natural look of things. Sometimes he seemed to break them apart and throw the pieces in our faces. He showed us what the mind knows as well as what the eye sees. At the age of 90 he remained as curious about the world as he had been when he was young. That's why people have called him "the youngest painter in the world.. What does the passage mainly tell us? Answer: Picasso's style of painting.
Many children have a "bug period"--a time of life when bugs are a source of endless fascination and learning. Naturalist Edward O. Wilson jokes that unlike other kids, he never grew out of his bug period. Luckily for this biologist, his lifelong passion for ants has led to a career rich in accomplishments and praise. He is not just the world's foremost expert on the social behavior of ants, but also the receiver of the National Medal of Science and two Pulitzer Prizes for nonfiction. Now, at the age of 80, Wilson has tried his hand at fiction. His first novel, Anthill, combines two of his greatest loves -- his childhood home, Alabama, and the ants that have been his lifelong friends. Described as a "six-legged Iliad," Wilson's Anthill draws parallels between human and ant societies. Though there are no ant bands, secret police, or schools of philosophy, both ants and man conduct wars, divide themselves into specialized classes of workers, build cities, maintain infant nurseries and cemeteries, take slaves and practice agriculture, though ant societies are more energetic, selfless, and efficient than human ones. The book's first and third sections deal with the adventures of an Alabama boy, Raphael Semmes Cody, who goes by the name Raff. The boy grows up knocking around the Nokobee woods; he's drawn to its natural wonders, and uses the forest to escape from his parents' unhappy marriage. In the woods he leaves almost no stone unturned as he discovers the forest's rich flora and fauna . Raff grows up and heads to Harvard to study law, but returns later in life to protect the Nokobee from crazy developers. But fans of Wilson's science will be most interested in the book's middle section, where the author inserts a mini-novel describing the trials and sufferings of the ants living in the endangered forest. Reviews of the book have been mixed. Writing for The New York Review of Books, Margaret Atwood praised Wilson for his first novel, saying that it is highlighted by a diversity of ideas and an imaginative plot. And -- with the exception of some dull preachiness -- it is entertaining. What is the purpose of the passage? A. To present Edward O. Wilson's life story. B. To present Edward O. Wilson's achievements. C. To show the readers that we can learn from ants. D. To give an overview of a new book. Answer: D. To give an overview of a new book. A recent report says we spend an average of two hours and 40 minutes each day looking at a smartphone. That doesn't mean making calls, but using apps and browsing the Web. Spend that amount of time staring at anything. Checked our email in a restaurant, shared a picture of the food when it arrived, or checked a fact during a conversation only to be drawn into reading more instead of contributing verbally. It's no secret our lives are being affected by our obsession with smartphones. However, never before has this phenomenon been displayed so vividly as in the short YouTube film I Forgot My Phone. Despite only being online for a few days, it's already been viewed more than 10. 5 million times. Ironically, YouTube's statistics show that the site gets a billion views per day from mobile devices, so a lot of those people watched it on their phone. The short film, written by and starring actress Charlene deGuzrnan, shows groups of people in various social situations, the majority of which are completely attracted by their phones instead of the world around them. It's depressing because we' ve all seen it, and sad because to a certain extent, we all do it. What did the author think of looking at a smartphone? A. Supporting. B. Surprising . C. Relaxing. D. Concerning. Answer: D. Concerning. Donna Ashlock, a 14-year-old girl from California, was very sick. She had a bad heart. "Donna needs a new heart," her doctor said, "she must have a new heart, or she will die soon." Felipe Carza, 15, was worried about Donna. Felipe was Donna's friend. He liked Donna very much. He liked her freckles, and he liked her smile. Felipe didn't want Donna to die. Felipe talked to his mother about Donna. "I am going to die," Felipe told his mother, "and I am going to give my heat to Donna." Felipe's mother didn't pay much attention to Felipe. "Felipe is just kidding," she thought, "Felipe is not going to die. He's strong and healthy." But Felipe was not healthy. He had terrible headaches sometimes. "my head hurts," he often told his friends. Felipe never told his parents about his headaches. One morning Felipe woke up with a sharp pain in his head. He was dizzy , and he couldn't breathe. His parents rushed Felipe to the hospital. Doctors at the hospital had terrible news for them. "Felipe' s brain is dead," the doctors said, "we can't save him." The parents were very sad. But they remembered Felipe's words. "Felipe wanted to give his heart to Donna," they told the doctors. The doctors did several tests. Then they told the parents, "we can give Felipe's heart to Donna." The doctors took out Felipe's heart and rushed the heart to Donna. Other doctors took out Donna's heart and put Felipe's heart in her chest. In a short time the heart began to beat. The operation was a success. Felipe's heart was beating in Donna's chest, but Donna didn't know it. Her parents and doctors didn't tell her. They waited until she was stronger; then they told her about Felipe. "I feel very sad," Donna said, "but I am thankful to Felipe." Three months later the operation Donna went back to school. She has to have regular checkups, and she has to take medicine every day. But she is living a normal life. Felipe's brother John says, "Every time we see Donna, we think of Felipe. She has Felipe's heart in her. That gives us great peace." Felipe was worried about Donna because _ . A. she had freckles B. she was very sick C. she would have a new heart D. she had a sharp pain in her head Answer: B. she was very sick One day, John Randolph rode on his horse to a town many miles from his home. The road was strange to him, so he traveled very slowly. When the night fell, he stopped at a nice roadside inn for accommodation .The innkeeper welcomed him. A fine supper was prepared. The innkeeper talked about the weather, the roads, the crops. However, his guest ate silently. Next morning after breakfast, Mr. Randolph paid his bill and was ready for his journey. Leading his horse to the door, the innkeeper said, "Which way will you travel, sir?" Mr. Randolph looked at him and answered, "I've paid you my bill. Should I pay you anything more? I travel the way I wish to go." But not far from the inn, to his surprise, there were two ways. He searched for a while but there was no sign to help him. The innkeeper was still standing by the door. He called to him: "My friend, which road leads to Lynchburg?" The innkeeper answered, "Sir, you have paid your bill and don't owe me a cent. Travel the way you wish to go. Good-bye!" As bad luck would have it, Mr. Randolph took the wrong road. Though out of his way, he lost much time, all because of his rudeness. The innkeeper asked which way he would travel because _ . A. he wanted more money B. he wanted to help Mr. Randolph C. he wanted to know the way D. he wanted to keep Mr. Randolph Answer: B. he wanted to help Mr. Randolph Foam weather stripping is often placed in the frames of doors and windows in a home. What is the purpose of this weather stripping? A. The weather stripping increases heat transfer by radiation. B. Heat is conducted quickly through the weather stripping. C. The weather stripping reduces heat loss due to convection. D. Heat can transfer through the weather stripping due to reflection. Answer: C. The weather stripping reduces heat loss due to convection.
Hello, I'm Jack. Please look at the picture of my classroom. On the front wall, there is a blackboard.It's very big. In front of the blackboard, there is a yellow desk. It's for our teachers. There is a computer on it. On the right wall there is a map of China. On the black ( ) wall of our classroom is a blackboard. We can write and draw on it. There are forty students in my class. Everyone has a desk and a chair. In my classroom, my desk is next to Li Fang's desk. She is on my left . And Tim is on my right. In front of me is John . Who is behind me ? It's a girl, Amy. They are my good friends. There are _ desks in Jack's classroom . A 20 B 21 C 40 D 41 Answer: D. 41 London, Reuters--What could annoy teenagers enough to make them stop hanging out with friends and go home? No, it's not a visit from their mothers, and not a threat to take away their cellphones or pocket money. It's high-frequency noise. The UK police recently agreed to use a device called the Sonic Teenager Deterrent. It sends out a sound that makes teenagers become so impatient and angry that they have to cover their ears tightly and walk away. The sound is at extreme high-pitch that can be heard by those under 20. The body's natural ability to detect some wave bands decreases almost entirely after 20, so few adults can hear the sounds. The black-box device, nicknamed the Mosquito because of its sound, can be fixed to the outside walls of shops, offices and homes. It sounds to youngsters like a crazy insect or a badly played violin. But it causes no physical damage. A number of police forces and councils have given permission to use the system and want to install it at trouble spots. Staffordshire Police Inspector Amanda Davies, who has given the device to shopkeepers in the Moorlands area, said," It is controlled by the shopkeepers--if they can see through their window that there is a problem, they turn the device on for a while until the group has run away." The purpose of the writer to write the passage is _ . A to advertise a new hi-tech device B to tell the reader a piece of news C to sell the device to shopkeepers D to inform the public as the spokesman of the police Answer: B. to tell the reader a piece of news It's difficult not to become involved in gossip at work. After all, people like gossip and interesting bits of information: you only have to look at the number of celebrity-focused publications to realize that we have a huge appetite for discussing other people's lives. At work, however, this type of interaction is harmful and costly. It wastes time, damages reputations, promotes divisiveness , creates anxiety. Rumors often grow because people like to be "in the know." Knowledge is power, and that's why the people with the least amount of power in an organization can often be the ones to start and spread rumors. It can make them feel important if they're seen to know things that others don't. This knowledge is at the center of why and how rumors start and spread. Insufficient knowledge or incomplete information are often to blame. Consider these examples: People don't know why a colleague was fired, so they make up a reason based on some limited knowledge or insignificant fact. "I saw John override the cash register the other day without a supervisor present. Maybe he stole some money and that's why he went." People see a pattern of behavior between two individuals and they add their own explanation. "Joseph and Samantha spend a lot of time together after hours 'catching up on paperwork.' And just yesterday, they were sitting awfully close to each other in the meeting. I bet paperwork isn't all that's getting done after work!" These rumors are typical of the things you'll face at work, and they spread because of a lack of accurate information. So, the best way to fight rumors is with good communication. When you communicate well, your team knows what's happening, and they trust that you'll keep them informed. Good communication within your team also means that you will become aware of any rumors that are starting, and you'll be able to address them quickly and effectively. Who is most likely to spread rumors at work? A The ones who have a large circle of friends B The ones who have quick access to information. C The ones who have good knowledge. D The ones with the least amount of power. Answer: D. The ones with the least amount of power. Werewolves aren't the only creatures affected by the moon's cycles . A full moon also affects people's sleep more or less, reports a Swiss team of scientists. Even people who sleep in a lab without windows could reduce their sleeping time a little once a month. To test the moon's influence, 33 adults of both sexes and ages of many kinds spent several nights in a sleep lab. As they slept, researchers recorded their brain activity, eye movements and hormone levels . On nights closer to a full moon, the sleepers took an average of five minutes longer to fall asleep, and slept for 20 minutes less. In addition, brain activity fell by 30 percent during the sleep. And hormone levels that help control sleep cycles went down. On these nights, the sleepers complained they couldn't sleep well even though they didn't know the moon's cycle. On the bright side, no sleeper turned into a werewolf. The Swiss team doesn't know how the moon affects sleep. The gravity of the moon causes ocean tides to rise and fall. But that force is too weak to affect sleep, Gajochen says. He believed some body's biological clock may be affected by the moon cycles. There may be another reason, says David Dinges. This sleep researcher at the University Of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia says that the body clock is very sensitive to light at night. Those sleepers could have been affected by having too much moonlight before arriving at the lab. The passage is mainly about _ . A the sleeping problems caused by the moon's cycles B the influence of the moon on human sleeping habits C the moon's influence on sleeping and its possible reasons D the ways to get a better sleep on a full moon night Answer: C. the moon's influence on sleeping and its possible reasons Pauline and Doris own adjacent parcels of land. On each of their parcels was a low-rise office building. The two office buildings were of the same height. Last year Doris decided to demolish the lowrise office building on her parcel and to erect a new high-rise office building of substantially greater height on the parcel as permitted by the zoning and building ordinances. She secured all the governmental approvals necessary to pursue her project. As Doris's new building was in the course of construction, Pauline realized that the shadows it would create would place her (Pauline's) building in such deep shade that the rent she could charge for space in her building would be substantially reduced. Pauline brought an appropriate action against Doris to enjoin the construction in order to eliminate the shadow problem and for damages. Pauline presented uncontroverted evidence that her evaluation as to the impact of the shadow on the fair rental value of her building was correct. There is no statute or ordinance (other than the building and zoning ordinances) that is applicable to the issues before the court. The court should A grant to Pauline the requested injunction. B award Pauline damages measured by the loss of rental value, but not an injunction. C grant judgment for Doris, because she had secured all the necessary governmental approvals for the new building. D grant judgment for Doris, because Pauline has no legal right to have sunshine continue to reach the windows of her building. Answer: D. grant judgment for Doris, because Pauline has no legal right to have sunshine continue to reach the windows of her building.
Ever tried taking smart drugs to perform better in exams? They certainly work. Before last summer's exam, a few of my mates, merely out of curiosity, took a considerable amount of Modafinil, a drug normally used for narcolepsy . Guess what? While I was feeling sleepy, bored by revision, my mates were more focused. Modafinil is a smart drug that gives a user a feeling of staying awake for hours. It also sharpens the mind, improves memory and helps problem-solving. But it does more than just keeping you awake. It disturbs your mental system, making you desperate to do what you are doing. You just don't want to do anything else but revise all the time non-stop. A recent study discovers that healthy people use smart drugs, like Modafinil, to get down to and complete tasks they have been putting off, because these tasks seem more enjoyable when taking these drugs. This might sound like what a stressed student desires. However, the pills have a range of side-effects. "At present no evidence shows that these drugs are safe in healthy people," as a medical expert puts it, "Ordering online, though easy, is a dangerous way to obtain drugs. You never know what you're actually purchasing. " In my experience, Modafinil changes people's behaviour too. Over those weeks my friends became different people--in turn aggressive, cold. Even eating became "a waste of time" and so did conversation. A BBC survey found that of those who had tried smart drugs before, 92% would do so again. My friends say they'd happily do so without considering the practice a form of cheating. I admit I was curious--but not enough to try it. Seeing the strange behaviour of other users, I feel a little bit upset and scary. Modafinil may promise to change your grades, but it might also change the way you act. Don't say you haven't been warned! What does the author think of his mates' taking the smart drugs? Worrying. Our school library offers learning services, books and other things that help all members of the school to become good thinkers and clever users of information. It is linked to the larger library in the city and the World Wide Web. All these services are given according to the requirements of the Public Library Manifesto . School library services must be given to all members of the school. Students of any age, class and grade can enjoy them. Different services must be given to those who are unable to use the main library services. Users of the library must follow the rules made by the library workers to keep it clean and tidy. The main rules are as follows: 1. Opening and closing times: Monday --Friday: 9 a.m. --9 p.m. during term time. Saturday: 9 a.m. --1p.m. throughout the year. 2. Admission and borrowing: Only people holding a library card shall be allowed in. Members can borrow 5 books at a time. 3. Behavior in the library: Silence shall be kept as much as possible in the library. No other books can be taken into the library. Library workers can help members use the books and other things in the library. When the library workers and teachers work together, students will get better reading, writing, and problem-solving skills. What is the main aim of the school library services? To help the users get more knowledge and skills. A few days ago, prefix = st1 /Adrianbought six packages of ink for his printer at a $1 Store. Then he found a deal on better ink at the local computer store. SoAdrianwent back to the $1 Store to exchange the ink for some other items. He put the ink into a plastic bag and tied it up. When he entered the store, he immediately showed the bag to a clerk and told her that he was returning some items. She looked at him but said nothing, soAdrianput the bag into a push-cart and started shopping. He was midway through shopping when a female employee suddenly stopped him. "Sir," she said sternly , "you are not allowed to carry a plastic bag of items around in this store." Adrianwas taken back. There was no need for her to yell. He opened the bag and showed her the six packages of ink. "I'm exchanging these for some other items,"Adriansaid. "You should have left the bag with the clerk when you entered the store. Let me see your receipt!" the employee demanded.Adrianwas embarrassed. He felt like a shoplifter while he showed her the receipt. By the time Adrianhad finished shopping and exchanged the items, he was angry and asked what her name was. She mumbled something and he heard "Ursula." WhenAdriangot home, he called the store's corporate headquarters. Two days later,Adrianreceived a phone call from a representative. "I'm sorry," she said, "but there's no one at that store named Ursula. Can you describe her? I'll find out who she is. I assure you, we do not tolerate rude behavior, nor do we tolerate lying to customers." By this time,Adrianhad calmed down. He didn't really want the employee to lose her job. He told the representative to forget about it. After reading this passage, we can see that _ . Adrianshould have left the bag with the clerk Do you still remember the disaster several years ago? In Indonesia thousands of people were killed by the tsunami that washed people out to sea and pulled children out of their parents' arms. "The weather was fine with no clouds .There was no warning and suddenly the sea water just hit the city. In some parts the water was as high as two meters." a man in the city said. "Sadli, an official at the hospital, said many of the dead in the city were children under the age of ten." "Maybe the children were being carried by their hold but they fell over in the water and couldn't hold on to their children .All the dead children drawed." said Sadli. Officials said hundreds of houses had been swept away the force of five -meter -high waves across Aceh, which lies on the northern tip of Sumatra Island . "Tens of people saw the rushing water and didn't run to high ground .Instead, they kept watching it .Several of my workmates are missing." Lelana said by telephone. Some people saw the rushing water and didn't run to high grounds because _ . they didn't know they were in danger I think all of us should know it's necessary to have breakfast. It's one of the most important meals of the day. If you want to keep fit, you should have a good breakfast. Choosing the right food is also important. For it, you may have bread, eggs and milk. But in fact, many students go to school without breakfast. This does harm to their health. Maybe they say they have no time because it's too late or their parents are too busy to prepare breakfast for them. What will happen to the students on an empty stomach ? Because of no energy, they can't keep active. They may not grow fast. When they feel hungry, they are not able to study well and they have no energy to play well, either. What's worse , they will spend more time getting better once they fall ill. Therefore , we shouldn't go to school without breakfast, no matter what reason it is. Why did the students go to school without breakfast? Their parents don't make breakfast for them.
There is a saying that the British like a nice cup of tea in the morning and a nice cup of tea at night. And at half past seven, their idea of heaven is a nice cup of tea. They like a nice cup of tea with their dinner and a nice cup of tea time, and before they go to bed, there is a lot to be said about a nice cup of tea! Sometime it seems that no one likes tea as much as the British does. But in fact, tea is liked in countries around the world. In China and Japan tea was first used as a medicine, many years later, people there drank tea as a beverage . People in the world like to drink different kinds of tea -- green, black or red as some people call it. It is served in different ways. But they all know that drinking tea is good for one's health. The phrase "their idea of heaven" means _ . A the happiest thing for them B their thoughts C their God D the worst thing for them Answer: A Deep into the night, the bus pulled in to a Howard Johnson's restaurant and everybody got off the bus except Vingo. The young people began to wonder about him , trying to imagine his life. One of the girls sat beside him and introduced herself. After a long time, slowly and painfully, he began to tell his story. He had been in prison in prefix = st1 /New Yorkfor the last four years, and now he was going home. "Well, when I was in prison I wrote to my wife. I said, 'Martha, I understand if you can not stay married to me'. I said I was going to be away for a long time, and that if she couldn't stand it , if the kids kept asking questions, if it hurt her too much, well, she could just forget me . Get a new young man---she's a wonderful woman---and forget all about me. I told her she didn't have to write to me and she didn't. Not for the three and a half years." "Last week, when I was sure freedom was coming through, I wrote to her. I told her that if she had a new young man, I would understand. But if she didn't, if she would take me back, she should let me know. We used to live in the town,Brunswick, and there's a great big oak tree just as you come into the town. I told her if she would take me back, she should put a yellow handkerchief on the tree, and if she didn't want me, forgot me, no handkerchief and I'd keep going on through." Soon all the others were in it. When they were 20 miles fromBrunswick, the young men took over window seats on the right side, waiting for the approach of the great oak tree. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con's mask. Then it was 10 miles, and then 5, and the bus became very quiet. Then suddenly all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances. All except Vingo. In the story, the yellow handkerchief probably means _ . A happiness B sadness C I hate you D I still love you Answer: D Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for family, health, and life in general. However, Black Friday has turned it into a business. Traditionally, the true value of Thanksgiving lies at home not the shopping centers. However, Black Friday has nowadays allowed society to ignore _ as individuals long for something that they do not need or even truly want. Shopping on Black Friday becomes a sign of a shift into a culture that values material wealth over spending time with loved ones. People are willing to force their way through the crowds in their desperate search for marked-down sweaters and necklaces. In recent years, Thanksgiving has become a pre-Black Friday holiday for many families. They are devoted to mapping out shopping routes and making organized schedules for which stores to hit first. By drawing individuals out to shopping centers with "matchless savings", businesses encourage this behavior of ignoring Thanksgiving. Many families take their home-cooked meals while camping out at the door of shopping centers. With each new year, Thanksgiving is becoming victim to over-commercialization--switching from a meaningful time of thanks and family to a day dedicated to products and profit. Black Friday has shown that with current common standards, people cannot even set aside a single day to appreciate what they already have without immediately buying more. Families have lost sight of what is truly important in life, and have found reasons in debating between a low cost HD television and an appreciation for what they already have. Remember, Thanksgiving should be a day in which people are grateful for all that they have. What's the author's attitude towards the present ways people celebrate Thanksgiving? A Annoyed. B Worried. C Supportive. D Unconcerned. Answer: B Clay is 13 years old, and he lives in Miami, the United States. On the morning of Feb.23, when Clay is waiting for school bus, a man kidnaps him.The man takes him to a tree. He puts a stock in Clay's mouth. Then he asks for money from Clay's family. Clay is very scared . But he remembers there is a safety pin in his pocket. He takes out the pin and cuts through the rope . Finally he gets free. Clay calls his mother with a farmer's cell phone. Soon the police comes and Clay is safe. The police thinks highly of Clay. "This man kidnaps the wrong boy," Charly Wells, a policeman says. "This boy notices things. And he's very brave ." After taking Clay to a tree, the man _ . A kills the boy B hurts the boy C asks for money from his family D calls the police Answer: A At the end of every British summer I find myself praying for a proper winter, one that will allow a bit of fun: sledging, snowballing, snowman-building. I'm not very demanding; I don't need amazing downhill skiing and the Cresta Run. What I want is a few days out with the kids. And, much as I like blue skies and sun in summer, I'd exchange it every time for frozen ponds, a hillside covered in fresh snow and ice hanging off the houses. Maddy, 11, wants the same and so, instead of waiting and hoping, we are going to make sure. We are going to Sweden. Winter fun in Sweden is a bit more advanced than in most of the UK. They do snowshoeing, ice-fishing, snow house-building and so on. They also do lots of Father Christmas matters, which Maddy didn't want: "I'm too old for that kind of nonsense, Dad." Above all, what Maddy wanted was dogs with puppies. She's not too old for that. We flew to Lulea, a city at the top of the finger of Baltic Sea that reaches out to the north between Sweden and Finland, almost touching the Arctic Circle, then transferred, with some other winter-hungry families, to woodland houses by the sea. There was plenty of snow and ice, but the guides were keeping a nervous eye on the instrument for measuring temperature, which was dangerously close to zero. "Normally, we are 10degC below," said Roger, our guide, who was also handing out our equipment for the days ahead: snowshoes, boots, gloves and so on. A holiday that provides all the necessary outfits will save you a fortune. Which of the following best describes our guide? A Experienced and old. B Nervous and funny. C Considerate and careful. D Worried and amazed. Answer: C
When you cut your skin, you bleed . If a person loses a lot of blood, he will become ill and may die. Blood is very important. People have always known that. At one time, some people even drank blood to make them strong! When doctors understand how blood goes around inside the body, they try ways of giving blood to people who need it. They take blood from the healthy people and give it to people who need it. This is called "blood transfusion". The blood goes from the arm of the healthy person into the arm of the sick person. But there are two problems. First, it does not always work. Sometimes people die when they have blood transfusion. Later, doctors find that we do not all have the same kind of blood. There are four groups--O, A, B and AB. We all have blood of one of these groups. They also find that they can give any kind of blood to people of group AB. But they find that they must give A-group blood to A-group people and B-group blood to B-group people. I have O-group blood and the doctor told me that I could give blood to anyone else safely. ks5u There is another problem. To give blood of the right kind, doctors have to find a person of the right blood group. Often they can not find a person in time. If they have a way to keep the blood until someone needs it, they can always have the right kind of blood. At first they find they can keep it in bottles for fifteen to twenty days. They do this by making it very cold. Then they find how to keep it longer. In the end they find a way of keeping blood for a very long time. We call a place where we keep money a "bank". We call a place where we keep blood a "blood bank". One day, when you grow up, you may decide to give blood to a "blood bank". In this way you may stop someone from dying. Or perhaps one day you may become ill. You may need blood. The "blood bank" will give it to you. People set up the "blood bank" so that they can _ A give the right kind of blood to the people who need it in time B keep different groups of blood as much as possible C make it easier to sell or buy blood D keep blood for more than twenty hundred years Answer: A The sun setting occurs A 30 days in January B 28 days in February C every other day in April D every third day in May Answer: B In New York State, an observer will usually see the Sun rise in the A north B south C east D west Answer: C A new American report says water-related problems will likely increase tensions around the world in the next ten years. These problems include water shortages, poor water quality and floods. The problems will increase the risk of failure of governments. However, countries are unlikely to go to war over water. But the real question is that some governments may use water as a weapon to pressure others ten years later. The report looks at possible effects of water problems on the United States national security interests over the next thirty years. It says the areas that will be most affected by water problems are North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says, "Reliable water resources are essential for feeding the hungry, running industries and creating energy. Certainly they are central when we think about how climate changes will affect future generations." The report also predicts an increased demand for American assistance and expert help to solve those problems. That demand for help could create opportunities for leadership and influence. Water shortages, poor water quality, and floods are unlikely to result in state failure. But these could combine with poverty, social tensions, environmental problems, poor leadership and weak governments to produce social disorder. And that combination could cause state failure. The report predicts that from now through 2040 water shortages and pollution probably will harm the economic performance of important trading partners. During the next ten years the loss of groundwater supplies in some agricultural areas will create a risk to national and global food markets. These shortages will be a result of poor management. Agriculture uses about seventy percent of the world's freshwater. The report says technology that reduces the amount of water needed to grow crops will offer the best way to fight against water shortages. This article mainly talks about _ . A water pollution and floods B the risk of failure of governments C the relation between water and agriculture D effects of water problems around the world Answer: D A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was astonished to discover that it was a mouse trap! Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse declared the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house." The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house." "I am so sorry, Mr.Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr.Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, huh?" So the mouse returned to the house, head down and depressed to face the farmer's mouse trap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey.The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.In the darkness, she did not see that it was an evil snake whose tail the trap had caught.The snake bit the farmer's wife.The farmer rushed her to the hospital.She returned home with a fever.Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient .His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat. So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.And traps are usually well disguised. Which of the following is TRUE of the passage? A The farmer's wife caught hold of the evil snake. B The mouse trap that the mouse discovered was not a practical one. C The pig was comparatively more friendly than the others in the farmyard. D The farmer's family were in fact a happy, wealthy and popular family. Answer: D
It was 8:40 in the evening and I was at Starbucks -- Plaza Singapura,the place we are going to meet.I was 20 minutes before meeting time.It is not polite to be late for a date for the first time anyway.I waited,looking at the people coming and going.I was daydreaming about today's soccer match I played and started thinking about life and soccer.Life is like soccer.You never know when you are going to get hit by the ball in your face.You have to live! As I was trying to relax myself,I felt her appearance -- the smell,I can never forget.I looked up and saw her smiling and making her way towards me.She was pretty-looking and she was in fashion .I stood there watching her coming.A bright color T-shirt with a beautiful skirt.Wow,I really love girls wearing skirts.It makes them look more attractive and natural. "Sorry I am late." "No,it's OK.I am just early myself." "So what film are we going to see?" "It's OK,we will check it out later,and anyway what matters most is whom I am going to see it with,not the show." What do you know from their dialogue? Answer: Which best explains the importance of nitrogen in the cycling of energy and matter? Answer: Many children love to play with snow in winter. But Long Chuan has come to hate it. This year his hometown suffered from snowstorms for nearly a month. The heavy snow stopped cars and trains, broke the electricity tower and turned tap water to ice. Every day Long Chuan had to walk several kilometers to carry drinking water. "I couldn't ride a bike and it took me 3 hours to walk to school. I can't remember how many times I slipped on the hard ice, " said Long Chuan. Long is not alone. This year millions of people in central and southern China had a freezing winter without enough water and electricity. The biggest snowstorms in 50 years killed more than 100 people. They also cost the country 111.1 billion yuan. Experts say a special type of climate condition , La Nina, caused the storms. During a La Nina, the water in the Pacific Ocean near the equator becomes colder than usual. It changes the weather around the world. Besides China, Canada, the US and Middle Eastern countries also met with heavy snowstorms this winter. The special climate caused the recent flooding in Australia, too. However, experts say that people have destroyed the environment . Global warming may be causing these terrible weather events to happen more and more often. The passage tells people around the world _ . Answer: A new study shows students who write notes by hand during lectures perform better on exams than those who use laptops . Students are increasingly using laptops for note-taking because of speed and legibility . But the research has found laptop users are less able to remember and apply the concepts they have been taught. Researchers performed experiments that aimed to find out whether using a laptop increased the tendency to make notes "mindlessly" by taking down word for word what the professors said. In the first experiment, students were given either a laptop or pen and paper. They listened to the same lectures and were told to use their usual note-taking skills. Thirty minutes after the talk, they were examined on their ability to remember facts and on how well they understood concepts. The researchers found that laptop users took twice as many notes as those who wrote by hand. However, the typists performed worse at remembering and applying the concepts. Both groups scored similarly when it came to memorizing facts. The researchers' report said, "While more notes are beneficial, if the notes are taken mindlessly, as is more likely the case on a laptop, the benefit disappears." In another experiment aimed at testing long-term memory, students took notes as before but were tested a week after the lecture. This time, the students who wrote notes by hand performed significantly better on the exam. These two experiments suggest that handwritten notes are not only better for immediate learning and understanding, but that they also lead to superior revision in the future. The passage is likely to appear in _ . Answer: (2013*,D)When asked about happiness,we usually think of something extraordinary,an absolute delight,which seems to get rarer the older we get. For kids,happiness has a magical quality.Their delight at winning a race or getting a new bike is unreserved . In the teenage years the concept of happiness changes.Suddenly it's conditional on such things as excitement,love and popularity.I can still recall the excitement of being invited to dance with the most attractive boy at the school party. In adulthood the things that bring deep joy-love,marriage,birth-also bring responsibility and the risk of loss.For adults,happiness is complicated . My definition of happiness is "the capacity for enjoyment".The more we can enjoy what we have,the happier we are.It's easy to overlook the pleasure we get from the company of friends,the freedom to live where we please,and even good health. I experienced my little moments of pleasure yesterday.First I was overjoyed when I shut the last lunchbox and had the house to myself.Then I spent an uninterrupted morning writing,which I love.When the kids and my husband came home,I enjoyed their noise after the quiet of the day. Psychologists tell us that to be happy we need a mix of enjoyable leisure time and satisfying work.I don't think that my grandmother,who raised 14 children,had much of either.She did have a network of close friends and family,and maybe this is what satisfied her. We,however,with so many choices and such pressure to succeed in every area,have turned happiness into one more thing we've got to have.We're so selfconscious about our "right" to it that it's making us miserable.So we chase it and equal it with wealth and success,without noticing that the people who have those things aren't necessarily happier. Happiness isn't about what happens to us-it's about how we see what happens to us.It's the skillful way of finding a positive for every negative.It's not wishing for what we don't have,but enjoying what we do possess. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 5 and 6? Answer:
It was Mary's birthday.Her uncle wrote a letter and told her he would like to send her some chickens.She was very happy because she liked eggs and chicken."I can keep the chickens for their eggs or eat them,"she thought. When the chickens arrived the next day, they were all in a box.Mary took the box off the truck and began to carry it into her garden,but the box of chickens was so heavy that she dropped it.The chickens all ran out.They ran here and there.Mary spent hours in trying to find them. A few hours later her uncle came.He asked."Did the chickens arrive safely?" "Yes,but I dropped the box.The chickens ran everywhere.It took me the whole morning to look for them,"Mary said. "Did you find them all?" asked her uncle."I hope so,"Mary answered,"But l only caught eleven of them" "That's very interesting.I only sent you six."her uncle laughed. Did Mary know how many chickens her uncle sent her? Answer: Yu Qiuyu is a famous writer. Once, he went to Germany to learn more about the life there. He found a room for renting . The owner was an old man. Yu looked around the room and found it very nice, so he decided to rent it. The old man smiled, saying, "Don't worry, young man. You haven't lived here. I think you can try living here for a few days. Then you can decide whether to live for a long time or not." Yu thought it fair enough, and finally signed a contract of five days. The room was quite comfortable. The cleaners took away the trash every day. The hallway was always tidy and clean. On the fifth day, when Yu wanted to talk with the old man about the long-time rent, he broke a glass carelessly. He was very nervous, feeling that the glass was expensive. However, when he told the old man on the phone, the old man said , "Don't worry. It's not a big deal. I'll bring one later." Yu swept the glass pieces into the trash bag together with other things, and put them outside of the door. A moment later, the old man came. After entering the room, he asked before Yu said anything, "Then where are the glass pieces?" Yu answered quickly, "I put them outside." The old man went out at once. After looking at the trash bag, he came back to the room with a _ face. He said to Yu, "You can move out tomorrow, because I won't rent the room to you." Yu couldn't believe his ears and asked, "Is it because I broke your favorite glass that you are upset?" "No, it's because you didn't think of others." Just then, the old man went out of the room with a pen and another trash bag. He poured out the trash that Yu had put in the bag. Then the old man picked up every piece of glass very carefully. After a long time, he put all the glass pieces into a trash bag, and wrote with the pen on the bag: "Dangerous! Glass pieces inside". And other trash was put into another bag, with "Safe" written on it. Yu was looking at it. He didn't know what to say. His face burned with shame. The best title of this passage is _ . Answer: Going to school means learning new skills and facts in such subjects as reading, math, science, history, art or music. Teachers teach and students learn, and many scientists are interested in finding ways to improve both the teaching and learning processes. Some researchers, such as Sian Beilock and Susan Levine, are trying to learn about learning. Beilock and Levine are psychologists at the University of Chicago. Psychologists study the ways people think and behave, and these researchers want to know how a person's thoughts and behavior are related. In a new study about the way kids learn math in elementary school, Beilock and Levine found a surprising relationship between what female teachers think and what female students learn: If a female teacher is uncomfortable with her own math skills, then her female students are more likely to believe that boys are better than girls at math. "If these girls keep getting math-anxious female teachers in later grades, _ ," Levine toldScience News. The study suggests that if these girls grow up believing that boys are better at math than girls are, then these girls may not do as well as they would have if they were more confident. Just as students find certain subjects to be difficult, teachers can find certain subjects to be difficult to learn--and teach. The subject of math can be particularly difficult for everyone. Researchers use the word "anxiety" to describe such feelings: anxiety is uneasiness or worry. (Many people, for example, have anxiety about going to the dentist because they're worried about pain.) The new study found that when a teacher has anxiety about math, that feeling can influence how her female students feel about math. The study involved 65 girls, 52 boys and 17 first- and second-grade teachers in elementary schools in the Midwest. The students took math achievement tests at the beginning and end of the school year, and the researchers compared the scores. The researchers also gave the students tests to tell whether the students believed that a math superstar had to be a boy. Then the researchers turned to the teachers: To find out which teachers were anxious about math, the researchers asked the teachers how they felt at times when they came across math, such as when reading a sales receipt. A teacher who got nervous looking at the numbers on a sales receipt, for example, was probably anxious about math. Boys, on average, were unaffected by a teacher's anxiety. On average, girls with math-anxious teachers scored lower on the end-of-the-year math tests than other girls in the study did. Plus, on the test showing whether someone thought a math superstar had to be a boy, 20 girls showed feeling that boys would be better at math--and all of these girls had been taught by female teachers who had math anxiety. According to surveys done before this one, college students who want to become elementary school teachers have the highest levels of anxiety about math. Plus, nine of every 10 elementary teachers are women, Levine said. This study was small, and it's often difficult to see large patterns in small studies, David Geary told Science News. Geary, a psychologist at the University of Missouri in Columbia, studies how children learn math. "This is an interesting study, but the results need to be interpreted as preliminary and in need of replication with a larger sample," Geary said. That means that the results are just showing something that might be happening, but more studies should be done. If more studies find the same trend as this one, then it's possible that a teacher's anxiety over math really is affecting her female students. Which of the following is TRUEaccording to the text? Answer: Good afternoon! I'm Alice. My last name is Smith. I'm in a red jacket. I'm in Xingfu Middle School. My phone number is 569-2679. This is Cindy Brown. She is my good friend. She is in a yellow jacket. She is in Xingfu Middle School, too. What's her phone number? It's 865-2397. Cindy is _ good friend. Answer: Chinese mainland's star-making reality TV show "Happy Boy" will not be open to male applicants from Hong Kong, prefix = st1 /Taiwan, Macau or other foreign cities, said the country's top TV industry committee yesterday. Happy Boy is the male version of Super Girl, which is regarded as the Chinese version of American Idol. The girl's event, operated by central China's Hunan TV, drew an audience of 400 million for the final match in 2005. The country's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television approved the male version earlier this month. However, the regulation that only mainland's male applicants are allowed to register was released just days before the application procedure began on Wednesday inChangsha, one of the five mainland cities to hold the contest. The other four includesChengduand three undecided cities. The regulation _ Hunan TV's ambition to extend the series to the overseas market, an official with the TV station told the Hunan-based Xiaoxiang Morning yesterday. "My Hero," another star-making reality show byShanghai's SMG Dragon TV, said it was not informed of the regulation, and it is still receiving foreign applicants, said an official with Dragon TV. A previous regulation by the administration has made clear that televised talent shows can't run for more than six weeks at a time. While the first "Happy Boy" may last for five months, according to a previous report. Last year there were about 10 influential star-making TV shows across the country, among which those from CCTV, Hunan Satellite TV and SMG's Dragon TV, were the most popular. "Super Girl" ran for almost five months and "My Hero" lasted four months. While the shows have proven popular, they have also earned many complaints from people who say they are crude and not satisfactory. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer:
Question: Dear Annie, Thank you for your letter. I'm glad you like your school. I go to school from Monday to Friday. We have four classes in the morning and two classes in the afternoon. We have many things to do after class. On Monday and Wednesday afternoon we do sports. On Tuesday afternoon some of us have a singing class and on Thursday afternoon some have a drawing class. On Friday afternoon, we practice speaking English. My Chinese friends like to talk with me in English. They think I am like an English teacher. Isn't it great? On Saturdays and Sundays I don't go to school. Very often I go to the parks and have a good time with my family there. Yours, Henry Henry's friend likes to _ . A. write to him in English B. write to him in Chinese C. talk with him in Chinese D. talk with him in English Answer: D Question: Andrew Carnegie, once the world's richest person, was born in 1835 to a weaver's family in Scotland. As a child, he was expected to follow his father's profession. But the industrial revolution destroyed the weavers' craft, and the family had to leave for new possibilities in America. In 1848, the Carnegies arrived in Pittsburgh, then the iron-manufacturing center of the country. Young Carnegie took odd jobs at a cotton factory and later worked as a messenger boy in the telegraph office. He was often asked to deliver messages to the city theater, where he would stay to watch plays by great playwrights. He also spent most of his spare time in a small library that a local sponsor made available to working boys. After the Civil War, Carnegie saw great potential in the iron industry. He devoted himself to the replacement of wooden bridges with stronger iron ones and earned a fortune. He further introduced a new technique to change iron into steel. By 1900, Carnegie Steel produced more of the metal than all of Great Britain. However, Carnegie often expressed his uneasiness with the businessman's life. Wishing to spend more time receiving instruction and reading systematically, he once wrote, "To continue much longer overwhelmed by business cares and with most of my thoughts wholly upon the way to make more money in the shortest time, must degrade me beyond hope of permanent recovery." The strong desire for getting knowledge led him to sell his company and retire at 64. Fond of saying that "He, who dies rich, dies disgraced," Carnegie then turned his attention to giving away his fortune. He opposed charity; instead, he used his money to help others help themselves. He established over 2,500 public libraries, and sponsored numerous cultural, educational and scientific institutions. By the time he died in 1919, he had given away 350 million dollars. Which of the following can best show how Carnegie managed his business? A. He was willing to make new changes. B. He set out to beat all the other competitors. C. He was happy to make more money in the shortest time. D. He did not hesitate in doing business in his hometown. Answer: A Question: Hawaii is a truly beautiful place. Most people know Hawaii for its lovely beaches. However, Hawaii is also a land full of legends . One of the oldest legends tells of a special dance called the hula, which started here around 300 years ago. One hula teacher tells the story of how the dance started. "The hula started, as far as the legend tells it, when Hi'iaki and her good friend Hopoe went down to the beach. And then, when they were there, they noticed the waves ...and they imitated the waves. And then started to use their hands...like showing the waves.That is how the hula started." However,not everyone has always liked the hula.In 1820,some religious people from Western countries came to Hawaii.The visitors were shocked by the hula because the dancers were not wearing many clothes.So they asked the local government to ban the dance. After that,most Hawaiians were not allowed to perform the hula in public for almost 60 years.But that did not mean the dancing stopping.Many dances still performed the hula in secret.The dance was always there. Things have changed.At the moment,people of all ages want to study the old culture.They want to learn how to dance the hula.As a result,more and more people are attending halaus. Halaus are special schools that hula in the traditional way. Kumano is a hula teacher. For him, the dance is a way to bring the best of old Hawaii culture to people today. Kumano says that the dance is not really about the body.He feels that it is more about the mind.He explains this feelings,"...the hula is more... not so much a physical thing,but more of a mental thing.For new dances,the dancing means very little,because for Hawaiians today,many of them don't speak the Hawaiian language. So,what I try to do is to mind the real thing they see today." What can we learn from the passage? A. Hi iaki and her good friend Hopoe got the idea of the dance from nature. B. The hula had already had a history had a history of over 200 years when it was banned. C. Many people attend hulaus because they teach the hula in a modern way. D. Kumano thinks that the hula dance is good exercise for people of all ages. Answer: A Question: Bill was a boy of 15. His parents went to gambling day and night. Nobody cared about hi. He always failed in his exams. So his teachers didn't like him, nor did his classmates play with him. Bill often slept in class because his heart was not in school. He almost gave himself up. One day, Miss Jones, a new teacher, came to Bill's class. She was a smiling, beautiful woman. Bill was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn't take his eyes off his teachers; yet, still he failed. It was Miss Jones' class. She was asking a question. "I'd like the smartest boy to answer my question." Then she said loudly, "Bill, please!" Bill was surprised. And he stood up without a word. "Just try it! I believe you can!" After school, Miss Jones had a long talk with Bill. She told him that she cared about him and believed in him. Bill thought a lot that evening. From then on he arrived at school on time every day. Miss Jones helped him with his homework in the afternoon. She even cooked delicious food for him. She told Bill, "Nothing is impossible if you put your heart in it." Later, Miss Jones gave another exam. Bill did it with all his heart. He was very excited to find that he had passed the exam. Now Bill discovered that not only could he learn, but he could do it well. A changed took place in Bill's heart. You see, one teacher saved one boy, it's simple , really. Bill always failed in the exams at first because he _ . A. went gambling B. talked in class C. didn't answer D. gave himself up Answer: D Question: Today is Sarah's birthday. She is seventy-five. We asked a few old friends to dinner. Like most elderly people, I suppose, we spent most of the evening talking about old times. Thirty years ago, the village used to be a quiet place. Now it has changed. Every Sunday hundreds of cars pass through the village at what I think a dangerous speed. They make the village almost as noisy as the streets of a large town. As a boy I enjoyed riding on the backs of the farm horses. Things are different now. Today there are very few horses working on the farms. The farm workers today drive tractors, not horses. A man is not of much use on a farm unless he knows all about machines. Now almost every house in the village has a TV set. Is it a good thing for children to spend the evening sitting in front of a TV set? When I was young I did not waste my time indoors. I would spend the long summer evenings outdoors. I would play with my friends, go fishing or walk by the river. When my grandchildren asked me the reason why I haven't bought a TV set, I tell them there are many books I still want to read. I can't find time for both reading and watching TV. I would rather _ than _ . A. watch TV; do some reading B. play with friends; go fishing C. do some reading; watch TV D. go fishing; play with friends Answer: C
Eye injuries from paintball games have increased among children, even as the protective equipment for the sport has improved, according to a study released yesterday in the journal pediatrics. The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated the number of emergency room visits for eye injuries caused by paintballs at 545 in 2001 and more than 1,200 in 2003. More than 40 percent of those injuries were believed to involve children, the study said. Paintballs are fired at a speed of up to 300 feet a second, the study said. Being so small, they can fit inside the bones meant to protect the eye. The study's author, Dr. David A. Listman of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, said paintball shopping centers had generally switched to full face masks ,which have become more effective at protecting the eyes than earlier _ . But most injuries now occur in backyard play, which is more likely to involve teenagers or children."The injuries being seen are mostly in people who did not wear the proper, or for that matter any, safety equipment,"Dr. Listman said. Those injuries can involve permanent damage to sight, he said. Dr. Listman said he believed that paintball guns should be restricted to regulated places. In the absence of such action, parents should limit children's access to the guns and insist on proper protection. Paintball guns"should be treated with the same respect as any other firearm,"he said"These are the only guns that are made to shoot at your friends." Paintballs may cause injuries mainly because of_. their speed It is the last day of June today. It is grandma's birthday. Father, mother and I go to see her. My grandma lives with my uncle in a village not too far away. Uncle works there. Early in the morning we buy a birthday cake and some fruit and go to her home by bus. Grandma and uncle are very glad to see us. We give the present to grandma and say, "Happy birthday to you!" She is very happy. Then we sit down to talk. Uncle goes to prepare lunch. The meal is very nice. We all enjoy it very much. At 4 o'clock, we say goodbye and go back home. Grandma's birthday is _ . . on June 30 To be able to motivate oneself, or self-motivate, occurs when a person has the willingness to do something and is internally motivated to do it. Sometimes it's very difficult to get ourselves moving.The natural tendency is to postpone.Life just seems to get in the way! There is a job to go to, groceries to do, television to watch--whoops! I guess we get pretty good at finding excuses to escape getting started on goals like an exercise routine or reading a new book.The fact is that we are creatures of routine and habit.So what can we do to motivate ourselves to accomplish our goals? Here are some tips on how to get moving: Decide what you want.It's hard to motivate an aimless mind.Set a goal and decide how you are going to go about it.Then break it down into smaller sections so it's easier to handle and less overwhelming. Keep track of your progress.Keep a log or journal where you can measure how much you have accomplished.Looking at it can also motivate you to keep pushing ahead. Post motivating pictures or slogans within your sight.It is always inspiring to see pictures of people who have accomplished what you're going for.It makes it attainable and realistic.Likewise, little slogans like "go for it" or "just do it" can give you the little support you need. _ .If you remind yourself to go for the desired promotion, it will re-establish why you are doing what you're doing. Make it a habit.Once you have accomplished your objective, e.g.becoming an early riser, keep it up so that it's second nature to you and you don't have to think about it anymore. According to the author, some people fail to achieve their goals because _ . they naturally put off forming new habits Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members don't know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it's quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with (...)each other and then they can only go to their friends for some ideas. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a group of friends in their lives. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among(......) them on the phone. This communication is very important in children's growing up, because friends can discuss something. These things are difficult to say to their family members in fact. However, parents often try to choose their children's friends for them. Some parents even stop their children from meeting their good friends. Have you ever thought of the following questions? Who choose your friends? Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you? Have you got a good friend your parents don't like? Your answers are welcome. Choose the best answers:(. ) When teenagers have something difficult to say to their parents, they usually _ . discuss it with their friends Put your car keys away and forget about your travel pass --- it's time to do a bit of walking. National Walking Month is organized every May by Living Streets, an organization that campaigns for the rights and the needs of pedestrians, so the organization is previously known as the Pedestrians' Association. The association's aim is to make streets safe, attractive and enjoyable spaces for people to live, work, shop and play. By putting people (rather than vehicles) first, Living Streets wants to create streets and spaces where people feel happier, healthier and more sociable. The annual campaign gives participants a great opportunity to experience the many virtues of walking. These include the physical health benefits of becoming fitter; the environmental advantages of not using vehicles; the delight of local discoveries --- seeing more of your local areas on foot; the enjoyment of walking with other people, whether family, friends or work colleagues and finally the stress relief that comes from walking --- walking can clear your head. Walk to School Week, 18 to 22 May, is part of the month's activities and its aim is to encourage parents to send children to school on foot, rather than take them in the car or let them use public transport. The movement was started in 1995 with only five participating schools and now two decades later, more than one million children take part. Similarly, there is Walk to Work Week, 11 to 15 May, where grown-ups are encouraged to walk. In the morning, getting off the bus a stop early or parking a few streets away is a good way to add more steps to the daily total. And during the working day, after having lunch at the desks or in the canteen, take a walk and get some fresh air. Walk home with your workmates and chat away about everything under the sun but work! What can we learn from Walk to School Week? It has developed rapidly over the last 20 years.
Is your schoolbag too heavy to carry? The e-schoolbag will help you. It is said that e-schoolbags are going to be brought into use in Chinese middle schools soon. In fact, the e-schoolbag should perhaps be called an e-textbook. It is a small computer for students. Heavy schoolbags are a problem for them. But the e-schoolbag will change everything. It is much lighter than a usual schoolbag. Also it is as small as a usual book, but it can still hold all the things for study, such as a textbook, an exercise book and so on. They can be made into chips that are as small as a stamp. The students can read the text page by page on the _ , take notes, or even send e-mails to their teachers. All they have to do is to put the right chip into the e-schoolbag and press a button . Some say that e-textbooks can be easily broken; some say it is not good to students' eyes. But only time will tell. Which statement is NOT true according to the passage? A E-schoolbags may be easily broken. B It may not be good to students' eyes. C The students can read the text page by page with e-schoolbags only. D The e-schoolbag will solve the problem of the heavy schoolbags. Answer: C. The students can read the text page by page with e-schoolbags only. Suppose you are thinking about attending college in the United States, but perhaps you might not be ready for a university with a four-year program. About 88,000 international students have found solution. They are attending U.S. community colleges. Such colleges are sometimes called junior colleges. They offer two years of education above the secondary or high school level. Community college students can choose from subjects like medical assistance, computer science or law. At the end of their study program, they receive a document of completion, called a certificate. Some students work toward an associate degree in traditional academic subjects like science or history. After getting it, the students can move on to a four-year college or university. They may have only two years of study left before they receive a bachelor's degree. Many educational experts agree that saving money is the major reason to consider a community college. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) says that a public two-year college costs 3,000 dollar a year on average. That is true if the student lives in the same state as the school. A student at a four-year public college may pay 8,500 dollars a year for classes and user fees. That does not include books and other materials. Some international students may need more preparation in English before entering a community college in the United States. For example, Istrif Montgomery came to the U.S. from Kosovo in 2006. First, he worked to improve his English at Montgomery College for a year. Then for the next two years, he attended classes in basic subjects in a community college. The international students at two-year colleges need to find a place to live. Most community colleges do not provide student housing on their grounds. But Mr Montgomery had a home nearby. He was able to ride the bicycle, and he was able to walk if he wanted. In fact, most community college students live within five to ten miles off the college. What's the biggest advantage of a community college? A The classes are free of charge. B The students can save much time. C The students can save a lot of money. D It is convenient for students to live in the college. Answer: C. The students can save a lot of money. Have you ever wondered how and why a fall leaf changes color? We first have to understand what leaves are and what they do. Plants are the world's food factories. Plants take water from the ground and take CO2from the air. Plants use sunlight to turn water and CO2into glucose . Glucose is a kind of sugar. Using it as food, plants get energy and grow. Plants using sunlight to turn water and CO2into sugar is called photosynthesis . _ helps photosynthesis. It gives plants their green color. As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter, and trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter. During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. Trees rest during this time and live on the food they store during the summer. They begin to shut down their food -- making factories. As the green chlorophyII disappears from the leaves, we begin to see yellow and orange leaves. These colors have been in the leaves all the time. We just can't see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyII. The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in autumn. In some trees, glucose is caught in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn turn this glucose into a red color. The brown color of trees is made from waste left in the leaves. It is mixture of all these things. It makes the beautiful leaves during autumn. . What's the main meaning of this passage? A What's photosynthesis? B How and why leaves change colors? C Different kinds of leaves. D How the seasons change. Answer: B. How and why leaves change colors? Country music is one of the most popular kinds of music in the United States today because it is about simple but strong human feelings and events-love, sadness, good times, and bad times. It tells real-life, stories and sounds the way people really talk. As life becomes more complicated , it is good to hear music about ordinary people. Country music, sometimes called country-western, comes from two kinds of music. One is the traditional music of the people in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern Unite States. The other is traditional cowboy music from the west. The singers usually play guitars, and in the 1920s they started using electric guitars. At first city people said country music was low class. It was popular mostly in the South. But during World War II, thousands of Southerners went to the Northeast and Midwest to work in the factories. They took their music with them. Soldiers from the rest of the country went to army camps in the South. They learned country music. Slowly it became popular all over the country. Today country music is also popular everywhere in the United States and Canada--in small towns and in New York City, among black and white, and among educated and uneducated people. About 1, 200 radio stations broadcast country music twenty-four hours a day. English stars sing it in British English, and people in other countries sing it in their own languages. The music that started with cowboys and poor southerners is now popular all over the world. During World War II many Southerners went to the Northeast and the Mid-west because_. A they wanted to take music with them B they wanted to make other people like country music C they wanted to work in the factories there D they wanted to make country music popular Answer: C. they wanted to work in the factories there Success is often measured by the ability to overcome adversity.But,it is often the belief of others that gives us the courage to try. J.K.Rowling,author of the Harry Potter book series,began writing at the age of 6.In her biography,she remembers with great fondness when her good friend Sean,whom she met in secondary school,became the first person to encourage her and help build the confidence that one day she would be a very good writer "He was the first person with whom I really discussed my serious ambition to be a writer.He was also the only person who thought I was bound to be a success at it,which meant much more to me than I ever told him at the time." Despite many setbacks,Rowling persevered in her writing,particularly fantasy stories.But it wasn't until 1990 that she first conceived the idea about Harry Potter.As she recalls,it was on a long train journey from London to Manchester that the idea of Harry Potter simply fell into her head."To my immense frustration ,I didn't have a functioning pen with me,and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one.I think,now,that this was probably a good thing,because I simply sat and thought,for four (delayed train) hours,and all the details bubbled up in my brain,and this scrawny,blackhaired,bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me." That same year,her mother passed away after a tenyear battle with multiple sclerosis,which deeply affected her writing.She went on to marry and had a daughter,but separated from her husband shortly afterwards. During this time,Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression.Unemployed,she completed her first novel in area cafes,where she could get her daughter to fall asleep.After being rejected by 12 publishing houses,the first Harry Potter novel was sold to a small British publishing house. Now with seven books that have sold nearly 400 million copies in 64 languages,J.K.Rowling is the highest earning novelist in history.And it all began with her commitment to writing that was fostered by the confidence of a friend! Who believed J.K.Rowling was to be a good writer? A Her friend Sean. B Her mother. C Her daughter. D Her husband. Answer: C. Her daughter.
The road to Grandpa's house was long and winding. There were lots of tall trees and animals in the woods. The trip took a long time because Jimmy was walking in his new boots and he wasn't used to them yet. He could have taken a ride to Grandpa's house, but that wouldn't be as fun. Jimmy liked to collect insects on the way to his Grandpa's house, so had picked the longer path. As he went along, Jimmy found more and more insects to add to his jar. His favorite was the lightning bug and he had found five of them total. He liked the moths too, but they were difficult to catch and took up a lot of space. Finally, Jimmy arrived at Grandpa's house and knocked. Grandpa answered the door with a smile and welcomed Jimmy inside. They sat by the fire and talked about the insects. They watched the lightning bugs light up as night came. Where do Jimmy and his Grandpa sit? Answer: Only children are happier than those with brothers or sisters, according to a new research which shows _ rivalry can have a serious effect on a child's emotion. Over half of the children surveyed said they had been bullied by a sibling, and one in three said they had been hit,kicked or pushed by a sibling, others complained of name-calling and having their belongings stolen. Other reasons for only children being much happier include not having to compete for parents' attention or share bedrooms with a sibling, said Gundi Knies, a researcher on the project. Dr. Ruth Koppard, a child psychologist, said, "In an average home, the more children, the less privacy for each child. Some love sharing a bedroom with a sibling but they would rather choose to do it than have to do it". Homes with just one child make up nearly half of all families in Britain. The study, to be published on Friday, questioned 2,500 young people. It also found that seven out of 10 teenagers are "very satisfied" with their lives. Only children are happier than those with brothers or sisters for the following reasons EXCEPT _ Answer: "Cool" is a word with many meanings. Its old meaning is used to expressa temperature that is a little bit cold.As the world has changed, the word has had many different meanings. "Cool" can be used to express feelings of interest in almost anything. When you see a famous car in the street, maybe you will say, "It's cool." You may think, "He's so cool," when you see your favorite footballer. We all maximize the meaning of "cool". You can use it instead of many words such as "new" or "surprising". Here's an interesting story we can use to show the way the word is used.A teacher asked her students to write about the waterfall they had visited.On one student's paper was just the one sentence, "It's so cool. " Maybe he thought it was the best way to show what he saw and felt. But the story also shows a scarcity of words. Without "cool", some people have no words to show the same meaning. So it is quite important to keep some credibility . Can you think of many other words that make your life as colorful as the word "cool"? I can. And I think they are also very cool . In the passage, the word "express" means " _ " Answer: A serious earthquake can be a terrible experience, and it is easy to forget safety measures in disorder . _ , most earthquake safety measures are common sense, but if you forget everything else, remember the following instructions: drop, cover, and hold on. Also, most of earthquake deaths happen after the earthquake, so remember that the danger does not end when the shaking does! If you stay indoors during an earthquake, move away from unsupported areas and windows. Try to get under a doorway or another area of the building which is held up by strong beams . Stay under a table or desk only if it is very strong. Do not rush to lifts, because it is far safer to stay where you are. Cover your head with your arms around it and curl into a ball, and wait for the shaking to stop. If you stay outdoors during an earthquake, move to an area which is as open as possible. Don't move to buildings, electric poles and other objects which may fall during an earthquake and injure you. Protect your head and stay low to the ground till the shaking ends and it is safe to move. After an earthquake, many buildings are less strong, although they appear safe. If you stay indoors, move people from the building quickly and help disabled or injured people. Once outdoors, move well away from the building so that if it falls down, you will not be injured. Wait till public safety officials announce that it is safe to stay indoors. By planning ahead and keeping calm during an earthquake, you can greatly increase your chances of survival without injury. If you stay outdoors during an earthquake, you can do all the following except _ . Answer: It was blazing hot, just like most July days. I stepped into a tiny ice-cream shop to cool off with a chocolate ice-cream. It was an old woman bent over a table near the door. Her back was so badly twisted that her face nearly touched the tabletop. I sat down facing her a couple of tables away. "Poor woman," I thought, "What does she get out of life? Why God let people live so long past their _ ?" As I thought, another aged lady entered the shop and sat down with her. Soon the two of them were talking about childhood days. They talked of how little the shop had changed in 70 years... In minutes, the two of them were trembling with laughter. I looked again at the first woman, then in the mirror on a nearby wall, catching a picture of myself. I was wearing a dirty shirt. She was well dressed in white, her hands sparking with gold rings. I was sad. She was laughing, smiling. I was putting the pieces of my life together. She had millions of wonderful memories to recall. I sat alone. She was sharing the day with a good friend. I was secretly worried about getting old. She was old, but it wasn't hurting her. As I left the shop, I thought of my foolish question about God letting people live past their prime. Why, that woman was more alive, more sensitive to life than I was. Age has not bent her spirit. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage? Answer:
In an investigation, which of these procedures is most important in reaching a conclusion? Answer: evaluating and interpreting data One weekend, a wife and a husband went to visit a shop in London. After they got back home, they couldn't find their camera. They thought the camera must be in the shop. After a few weeks,they went to that shop again and the boss gave their camera back to them. When their picture of the camera came out, the husband saw two pictures he did not take. One isa man standing at the door of the shop. In his hand there is a piece of paper with some words onit "I find your camera". The other is a boy with a piece of paper in his hand. There are somewords on the paper too, "I take the pictures." Who took the pictures? Answer: The boy. The "babies" tend to be on or near me, or crying, or both. I spend a fair amount of time trying to get William to sleep, to get Elliott to get involved in something that will actually keep him happy for a little while, or to get William to play on the floor for 10 minutes straight so that I can get something done. But, a lot of days, it seems like I'm not succeeding in any of those efforts. So, yesterday, a friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook. This particular friend has a baby who is about a month younger than William. The picture was of the baby, who had made his way across the floor to the toys housed along the side of the room. I just kept looking at that picture and thinking that if only William had some different toys to play with, perhaps he would stay occupied a bit longer at a stretch. But William seems so bored with all of his toys! _ . In order to find a way to make him playing longer, I kept looking at that picture. Suddenly, I realized my sons need to play closer to me. So I cleared off the cubby shelves in the playroom, and my husband and I moved it to the living room. We found all of the toys that would be safe for William and put them in the cubbies. Then, we pulled the play kitchen in. William was so interested in what I was doing that he sat there and played and chewed on his toys while we moved furniture. When we were done, I moved him over closer to the cubbies and he got so excited that he didn't disturb for an hour, while I made dinner and cleaned up! Even Elliott played happily for a few hours. It was a dream come true! And I got to know that my lack of happy children was because of my desire for a toy--free living room. Why did the author move furniture and toys into the living room? Answer: Because she wanted to have her sons closer to her. 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. What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids? Answer: They are heavenly bodies similar in nature. The kids were playing outside. They were drawing with chalk. They drew many things with the chalk. One of those things was a star. There was nothing else for them to do because it was the weekend. Then they stopped drawing with the chalk a little later. They did not want to go on because they were tired. They walked a little then started to splash by the lake that was nearby instead. They thought it was a good idea because it was a hot day. They played for hours. They were making a lot of noise and laughing and talking. They went home. They did this because they were very tired. They all ate some bread. They were now quiet. They couldn't have anything else to eat until their mother called them for dinner. They waited and did not say a word. They were resting. Soon it would be time for the family meal. Why did they splash by the lake? Answer: They thought it was a good idea because it was a hot day.
Most Chinese people don't understand why some westerners don't eat meat. In China, to eat meat is a sign of wealth. If a westerner doesn't take a bite of their Peking duck, there is something wrong. But many people in Europe and America choose not to eat meat or fish -- they are known as vegetarians. In the US alone there are 12 million vegetarians and 19,000 more people stop eating meat every week. People often become vegetarians in order to lose weight or eat more healthily. A lot of research has shown that vegetarian diets are healthier than the average western diet. Fried chicken may be delicious to eat, but all that extra fat can damage your heart. There are many other reasons for "turning veggie". It could be that you cannot afford to buy meat. Or maybe you just don't like the taste of it. A large number of vegetarians choose to give up meat because they believe it is cruel to kill animals for food. They believe many animals are not allowed to live in comfort and, when they are killed, it is carried out in a very painful way. While some vegetarians are happy not to eat animals, others take it one step further and refuse to eat any animal product. They are known as vegans and will not eat cheese, yoghurt and eggs, or drink milk. Neither will they wear clothes or shoes made from animal skin, such as leather. They say that if it is wrong to kill an animal for food, it is worse to kill it for clothing. But there are some groups that go even further. Fruitarians believe it is wrong to kill any living plant or animal. Besides refusing to eat meat, they will only eat fruit and vegetables that have not been killed when harvested. This means they cannot take an apple from a tree: they must wait until the apple falls to the ground. Only then can it be considered dead. According to the text, which one of the following is not mentioned? Answer: A man from a big city with a new cart and a beautiful pair of horses was driving along a country road . He did not give much attention to where he was going. Very soon he knew he lost his way, but he kept on driving hoping he would meet someone or find his way back. It was a long way. For many hours he kept on driving. When it was almost dark he saw a farmer who was working in a field. He stopped and shouted, "Hello, farmer!" "Hello, yourself!" the farmer answered, still working. "Where does this road go?" "I have never seen it go anywhere. It always stays where it is." said the farmer, without stopping his work. "How far is it to the next town?" said the stranger, with a little louder voice. "I don't know. I've never measured it ." Answered the farmer. By the time the city man was getting angry. "What do you know? You're the biggest fool I've seen." The farmer stopped and turned and looked for a while at the man. Then he said, "Maybe I do not know much, perhaps I'm a fool. But at least I'm not lost." Was the farmer the biggest fool? Answer: A mechanism that a ____ uses is a ____ Answer: Biotic components need to be recycled through an ecosystem. Which type of organisms are best able to recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem? Answer: Time magazine named Russian President Vladimir Putin its "Person of the Year" for 2007 on Wednesday, saying he had returned his country from chaos to "the table of world power" though at a cost of democratic principles. He doesn't care about civil liberties; he doesn't care about free speech; he cares about stability. But Putin, 55, is enormously popular in Russia, presiding over a resurgent economy based on income from oil and natural gas. On the other hand, stability is what Russia needed and that's why Russians adore him. Time magazine said on its Web site that Putin, the son of a factory worker had led Russia with persistence, a sharp vision and a sense that he showed the spirit of "Mother Russia". The selection came days after Putin announced a plan to hold onto power after his term ends next year. Putin said on Monday that if his close ally ,Dmitry Medvedev, won the presidency, he would serve as Medvedev's prime minister. "Putin has put his country back on the map. And he intends to redraw it himself,"Time said. "He will continue to lead his country as its prime minister and attempt to transform it into a new kind of nation, beholden to neither East nor West." Time said the person of the year distinction, which it has awarded since 1927, is not an endorsement or a popularity prize but a recognition of the individuals and forces that shape the world. "At significant cost of, the principles and ideas that free nations prize, (Putin) has performed an extraordinary _ of leadership in placing stability on a nation that has rarely known it and brought Russia back to the table of world power. For that reason, Vladimir Putin is Time's 2007 Person of the Year," the magazine said. Time had earlier selected four other Kremlin leaders for the distinction: Stalin, who was chosen twice, Nikita Khrushchev, Yuri Andropov and Mikhail Gorbachev. What's the major reason why Putin becomes popular in Russia? Answer:
OTTAWA -- Canada's western city of Calgary is the world's best city when it comes to healthy living, local press reported Monday. According to an international survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, a London-based consulting firm, Calgary was put at the top of a list of 144 cities. It scored 121 points, just above Honolulu's score of 120. Helsinki(,) and Ottawa followed at 119.5 and 118.5 respectively. Three other Canadian cities came in the top 20. Montreal and Vancouver tied for ninth and Toronto came in at 18th. The scores are based on air pollution levels, availability and quality of hospitals and medical supplies, as well as the efficiency of waste removal and sewage systems. In America, the lowest scoring city was Atlanta, which was ranked 76th. Athens was the lowest scoring city in Western Europe, ranking 120th because of its air pollution. London was ranked 59th. Among the following cities, which is the lowest scoring one? Answer: Do you have any foreign friends? Do you know their characteristics ? The Germans are very quiet and they always keep calm. They don't like to speak more words. They look very serious. They like different kinds of amusements. The Germans are very hard--working. They like _ , especially the women, who always keep their home clean. In some ways, the Englishmen look the same as the Germans. They are very quiet and never talk too much with the strangers. They are really polite, so we often hear they say "Thank you." Or "Sorry." The gentlemen are also the Englishmen. The French's holidays are very long. They like traveling and usually spend their long time staying in other countries. The Frenchmen are more outgoing than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them. Compared to the Frenchmen, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener than all of the Europeans. They don't like to depend on others. So it is very common that the students do part-time jobs in their free time. And in Americans' eyes, success is an important part in their life. In the writer's eyes, the gentlemen are _ . Answer: 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. What do the policy experts argue about carbon pollution? Answer: In elementary school, Guadalupe Quintanilla was often referred to as a "slow learner" by her teachers. But she really wasn't slow at all. She just didn't understand the language used in the classroom. Her problem was that she didn't speak English. So she left school after the fourth grade. When Guadalupe grew up, married, and had children of her own, she knew that her children were clever. But some of their teachers didn't think so. The children were having trouble in school because they didn't speak English. Mrs Quintanilla was angry. She didn't want people to think that her children were slow learners. So she decided to learn English herself as a way of helping them. She practiced English. She looked up words in the dictionary. She asked the school headmaster to let her sit in on classes. It wasn't easy, but she passed all her exams. She said that many of the other students helped her. Mrs Quintanilla has helped her children with their lessons. Her two sons have won success. One is a teacher, and the other is a doctor. Her youngest child, a daughter, is studying in a university. According to the story, children who don't speak English _ . Answer: Japanese people,who never miss a chance to be photographed,were lining up to get their pictures on a postage stamp.Vanity stamps with personal photographs went on sale for the first time in Japan as part of an international postage stamp exhibition.The customer's photo was taken with a digital camera and then printed on stamp sheets,a process that takes about five minutes.Sold in a sheet of 10 stamps for $8.80,little more than the cost of lunch in Tokyo,each stamp printed a different scene from a traditional painting along with the photo. The stamps can be used normally to mail a letter,and postal officials hope they will help encourage interest in letter writing in the Internet age."Certainly e-mail is a useful method of communication,but letters are fun in a different way,"said Hatsumi Shimizu an official in the Post Ministry."We want to show young people that letters can be fun too."[ While similar stamp sheets appeared in Australia in 1999 and are now sold in some nations and territories,Japan's fondness for commemorative photos is likely to make them especially popular here.Indeed,officials had prepared 1 000 sheets but they were sold out in less than 30 minutes.Although the stamps are currently only available as a special service during the exhibition,postal officials said they may start selling them on a regular basis in the future. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer:
In what leaf structure is photosynthetic tissue found? Answer: Americans like to think of themselves as martyrs to work. At this time of the year they admire the laziness of their European cousins, particularly the French. Studies show that the average American gets only four weeks of paid leave a year compared with seven for the French and eight for the German. In Paris many shops close down for August; in Washington, where the weather is really hot, they remain open, some for 24 hours a day. But when it comes to the young, the situation is just opposite. American children have it easier than most other children in the world, including the supposedly lazy European children. They have one of the shortest school years anywhere, a mere 180 days compared with an average of 195 for OECD countries and more than 200 for East Asian countries. German children spend 20 more days in school than American ones, and South Koreans over a month more. Over 12 years, a 15-day deficit means American children lose out on 180 days of school, equal to an entire year. Americans also divide up their school time strangely. They cram the school day into the morning and early afternoon, and close their schools for three months in the summer. The long summer vacation acts like a mental eraser, with the average child reportedly forgetting about a month's worth of instruction in many subjects and almost three times that in mathematics. American academics have invented a term for this phenomenon, "summer learning loss". It is leaving American children ill-equipped to compete. They usually perform poorly in international educational tests, coming behind Asian countries that spend less on education but work their children harder. California's state universities have to send over a third of their classes to take some extra courses in English and math. During the long summer vacation, American children _ . Answer: Years ago, as we know, zoos kept animals in cages. Cages made it easy for visitors to see the animals, but a small cage is not a good place for an animal to live in. Today animals live in open areas. There are usually plants and a little lake around, like the animals' habitats. Visitors usually stay in the bus to see the animals outside. Zoos help to protect all kinds of animals. They protect animals in the zoo as well as animals in the wild. How do they do this? Zoos tell people how animals live in the wild and how to help protect their environment. The number of many kinds of plants and animals is becoming smaller and smaller. Mammoths, which are related with Asia elephants, are now extinct(.Scientists say that 74 different kinds of living things are disappearing a day! Zoos are working together to help animals-our friends. Today, zoos keep animals _ . Answer: Can noncombustion technology create a no-pollution way to drive?Imagine pulling into a service station to fuel up your car. But not at the gas pump or electric battery charger --at the air pump! That's not hot air, either! The next generation of cars may run on thin air. Wouldn't that be an incredible way to cut both pollution and dependence on foreign oil? If you've ever inflated a balloon and then let it go, you've got the basics to test-drive the amazing MiniCAT, currently being developed by Noteur Development International (MDI), headquartered in Luxembourg. Invented by Formula One racing car designer Guy Negre, this experimental vehicle is unlike any car you've ever seen. While your family's traditional car or SUV draws its horsepower using combustion, the only fuel that MiniCAT needs (CAT stands for Compressed Air Technology) is the air we breathe. Start with about 25,000 gallons of air. Now, press it all into a space smaller than your school locker--because that's the size of two super-strong, high-pressure air tanks, made from fiber and fixed beneath the air car. _ that much air inside those small tanks generates an internal pressure of over 4,000 pounds per square inch. That's over 300 times normal air pressure. When this cold, high-pressure air enters MiniCAT's unique engine, it interacts with warmer air to create pressure waves that pump the engine's engineered pistons to move the car. MiniCAT's projected top speed is 60 miles per hour, with a range of 120 miles on a full air supply. What is MiniCAT according to the passage? Answer: What is it that makes people laugh? More than two thousand years ago the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle defined jokes as the pleasure that results from a feeling of triumph by showing we're better than someone else in a certain way. According to Aristotle and many other philosophers, all jokes depend mainly on showing inferiority in another person or group of persons--that is, putting it clearly, on showing that they are worse off than ourselves. Jokes raise our good opinion of ourselves at someone else's expense. Showing how much better than other people we are is only one reason we like jokes. Someone may also use a joke to express their anger or their cruelty or any other kind of action that is not acceptable to us. We feel free to laugh when we hear about someone sliding on a banana skin. The joke lets us express those attitudes which are usually unacceptable to society. This is probably the reason why some of the jokes, especially those involving cruelty, are so popular with certain people. Besides, all jokes depend on our enjoyment of laughing at something that is strange and out of place because it's different from things which are happening around it. The same situation can be either sad or pleasant, depending entirely on how strange and out of place it is. If a girl in a bathing suit falls into a swimming pool, we don't laugh because nothing unusual has happened. But if a man in a smart suit falls in, the situation is at once unusual in a pleasant way and we laugh. A good joketeller will always try to build up a situation in which one thing is expected until something unexpected suddenly happens, and so we laugh. According to Aristotle, all jokes depend mainly on _ . Answer:
Question: It seems that the Great Wall is the place to rock . There will be two parties held on the Great Wall this month. Great Wall I The latest Great Wall party is sponsored by the Club and Elektrobeat and held at Jinshanling. Local DJ Mark, as well as guests Slab from Australia, Usami and Bobby from Hong Kong will sing at the party. All drinks are priced at 20 yuan($ 2.4). Tickets: 200yuan($ 24), including bus ride there and back plus entrance fee to the Great Wall. T/D: 8p.m. to 2 a.m., Sept. 20. Pre-sale tickets are to be booked at: Public Space: 6416-0759; Neo Lounge: 6416-1077. Buses: Leave at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 from Neo Lounge, 99 Xinfuncun Zhonglu, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District. For more info: www. elektrobeat. com Great wall II The other party at the end of this month at Jinshanling will be started with live performances by Askar, Brain Failure, Longkuan, Supermarket, Mr. Zhou, Beijing Talking and the Yi band. Dance till dawn to the wonderful sounds of DJs Ben, Mickey Zhang, Will, Cheese, Gao Hu and Huang Weiwei. T/D: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sept. 27. Tickets: 350 yuan ($ 42) or 300 yuan ($ 36) for groups of 10 or more, 500 yuan ($ 60) at the door and VIP tickets 800 yuan ($ 72), transportation included. Buses: Depart from the north gate of Wbrkers' Stadium at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., Sept. 27. For more info: contact Li Zhenhua at lah@msgp. Org or call 133-2119-1731. If you want to book tickets for Great Wall I in advance, you can phone _ . A. 6146-0759 B. 6146-1077 C. 6416-0759 D. 133-2119-1731 Answer: C Question: All students need to have good study habits .When you have good study habits, you will learn things quickly and also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing. When you study, don,t think about other things at the same time. Only think about your homework. If you do so, you will do your homework more quickly , and you will make fewer mistakes. Good study habits are very important. If you do not have them, try to learn them. If your study habits are already good, try to make them better. If you have good study habits, you can _ . A. learn things quickly and remember them easily B. do things quickly and remember them easily C. read books quickly before forget them easily D. write words quickly but forget them easily Answer: A Question: Section 1 of the Vehicle Code of State makes it illegal to cross a street in a central business district other than at a designated crosswalk. Section 2 of the Code prohibits parking any motor vehicle so that it blocks any part of a designated crosswalk. Ped wanted to cross Main Street in the central business district of City, located in State, but a truck parked by Trucker was blocking the designated crosswalk. Ped stepped out into Main Street and carefully walked around the back of the truck. Ped was struck by a motor vehicle negligently operated by Driver."If Ped asserts a claim against Trucker, the most likely result is that Ped will A. prevail, because Trucker's violation of a state statute makes him strictly liable for all injuries caused thereby. B. prevail, because the probable purpose of Section 2 of the Vehicle Code of State was to safeguard pedestrians in using crosswalks. C. not prevail, because Ped assumed the risk of injury when he crossed the street outside the crosswalk. D. not prevail, because Driver's conduct was the actual cause of Ped's harm Answer: B Question: In high school, "cool" is the rule, so teenagers will do anything to avoid possibly embarrassing situations. But not Samantha Elton, 15. She seeks them out. And if she can make a fool of herself as in the process, well, that's even better. For the past two years, Elton, has been a practitioner of improvisation, doing things that others would be embarrassed to consider. Elton is a member of High School Jesters, a group that teaches improvisation techniques to students. The group was founded two years ago by Nicholas Kopatich, himself a keen improviser. "I was sitting in my dorm room and some friends were having chats about comedy and improvisation," Kopatich recalls. They asked for lessons after Kopatich told them he had improvisation experience. The small group turned out to be pretty good at it, so they did a show for the dorm. And things snowballed. While even her mother marvels at Elton's ability to get up in front of audience without a script to fall back on, the teen enjoys such opportunities. Performing improvisation comes with a certain freedom that theater doesn't provide. "What I like about it the most is that I don't have to be a certain character or a certain way, and because of that I can't get anything wrong," Elton says, "I get to write the story while I'm doing it." Monica Elton, Samantha's mom, thinks the workshops are a valuable outlet that a lot of students may not get in their schools. High school kids don't usually like to act silly or look uncool, she says, but improvisation teaches them that it's OK to have flaws. "I like to think we give kids positively that allows them to gain confidence," says Brent Mukai, a High School Jesters instructor. The great thing about improvisation is that it is an art form that is open to anyone. But there's more to it than getting up in front of audience and telling jokes or acting silly. "You don't need to be the most amazing actress to be an improviser," Samantha Elton says, "It's really a place where I can show people my creativity. I can paint pictures for people and entertain others." It's really free. The passage mainly tells us that _ . A. teens make a fool of themselves B. teens perform improvisation to be cool C. teens express creativity through arts D. teens gain confidence in the improvisation Answer: D Question: Why do companies heat up milk before they bottle it? A. the milk is probably sour B. it tastes bad that way C. small organisms could make you sick D. the cow could get angry Answer: C
Half a year ago I came across a book called"Salt,Sugar and Fat. How the Food Giants Hooked US",but finished it only recently. I am far from being a fan of junk food,over-salty,or over-sweet stuff,and honestly this food doesn't appeal to me at all. Maybe it is related to the fact that I grew up in Russia and at that time we were not so exposed to the foreign, especially made in America foods. We knew Coca Cola,Pepsi,juice powder and Cheetos,but this stuff was not so cheap or available to buy it every day and we couldn't buy them in large quantities. We didn't know the word"fat"was not a bad thing but a normal of life for some people. We always had sweets and especially on holidays they were served as a dessert along with a cake. Russians like eating sweets when they drink tea. Even with my passion to desserts I still can'trelate myself to the people Michale Moss was writing about, those consumers who could not say"no" when it came to junk food. What I found interesting in the book was that the author didn't focus on diets, necessity to exercise,sleep well at night and all other things we all are pretty aware of. The aim was not to teach people how to live but instead,after having made a huge research,interviewed more than 100 people in the food industry,Moss reveals the ugly of the food business. It puts all the facts in front of us and offers a choice:to buy or not to buy. However,the answer was known at the very beginning. Moss mentions the well-known food like Coca,Cola,Pepsi,Nestle and some others and tells how skillfully the consumers can be cheated when it comes to choosing what to put in the food basket in the supermarket. We like this taste of a chocolate,the crispy chips,and sweet porridges because it was all put on test by groups of scientists who made experiments to reveal what kind of taste will be most appealing to us. It involves brain,of course. Apart from scientific researches, it was also due to successful marketing strategies and plans that people prefer to buy food. In this companies'money race,the most vulnerable victims are kids. They can't tell good from bad and love everything that makes them feel good. Commercial ads of fast food particularly targeted kids and played on the fact that mothers can't fully control what their children eat because they spent all day at work. Mothers themselves buy chocolates bars and com flakes for their kids,guided by a powerful brainwashing that actually,these products were not unhealthy, on the contrary, it was encouraged to give them to kids, because fat and sugar provide energy, so they are good,right? Giving a credit to some food companies, they made attempts to fight the trend, but consumers,who already worked a habit of eating too salty, too fatting and too sweet products,didn't react to the changes. So the companies returned to the old policy. Surprisingly,such behavior was strongly backed up by the govermment. I would definitely recommend reading this book not only to those who struggle in the battle with his addiction to fast food but also people living healthily. It casts light on many things,including how vulnerable we can be in front of corporations and their powerful and accurate marketing strategies. The author wrote the passage mainly to _ . A introduce a healthy diet B expose the ugly side of food companies C call on the potential readers to live healthily D recommend the book written by Moss Answer: D. recommend the book written by Moss Parents might tell older children to "Act your age". But some researchers say that is what persons from thirteen to nineteen years old are doing. While teenagers can look all grown up, studies have shown that their brains are still developing. How much this explains their behavior, though, is a subject of debate. Jay Giedd of America's National Institutes of Health is a leader in this area of research. Doctor Giedd has been studying a group of young people since 1991. They visit him every two years for imaging tests of their brains. He says considerable development continues in young people from the teenage years into the twenties. A part of the brain called the dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex appears especially undeveloped in teenagers. Researchers believe that this area controls judgment and consideration of risk. So, its underdevelopment may explain why young people seem more willing to take risks like driving too fast. Laurence Steinberg is a psychology professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. He says stronger laws and stronger parental control are needed to protect teens from themselves. That includes raising the age for driving. He says research shows that teenage brains are not fully equipped to control behavior. Other researchers, however, say there is not enough evidence to make a strong case for such findings. Psychologist Robert Epstein is a visiting scholar at the University of California in San Diego. Mr. Epstein notes that teen behavior differs from culture to culture. He says behavior depends for the most part on socialization. He believes that teenagers will demonstrate better, safer behavior if they spend more time with adults, and are treated more like them. But is that always true? Mike Males works at the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice in San Francisco. He suggests that all of this talk lately about brainless teens could be an attempt to take away attention from the reality. Writing in the New York Times, he says it is middle-aged adults whose behavior has worsened. In his words, if grown-ups really have superior brains, why don't we act as if we do? The passage is written mainly to tell people that _ . A development continues in young people from the teens into the twenties B teenagers' behavior differs from culture to culture C there is still a debate between researchers about people's behaviors D the talk about brainless teens could take away attention from governments Answer: C. there is still a debate between researchers about people's behaviors Are you fond of tomatoes? Bunol,a town in Spain,held its yearly tomato festival on the last Wednesday of August.Thousands and thousands of people made their way from all corners of the world to fight in it,the world's biggest food fight.Tons of fully-grown tomatoes were thrown in the streets. No one knows exactly how this event started.Maybe it came from a local food fight between friends,or a joke that was played on a bad musician. On Wednesday,at 11am,the fight began.A cannon shot was fired to start the fight.At first,people fought one another,but slowly they began to fight in groups.After exactly one hour,the fight ended when the cannon shot was fired once more.At this point,no more tomatoes could be thrown. Those who attend this event are encouraged to wear protective glasses.And they must press the tomatoes before throwing so that they won't hurt others.Another rule is that no one is allowed to take anything -- such as a glass bottle -- into the fight.Although it is forbidden to tear another person's clothing,the crowd seems to tear the shirt of any clothed person,whether they are men or women. Fire trucks are used to clean the streets after the fight with water provided from a Roman channel .The government seems more concerned with cleaning up the town than the visitors,and people go to the Bunol River for a wash. After the tomato fight,the town government _ . A provides water to the people B cleans up the streets with fire trucks C takes people to the Bunol River D holds other activities about tomatoes Answer: B. cleans up the streets with fire trucks When thinking about quitting (stop) smoking, list all the reasons why you want to quit. Every night before going to bed, repeat one of the reasons 10 times. Decide positively that you want to quit. Try to avoid negative thoughts about how difficult it might be. Develop strong personal reasons as well as your health and responsibility to others. For example, think of all the time you waste taking cigarette breaks, rushing out to buy a pack, hunting a light, etc. Set a date for quitting --- perhaps a special day like your birthday, a holiday. If you smoke heavily at work, quit during your vacation. Make the date holy seriously, and don't let anything change it. Begin to condition yourself physically; start a modest exercise; drink more water; get plenty of rest. Immediately after quitting... The first few days after you quit, spend as much free time as possible in places where smoking is prohibited, e.g. libraries, museums, theatres, department stores, etc. Drink large quantities of water and fruit juice. Try to avoid wine, coffee, and other drinks which remind you of cigarette smoking. Strike up a conversation with someone instead of a match for a cigarette. If you miss the feeling of having a cigarette in your hand, play with something else --- a pencil, a pen, a ruler. If you miss having something in your mouth, try a fake cigarette. From the passage, we know smokers _ . A should drink a lot of coffee B have to stop to smoke from time to time C should drink a lot of wine D should not do any exercise Answer: B. have to stop to smoke from time to time Auckland, New Zealand After two months of learning, Monty, and Porter were able to drive an automobile around a racetrack. "We wanted to prove how smart rescue dogs are," animal behaviorist Mark Vette says. Vette first used voice commands and treats to teach the dogs how to turn a steering wheel and how to change gear . The dogs' ride only accelerated up to 7.5 miles an hour, and trainers could stop the auto using a remote control. GOLDEN ZEBRA Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Zoe the zebra's markings are special. The animal has white and golden stripes. Zoe's appearance resulted from a rare condition called amelanosis . Her body doesn't make enough melanin, the substance in an animal's skin and hair cells that produces color. "Only 25 other golden zebras are known to exist in the world,"says Ann Goody, who runs the wildlife refuge where Zoe lives. In the wild, life may be difficult for animals with amelanosis because predators can easily spot them. But Zoe is protected at her refuge. COCKATOO MAKES TOOLS Vienna, Austria When Figaro the cockatoo spots food lying just out of reach from his cage, he builds a tiny wooden tool to sweep the tasty prize in his way. The bird first revealed his talent when a stone he was playing with rolled out of his cage. The cockatoo couldn't reach the stone. So he flew away and returned with a small branch, slipping it through the fence to slide the stone toward him. Wondering if he would do it again, scientists placed a nut exactly where the stone had been. This time, Figaro pulled out a small piece of wood in his cage and dragged the nut toward him. What is the text mainly about? A Amazing animals. B Ways to help animals. C Animals' unique talents. D Tips on training animals. Answer: A. Amazing animals.
"Hey, Jenna, do you think we' ll still be friends when we're eighty-two?" I asked my friend. Losing Jenna would be like losing a very close sister. "Of course, we'll still be friends when we're eighty-two," Jenna announced loudly The next year, in Grade Four, we met Jamie. The three of us soon became close friends. We played together almost every day. I thought even time couldn't pull us apart, but I was sadly mistaken. The three of us started fighting a lot. Before Christmas, We had a really big fight, and Jamie and Jenna were against me, both saying I was bossy . I felt helpless and lonely. I thought Christmas would be horrible! _ "Wow," I said, breaking the silence as we stood on either side of my front door. "Thanks." "Okay...well... I have to go," she said softly. "Okay. See you later then..." and I closed the door. "Who was that at the door?" my mom asked. "It was Jenna, my classmate." I said. The card started off with "Merry Christmas", but then it said, "I am so glad we're friends. I am sorry about what I said when we were fighting. A fight won't stop us from being friends. Besides, we said we were going to be friends even when we're eighty-two." I stopped reading and started laughing. I couldn't believe I had forgotten what she said that day in the backyard. I couldn't believe I had been so selfish in trying to make my friends feel sorry for me. How would the author and Jenna get along with each other after Christmas? They would be close friends again. 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 main idea of the passage is _ . eating for a better mood Often speakers at a meeting experience dry mouths and ask for a glass of water.You can solve the problem by activating the saliva in you mouth.First gently bite the edges of your tongue with your teeth.Or,press your entire tongue to the bottom of your mouth and hold it there until the saliva flow.Or you can imagine that you are slicing a big juicy lemon and sucking the juice. Before you begin your talk,be kind to your voice.Avoid milk or creamy drinks which coat your throat.Keep your throat wet by drinking a little sweetened warm tea or water-down fruit juice. If you sense that you are losing your voice,stop talking completely.Save your voice for your speech.You may feel foolish using paper to write notes,but the best thing you can do is to rest your voice.If you feel the need to see a doctor,perhaps getting some advice from a professional singer can be a better choice.In the meantime,do not even talk in a low voice. What about drinking alcohol to wet your throat?I advise you not to touch alcohol before speaking.The problem with alcohol is that one drink gives you a little confidence.The second drink gives you even more confidence.Finally you will feel all-powerful and you will feel you can do everything,but in fact your brain and your mouth do not work together properly.Save the alcohol until after you finish speaking. Perhaps you want to accept the advice,but you may wonder if you can ever change the habits of a lifetime.Of course you can.Goethe,who lived before indoor skating rinks or swimming pools,said,"We learn to skate in the summer and swim in the winter."Take this message to heart and give yourself time to develop your new habits.If you are wiling to change,you will soon be able to say that you will never forget these techniques because they've become a part of your body. What does the writer suggest when you feel you are losing your voice? Asking a professional singer for help. A new research shows that in Britain more and more people are returning to the old tradition that the whole family have a meal at table. Worrying about the obesity and breakdown of a family, people change their eating habits so greatly, according to analysis. They find the number of the family having a meal together increases by 5% from 2002 to 2004, and most people who have meals with their family come from the rich social class. The new discovery makes doctors and the people struggling against obesity extremely excited. Giving up the tradition that the whole family have a meal together is exactly one of the reasons for a series of problems including children's overweight. If a child has a meal in front of the television or the computer alone, he will often eat some fast food. Jason Collins is one of the persons returning to the old tradition. Collins is a manager of a bake house. He finds after he gets used to having a meal at home with his child, the child becomes much more obedient . Dr. Jin is a child psychologist, and she expresses welcome to this result of the study. She says it can make parents have a very good chance to chat with the child when the whole family have a meal together. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? The family having dinner together is more united and friendly. Maria sat by the glass door that faced the side yard. The door hadn't been opened as long as she had lived there. The dirty yard outside was overgrown with weeds . Maria liked to look at the weeds. Small flowers would grow, followed by seed balls. And the seed carriers would fly away. The late afternoon sunlight died into night. Turning on the light, Maria picked up her color1ed pencils and notepaper. She worked on a picture of a clearing in a forest. "Maria!" called her father, who knew where to find her. "I'm back!" He had been working at the apartments next door. "Did you fix their broken blender, Papa?" She asked, and he said, "Yes." He pushed his daughter's wheelchair into the kitchen so that she could help him prepare dinner. Maria cut up the vegetables that Papa had grown in the small yard behind the house. She loved their bright color1s, their strange shapes, and their fresh, crispy taste before being cooked. She would have loved to garden herself, but it was hard for her to sit on the ground and work. As they ate and talked about their day, Papa told Maria that his brother, Ramon, would be coming over the next day to help him with a special project. Papa had asked Mr. Yamato, the bus driver, to take her to Aunt Gabriela' s house after school. Then Papa would pick her up when the project was finished. Maria wondered why she had to be away while he worked. There was something in Papa's eyes and in his voice, perhaps -that told her not to ask. When Papa brought her home the next evening, he asked her to close her eyes while he took her to the glass door. She heard him open the curtain. Then he said, "Open your eyes." Surely she was dreaming! The tall crowd of weeds was gone. In its place was a beautiful garden. There were young trees, flowery bushes, and color1ful little flowers. Papa opened the glass door. He wheeled Maria to a path that placed her at the heart of the little garden. Then she saw the best part. Along the house were raised wooden beds of soil, just waiting to be planted - by her! They were exactly the right height for her to reach from her wheelchair. "First I'll draw a plan," she said excitedly. "And then we'll go to the garden center," said Papa. "You're a gardener now, Maria!" From the story, we can learn that Papa _ . cares very much for his daughter Maria
Did you watch the 2012 London Olympic Games? If you did, you must know a person who changed men's swimming history of China and set a new world record for us. Yes, that's Sun Yang who gave us lots of surprise by winning two Olympic gold medals in swimming. Sun Yang became the first Chinese male swimmer to earn a gold medal as he won the 400m freestyle with an Olympic record in London on July 28th, 2012.It is the first gold medal that a Chinese swimmer has ever won in the Olympic history. All of the Chinese are proud of him. He is the hero of the whole China. Sun Yang was born on December 1st, 1991 in Zhejiang. He is 198cm tall and 89kg in weight. Sun Yang's hobbies are singing and reading. Sun Yang loved sports when he was very young. He kept training hard every day and that is why he has made such great achievements. Now nearly every Chinese knows him. When he goes anywhere, he must be followed by his fans, which makes his life less convenient and difficult, but he is very rich. So do you want to be a person like him? What does Sun Yang probably do in his free time? A Swimming and running. B Singing and reading. C Playing chess and skating. D Playing football and basketball. Answer: B. Singing and reading. Every year, thousands of young Europeans set off to explore their continent by train in the summertime. It is a necessary part of growing up and often the first time many Europeans travel without their parents. Now you too can share this adventure. There are so many places you can not afford to miss while travelling in Europe: the Eiffel Tower of France, windmills of the Netherlands and the Colosseum of Rome. How do young people afford to visit everything they want? The answer lies with the Eurail Pass. This ticket allows a traveller unlimited journeys by rail in European countries which are members of the scheme. Ambitious Chinese travellers can buy the ticket in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The most popular type of Eurail Pass amongst young people, according to Zhao Jiaji, from China Air Service Ltd, is the Eurail Selectpasses. With this you can design your own trip by selecting three, four or five neighbouring countries from a total 18 nations including Liechtenstein, Monaco, Hungary and Romania. "There is plenty of choice with this pass: in total this range offers over 400 different combinations of countries to choose from!" said Zhao. The Eurail Selectpass gives 5 to 10 travel days within a 2-month period. For more flexibility there are the Eurail Passes which allow you to take trains in 17 countries on any day you like. It is valid for a period of either 15 or 21 days, one, two or three months. If you just want to travel in one or two countries to learn more about the local culture, Eurail Pass also offers two-country passes such as Spain-Portugal, France-Switzerland and Belgium-Luxemburg. And countries like Britain, France and Germany offer a kind of Eurail Pass which allows unlimited train travel in their country. Before buying the Eurail Pass, you should know some tips to save money. The 2nd class train travel ticket is cheaper than 1st class. And youths under 26 years old or groups of 2 or more people traveling together can enjoy discounts. For more information, please check out http://www.tt-europe.com. Which of the following is true according to this passage? A Eurail Pass is a passport. B Under 26 year olds cannot buy 1st class Eurail pass. C In Switzerland you cannot use Eurail Selectpasses. D Train service is probably the first and best choice for the young to travel Europe. Answer: D. Train service is probably the first and best choice for the young to travel Europe. In 1896, the first modern Olympic Games was held in Athens. Since then many countries have successfully held the Olympics, such as England, France, Germany, Canada, the USA, Spain and Australia. After more than a century the Games returns to its hometown. When people hold the Olympic Games, they always make an emblem . The emblem of the Athens Olympic Games this year is a white circle of olive branches in the sky. " Athens is developing a spirit of peace ." An officer said, "While in Athens, the world should be at peace. We hope the peace is not just for a short time. We would like the message from the Athens Games to help countries come together and solve their problems." Four years from then, the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing ,China. And China has already made a seal as the emblem of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The emblem has a single Chinese character on a red seal and means "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing(.)". Below it, there are the words "Beijing 2008". The character in the emblem is "Jing". It means "capital'' of China and it is also like a runner or a dancer. The running figure on the emblem shows the spirit of the Olympics--faster, higher and stronger. The spirit of the Olympic Games is _ . A history and friendship B faster, higher and stronger C running and dancing D peace, friendship and development Answer: B. faster, higher and stronger It all starts with a tree.In fact, it starts with several trees.Since the first modern guitars were made in northern Spain over 150 years ago, crafts persons have known the wood to be used is important in making a guitar. Every guitar is made of several different kinds of wood.Each piece is carefully chosen and then cut to fit the part of the guitar for which it is designed.The most important part of a guitar is the soundboard--the piece of wood with a large hole that lies under the strings(,).Guitar makers are careful to make the soundboard just the right shape and thickness.Then they fix stripes of wood across the inside in a special pattern, which helps strengthen the soundboard and improves the tone of the guitar. Wood for the curvy sides of the guitar must be soaked in water and bent over a hot iron pipe.When all the pieces of the guitar are ready, they are carefully stuck together with glue .Special woodworking tools are used to shape and smooth the neck of the guitar.The craftsperson must make sure that the neck is perfectly centered over the soundboard. Then it is time to use varnish .This brings out the beauty of the wood.Varnish also improves the sound of the guitar but too much varnish makes the guitar sound flat and dull. Finally guitar strings are attached and tightened to make just the right musical tones.Then it's time to play a song. Which of the following doesn't affect the sound of a guitar? A soundboard B strings C neck D color1 Answer: D. color1 Animals Can Sense Natural Disasters Among the dead in South Asia' s tsunami were many tourists at Sri Lanka' s national wildlife park at Yala. But very few of the park's animals -- elephants, buffaloes, monkeys and wild cats -- appear to have died. There are theories that animals can sense natural disasters and run away to safety. First, it's possible that the animals may have heard the quake before the tsunami hit. The underwater burst produced sound waves known as infrasound . Humans can't hear infrasound, but many animals including dogs, elephants, tigers and pigeons can. A second early warning sign the animals might have sensed is ground vibration . The great quake would have produced vibrational waves known as Rayleigh waves. These vibrations move through the ground like waves moving on the surface of the ocean but faster. They travel at ten times the speed of sound. The Rayleigh waves would have reached Sri Lanka hours before the water hit. Mammals, birds, insects and spiders can sense Rayleigh waves. So the animals at Yala might have felt the Rayleigh waves and then run to higher ground. But what about humans? While we can't hear infrasound, we can feel it, although we don't necessarily know we're feeling it. We also experience Rayleigh waves by special sensors in our joints , which exist just for that purpose. Sadly, it seems we don't pay attention to the information when we get it. Maybe we screen it out because there's so much going on before our eyes and in our ears. Why did few animals at Yala die when the tsunamis that caused a huge number of human deaths hit? A Because human beings cannot hear the infrasonic sound. B Because the animals were staying at a higher place in the park. C Because the animals were able to run much faster than human beings. D Because the animals might have picked up the danger signals and ran away. Answer: D. Because the animals might have picked up the danger signals and ran away.
Bill, Frank and Dave were three brothers. Every year they sent their mother expensive gifts on her birthday,. They liked to show her how rich they were. The eldest brother. Bill, had a lot of money and he wanted his mother to have the most expensive gifts, but he didn't know what to buy. So he put an ad in the newspaper. "Wanted-the greatest gift for my mother." About a week before his mother's birthday a man came to his office. He brought a big bird. "This bird." the man said, "can speak ten languages and sing some pop songs." "Really? I'd like to listen to it," Bill said. The man made the bird talk in French and tell a joke in Japanese. Then the bird sang a beautiful song. Bill was very happy and paid nine thousand dollars for the bird. The next day Bill sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card. The day after his mother's birthday he called his mother. "Well, mother" he asked, "What do you think of the bird?" "Oh, it's very delicious, dear." said his mother. How much did Bill pay for the bird? A. Nine dollars B. Ten dollars C. Nine thousand dollars D. Ten thousand dollars Answer: C. Nine thousand dollars Welcome to enj oy the Mattaponi powwow(meeting oi North America Indians)and culture day! Created in Virginia,America,the Mattaponi Indian Museum sits on a cliff overlooking the Mattaponi River.The Matta--ponis have worked hard to keep their ancient way of life,customs and ceremonies. One purpose of their yearly powwow is to share these traditions with you. MATTAPONI POWWOW AND CULTURE DAY:May 18 ADMISSION:Adult--$6.00 Children(under 12)--Free Come and spend the day with us on the shores of the Mattaponi River for an educational experience presenting the customs and beliefs of the Mattaponi.During this special day,American Indians will dance and play drums while dressed in tribal clothing.This year visitors may join in the dancing and trumming.Visitors will be able to observe artists and craftsmen as they show their basket-making and tool-making skills.American storytellers will help you see how their habits and beliefs are passed on to their children through stories. Enjoy Activities Taste American Indian foods Purchase crafts and souvenirs Play American Indian children's games Watch ceremonial dances and listen to ceremonial songs Important Cautions No pets Bring your own chairs and blankets *Tickets may be purchased in advance although no refunds will be allowed For more information,please visit http: //www.hemattaponireservation.com/main. This text is mainly intended to _ . A. inform readers about an event B. persuade readers to try drumming C. sell crafts and souvenirs to readers D. educate readers on different types of powwows Answer: A. inform readers about an event It is hardly surprising that clothing manufacturers follow certain uniform standards for various features of clothes. What seems strange, however, is that the standard adopted for women is the opposite of the one for men. Take a look at the way your clothes button. Men's clothes tend to button from the right, and women's from the left. Considering most of the world's population--men and women--are right-handed, the men's standard would appear to make more sense for women. So why do women's clothes button from the left? History really seems to matter here. Buttons first appeared only on the clothes of the rich in the 17thcentury, when rich women were dressed by servants. For the mostly right-handed servants, having women's shirts button from the left would be easier. On the other hand, having men's shirt button from the right made sense, too. Most men dressed themselves, and a sword drawn from the left with the right hand would be less likely to get caught in the shirt. Today women are seldom dressed by servants, but buttoning from the left is still the standard for them. Is it interesting? Actually, a standard, once set, resists change. At a time when all women's shirts buttoned from the left, it would have been risky for any single manufacturer to offer women's shirts that buttoned from the right. After all, women had grown so used to shirts which buttoned from the left and would have to develop new habits and skills to switch. Besides, some women might have found it socially awkward to appear in public wearing shirts that buttoned from the right, since any one who noticed that would believe they were wearing men's shirts. The passage is mainly developed by _ . A. analyzing causes B. making comparisons C. examining differences D. following the time order Answer: A. analyzing causes Many people have described television as a passive activity that is harmful to children's education. However, there are good and bad ways to watch television. Parents who are interested in exploiting television as a learning tool can actually turn time in front of TV into an educational chance. Probably the most familiar educational way to use television is to simply watch educational programs. In particular, this means selecting channels and programs specially designed for educational purposes. Along with traditional educational shows for children on public broadcasting channels, cable television now offers kids and adults a wide variety of educational programs, with everything from nature shows to historical events in different countries. Captioning ,such as "closed captioning" for hearing disabled viewers provides another way for parents to exploit the educational possibilities of television.One study showed that children who watched captioned TV got great improvement in their vocabulary and oral reading ability. In addition, parents can make any show a learning class by watching television together with children. By actively joining children in the programs that they are watching, parents can help with the development of such skills as predicting and summarizing. In order to develop predicting skills, parents and children could first refer to a program's description in a viewing guide.After reading the program description and guessing what might happen in the program, parents and children could watch together to see which predictions were correct. And to practice summarizing, after watching a program, parents can turn off the TV and ask what the story was about. This kind of activity helps children develop thinking skills such as arranging events in an order and memorizing information. Although there will still be plenty of times when children watch TV simply for passive enjoyment, parents can help make at least part of their children's viewing time a more productive activity.Used intelligently by exploiting the learning chances available through various programs, television can play an instructive role in children's education. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A. Parents can simply make any show a learning class for their children. B. To make watching TV a more productive activity parents should include themselves in the producing process. C. Most parents have changed their attitude to their kids' watching TV and become positive to the problem. D. In a way, it is how parents act that leads to whether watching TV may do good or not to their children. Answer: D. In a way, it is how parents act that leads to whether watching TV may do good or not to their children. Mrs Green had a young dog which was very clever. It often helped her buy a newspaper. One winter evening, the dog went out to play. It was snowing heavily. Soon the ground became white. " The dog never loses his way. Where is he now?" Mrs Green thought. She shouted his name. But still the dog didn't come back. So she telephoned the police and told them a lot about her dog. " My dog is very clever. He always goes out and comes back soon. Sometimes he plays with his friend, Mickey. He can buy a newspaper. _ ." The policeman was tired and said, " I think you'd better put your telephone down. Maybe _ is trying to telephone you now." The ground became white because _ . A. some painted white B. There are some paper on it C. It snowed heavily. D. It is really very clean. Answer: C. It snowed heavily.
Blackbird A good sign Paradise Magic Seeing a blackbird for most is a good sign. It can also mean shyness and insecurity, which directly means a lack of self-confidence. The color black, as we know, is connected with supernatural power. Bluebird The arrival of spring Hard work Joy Bluebirds are connected with joy, and they most often mean a happy condition or good news coming your way. They may also refer to the hope of an individual for their inner child, which means innocence . Bluejay Fearless Truthful Talkative A bluejay can mean being faithful to others. Seeing a bluejay either in its natural habitat or in your dreams could also send across a message to develop an innate talent. Canary Joy Freedom Intellectual development Canaries are happy birds that spread joy and a sense of well-being. For some, a flying canary can be a sign of the spread of unwanted information. It can also mean that you are the cause of the gossip as an individual. A canary is also a symbol of selflessness. Both the bluebird and the canary can be a sign of _ . Answer: The heat was intense as we moved down the long corridor. Not only was it a difficult blaze, but the July heat made things even worse as we struggled to get the best of the flames. As we finally made the turn into the apartment where the fire had started, the words of the young mother outside screamed in my brain, 'Please help! My baby is in there!' We moved into the bedroom and I started looking in the usual spots where a child might seek refuge: under the bed, in the corners. As I groped my way through the thick smoke, I suddenly fell forward, tripping over something on the floor. It was the child. Ripping off my mask to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, I grabbed the child and raced for the stairs. When we reached the waiting Rescue Squad members, I collapsed in a heap in the gutter. The ambulance sped off into the night, its siren wailing. Later that evening, we received word that the child had died in the hospital's emergency room. Another small life lost in the city. Why do little children such as that one have to pay the price for the neglect of others? During my career as a fire fighter, I have seen this happen many times. You would think that we would become hard and callous, but we don't. We mourn each person who dies. What bothers me is that many senseless tragedies could have been prevented. An overwhelming number of deaths in fires can be prevented by just one thing - a smoke detector. It is estimated that fewer than 50 percent of all dwellings in the United States are protected by smoke detectors. Why are so many people ignorant about the need for smoke detectors? Smoke detectors save lives. They are easy to install. Their cost is reasonable, and they offer immediate protection. People must persuade their communities to provide fire education for everyone. The money spent on fire education reaps a reward that cannot be measured. If you do not think so, then consider your reactions if the child I carried out of that flaming apartment had been a member of your own family. You would probably then be willing to do anything at all to undo that tragedy. The author's main purpose in the passage is to _ . Answer: Which of these could cause water vapor to condense into rain droplets? Answer: Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance, The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly ,The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs ,from family to family. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance in no time ,Lf they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget ,which demands choices between spending and saving ,Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs ,like clothing or electronics. But it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home ,These jobs are a normal part of family life , Paying children to do extra work around the house , however, can be useful .It can even provide an understanding of how a business works. Allowances give children a chance to experience the things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause .They can spend it by buying things they want., Or they can save and maybe even invest it , Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice; you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers ,lean about personal finance .A savings account is an excellent way to lean about the power of compound interest. Compounding works by paying interest on interest .So, for example, one dollar invested at two percent interest for two years will earn two cents in the first year .The second year, the money will earn to percent of one dollar and two cents,, and so on ,That may not seem like a lot .But over time is adds ,up. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the ways children can deal with money? Answer: It's not easy to be an astronaut's son.Everybody expects you to be special or perfect. I often wonder how my father ever had a son like me. I mean he's so special and so good at everything he does. Even in middle school he was monitor and captain of the football team. Well, to be honest, I often dream about being some kind of hero or doing something special--like saving a child from a burning building One morning my teacher said there would be a Father's Day writing competition for the whole school."I hope we have a winner right here in my class." When I got home,I started to think about what to write.My father is an astronaut. No, I wouldn't start like that. That was the way others saw him.How did I see my father? Hmm...I saw him sitting with me in the dark when I had a terrible dream.I remembered how he hugged me for hours when my dog Spotty was killed by a car. Yes, these were the things I was going to write. To me,he wasn't just a famous astronaut. He was my dad. My parents and l went to school Thursday night. There were so many people in the big hall! My dad looked at me, and I shrugged . The third prize was announced and it was not me.1 was relieved and disappointed at the same time. The second prize was announced. it was me. I went up to the stage and read what I had written,"My father's son".When I finished,Dad put his hand on my shoulder."Son,this is the proudest moment of my life.'' It was the proudest moment of my life, too. Maybe I'll never be a great hero or win a Nobel Prize, but it was enough just to be my father's son. In order to _ the writer would like to save a child from a burning building. Answer:
An 80-year-old couple was having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctor's, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory. After checking the couple out, the doctor told them that they were physically okay but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember things. The couple thanked the doctor and left. Later that night, while watching TV, the man got up from his chair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "To the kitchen." She asked, "Will you get me a cup of ice cream?" He replied, "Sure." She then asked him, "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" He said, "No, I can remember that." She then said, "Well, I would also like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down because I know you'll forget that." He said, "I can remember that. You want a cup of ice cream with strawberries." She replied, "Well, I also would like some whipped cream on top. I know you will forget that so you'd better write it down." With anger in his voice, he said, "I don't need to write that down! I can remember that." He then went into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes he returned from the kitchen and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and said angrily, "I told you to write it down! You forgot my bread!" The husband got angry because his wife _ . Answer: The piano on which Mozart wrote all of his late works returned home to Vienna for the first time since his death in 1791.The piano will stand in his former Vienna home, now a museum, for two weeks, ending in a concert of the works by Mozart. Mozart bought the instrument from Anton Walter, the most famous piano maker of his time, in 1782.He wrote more than 50 works for the piano on it, many of them in the apartment in Vienna.After Mozart's death, Constanze, Mozart's wife, gave the instrument to their elder surviving son, Carl Thomas, who donated it to the Mozarteum Salzburg on what would have been the composer's 100th birthday.The piano is now part of the permanent exhibition in the Austrian city of Salzburg. " It was very hard to let it go," said Matthias Schulz, director of the Mozarteum Salzburg." If we didn' t know it was in the best hands, we wouldn' t have done it." The piano is much smaller and lighter than modern concert ones.Its sound is fresher and brighter than that of a modern piano, with lighter action and hammers . Piano restorer Josef Meingast, who has looked after the Mozart piano since 1975, said it was superior to any of its surviving copies.Meingast said he had to fight to replace the existing strings , dating from a 1973 restoration, with softer ones that produce a rounder sound thought to be more similar to what Mozart would have produced. Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov, who planned to give a concert of Mozart' s music on the piano on November 7, said he was privileged to play such an instrument.It's easily the biggest day of a musician' s life." According to the passage, the piano _ . Answer: The U.S. government may issue stronger regulations about the use of tobacco. Many governments and private buildings have "No Smoking" regulations. In airplanes, on trains and at cinemas, Golf courses are seriously thinking of keeping out smokers, so are schools, shopping malls and even football fields. So where do people go to fill their lungs with nicotine? The government is working on it. One suggestion is that the government set aside a piece of land somewhere in the United States where smokers could go when they want a cigarette. Yellow Stone Park has been in the list, but many people don't agree because they fear that second-hand smoking would make the bears there sick. The Mojave Desert in California is also being studied, and so are Las Vegas Casinos . The smokers were not too nervous about the government idea. They say they are not going to California just to light up. They have a right to smoke at home. To make life more pleasure for those who find it hard to give up smoking, the government is seriously thinking of getting somewhere for the smokers. The tobacco companies are fighting the idea like mad. They say nobody has proved that cigarettes are bad for you. They say as a matter of fact, the doctors have proved that a cigarette saved a person's life after that person was shot. Other places under consideration are: the cold areas in Alaska, the Rocky Mountain in Colorado and the Whitewater River in Arkansas. The smokers are not too nervous about the government banning smoking for they think _ . Answer: While still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states--at least in getting people off welfare.It's estimated that more than 2 million people have left the list since 1994. In the past four years, welfare list in Athens County have been cut in half.But 70 percent of the people who left in the past two years took jobs that paid less than $ 6 an hour.The result: The Athens County poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent --twice the national average.For advocates for the poor, that's an indication that much more needs to be done. "More people are getting jobs, but it's not making their lives any better," says Kathy Lairn, a policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.A center analysis of US Census data nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed families were earning money on their own, but that average income for these families actually went down. But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory."Welfare was a poison.It was a poisonous substance that was poisoning the family," says Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst."The reform is changing the moral climate in low-income communities.It's beginning to rebuild the work ethic , which is much more important." Mr.Rector and others argued that once "the habit of dependency is cracked," then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards. .From the passage, it can be seen that the author _ . Answer: The word's largest aircraft made its public debut last week at Europe's biggest factory, a purpose built assembly line in Toulouse, souther, n France.The Airbus A380 will have 50 per cent more floor space than American rival Boeing's 747 Jumbo, with room for duty-free shops, restaurants and even a sauna.This new arrival is expected to change the face of air travel. The A380 will enter service in early 2006 with Singapore Airlines. Airbus claims the A380 will burn less fuel, make less noise, create less pollution and cost 17 per cent less per seat than the 747.It will also reduce traffic problems in the skies. The aircraft, which cost between PS140 million(US$250m) and PS157 million (US$280m) each compared with PS84 million (US$150m) for Boeing's new Dreamliner jet, is being built at 16 factories in Germany, France, Spain and the UK. But activists have warned of more noise and pollution from the Superjumbo, while Boeing believes huge aircraft will not be in great demand over the next decade. As a result, it is putting faith in the much smaller 7E7 Dreamliner.But Airbus is pinning its hopes on the "big is beautiful" theory, gambling on size being the key factor in the US-European battle for the skies. Airbus said it was in talks with half a dozen global airlines about buying the A380. China Eastern Airlines, already an Airbus customer, is said to be targeted, while executives made it plain that they wanted to fight for the Japanese market, which had traditionally been controlled by Boeing. Over the next 20 years, Airbus hopes to sell 750 of the new planes into a market worth PS185billion (US$330bn).The company already has129 firm orders for the A380, with 52 options. According to the news, the prospect of A380 may be _ . Answer:
September is a difficult month for all students as they return to continue their education, but for high school and university green hands, it is not just the heavy study tasks they need to follow. They will also go through military training, which aims to help students improve their health and help them adapt to college life. The Ministry of Education requires that universities should carry out at least 14 days' military training for freshmen. Hou Zhengfang, an education expert, questioned the benefits of military training. "It does little to improve students' physical health over only two weeks' time," she said. "Maybe some disaster prevention training, such as earthquake survival or escaping from fires, would be of greater benefit." A freshman who fainted during training said that many students, especially girls, are unwilling to train in direct sunshine. "For me, military training is physically challenging and even damages my health," said the 19-year-old. Although Chu Jinjing, a Tsinghua University freshman, did feel some discomfort while training in the heat, the 18-year-old did recognize the benefits of military training. "By going through this tough training, I've become more independent and determined," said Chu. "I have also managed to make a lot of friends." Wang Hui from Xi'an Jiaotong University sees the advantages of military training besides character building. "From senior high school to college, we join military training to start a new journey," said Wang. "I would feel a bit incomplete without it." According to the passage, what is the author's attitude towards military training? Answer: He doesn't express his own opinions. Children and teenagers who spend lots of time in front of screens-especially TVs-are easier to get more weight as they age .according to a new study. The findings agree with research suggesting all that inactive sitting and always watching advertisements may lead to poor eating habits. Researchers used results from a long-term study of children Who took surveys every other year. Children were between ages 9 and 16 when the study started. Out of 4,300 girls in the Study. 17 percent were overweight or obese .Twenty-four percent of the 3 .500 boys were also above a healthy weight The surveys included questions about their height and weight as well as how much time they spent watching TV and DVDs and playing computer and video games. From one survey to the next, each one-hour increase in children's daily TV watching was in connection with an increase of about 0.1 points on a body mass index(BMI) , which measures weight in connection with height. That's a difference of about half a pound per extra hour of TV. "The weight of the evidence is so strong that television watching is connected with unhealthy changes in weight among youth,"says Jennifer Falbe . Who led the study while at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "It's important for parents to know all the obesity-causing screens that really should be limited in their children's lives, Falbe says. " When children watch TV. There are many food advertisements on TV that might lead them to eat a cookie or drink a soft drink. " What's mare .she says . " You can get into a hibernating state on the sofa. Even if children are sitting down while playing a computer game. for example. they might be a bit more active." According to Falbe , what should parents do to stop children getting fat? Answer: Limiting the time of children watching TV. Chinese girl looking for language exchanger Posted Feb 10, 2012 16:25 by Sophia Tag: Seeking Language partners Guangzhou Sex: Female Race/Ethnicity: Chinese I am a Chinese girl in my 20's, can speak and write in English, but I'd like to make some improvement. People always look for making it better, right? Meanwhile, I also like to meet more friends if we really have some topics to share. And if you are in Guangzhou or visit here, I am more than willing to show you around in my spare time. Reply to happycora@hotmail.com or call 15015704625 Tianhe nice apartment for share Posted Feb 24, 2012 16:47 by Vivian Tag: Seeking roommates Guangzhou Tianhe District Up to 2000 RMB I have a room available for rent in a shared apartment in Central Tianhe district. The room has a big window with a nice view. The apartment itself is on the 22th floor of a new secure building on Tianhe Bei Lu, about 10 minutes walk from metro stations on lines 1 and 3, as well as buses and other transportation methods very close. If you are interested, please feel free to phone me (Vivian) on 13145751201 (message preferred), or email me on vivian _ liu2003@hotmail.com. Business Interpreter/Guide Posted Feb 26, 2012 08:46 by Sony Tag: Business Services Guangzhou Baiyun District Dear Foreign Friends, I am a professional interpreter, now looking for a Freelance interpreter job urgently. Please read my CV at below: Name: Sony Song Gender: Male Age: 22 years old Education: Studied English in Da Shan Foreign Language College Birth: 9th Oct 1987, Luohe city, Henan province, China. Ability: Speak fluent English, know Guangzhou city very well, can also guide you to Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Shunde, Macao, Hongkong, etc. Contact Detail: E-mail/MSN: sonysong4@hotmail.com; cell phone: 15112015812 Looking for flat Posted Mar 11, 2012 14:03 by Lucy Tag: Apartments wanted Guangzhou Hello, This is Lucy coming from Peru and looking for a short term flat, from 15th April until 30th April 2012. If somebody can give some information, send me pictures, price and address. Email: lucitamaron@hotmail.com; cell phone: 13800013900 Thanks a lot in advance! To share a department where the traffic is quite convenient, you may send text message to _ . Answer: Vivian One of my main concerns when I am helping people achieve their goals is how they measure success. I see individuals getting frustrated as they struggle hard for success. One of the main reasons that cause this frustration is that people allow their definition of success to be determined by someone or something else. Another is that they become frustrated at their own apparent lack of success when comparing themselves to other people. We are individuals with individual wants, skills and experiences. We should look at our own skills to determine what is successful to us. We should look inwards to determine what it would mean for us to be successful in our own mind rather than someone else's. Evaluating a successful person needs to look at his pathway to success, his actions ,his determination and translate that into his own experience to see how he can improve himself. You must set your own course of action, and stay on your course. You alone must determine what success means to you. Do what you do to the best of your ability and the rest will take care of itself. For example, I believe that I am successful but I am not a millionaire! Others may not see me as successful in their eyes but that does not matter. It is how I see myself that is important to me and my life. Here is the truth. Being a success is doing your best, not being the best. Success is not something you become; it is something you continue being. When we get to that point, we will experience a lot more joy and a lot less frustration. And that sounds good to us! Remember the great quote from Napoleon Hill, "If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way." Which is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Evaluating a successful person needs to look at others' judgment. This is not a diet. It's a simple way to lose weight~ And you don' t even have to give up the food you love or join a gym. You just follow some habits that thin people have. Keep them, and you'll become thin. ( 1 ) Wake - up When you wake up in the morning, sit up slowly without using your hands. With legs straight out, bend( ) forward until you feel sore in your back. It will burn about 10 calories (,). (2) Start with soup When you have a meal, order a clear soup, and have it before having the main food. In this way, you'll feel fuller, so you'll eat less when the main food comes. (3) An apple (or more) a day Apples are full of fiber and water, so your stomach will want less. The study shows that people who eat at least three, apples a day lose weight. (4) Stand up and walk around Every time you use the mobile phone, stand up and walk around. Heavy people sit on average two and a half hours more each day than thin people. This skill is very important as standing up and walking around will burn 50 or more calories. Use these skills, and you will have a big weight loss. ,A, B, C, D,. (5,2,10) Eating apples make one's stomach want less food _ . Answer: Because apples are full of fiber and water.
Question: Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16 century the British had contact with people from around the world. This means that many new words and phrases entered the language. The invention of printing also meant that there was a common language in print. Books became cheaper and more people learned to read. Spelling and grammar became fixed and the dialect of London became the standard. In 1604, the first English dictionary was published. The numbers of words in Early Modern English and Late Modern English differ. Late Modern English has a lot more words because of two main factors: firstly, the Industrial Revolution created a need for new words; secondly, the British Empire covered one quarter of the earth's surface, and the English language took in foreign words from many countries. From around 1600, the English colonization of North America resulted in the creation of American English. Some English pronunciation and words when they reached America. In some ways, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare than modern British English. Some expressions that the British call " Americanisms" are in fact original British expressions that were preserved in the colonies but were lost in Britain. Spanish also had an influence on American English, with words like canyon, ranch, stampede and vigilante being examples of Spanish words that entered English. French words and West African words also influenced American English. Today, American English is the most influential . But there are many other kinds of English around the world, including Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English , Indian English and Caribbean English. They have differences. What can we know from Paragraph 1? A. The dialect of London became the standard in the year 1604. B. Vowels were pronounced longer towards the end of Middle English C. The first English dictionary was published in the early 17 D. Many new words entered English because many people moved to Britain. Answer: C Question: Dear Highlights Ask a question! E-mail it to letters @ Highlights, com. Gift Giving I'm going to China, and everyone in my chss is asking me to buy them something. What should I do? Reply from the Highlights Editors Your classmates arc probably just excited about your trip. Most likely they don't expect you to buy gifts for everyone. Sending a /cw postcards to the entire class during your trip would be a wonderful way to share your experiences. The pictures on the cards and your words of description will be thi' best gift of all. Dog Bagging My dog always begs for food at the dinner table. I really want to feed him, but my mom says I can't. I'm afraid he won't like me anymore. What should I do? Reply from the Highlights Editors Your dog loves you for many more reasons than just for what you feed him. You can show him that you care about him by playing with him, by petting him and speaking kindly to him. and by making sure he has fresh water. It might be best if your dog is not near the din!ner table while you are eating. You could teach him to stay in another room. Being BiHngua(> My aunt insists that we speak our language (Tagalog) at home and English outside the house. Do you think she is right? Reply from the Highlights Editors It is a great gift to have someone in your family who is willing to take the time to teach you another language. It's a good way to keep family traditions alive, and it helps to develop your language skills. Your ability to use both English and Tagalog will help you learn a third and fourth language later in life So it sounds like a great idea! According to the Highlights editors, if your dog begs for food at the dinner table, you'd better A. feed him immediately B. speak loudly to him C. provide him with fresh water D. teach him to stay in another room Answer: D Question: I am Lin Feng. This is a picture of my family: my grandfather, my grandmother, my father, my mother, my sister and I. My grandparents are in Beijing now and we are in Zhejiang. My mother is a teacher and my father is a doctor. My sister and I are middle school students. My sister is in Class 1,Grade 8 and I am in Class2, Grade 7. I have a good friend here. Her name is Zhang Ning. We are in the same class. There are _ people(;) in Lin Feng's family. A. three B. four C. five D. six Answer: D Question: Mr.Brown is 80 years old. Every morning he goes for a walk in the park. And he comes home at twelve thirty for lunch.But today a car stops at his house. At twelve, two policemen help him get out.One of them says to Mr.Brown's daughter, "The old man can't find his way in the park. He asks us to take him home by car." The daughter thanks the policemen and leave. Then she asks her father,"Dad, you go to that park every day. But today, you can't find the way. What's wrong with you?" The old man smiles like a child and says, "I can find my way. I don't want to walk home." Why does Mr.Brown ask the policemen for help? A. he wants to go home B. he wants to have lunch early C. he doesn't want to walk home D. something is wrong with him Answer: C Question: Come to Austria Soll is a village in the mountains in western Austria. And the Post Hotel is clean and not expensive. It is opened by a local family. From the hotel you can see the whole village, the forests and the mountains. Temperatures in summer are usually 20degC to 25degC in the daytime, but much cooler by evening. Enjoy Thailand When you visit Bangkok in Thailand, don't miss the early morning river boat trip to the Floating Market outside the city. There you will find many kinds of fruits and vegetables. And you can pay for them when you sit in your boat. Don't forget your hat: the sun can be strong and it may be as hot as 40degC at noon. Visit Hawaii! Maybe the most beautiful place in Hawaii is Kauai. You can visit its long, sandy beaches in the south and west of the island, and mountains and forests in the north, but don't be surprised if it rains in the centre of the island. Daytime temperatures there are usually around 24degC to 26degC by the sea, and only a little cooler by late evening. If you want to visit both mountains and beaches, you'd better choose _ . A. Soll in Austria B. Bangkok in Thailand C. the Floating market D. Kauai in Hawaii Answer: D
Scottish pupils recently were part of a new scheme that allowed them to take their exams online. Those examinations provided a glimpse of the future in May when 120 _ in 10 centers in Scotland sat in front of computers to take a multiple-choice online exam. Although candidates were using a computer mouse instead of a pen, in all other ways the exam was the same as normal. Exam rooms were set out to ensure that only the candidates and the teachers were able to see the individual screens. The online answers were sent directly to a safe area. According to the students at St Ninian's in East Renfrewshire who took an online French exam, it was definitely the most motivated they had ever felt when taking an exam. "I could go as fast as I wanted to, rather than as slow as everyone else wanted to," said one. "It was better than looking back and forth between the questions," said another. One pupil even described it as fun. Their head teacher, Dorothy Graham, was not so surprised, "They are so used to doing things on computers that it seems natural for them. The boys liked it because they didn't have to worry about how neat their work was." The only things that worried her were power cuts and systems' crashing. It's thought that online exams could be the norm in about five years. However, last year there were warnings about computerizing exams in England and Wales. It's thought that it could be unfair to some students if they come from homes without access to a computer. According to the head teacher, pupils won't be able to take the exam if _ . A they don't have a computer at home B the computer system breaks down C the teacher sees individual screen D they take pens into the exam rooms Answer: B "I was only thirteen when four of my team members and I were chosen by my swim coach to train with the Chinese National Team. The following piece shows how that experience has influenced me." The night before I left for China, my mother called me into her room. I entered not knowing what to expect. I sat down at the end of her very neatly-made bed, opposite the bedroom table on which she kept a Ming-style vase illustrated in great detail. She told me that my great-grandmother was still living in the surroundings of Beijing. Her name was Ren Li Ling and she was 97 years old. This was the first time I had ever heard of her. The dragon on the vase snaked through the flowers and vines as my mother said, "Pu Pu, look at me. You need to hear this so that when you go to China you will understand. You must keep this knowledge in your heart." She told me a story about my grandfather, Ren Li Ling's son, who left Beijing to go to college in Taiwan. She told me how the Chinese civil war kept him away from his mother for fifty years, so neither of them even knew that the other was alive. No one from Taiwan could visit, write, or call anyone in mainland. All lines of communication were cut off. She told me of my grandfather's devotion to his own children, and how difficult it was for him to send his daughter to America for her education, fearing that same separation. He gave my mother all that he could give -- nineteen years of love and fifty years of savings. I learned how my mother, through means only available in this country, would finally be able to unite my great-grandmother with my grandfather again. The dragon curled around the vase, connecting the separate vines. For a fleeting second, I felt it was present in my mother's room. It was all very strange, yet very clear. I began to understand that this trip to China was not just for me; it was for my mother, and her father, and his mother. Now, I had not only a future, but more significantly, a past. I saw the world with new eyes. And so I went to China and met my great-grandmother. My great-aunt picked me up at the training center, and we rode in a taxi through the crowded city. The noise of the taxi and the city united into a deep roar. We finally stopped in front of a narrow street lined on either side with small one-level houses. As we made our way to a house like all the others, I drew the stares of many people in the street. My great-aunt led me through a rotting doorway into a room with a furnace , table, and a rocking chair where an old woman wearing gloves sat facing the doorway, covered with a worn brown blanket. I walked over and immediately embraced this frail woman as if I had known her all my life. My limited, broken Chinese wasn't up to expressing my complicated feelings. And even though I couldn't completely understand what she was saying in her thick Beijing accent, I knew -- the same way I knew what my mother had been trying to tell me before I left. Her joy shone through her toothless smile. She wouldn't let go of my hand. I haltingly asked her how she had managed to live such a long life. She answered in words I will never forget, "Hope has kept me alive. I have lived this long because I wanted to see my son before I died." My fellow team members must have wondered how two people separated by three generations could be so close. Before this trip, I would have wondered the same thing. And even now, I can't quite explain it. We were as different as two people can be; some 85 years and 8,000 miles apart. We came from two entirely different cultures; yet we were connected by a common heritage . I stayed for dinner which was cooked in a black iron wok over the furnace. The meal was lavish , prepared in my honor. As I began to eat, with my great-grandmother beside me, I felt the dragon was present. But this time, the feeling didn't pass; the dragon had become a part of me. My great-grandmother passed away last year at the age of 100. With her highest hopes and wildest dreams fulfilled, I know she died happy. The writer's mother called him into her room to _ . A prepare him for the trip and warn him against possible problems B remind him of his origin C ask him to look for his great-grandmother D share with him the story of her childhood Answer: B My mother is the only living person who has never communicated via email or text. She has never turned on a computer, registered an email account, used data storage media or searched the Internet. Since 1955, she has settled in Silicon Valley, married to an extremely technical specialist in applied physics and engineering, designing photometric systems for NASA. Only when Dad suffered from cancer could we convince her she needed a cell phone. Mom's being separated from the information age is voluntary and deliberate. Mom is still that farm girl, and she takes the most pride in it. She sees her neighbor and her community "real". She shows no interest in the digital and virtual life. My mother saw Depression, World War II and the beginning of the Cold War before reaching voting age. She enjoyed country music on "The Sons of the Pioneers", a Canadian broadcast. The battery was so precious a resource that radio was limited to the barn because Grandma thought it helped cows produce milk. In the age when Churchill moved millions for the first time with radio broadcasts, she only experienced live media monthly, if at all. In her early twenties, Mom completed nurses' training and worked in that field before marriage, family and church became her life's concerns. She never really warmed up to television, though I think she appreciated a few of the series we watched, comedies like All in the Family. Computers, the Internet and mobile apps are simply not part of her experience. Mom disagrees with the opinion that technology simplifies life. In her life, she sees online records, email and paperless systems as mysteries in which no written reference can assist her. However, I can partly understand: I like such kind of experience and relationship one has with physical books. I am a child of television who only recently switched to online viewing. I've written down my awkward, love-hate relationship with my devices. _ , but it works for her. She's happiest as she is. What is the author's attitude towards his mother's such kind of experience? A Critical. B Positive. C Neutral. D Negative. Answer: B Forks trace their origins back to the ancient Greeks. Forks at that time were fairly large with two tines that aided in the cutting of meat in the kitchen. The tines prevented meat from twisting or moving during cutting and allowed food to slide off more easily than it would with a knife. By the 7th century A.D., royal courts of the Middle East began to use forks at the table for dining. From the 10th through the 13th centuries, forks were fairly common among the wealthy in Byzantium. In the 11th century, a Byzantine wife brought forks to Italy; however, they were not widely adopted there until the 16th century. Then in 1533, forks were brought from Italy to France. The French were also slow to accept forks, for using them was thought to be awkward. In 1608, forks were brought to England by Thomas Coryate, who saw them during his travels in Italy. The English first ridiculed forks as being unnecessary. "Why should a person need a fork when God had given him hands?" they asked. Slowly, however, forks came to be adopted by the wealthy as a symbol of their social status. They were prized possessions made of expensive materials intended to impress guests. By the mid 1600s, eating with forks was considered fashionable among the wealthy British. Early table forks were modeled after kitchen forks, but small pieces of food often fell through the two tines or slipped off easily. In late 17th century France, larger forks with four curved tines were developed. The additional tines made diners less likely to drop food, and the curved tines served as a scoop so people did not have to constantly switch to a spoon while eating. By the early 19th century, four-tined forks had also been developed in Germany and England and slowly began to spread to America. How did forks become popular in England? A Wealthy British were impressed by the design of forks. B Wealthy British thought it awkward to use their hands to eat. C Wealthy British gave special forks to the nobles as luxurious gifts. D Wealthy British considered dining with forks a sign of social status. Answer: D What best describes the relationship with the moon, Earth, and the sun? A the Earth is absorbing sunlight B the moon is equidistant from the sun and Earth C the moon is a star D the sun travels around the Earth Answer: A
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 Which of the following is one feature of arthritis according to the passage? Answer: How does a young dog or cat get to know a new home? The animal uses its nose. Right away it smells its new places. Then it makes wider and wider circles, smelling all the time. Before long it can find its way home very well, even in the dark. It simply follows something it knows well. Stories happen about animals who found their way across land they had never smelled before. Take the case of Smoky, a small white cat. Smoky had some funny red hair around its right ear. One day Smoky and his owner began a long journey. They were moving from Oklahoma to Tennessee. When they were just eighteen miles from their Oklahoma home, Smoky jumped out of the car. Then he found his way back to the old house. There he _ around outside for many days. Finally he disappeared. A year later Smoky meowed at the door of a house in Tennessee. A man opened the door. "Is that you, Smoky?" he said in surprise. At first he couldn't believe it. Then he saw the red hair around its right ear. It was Smoky! What is the best title of the passage? Answer: Fire can be very dangerous. We should be careful with it. This is what to do in a fire: Shout out. Shout as loudly as you can, because people may be asleep. Call 119. Don't try to put out the fire yourself. Tell 119 where you are and what is on fire. Keep down next to the floor. There is less smoke down there, so it's easier to breathe and see where you are going. Test the door. If the door is cool, open it carefully. If the door is hot, do not open it! Try to find a different way out. Get out. Do not stop to pick up anything. A fire can become very big in a few seconds! Don't use the lift. Always use the stairs .The lift may go wrong and keep you inside. *Don't go back. Even if your pet is still inside, do not go back for it Animals have a very good sense of smell. They often get away from buildings before people. If the door is hot, we should _ . Answer: Sea turtles come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The shell of each sea turtle species is different in length, color, shape and the arrangement of the scales . Sea turtles do not have teeth but use their jaws to eat. Their sense of smell is excellent. Their eyesight underwater is good, but they have _ out of water. Their special bodies make them adapt to life at sea. However, sea turtles maintain close ties to land. Female sea turtles have to go to the seaside to lay their eggs in the sand; therefore, all baby sea turtles begin their lives on land. Most research on sea turtles has been focused on female turtles nesting and the baby sea turtles in the nest, largely because they can be found most easily. After decades of studying sea turtles, much has been learned about. However, many mysteries still remain. Researchers do not yet know how long baby turtles spend in the open sea, or exactly where they go. People believe they spend their earliest years floating in the sea, where they do little more than eat and grow. Once turtles reach dinner-plate size, they appear at feeding grounds in waters near the shore. They grow slowly and take between 15 and 50 years to grow old enough to bear baby sea turtles, depending on the species. There is no way to know the age of a sea turtle from its physical appearance. It is believed that some species can live for over 100 years. Which of the following statements is NOT true about sea turtles? Answer: Right in the middle of the town are some long ponds . They are only about half a foot deep. The men of Symi dug out the earth to make the ponds. Over each pond is a low cover. It is made of glass that you can see through. At night, sea water is taken into the ponds. The next day, the hot sun shines through the covers. The sun light turns the water into vapor and the vapor goes up from the ponds. The salt is left behind. As it goes, the vapor became mist. On the inside of each cover, the little drops of mist run together to make big drops. These drops run down the sides of the cover, filling other ponds with fresh water. The salt left in the ponds is washed out each night. Then more sea water is taken in. The factory is ready for the next day's work. The covers and other parts of the factory cost very little. Sea water and sun cost nothing. Most people of Symi are poor. So to them this new way of getting fresh water seems wonderful. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer:
India is a developing country. It has thousands of years of tradition and culture. Different types of people live in India. In the old days the educational institutions were called "ashramam" and teachers were "gurus". A guru was a respected person in society. Now we are living in the technological world. Big changes are occurring in people's living. The influence of television, telephone, radio, computer, Internet and mobile phones is very strong in everyday life. But even today, teachers are role models for students. Teaching is still a respectable job. But there are great changes in the education system. One of the most obvious changes is that the influence of Western culture has increased. We are paying too much attention to doing business, just like the Western world. Teachers are likely to to be influenced by this too, but it is not good. Teachers are nation builders. The development of any country depends upon its education system. All types of development are possible through education. Another change has happened in the curriculum . The curriculum connects the teacher and the student. While education is about learning, curriculum means the situations in which one learns. When we say that education deals with "what", then curriculum deals with "how" and "when". But at the moment, it is hard to say whether the curriculum is playing such a role. In India, an ashramam was _ . A a teacher who was respected by people B a person who worked for the government C a place where students were taught D a place where tradition and culture developed Answer: C Ling Tao is a student in Class 6, Grade 1. He has a good friend in the school, and his name is Tony. Tony is not a student. He is Ling Tao's English teacher. He is from England. He is only twenty-three years old, and he is a tall boy. He likes to wear blue clothes. He likes eating healthy food. Tony is good at singing. He often teaches the students to sing English songs and plays games with them. The students all love him and he loves them, too. ,. Ling Tao's English teacher likes to wear _ clothes. A blue B red C yellow D red Answer: A A river rushes and pebbles are smacked around one another until A they are wet B they are clear C they are rough D they are velvety Answer: D New archaeological discovers suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began in some form many countries earlier than once thought. The findings, _ with a widening range of scientific and historical research, could add a fascinating new page to the epic of the Silk Road. The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia. The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world's two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome. But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia. Historians have always considered Zhang Qian's mission important because they believe _ . A be brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor B be discovered the Silk Road C be helped establish East-West trade D be travelled as far as Afghanistan Answer: C A warm drink of milk before bed has long been the best choice for those wanting a good night's sleep. But now a study has found it really does help people nod off--if it is milked from a cow at night. Researchers have discovered that "night milk" contains more melatonin , which has been proven to help people feel sleepy and reduce anxiety. The study, by researchers from Seoul, South Korea, involved mice being fed with dried milk powder made from cows milked both during the day and at night. Those given night milk, which contained 10 times the amount of melatonin, were less active and less anxious than those fed with the milk collected during daytime, according to the study published in The Journal of Medicinal Food. Night milk quickened the start of sleep and caused the mice to sleep longer. While the effect of cows milk harvested at different time has not been tested on humans up to now, taking melatonin drugs has been suggested to those who are struggling to fall asleep at night. Previous studies have also indicated that milk can be excellent for helping sleep because of the calcium content, which helps people to relax. Milk is also sugar-free and additive-free with nutritionists recommending skimmed milk as the best choice before bed as it is the least fattening. The more fat you take in before bedtime, the greater burden you will put on your body at night. According to the text, the mice fed with daytime milk _ . A started sleep more easily B were more anxious C were less active D woke up later Answer: B

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