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As I drive about the Sois in rural Thailand I catch little glimpses of things that barely register on the mind as the scenery flies by; strange things, beautiful things, sad things, interesting things. I wish I could hold on to these scenes; explore them in detail. I wish that I had the time to stop and investigate further as I'm driving by, but time is a commodity worth more than all the moneys in the world. I wish I had more. I once had a guy wave to me as I passed him. He yelled out something, almost in greeting, as if he knew me. I wonder if we knew each other once, in another place, another time, and he recognized my soul as I drove by in the truck, and just had to yell a hello. I wish I had stopped and said hello too. I saw two young girls, dressed in school uniforms. White blouses, blue skirts, books in hand. They were holding hands, talking, walking down the road, jostling(,)each other with their shoulders and teasing each other as they strolled along. As I passed the one closest to the truck looked up. She was close enough to touch almost. Her smiling face, her clear eyes and golden smooth skin are there in my mind's eye now. I can see her as if she were standing next to me. Once in a while her face just pops into my head. Why? Why is she still there? Sometimes I think maybe I'm a bit mad. I stopped at a road stop on a corner one time. An old lady standing by the roadside walked over to the truck and put her hand on my arm and smiled at me. Her palm was so cool. It must have been a hundred degrees out that day. She said something in Thai and giggled and walked away. Who was she? Why did she touch me? Why was her hand so cool? Why did I just sit there and let her touch me? I didn't flinch away. It was almost as if I knew her, and we were just saying a quick hello. Her cool touch almost seemed familiar; like my long dead grandmother's soothing cool touch remembered from when I was just a little boy. I need more time. I need to stop the truck more often, and just say hello. Things glimpsed along the road are often far more interesting and wonderful than that which seems to consume our daily lives. Slow down. Stop the truck. Get out, and say hello. Why does the author compare the old lady with his grandmother? A. The old lady behaved like his grandmother. B. He suggests the old lady had very cold hands. C. He suggests the old lady's touch was comforting. D. The old lady reminded the writer of his entire childhood. Answer: C. He suggests the old lady's touch was comforting. Around the world, people have different traditional foods to celebrate different festivals. Traditional foods also show a new year of good luck and good health: An English Christmas dinner has a meal of turkey, and it also includes pies and plum puddings . In Germany, Christmas is celebrated with bread, cookies and cakes, which are made like Christmas trees. In France, Christmas dessert is a cake filled with butter cream. In southern parts of India, there is a three-day festival in mid-January called Pongal. It includes rice and a dish of rice cooked with sugar that is shared with families and friends. Japan celebrates New Year with a seven-day festival. It begins from January 1st. Food is prepared before the festival so people don't need to cook during the festival. On New Year's Day, _ dishes called Osechi ryori are served--each dish is a wish for the New Year. In most Asian countries, the New Year begins with the first full moon of the first Chinese Lunar month. Each place has its special food to welcome the coming year: People in China prepare their food ahead of time to avoid the _ that using a knife during New Year's time might "cut luck". Foods with lucky names are popular, such as fish, which sounds like "surplus ". What did a three- festival in mid--January in southern parts of India? A. Christmas B. Pongal C. New Year D. Lantern Festival Answer: B. Pongal When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at hospital. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him spread butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned toast." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He took me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's really tired. And besides - a little burned toast never hurt anyone!" You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. This good quality is the base of any relationship --- husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! As far as I'm concerned, I'm not the best engineer as expected. However, I have made my efforts. That's enough. So learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life. Burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket but into your own. We can infer from the passage that the author's mother _ . A. She was not good at cooking. B. She hardly had time to cook at home. C. She felt sorry for the burnt food. D. She spent more time on breakfast than dinner. Answer: C. She felt sorry for the burnt food. Can you imagine a stranger will read your e-mails without your permission or scan the website you've visited or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phones bills? All of the things may happen to you one day. In fact, it's likely that some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen or even do something that may bring a disaster to you. Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, and that it's important to reveal to friends, family and lovers at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain nowadays. The digital bread crumbs you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to know who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can leak the deepest thought in your mind. Like it or not, increasingly _ The key question is: Does that matter? For many Americans, the answer apparently is "No". When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most of them say they are really concerned about losing it. And 60 percent of the respondents say they feel their privacy is "slipping away, and that bothers me". But people say one thing and do another. Only a small of Americans change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that track automobile movements. Privacy economist Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give up personal information such as telephone number, address, or social security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cent-off coupon . But privacy does matter--at least sometimes. It's like health; when you have it, you don't notice it. Only when it's gone do you wish you'd done more to protect it. Without privacy, one will be naked in front of others. What should be the best title for the text? A. No Privacy, No Health B. Treasure Your Privacy C. Boundaries are Important between Friends D. The information Age Has Its Own Shortcomings Answer: B. Treasure Your Privacy In the early part of the twentieth century, racism was widespread in the United States. Many African Americans were not given equal opportunities in education or employment. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was an African American woman who gained fame as a concert singer in this climate of racism. She was born in Philadelphia and sang in church choirs during her childhood. When she applied for admission to a local music school in 1917, she was turned down because she was black. Unable to attend music school, she began her career as a singer for church gatherings. In 1929, she went to Europe to study voice and spent several years performing there. Her voice was widely praised throughout Europe. Then she returned to the US in 1935 and became a top concert singer after performing at Town Hall in New York City. Racism again affected Anderson in 1939. When it was arranged for her to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the Daughters of the American Revolution opposed it because of her color. She sang instead at the Lincoln Memorial for over 75 000 people. In 1955, Anderson became the first black soloist to sing win the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. The famous conductor Toscanini praised her voice as "heard only once in a hundred years". She was a US delegate to the United Nations in 1958 and won the UN peace prize in 1977. Anderson eventually triumphed over racism. This passage shows that Anderson finally defeated racism in the US by A. protesting to the government B. appealing to the United Nations C. demonstrating in the streets D. working hard to perfect her art Answer: D. working hard to perfect her art
Just about every week now, we read a newspaper headline about the genetic basis for breast cancer, intelligence, orobesity. Such news stories may lead us to believe our lives are being _ by genetic discoveries. We may be close to changing and getting rid of mental illness, for example and identify the causes of crime,personality, and other basichuman weaknesses. But these hopes, it turns out, are based on faulty assumptions about genes and behavior. In many cases, people are motivated to accept research claims by the hope of finding solutions for frightening problems, like breast cancer. Accepting genetic causes for their characteristics can relieve guilt about behavior they want to change but can't. Efforts made to fight against them, at growing expense, have made little or no visible progress. The public wants to hear that science can help. Meanwhile, genetic claims are being made for many ordinary and abnormal behaviors, from addictiontoshynessand even to political views anddivorce. If who we are is determined from pregnancy, then our efforts to change or to influence our children may be useless. There may also be no basis for insisting that people behave themselves and obey laws. Thus, the revolution in thinking about genes has great consequences for how we view ourselves as human beings. Most claims linking emotional disorders and behaviors to genes are statistical in nature. The research finds are insufficient for deciding that alcoholism or manic-depression is inherited. In the late 1980s, genes for manic-depression were identified by teamsof geneticists. The claims have now been definitively proved wrong. Genetic data on the major mental illnesses make it clear that they can't be reduced to purely genetic causes. According to Myrna Weissman, Ph.D., Americans born before 1905 had a 1 percent rate of depression by age 75. Among Americans born a half century later, 6 percent become depressed by age 24! Similarly, while the average age at which manic-depression first appears was 32 in the mid 1960s, its average beginning today is 19. Only social factors can produce such large shifts in rate and age of beginning of mental disorders in a few decades. Scientists actively debate whether disorders like alcoholismare more or less biologically driven. If they are mainly biological--rather than psychological, social, and cultural--then there may be a genetic basis for them. In 1990,Kenneth Blum, Ph.D., of the University of Texas, and Ernest Noble, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, found a certain gene in 70 percent of a group of alcoholics, but in only 20 percent of a non-alcoholic group. But in 1993 Joel Gelernter, M.D., of Yale and his colleagues surveyed all the studies that examined this gene and alcoholism. Different from Blum andNoble'sresearch, the results were that 18 percent of non-alcoholics, 18 percent of problem drinkers, and 18 percent of severe alcoholics all had the gene. As for Blum and Noble's work, a more reasonable model is that genes may affect how people experience alcohol. Perhaps some people's nerves are more activated by alcohol. But although genes can influence reactions to alcohol, they cannot explain why some people continue drinking to the point of destroying their lives. Therefore, claims that our genes cause our problems, our misbehavior, even our personalities are more a mirror of our culture's attitudes than a window for human understanding and change. Which do you think is the best title of the passage? Answer: My Genes Made Me Do It A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present.On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office,a street urchin was walking around the shining car."Is this your car,Paul?"he asked. Paul answered,"Yes,my brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was surprised."You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing?Boy,I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for.He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said surprised Paul greatly. "I wish," the boy went on,"that I could be a brother like that." Paul looked at the boy in surprise, then he said again, "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" "Oh yes,I'd love that." After a short ride,the boy turned and with his eyes shining,said,"Paul,would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little.He thought he knew what the boy wanted.He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the step and pointed to the car. "There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about." Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began an unforgettable holiday ride. :urchin hesitate neighbour crippled cent The best name of the name story is _ . Answer: A Brother Like That "In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight." "Two full inches in the first three days!" These are the kinds of statements used in magazine, newspaper, radio and television ads, promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device (;). The promoters (;) of products say they can shape the legs, slim the face, smooth wrinkles, or in some other way to beauty or desirability. Often such products are nothing more than money--making things for their promoter. The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health. To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation . If the product is a drug, FDA(Food Drug Administration) can require proof under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that is safe and effective before it is put on the market . But if the product is a device, FDA. has no author to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the marker is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action , including seizure of the product. One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, which had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life. Obviously, most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings ,and new devices appear continually. Before buying, it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items. FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product _ . Answer: if it is a drug When you get tired of homework, several minutes' walk in a nearby green park helps you relax at once. Or you may stand facing the lake or the seas. They will calm (not to be excited or nervous) you just like the green plants. Wonder why? Color is a key part of the answers. Since it is so, green and blue help make people feel more quiet and safe. All colors have special power. Scientists have found that many colors have specific effects on people's mind and feelings. Try an easy and interesting experiment and you'll see how color " _ " you sometimes. Wrap two boxes of the same size with colored paper, one red and the other white. Then weigh the two boxes with your hands. Which one is heavier? Most people will think that the red box is heavier, even though they weigh the same. Colors can affect learning. Scientists have found that students spend more time reading if they read information written in blue text. Blue helps most people calm down and think more. Clever uses of colors in daily life are to be seen everywhere. Hospitals and libraries seldom paint their walls, tables and desks red. They use light colors, like light blue or green. Red makes people excited while light colors help them relax. Haven't worked out how color affects your daily life? Start with your small room. Try to make some changes in it and you'll get to know how important color is! If you want to _ , you'd better sit in the room painted blue. Answer: study attentively Do you want to save money when you travel by train? Here are some ways . Day Returns: This kind of ticket can save you 45% on the fare.You have to travel before 8.00 a.m. and after 6.00 p.m from Monday to Friday, but you can travel at any time on Saturday or Sunday. Big City Savers : You can save much money with these tickets.You have to buy them by 4.00 p.m the day before you travel. Monthly Returns : You can use these tickets for most journeys over 65 miles. Go any day return within(.....) a month. Monthly Returns can save you 25% on the fare. Family Returns: You can get a card of Family Returns for PS20. After you buy your own ticket ,you need to pay only PS3 for each of the other family members.You can travel as often as you like within two months. The passage is likely taken from a _ . Answer: newspaper
From the jagged peaks of the Himalayas to the powerful Yangtze River that flows into the Pacific, China's vast terrain and varied climate make it the sixth most biologically diverse nation on the planet. Since 1998, The Nature Conservancy has been working in China's northwest Yunnan Province to protect some of the amazing natural and cultural diversity unique to this country for its future generations. In cooperation with Chinese local and state government agencies, the Conservancy established the Yunnan Great Rivers Project, which protects an area about the size of West Virginia. Did you know? China contains 10% of the world's total species. At least 15% of China's mammal species and 8% of its bird species are found nowhere else on Earth. Nearly 15,000 plant species are native to Yunnan Province. Yunnan is home to 75% of Tibetan medicinal herbs and 30 endangered species. What is the Nature Conservancy trying to do? Education for Sustainability The Nature Conservancy recognizes that environmental education is an important element of working closely with local communities to achieve sustainable conservation results. In response, the Conservancy launched a new program called Education for Sustainability which tests means of teaching and learning that combine conservation goals, social justice, and appropriate development and participation in a vision and mission for personal and social change. Promoting Green Tourism Tourism is both an environmental threat and an economic opportunity, with the potential to provide extremely needed income to northwest Yunnan. The Conservancy is working with local communities, government agencies, and tourism enterprises to develop strategies for "green" tourism which will limit the footprint of mass tourism while generating income for local people. In addition to combining tourism development and management at our five action sites, we assisted with regional marketing efforts to promote eco-tourism opportunities. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text? A The Nature Conservancy has been working in China's northwest Yunan Province. B The Nature Conservancy cooperated agencies in the Yunnan Great Rivers Project. C Nearly 10% of the world's plant species are native to Yunnan Province. D For the moment the Nature Conservancy is devoting itself to education for sustainability as well as eco-tourism. Answer: C 12-year-old Romina Mohaqqeq, believed to be Iran's youngest filmmaker, is dreaming of winning an Oscar someday. "I will not regard myself a filmmaker until I win an Oscar," she remarks. Born in 1998, she has so far directed several documentaries and short films and has received several awards at national and international festivals. "I made my first documentary when I was eight years old. The idea came to my mind when I saw an Afghan boy who was collecting paper in a dustbin near our house. I thought it might be a good topic for a documentary," she said. "I asked my dad to make a movie about this boy but he said that it would not be an interesting topic. He told me to work on the topic myself if I liked it, so I made my first documentary and named it Long Way". Romina's "Long Way" took the best film award at Roshd International Film Festival in 2007, encouraging her to continue filmmaking. "Next, I adapted a story published in a magazine and made the short film A Box Full of Affection". She is now working on Thought, a new documentary about positive thinking. Romina admits that her dad has been her only advisor all these years. "When Romina decided to work on a topic herself at the age of 8, I taught her the whole process of filmmaking within 6 to 7 months. I even worked as a cameraman in some of her productions." her father said. "We also reviewed the book Film Directing Shot by Shot. We read all the sections together where she learned the entire process from pre-production to post-production." Romina also played in one of her dad's productions when she was 6, and acted in the movie The Earrings. She was among the judges of 39th edition of the Roshd International film Festival. Which is the best title of the passage? A The Youngest Oscar Winner B Iran's Youngest Filmmaker C The Best Ever Films in Iran's History D A Father and a Daughter Answer: B Wang Xiaojun is twelve years old.He lives in the country in Hubei.Today is his birthday.His parents prepare a nice dinner for him, but the boy says,"I won't have the dinner , today is over, and my parents are going to Shenzhen tomorrow.I don't want to let them go. Wang Xiaojun has the birthday with his parents for the first time in the past three years.Three years ago, his parents went to Shenzhen to work in 2011.They stayed and worked there for three years.Tomorrow they have to go back to Shenahen. Wang is not the only stay-at-home child .In the country of China ,there are many children staying at home without their parents.Stay-at-home children have a lot of problems.Most of them stay with their grandparents.Some of them don't study well because their parents can't help them with their study. The Chinese government now is trying to solve their problems. The stay-at-home children can't get help for study from their parents , so some of them _ . A don't study well B don't like to stay with parents C don't love their parents D don't have dinner with their parents Answer: A Scientists are trying to find out how things affect our feelings. How you feel is controlled by many things, such as your personality , the actions of others. Maybe you don't know the weather can affect your feelings as well. People often say they feel good when the sun is shining and sad when it is cloudy. In fact, sunlight makes us feel good. When sunlight hits our skins, our bodies makes vitamin D(D). Vitamin D helps our bodies make a special chemical . This special chemical affects our brains and makes us feel happy. For example, there are long, dark winters of little sunlight in Sweden and Norway, so many people in these countries often feel sad. To help the people in these countries feel better, scientists build special "sunrooms" for people to go there and get "sunlight" for an hour or two! The weather can also affect people's feelings in other ways. Hot weather can make people angry because people don't feel comfortable when they are hot. In the same way, rain can make people angry because being wet can be unhappy. As you can see, the weather can have an effect on the chemicals which control our _ . Through these ways, the weather can affect our feelings in these ways. Sadly, while the weather can change us, we cannot change the weather. Which of the following is TRUE about vitamin D according to the passage? A It is a kind of special food. B It makes us worried by affecting our brains. C It is helpful to our bodies. D It is in the sunlight. Answer: C Could smells affect your lifespan? Female fruit flies rid of the ability to smell food outlive their peers.The sense of smell may be linked to the cellular ageing process in many other organisms--even people.A link has recently been found between sensory experiences and lifespan in both worms and flies.For example, Scott Pletcher, a biologist at the University of Michigan, found that eliminating fruit flies' ability to smell enabled them to live nearly 20 percent longer than flies with an intact sense of smell. Pletcher's team reasoned that food smells were the ones most likely to affect ageing, as nutrition and longevity are known to be linked in many organisms.To test the idea that food odors affect lifespan, Pletcher's team eliminated flies' ability to smell carbon dioxide, which is produced by some fly foods.They left the rest of the smelling system intact. This intervention had no effect on male flies, but the females lived 30 percent longer than normal.Pletcher thinks eliminating the ability to smell CO2may deprive flies of information about food availability.This could signal to cells that food is scarce, causing processes that promote survival.Indeed, his team found that the CO2-insensitive female flies stored extra fat and that both males and females immune to CO2were more resistant to stress than normal flies.Pletcher isn't sure why the change in his fruit flies only affected the lifespan of the females, but he suggests that females may simply be more sensitive to the odor of CO2. A smell or taste that stretches lifespan in humans could be a potential preventative for age-related disease, he adds.Although in fruit flies it appears to be the smell of CO2that affects ageing, he says that an analogue in humans might be a smell or taste linked to human food--or a lack of it.Matt Kaeberlein studies ageing at the University of Washington in Seattle. He cautions that we don't know whether ageing and smell are linked in mammals.But " we definitely undergo physiological changes in response to smelling food--I'm getting hungry just thinking about it--so I think it's possible." Which of the following best describes the passage as a whole? A Female flies are insensitive to CO2. B Smells could affect humans' lifespan. C The sense of smell is vital to humans' health. D Female fmit flies can live longer than male flies. Answer: B
On Monday night, back on the way home from school, I was suddenly faced with a big snow storm which I had never met before. The traffic was moving at 5 mph on the freeway where it usually requires at least 60 mph. The road is very slippery. Sometimes the car is out of control, slipping to the other side. I finally managed to drive to the Issaquah. However, I still got stuck in the traffic on an uphill way to my home. Why I lived in the house on the top of the hill? I had no choice but left my car in the road. Fortunately, there was a nice guy coming to help me drive the car to the parking lot so that I would not get a ticket from the policeman. When he first opened my car door and asked me if I needed any help, I thought I saw an angle. No kidding, I was totally frustrated at that moment until I saw the guy. After waiting in the parking lot for almost 3 hours, my husband's cousin finally managed to come to "rescue" me by his four-wheel drive car and sent me to my in-laws' home because the road to my house was closed. When I got to my bed in the end, it was over midnight. I spent almost 5 hours outside instead of 20 minutes as usual. But I was lucky, because I knew later that some people spent 7 or 10 hours to go home, and just by walking rather than by driving. This strong snow storm has messed up the traffic of Seattle and I get an unforgettable experience from it. Where did the author spend the night that day? A At the school. B At home. C In her husband's cousin's home. D In her in laws' home. Answer: B if two things seemingly come closer together without a person interfering, which of these is likely? A the objects are possessed B the objects could have magnetic properties C the sun is rising D all of these Answer: B Do you often find yourself crying in arguments? Does it feel like you just can't stop your emotions defeating you completely when you are in the middle of a heated discussion with someone, and you particularly want to make clear strong points and express yourself effectively? Many people think that someone who bursts into tears during an argument or a quarrel is 9 / 17 trying to handle the situation by bringing emotion into it. But the person who wells up tears during some heated discussion is not in control of those tears. They just can't control blushing or stop themselves breaking out in a sweat if they feel nervous. The body has a number of such automatic responses that switch on without your decision that you want to respond like this. These instinctive behaviors have evolved over millions of years to protect us. Basically, our brains make associations between things that seem similar, which is important for automatic responses. For example, a snake is a potentially dangerous creature, and you can see why it might be useful if, whenever you see a snake, you will run like crazy. And you can see why it might still be useful if you see a flexible stick and get the same reaction. However, these very simple associations can sometimes be really unhelpful. It's not useful to try to calmly argue an important point with someone, and suddenly find tears running down your cheeks. Tears can generally make you seem weak, or foolish, and less credible. Who's going to take what you say seriously if you're crying? But if these reactions are not under your control, what can you do about it? The good news is that although you can't control automatic reactions directly, you can unlink unhelpful associations. And that means that an unwanted reaction won't get started, and so won't happen. Besides, you can try the following: Begin to notice a change in how you feel about previous times when you were defeated by emotion; Develop a growing sense of confidence and optimism about how things will go in the future. What can we infer from the passage? A Arguments should be avoided. B Social activities are vital for mental health. C Automatic responses don't always make a difference. D Tears can help people handle arguments more calmly. Answer: C Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father's wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loved experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father. "Dad will be really mad if he finds out you've been playing with his new computer." Jason said, "He told us not to touch it." "He won't find out." Mark said, "I'll just have a quick look and shut it down." Mark had been scolded before for touching his father's equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him. It was a strange-looking machine -one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. "It's an experimental model," his father had explained, "so don't touch it under any circumstances." But his warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into color1s, shifting and changing and then two big white words appeared in the center of the screen: "SPACE TRANSPORTER." "Yes!" Mark cried excitedly, "It's a computer game. I knew it! Dad's only been pretending to work. He's really been playing games instead." A new message appeared on the screen: ENTER NAMES VOYAGER 1: ... VOYAGER 2: ... Mark's fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names. INPUT ACCEPTED. START TRANSPORT PROGRAM. AUTO-RETRIEVE INITIATED The screen turned even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume. "I think we'd better shut it off, Mark," Jason yelled, reaching for the power switch. He was really frightened. But his hand never reached the switch. A single beam of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow , until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed. TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL. DESTINATION: MARS. RETRIEVE DATE: 2025. Why did Mark touch the computer against his father's warning? A He wanted to take a voyage. B He wanted to practice his skill. C He was so much attracted by it. D He was eager to do an experiment. Answer: C What do all mammals have in common that distinguishes them from birds? A eyes B fur C a brain D a heart Answer: B
My heart sank when the man at the immigration counter gestured to the back room. I was born and raised in America, and this was Miami, where I live, but they weren't quite ready to let me in yet. "Please wait in here, Ms. Abujaber," the immigration officer said. My husband, with his very American last name, accompanied me. He was getting used to this. The same thing had happened recently in Canada when I'd flown to Montreal to speak at a book event. That time they held me for 45 minutes. Today we were returning from a literary festival in Jamaica, and I was shocked that I was being sent "in back" once again. The officer behind the counter called me up and said, "Miss, your name looks like the name of someone who's on our wanted list. We're going to have to check you out with Washington." "How long will it take?" "Hard to say...a few minutes," he said, "We'll call you when we're ready for you." After an hour, Washington still hadn't decided anything about me. "Isn't this computerized?" I asked at the counter, "Can't you just look me up?" "Just a few more minutes," they assured me. After an hour and a half, I pulled my cell phone out to call the friends I was supposed to meet that evening. An officer rushed over. "No phones!" he said, "For all we know you could be calling a terrorist cell and giving them information." "I'm just a university professor," I said. My voice came out in a squeak. "Of course you are. And we take people like you out of here in leg irons every day." I put my phone away. My husband and I were getting hungry and tired. Whole families had been brought into the waiting room, and the place was packed with excitable children, exhausted parents, and even a flight attendant. I wanted to scream, to jump on a chair and shout: "I'm an American citizen; a novelist; I probably teach English literature to your children." After two hours in detention , I was approached by one of the officers. "You're free to go," he said. No explanation or apologies. For a moment, neither of us moved. We were still in shock. Then we leaped to our feet. "Oh, one more thing," he handed me a tattered photocopy with an address on it, "If you aren't happy with your treatment, you can write to this agency." "Will they respond?" I asked. "I don't know--I don't know of anyone who's ever written to them before." Then he added," By the way, this will probably keep happening each time you travel internationally." "What can I do to keep it from happening again?" He smiled the empty smile we'd seen all day, "Absolutely nothing." After telling several friends about our ordeal, probably the most frequent advice I've heard in response is to change my name. Twenty years ago, my own graduate school writing professor advised me to write under a pen name so that publishers wouldn't stick me in what he called "the ethnic ghetto"--a separate, secondary shelf in the bookstore. But a name is an integral part of anyone's personal and professional identity--just like the town you're born in and the place where you're raised. Like my father, I'll keep the name, but my airport experience has given me a whole new perspective on what diversity and tolerance are supposed to mean. I had no idea that being an American would ever be this hard. Her experiences indicate that there still exists _ in the US. A hatred B discrimination C tolerance D diversity Answer: B I cheated on a unit test in math class this morning during second period with Mr. Burke. Afterward, I was too sick to eat lunch just thinking about it. I came straight home from school, went to my room, and lay on the floor trying to decide whether it would be better to run away from home now or after supper. Mostly I wished I was dead. Yesterday Mr. Burke announced there'd be a unit test and anyone who didn't pass would have to come to school on Saturday, most particularly me, since I didn't pass the last unit test. I did plan to study just to prove to him that I'm plenty smart--which I am mostly--except in math. Anyway, I got my desk ready to study on . Just when I was ready to work, Nicho came into my room with our new rabbit and it jumped on my desk and knocked the flashcards all over the floor. What a mess! Nicho and I finally took the rabbit outside but then Philip came to my room and also Marty from next door and before long it was dinner. After dinner my father said I could watch a special on television if I'd done all my homework. Of course I said I had. That was the beginning. I felt terrible telling my father a lie about the homework. It was nine o'clock when I got up to my room and that was too late to study for the unit test so I lay in my bed with the light off and decided what I would do the next day when I was in Mr. Burke's math class not knowing the 8- and 9-times tables. So, you see, the cheating was planned after all. The next day, I'd go into class as usual, acting like things were going just great. I'd sit down next to Stanley Plummer--he is so smart in math it makes you sick--and from time to time, I'd glance over at his paper to copy the answers. Lying on the floor of my room, I begin to think that probably I've been bad all along. It just took this math test to clinch it. I'll probably never tell the truth again. I tell my mother I'm sick when she calls me to come down for dinner. She doesn't believe me, but puts me to bed anyhow. I lie there in the early winter darkness wondering what terrible thing I'll be doing next when my father comes in and sits down on my bed. "What's the matter?" he asks. "I've got a stomachache," I say. Luckily, it's too dark to see his face. "Is that all?" "Yeah." "Mommy says you've been in your room since school." "I was sick there too," I say. "She thinks something happened today and you're upset." That's the thing that really drives me crazy about my mother. She knows things sitting inside my head the same as if I was turned inside out. "Well," my father says. I can tell he doesn't believe me. "My stomach is feeling sort of upset." I hedge. "Okay," he says and he pats my leg and gets up. Just as he shuts the door to my room I call out to him in a voice I don't even recognize as my own. "How come?" he calls back not surprised or anything. So I tell him I cheated on this math test. To tell the truth, I'm pretty much surprised at myself. I didn't plan to tell him anything. He doesn't say anything at first and that just about kills me. I'd be fine if he'd spank me or something. And then he says I'll have to call Mr. Burke. It's not what I had in mind. "Now?" I ask surprised. "Now," he says. He turns on the light and pulls off my covers. "I'm not going to," I say. But I do it. I call Mr. Burke, and I tell him exactly what happened, even that I decided to cheat the night before the test. He says I'll come on Saturday to take another test, which is okay with me, and I thank him a whole lot for being understanding and all. "Today I thought I was turning into a criminal," I tell my father when he turns out my light. Sometimes my father kisses me good night and sometimes he doesn't. I never know. But tonight he does. The author's father kissed the author good night because _ -. A he had done something unusual B he promised to study math harder C he was willing to take a make-up test D he realized his mistake and had the courage to admit it Answer: D Some people were killed when a huge explosion hit an industrial area of China, injuring hundreds of people. The explosion is believed to have come from a shipment of explosive inside a warehouse at about 11:30 pm local time (5:30pm in Britain) in the north-eastern city of Tianjin. Videos of the accident showed fires lighting up the night sky, raising dust dozens of feet into the air, and people nearby said the explosion had broken windows. Tianjin resident Zhang Siyu, who lives several miles away from the accident site, said, "I thought it was an earthquake, so I rushed downstairs without my shoes on. Only once I was outside did I realize it was an explosion. There was the huge fireball in the sky with thick clouds. Everybody could see it." Post on Chinese social network Weibo showed a fireball shooting into the air and as least two separate explosions, while photos showed people in the street apparently covered in blood. Others image showed children being carried in blankets to safety. It was reported that the two explosions happened within 30 seconds of each other and about 100 fire trucks were sent to the scene, with most of the injuries caused by broken glass and stones. The firm running the warehouse was named by local media as Ruihai Logistics. The company says on its website that it was set up in 2011. It says it handles one million tons of cargos per year. The National Earthquake Bureau reported two major explosion before midnight local time---the first with an amount of 3 tons of TNT , and the second with an amount of 21 tons. Six thousand firefighters brought the terrible fire under control, although it was still buring . It was reported that the firefighters were combing the neighborhood for the possible injured. What did Zhang Siyu do first when hearing the explosion? A He recorded videos of the big accident. B He posted what he saw online as soon as possible. C He called the firefighters when he went out. D He ran downstairs as soon as possible. Answer: D I am the mother of a five-year-old girl now, but I'll never forget some of the best lessons my mother taught me. Lesson 1---Always be there for your child I can't tell you the last time my parents missed a big event in my life; it never happened. Whether it was a play, or even just a practice---my parents were always there for me. As an only child, they _ everything in my life. Lesson2---Hide in the bathroom For years I wondered why my mother had made the bathroom her own personal library and would stay there forever. Now I know it's the only place for her to have at least two minutes of peace and quiet. Well, I try to, but that's quite difficult with two cats, a dog, a kid, a husband and only one bathroom. Lesson3---Get involved I was lucky in having parents who let me do anything they think was good. Now today, I am fond of being active and involved. Whether it is a sports game or a volunteering group, or just playing with my daughter, I love to be involved. Lesson4---It's OK to fail My parents weren't perfect and that was OK. I know I'm not perfect and I hope my daughter knows that's OK. Families love one another no matter what happens. If you fail, you learn from the mistakes and keep right on going. Parents are so important to a child's growth and development and I'm so glad that I had great parents to follow. What can we learn from this passage? A The writer hardly follow her parents now. B The writer has raised two dogs, a cat and a kid. C Getting involved leads to the writer's active life. D The writer's mom likes reading in the bathroom. Answer: C If a fuel is a biofuel, it may be A water B corn C sunlight D oil Answer: B
Why should you tour Spain with SpainExchange? We design and personalize your tour to fit your desires and needs. We are Spain insiders: we are located in Spain and we know the country. You get the tour you want. You do not have to follow a schedule, but we encourage you to make your own with our help. If you have a few cities in Spain that you want to visit or a specific theme for your tour that needs some fine-tuning , we can do it for you. On the contrary, if you are not sure what's here and need some extra help, we can help you. We can assist you in developing the tour that fits you and your students. You get more for your money. Yes, it may cost you the same price as with the other companies--usually less--but you will receive more in return. With any other company you will be mixed with other groups. With SpainExchange, your tour is for yourself and your students only: your group alone will be in your bus; your students will be housed in double rooms; they will have 2 paid meals per day, and your entrance fees will be on us. Your students will have an educational experience they'll never forget. The students will learn about world history, not just Spanish history, art history, archeology, Spanish culture, and much more. Many students have "fallen in love" with Spain and make plans for future studies here. And teachers are amazed at how much Spain has to offer. As one teacher said, "I can't wait to come back and see the rest." Only a professional Spain insider that is flexible to design the tour that fits your group can provide all that for you. Just tell us what you want and enjoy the ride. What is the advantage of SpainExchange over other touring companies? A It is designed for your personalized needs. B It is much cheaper than the tours from other companies. C It is organized by a Spanish-speaking agency. D It offers double rooms and 2 paid meals per day. Answer: A The core of Earth is divided into two layers. The outer core is made of A basaltic rocks. B silicate rocks. C solid iron and nickel. D molten iron and nickel. Answer: D I told my friend Graham that I often cycle the two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, "You mean fortunately." He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided. My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to grumble as I approached it but now I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally as I wend my way up the incline I console myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smug smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill. Problems are there to be faced and overcome. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a University degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved." One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards _ . From time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own. Whilst we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it. The biographies of great people are littered with examples of how they took these kinds of steps to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become defeatist or depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage? A Attitude makes difference B Well begun is half done. C The early bird gets the worm. D Easier said than done. Answer: A Which animals are most likely to carry the seeds found in berries from the parent plant to another area? A bees B birds C flies D caterpillars Answer: B It was a Friday. As usual, the office became busier and busier. Orders to buy and sell came and went like birds. It was in the stock market, the world of money that Mr.Robert,the stockbroker, worked faster and faster. There was no room in it for the world of human feelings or the world of nature. Near lunchtime, everything quieted down.Mr.Robert stood by his desk with his hands full of letters. Suddenly through the open window came a smell of flowers,like the thin breath of spring.Mr.Robert stood still. This was Miss Angelia's smell, her own and only hers.The world of the stock market disappeared. And Miss Angelia was in the next room--only twenty steps away. "I'll do it now," said Mr.Robert softly. "I'll ask her now.Why didn't I do it long ago?" He ran into her office. She looked up at him with a smile. Her face turned a soft pink. "Miss Angelia,"he said, hurriedly, "I only have a moment to talk.I want to say something important to you,Will you be my wife?I haven't had time to show you, but I really do love you." "Why ...what are you talking about?" cried the young lady.She stood up and looked at him strangely. "Don't you understand?" Mr. Robert asked quickly. "I want you to marry me now." Miss Angelia acted very strangely. At first she seemed surprised. Then she began to cry. But then she smiled through her tears like the sun through rain. She put her arms around his neck. "But don't you remember, darling?" she said ."We were married yesterday evening at 8:00, in the little church around the corner." What can be inferred from the end of the story? A Miss Angelia felt happy in her heart. B Mr.Robert always acted strangely C Miss Angelia was angry at his words D Mr.Robert pretended to marry her actually Answer: A
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That saying holds true not only for you and me, but also for some of the most powerful and influential people in the world, such as the presidents of the United States. But how do American presidents spend their vacation time? Let's take a look! Franklin D. Roosevelt, considered one of the greatest presidents in American history, had limited vacation options because of his polio . He began visiting Warm Springs, Georgia in 1924 for its curative waters and later built a 2,000 acre polio treatment center nearby. He liked to cruise the Potomacon his yacht and three times as president returned to his beloved Canadian island of Campobello, with which he fell in love as a kid. Former President Bill Clinton, however, was never much good at vacationing. His staff had to practically force him to go on vacation his first year in office; his idea of relaxing was reading four good books simultaneously while enjoying a cigar (chewed, not smoked). He could also lose himself in a game of golf, where his somewhat flexible interpretation of the rules could at times drive his partners crazy. Obama's predecessor also knows how to relax. Fishing is in the Bush family DNA: for blue sharks off the coast of Maine or anything with fins, almost anywhere else. George W. Bush also relaxed as president by jogging and clearing brush on his Texas ranch. Since leaving office, he has become an active mountain biker and, more recently, has taken up painting. Obama tends to take a winter break in Hawaii, where he was born and raised, and a summer vacation in Martha's Vineyard, off the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In between, he plays basketball every couple of weeks and has been known to do some skeet shooting at Camp David. Obama's favorite pastime, no matter the location, has become easy to spot: golf. What's the main reason for Franklin choose to spend his holidays in the spring or on his yacht? A Personal interests. B Physical disability. C Tidal current. D Official arrangement. Answer: B Today is fine.The sky is blue.Now it'snine o'clock in the morning.There's a sports meeting in the forest on the big mountain. Look,a horse,a panda and a cat are running.Over there a dog and two tigers are jumping.Two monkeys are climbing the trees.Four birds are flying around and singing. There's some other animals there, too.The elephants are standing.A monkey in sitting on an old elephant.The monkey has a flay in his hand.polly is sitting in the tree.A fox, ababy panda and some small animals are sitting under the tree.They are all watching. What colour is the sky today?It's _ . A white B blue C Black D yellow Answer: B Mr. Smith is thirty one .He is tall and heavy , and he has short hair . He likes children and his job .He works at school and gives the children classes from Monday to Friday .He often has much work to do , but he often plays games with his students after school .All his students like him very much .On Sunday he drives to his parents' house and stays with his father and mother .Sometimes he goes to see his friends on Sundays .He drives back to school on Monday morning . Mr. Smith is a _ . A driver B reporter C teacher D doctor Answer: C Can eating a chocolate bar every day really prevent age-related memory loss? No. But a new research shows that large amounts of flavones, substances found in cocoa, tea and some kinds of vegetables, may improve age-related memory failure. Dr. Scott Small is a professor of neurology at Columbia University in new York City He is the lead writer of a research paper describing the effects of cocoa flavones on brain activity His study involved 37 volunteers aged between 50 and 69. Researchers gave them a high-level flavones drink made from cocoa beans or a low-level flavones drink. For a period of three months, some subjects got 900 milligrams of flavones a day. The others got 10 milligrams of flavones each day. Brain imaging and memory tests were given to each study subject before and after the study Dr. Small says that the subjects who had the high-level flavones drink showed much improvement on memorytests. The researchers warn that more work is needed to be done because this study was performed only on a small group. Dr. Joann Manson is the lead researcher of a four .year study involving 18,000 adults. This study will use flavones capsules The study subjects will be divided into two groups and will take two pills per day. The capsules used will all Look the same. But one group's capsules will contain flavones, while the other group will take capsules made of an inactive substance, or placebo Dr. Manson says it's not necessary for people to start eating more chocolate, because 3 person would have to eat a huge amount of chocolate to get the same level of flavones given to the Lest subjects. He adds many manufacturers have planned to remove the flavones from their chocolate products. Similarity, Dr. says a cocoa-based flavones extract may be developed in the future But he says that more studies are needed to see how much flavones is good for our health What's the similarity of the 2 experiments? A Both use high-level flavones capsules B The number of the subjects is the same C Drinks and placebos are used in both experiments D The subjects are divided into two groups in both experiments Answer: D Once there were two brothers. They were very good to each other. They were half brothers because the elder brother's mother was dead, and then his father married again. The stepmother was not kind to the elder brother, but the younger brother loved him and often helped him. One day, the mother gave each of the brothers a box of seeds and enough food for a few days. She said to them, "Take them. Go and plant them. One of you must plant them on the east hill, and the other on the west hill. Don't come back if the seeds don't come out. " The mother gave very bad seeds to the elder brother, but the two brothers didn't know this, and set out the next morning. When they came to a bridge, they sat down to rest. After that, they got up to say good-bye to each other, but they took the wrong boxes of seeds! Ten days later, the elder brother's seeds began to grow and he came back. But the younger brother did not return home because his seeds didn't grow. At last, he died on the hill. ,. (10) The story tells us that _ . A one mustn't do bad things B one mustn't take the wrong box C one must help others D one must use good seeds Answer: A
Everyone has worries. How do you deal with your worries? There is always something you can do to help yourself feel less worried. Sitting there worrying is no fun and it won't solve your problems. Grades at school are often a top worry for kids, If you worry most about grades, ask yourself these questions: * Why are grades important? What do grades mean to me? * How do I get ready for class? Do I go over my notes even when there isn't a test? * Do I have a good place to do my homework? * Have I tried different ways of studying? If your worry is about a fight you had with your friend, you might write down ail the things you could do-write a note to him or her, invite him or her to watch a basketball game, say sorry to him or her and so on. Once you have a list of things you could do, you can choose one thing that could get your friend back. You can ask for help when you're worried. You can find someone to talk to, such as your parents, friends, and teachers, According to the passage, when you're worried, you'd better _ . Answer: Scott Alan woke up very early that morning in his bedroom in his house. He felt something licking his face and he wasn't sure what it was. As he opened his green eyes slowly, he saw a bit of fur. Then he saw a tongue. After that, some more fur and then slurp! He was licked again! "Oh, Boscoe!" the little boy said with joy as he kissed his furry little brown dog. The dog had been Scott's friend for as long as could remember. They went on many adventures together. The two of them really never left each other's side and Scott woke up many times this way. One of the most memorable adventures that Scott and Boscoe had happened when Scott was 12. Scott wanted to have a little fun. He also wanted to adventure with Boscoe. Scott had got done eating breakfast and wanted to ride his bicycle. Boscoe was walking and Scott was riding his bicycle down by the park very close to the river near Scott's house. He wanted to do a little adventuring. Boscoe was walking next to the shore and started barking his head off! Scott wasn't sure what he was barking at, so he got off his bicycle and ran down into the river to see what all the noise was about. All of the sudden, Boscoe fell in the water and was taken down stream with the fast water. Scott yelled, "Boscoe!" and he was off. He jumped into the water and began swimming after Boscoe. Boscoe's little legs were doggy paddling as fast as they could, but had no hope! Finally, Scott caught up to him, but he couldn't get back to the side of the river! As Scott was thinking this was the last of him and Boscoe, a large stick from a fallen log was well in reach and Scott grabbed it and using all of this might, he pulled him and Boscoe out of the river. "Boy, was that close!" Scott yelled out loud! That was the best adventure ever! Why did Scott want to go by the river? Answer: Living with other students can be a wonderful experience. Here are a few tips for student accommodations that can help ensure a great experience and build lifelong friendships: Screen your roommates carefully if you are given a choice. Combining the living spaces of several students into one location can be exciting and rewarding experience for the outgoing students. If you are on the shy side, or prefer a quiet group to study with, pick quieter roommates. Divide the bills evenly. Some students are far less responsible than their roommates and tend to let their part of the finance slide. Dissatisfaction is quick to build when everyone has to pay the bill for a fellow student who can't seem to pay his/her share of the money. Carry your part of the load. Everyone has to clean the bathroom and the kitchen sometime. Don't avoid your part of responsibility. Student accommodations can get messy and it involves everyone to keep them tidy and healthy. Think about someone else before you think about yourself. Put your roommates interests above your own. Life will be far enjoyable when everyone is concerned about the feelings property and studies of each other. Be open and honest. Hostilities and frustrations may cause problems that can't be fixed. Everyone brings different standards and expectations to group living and it's in everyone's best interest to put them into the open. Disagreements can be managed more warmly when your are willing to be both open and listen to others. When it comes to the bills, every member is advised to _ . Answer: Domestic horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry police. But early horses weren't tame enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today. Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication. As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals' genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of houses would show more of these chosen characteristics. Modern day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn't exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds--typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads. The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horse were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distance in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new from of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show _ . Answer: Look carefully at the back of a California state quarter.A man with a walking stick is pictured there.A bird called a California condor is flying overhead. Who is this man,and why is he so important that he is featured on the back of a coin? The man on this quarter is John Muir.Even as a child, Muir loved watching nature. As a young man,he spent much of his life exploring the beauty of the wilderness.He walked more than a thousand miles across the country,through fields and woods.John Muir liked writing about the places he visited,describing their beauty. Muir also wrote about problems.In order to create more farmland for sheep and cattle, rnany trees were being cut down.This made Muir unhappy and worried,because he knew that trees were important to forests and to the animals that lived in them.Muir believed that nature should be conserved instead of being changed by human beings.He wrote articles in magazines and newspapers to spread the word about conserving forests.Soon,others began to listen. Muir wrote letters to important people,such as President Theodore Roosevelt.The president admired Muir's love for nature.When Roosevelt came to visit Muir in California. Muir convinced the president to go camping with him for three nights under the trees so they could talk about conservation.Later,President Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of land for national forests and established five national parks.National parks are large areas of land that are protected from development. This means that people cannot build homes or businesses there. One of these parks is Yosemite National Park,the area that is featured on the back of the California quarter. Though it has been almost one hundred years since John Muir died,people continue his work today.His work as a conservationist helped us to see the beauty of our natural world.John Muir made us understand the importance of protecting our earth and our resources---then,now,and for the future. What is the writer's purpose of writing this article? Answer:
COLUMBUS, Ohio--The heart operation taking place in the pale-green operating room at the Ohio State University Medical Center was unusual. The patient, a 62-year-old man, was made to sleep, tied with blue drapes and lying face up on a narrow table. But no one was touching him. Instead, the operation was being performed by a robot, whose three metal arms went through pencil-sized holes in the man's chest. At the ends of the robot's arms were tiny metal fingers, with turning wrists, which held a tiny instrument, a light and a camera. The robot's arms and fingers were controlled by Dr. Randall K. Wolf, sitting at a computer in a corner of the operating room about 20 feet away. This sort of operation, heart surgeons say, is the start of what may be the biggest change in their profession since heart bypass surgery began nearly 30 years ago. "The reason we make cuts is that we have big hands," said Dr. Wolf, the director of the surgery at Ohio State. The robot's _ fingers, no longer than a nail on the small finger, at the end of the long sticks could work better. Eventually, surgeons believe, most heart surgery will be done by robots whose arms are put in through pencil-sized holes punched in patients' chests. Instead of directly staring into a patient's body, surgeons will view magnified images of the operation on computer screens. In theory, the doctor would not have to be in the same room, or even the same country, as the patient. Based on the information in this passage, all of the following conclusions are true EXCEPT _ . A Robot surgery is being developed at Ohio State B Robot surgery will be used on many patients in the near future C All doctors at Ohio Sate develop new surgical techniques D Many hospitals will eventually offer robot surgery to patients Answer: C. All doctors at Ohio Sate develop new surgical techniques Japanese couples, too busy for a normal social life, are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives. Several agencies have sprung up offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals.The first guest-for-hire company was established about nine years ago and around 10 agencies now send out dozens of pretend friends to family events. Agencies such as Hagemashi Tai, which means "I want to cheer you up", charge around PS100 for each "guest". Other services such as giving a speech in praise of a bride or the groom cost extra. The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan.With lifetime employment a thing of the past, couples feel uncomfortable about inviting work colleagues to their wedding.Increasingly busy and put upon, many Japanese surround themselves with only a very small circle of friends. When they marry, however, they are under pressure to match the number of their new partner's wedding guests. Office Agents, the largest provider of pretend friends, makes sure that its employees have done their homework and know all about the bride or groom before the wedding. Hiroshi Mizutani, the company's founder, said the fake friends he provides must look happy, be well dressed and look like people with good jobs. Pretend friends will be present at the following occasions except _ . A weddings B funerals C work D family gathering Answer: C. work "Now stretch over your right leg!" my dance teacher yells over the music. "If it doesn't hurt, you're not trying hard enough. Hold that stretch for 30 seconds!" My dance teacher works hard to form us into the dancers we desire to be. In order for this to occur, we stretch hard a lot! Dancing is a real passion of many people, including me. I work hard to make myself better, and prove that I am good enough. Performing a dance routine is more than just a performance. Dancers tell stories when they dance. It is a way for us to express our personal feelings. Just letting go and letting your body move with the music can create your emotions. Dance tells us things that our mind secretly hides. "Get up and do it again! You need to keep your spirits up!" Even though I am completely worn out after my dances, I love to hear those words. It gives me a sense of relief knowing that I can again express my feelings out on the floor. "Practice makes perfect! Come on. We have a competition this weekend, and we need to work harder!" Competitions are the best possible example of fun. For a dancer, life cannot get better than competitions. The thrill of losing yourself onstage is a rush of energy rushing through your body! The feeling is unexplainable. As you sit there putting on your makeup, fixing your hair, and putting on your costume, the rush just gradually grows until it is ready to be released onstage. Finally the time comes to tell your story. Standing backstage waiting for your name to be called is one of the scariest moments. You are ready to show the world what you are capable of and what you have been perfecting for a while. Once your number is called, you walk out onstage. The applause at the end tells each dancer that their story has been received, and that the dance has been brought to life. What does the author's dance teacher require her to do during the dance class? A Build up her confidence. B . Keep encouraged and cheerful. C Train her body to the fullest. D Understand the music. Answer: C. Train her body to the fullest. There is a big zoo in our city. There are lots of different animals in it. There are some scary tigers and lions. They like eating meat and they eat much meat every day. There are also two big elephants and a baby one. Children like to ride them. The elephants are very kind and friendly. They eat much grass and bananas. In the zoo, we can also see different kinds of bears----brown bears, black bears and white bears. They are all slow and clumsy. They stand on their back legs and lift their front legs to ask for food. They like cakes very much. Do you like pandas? There's only one in the zoo. Her name is Lingling, she is very cute. She likes eating bamboo a lot. She is kind of shy. She is very interesting and lovely. Which of the following is Not true ? A Children like to ride the elephants in the zoo. B The elephants are very friendly to people. C The bears always ask for food with their back legs. D Lions and tigers are scary. Answer: C. The bears always ask for food with their back legs. Men have always believed that they are smarter than women. Now, a study has found that while this is certainly true, men also have to deal with the fact that they are also more stupid than the fairer sex. In the study, scientists measured the IQ of 2500 brothers and sisters and they found an uneven number of men not only in the top two percent, but also in the bottom two percent. The study's participants were tested on science, maths, English and mechanical abilities. Though there were twice as many men as women in the smartest group, there were also twice as many men among the bottom. The aggregate scores of men and women were similar. One of the study's authors, psychology professor Timothy Bates, said that the phenomenon may be because men have always been expected to be high achievers and women have been restricted to spend more time taking care of their homes. "The female developmental program may be tilted more towards ensuring survival and the safety of the middle ground.," the Daily Mail quoted Professor Bates, of Edinburgh University, as saying. The research _ past results that men were more likely than women to receive first class University degrees or thirds and women secured the seconds. It has been said that men are more ready to take risk when it comes to academics. Women have always found to be steadier in their learning. A past study has shown that women are securing more firsts and seconds, while men are continuing to receive more thirds. The argument for the change is that the increase of coursework at the cost of exams favors women's steady approach. The purpose of the passage is to tell us that _ . A man are smarter then women B man are more stupid the women C a new fact about the IQ of men and women has been found D men are more likely to receive first class university degrees Answer: C. a new fact about the IQ of men and women has been found
There are three branches of medicine. One is called "doctor medicine" or "scientific medicine". Scientific doctors try to observe sickness, look for logical pattern, and then find out how the human body works. From there they figure out what treatments may work. This kind of medicine is believed to date from the 4thcentury BC. Although nowadays it is successful, in the ancient this approach probably did not cure many patients. The second kind of medicine is called "natural cures" or "folk medicine", in which less educated people try to cure sickness with various herbs. These folk healers also use observation and logic, but they are not so aware of it. They try things until they find something that seems to work, and then they keep doing that. Folk medicine flourished long before the development of scientific medicine and was more successful in ancient times. The third kind is called "health spas" or "faith healing". Sometimes this may be as simple as touching the holy man and being immediately healed. Other times, a magician may make you a magic charm, or say a spell , to cure you. Some religious groups organize healing shrines for the sick. In these places people rest, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy food, drink water instead of wine, and exercise in various ways. They also talk to the priests and pray to the gods. If you are feeling depressed or you have been working too hard, going to these places may be just the right thing to make you feel better. The author's primary purpose in this passage is to _ . A. show the important role religion plays in medical treatments B. argue for the importance of medicine in health care C. describe different types of medicine D. compare the educational background of three different types of patients Answer: C On the way to school, a school bus driver stops the bus in front of a washroom and then he goes in. But the bus doesn't stop. After the driver gets off, the bus begins to run down the road, and there are 27 students on the bus. Luckily ,the 11-year-old student, David, goes to the driver's seat and begins to drive the school bus. He can't stop the bus, but he drives the bus away from a car. At last, he stops the bus near a shop and everyone is all right. A woman worker in the shop sees the whole thing. She says the bus nearly runs into a river. We do not know how the boy stops the car. David is very quiet about the accident , but he is a hero. "If he doesn't drive the bus, all the students will go down into the river with the bus." says a teacher in the school. Who helps to drive the bus after the driver gets off it? A. A student. B. A teacher. C. A policeman. D. A parent. Answer: A Which process does the slate that comes from shale come from? A. height B. compression C. gravity D. steel Answer: B China has a long tradition of respecting education. But its present education is not that respectable. According to the Hurun Report, which conducted one-on-one interviews with 980 wealthy Chinese people with net assets of more than 60 million yuan ($9.5 million) in 18 mainland cities from May to September, about 14 percent of them said they had either already moved overseas or had applied to do so, and another 46 percent said they planned to emigrate within three years. All cited the higher-quality education available for their children overseas as the reason. Such a mindset has resulted in a growing number of Chinese students studying abroad. To be fair, our primary and high schools are a leader in content throughout the world. The Program for International Student Assessment last year offered a feather in the cap for our education. Participating in the program administered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, teenagers in Shanghai were far in advance of their peers from 64 countries, including the United States, in reading literacy, mathematics and science. So why does education in this country leave so many wealthy parents cold? Children in China have no say in what they learn. They normally learn by rote and are forced to study the subjects that help them in examinations for a school of a higher grade, especially the college entrance exams. Studies conducted by the China Youth and Children Research Center show that more than half of Chinese secondary school students study overtime and they don't get enough sleep. And more than 70 percent of students in primary and middle schools take after-school tutoring classes, which is considered a heavy burden on children. And this situation turns many parents into demons like "Wolf Father" Xiao Baiyou in Guangdong province, who supported his children's learning with verbal abuse and physical violence. Xiao doesn't pale in comparison to Tiger Mother Amy Chua in the United States. He is satisfied with his parenting skills, as he has sent three of his four children to Peking University, one of China's most prestigious higher learning institutions. Such ways of stimulating children to learn are certainly scary enough to make those Chinese parents with deep pockets choose a foreign school for their kids. As long as exams-oriented education continues, parents will look overseas for a better way to educate their children. Education in China is criticized in this passage for the following flaws EXCEPT _ . A. burdening children with after-school tutoring classes B. Depriving children of sleep with too much study C. forcing children to take college entrance exams D. making children learn by rote memorization Answer: C Shangri-La Hotel Singapore 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore, 258350 Singapore General * Air-condition public areas; * Ballroom(s); * Ballroom(s); * Bar; * Elevator/lift; * Gift shops or newsstand(,); * Restaurant(s) in hotel; * Number of rooms:110; * Swimming pool--outdoor; * Tennis on site; * Wired(high-speed) Internet access--free Check-in time is 2PM Check-out time is Noon Pets not allowed 2 Swissotel Merchant Court---Singapore 20 Merchant Road, Singapore, 058281 Singapore General * Air-conditioned public areas; * Ballroom(s); * Bar; * Coffee shop or cafe; * Elevator/lift; * Number of floors:5; * Number of rooms: 120; * Restaurant(s)in hotel; * Swimming pool-outdoor; * Television in entrance hall Check-in time is 3PM Check-out time is Noon Pets not allowed 3 Royal Plaza On Scotts-Singapore 25 Scotts Road, Singapore, 228220 Singapore General * Air-conditioned public areas; Ballroom(s); Bar/lounge; * Elevator/lift; * Gift shops or newsstand; * Number of floors: 6; * Number of rooms: 160; * Restaurant(s) in hotel; * Smoke-free property ; * Swimming pool--outdoor; Check-in time is 2PM Check-out time is Noon Pets not allowed 4 Rendezvous Singapore--Singapore 9 Bras Basah Road, Marina Bay, 189559 Singapore General * Air-conditioned public areas; * Ballroom(s); * Bar/lounge; * Coffee shop or cafe; * Elevator/lift; * Number of floors: 6; * Number of rooms: 150; * Restaurant(s) in hotel; * Swimming pool--children's; * Swimming pool--outdoor; Check-in time is 2PM Check-out time is Noon Pets not allowed 5 Landmark Village Hotel - Singapore 390 Victoria Street, Singapore, 188061 Singapore General Air-conditioned public areas; * Ballroom(s); * Bar; * Coffee shop or cafe; * Elevator/lift; * Number of floors: 6; * Number of rooms: 156; * Restaurant(s) in hotel; * Swimming pool--outdoor; Check-in time is 2PM Check-out time is Noon Pets not allowed The passage in written to _ . A. Persuade you to travel to Singapore. B. Introduce hotel in Singapore attract. C. Attract businessmen from around the world. D. Make you enjoy your trip. Answer: B
On Saturday, February 12 two thousand, two things happened that changed everything in my life. The first was that on this day my baby sister was married. She was twenty-six this day, and yet to me she was still my baby sister. I suppose that I pictured her as a little girl, and treated her like one in order to hold onto and preserve my own youth. Until I saw her in her wedding dress I still had a vision of her with chubby little cheeks and long, dark-brown pigtails blowing in the wind, perhaps even a permanent smudge of chocolate around her pink lips. I guess it's true that you see only what you want to see. Where did this beautiful woman with the glowing complexion and gentle curves come from? I was happy that day, and also sad. Gone were the days of me bossingher around and telling her what she should do with her life. My bossy behavior had earned me the nickname Lucy. If you are a Peanuts fan then you can clearly imagine my behavior as an older sister. To me it wasn't an insult; I rather like the nickname Lucy. I happen to think that Lucy is strong and has incredible self-confidence, although she is a little overbearing at times. I did my best to live up to the standards set forth by this dynamic cartoon character. I left the reception to get some air because suddenly I was overcome with grief at the realization that I was no longer a child. I went outside and walked to a nearby playground where there were children playing on the slide, the swings and digging in the dirt. There was a little girl twirlingaround on a bar, one knee wrapped tightly around the bar and fashioned behind her knee. It was all I could do to sit there and just watch, for I too wanted to get on that bar with her and see if I could still hold the all-timetwirlingrecord (ninety-nine times in fifth grade). Somewhere inside I knew that I would break my neck, and I was wearing abridesmaiddress. Not exactly playground material. And so I sat watching the children play. I'm not sure how long I sat there before my sister came and joined me. We talked about how we are grown up now and shed a few tears for our childhood days gone by. As she wiped a tear from my eye she lovingly said, "you'll always be Lucy to me." We hugged. My cousin Mike walked over and told my sister that it was time to cut the cake. And then he dropped bomb number two on me. "Hey, did you guys hear that Charles Schultz died today?" He said it like it was no big deal. He took my sister's arm and turned to head back for the reception hall. "Coming?" They asked. "In a minute." I replied, and sat back down on the bench, dizzy from what he had just told me. Dead? How could Charles Schultz be dead? He was my creator! And though I have never met the man personally, he has always been like an invisible father to me. He did, after all, fashion a famous character after me. I lost so many things on this day. Innocence slipped away from me like a thief in the night: come and gone before I could do anything about it, taking with it all the treasures that I held most valuable in my heart. I felt myself grow up, all in one moment. Reality rushed in around me like a hurricanetide. There was nowhere to run to. All I could do was sit there and watch it destroy and reshape what had existed only a moment before. I was no longer a child. I was no longer Lucy who knew what was best for everyone else. I saw, for the first time, what I really was--a thirty-year old woman with a husband of my own, and soon, a child of my own. I allowed the tide to carry my sadness out with it. Take it out to sea, for it serves no purpose in my life. I stood up from the bench; a little taller than I was when I sat down. I turned and headed back to the hall, hoping I didn't miss the cutting of the cake. It was the day my sister grew wings of her own and left the nest. _ What can you infer from the passage? A The author's cousin Tom was sad about the death of Charles Schultz. B The author lost many things on that day. C The author had a husband and a child of her own. D Charles Schultz had a great influence on the author's life. Answer: D. Charles Schultz had a great influence on the author's life. Today, we send millions of Christmas cards every year. But in fact the Christmas card is a ly modern invention. In the Middle Ages, European wood engravers produced prints with religious themes. But the first real Christmas card, as we understand the term today, was designed in London, England in 1840. It went on sale in 1843. The designer was John Callott Horsley, a well- known British painter and member of the Royal Academy. He designed the card at the suggestion of his friend Sir Henry Cole, who was the first director of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Horsley produced 1,000 cards and offered them for sale at 1s (one shilling) each. They were printed on stiff card and coloured by hand, with the greeting: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You". The card shows three pictures: in the center, a family party; to one side the hungry receiving food; to the other side the poor being clothed. Puritans immediately _ the card, since it showed people drinking in the family party. But with most people the idea was a great success and the Christmas card quickly became very popular. Christmas cards were not the first greetings cards. Since 1796, with improvements in printing, merchants had been sending cards to their customers offering "best wishes" for the new year. In many countries, Christmas cards gradually became even more popular than New Year's cards. As Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ, cards often show scenes of His nativity. Others show images connected with Christmas such as wintry scenes of snow-laden pine, Father Christmas card is "Merry Christmas", but many other greetings are also used, such as "Happy Xmas" or "Happy Noel". The text is written to introduce to us _ . A Father Christmas and John Horsley B the greeting cards C the Christmas cards D the New Year's cards Answer: C. the Christmas cards The first day of school we were interested to get to know a new classmate.I looked around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.I found a little old lady with a warm smile. She said,"Hi ! I'm Rose.I'm 87 years old.Can I give you a hug?"I laughed and I heartily responded,"Of course!" "Why are you in college at such a young,innocent age?"I asked. She jokingly replied,"I'm here to meet a rich husband,get married,have children, and then travel around." "Not seriously,"I asked.I was curious why she took on this challenge at this age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!"she told me.We became instant friends. Over the year,Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.She loved to dress up and she enjoyed the attention from the other students. At the end of the semester,we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.Here are the secrets to staying young.You have to laugh and find humor every day.You've got to have a dream.When you lose your dreams,you die.Unfortunately we have many people like this walking around?"she said. "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.Anybody can grow older.That doesn't take any talent or ability,"she added."But growing up requires finding the opportunity in change.Have no regrets.The elederly usually don't regret what they did,but rather things they did not do." One week after graduation that year,Rose died peacefully in her sleep.She taught us by example that _ . Which of the following can be used to fill in the blank at the end of the passage? A where there is a will, there's a way B never too late to learn C Study hard and you will be young D never too late to be all you can possibly be Answer: D. never too late to be all you can possibly be Naturally ,American schoolchildren love holidays .And they get a lot of them each year .Besides having national holidays such as Thanksgiving and Presidents; Day off from school ,students get longer breaks in the US only go to school for about 180 days a year.To students ,holidays are perfect .However ,parents think there are advantages and disadvantages . On the one hand ,school holidays allow families to spend time together .Many American parents take time off from work during June,July or august to travel with their children on vacations either in the US or in a foreign country .On the other hand ,schoolchildren get much more time off school than parents get vacation for an time.This means that parents with young children may have to pay more in the babysitting or day care coats.As well ,the long summer holidays mean that students sometimes get bored. Besides going on trips with their parents ,American students enjoy taking part in different kind s of activities during the holidays .For example ,some kids enjoy summer camps and outdoor adventure holidays .Such trips are great adventurous students . _ also have a lot to offer students who aren't usually interested in traditional PE activities .ou can do courses in survival skills ,for example .Students learn how to make a camp in the forest ,which wild food they can eat and how to find their way to make a camp in the forest,which wild food they can eat and how to find their way back to the center. Students who are not excited about summer camps and outdoor adventure may take part in courses in computer game design ,film making and photography during the holidays .Finally ,the traditional school trip to foreign countries is always popular .Students can practice their foreign language skills and experience every day life in a different culture. Which of the following is true ? A Both parents and students think school holidays are perfect. B Parents can take care of their young kinds of activities C Students enjoy taking part in different kinds of activities during holidays . D Students don;t like to have school trips to foreign counties during holidays . Answer: C. Students enjoy taking part in different kinds of activities during holidays . A black and white kitten with a broken back lay on animal doctor Betsy Kennon's examination table. A regular customer had rushed him to her office after his pet dog brought the cat home in his mouth. The dog's owner was horrified, believing that his pet had caused the cat's injuries. But Kennon found no teeth marks or bite wounds, which showed that the dog had probably saved, not harmed, the kitten. In Kennon's opinion, however, the cat was a hopeless case. Many doctors would have _ such a badly hurt animal. But she couldn't be so cruel. The kitten's bright eyes and sad face had won her over. There was no way of finding his owner, so Kennon, a single woman aged 56, decided to keep him. She gave him a round of shots and fed him food mixed with medicines. He couldn't move his back legs but soon started pulling himself forward with his front legs. The doctor named him Scooter and contacted a company that makes carts for disabled animals. Scooter took to his new wheels like a natural. In no time he was able to move freely, but somewhat awkwardly, around Kennon's office, home and even her backyard. The sight of the determined Scooter was uplifting and amusing in equal measure and Kennon had to smile each time the cat entered the room. Kennon was convinced that her kitten could share his high spirits with others. So she took Scooter to the local hospital to see if he could help the patients. His first patient was an elderly woman who'd had a stroke and hadn't spoken to anyone for two days. Scooter jumped out of Kennon's arms and onto the bed, rolled over to the patient, and lay gently near her cheek, purring softly. The woman looked at Scooter. "Kitty," she murmured as she began to talk to him. Amazed, Kennon turned to the doctor --- and saw that she was in tears. The cat had engineered a small miracle. Today Scooter spends about ten hours a month working with patients who are recovering from strokes and injuries. Again and again, Kennon watches as her cat provides hope and comfort. As one patient who'd lost her leg in a car accident said, "If he can do it, so can I." How did Kennon help the cat move around? A By getting him a special cart. B By curing his broken back. C By feeding him medicines. D By exercising him in her backyard. Answer: A. By getting him a special cart.
We have dreams almost every night. Do you ever notice the colors of your dreams? Do you dream in black and white or do you dream in yellow, red and green? New research suggests that the type of television you watched as a child has a great effect on the color of your dreams. While almost all people under 25 dream in color, thousands of people over 55, all of whom were brought up with black and white TV sets, often dream in monochrome . "It suggests there could be a critical period in our childhood when watching films has a big impact on the way dreams are formed", said Eva Murzyn, a psychology student at Dundee University in Britain who carried out the study. Research from 1915 through the 1950s suggested that the vast majority of dreams are in black and white. But the tide turned in the sixties, and later results suggested that up to 83 percent of dreams contain some color. Since this period also marked the transition between black-and-white film and TV and Technicolor ,an obvious explanation was that the media had been painting people's dreams. However, there weren't any firm conclusions. But now Miss Murzyn believes she has proven the link. She made a survey of more than 60 people, half of whom were over 55 and half of whom were under 25. She asked the volunteers to answer a questionnaire on the color of their dreams and their childhood exposure to film and TV. She then analyzed her own data. Only 4.4 percent of the under-25s' dreams were black and white. The over-55s who had had access to color TV and film during their childhood also reported a very low proportion of just 7.3 percent. But the over-55s who only had access to black-and -white media reported dreaming in black and white about a quarter of the time. Even though they would have spent only a few hours a day watching TV or films, their attention and emotion would have been heightened during this time, leaving a deeper imprint on their mind, Miss Murzyn told the New Scientist. "The crucial time is between three and ten when we all begin to have the ability to dream", she said. What's the main idea of the passage? Answer: Next time a customer comes to your office, offer him a cup of coffee.And when you're doing your holiday shopping online, make sure you're holding a large glass of iced tea.The physical sensation of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a cold drink in hand prevents you from making unwise decisions--those are the practical lesson drawn from recent research by psychologist John Bargh. Psychologists have known that one person's perception of another's "warmth" powerfully determines social relationships.Judging someone to be either "warm" or "cold" is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a "cold" person may be more capable.Much of this is rooted in early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when babies' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness.Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth "mother" rather than one made of wire, even when the wire "mother" carried a food bottle.Harlow's work and later studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills. Feelings of "warmth" and "coldness" in social judgments appear to be universal.Although no worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as "warm" or "cold" is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries. To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, Bargh conducted an experiment which involved 41 college students.A research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses handed the students either a hot cup of coffee or a cold drink to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form: The drink was then handed back.After that, the students were asked to _ the personality of "Person A" based on a particular description.Those who had briefly held the warm drink regarded Person A as warmer than those who had held the iced drink. "We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly ," says Bargh. The author mentions Harlow's experiment to show that _ . Answer: In the solar system, moons orbit planets. Which of these do planets orbit? Answer: Life on-line can be a much richer experience when you aren't restricted to just written words and still pictures.Even if you're new to the Net,you've probably heard about multimedia on-line--listening to audio,watching animations and videos,even playing in three-dimensional space.Sound and movement make information come alive. To experience it,you'll need special pieces of software called plug-ins.The term "plug-in" refers to a small,add-on piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser,like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer,turning your computer into a radio or TV. When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plug-in which you don't have,you will usually receive a message asking if you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer.Most of the time,the installation will be automatic. Occasionally,you'll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or un-zipped before installation.Once installed,plug-ins run automatically,without you having to do anything. Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically. Shockwave is a good example of this.All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the ActiveX control.The rest happens automatically.The next time you go to a "Shocked" website,the Shockwave control loads and plays the movie. Most plug-ins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet,although not all will work with every system.Some of them,for instance,only work with Windows 95. Plug-ins can help us to do all of the following except _ . Answer: Dealing with a difficult roommate can be both annoying and challenging. However, by becoming aware of the context of the situation, steps can be taken in order to improve the circumstance. Identify the source of the problem. Sometimes, when someone is annoying, it is difficult to tell exactly which aspect of the situation is causing the anger. Therefore, it is important to find the one element that caused your anger to begin with. Evaluate the source of the conflict. Is the conflict _ , or is it serious ? Sometimes, people can become angry over things that seem like a big deal at the time, but when contemplated , are really unimportant. Nevertheless, before any problem is dealt with, it is necessary to determine how serious it is. Talk to the roommate about what is bothering you. Communication is very important when dealing with problems. The problems will only become worse if measures are taken without telling one another what is even wrong to begin with. Listen to the explanation that the roommate has to over. Listening is also important when dealing with conflicts. Hearing each side of the story will make it easier to arrive at a possible solution. Compromise with one another in order to form a solution. Sometimes, conflicts can be resolved simply by changing small occurrences. The main idea of the passage is _ . Answer:
You can't escape the message that smoking is bad for you. But what if one or both of your parents smoke? You might be worried about their health, sick of smelling the smoke, or even a little embarrassed by it. You can't order your mom or dad to stop smoking, but you can encourage them to quit. There are lots of good reasons. Here are some you can mention: Smoking will hurt their health. Smoking creates secondhand smoke, which you don't like. *Smoking will make it hard for them to keep up with you because they might run out of breath easily. If you think it will help, you could print out articles like this one to give it to your mom or dad. But what if your parent gets angry with you for bringing up the topic of smoking? People don't like to be reminded that they are doing something unhealthy, so it's possible that your parents will be insulted or angry, especially if they're worried they won't be able to quit. Maybe they have tried before and failed. Remember to be kind and respectful when you discuss smoking with your mom or dad. Also remember that it is difficult to quit. Some people try several times before they're able to quit for good. Instead of yelling at them, tell them that you love them and want them to enjoy many healthy years ahead. In time, your mom or dad may realize you are right about smoking .And if they do agree to stop smoking, be their biggest supporter. Ask if there's anything you can do to help them when they feel the urge to smoke .Maybe you could go for a walk, do a puzzle, or listen to music together. As they reach milestones, such as a month without smoking, be sure to celebrate the achievement. Way to go, mom! Way to go, dad! The author wrote the text for _ . Answer: sons and daughters "Can't hold a candle to" is a popular expression. It is from the time before electricity, when people used candles for light. Someone who lived in a big house would have a servant light his way by holding a candle. The expression meant that the person who cannot hold a candle to you is not fit even to be your servant. "Hold out" is an expression one hears often in sports reports and labor news. It means refusing to play or work. Professional football and baseball players hold out if their team refuses to pay them what they think they are worth. Members of labor unions hold out and refuse to work until they get the work agreement they want. The expression "hold up" has several different meanings. One is a robbery. A man with a gun may say, "This is a hold up. Give me your money." Another meaning is to delay. A driver late for work may tell his boss, "I was held up by heavy traffic." Someone who was robbed on the way to work might say, "Sorry, boss, I was held up by a hold up." Still another meaning of the expression is for a story to be considered true after an investigation. The same driver late for work could say, "My boss did not believe a hold up held me up. But the police confirmed what I said so my story held up." "Hold on" is another expression. Often it means wait or stop. As you leave for school, your brother may say, "Hold on, you forgot your book." Hold on is also used to ask a telephone caller to wait and not hang up his telephone. When talking about work, if a boss says to his assistant, "you can't hold a candle to me", he means that his assistant _ . Answer: is not efficient when doing her job This is my school. There are many trees and flowers in it. It's very beautiful. The teaching building is big and tall. There is a big playground in our school. After 4:30 in the afternoon, many students come to the playground to play football and some students play table tennis in the table tennis room. There are 1,200 students and 25 classes in our school. The students all like to study. The teachers in our school are very good. They help the students to study and the students like them, too. The school looks _ . Answer: nice What shows that crumpling is to change something from being smooth into a compacted shape by physical force? Answer: crushing a can in your hand Duncan was charged with aggravated assault. At trial Duncan did not testify; however, he sought to offer opinion evidence of his good character for truth and veracity. This testimony should be Answer: excluded, because it is evidence of a trait not pertinent to the case.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were sitting on the sand, reading their magazines. Mr. Gordon was too stingy to rent a chair. Their twelve-year-old daughter,Sandra, was playing at the water's edge. Suddenly a huge wave lifted Sandra up and carried her out to sea. Fortunately, a lifeguard was on duty and he saw the wave carry Sandra away. He ran along the beach and dived into the sea. He swam quickly to where the girl, with her head only just above the water, was shouting for help. She was very frightened. When the lifeguard reached her, she struggled with him, as drowning people often do. However, he was a skilful lifeguard and quickly took hold of her and swam with her back to the beach. By the time he reached it, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon had realized what had happened. They had run down to the water's edge. Neither of them could swim. They just stood in the shallow water, and worried about their daughter. Had the lifeguard reached her in time? Fortunately, he had. "That was quick work,young man,"Mr. Gordon said. He turned to his wife, "Give the lifeguard a dollar." "A dollar!" Sandra cried. "Dad,how can you give him a dollar! He saved my life. I was half dead." "Quite right, girl" Mr. Gordon said, pleased by his daughter's awareness of the value of money. He turned to his wife again and said, "She's right. She was only half dead. Give him fifty cents. " Why was Mr. Gordon pleased with her daughter? A She was safe again. B She was polite to the lifeguard. C He thought she did not want him to give the life-guard too much money. D She gave the lifeguard fifty cents. Answer: C For years experts have argued that poor households are consuming less nourishing food than the rest of the population. But a survey of some of the lowest earners in Britain shows the nutritional value of what they eat is little different to everyone else. In fact, the same deficiencies in diet were shared by all the population and the findings suggest that poor eating choices are far more widespread than previously suspected - affecting many wealthier families. These included low fruit and vegetable consumption, not eating enough oily fish and eating too much saturated fat and sugar. "This is a large and significant study and it shows we are all eating just as bad a diet as each other," said Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University. The poorest families were eating only slightly more sugar and slightly less fruit and vegetables, according to the study of 3,728 respondents in the bottom of the population. Alison Tedstone, head of nutritional science at the Food Standard Agency, said: " Overall, people on low incomes have less than ideal diets, but their diets are only slightly worse than those of the rest of the population." The study also showed that low earners are choosing to eat unhealthily. Their food choices were not linked to their income, their access to shops or their cooking skills. The findings appear to contradict assumptions that the poor cannot afford healthier foods or are too far away from shops that sell them. The Low Income Nutrition and Diet Survey showed that like the rest of the population, the poor's daily fruit and vegetable intake on average is below the recommended five portions. Fewer than 10 per cent of respondents hit this target, while around 20 per cent ate less than a portion per day. More than three quarters (76 per cent) of men and 81 per cent of women did less than one 30-minute session of moderate or vigorous exercise per week. Some 45 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women were smokers. This compares with 28 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women in the general population. What's the best title of the passage? A The poor's healthy problem. B Keep off junk food. C How to have a good diet. D A diet survey. Answer: D When Hurricane Phailin hit India in late 2013, it became the largest storm to strike the subcontinent in over a decade. The storm affected more than 12 million people in India and neighboring countries, and damaged or destroyed many houses. However, good news is that cleverly-designed beach house created by architect Ray Huff can survive such strong winds and storm waves. Located on the shore of an Indian island, Huff's award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane Phailin. Huff pointed out that many houses built along shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasn't strict. After Phailin's attack, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house should be able to stand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour. At first sight, Huff's house looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble "a large party lantern" at night, according to one observer. But looks can be misleading. The house's wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength. To further protect the house from hurricane damage _ Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on pilings---long columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also balance the house above storm waves. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. "These swells of water come ashore at great speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings," said Huff. Huff designed the wooden pilings to be partially hidden by the house's ground-to-roof shell. "The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn't look like it's standing with its pant legs pulled up," said Huff. In case of a storm wave, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained. The award-winning beach house is quite strong because _ . A it is made of redwood B it is in the shape of a shell C it is strengthened by steel rods D it is built with wood and stones Answer: C Do you want to work with people, animals or machines? Do you want to work indoors or outdoors, directly serve people in need or serve people behind the scenes? These are the typical questions that volunteer service agencies would ask. Every year, thousands of people in the west offer volunteer service. Volunteering greatly strengthens the community because it helps the old, the young, the weak, the sick, the disabled and the injured to overcome difficulties. Volunteers usually help in many different ways. They may give people advice, offer friendship to the young , drive the elderly to church, counsel kids against drugs, work as assistants in schools or nursing homes, raise funds, plant trees, help out in local libraries and do many other things. Volunteering can be a few hours a week or a few hours a month. Anybody who wants to serve people in need can become a volunteer. The art of volunteering is a process of both giving and receiving. Volunteering allows volunteers to meet new people, make new friends and mix with people from all walks of life. Volunteering is an excellent way to experiment,practice and try out new techniques and skills,discover your individual talents and explore career choice. Being a volunteer will take individuals on a wonderful journey and help them learn many important things beyond their school learning. Which of the following can best replace the underline words in the text? A directly B indirectly C publicly D secretly Answer: D Dear Mr. Barton, I'm writing in the name of the residents' association to inform you of our feelings regarding your behaviour . We've really had just about enough of you.Although we have tried to speak to you civilly on several occasions,you have always responded with a stream of verbal abuse . Ever since you moved in three months ago,you have shown very little consideration for the other residents of the building,despite numerous complaints.For the past six weekends in a row, you have held extremely noisy parties,which have not finished until the early hours of the morning.It's just not on! As you are aware,most of the people here are old people or have very young children,and the noise keeps them awake all night.You don't have to be so noisy,do you? Last weekend the situation _ further when two of your acquaintances were involved in a fight on the first floor landing.The disturbance was so bad that the police had to be called.What's more,your mates left the stairs in a terrible state--they even broke two windows on their way out! We feel that this type of bad behaviour is unbearable. We strongly recommended that you arrange payment for this damage to the windows,soon.If you don't and you carry on being a nuisance ,we will kick you out! Legal steps will be taken if necessary. Yours sincerely We can infer from this letter that the writer's attitude towards to Mr. Barton is _ . A excited B upset C angry D happy Answer: C
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment--to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art. And they were. But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes. Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand. His abstract image _ the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be?One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. And so the discussion went--until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself. When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher." She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here and there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand. Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work. In fact, people might not always say "thanks". But they'll remember the hand that reaches out. Which of the following is true? Answer: The picture was really different for there was nothing but a hand. Virginia is set to begin enforcing the toughest drunken-driving punishment, one that will require thousands of first-time offenders--whether they were highly drunk or slightly over the limit - to install in their cars blood-alcohol testing devices that can lock the ignition. The devices work like this-A driver must blow into a blood alcohol device linked to the car's ignition. If the result is higher than the legal limit, the car will not start. The device also requires random "rolling retests" once the driver is on the road. Virginia's current law requires only repeat drunken-driving offenders or those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher to have an ignition interlock device in their car. The new law, which takes effect in July, will roughly increase the number of people required to use ignition interlock devices four times, and offenders will have to pay about $ 480 for a typical six-month installation. The measure has caused a debate between groups battling drunken driving and those representing offenders. Such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Washington Regional Alcohol Program say that Virginia's 274 alcohol-related road deaths and more than 5,500 injuries in 2010 remained unacceptably high despite years of cracking down on drunken driving. Ignition interlock devices, they say, reduce repeat offenses. But some public defenders and lawyers argue that the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders at the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08, and that the court system will be burdened by more cases going to trial and lower-income drivers will be affected by the fees. Del. Sal R. laquinto, who sponsored the bill, had a simple reply for concerns about the costs of the interlock devices: "How much does a life cost?" "Blowing into a tube for six months, you will remember that, " Iaquinto said, " and you are not likely to offend again. " The debate aroused by the measure suggests that _ . Answer: no law is absolutely perfect When we think of leadership ,we often think of strength and power .But what are these really ,and how do they operate? Leadership today is not about forcing others to do things .If this is even possible .it is short-term ,and tends to backfire. If you order someone to do something against their will, they may do it because they feel they must , but the anger they feel will do more harm in the long-term ,They will also experience fear. Fear causes the thinking brain to shut down , making the person unable to function at his or her best .If they associate you with this emotion of fear. They will become less functional around you ,and you will have succeeded in not only shooting yourself in the foot .but possibly making a very good employee or partner unable to perform effectively .Fear has no place in leadership. The way we influence people in a lasting way is by our own character, and our understanding and use of emotion .We can order someone to do something ,which may be part of the work day; or we can employ them at the emotional level ,so they became fully devoted to the projects and provide some of their own motivation . Today's work place is all about relationships as a human being as well as a worker .Everyone produces just a bit more for someone they like .Leaders understand the way things work .They know the pay check is not the single most motivating factor in the work life of most people. The true strength of leadership is an inner strength that comes from the confidence of emotional intelligence---knowing your own emotions, and how to handle them, and those of others . Developing your emotional intelligence is the single best thing you can do if you want to develop your relationships with people around you , which is the key to the leadership skills . Good leadership is mainly seen in a leader's ability to _ Answer: deal wisely with employees' emotions Mike likes the man. Mike is a gray, winter glove the man found in the snow. The man likes to bring lost gloves home. He puts them in a box. The gloves are warm and safe in the box. They also get to meet new friends when the man finds them and puts them in the box. Mike has made many new friends since the man found him. He has become good friends with Roger, Katie, and Jane. Two of them, Roger and Katie, were found in the snow, like Mike. Jane was not. She was found in a pile of leaves. Roger is a bright orange glove, Jane is a pink mitten, and Katie is a pink glove with purple fingers. Jane also has a friend named Rich. He is a large, black glove who the man found in a building. Mike has met him, but they are not good friends yet. They all like to play tag and talk about how much they like their new lives. Mike is really happy the man found him and he made so many new friends. Who was not found in snow? Answer: Rich. Many American schools have a student exchange program with foreign countries. Along with this program,there is usually another one called the"American Host Family"program.As its name suggests,the program gets American families involved in foreign students' lives in America and offers homes for them. Foreign students generally welcome such an opportunity to have a"family"here,but there are also those who prefer to stay"homeless". Many American families volunteer to host foreign students.However,if there is a shortage of host families,schools also get in touch with local people and introduced foreign students to them. The"American Host Family"program changes in lengths of time.It can go from a few days to a few years,depending on each individual school.After the first year is over,it is up to foreign students and their"families"to decide if they want to stay together as a"family".American families can host as many foreign students as they like.They can either have several students or just one at a time.Many families start with new students each year while still keeping in touch with the old ones.Schools usually leave it to foreign students and their host families to decide their activities after both sides meet. My school, however, holds activities every year. On major holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas,foreign students are usually invited to their thomes for dinner.Even schools that do not have host family programs often arrange students to get together with American families on these special holiday occasions. It is typical that a host family invites its foreign daughter or son over,and they cook the student's home food together,Undoubtedly,Chinese students are usually considered good cooks,whether or not they are really qualified for such praise at home.Although many Chinese students rarely cooked at home,they often have a hard time making their American friends believe that they cannot cook.It often happens when a Chinese student promises to cook a Chinese meal for his host family,he usually sees a little crowd expecting him:friends or relatives are also invited over for the"special"Chinese food! The best title of the passage might be _ . Answer: The"Host Family Program"in the U.S.
Some say the Internet will kill off papers. Others say not so fast. Are newspapers dying? That's the heated debate these days. Many say the disappearance of the daily paper is just a matter of time. The future of journalism is in news websites, not newsprint. However, others say, newspapers have been with us for hundreds of years, and while all news may be online some day, papers can exist for some time. So who's right? I'll outline the arguments on both sides, and then you can decide. Newspapers Are Dead Newspapers are in trouble. Circulation is dropping, display and classified ad income is drying up, and the industry has experienced a hard time. Big metro papers like the Rocky Mountain News have stopped operating, and even bigger newspaper companies like the Tribune Co. go bankrupt . And where are newspaper readers going? To the Web. A recent study has found that Internet users read online newspapers for an average of 53 minutes per week in 2008. That's highest level recorded in the eight years when the study has been done. The study found that 22 percent of users said they stopped their subscription to a printed paper or magazine because they could access the same content online. Some people say the Internet is just a better place to get the news. "On the Web, newspapers are live, and they can supplement their coverage with audio, video, and the valuable resources of their vast contents," says Geffrey I. Cole, director of the Center for the Digital Future. The purpose of writing the text is to _ . A try to draw a general conclusion B encourage readers to use their judgment C compare the advantages of two media D invite readers to express their opinions freely Answer: B Unlike modern animal scientists, dinosaur scientists cannot sit on a hillside and use telescopes to watch dinosaurs in order to know how they lived and whether they were good parents. Instead, they have to search hard for information from dinosaurs' fossils because dinosaurs died out millions of years ago. It's very difficult for the scientists to reach an agreement because different results can be got from the same fossils. Many fossils of the same kind of dinosaurs have been dug out from one place. They might have formed when an entire group of dinosaurs got stuck all at once, or they might have been the result of dinosaurs getting stuck one after another over a course of a few centuries. Thus we can say that dinosaurs might have in the first case lived in big groups and in the second lived alone. Though there are two different results, dinosaur scientists now generally agree that at least some kinds of dinosaurs lived in big groups. "That's pretty much settled at this point," says Paul Sereno. A kind of dinosaurs called Sauropods left behind tracks in the western United States that appear to run north and south, suggesting that they even moved long distances together. As to whether dinosaurs cared for their young, dinosaur scientists have turned to the closest living relatives of dinosaurs-birds and crocodiles-for possible models. Birds give a lot of care to their young, while crocodiles just help their young to the water. The discovered fossils of dinosaurs sitting on their eggs and staying with their young suggest the parents were taking care of their babies, but we still cannot say that all dinosaurs did the same. There is still a long way to go before the above questions could be answered. Dinosaur scientists, will have to find more proof to reach an agreement. Dinosaur scientists can get information directly by _ . A studying dinosaur fossils B examining modern animals C watching dinosaurs D using telescopes Answer: A I' m Eric. Welcome to our classroom. You can see a nice classroom. A blackboard is on the wall. A map of China and a map of the world are on the wall, too. The map of China is old. But the map of the world is new. There is a teacher's desk. An eraser and a ruler are on it. There are two doors in the wall. Some brooms and a football are behind the door. Fifty desks and chairs are in our classroom. They are our desks and chairs. That is a bookcase. And some books are in it. The students can read them after class but can't _ any of them out. Some flowers are near the window. They are red. We like our classroom. We like our class, too. Which is NOT true ? A A bookcase is in classroom. B Some flowers are red. C Eric likes his classroom D Eric's notebooks are in the schoolbag. Answer: D Many adults enjoy a cup of coffee to have extra energy on a sleepy morning, and astronauts are no exception. But having a drink in space isn't as easy as it is on the earth. You have to come up with a whole new way to drink, and that' s what scientists are trying to do. "The coffee would be very hard to control in a normal cup," said physics professor Mark Weislogel. "You' d have to shake the cup toward your face and hope that some of the hot liquid floats toward your mouth. When it comes to guessing what liquids will do in new systems, we are often in the dark. " Weislogel believes that creating a big zero - gravity cup would help improve the lives of astronauts in space, so he and other researchers per formed a series of experiments with liquids on the International Space Station (ISS) to see how they move upwards on surfaces in zero gravity. In one of the tests, they placed two surfaces very close together to create a very narrow tunnel. They wanted to see if liquid would easily flow up the tunnel. In another test , the researchers tried to figure out the best angle to place the narrow tunnel at so that the liquids would travel along the corners. The end result is a cup that doesn't look like a normal coffee cup at all. One side of the cup has a very sharp angle and, in zero gravity, the liquid naturally "flows" up that angled side of the cup, right up to the drinker' s lips. The zero-gravity coffee cup is currently being tested on the ISS by astronaut Don Pettit, who worked with the researchers and helped them invent it. " As you sip , more liquid keeps coming , and you can enjoy your coffee in a weightless environment - clear down to the last drop, " said Pettit, who thinks that future humans on Mars will be using this kind of cup to drink during celebrations ! What is the main idea of the passage? A When humans will drink coffee on Mars. B How humans will drink coffee in zero gravity. C How experiments lead to unexpected patents. D When a normal cup can be used in space. Answer: B The Barbie doll first appeared at the toy fair in New York in 1959. Its creator was Ruth Handler, an American businesswoman. She and her husband Elliott along with Harold Matt Matson started the toy company Mattel. She based the design of the new doll on a German doll named Bild Lilli and named her after their daughter Barbara. The first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit and had her hair in a ponytail . She looked very grown-up. But any concerns that parents would not want to buy it for little girls were soon proved wrong. Mattel sold 300,000 Barbie dolls in the first year at a price of three dollars. Today, a fifty-year-old Barbie in good condition might cost more than 27,000 dollars. Barbie dolls have represented 50 different nationalities and are sold in 150 countries. Mattel says 90% of girls in the United States between the ages of three and ten own at least one Barbie doll. It says girls between the ages of three and six own an average of about 12. Barbie also faced her share of critics. A well-known example was when women's education groups objected to a talking Barbie doll that declared, among other things, "Math class is tough!" Mattel agreed to change it. Saudi Arabia has banned Barbie dolls. And a lawmaker in the American state of West Virginia would like to do the same. Last month, he proposed banning sales of Barbie and other dolls that influence girls to put too much importance on physical beauty. Some people say Barbie is an unhealthy role model for young girls. Robin Gerber disagrees. She wrote a book about Barbie. She points out dolls like scientist Barbie and race car driver Barbie. She says people who criticize Barbie should tell girls the story of the businesswoman who created her. She says Ruth Handler wanted the dolls to help girls think about what they wanted to do with their lives. From the passage we know that Mattel _ . A is one of the world's largest toy companies B is the director of an American toy company C was the woman who originally created Barbie D was a salesman who was good at selling Barbie dolls Answer: A
Question: According to a recent report, kids in primary school spend about six hours every week doing their homework.. So kids hate homework. However, their parents hate homework, too. Is it good for kids to do homework? Of course, a great number of researches do show that kids can remember what they have learnt in class better by finishing their homework on time and homework itself plays an important role in developing their learning shills, such as independent thinking and creativity. But for parents, the result is not the same. After a day of hard work, most of them feel like they're going through school a second time when they sit down with their children each night to help with their homework. And a recent survey found that 46 percent of parents feel like they don't spend enough quality time with their children, because they spend too much time doing the housework or helping with homework. And another 29 percent of parents have arguments with their kids often when they have different answers to the same question. Now several education scientists strongly advise parents to stop helping. They say it will give their kids more independence and give parents back their free time. At the same time, the number of homework - connected arguments will be less at home. Katy Smith, an education scientist, says, " You don't have to know everything. Children need to put their hands up for help and so do parents. Use your resources - online teachers, or even your neighborhood - just ask." What's Katy Smith's advice for the parents? A. Ask kids to finish everything at school. B. Review everything they learn at school. C. Look for professional help for their kids. D. Leave the kids alone with their homework.. Answer: C Question: Astronauts on shorter shuttle missions often work very long days. Tasks are scheduled so tightly that break times are often used to finish the day's work. This type of schedule is far too demanding for long missions on the International Space Station (ISS). ISS crewmembers usually live in space for at least a quarter of a year. They work five days on and two days off to _ the normal way they do things on Earth as much as possible. Weekends give the crew valuable time to rest and do a few hours of housework. They can communicate with family and friends by email, internet phone and through private video conferences. While astronauts cannot go to a baseball game or a movie in orbit, there are many familiar activities that they can still enjoy. Before a mission, the family and friends of each ISS crewmember put together a collection of family photos, messages, videos and reading material for the astronauts to look at when they will be floating 370 kilometers above the Earth. During their mission, the crew also receives care packages with CDs, books, magazines, photos and letters. And as from early 2010, the internet became available on the ISS, giving astronauts the chance to do some "web surfing" in their personal time. Besides relaxing with these more common entertainments, astronauts can simply enjoy the experience of living in space. Many astronauts say that one of the most relaxing things to do in space is to look out the window and stare at the universe and the Earth. Both the shuttle and the ISS circle the planet several times each day, and every moment offers a new view of the Earth's vast land mass and oceans. The passage mainly discusses how astronauts _ . A. work for longer missions in space B. spend their free time in space C. observe the Earth from space D. connect with people on the Earth Answer: B Question: About 1 million adult New Yorkers are obese , but nearly two-thirds of them don't think they are, according to a study released on Tuesday by the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene . Among the obese, who account for about one in five New Yorkers, only 39% described themselves as "very overweight", according to the report. 2% said they were very underweight, 1% said they were slightly underweight, 16% said they were just right and 42% said they were slightly over weight. Some 2 million more New Yorkers are overweight, the report said, and one in five children in kindergarten is obese. Only 44% of the city's adults are at a healthy weight, and nearly 75% say they do not participate in any regular physical activity. New York City's adult obesity rate was 20% in 2003 compared with 23% nationwide in 2004.The national average has nearly doubled from 12% in 1993, the report said. Overweight and obese are defined by body mass index, or BMI (=" kg/m)" , which is based on a person's weight , adjusted for height, the department said. Being obese means having a BMI of 30 or greater, while being overweight means a BMI of more than 25 but less than 30. A 5-foot, 10-inch (1.78-meter) man weighing 175 pounds(79kg) would have a BMI of 25.1 and be considered overweight according to the department . If he weighed 210 pounds (95kg), he would have a BMI of 30.1 and be obese. The report came from results of the department's 2002 and 2003 yearly telephone surveys of some 10,000 adults. New York City has a population of about _ according to the passage. A. 5,000,000 B. 2,000,000 C. 1,000,000 D. 500,000 Answer: A Question: One often hears it said that travel broadens the mind.But does this always happen? When an acquaintance of mine returned from France, I asked him how he liked it."The breakfasts were terrible." he said, "No bacon or kippers.I had fried eggs and chips, but it was quiet a business getting them to make them." Obviously travel had not broadened his mind.He had judged it entirely from his own English viewpoints. All nationalities, in all foreign countries, can be found judging what they see, hear, taste and smell according to their own habits and customs.People who are better educated and who have read a lot about foreign countries tend to adapt and tolerate all easily.That is because their minds have already been broadened before they start travelling. Physical differences are not so difficult to be adapted to as mental ones.In Indonesia, the left hand is considered unclean.When a foreigner offers or takes something with his left hand, the Indonesian may explain this action as arising from a difference in custom, but the deep prejudice against the use of the left hand will not be so easily _ . There are some travelers who adapt themselves so successfully to foreign customs and habits that they get the severe criticisms of their more stubborn fellow-countrymen.If they are Asians, they are accused of having become "Westernized", and if they are Europeans, people say they have "gone native". Perhaps the ideal would be if travel could succeed m making people tolerate the habits and customs of others without abandoning their own.The criterion for judging a foreigner could be "Does he try to be polite and considerate to others?" instead of "Is he like me? The author mentions his acquaintance's travel to show _ . A. the breakfasts are terrible in France B. the English style of life is better C. travel can't always broaden one's mind D. it is not easy to get used to the life in France Answer: C Question: You're probably aware of the basic trends. The financial rewards to education have increased over the past few decades, but men fail to benefit. In elementary and high school, male academic performance is lagging. Boys earn three-quarters of the D's and F's. By college, men are clearly behind. Only 40 percent of bachelor's degree go to men, along with 40 percent of master's degree. Thanks to their lower skills, men are dropping out of the labor force. In 1954, 96 percent of the American men between the ages of 25 and 54 worked. Today, that number is down to 80 percent. In Friday's jobs report, male labor force participation reached an all-time low. Millions of men are collecting disability benefits. Even many of those who do have a job are doing poorly. According to Michael Greenstone of the Hamilton Project, annual earnings for average prime-age males have dropped by 28 percent over the past 40 years. Men still dominate the top of the corporate ladder because many women take time off to raise children, but women lead or are gaining nearly everywhere else. Women in their 20s outearn men in their 20s. Twelve out of the 15 fastest-growing professions are dominated by women. Over the years, many of us have employed a certain theory to explain men's economic decline. It is that the information-age economy rewards qualities that women are more likely to possess. To succeed today, you have to be able to sit still and focus attention in school at an early age. You have to be emotionally sensitive and aware of context. You have to communicate smoothly. For genetic and cultural reasons, many men are not good at these. But, in her fascinating new book, The End of Men, Hanna Rosin suggests a different theory. It has to do with adaptability. Women, Rosin argues, are like immigrants who have moved to a new country. They see a new social context, and they flexibly adapt to .new circumstances. Men are like immigrants who have physically moved to a new country but who have kept their minds in the old one. They speak the old language. They follow the old customs. Men are more likely to be rigid; women are more fluid. This theory has less to do with born qualities and more to do with social position. When there's big social change, the people who were on the top of the old order are bound to stick to the old ways. The people who were on the bottom are bound to experience a burst of energy. They are going to explore their new surroundings more enthusiastically. Rosin reports from working-class Alabama. The women she meets are flooding into new jobs and new opportunities -- going back to college, pursuing new careers. The men are waiting around for the jobs left and are never coming back. They are strangely immune to new options. In the Auburn-Opelika region, the average female income is 140 percent of the average male income. Rosin is not saying that women are winners in a global gender war or that they are doing super simply because men are doing worse. She's just saying women are adapting to today's economy more flexibly than men. There's a lot of evidence to support her case. A study by the National Federation of Independent Business found that small businesses owned by women outperformed male-owned small business during the last recession . In finance, women who switch firms are more likely to see their performance improve, whereas men are likely to see theirs decline. There's even evidence that women are better able to adjust to divorce. Today, more women than men see their incomes rise by 25 percent after a marital breakup. Forty years ago, men and women stuck to certain theory, what it meant to be a man or a woman. Young women today, Rosin argues, have abandoned both feminist and prefeminist preconceptions. Men still stick to the masculinity rules, which limit their vision and their movement. If she's right, then men will have to acknowledge that they are strangers in a strange land. What is the passage intended to convey? A. The differences between men and women. B. The reasons why men do no better than women. C. The social status of men and women. D. The reasons why men fail compared with women. Answer: D
A cancer-stricken British teenager said on Thursday she had been moved by messages of support from around the world after writing an online "Bucket List" of things she wanted to do before dying. Alice Pyne, 15, created an Internet blog in which she described her fight against a cancer of the white blood cells. "I've been fighting cancer for almost four years and now I know that the cancer is gaining on me and it doesn't look like I'm going to win this one," she wrote. For her list, at the site www. alicepyne. blogspot. com, she has included making everyone sign up to be a bone marrow donor , swimming with sharks, meeting boy band Take That and getting a purple iPad computer. Messages of support and offers of help quickly flooded her webpage and it became one of the most talked about subjects on Twitter. "Oh dear! And I thought that I was just doing a little blog for a few friends!" she wrote after her site attracted huge attention. "Thank you so much for all your lovely messages to me." Alice, who lives with her family in the northwest English town of Ulverston, said the manager of Take That had arranged for her to see the band after reading her blog. A group of local lawmakers have also made efforts with the Anthony blood cancer charity to encourage people to join its stem cell projects. What happened after Alice Pyne wrote her "Bucket List"? A. People around the world sent messages to support her. B. People sent gifts to her from all over the world. C. A lot of people offered to donate bone marrow to her. D. The media called on people to help her. Answer: A. People around the world sent messages to support her. A few years ago, David had the idea of selling CDs over the Internet. He started his work from his home. Now he sells over 500,000 CDs a year and has made himself into a millionaire , at the age of 24. "I could see that this was the future of shopping," says David. "Why should you pay $15 for a CD and spend the time and the money going into the shop? You know sometimes you have to find a place for your car too. You can have the same CD for half of the price by clicking on your computer. And we can find any CD you want and bring it to your door in 24 hours!" David said this is the only beginning, "One day we'll do our shopping over the Internet: it's easier, quicker and cheaper. Shops and supermarkets will be the past." By shopping on the Internet, you won't _ . A. spend any time or money B. drive your car any more C. click on your computer D. get into the shop by yourself Answer: D. get into the shop by yourself A: Recently, the word "clone" appeared very often in the newspapers. Do you know its meaning? B: Not exactly, I read a report in yesterday's newspaper. It said there was a Scottish Dolly. It was the first time that a cloned lamb had been made from an adult sheep. A: Actually, the word "clone" means to produce the "same" animal by taking cells from an adult one, I think, if we know how to do cloning, we need only keep a small number of sheep, cows or horses. B: There's more to it. Recently there have been some people who ever want to clone humans. A: It seems interesting. But do you think it is possible to do that? B: No, I don't think so. First I think we cannot clone a dead person, because the cells in his body are dead already. A: Then we can clone a living person? B: Again no! You might clone yourself one after another, but it is only a replica , not real you. It is only something, not a human. A: Now, you mean that a real human can speak, think and create, and these abilities cannot be cloned? B: True enough! I think the main purpose of Dr. Lan Wilmot, the "father" of Dolly, is to make better animals. It has nothing to do with human cloning. ,. Dolly was the name of _ . A. an adult sheep B. a person who did cloning C. a replica D. a lamb that was cloned recently Answer: D. a lamb that was cloned recently Name: Container Gardens by Number Cover price: $l5.95 Our price: $9.49 A book covers 50 easy-to-follow container designs. Each design provides a simple numbered planting plan that shows exactly how to create each display, with an instruction of the finished container and in-depth plant information. The plans are easy to follow and for any type of living space or garden. Name: Off the Beaten Path Cover price: $30.00 Our price: $l9.80 The best-selling Reader's Digest travel book has 40% new content including over 200 new places of interest, over 200 new full-color photographs, and all-new, up-to-date maps. It introduces over l, 000 of the United States' most beautiful must-see sights. Name: l80l Home Treatment Cover price: $40.00 Our price: $29.96 Plenty of health problems can be solved at home. Each and every treatment will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound. Lots of conditions are covered, from headaches, sunburn and bad breath to hiccups . Name: Best Weekend Projects Cover price: $l7.95 Our price: $l3.96 Choose from 80 ideas to create an unusual living space. The projects are practical, as well as attractive, and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow style. How much money can you save if you want to buy a medical book? A. $6.46. B. $l0.20. C. $l3.96. D. $l0.04. Answer: D. $l0.04. A new U.S.government report says more than two million Americans fall ill each year with drug--resistant bacterial infections ,and 23,000 of them are dying as a result.The head of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[CDC]said that the number probably will grow.Officials warn that steps must be taken now to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotic drugs. Without urgent action to stop that trend,warned Tom Frieden whose agency wrote the report,the miracle drugs to fight them won't be available in the future. "If we are not careful,the medicine chest will be empty when we go there to look for a lifesaving antibiotic for someone with a deadly infection.But if we act now,we can preserve these medications while we continue to work on development of new medicines."The report names a drug--resistant abuse of gonorrhea ,which causes about one quarter of a million hospitalizations in the United States annually.Of the number at least 1 4,000 result in death. Drug resistance develops through the overuse and inappropriate use of anti--bacterial agents.These can be:doctors prescribing them to patients who have viral infections that are not affected by medicine meant to fight bacteria;patients not taking all of their medicine as prescribed,so the bacteria making them sick are only weakened,not killed;antibiotic use in healthy farm animals to prevent illness and promote growth.Antibiotic remainders left in meat and animal products can then lead to drug resistance in humans. To limit the spread of resistant infections,experts recommend wider use of routine immunizations ,as well as hand--washing in hospitals and other health care facilities.Also,the report urges hand--washing by food handlers. Michael Bell,deputy director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC,said Patients also can play a role in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics by asking health care providers a few simple questions. According to Frieden,we must take measures without delay to preserve effectiveness of antibiotics,or _ . A. we will have to develop better medicines in place of antibiotics B. there may be no effective anti-bacterial drugs for use in the future C. we can't find other medicines to cure serious illnesses in the future D. more and more Americans will suffer from bacterial infections each year Answer: B. there may be no effective anti-bacterial drugs for use in the future
I was on holiday in a strange place.One morning I got up early and went off into the forest looking for beautiful birds.But I lost my way,and don't know how to come back.I took a cell phone with me,but it didn't work there.It was night and I was frightened because I was alone and there were full of dangerous animals.I climbed up to a tree and was afraid of sleeping.Next morning I was tired.I thought what I should do to save myself.I tore my clothes into small pieces and tied them to the trees that I passed.At last my friend found me according to the pieces that I left.I was saved.That is an unforgettable experience in my life. The writer is _ . Answer: Mrs Green is going to give a birthday party for Mary . Mary is her daughter . Mary will be thirteen years old . A lot of Mary's friends are going to the party . There are going to be twenty girls at the party . Mrs Green are getting ready for the party . Mrs White is helping her . " That's a pretty ( ) cake , " Mrs White says to Mrs Green . " Thank you very much ." Mrs Green is going shopping now . She's buying fruit for the party . She buys a lot of oranges ,apples and bananas . Then she goes home . It's three o'clock in the afternoon . Everything is ready . Now the first girl is arriving . The party is going to start . Who is going to give a party for Mary ? Answer: A surprising new research suggests it can actually be good to feel bad at work, and that feeling good in the workplace can lead to negative outcomes. The study of emotions in the workplace, edited by University of Liverpool researchers Dr. Lindebaum and Peter Jordan, is the topic of a Special Issue of the journal 'Human Relations'. They found that the common belief that being positive in the workplace produces positive outcomes, while negative emotions lead to negative outcomes, may be in need for reconsideration. This is partly due to this belief failing to take into account the differences in working environment which affect outcomes. For instance, anger does not always lead to negative outcomes and in some cases, anger can be considered a force for good through acting upon injustices. An employee, for example, could express anger constructively after a manager has treated a fellow worker unfairly. In such cases, anger can be useful. _ , being too positive in the workplace, rather than resulting in greater performance and productivity, can lead to self-satisfaction and being too shallow in one's personality. One article within the issue also finds that, within team work situation, negativity can have a good effect, leading to fewer consensuses but a further discussion or debate on an important issue among workers, which improve team effect. Lindebaum said, "The findings of the study published in this Special Issue challenge the common belief that in the workplace positive emotions bring about a positive outcome, and vice versa ." He added, "This Special Issue adds to our knowledge and understanding of how the positive and negative dynamics affect the working environment and is certain to have practical application in the workplace for the years to come." What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: BEIJING--- A series of earthquakes shook two rural provinces in southwest China on Friday, killing at least 80 people and damaging 20,000 homes, a provincial official said. The _ hit Yunnan and adjoining Guizhou provinces, both rice-growing areas. The magnitude of the earthquakes ranged from 4.8 to 5.8 , according to Qiu Yu, an official at the Yunnan Provincial Civil Affair Bureau. The web site of the provincial Yunnan government said more than 100,000 people had been evacuated from their homes in Yunnan, a province known for its scenic beauty and ethnic diversity. In the town of Luozehe, a rice-and tobacco-growing area in northeastern Yunnan, 31 people were killed, Mr. Qiu said. The earthquake was so violent that rocks from landslides crushed cars in Luozehe,. A water company worker, Tan Xuewen, said in an interview. "Suddenly we felt the strong earthquake," Mr. Tan said. "Huge rocks fell off the mountain. I immediately took an old person and began to run." The local government authorities ordered people out of their homes that are spread across the hills of a mountain valley, and told them to gather in public square. At the tiny primary school in Luozehe, the teacher, Ma Decai, said his 11 students aged 9 to 12 were eating lunch in the dining room when the earthquake hit. "Dirt dropped from the ceiling into our bowls and cooking pots," Mr. Ma said. "The students abandoned their meal and ran out of the room." As he tried to prepare a new lunch for the students, aftershocks struck the building. Large cracks appeared in the mud and stone schoolhouse, and the toilet collapsed. In neighboring Guizhou Province, authorities said they knew of no casualties. But homes in rural Guizhou often built of wood and mud are usually constructed on hillsides, and provincial authorities there said some homes had been damaged or destroyed. Tents, blankets and coats were being sent to the region, the official Xinhua news agency said. From the passage, we can know after the disaster people in Luozehe _ . Answer: Steel cans are separated from aluminum cans in a recycling center. Which of the following is the best way the recycling center can separate the steel cans from the aluminum cans? Answer:
The most enjoyable way to discover Liverpool is by boat.The first thing to do is to take a ferry (boat) across the River Mersey. It's the best way to find out about this city's long and interesting history. The Liverpool Ferry,which is the oldest ferry service in Europe, started more than 800 years ago. In the l8th century Liverpool became an important city for international business across the Atlantic Ocean.Ships sailed from Liverpool to the United States and Africa.The place to learn more about Liverpool's importance is the Maritime Museum. Liverpool was important because of its industry and trade in the 18th century.In the 20th century it became famous for music.The boys in the rock group,the Beatles,all came from Liverpool.The city is very proud of them.It named its airport John Lennon International Airport after one of the Beatles.Tourists can take a bus tour to visit some of the places the Beatles mention in their songs, like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.They can also visit the Cavern Club--the group first played there in 1961.The Beatles Story is a museum and gallery.Here you can find out more about these world--famous musicians. But there's more to see and do in Liverpoo1.At the Walker Art Gallery you can see the best art in the North of England.If you like modern art,the place to visit is the Tate Gallery.But above all,it's the friendly and welcoming people of Liverpool who make this a city you should visit when you come to Great Britain. If you have a chance to visit Liverpool, _ will probably impress you most. The direction of our lives is determined by the choices we make every day. They accumulate and lead to our final destination. Success in life is not a gift that just falls on people like a ripe pawpaw! It is a choice you have to make. The life you are going to live tomorrow is just a direct product of your choice today. It is pointless to waste our time today and hope for a successful tomorrow. Everything that happens in your life depends on what you are doing today. Your future begins with a choice. Here are some tips that help you create a life of fulfillment and prosperity in the future. Choose to be positive. A positive mental attitude will put you miles ahead of your peers . Never say never. Your attitude determines your altitude. It is more valuable than skills. Choose a positive attitude and things will start to work for you. Choose to always treat others right. We come across all sorts of people, many of whom will treat us poorly. We can choose to treat them right, no matter how they treat us. When they lie, we will tell the truth. When they cheat, we will play by the rules. We may get the short end of the stick sometimes, but in the long run we will win. Choose to sow more than you reap. There are many takers in this world, but our lives will be better as we become givers. Give away your time, your money and your love and you will most likely get it back sooner or later! Choose to break bad habit. Take the big ones first. Make every effort to break them. Forget about the others, as you will get to them later. Stop smoking, get out of debt and lose your extra weight. Exercise the power to choose! Choose to get home for dinner more often. The family is the most important group of people you will ever belong to. Make a decision today to develop your relationship with your family. This one choice you will never regret. You have a chance today to change your life forever. Make the right choices . We should make wise choices today because _ . Dear Abby, I am a helpless mother, my son is 15 years old. I find out that the older he grows, the less we talk. I feel very worried and I really need help. My first problem is about his hobbies, he seems to spend too much time on computer games. As soon as he gets home, he always turns on the computer, closes the door and locks others out. I am getting worried about him, especially when his English teacher told me he always fails(,) in the English exam. Secondly, it seems that he is crazy about the new technology. However, to be honest, I don't have enough money and I can't _ all the things he wants. Recently, I have found that he seems to be always alone. I have never seen him talking to his friends on the phone or going out with anyone on weekends. That is the last problem I have. Do all the boys behave this way? What should I do to help him? A helpless mother It seems that her son spends too much time _ . The journey two naval officers made some time ago to the very deepest point on the earth makes us realize how much of the world still remains to be explored.The two men went down 7 miles to the bottoms of the Pacific Ocean inside a small steel ball called a "bathyscaphe" to find out if there are any ocean currents or signs of life.Above the ball there was a special tank full of petrol which was slowly emptied into the water to make the bathyscaphe heavy enough to complete its journey. It was necessary to set out early, so that the bathyscaphe would come to the surface in daylight, and so be easily found by the mother ship which would be waiting for it.The divers began preparations at dawn and soon afterwards, when all was ready, the steel ball disappeared under the surface of the water. The divers felt as if they were going down steps as they passed through warm and cold layers of water.In time, the temperature dropped to freezing point and the men shivered inside the ball.They kept in touch with the mother ship by telephone describing how they felt.Then , at a depth of 3,000 feet, the telephone stopped working and they were quite cut off from the outside world.All went well until some four hours later at 30,000 feet, the men were startled by a loud, cracking noise; even the smallest hole in the ball would have meant instant death.Luckily, though, it was only one of the outer windows that badly broken.Soon afterwards, the bathyscaphe touched the soft ocean floor raising a big cloud of "dust" made up of small, dead sea-creatures.Here, powerful lights lit up the dark water and the men were surprised to see fish swimming just above them quite untroubled by the enormous pressure.But they didn't dare to leave the lights on for long, as the heat from the lights made the water boil.Quite unexpectedly, the telephone began working again and the faint but clear voices of the officers were heard on the mother ship 7 miles away.After a stay of thirty minutes the men began their journey up, arriving three hours later, cold and wet through, but none the worse for their experience. The best title of this passage should be _ . Why are so many people afraid to fail? Quite simply because we forget that failure is part of the human life and that every person has the right to fail. Every person is able to fight failure and finally succeed. Most parents work hard at preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards . When a child finishes making a table, the mother describes it as "perfect" even though it doesn't stand still. Another way is to blame others. If John fails in science, his teacher is unfair or stupid. There's a problem with the two ways. It makes a child unprepared for life in the real world. Young children need to learn that no one can be best at everything, no one can win all the time, and that it's possible to enjoy a game even when you don't win. A child often feels terrible, of course, when he is not invited to a birthday party, or is not chosen into a football team. But parents should not say "It doesn't matter." quickly. The young should be allowed to experience failure and be helped to come out of it. Failure never gives people pleasure. It hurts both adults and children. But it can be really good to your life when you learn to use it. You must learn to ask "Why did I fail?" Don't blame anyone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong and how you can improve. If someone else can help, don't be shy about asking them. Success just repeats what has been done. It is not as good a teacher as failure. You can learn how to give a good party from an unsuccessful one. Which of the following does a person need to learn when he fails?
Tsunamis A have little impact on the environment B can be easily halted C can rearrange coastal shorelines D can encourage economic growth Answer: C An old man walked slowly into a restaurant with his cane . His old jacket and shoes made him unusual that day. A young waitress named Mary watched him move towards a table by the window. She ran over to him, and said with a smile, "Here, sir. Let me give you a hand." Without saying a word, he gave her a smile. She pulled the chair away from the table and helped him sit down. Then she put his cane against the table so that he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice, he said, "Thank you, miss." "You're welcome, sir," she replied. "I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything, just wave at me!" After he had finished a good meal. Mary brought him the change. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, sir!" The old man turned around and smiled. When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under the plate, she found a business card, a 100-dollar bill and a note. The note said, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness." In fact, the old man was the owner of the restaurant. That was the first time that she, or any of his waitresses, had seen him. The old man was _ . A Mary's father B Mary's neighbour C the boss of the restaurant D a waiter of the restaurant Answer: C Recommended Delft Hotels Bridges House Hotel Bridges House Hotel is a hotel in the centre of Delft and has shops and museums next door. There are many restaurants in the area where you can eat a lovely dinner in the evening. The market square is within easy walking distance. The comfortable rooms are all uniquely decorated and have a splendid bathroom.Air conditioning and free WiFi are available. There are extra long beds for your convenience. Breakfast is served in the hotel lounge. In the evenings, guests can have a drink here as well. Hotel Juliana Just a 5minute walk from the centre of Delft, this friendly family hotel is close to everything and offers comfortable rooms at an affordable price. The main priority is to provide you with quality service through personal attention and by creating a pleasant atmosphere. This hotel is also conveniently located near the Technical University of Delft. Other cultural spots and a series of bars and restaurants are just a stroll away. Shanghai Hotel This unique hotel features Chinesestyle decoration and an elegant bar. Shanghai Hotel is located next to the A13 highway, only a 10minute drive from Delft city centre. It offers free onsite parking. Each of the rooms at Shanghai Hotel includes flatscreen cable TV, a desk and tea/coffee making facilities plus a refrigerator.The comfortable modern bathrooms have a shower, a hairdryer and free makeup. Hotel de Koophandel Located on the central Beesten Market, Hotel de Koophandel is surrounded by cafes and restaurants in the heart of Delft. In the breakfast room, you can enjoy various breads, toasts,cereals, eggs and fruits in the morning. The comfortable and uniquely decorated rooms are equipped with a private bathroom and free WiFi. Coffee and tea facilities are available. Because of the perfect location, you can easily walk around the city centre and visit the main places of interest. For more detailed information, please click here www.booking.com/hotel/nl. Which hotel is the best choice if someone is extremely tall? A Bridges House Hotel. B Hotel Juliana. C Shanghai Hotel. D Hotel de Koophandel. Answer: A Switzerland is famous for its watches. However, this country didn't invent the watch. It was the British who did it. Here is a story of how the watch was brought to Switzerland. Many years ago, an Englishman was traveling to Italy, on his way he stopped in a small town in south Switzerland. This Englishman traveled in a carriage inside which there was a carriage watch. This was the earliest kind of watch. A native shop assistant happened to see the watch. He wondered what it was and asked the Englishman about it, "it is a carriage watch," said the man. "This machine tells the time but now it isn't working." At once the shop assistant offered to try to repair it. So the traveler handed him the watch. The assistant was a very wise man. So it was not very surprising that he managed to repair it. He even remembered how it was made. As soon as the traveler had gone on his journey, he made a watch exactly the same type. Thus the watch-making was started in Switzerland. Today Swiss watches are sold in stores all over the world. The carriage watch was a machine which _ . A was put in the carriage B wasn't working C told people time D had to be repaired Answer: C It was a bad time for me . I was low emotionally and tired physically. Probably because of this I hadn't shaved for a few days. Also, because I had been doing some repairs at my daughter's house, I was dressed quite scruffily. Boarding the bus to go home I saw it was almost full so I found a rail to lean against. That was when a young woman, sitting with her child, stood up and offered me her seat. "Wow !" I thought. Out loud I said, "Do I look that old and tired?" She replied," You look like you've had a tough day." I thanked her sincerely and stayed standing. A moment later a man rose from his seat at the back of the bus and made his way towards me, squeezing past several people on the way. Then he told me about his addiction problems, asked for my advice, and just chatted about life for a few minutes. Then he went back to his seat. Very random! Watching him go, I also looked at the bus-load of people between me and his seat. He hadn't chosen to talk to those strangers. He chose to talk to _ for whatever it meant to him and whatever comfort it brought him. Why? That's when it occurred to me. I must have looked like I had been where he was. I probably looked like a man who would understand a difficult life. I was humbled and uplifted at the same time by the realization that even when we are at our lowest we can still help others--if we look like we might be able to meet them where they live or walk a while in their world. Which of the following may be the best title for the text? A Unusual Appearance Interests Strangers. B Meet Them Where They Live. C Small Talks Make a Difference. D Accept What They Are. Answer: B
Everybody knows the saying "Two steps forward and three steps back". That described my life pretty well as a single mom. I was raising two teenagers on a teacher's aide's salary. It wasn't nearly enough to cover the bills, so I moonlighted as a waitress. Every time I thought that I had found a solution to my money worries, something would fall through and I would end up feeling worse off than before. The next evening at the restaurant I tried on my apron, wishing I could be home with my kids. I walked up to my first table. Around it was a cheerful older couple. The woman gave me a smile that warmed me. I couldn't help but notice her unusual glass ring. "What a beautiful ring," I said. We chatted for a minute then I took their order and left. When I came back with their drinks, the woman held out her ring. "I would like to give this to you," she said. "Oh, no, I couldn't," I said, embarrassed. She gently placed the ring in my hand and closed my fingers around it. "It's yours," she said. "Please accept it and your things are going to be okay." Right there at their table in the middle of the restaurant I broke down in tears. "Thank you for giving me hope," I said. Long after that night, that sense of peace stayed with me. I knew the right job would come in time. Nine months later it did. I got a better position at another school and I started waitressing at a restaurant where I was allowed to spend more time with my kids. Now in these tough times, I have money worries again, but they don't get me down. I know things will turn out okay. And when I wear that unusual glass ring, I'm reminded I'm not alone. Now the writer's attitude toward her life is _ . positive Farmers grow cocoa trees in the shady areas of rainforests near the Earth's equator. These trees can be difficult to grow. They require an exact amount of water, warmth, soil and protection. After about five years, cocoa trees start producing large fruits called pods. The seeds inside these pods are harvested to make chocolate. Today we travel around the world exploring the history of chocolate. Its story begins with a plant whose scientific name, Theobroma cocoa, means "food of the gods". People have been enjoying the rich flavor of chocolate, a product made from this plant. Most people know that chocolate is made from cocoa and that the origins of chocolate can be traced back to Central and South America. For centuries, the natives there regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods. But how did chocolate go from being the food of the gods to being the food of love? Historians believe the Maya of Central America first learned to farm cocoa plants around two thousand years ago. The Maya took the cocoa trees from the rainforests and grew them in their gardens. They cooked the cocoa seeds, and then crushed them into a soft substance. They used the cocoa bean as the main part in a dark, bitter drink that we would call "chocolate". They believed that chocolate had mystical characteristics -- but cocoa also had commercial value. In fact, cocoa beans were used as a form of currency that was worth its weight in gold! The explorer Christopher Columbus brought cocoa seeds to Spain after his trip to Central America in 1502. But the Spanish explorer Conquistador Hernando Cortez was the first European explorer to realize cocoa's commercial possibilities. When he arrived in the New World in 1519, he soon established his own cocoa plantation. In 1529, Cortez returned to Spain and introduced chocolate -- as a drink mixed with sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon -- to European society. The wealthy people of Spain first enjoyed a sweetened type of the chocolate drink. Later, the popularity of the drink spread throughout Europe. The English, Dutch and French began to plant cocoa trees in their own colonies. Chocolate remained a drink that only wealthy people could afford to drink until the eighteenth century. During the period known as the Industrial Revolution, new technologies helped make chocolate less costly to produce. It caught on -- especially with the noble people, who enjoyed hot chocolate as an aphrodisiac (a kind of medicine). As its popularity spread, people found new ways to make and use chocolate. These days, chocolate is enjoyed as both a tasty treat and a romantic indulgence everywhere. According to historians, cacao trees were first planted in_. Central America Day 1 I first heard of "Show Racism the Red Card" when my friend Jill asked me to support their work. Basically, it's an organization which uses professional footballers to help fight racism in sport and society. A few weeks later, he asked me if I wanted to do a bit more for them. I thought he probably meant for me to give money or do some voluntary work. But then he told me that a group of about 20 people were getting sponsored to play the highest ever game of rugby at 5,140 meters on Mount Everest. Day 4 We're making our way up to the base camp -- that's where most climbers start their final climb to the top -- and then, we'll play our game. Today we started out at 8 am. We had to cross three suspension bridges . One of them was so high that you couldn't see the bottom. Then we walked through some beautiful forest areas before we started a two-hour uphill hike to Namche Bazaar. Day 10 Base camp is basically just a lot of stones and tents. The walk up was really exhausting. Maybe if I was fitter, I wouldn't find this so hard, but then it was not just me -- all of us got very short of breath. Day 11 Today we played our game. It was supposed to be a "friendly" game, and last night, we had agreed we'd just walk and not run. However, it was a really heated game and two players were even sent off. We only played for 14 minutes. I think someone would have got hurt if we'd played any longer! My team won and I scored the last try! Of course, none of this matters. What's really important is that we did it and we've raised a load of money. What can we learn about the game of rugby on Mount Everest? It was a bit competitive. Many years before the United States was founded, Americans had already invented barbecues. But the first barbecues, in fact ,were the invention of the Taino Indians of Haiti, who dried their meat on raised frames of sticks over fires. Spanish explorers spelled the Taino word as barbacoa, and as time passed, English settlers along the Atlantic coat had their own barbecues. One summer day in 1773, Benjamin Lynde, a citizen of Massachusetts, wrote in his diary, "Fair and hot ; Browne; hack overset." That is , on a bright and hot day he went to the Brownes to attend a barbecue, and his carriage fell over. It shows that the barbecue had its social occasion by that time. Large animals would be roasted whole on frames over hot fires, and neighbours would be invited to dinner. In later centuries, as settlers moved to the west, the barbecue went along with it, reaching an especially large size in Texas, where a pit for fuels such as tree branches might be over ten feet deep. Today, the barbecue grills which are fueled by charcoal or electricity are likely to be small and easy to move , and can cook only parts of an animal at a time, but people still have barbecues out of doors and always invite their neighbours or friends over. Who invented the barbecues first in history? Taino Indians. Now the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. ( MUSIC) Many everyday American expressions are based on colors. Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. When they are red-hot, they are very angry about something. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say such music is red-hot. Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the 20thcentury. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health. Blue is a cool color. The blues music in the United States is the opposite of red-hot music. Blues is slow and sad. Someone who is blue is very sad. The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in the stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green. Sometimes a person may be _ because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back of the paper money. The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. (MUSIC) I'm Warren Scheer. Listen again next week for another Words and Their Stories program in Special English on the Voice of America. What does the word " _ " mean ? sad
There are many fun, free activities that you can do as a family. All that is required is a bit of imagination and some time set aside for fun. And the best part is that these are the kind of memories a child will remember for a lifetime. Family game night Find out any of the games that are already around the house. Kids often get computer games for Christmas or birthdays, and would love to have a chance to play with their family. Or, make up some games of your own. " _ " is a fun game to play that will challenge a child to use his/her imagination. Divide the family into teams and let each team come up with words that the other has to act out. _ Pick some time for the family to sit down and come up with their own masterpiece. It doesn't need to be just a drawing -- take some old magazines sitting around the house, let the kids cut out pictures and paste them into their own montage. Or, use items from nature. Let them use leaves, pine cones, twigs and whatever else they can find to create something from their imaginations. Family Picnic Taking the family for a picnic is a great way for some fun that doesn't cost any money. If the weather is nice, take them to a park or playground and let the kids have a day of playing. Or, if it is the middle of winter and a foot of snow is on the ground, set up a picnic in the living room. Family Field Trip A family field trip doesn't have to cost a dime. Ask a nearby farm if it would be alright to bring your kids out for a tour and to see some of the animals. Or take them to a park and make a scavenger hunt where they need to find certain items from nature. Ask a local business if you could bring the family for a tour to see how things work -- you might be surprised at the number of people who would be thrilled to share what they do with others, and it could be an interesting lesson for the kids. According to the passage, the family picnic _ . A should be held in the middle of winter B can be held inside your house C will be very meaningful if held in offices D will cost much money if held on a farm Answer: B Holding a cell phone against your ear or storing it in your pocket may be dangerous to your health. This explains a warning that cell phone manufacturers include in the small print that is often ignored when a new phone is purchased. Apple, for example, doesn't want iPhones to come closer to you than 1.5 centimeters; Research In Motion, BlackBerry's manufacturer, recommends 2.5 centimeters. If health issues arise from cell phone use, the possible effects are huge. Voice calls - Americans chat on cell phones 2.26 trillion minutes annually - earn $109 billion for the wireless carriers. Devra Davis, an expert who has worked for the University of Pittsburgh, has published a book about cell phone radiation, "Disconnect." The book surveys scientific research and concludes the question is not settled. Brain cancer is a concern that Ms. Davis examines. Over all, there has not been an increase in its incidence since cell phones arrived. But the average masks an increase in brain cancer in the 20-to-29 age group and a drop for the older population. "Most cancers have multiple causes," she says, but she points to laboratory research that suggests low-energy radiation could damage cells that could possibly lead to cancer. Children are more _ to radiation than adults, Ms. Davis and other scientists point out. Radiation that penetrates only five centimeters into the brain of an adult will reach much deeper into the brains of children because their skulls are thinner and their brains contain more absorptive fluid . No studies have yet been completed on cell phone radiation and children, she says. Henry Lai, a research professor in the bioengineering department at the University of Washington, began laboratory radiation studies in 1980 and found that rats exposed to radiation had damaged DNA in their brains. Ms. Davis recommends using wired headsets or the phone's speaker. Children should text rather than call, she said, and pregnant women should keep phones away from the abdomen . Why is the warning in the small print? A They think people will not care about it. B There is not enough space for the warning. C They don't want the users to pay attention to it. D The warning is not important at all. Answer: C Dear editor, I am writing to ask what has happened to our young people.They are not as polite or hard-working as my generation(I will give you two examples. Last Friday, I got on the underground at 9:15 a.m. It was very crowded so there was no free seat.There were some boys sitting on the seats near me.I didn't know why they were not at school.They were talking and laughing loudly. It was difficult for me to read my newspaper with all the noise.At the next stop, a pregnant woman and her daughter got on with lots of shopping bags.I expected the boys to let them sit down.They saw the woman but they did nothing.I had to ask them to give the woman and her daughter seats. They did so but gave me a rude look. Last Saturday, I had dinner with my friend's family.I was glad to see his children, who I hadn't seen for ten years.During the dinner, I started talking about world politics with the children.It soon became clear that they didn't know much about it.They couldn't tell me the name of the King of Spain or President of Italy.All they knew about was the Internet or which singers were the most beautiful.In my days, students knew the kings, the queens and the presidents of every country in Europe. I worry about the future of Germany.How could these young people become good workers and parents? They sit around McDonald's after school instead of going to the library like I did at their age.Maybe they have too much money.Perhaps some readers can give us some ideas about what to do with this "lost generation". Yours sincerely, Frantz Vogts. When Mr Vogts met the boys on the underground , he _ . A knew there was no hope for him to get a seat B felt he would be in trouble C thought they should have been studying instead of staying there D expected that they would get off at the next stop Answer: C Recent developments in astronomy have made it possible to detect planets in our own Milky Way and in other galaxies. This is a major achievement because,in terms,planets are very small and do not give out light. Finding planets is proving hard enough, but finding life on them will prove _ more difficult. The first question to answer is whether a planet can actually support life. In our own solar system,for example,Venus is far too hot and Mars is far too cold to support life. Only the Earth provides ideal conditions,and even here it has taken more than four billion years for plant and animal life to evolve . Whether a planet can support life depends on the size and brightness of its star, that is its "sun". Imagine a star up to twenty times larger, brighter and hotter than our own sun. A planet would have to be a very long way from it to be capable of supporting life. On the contrary, if the star were small,the life--supporting planet would have to have a close orbit round it and also provide the perfect conditions for life forms to develop. But how would we fund such a planet? At present, there is no telescope in existence that is capable of detecting the presence of life. _ . It is impossible to look for life on another planet using earth--based telescopes. Our own warm atmosphere and the heat generated by the telescope would make it impossible to detect objects as small as planets. Even a telescope in orbit round the earth like the very successful Hubble telescope,would not be suitable because of the dust particles in our solar system. A telescope would have to be as far away as the planet Jupiter to look for life in outer space because the dust becomes thinner the further we travel towards the outer edges of our own solar system. Once we detected a planet,we would have to find a way of blocking out the light from its star, so that we would be able to "see" the planet properly and analyze its atmosphere. In the first instance, we would be looking for plant life,rather than "little green men" . The life forms most likely to develop on a planet would be bacteria. It is bacteria that have generated the oxygen we breathe on earth. For most of the earth's history they have been the only form of life on our planet. As Earth-dwellers,we always cherish the hope that we will be visited by little green men and that we will be able to communicate with them. But this hope only exists in science fiction. If we were able to discover lowly forms of life like bacteria on another planet,it would completely change our view of ourselves. As Daniel Goldin of NASA observed,"Finding life elsewhere would change everything. No human efforts or thought would be unchanged by it." What do we know about the kind of planet,other than our own,that might be able to support life? A It will orbit closely round its star B It will be at least four billion years old C Its distance from its star will be such that it has a moderate temperature D It will have an atmosphere capable of supporting bacteria Answer: D Liz isn't happy. Her husband, Stephen, frequently changes jobs, and is unsure of what he wants to do. The new house they bought just a year ago seems like a prison to Liz, and Stephen says he wants to go back to college, she decides that it's the end of her patience with him. Now, since this happens quickly in the film, it's kind of like she just gives up on her husband without much of a fight. She's done, he still loves her, but she quickly moves on to a much younger actor who's starring in a play she wrote. She sees him on stage, and thinks he's saying the words only to her. They are in a relationship. But soon after, she decides that he's not for her. She's unhappy and feels dead inside, and the only way to fix herself is to take a year off and travel. Liz has three specific destinations in mind for her journey of self-discovery. First, it's Italy, where she can enjoy a lot of pasta and sees all the historical sites. Next, she'll head to India to spend time with her young boyfriend's favorite guru . And then she will finish her year off with a visit to Bali where she will reunite with a wise man who told her on a previous trip that she would have two marriages, lose her money, and then gain it back again. With no worries about money or work or responsibilities, she goes off, passing through the lives of various interesting people while telling anyone willing to listen that she's trying to find herself and get over the end of her marriage, which she gave up and immediately turned to another man to get over, who she then gave up on fairly quickly for no apparent reason. So says the film. By the end of the movie, she believes that she has healed herself and discovered what she needed to find out. What does Liz do? A She is a traveler. B She is an actress. C She is a writer. D She is a college student. Answer: C
Technology has totally transformed our ability to communicate with each other. Linking to each other both literally and figuratively, many of us connect through cell phones, email, instant messaging, blogs, and networking web sites, yet we may be less connected to each other than we think. According to a study, Americans are becoming increasingly socially isolated . The study suggests, for example, that one quarter of Americans say that they have no one to discuss important personal issues with, and that the number of close friends that Americans have has dropped from three to two. Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports that this spreading isolation is experienced more sharply among those with less education, people of color, and older Americans. Unsurprisingly, those who are young, white, and well educated tend to have stronger social networks. From my own experience I have to say that I've never felt more connected, thanks to a web of friends, family, and colleagues. One of my closest friends is someone I met through an online discussion group who lives hundreds of miles away from me. We have met face-to-face only twice, yet our regular electronic correspondence and cell phone calls maintain our close friendship. And, speaking of blogging, my blog has introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise and has led to enduring and important friendships. On the other hand, I recently saw a scene unfold that proved to me how deeply disconnected we as Americans have become. I had just wrapped up a presentation on mediation at a family therapy center. As I was leaving, I noticed a mother and her teenage son who had just completed their session with their family therapist. After making their next appointment, they both took out their cell phones, placed calls, and began loud conversations with whoever was on the other end. I walked out behind them to the parking lot to my car. They both jumped into their cars, and, as I saw them drive off, they were still talking on their cell phones. But, alas, not to each other. The author probably feels _ with the mother and son. A. puzzled B. disappointed C. amused D. surprised Answer: D This summer I will leave the junior high school where I have been for three years. I am generally considered to be a careful and polite boy now. However, five years ago, I was a little bit bossy . I often fought with other boys and sometimes I even fought with my elder sister. When I saw Superman on TV for the first time, I dreamed of being a superman one day. One P.E. class, I called up all of my friends to get together in our classroom. "Can anybody jump out of the window?" I asked them. After hearing this, all my friends kept silent. " _ ," I said. "Can you?" one of my friends asked me. "Sure!" I answered. "If I do it, I will get all the toys that you have. If I fail, you will get all of my toys, OK?" They said, "OK!" Then I went up to the window of the second floor. I took a deep breath and then jumped down, stretching out my arms just like Superman. Then I hit the ground. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in the hospital. I was taken to the hospital because my arms were badly hurt. Later, I heard that my P.E. teacher nearly lost his job for this, but I never received the serious punishment I feared. The story happened when the writer was in _ . A. university B. elementary school C. junior high school D. senior high school Answer: B What kind of impact does exercise have on a humans health? A. terrible B. low C. skyrocketing D. bad Answer: C A young man is sitting by the road. He is eating something. A policeman is coming over. At once the man gets up quickly and runs down the road. The policeman runs after him. Te man runs very fast, but the policeman runs faster. After a few minutes, the policeman catches him. "Where are you going?" says the policeman. "You must be a criminal if you run like that when you see a policeman." "No, no," says the man. "I'm not a criminal. I'm just too fat, you see, and the doctor tells me I must always run fast after eating." "I see," says the policeman. "You're running to help to lose weight." The policeman runs after the young man because _ . A. he is catching a bus B. he knows him C. he thinks he is a bad man D. the young man is a criminal Answer: C Europe is home to a variety of cultural treasures. Lonely Planet, the world's largest travel guide publisher, has offered pairs of cities for culturehungry but timepoor travelers. London and Paris It takes you about two hours to travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, a high-speed railway service. The two capital cities have been competing in fashion, art and nightlife for decades-but each secretly looks up to the other. No one can doubt the grand and impressive beauty of Paris' Louvre Museum, but if you want to save money, you cannot skip the British Museum free to visit. Compared with London, Paris has more outdoor attractions such as the beautiful green walkway La Promenade Plantee. In Paris, you'll see diners linger over red wine. While in London, you can try some afternoon tea, eat fish and chips or salted cake. Vienna and Bratislava Austrian capital Vienna and Slovakia city Bratislava are an hour apart by train. But since they are linked by the Danube River, the best way to travel is by ship. A tour of the two cities is the perfect way to experience everything from 17th century's Habsburg dynasty splendor to scifi restaurants. Vienna is famous for Mozart and imperial palaces. You can appreciate the perfect blending of architecture and nature in the grand Schonbrunn Palace, and reward yourself with a cup of Vienna coffee, which has made its way to the world's cultural heritage list. Bratislava is best known for its fine dining-the remarkable UFO restaurant. You can enjoy a meatladen dinner here in an amazing setting. Lonely Planet recommends these two pairs of cities because _ . A. they are not expensive to visit B. they are best known to the world C. they are always enemies between each other D. they are close but different in many aspects Answer: D
In this century the traditional American family is constantly faced with the threat of breakdown. Some people suggest that one little - noticed cause may be the introduction of the TV dinner. Before the appearance of television seats, the American dinner was a big event for the family. In many homes dinner time may be the only time when everyone got together. A typical dinner was usually in three periods In the preparation period, the children and Father frequently helped with setting while Mother put the last touches on the roast. In the eating period, family members shared the day's experiences and more than food was eaten. In this period,families got to know one another and made joint decisions around the dinner table, and thus the family solidarity was strengthened. In the cleaning - up period,children or Father again gave their hands, so that their meaning to the home community was clear. Unfortunately, all of these have been abandoned by a product--the television set. By the beginning of the 1980s, the typical American family dinner was just twenty minutes long. The speed - up of this once - leisurely experiences is clearly connected to the overall pace of modern life and maybe a model of the modern life is the TV dinners--meals designed to be used between the opening and closing credits of a half - hour program. The once family affair has now become nothing more than the use of a fork and knife. The shortening of the dinner time in America is related to_. My name is David Smith. I am an English boy. My family is in Hangzhou. My father and mother work here. My father is an engineer and my mother is a teacher. I have a sister but no brothers. My sister and I are students of Nol. 1 Middle School. We love Hangzhou, and we love China, too. We have a nice house in Hangzhou. We have a color TV and a computer. My room is big. There is a bed, a desk and two chairs in it. My books are on the bookcase. I have a phone on my desk. There are some pictures on the wall. I like my room and I like these pictures very much. David's books are on the _ . The Green Magic Tree House, in India, is the perfect hotel for anybody who likes adventure . Guests must drive for miles through the jungle to find it in the middle of tea and coffeeplantation . There are two tree houses to choose from, one 30 meters and the other 35 meters above the ground. Both houses have two floors. The bedrooms are above the living area and there are bathrooms and showers. You can get up to rooms and move between floors byusing ladders . You can go from one tree house to the other on a rope bridge. The houses sometimes move about in the wind but the views are fantastic. Guests can enjoy moving through the jungle, climbing in the mountains, and watching wildlife. There are many unusual plants, birds, and insects in the area. The Ice Hotel is in Jukkasjarvi, a village in Sweden 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Every winter, a team of architects , designers and snow builders build the hotel. This year there are 80 rooms. Everything is made of ice. The walls, the floors, the ceilings , and even the furniture are made of ice. The beds are made of ice, too, but guests sleep on warm deer skins. Outside it can be -37degC, so inside it feels quite comfortable. The hotel has a bar, where guests can drink vodka from glasses made of ice. It's very popular -- because there isn't much else to do. To spend a night at Jules Underwater Lodge in Florida, guests need to scuba dive seven meters under the sea. They enter a small house through a door at the bottom of the building. Inside, the kitchen is stored with food and there is a fridge and a microwave oven . There is a hot shower and comfortable beds and lots of books, DVDs and video games. Most guests, however, spend their time at one of the large windows watching different fishes swimming by. Both of the Tree House have _ floors inside. Two days ago I was woken up at 1 am. My roommate stood at the door (she was returning from a club) along with a huge middle-aged man with long hair. "Please let him in," she told me, "He has been locked out of his apartment." She had seen him, cold and shivering (it had snowed the previous night) and immediately asked him to sleep at our place. He was a law student in his fifties who had been doing his homework at the Laundromat when he found he had left his keys in his house. I have never had a strange man sleep in my house before. My roommate and I are both less than 5 feet and we have been asked not to speak to strangers since we were kids. Not to mention that we're in a new city that we have lived in for less than a month. He accepted our kindness with hesitation and as soon as dawn broke he left. The next day he came to our house, saying he owed us big time for not being frozen out in the cold. He left us a beautiful card saying--"Thank you so much. Your actions are so sincere." Later he cooked us a wonderful simple "thank you" dinner over which he told us about his life (a coach, a guide, a law student). He told us how he was completely touched by our concern for a total stranger. I learnt a lot that evening. As he talked about how once he brought a homeless man in to eat Christmas dinner with his family, I was deeply touched. My roommate taught me a huge lesson: Let go of your fear; always leave the door of compassion open and you can never go wrong. What can we learn from the passage? To find how the name Canada came about we must go back to the 16th century. At that time, the French dreamed of disclosing and controlling more land, of expanding trade beyond their borders and of spreading their faith across the world .In 1535, Francois I ,King of France, ordered a navigator named Jacques Cartier to explore the New World and search for a passage to India. Cartier first arrived at the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, which he wanted to explore. He did not know what to expect but he hoped that this Gulf was just an arm of the ocean between two islands. If it was, he would soon be on his way to the Far East. So he sailed upstream along the St. Lawrence River. However, instead or reaching Asia he arrived at Quebec or Stadacona, as the Indians called it. It was at this point that the term " Canada" entered the country's history. Apparently the word "Canada" came from an Indian work "Kanata", which means community or village. Cartier first used it when he referred to Stadacona or Quebec. What a huge " village" Canada is! In the early sixteenth century , the King of France ordered Cartier to _
Which energy conversion process occurs whenever coal is burned? Maybe it is true that we do not know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we do not know what we have been missing until it arrives. It takes an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Do not expect love in return; but if it does not, be content it has grown in yours. Do not rely on one's appearance; it can trick you. Do not rely on wealth; even that fades away. Rely on someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You cannot go on well in life until you let your past failures and heartaches go off. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness waits for those who cry, those appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too. When you were born , you were crying and everyone around you was smiling . Live your life so that when you die , you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying . In this passage, the writer wants to tell us_. The longest day of the month is the day after my younger brother T.J gets his new issue of Just Joking , a magazine filled with all kinds of jokes. When the new issue arrives, T.J tells me every riddle in it . But a constant stream of riddles can get annoying . "Hey, Keith ! What did he hamburger name his daughter ?" "T.J !" I shout . "Enough riddles !" He is suddenly quiet. "Keith , be nice ,"Mom says. "T.J, honey, what did the hamburger name his daughter?" "Patty," he says. During dinner ,T.J doesn't say anything . Usually he brings Just Joking to the table with him and tells us some riddles in between bites of food .This evening, he does not .I'm relieved . At last --- some peace and quiet. After dinner, I go to my friend Brad's house to work on a project for science class . We're painting the planets when Brad's little sister, Nita, comes into the room. "Brad, can I help you with the project ?" Nita asks. "Nita !" He shouts at her . "Leave us alone!" Nita walks out of the room looking sad. I feel bad for her. I can tell that she just wants to be around her big brother. The look on Nita's face reminds me of the look on T.J's face earlier in the evening . Now I don't feel so good about T.J's silence at the dinner table. When Brad and I finish working on the project, I see Nita in the front of the room .She still looks sad. "Hey, Nita! Do you know what the hamburger named his daughter ?" I ask. "I don't know. What?" Nita says.www.ks5u.com "Patty!" Nita laughs and I laugh too . " I heard that from my brother, T.J," I say. "He's very funny. When I get home, T.J still looks unhappy. "T.J, guess what ?" I say. " I used one of your riddles tonight. Brad's little sister thought it was really funny. So let's find more riddles for the next time I go over there. And maybe you can come along with me sometime." "Really ?" T.J's eyes light up . "OK!" T.J runs upstairs, and then comes back, smiling and carrying Just Joking. Why does Keith tell Nita the riddle about the hamburger and patty ? Chinese people first encountered the term "empty nest"in a work of famous writer Bing Xin in 1980. In the past three decades, it has become a widespread social phenomenon. And with society and the economy developing at a faster pace, the condition of elderly couples has worsened. Data shows that over half of the families in China are "empty nest" households, with the figure being as high as 70 percent in some big cities. There were 41.5 million "empty nest" old people aged 65 or above in 2010.Experts even say that "empty nest" families will become the major pattern in Chinese cities and rural areas, dealing a blow to the traditional family support system and requiring the government to take greater care of the material and spiritual needs of senior citizens and to provide them better psychological comfort, proper healthcare and legal aid. After retirement, people tend to participate in fewer social activities, spending more time at home reading newspapers or watching television. "Empty nest" people, who are not taken proper care of by their children, are bound to feel lonely, and are usually unwilling to engage in recreational activities, which leads to psychological problems. A survey shows that over half of the "empty nest" old suffer from mental problems to different degrees. Loneliness, anxiety and depression are the most common. Grown-up children are to take care of not only their parents, but also to respect their feelings, by having more heart-to-heart conversations with them. Family love plays an important role in providing mental comfort for the elderly. They should undertake the responsibility of visiting aged parents more often and making them feel wanted. There is a lot more communities could do to help make senior citizens' life better. To begin with, they could recruitcommunity volunteers, from warm-hearted university students to helpful and devoted middle-aged citizens. Senior citizens, too, should make an effort to release tension and prepare for a happy life in their twilight years. They should change their mentality and try to be less emotionally dependent on their children, develop hobbies, extend their social circle, and set new goals to make the rest of their life more interesting. (362words) Which of the following are true according to the passage? Many kids think they are too common. They think they are not the prettiest and smartest. Sometimes kids don't know how special they are. When they see outstanding athletes or cool stars, they often think: Am I outstanding? What am I going to be when I grow up ? Growing up means understanding what you can do and what you can _ to the world. When you are young, you don't see that. But when get older, you may know that by being yourself, you do offer something to other people. Maybe you aren't the best, but that doesn't make you "not special" Think about your friends. Write down some things that you like about them. Think about why you are friends. You are going to know that in the end, though they aren't the smartest or the prettiest or the most talented, they are great in their way. And they feel just the same as you. In fact it is great to be the best at something, but it's OK if you can't. If you just live our life and try hard, you are still pretty amazing .And you can make your dream come true. It is common that young students _ .
Do you know something about the holiday camps in Hong Kong? The students in Hong Kong used to take part in an English holiday camp in their holidays. And their parents weren't with them, though they were very young. Now they still enjoy taking part in many kinds of holiday camps without their parents. Many parents let their children take part in some kinds of holiday camps in order to learn some practical knowledge in their life. And also learn some knowledge about living skills, science, reading and writing... The most important for the children is to learn to look after themselves. Holiday camps in Hong Kong are not so expensive. Most of the families can afford to send their children there for further study, for making their bodies strong... It is said that students in Hong Kong have much knowledge about many things. Perhaps it has to do with the kinds of holiday camps. The cost to take part in a holiday camp is _ . A. very expensive B. not cheap C. very high D. low Answer: D. low Maxine was a happy frog that lived in a beautiful pond by the river. She loved to play in the water and take a bath every day. But her friends, Martin, Edgar, and Cindy didn't like to take baths. So one day when she was swimming alone, she met a new friend names Thomas. Thomas loved to take lots of baths, so he became friends with Maxine. But Martin, Edgar, and Cindy didn't like Thomas. So one day when Maxine and Thomas were swimming, Cindy did something mean. She threw rocks and Maxine and Thomas. Maxine's dad saw what happened and he was very mad. He went over and yelled at Cindy for what she did. After that Cindy didn't throw any rocks, and Maxine and Thomas could swim together and take lots of baths. They were very happy since they could play in the water as much as they wanted without other frogs being mean to them. Who loves to take lots of baths? A. Cindy B. Thomas C. Edgar D. Martin Answer: B. Thomas 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. New research shows that the healthy brain may hold memories which we don't even remember. In The Journal of Neuroscience, experts report that the brain might hold more memories than people realize, but that restoring those memories can be tricky. Memory Check First, participants saw a list of 120 real words mixed with 80 nonsense words. Next, they saw another word list and tried to remember which words had been on the first list. Meanwhile, their brains were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging. While participants reviewed the second word list, their brain scans showed more activity in a certain brain area -- the posterior median temporal lobe -- when they saw words that had been on the first word list. But participants didn't always remember that they'd seen those words before. Sometimes, they _ and said they hadn't seen those words before. In other words, the posterior median temporal lobe was more sensitive to memory than participants' consciousness, the researchers note. "Album"of Memories Another part of the median temporal lobe also attracted the scientists' attention. The anterior median temporal lobe showed more activity when participants thought they were seeing a new word, the study shows. So, why did participants sometimes mess up their memory recall? It might be that two parts of their brain -- the posterior and anterior median temporal lobes -- might be dueling for the upper hand in deciding what actually happened in the past, the study notes. In other words, memories might have a photo album in the brain, but sometimes we forget what's on all of the photo album's pages. According to the passage the researchers are _ . A. studying how a person remembers things B. studying a magazine The Journal of Neuroscience C. examining posterior and anterior median temporal lobes D. doing experiments to find out what disturbs a person's memory Answer: D. doing experiments to find out what disturbs a person's memory In the past, writing wasn't very common in West Africa. In fact none of the major early civilizations of West Africa developed a written language. Arabic was the only written language they used. The lack of a native written language does not mean that the people of West Africa didn't know their history, though. They passed on their tradition orally. An oral history is a spoken record of past event. The task of remembering and telling West Africa's history was given to storytellers. The storytellers of early West Africa were called griots. They enjoyed high social status because the people of West Africa were very interested in the deeds of their ancestors. Griots helped keep this history alive for each new generation. The griots' stories were both entertaining and informative. They told of important past events and of the accomplishments of distant ancestors. For example, some stories explained the rise and fall of the West Africa empires. Other stories described the actions of powerful kings and warriors. Some griots made their stories livelier by acting out the events like scenes in a play. In addition to stories, the griots recited proverbs, or short sayings of wisdom or truth. They used proverbs to teach lessons to the people. One West Africa proverb warns, "Talking doesn't fill the basket on the farm." This proverb reminds people that they must labor to accomplish things. It is not enough for people just to talk about what they want to do. In order to tell their stories and proverbs, the griots memorized hundreds of names and events. Through this memorization process the griots passed on West African history from generation to generation. However, some griots confused names and events in their heads. When this happened, the facts of some historical events became distorted. The text is mainly about _ . A. why storytellers appeared in West Africa B. an unusual profession in West Africa C. how the griots helped preserve history D. the early civilization of West Africa Answer: C. how the griots helped preserve history
Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in all living organisms. Which describes the greatest difference between the cells of a baby gorilla and the cells of an adult gorilla? A. The adult has more cells than the baby. B. The baby has simpler cells than an adult. C. The baby has smaller cells than the adult. D. The adult has different types of cells than the baby. Answer: A A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was showed in an _ experience. One day, I happened to meet an Englishman, on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished, gently shaking his head ,shrugging his shoulders, saying, "You don't say! You don't say!" I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this is not a proper topic.Well, I had better change the topic. So I said to him, "Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?" "Certainly, everybody back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent(,)." He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. "The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it. " Soon I was interrupted again by his order "You don't say!" I couldn't help asking, "Why do you ask me not to talk about it?" "Well, I didn't request you to do so," He answered, greatly surprised. I said, "Didn't you say you don't say?" Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, "You don't say actually means really? It is an expression of surprise Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms" Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. When I first heard " You don't say!" I thought _ . A. the Englishman was not interested in my English studies B. the Englishman was only interested in the Great Wall C. I had talked too much D. I had to stop talking at once Answer: A Recent developments in astronomy have made it possible to detect planets in our own Milky Way and in other galaxies. This is a major achievement because,in terms,planets are very small and do not give out light. Finding planets is proving hard enough, but finding life on them will prove _ more difficult. The first question to answer is whether a planet can actually support life. In our own solar system,for example,Venus is far too hot and Mars is far too cold to support life. Only the Earth provides ideal conditions,and even here it has taken more than four billion years for plant and animal life to evolve . Whether a planet can support life depends on the size and brightness of its star, that is its "sun". Imagine a star up to twenty times larger, brighter and hotter than our own sun. A planet would have to be a very long way from it to be capable of supporting life. On the contrary, if the star were small,the life--supporting planet would have to have a close orbit round it and also provide the perfect conditions for life forms to develop. But how would we fund such a planet? At present, there is no telescope in existence that is capable of detecting the presence of life. _ . It is impossible to look for life on another planet using earth--based telescopes. Our own warm atmosphere and the heat generated by the telescope would make it impossible to detect objects as small as planets. Even a telescope in orbit round the earth like the very successful Hubble telescope,would not be suitable because of the dust particles in our solar system. A telescope would have to be as far away as the planet Jupiter to look for life in outer space because the dust becomes thinner the further we travel towards the outer edges of our own solar system. Once we detected a planet,we would have to find a way of blocking out the light from its star, so that we would be able to "see" the planet properly and analyze its atmosphere. In the first instance, we would be looking for plant life,rather than "little green men" . The life forms most likely to develop on a planet would be bacteria. It is bacteria that have generated the oxygen we breathe on earth. For most of the earth's history they have been the only form of life on our planet. As Earth-dwellers,we always cherish the hope that we will be visited by little green men and that we will be able to communicate with them. But this hope only exists in science fiction. If we were able to discover lowly forms of life like bacteria on another planet,it would completely change our view of ourselves. As Daniel Goldin of NASA observed,"Finding life elsewhere would change everything. No human efforts or thought would be unchanged by it." Why are planets in other solar systems much more difficult to detect than stars? A. Because of the dust particles in our own solar system B. Because of the limitations of earth-based telescope C. Because even the Hubble is not powerful enough to see beyond the Milky Way. D. Because planets are small and dark,and stars are large and radiant Answer: D You've probably known the crazy traffic in Beijing. Sometimes the cars could hardly move for a long time. The terrible traffic is caused by the poor road and China's ability to cope with so many cars on the road at the same time. With more Chinese people buying cars every day, the problem seems to only get worse. But a design company called Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment has a possible solution: the super bus. The super bus would carry up to 1,400 people in its passenger compartment . It would travel on a rail system that would be elevated above the roads, so cars could drive under it. The bus will run on electricity and solar power, creating far less pollution than that from the cars it would be replacing . Beijing authorities haven't decided whether to create railways for the super bus throughout the city. But they are willing to give it a test drive. Later 2010, the company will test for the first time and in 2011 and 2012, the company will test the super bus with passengers. According to the government, Beijing is probably to have five million cars on the road by the end of 2010. So it seems to be necessary to start taking the bus instead soon. _ caused the terrible traffic in Beijing. A. The drivers B. The roads C. The buses D. The government Answer: B something in a cold place becomes what? A. warmish B. toasty C. hot D. chilly Answer: D
Dear XXX, As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write a letter to you to tell you all that is on my mind. First, I want to tell you how proud we are. You have become a talented and accomplished young woman. You should be as proud of yourself as we are. College will be the most important years in your life. It is in college that you will truly discover what learning is about. You often question "what good is this course". I encourage you to be inquisitive , but I also want to tell you: "Education is what you have left after all that is taught is forgotten." What I mean by that is -- the material taught isn't as important as you gaining the ability to learn a new subject, and the ability to analyze a new problem. Do your best in classes, but don't let pressure get to you. If you graduate and learn something in your four years, we would feel happy. Your Columbia degree will take you far, even if you don't graduate with honors. So please don't give yourself pressure. The only thing that matters is that you learned. The only measurement you should use is that you tried. Most importantly, make friends and be happy. College friends are often the best in life, because during college you are closer to them physically than to your family. Also, going through independence and adulthood is a natural bonding experience. Pick a few friends and become really close to them -- pick the ones who are genuine and sincere to you. Don't worry about their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities. If you think you like someone, tell her. You have very little to lose. People are not perfect, so as long as they are genuine and sincere, trust them and be good to them. They will give back. This is my secret of success -- that I am genuine with people and trust them (unless they do something to lose my trust). College is the four years where you have: the greatest amount of free time the first chance to be independentk%s5$u the most flexibility to change the lowest risk for making mistakes So please treasure your college years - make the best of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny. May Columbia become the happiest four years in your life, and may you blossom into just what you dream to be. Love, XXX According to the writer of the letter, college is a time _ . Answer: during which one needs to learn to be independent The brothers Grimm , Jacob and Wihelm are synonymous with fairytales. The stories they gathered have been read by millions of children in all countries over the last two hundred years. It's difficult to think that any children could not be attracted by a tale like Red Riding Hood ,which never seems to grow old. This year, Dec20 marked the 200thanniversary of publication of the tales. The Brimms collected the stories and gave them to the world because they wanted to show what German culture was about. In their time, Germany was not yet a nation; it was a collection of little states. Like many patriotic intellectuals ,they thought they could help people in German territories to understand their own traditions. Quite a few adult were shocked by brothers Grimm's work. They wrote about a wolf who eats a little girl's grandmother and an awful old woman who wants to put Hansel and Gretel in a stove. In fact, the original Grimm fairy tales are often far more unpleasant, and more adult in theme .There is a lot of cruelty too. In the wedding scene of Snow White ,the stepmother dances in red-hot iron shoes that kills her. However, other people came along and made these stories more "suitable" for children. The modern children's writer Philip Pullman recently published a book of his versions of some Grimm tales. He points out that the Grimms themselves changed the stories, but for the better. They knew how to hold the attention of readers. "A Grimm tale," he says, "moves with a dreamlike speed from event to event, pausing only to say as much as is needed and no more." So, when we read a story from Grimms' collection, we're getting something from old Germany, but our enjoyment is also thanks to the brothers' great storytelling skills. By mentioning Philip Pullman, the author intends to _ . Answer: prove the excellence of the Grimm fairy tales Bright red post boxes, the Queen and queuing--what do they all have in common? They are all important parts of British life. At least I thought so. However, the ability to queue for long periods of time, once believed to be a traditional characteristic of the British, is no longer tolerated by people in the UK, according to a survey done for British bank Barclays. Once upon a time, queuing was seen as normal. During World WarII, everyone had to queue up to receive their daily supply of foods. In fact, if you didn't stand up and wait in line with all the others, it was seen as uncivilized. The famous English double-decker buses, with only one entrance, might also help explain why queuing was seen as a part of British life. Almost always, there is queue to get on. www.zxxk.com But perhaps the British are tired of being pushed past by the Spanish, the Italians or the French as they queue up to get a table at a restaurant. The people of these other European countries have more than one entrance to their buses, which explains their more relaxed attitude to the queue. Two minutes is now the longest time most British people are prepared to stand and wait. But could it be that the Internet, which allows us to carry out tasks quickly, is the main reason why British people are no longer prepared to queue? "Used to buying without delay, customers are even giving up purchases rather than wait their turn," says Stuart Neal of Barclaycard. "Shoppers are also less likely to queue for long if the item they are buying is of low value." Perhaps I will have to replace "queuing" with "impatience" in my list of things I relate to the British. It can be learned from the text that _ . Answer: the British get impatient with queuing for long In recent years advances in medical technology have made it possible for people to live longer than in the past. New medicines and instruments are being developed every day to extend life. However,some people,including some doctors, are not in favour of these life extending measures,and they argue that people should have the right to die when they want. They say that the quality of life is as important as life itself,and that people should not be forced to go on living when conditions of life have become unbearable(. They say that people should be allowed to die with dignity and to decide when they want to die. Others argue that life under any conditions is better. Why do some patients want to die? Because _ . Answer: they are seriouly ill My first full-time job after high school was selling vacation packages via the telephone for a well-known company. One day, I was put through to a man who sounded a bit out of breath. I started with my normal pitch , expecting to hear the normal reply --"I don't want any." Instead, he spoke in a faint, weak voice and told me how he wished to take a vacation I was offering, but he couldn't because he was dying of illness. He explained how he was lacking in oxygen then, and it took almost all his energy to answer the call. He asked if I smoked, which I did, and begged me to stop. He told me smoking was what was killing him. He told me to spend every day with my loved ones, and tell them how much I love them. At this point, I couldn't control myself. We ended the call, but I held on my phone to prevent another call coming in so I could _ I wrote down his name and address, and sent him a card appreciating his advice and praying for him and his family. Shortly after, I received a letter from Frank, along with a picture of him and his wife. We continued to write back and forth over the next few months, and became very fond of each other. He was old enough to be my grandfather, and in many ways, I felt as if he was. About a year later I received a letter from his wife. When I started to read, tears came to my eyes. She told me how Frank's battle with the disease had finally come to an end, and he passed away shortly before the Christmas. She wanted to thank me for the letters to Frank, and explained how Frank touched many lives over the years. At his funeral, to show just that, they read the 1st letter I had written to Frank to show how he affected a 19-year-old he'd never met. We can learn from the text that the author _ . Answer: kept in touch with Frank through letters until he died
Parents on South Australia's Aboriginal lands may lose some of their financial aid if they do not send their children to school. The new rules draw wide concern. Mundine is Prime Minister Tony Abbott's top advisor on issues concerning Aboriginals, native Australians. "Now, I know the government needs some necessary measures but I think punishing the parents is really the last choice." Mr. Mundine says the situation can be changed if the tribal leaders support education. "We need to work with parents and communities because we are making a huge cultural change here." But other officials say they believe the threat of stopping aid will force families to take education more seriously. The State of South Australia says it has special programs for Aboriginal children. The students work with their parents and teachers first to develop a personal learning plan and the public schools provide special workers to work individually with Aboriginal students. At the age of seven, Aboriginal students can join a program called Enter for Success designed to attract students to school. The students can choose which high school to attend and receive support in reaching the goals on their individual learning plans. The State of Western Australia also has special programs for Aboriginal and other ethnic groups. The state operates a program called Focus Schools which centers on basic skills like reading, writing and counting. 67% of these public focus schools serve the students in 79 very rural areas. Most of them are primary schools. The Focus Schools program also includes 118 coaches working with students in 134 schools. What's the aim of the new regulations? To improve Aboriginal children's school attendance. Mr. Weeks is fifty years old. He's taught maths in a middle school for twenty years. He works and always comes to his office on time. He hopes his students will be honest and he is strict with them. Some of his students have become famous persons, but they still remember him and often write to him. Of course the man is proud of them. This term he began to teach Grade One. Some of the new students were told about him, but the others didn't know about him. On the first day of school he told the students how to be an honest person. He gave them some examples and said, "I don't like telling a lie." Before class was over, he told all his students to finish Exercise 8 in Lesson 1. The next morning, as soon as he came into the classroom, he asked. "Who's finished Exercise 8?" A few students raised their hands. He shook his head and said. "Open your workbooks and see if there's Exercise 8 in Lesson 1." The students had a look at their workbooks and their faces turned red at once. Mr. Weeks told his students to finish Exercise8 in Lesson1 because _ . he wanted to know if they were honest Do we really know what dinosaurs looked like? Of course we do. We see them everywhere, not only in museums, but also in movies, magazines, and even in the toys we get from McDonald's. Since the days of early cinema, dinosaurs have captured our imaginations. They are often shown as scaly beasts with sharp horns and crocodile-like bellies . But the big screen dinosaurs are "a leap from what we know", Mark Norell, who studies dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, told Discover magazine. The reality of drawing dinosaurs for movie studios, magazines, or museums is that the artist often only has half of a skeleton to work with. Many existing and newly-discovered dinosaurs do not have a complete skeleton, which makes it difficult to tell what they looked like. And even with a complete skeleton, there is a lot of room for interpretation. "Look at an elephant's trunk and ears," Jason Brougham, a dinosaur sculptor at the American Museum of Natural History, told Discover magazine. "It's impossible to guess those features by only looking at the skeleton." Researchers suggest that the dinosaurs of old could have had trunks like an elephant or even red necks like a turkey. They could have had colorful spots, stripes , and other interesting patterns on their bodies, just like snakes. Yet, with only a few fossilized bones to study, it is impossible to know for sure. Remember the cruel and quick-running velociraptors in the US film Jurassic Park? Now experts believe that they were much smaller than in the movies, about the size of a large chicken, the BBC has reported. Since the 1990s, some well-preserved dinosaur fossils have been found in China's Liaoning province. Thanks to that, we have known for a while that one group of dinosaurs was covered in feathers. And thanks to the recent discovery of a feathered plant-eating species in Russia, many scientists now believe more dinosaurs than we previously thought had feathers, much like a chicken. Also, in 2007, scientists confirmed that the closest living relative of T-Rex, the most feared and famous of all the dinosaurs, is a chicken. Now, who are you calling "chicken"? Jason Brougham used the elephant as an example to show that _ . it is hard to know certain features of dinosaurs just by studying their fossils and skeletons Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are a lot of expressions about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries . If someone looks very proud and satisfied with himself, we say "he looks like the cat that ate the canary." Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches. So if you "play cat and mouse" with someone, it means that you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example, a girl might offer something sweet to her little brother and then take it away when he reaches for it. Americans might say that something is "the cat's miaow" or "the cat's pajamas " to describe something that is the best or finest. "A copycat" is someone who acts just like someone else or copies another person's work. "A fat cat" is a person with a lot of money. If you tell about something that is supposed to be a secret, we say you "let the cat out of the bag". If you are not able to speak or answer a question, someone might ask you if "the cat has got your tongue " Have you ever watched children in a classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? "When the cat's away, the mice will play" means people sometimes act badly when there is no supervision . You may have heard the expression "curiosity killed the cat". This means caring too much about things that are not your business might cause problems. If you have ever had cats as pets, you know it is difficult to train them or to get them to do something. Cats are not like Sheep or cows that can be moved in a group. So we say a difficult or impossible job is like "herding cats " Where can you most probably find the passage? In a language book that teaches students how to use American slang. How to Be a Better Student Maybe you are a common student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessary so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here's how: Plan your time carefully. When you plan your week, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First set your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don't forget to set aside enough time for entertainment. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time. Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television! When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject. Make good use of your time in class. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teachers say. Really listening in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says. Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. This will help you understand the next class. If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be over worried. There are other methods that might help you with your studying. You will probably discover them after you have tried these. The writer gives you _ methods to help you in the passage. Five.
Prince Roman was a Polish nobleman, a captain in the army of Czar Nicholas of Russia. When his young wife died, the prince left the army and returned in sorrow to his native Poland. In time, love for his country and its people took the place of his lost love. He joined a Polish rising against the Russians. The rising was crushed, and Prince Roman was taken prisoner. His relatives and friends begged the military court to have mercy on him. The president of the court received these appeals kindly. He was a good Russian, but he was also a good-natured man. Russian hatred of Poles was not as fierce at that time as it became later; and the Russian felt sympathetic as soon as he saw the prince's thin, tired, sun-burnt face. The court of three officers sat in a bare room, behind a long black table. Some clerks sat at the two ends, but no one else was there when the guards brought in the prince. Those four walls shut out from Prince Roman all sights and sounds of freedom, all hopes of the future, all comforting thoughts. How much love for Poland remained in him then? How much love of life? He stood before his judges alone, having refused their permission to sit. He answered their first formal questions -- his name and so on -- clearly and politely although he felt too weary to talk. Then the president of the court seemed to suggest how the young man could best help himself. He asked questions in a way that almost put the right answers in the prisoner's mouth. "Didn't your wife's death drive you to despair? Wasn't your mind unbalanced by that sad event ?" Prince Roman was silent. "You were not fully responsible for you conduct, were you?" Prince Roman was silent. "You made a sudden blind decision to join the rising. You didn't realize that your actions were dangerous and dishonourable. Isn't that the truth of this unfortunate matter?" The judges looked at the prisoner hopefully. In silence the prince reached for a pen and some paper. He wrote, "I joined the rising because I believe it was just." He pushed the paper towards the president, who took it and read it in silence. Prince Roman was sentenced to hard work for life in the Siberian salt mines. It was a sentence of delayed death. When Czar Nicholas read the report and sentence, he added in his own handwriting, "Make sure that this prisoner walks in chains every step of the way to Siberia." What does the passage tell us of Poland at the time? A. Polish officers in the Russian army had to return to Poland. B. Russia was at war with Poland, so the Poles were enemies. C. The Russians were very cruel rulers of Poland. D. It was ruled by Russia, and Poles served in the Russian army. Answer: D. It was ruled by Russia, and Poles served in the Russian army. The girl looking for the job turned out to be excellent but she ended up giving her employer a headache when it also turned out that she used an unreal diploma . In December, a Civil Administration Bureau in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, announced that it needed five new staff members. Some 120 people applied and took the exam. Applicants were required to show proof of a college degree at least. Mei Jing beat everyone in the test and the interview. When a follow-up check was done, however, her education certificate was discovered to be an unreal one. This was a bit of an embarrassment for the employers. A _ one might say. If she were hired because of her excellent performance, she still wouldn't have the qualifications on paper. But, if she were dropped because she didn't meet the education requirements, they would lose a good worker. Tough problem! While Mei's future hangs in the balance, the public having learned of the case got involved. Some people said the Bureau should employ her, since results are the only important thing. "After all, ability is more important than a diploma, "said one office worker. Others, however, have attacked Mei's dishonesty. They said that morality was, after all, more important than talent, especially in the case of a government position. Mei wasn't honest, so she shouldn't be hired. But, Shen Ronghua, the head of the Shanghai Public Administration and Human Resources Institute, tries to be a bit more philosophical. "There is still a sort of 'diploma means this' prejudice among people," Shen explains, "Many employers regard a diploma as the only sign of ability and talent." So, with this in mind, people may pay little attention to whether someone has real ability or not. They turn to chasing a diploma instead. The unreal diploma is the natural product of this thought. The conclusion? "China needs a new human resource system. The new system will not define a person only by his or her diploma, " Shen says. Which of the following do you think is the best title of this news report? A. A Girl's Unlucky Experience. B. Unreal Diploma. C. Dishonesty Has Been Attacked. D. Can A Diploma Be All There Is. Answer: D. Can A Diploma Be All There Is. Not many people can say that they have lived in two totally different environments, and technically neither can I. I have lived in the same house in the same Connecticut town my whole life, but a lot of my childhood and teenage years have been spent visiting my family in New York City. Wethersfield is a typical New England town, a small close community where almost everyone knows your name. My friends all go to the same high school and my parents are friendly with my friends' parents. Most of my friends don't realize what life is like outside this little town. Maybe every so often a few take a day trip to Manhattan or Boston, but none really knows what it's like to live in an urban environment. My parents are both from New York City and since they have _ and friends who still live there, we visit a lot. From an early age I have been exposed to urban life. Jeff, one of my cousins, lives with his mother in a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. He has never had his own room and has always been very much on his own. I don't think any of my friends could understand how someone could live like that. www.zxxk.com When I go to the city I see things I would never see in my hometown. I see poverty and people struggling to make a living. I observe a whole different pace; there, you're just one guy living with millions of others who will never know your name. I feel blessed to have experienced the lifestyles of two completely different places. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had. I feel that living in Wethersfield has given me a solid base in forming my character and the ability to deal in a close-knit society. On the other hand, my time spent in New York has exposed me to diverse cultural experiences. I feel that I would be comfortable in any environment and could make the best of any situation. What could be the best title for the passage? A. A Small Town and a Big City B. A Man of Two Different Worlds C. Experience Various Environments D. Make the Best of Diverse Cultures Answer: B. A Man of Two Different Worlds London Underground The world's first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time,the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems,the idea of the London Underground,the first subway system,was born. The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays,but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. About 30,000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to comfortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed), and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However, the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot , as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems,riding in the Underground did . It carried 9 million riders in its first year. What led the British government to build the London Underground? A. Traffic jams and pollution. B. Population and pollution. C. Overcrowding and traffic jams. D. The poverty and subway problems. Answer: C. Overcrowding and traffic jams. Psychology has a new application in the field of medicine. Many doctors, together with their patients, are looking for alternative methods of treatment of physical problems. In large hospitals, modern therapy seems to focus on the physical disease. Patients may feel they are treated like broken machines. Some doctors have recognized this as a problem. They are now using psychological therapy, in which the patient is working with the doctors against the disease with the help of medicine. The patient does not wait for the medicine and treatment to cure him or her, but instead the patient joins in the fight. The doctor knows that a disease affects a patient's body physically. The body of the patient changes because of the disease. He is not only physically affected, but also has an emotional response to the disease. Because his mind is affected, his attitude and behavior change. The medical treatment might cure the patient's physical problems, but the patient's mind must fight the emotional ones. For example, the studies of one doctor, Carl Simonton, M. D., have shown that a typical cancer patient has predictable attitudes. She typically feels depressed, upset, and angry. Her constant depression makes her acts unfriendly toward her family, friends, doctors, and nurses. Such attitudes and behaviors prevent recovery. Therefore, a doctor's treatment must help the patient change that. Simonton's method emphasizes treatment of the "whole" patient. The attitude of a cancer patient receiving radiation therapy, an X-ray treatment, can become more positive. The physician who is following Simonton's psychological treatment plan suggests that the patient imagine that he or she can see the tumor in the body. In the mental picture, the patient "sees" a powerful beam of radiation like a million bullets of energy. The patient imagines the beam hitting the tumor cells and causing them to shrink. For another cancer patient, Dr. Simonton asks him to imagine the medicine going from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the cancer cells. The patient imagines that the medicine is like an army fighting the diseased cells and sees the cancer cells gradually dying and his blood carry away the dead cells. Both the medical therapy and the patient's positive attitude fight the disease. Doctors are not certain why this mental therapy works. However, this use of psychology does help some patients because their attitudes about themselves change. They become more confident because they use the power within their own minds to help stop the disease. Another application of using the mind to help cure disease is the use of suggestion therapy. At first, the doctor helps the patient to concentrate deeply. The patient thinks only about one thing. He becomes so unaware of other things around him that he is asleep, or rather in a trance . Then the physician makes "a suggestion" to the patient about the medical problem. The patient's mind responds to the suggestion even after the patient is no longer in the trance. In this way, the patient uses his mind to help his body respond to treatment. Doctors have learned that this use of psychology is helpful for both adults and children. For example, physicians have used suggestion to help adults deal with the strong pain of some disease. Furthermore, sometimes the adult patient worries about her illness so much that the anxiety keeps her from getting well. The right suggestions may help the patient to stop being anxious. Such treatment may help the patient with a chronic diseases. Asthma is an example of a chronic disorder. Asthma is a disease that causes the patient to have difficulty in breathing. The patient starts to cough and sometimes has to fight to get the air that he or she needs. Psychology can help relieve the symptoms of this disorder. After suggestion therapy, the asthma patient breathes more easily. Physicians have learned that the psychological method is very useful in treating children. Children respond quickly to the treatment because they are fascinated by it. For example, Dr. Basil R. Collison has worked with 121 asthmatic children in Sydney, Australia, and had good results. Twenty-five of the children had Excellent results. They were able to breathe more easily, and they did not need medication. Another forty-three were also helped. The symptoms of the asthma occurred less frequently, and when they did, they were not as strong. Most of the children also felt better about themselves. Doctors have also used suggestion to change habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking, and sleep-related problems. Many professional medical groups have accepted the medical use of psychology and that psychology has important applications in medicine. What does the passage mainly discuss? A. How suggestion therapy benefits adults and children. B. How modern therapy focuses on the disease. C. Responses from the medical world. D. How to use the mind against disease. Answer: D. How to use the mind against disease.
Irene's Thai For Reservations Call 62473579 12.24 Christmas Eve Dinner 198 RMB per person including coffee and tea. Each guest invited to select a special surprise from our Xmas Tree. 12.25 Special Christmas Thai buffet brunch from 11 am to 4 pm. Includes soft drinks, coffee & tea. 98 RMB per person. 12.31 New Year Buffet Dinner 200 RMB per person. You can eat with exotic Thai Dancing. Show times at 8 pm & 9 pm. Monday & Friday, you can eat AlaCarte Menu. 150 RMB, including soft drinks & draught beer. Book now for your Christmas Party The Place: Club Pegasus The Party: New Year's Eve!!! The Price: 100 RMB Open Bar!!! 8:00 pm -- 1:00 am The Reason: Great Music, Beautiful People, Life, Love, Fun, Excitement!!! Merry Christmas from the crew at Pegasus 50 RMB Entrance includes two complimentary drinks. Champagne Toast at Midnight If ever there was a time to enjoy oneself, that time is now!!! The best way to make a reservation at Irene's is by _ . Answer: phone This story is about a young man.He worked very hard at his lessons.He was too busy to have a rest.At last, he became ill, so he couldn't go to sleep.Every night, when he went to bed, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.But the more he tried, the more he stayed awake. After a while he decided to visit the doctor."I just can't go to sleep at night.What should I do?" "I have a suggestion," said the doctor."Try counting numbers.By the time you reach one thousand, you'll be asleep.I'm sure of it." The next day the man returned to the doctor's office."Well," said the doctor, "how are you today? Did you try my suggestion?" The man still looked tired."Yes," he said, "I tried counting one, two, three...up to one thousand.But when I reached five hundred and sixty-nine, I began to feel sleepy.I had to get up and drink some tea so that I could go on counting up to one thousand.But then I still couldn't fall asleep." The young man couldn't go to sleep because _ . Answer: he had worked too hard and became ill In our life,we may meet people with different personalities .What is your personality type ?Read about the following and find out! A Dreamer thinks there is a"right"way to do things.This person wants to live in the"perfect world".Many are good listeners and like to help others.Many Dreamers work as teachers,and often lead others.Famous Dreamers:Mohandas Gandhi,Angelina Jolie. A Partner wants to be in a group.For this person,rules are important.They consider tradition to be of great value.Partners are often serious,careful people.Many do well as teachers,managers and police officers.Famous Partners:Queen Elizabeth II,Mother Teresa. For Thinkers,understanding things is very important.They like to deal with problems and make new things.Thinkers can also be active.They like to win.They have very strong opinions.Many Thinkers work as scientists,inventors and engineers.Famous Thinkers:Bill Gates,Stephen Hawking. Artists want to be free.They don't want to follow the rules all the time.They also like trying new things.Like Thinkers,many Artists have strong opinions.They are creative and do well as musicians and actors.Famous Artists:Cristiano Ronaldo,Madonna. How many personality types are mentioned in the passage? Answer: Four. Stopping teens from smoking is a big challenge many communities face today. Many communities can only watch without being able to act while local businesses continue to sell tobacco products to children, even under the risk of punishment by law. Recent studies show that a large percentage of teens today are getting their cigarettes from stores, mostly gas stations or convenience stores. As teens continue to be able to buy their own cigarettes, more and more communities begin to punish those who sell cigarettes to the teens. One community has experienced success in their attempts to stop the sale of tobacco products to children. Woodridge, Illinois, started a program seven years ago which forbade and strictly punished the sale of tobacco products to children. The entire program includes local licensing of vendors , repeated undercover inspections to see if the sale to children has stopped, and education programs in schools. Woodridge has become a model community as other communities are moving to stop teen tobacco use. A recent national study showed that 36.5% of females, and 40.8% of males buy their cigarettes from stores, whether it is a gas station or a supermarket. Hopefully, as more and more sellers see the trouble they face if caught selling to children, they will stop selling. True, tightening down on stores that sell tobacco to children isn't going to completely stop the problem of teen tobacco use. Teens continue to get them from other sources. But it definitely does prevent their efforts. With more education in schools, and perhaps stronger punishments for teens caught with tobacco, more and more teens will see the problems with the tobacco usage, and will stop the habit. What attitude does the writer have towards stopping teen tobacco abuse? Answer: Optimistic Lying in the sun on a rock , the cougar saw Jeb and his son Tom before they saw it . Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands , making himself look big to the cougar . It worked . The cougar hesitated , ready to attack Jeb , but ready to forget the whole thing , too . Jeb let go of his jacket , grasped Tom and held him across his body , making a cross . Now the cougar's enemy looked even bigger , and it rose up , ready to move away , but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb . " Tom , no ! " shouted his father . But Tom broke and ran and that's the last thing you do with a cougar . The second Tom broke free , Jeb threw himself on the cougar , just as it jumped from the rock . They hit each other in mid-air and both fell . The cougar was on Jeb in a flash , leaving Tom alone , which was what Jeb wanted . Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance , even with just his fists . As the cougar's claws got into his left shoulder , Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard . The animal howled and put its head back . Jeb followed up with his other fist . Then out of the corner of his eye , Jeb saw Tom . The boy was running back to help his father . " knife , Tom , " shouted Jeb . The boy ran to his father's bag , while Jeb started shouting as well as hitting , to keep the cougar's attention away from Tom . Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb . The cougar was moving its head in and out , trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms . Tom swung with the knife , into the cougar's back . It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains . The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds . Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar ? Answer: To frighten it away .
Group Tours of the Area of the 2012 Sites These are recommended tours for groups. Individual visitors wishing to join please click here. East London and the Olympic Park Tour From Central London, travel through London's East End -- recently fashionable, multicultural residential areas, and once famous for market gardens, fine churches, and shipping-related industries. Hear a little of the dark side with stories of Jack-the-Ripper and street gangs. Now into the 21st century, you arrive at the Olympic Park, already under construction. Imagine the 80,000-seat Main Stadium, the Multi-Sports Arena, Aquatics Centre, Velodrome, Olympic Village, Broadcasting & Media Centre and Stratford City. For those who have a whole day in which to see East London we recommend a morning East London and Olympic Park tour combined with an afternoon Olympic Greenwich tour. 2012 Sites Tour The tour starts in Stratford where you view the work in progress on the Olympic Park. Hear the history of London's Royal Docks, as you travel to the Boxing, Judo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Table Tennis and Taekwondo venue. View the O2 Arena. See the new London City Airport, Thames Barrier Park, University of East London, new waterside apartments and smart hotels. For those who have a whole day in which to see 2012 Olympic London we recommend a morning 2012 Olympic Sites tour combined with an afternoon 2012 Olympic Greenwich tour. 2012 Greenwich Tour Greenwich will host 6 Olympic events.Your tour of Greenwich will include the Greenwich Park, where the equestrian events will take place. Cross the Meridian Line to see the large buildings at Woolwich. Finally, we can show you the exciting developments taking place on the Greenwich Peninsular, which will be hosting a number of Olympic events. If you want to visit the place where the equestrian events will take place, which tour will you choose? A East London and the Olympic Park Tour B 2012 Sites Tour C 2012 Greenwich Tour D Olympic Park Tour Answer: C Only after the straight-talking repairman handed me the bill and waved goodbye did I finally acknowledge the painful truth: Our 20-year-old clothes dryer was not going to last. I turned to my husband. "He says we're throwing good money after bad," I sighed. "I think he's right." "When do you want to go shopping for a new one?" my husband asked. I glanced out the window, admiring the sunlight dancing on the big-leaf maples in our backyard. Perfect drying weather. Suddenly, I recalled my mother hanging laundry on a clothesline during my childhood. My sister and I had played hide-and-seek among the sweet-smelling sheets waving in the wind. I suddenly had a plan. After the wash cycle, we covered the maples with damp blue jeans, shirts, socks and towels. The only things that didn't go outside were my underpants. And I persuaded my shameless husband to let his big boxer shorts stay indoors, too. There is a secret pleasure to hanging laundry outdoors. It is the perfect excuse to get up from the computer. While checking on the laundry in the backyard, I could commune not only with cotton T-shirts, but also my cats. I could watch cautious deer run through the yard with their young, listen to nervous squirrels in trees and observe a family of wild turkeys by the road. I returned to my desk refreshed. And, except for the sandpaper feel of sun-dried bath towels, the drying method was a complete success. When autumn came, I'd scan the horizon each day to evaluate the chances of sun-drying. One morning I saw rain clouds. I had a load of wet clothes in my arms and no place to put them. I found my husband. Together we hung laundry throughout the house. Then my husband gave me a hug and a smile. "I think it's time to buy a dryer..." he said, "... like, today." "Good idea," I said, just as the infamous Oregon rain started. Our sun-dried laundry habit was finished for the season. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article? A The author has stopped sun-drying since autumn started. B The author later became fed up with the trouble of hanging up her clothes. C The author listened to weather reports every day when autumn came. D The author realized sun-drying was seasonal and thus had its disadvantages Answer: D Tom was a poor boy. He made a living by cleaning leather shoes for others in the street. Tom was also a clever boy. One day, a very rich man with the name Miser appeared in front of Tom. He watched his dirty shoes for a while, and then looked at Tom. Tom knew this kind of people well: they love money very much and hate to spend it. Tom said, "Let me clean your shoes, sir." "For nothing?" the rich man asked. "Only two pence, sir." Mr Miser shook his head and walked away. Tom thought for a moment and then called out, "I'd like to clean it for nothing!" This time Mr Miser agreed. And soon one of his shoes was shining brightly. When the rich man put his other shoe on the stool , Tom said he wouldn't clean it for him unless he was paid two pence for his work. Mr Miser was very angry. He refused to pay anything and went away with a smile on his face. But to his surprise, the well-cleaned shoe was so bright that it made the other one look even dirtier. Mr Miser took a look around. People in the street were laughing at him. He couldn't walk on any further. Finally the rich man returned and gave Tom two pence. In a very short time his two shoes shone brightly. The story happened _ . A in a shoe shop B in the street C at the rich man's house D near the boy's home Answer: B An estimated eight million people in Britain enjoy walking in the Peak District every year. But what many who enjoy outdoor hobbies don't know is that their "right to walk" was won by men who sacrificed their own freedom to gain access to the countryside for all. In 1932 wealthy landowners had private use of large areas of uplands for hunting. Walkers were kept out by guards, until a group of 400 people from Manchester and Yorkshire, led by Benny Rothman, engaged on a mass trespass . The campaigner was put into prison with four other men. The event is supported by many with starting a movement that paved the way for the establishment of national parks. Mr Rothman died in 2002 but he is now being honoured for his contribution with the revealing of a blue plaque on his former home in Crofton Avenue, Timperley, Greater Manchester. Retired professor, Harry, who followed in his father's footsteps by specialising in environmental issues, says: "He was a very optimistic man and he made the best of it when he went to prison. It did''t put him off campaigning, he went on campaigning on environmental issues most of his life." Mr Rothman did live to see the Countryside Rights of Way Act passed by Parliament in 2000, ensuring the freedom of the countryside for future generations. Roly Smith, a friend of Mr Rothman and an author of walking guidebooks, said: "It is because of them that we have got what we have today." Councillor Jonathan Coupe, of Trafford Council, said: "The honour of having a blue plaque attributed to you means you have really made an impression on society." "Mr Rothman contributed to the changing of history and it is because of him that we are able to enjoy the local countryside as often and freely as we can today." What do we know about people in Britain according to Para. 1? A They value freedom. B They have wide interests. C They are fond of hiking. D They tend to live in the countryside. Answer: C There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world. But only a few of them are very important. English is one of them. Many, many people use it, not only in England and the USA, but also in other parts of the world. About 200,000,000 people speak it as their own language. It is difficult to say how many people are learning it as a foreign language. Many millions of people are trying to do so. Is it easy or difficult to learn English? Different people may have different answers. Have you ever noticed ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines? "Learn English in six weeks, or give your money back..." "Easy and funny..." "Our records and tapes help you master English in a month". Of course, it never happened quite like that. The only language that seems easy to learn is the mother tongue. We should remember that we all learned our own language well when we were children. If we could learn English in the same way, it would not seem so difficult. Think of what a small child does. He listens to what people say. He tries what he hears. So it is hard to say that learning English is easy. We must do a lot of practice. And practice needs great efforts and takes much time. Good teachers, record, tapes, books, and dictionaries will be helpful, but they cannot do the student's work for him. Which countries use English as the mother tongue? A China and France B Japan and Italy C England the America D Germany and France Answer: C
Most young architects--particularly those in big cities--can only dream about working in a building of their own. And making that dream come true often means finding a building no one else seems to want, which is exactly what happened to David Yocum and his partner, Brain Bell. Their building is a former automobile electrical--parts firm in Atlanta. From the outside, it looks too old, even something horrible, but open the door and you are in a wide, open courtyard, lined on three sides with rusting walls. In 2000, Yocum and Bell found this building in the city's West End. Built in 1947, the structure had been abandoned years earlier and the roof of the main building had fallen down. But the price was right, so Yocum bought it. He spent eight months of his off-hours on demolition , pulling rubbish out through the roof, because it was too dangerous to go inside the building, The demolition was hard work, but it gave him time to think about what he wanted to do, and "to treasure what was there--the walls, the rust, the light," Yocum said. "Every season, more paint falls off the walls and more rust develops. It's like an art installation in there--a slow-motion show." Since the back building had been constructed without windows, an all-glass front was added to the building to give it a view of the courtyard, and skylights were installed in the roof. The back of the building is a working area and a living room for Yocum and his wife. A sort of buffer zone between the front and the back contains a bathroom, a kitchen and a mechanical room, and the walls that separate these zones have openings that allow views through to the front of the studio and the courtyard beyond. Yocum and Bell, who have just completed an art gallery for the city, feel that the experience from the decoration of their building, focusing on the inside rather than the outside, has influenced their work. It has also given these architects a chance to show how they can make more out of less. According to the passage, it is _ for most young architects in big cities to work in a building of their own. Answer: unrealistic Everyone knows that regular bedtimes are important, especially for children. But a research by Yvonne Kelly of University College, London, shows that daughters, it seems, do benefit from regular bedtimes. Sons do not. Dr Kelly and a team of colleagues examined the bedtimes and cognitive abilities of 11,178 children born in Britain between September 2000 and January 2002, who took part in a research project called the Millennium Cohort Study. The bedtime information they used was collected during four visits interviewers made to the homes of those participating in the study. These happened when the children were nine months, three years, five years and seven years of age. Besides asking whether the children had set bedtimes on weekdays and if they always, usually, sometimes or never made them, interviewers collected information about family routines, economic circumstances and other matters--including whether children were read to before they went to sleep and whether they had a television in their bedroom. The children in question were also asked, at the ages of three, five and seven, to take standardised reading, mathematical tests, from which their IQs could be tested. Dr Kelly's report shows that by the time children had reached the age of seven, not having had a regular bedtime did seem to affect their cognition. But that was true only if they were female. On the IQ scale, whose average value is 100 points, girls who had had regular bedtimes scored between eight and nine points more than those who did not. Boys were not completely unaffected. Irregular bedtimes left their IQs about six points below those of their contemporaries at the age of three. But the distinction disappeared by the time they were seven. This difference between the sexes is puzzling. "I did not expect it, and more research is necessary." said Dr Kelly. How long did the research last? Answer: About seven years The card using a built-in voice-recognition chip requires users to give a spoken password that it recognizes. The idea is to prevent thieves from using a stolen card to buy goods online. A model built by engineers in California packs a microphone, a loudspeaker, a battery and a voice-recognition chip into a standard-sized credit card. The card is the length and width of an ordinary credit card but about three times as thick. The company now plans to make it thinner. The voice card is based on an earlier Beep card technology designed to prevent fraud in online deals. The Beep card has no microphone, but has a built-in loudspeaker to utter an audible ID signal by a computer's microphone to an online server . By confirming that signal matches the information in the card, the server can make sure that the user is not simply keying in a credit card number but actually has the card in his hand. The ID code, which only the server knows, changes each time the card is used. This prevents fraudsters recording the beeps, noting the card details and then playing back the audible ID when they key in the details later. But this earlier Beep card technology cannot prevent illegal use of stolen cards. The new voice card can. The new voice card doesn't identify itself by its ID until it has confirmed the real user's spoken password. Thieves will be unable to use the card because even if they knew the password they would have to be able to copy the owner's voice with a high degree of accuracy. The challenge for Beep card has been to develop voice-recognition and audio circuitry . The voice-recognition credit is powered by a mini battery. To extend batter life, the electronics have only to be switched on when the card is being used. Pressing a button on the card's surface allows one to hear a female voice saying, "Say your password." If the voice-recognition software proves that the password is real, it sends its ID, which the server then identifies, allowing the deal to continue. What is the problem with the model card? Answer: It is too thick. The latest fashion in Japan is posing for photos with your hand pressed against your cheek as if you have toothache. The "cavity pose" is said to make the model's face appear attractive, slimmer and smaller, which is considered more beautiful in Japan. The craze is sweeping Japanese social media, as well as fashion magazine front covers. Just recently a model of a popular culture magazine, NYLON, did a pose which looked as if she had toothache. Twitter user, Okoge, spotted it among a range of similar magazines, with front cover models all doing the same pose. Okoge posted photos of the front cover models all with the exact same toothache pose, on the social media site, writing, "Does everyone have cavities?" The image has since been re-tweeted more than 35,000 times, but this is anything but an isolated incident . Twitter and Instagram are going crazy for the pose, too. The name, which means cavity pose, is called "mushiba no poozu" or "mushibapoozu" in Japanese. Some people also refer to it as the" mushibagaitaipoozu", the "cavity hurts pose", "mushibamitainapoozu" or "looks like a cavity pose", or even, "mushibaninattapoozu" or "I got a cavity pose". According to the magazine, Kotaku, such photographs first appeared on Twitter last year in Japan. Many Japanese people said they are doing the cavity pose. And in only a few weeks, the trend has spread to art, popular cartoons and even national magazines. There have been more and more photos cropping up online from earlier this year, but whether the trend will stand the test of time remains to be seen. For what purpose did Okoge post photos on the Internet? Answer: To share interesting things with people. English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. However, English is spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over 60 countries, such as India, Singapore and in many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. In those places English is often a second language. English is also as an important international language in many other countries, like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business, and travelers to these countries use English when they get there. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English, listening to British or American music or watching American films. English has changed a lot these years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speaker doesn't come from those countries. People in Japan or Korea, for example, may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans. English will be the most widely used language in the world in the 21stcentury. This language no longer belongs to British, American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone who can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it. Which topic is the best for the passage? Answer: English around the world.
Is there a limit to the number of years that a person can expect to live? Can changes in life-style add years to one's life? Throughout history people have sought answers to these questions and others. Various myths offer the hope of great longevity. In the imaginary land of Shangri-La, for example, people are said to lead a charmed existence for a thousand years. The Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon was convinced that he would find the Foundation of Youth in what is now the state of Florida. According to the Bible, Methuselah lived to be more than 900 years old. The subject of longevity is fascinating, and scientists study individuals such as Jeanne Calment to learn about the aging process. Calment died in 1997 in Arles, France, at the age of 122. She never married, and she lived in her own apartment until moving to a retirement community when she was 109. Most scientists agree that bodies will last, at best, about 125 years. This potential has changed little since modern human beings appeared more than 100 thousand years age. Recent improvements in medicine and the environment have extended life expectancy, especially for those from poorer parts of the world. It is not clear, however, whether such improvements will lengthen life expectancy beyond a certain point. Life expectancy is the number of years an infant can be expected to live, given the conditions into which it is born. Life expectancy, therefore, is affected by nutrition, medical care, and social and political circumstances. An individual's genetic makeup is also an important factor. Children from long-lived families can hope to enjoy long lives themselves. According to recent data, the average life expectancy worldwide in 1998 was 67 years. This can be compared with an average life expectancy of 77 in the United States. In 1970 the average life expectancy worldwide was 61 years, or 6 years less than it was in 1998. This same period saw a drop in infant mortality --- the death of a child before the first birthday---from 80 births out of 1,000 to 54 births out of 1,000. According to some researchers, the rise in the average life expectancy is due primarily to the drop in infant mortality. It is not so much that adults are living to an older age. It is, rather, that more people are living into adulthood because more children are surviving beyond their first birthdays. Although it may be possible to improve the life expectancy of a particular group of people, _ . A it is more difficult to affect the rate of infant mortality B it is unlikely that one will be able to extend the potential life span of human beings in general C the process of evolution is extending the potential life span beyond 125 years D the potential that bodies will last, at best, about 125 years has changed much since modern human beings appeared Answer: B. it is unlikely that one will be able to extend the potential life span of human beings in general Is it time to kick Russia out of the BRICs ?If so, it may end up sounding like a famous ball-point pen maker--BIC. An argument is being made that Goldman Sach's famous marketing device , the BRICs, should really be the BICs. "Is Russia really worth the name BRICs?" asks Anders Aslund, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, in an article for Foreign Policy. Aslund, who is also co-author with Andrew Kuchins of "The Russian Balance Sheet", thinks the Russia of Putin and Medvedev is just not worthy of inclusion alongside Brazil, India and China in the list of future economic powerhouses. He writes: "The country's economic performance has fallen to such a weak level that one must ask whether it has any say at all on the global economy, compared with the other members of its group. I have just returned from Moscow, which is always dull around this season. For the last seven years, Russia has taken very few measures to improve its economy. Instead, the state has been living on oil and gas." Economically, Aslund has the numbers on his side. The International Monetary Fund figures that the Russian economy will fall by 6.7 percent in 2009, while China will grow 8.5 percent and India 5.4 percent. There is less of a case for Brazil, with a fall of 0.7 percent, but it is still doing far better than Russia. But the BRICs are not just about economy. As is mentioned above, it is a marketing device to encourage investors to focus on the big promising players. From an investment standpoint, it could be argued that Russia is leading the BRICs. Its stock market is up 128 percent this year while around 80 percent is for the other three. At very least, despite Russia's economic underperformance, its stock market outperformance does suggest it is indeed one of the group. According to the passage, which country will enjoy the biggest increase in 2009? A China B Russia C Brazil D India Answer: A. China Antarctica is in the most southern part of the world. It is like nowhere else on the earth. It is much larger than Europe, and nearly twice the size of Australia. Antarctica is the coldest and windiest place in the world, even colder and windier than the North Pole. In summer, the sun shines for twenty-four hours a day, but in winter it's completely dark for about three months. Very few plants grow there, but there is some wildlife, including whales, seals and penguins. When Captain James Cook traveled around Antarctica in the 1770s by ship, he found no one living there. Today, a few scientists work in Antarctica, but they only spend a short time there. Many scientists are studying the _ , which is getting thinner and thinner worldwide. The biggest "hole" is above Antarctica, and weather there is getting warmer. Scientists think that this cold and lonely place can teach us a lot about the earth and how to keep the earth safe. Why is the weather in Antarctica getting warmer and warmer? A Because there are more and more people living there. B Because the ozone layer is being destroyed. C Because the sun shines a long time every day there. D Because the weather in other places is getting warmer. Answer: B. Because the ozone layer is being destroyed. If your dog or cat is eating grass, it means it's going to rain. False maybe. There' s no evidence that when a dog or cat is eating grass in the front yard, it' s going to rain. But then, there's no evidence that it isn't going to rain, either. Doctors think dogs and cats eat grass to help make their stomach better or maybe just because they like the taste of it. You'll get sick if you go outside in cold weather with wet hair. False. You might feel cold, but you can't catch a cold because you were outside with wet hair. Many churches have prevented people from throwing rice at weddings because the rice grows larger in a bird's stomach when eaten, causing the bird to explode . True and false. It's true many churches have prevented people from throwing rice, but this is more likely because the rice can become slick on a road or street. There's nothing about rice that will hurt birds. Rice is an important part of many bird's food. Chocolate is Poisonous to dogs. True. Chocolate has theobromine, which can make your dog sick. So, if you don't want to put your dog's life at risk, don't feed it with chocolate. The number of people visiting the hospital goes way up during a full moon. False. According to researchers, there is no evidence that more people visit the hospital during a full moon, though more people do seem to get caught by the police during that time. The idea that the moon influences behavior has been studied for thousands of years--even the word "lunacy", which means crazy behavior, is based on the word "luna" or "moon". As the moon grows to be full, it may _ . A influence human behavior B cause people to get sick easily C help people with their studies D make people say bad things about others Answer: A. influence human behavior Most Chinese people these days know what it is like to have an "English teacher", since almost all pupils study English from their third year. Usually that first English teacher will be a young and lovely lady in primary school. But my first English teacher is _ . Looking back, I can see that, when I was only a little girl, he created an English environment by providing me with flashcards,fun English- language toys and even dolls which can sing English songs! My interest in English had certainly been awakened when I began to learn English at school. Just imagine, he went a step further and asked me to learn New Concept English by myself! I was puzzled and even angry. I could not understand why a father could be so strict with his little girl. All the same, he never gave up and he gently insisted that I follow through with his idea. At first, I read stories with tears and I actually hated them because they were too difficult for me. In the end, I came to love the funny stories and, to be honest, my father was always there with a helping hand. I am sure that my English would never have got so far without his support. And that's why my father is not only my first English teacher but also my lifelong teacher. He is one who awoke my interest, and who gave me much confidence . The underline part "no other than my father" in the passage probably means _ . A like my father B not my father C my father himself D not only my father Answer: C. my father himself
This animal thrives while the sun is down Answer: Generational differences and the economy are shifting more responsibilities for children from their parents to grandparents, according to a new survey. More than one-third of grandparents aged 50 and older contribute financially to their grandchildren's upbringing, and 11 percent have a grandchild living with them, the poll by AARP showed. 40 percent of people who responded to the telephone survey, whose average age was 69, reported spending more than $500 on grandchildren over the past year beyond traditional gifts. Education costs accounted for about 50 percent, daily expenses for about 32 percent and medical and dental costs for about 18 percent.16 percent provided daycare for grandchildren. "They are the safety nets for American families, helping to pay for practical expenses and necessities,"said Amy Goyer, AARP's multigenerational and family issues expert. "We see many providing daycare services, while growing numbers even have grandchildren living with them,"she said, referring to the 16 percent who watch their grandchildren while the parents are at work or at school. Overall, nearly 90 percent of the 1,904 grandparents questioned said they play a very or somewhat important role in their grandchildren's lives, and about 70 percent live within 50 miles of the closest one. The poll conducted by Woelfel Research Inc. also showed that grandparents increasingly adapted to the younger generation's life issues and preferred ways of communicating. More than one-third connect with their grandchildren via email, Skype or text messaging, while half said they routinely discuss topics ranging from values to drug and alcohol use. Nearly 40 percent said they had discussed dating or sex with at least one grandchild. About 60 percent said they spoke with their grandchildren at least once a week. Most of the grandparents said they had five or more grandchildren, while one-fourth said they have grandchildren of a different race, mixed race or different ethnicity. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage? Answer: Modern science suggests that a healthy lifestyle matters much to how long you can live and how well you live. Here are some tips for you to form a healthy lifestyle. Keep a scientific diet. Keep in mind that sugar can be removed from our diet completely. Over intake of sugar is one of the main reasons for getting fat. Over intake of protein or fat and low intake of fiber can also lead to getting fat. We need only a few grams of protein every day to keep our body in order. Like rain to crops, not the more the better. Be always in a good mood. There is a relation- ship between the mood and health. A good mood keeps you in high spirits. Thanks to the internet, we can enjoy and learn much without going out. Take a look at some online shops and pick up some bargains, enjoy music and movies and chat with some good friends. Just keep happy. Enough sleep. Two studies show the reasons why teens and adults don't have enough sleep. With teens, a major reason is mobile phone use; with adults, it's work. Meanwhile, a third study of young children shows that a lack of sleep in early life may lead to serious problems in future. Everyone needs at least 8-hour sleep to recover from tiredness and the hurt caused by hard work in the daytime. Proper exercise. Do exercise to keep away from fatness. Because of the quick pace of modern life, you don't have time to do exercise every day, but at least three times a week and 45 minutes each time. The author wrote the passage to _ . Answer: A Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice. 1.How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday? Finding:A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day. Step:Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day. 2.How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday? Finding:Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30%wash their hands only 4 times a day-half of the number doctors recommend. Step:We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds. 3. How often do you think about fighting germs? Finding:Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should. Step:Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds. Which of the following is true according to the text ? Answer: African-American talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is the world's most powerful celebrity , according to Forbes magazine. It placed Winfrey at the top of the annual ranking of the 100 people with the biggest pull . Winfrey, 51, draw 30 million viewers weekly in the United States. Her talk show reaches 112 countries. She earned US $225 million over the past 12 months to rank second in celebrity riches. The annual Forbes list gives most weight to annual earnings. But it also looks at the celebrity's presence on the Internet and in the media. "After 21 years, her exciting chat show still rules the airwaves," the magazine said. Winfrey is most popular with her popular talk show "The Oprah Winfrey Show". She can always attract the superstars and let them open up to her intimate interviewing style. Winfrey's approach appears to be simple. She is in a pursuit of self-improvement and self-empowerment. This has proved to be just what people, especially women, want. Winfrey often talks about her personal secrets on her show. That pulls in viewers. For example, she made it known that she had been sexually abused as a child, and has spoken freely of her struggle with her weight. Her success has not just been on the screen. Her media group includes a women's TV network and websites for women. Her work has extended to social change. In 1991, she did a lot of work for the National Child Protection Act. She testified before the US Senate to establish a national database of dangerous child abusers. The then President Bill Clinton later signed the "Oprah Bill" into law. Which of the following statements is WRONG? Answer:
Noah studied different systems in the human body. Which best describes a function of veins in the circulatory system? carrying blood from the body to the heart This is a heart-warming story. It tells about a woman who finally decided to ask her boss for a raise in salary . All day she felt nervous. Late in the afternoon she summoned the courage to approach her boss. To her delight, the boss agreed to a raise. She was so delighted. The woman arrived home happily that evening. To her surprise, she found a beautiful table set with their best dishes. Candles were softly glowing. Her husband had come home early and prepared a festive meal. She wondered if someone from the office had told him about it, or... did he just got the news by accident. She found him in the kitchen and told him the good news. They hugged and kissed, then sat down to the wonderful meal. Next to her plate the woman found a beautifully card with some words. It read, "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you." Following the supper, her husband went into the kitchen to clean up. She noticed that a second card had fallen from his pocket. She picked it up from the floor, she read, "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You are the best anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you." According to the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said, "What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." ,,. (1,5) The woman felt _ after her boss agreed to a raise. happy Passage 1 As one of China's most popular and widely known story ,Monkey King, is set to return to screens with 3D effects. It may feature many of the same leading actors from the earliest 1986TV series Journey to the West. According to the producer, which can be got easily in the market? The TV drama, with a total investment of 150 million yuan, will be broadcast on Sichuan TV. Almost 90 million yuan has been put into 3D effects with each 45-mniute episode containing eight minutes of 3D. "The 3D effects not only cost us a lot of money but also a lot of time," director Kan Weiping said. "We had to put off its broadcasting time, which was set at first this summer." Passage 2 The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy using power from the sun, while providing safer driving conditions along with power. American inventors of the Solar Road said that it will power itself, and reduce the country's carbon marks. Many panels are fixed on the Solar Road. The top of the Solar Road panels is made of glass and the inventors are working together with top glass researchers to develop super strong glass that would offer vehicles pulling power they need. The Solar Roadway creates and carries clean renewable electricity and, therefore, electric vehicles can be recharged at any rest stop, or at any business that uses solar road panels in their parking lots. Such parking lots will be safer at night with the light provided by LED within the road panels. The inventors say their solar roadway has many applications and advantages from main roads to driveways, parking lots, bike paths and runways. Passage 2 is most probably taken from _ . a technology report A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the money box without stopping, and continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3-year-old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on. In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a real story. Joshua Bell's playing in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment. The outlines were: in a common environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we enjoy beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected situation? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?" Few people stopped to listen to Joshua Bell playing because _ . people were in a hurry Most middle school students find it boring to learn math. But students in Yet Sen Middle School in New York, US, don't think so. Why? Because they are in the school of One Program, which asks students to work on their own or in small groups on computers to have math lessons. "The program gives the students a new learning style. No traditional classroom can compare with it. We give each lesson according to the students' interest and their strong and weak points, "said Joel. Klein, the school's headteacher, "We're looking for a new way that interests students. " Students enjoy these math lessons, especially lessons with video games. They must find out the answers to math problems to get through the game. One such game is Dimension M. As students move through mazes with their keyboards, some questions come up. Caleb Deng had to answer the question: What is 5+(6x3)? He _ on paper quickly because there was just a minute left to play. "I was right, "said Deng, 14, as he ended the game with a high score . "This really makes math lessons more exciting, since we are fighting to learn better. " Caleb Deng's story serves as an example to show _ . how students learn math through video games
Watching television makes it easier for toddlers to kick and scream, according to a US study.Children under two should not watch any TV.The longer they sit in front of TV,the worse their behavior becomes. Just having the TV on in the background, even if the child wasn't watching it,was also connected to troublemaking behavior although the relationship wasn't as strong, said the researchers. "Parents should be smart about TV use,"researcher Jennifer Manganello from the University at Albany, New York, said. "They should limit the time that children use TV, pay attention to the content of TV programs,and consider how TV is used throughout the home." The study looked at 3,128 women from 20 US cities who had a child between 2005 and 2008. While there was some diversity of education among the women,onethird hadn't graduated from high school. Twothirds of the mothers said their threeyearold children watched more than two hours of TV a day,and the average viewing time for children was around three hours.On average,the TV was on for about five additional hours on a common day. After accounting for factors such as living in a violent neighborhood,scientists also found watching TV was strongly connected to behavior such as hitting others,having angry moods,being disobedient ,and screaming a lot. The researchers thought that children may see violence on TV,and spend less time on positive development tasks such as reading or playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no TV at all for children at two and younger,and two hours a day or less for older kids. What can be learned about the study between 2005 and 2008 from the passage? A. The women studied have different jobs. B. The TV was on for about three hours. C. Most women allowed their children to watch TV. D. Most women studied hadn't graduated from high school. Answer: C. Most women allowed their children to watch TV. If you are planning a visit to Chicago, make sure you see the city best before you head back home. Architecture Chicago is home to some of the most fascinating architecture in the country. One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Water Tower, which was built in 1869. It is one of the structures to survive the Chicago Fire in 1871. It is a fascinating builging to see, and is nearby the Water Tower Place, which has great shopping. It's a paradise for the young. Another stop must be the Willes Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. Go to the top and walk out on the clear walkway to take a look straight down on the city. If you have the time, be sure to have dinner or a cocktail in the Signature Room on the 95th floor. Not only is the food great, but the views are breathtaking. Boat Tours If architecture is your thing, Wendella Boats offers a great architecture tour of Chicago. You can see some of the beautiful buildings from the Chicago River, which is a side of the buildings you don't usually get to see. There are several other boat tours that are just great, too, and many will even take you from the river out to Lake Michigan where you can see the Chicago skyline at any time of day. These tours are great ways to gain knowledge of this spectacular city, and it's also a funny way to rest your legs between walking tips. Famous Pizza You cannot come to Chicago without trying some famous, deepdish pizza. There are many places to get this delicious, thick pizza, but three stores stand out from the rest. Gino's East, Giordano's, and Lou Malnati's are the best places to get authentic, Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza. Try it with all the toppings or just cheese, but be sure you try it at some point. Many think that much pizza and cheese seems disgusting, but don't knock it till you try it. You might find a new favorite way of eating this Italian classic. While making a boat tour, you can _ . A. see some beautiful buildings and even the Chicago skyline B. draw the newly built architecture along the river C. see how to gain knowledge in daily life D. measure the length and width of the Chicago River Answer: A. see some beautiful buildings and even the Chicago skyline "Tom? Are you in bed yet?" called Mrs.White. There was no answer. Mrs. White put down her book and went to her 14-year-old son's room. Tom was sitting in front of a bright computer screen on which a motorbike was running fast. "Oh, Tom. You're still playing on that computer game. You must stop now, it's half past eleven. If you don't go to bed soon, you'll be very tired tomorrow, " said Mrs. White."But I've nearly won the game, " Tom said to Mrs. White. She could see the excitement on his face. She sat down beside him."You're always playing on the computer. You spend more time on this machine than on your homework. " Today more and more families have computers. Parents hope computers can help their children improve their study at school. But many of their children use computers to play games and watch videos instead of studying. We often see that computer net bars are crowded with people, especially young boys. They spend a lot of money competing with the computerized machines. The more they lose, the more they want to win. The result is that they don't want to work or study. In some countries, even scientists hate computers. They say computers cause millions of people to lose their jobs or cause them a lot of trouble. Computer game addiction is a serious problem in social life. Something has to be done to solve the problem. The writer thinks _ . A. the boys can go to the computer net bars, but the girls can't B. the computer net bars are very useful C. the children spend too much money on computer games D. the children should play computer games Answer: C. the children spend too much money on computer games Reading is an important activity for many Americans. Today, thousands of men, women and children are members of groups to discuss the books they read. No one knows how many Americans belong to reading groups called book clubs. Yet publishers and bookshops report that more and more throughout the United States are joining the clubs. Most of the clubs work the same way. Members read the same book at the same time. Then they meet to talk about the book. Members may be friends or people who live near each other. Or, they may be people who work together. Book clubs may be for only women or only men. Or, they can be for husbands and wives together. Some are family groups where parents attend with their children. Children may belong to book clubs of their own. Some book clubs in the United States are for husbands and wives. One woman says this is a great idea for a book club. She says husbands and wives often talk to each other only about their children, work, or money problems. "Talking about books," she says, "opens a whole new level of communication." American children belong to book clubs, too. They may be as young as four years old or as old as eighteen. Some children's clubs get help from the Great Book Foundation . This educational organization provides lists of books to read. It also trains people to lead discussions about the books. It is reported that _ in the United States. A. reading is important for men B. a lot of people are joining book clubs C. all the people are reading their books D. fewer and fewer people in the USA are joining the clubs Answer: B. a lot of people are joining book clubs In almost every big university in the United States football is a favorite sport. American football is not like soccer. Players sometimes kick the ball, but they also throw the ball and run with it. They try to take it to the other end of the field. They have four chances to move the ball ten yards. They can carry it or throw it. If they move it to the end of the field, they receive six points. This is called a touch--down. It is difficult to move the ball. Eleven men on the team try to stop the man who has the ball. If the man does not move the ball ten yards, his team kicks the ball to the other team. Each university wants its team to win. Thousands of people come to watch. They all yell for their favorite team. Young men and women called cheerleaders come on the field to help the people yell more. They dance and jump while they yell. Each team plays ten or eleven games each season. The season begins in September and ends in November. If a team is very good, it may play another game after the season ends. The best teams play again on January 1st, the first day of the New Year. Many people go to see these games and many others watch them on television Who are dancing and jumping while they yell? A. The cheerleaders. B. All those who are watching the game. C. The winners. D. The players of both sides. Answer: A. The cheerleaders.
It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty seven third graders eagerly _ the great day of gift giving. Each day the children made some new wonder - strings of popcorn, hand-made decorations, and German bells made from wallpaper samples, which we hung from the ceiling. Through it all she stayed indifferent , watching from afar, seemingly miles away. I wondered what would happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now so suddenly unsociable. I hoped the festivities would light her up. But nothing did. The day of gift giving finally came. We oohed and aahed over our handwork as the presents were exchanged. Through it all, she sat quietly watching. I had made a special package for her, red and green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away. After school the children left in little groups, but she hesitated, watching them go out of the door. I sat down to catch my breath, hardly know what was happening when she came to me reaching out her hands, holding a small white box, unwrapped and slightly soiled, as though it had been held many times by unwashed, childish hands. "For me?" I asked with a weak smile. She said not a word, but nodded her head. I took the box and carefully opened it. There inside, lay a golden chain. In a flash I knew - she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again, a mother who would never hold her or brush her hair or share a funny story, a mother who would never again hear her childish joys or sorrows, a mother who had taken her own life just three weeks before. I held out the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and put it on at the back of my neck. She stepped back then as if to see that all was well. I looked down at the golden chain, then back at the giver, "Maria, it is so beautiful. She would have loved it." Neither of us could stop the tears. She threw herself into my arms and we were in tears together. _ The BEST title for the passage is _ . The kid's gift The man behind the Apple empire died at 56 last year. He was one of the people who made Silicon Valley the capital of technological invention. Author and business consultant Jim Collins once called Jobs the "Beethoven of business". When asked what Steve Jobs will be best remembered for, many of us would name a particular product:the iPod, the iPhone or the iPad, for example. But in the eyes of Eric Jackson, a reporter with Forbes magazine, Jobs brought the world much more than these popular devices . Here are some of the lessons he taught us: 1. The most lasting inventions mix art and science. Jobs pointed out that the team members working with Apple were trained in anthropology , art, history, and poetry. He believed this was important in making Apple's products stand out. 2. Never fear failure. Jobs was fired by the successor he himself chose. It was one of the most public embarrassments of the last 30 years in business. However, Jobs didn't hide away or try to get a new job. He _ and got back to work. 3. You can't look forward to connecting the dots--you can only look backward. This means that, however much we try to plan things ahead of time, life is always full of unexpected things. What seems like bitter pain and defeat could turn out to sow the seeds of unimaginable success in years to come. You can't connect the dots looking forward. But you have to trust that all the dots will be connected in the future. 4. Listen to that voice in tile back of your head that tells you if you're on the right track or not. Most of us simply decide that we're going to work in finance or become a doctor because it's what our parents tell us to do. Whatever your voice is telling you, it is smart to listen to it--like Jobs did. Just as Caroline and Amy from his empire put it, "Steve was one of the most inspiring yet toughest boss ever--but who else could have built Apple? What Steve left is sure to inspire generations of creative thinkers to think differently. His influence will be felt throughout the world." What's the writer's main purpose of writing the passage? To encourage readers to learn from Steve Jobs' life experience. When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, "Well, it's so-and-so's fault." Or "I know I'm late, it's not my fault; the car broke down." It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to _ the situation. This is the winner's key to success. Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need, For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person . Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well. This is what being a winner is all about----creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on "Whose fault it is." Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just the stepping stone for success. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A Winner's Secret Do you know the girl in a hat with flowers on it? Her name is Yinzi. She is a nice Japanese girl, my new friend. She is in our class, studying Chinese. I like Yinzi. I don't know Japanese, and Yinzi doesn't know Chinese. We know some English. We are the same age. In the same class we have the same interests . We like to sing Chinese, Japanese and English songs. I help her to ride a bike and fly a kite. She helps me to swim and jump. We like playing football, but we can't play in the school because the playground is small. Yinzi and the other girls in our class will go to the swimming pool on Monday, and I want to go with them. Yinzi and the other girls want _ on Monday. to swim Throughout history, gold has been a sign of purity, beauty and power. Calling something golden means it has great quality and value. For example, the golden rule is possibly the world's most widespread moral rule. It says people should treat others the way they themselves would like to be treated. Every major religion has its own version of this idea. The golden ratio is found in art, architecture and nature. It describes a rectangle with a length about one and one-half times its width. Objects using this ratio in their design seem to please the eye more than others. Philosophers have their own golden idea. The golden mean says moderation in all things is the best way to live one's life. It is an idea linked to the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Similar thoughts exist in Buddhism and Confucianism. Ancient Greek myths told of a time long ago when people lived in peace and happiness. Poets called it the Golden Age. A golden age now describes a historical period of great artistic, scientific or economic progress. It can even recall a time of success and popularity for an industry. For example, the nineteen thirties and forties were called the Golden Age of Radio. You may have heard the proverb silence is golden. This means silence is of great value. It is sometimes better to say nothing than to speak. You might say your child was good as gold when he behaved well at school. British writer Charles Dickens used this expression in eighteen forty-three. He was describing the child Tiny Tim in the book "A Christmas Carol." In nineteen thirty-seven, American playwright Clifford Odets wrote a play called "The Golden Boy." This expression describes a young man who has many good qualities and a bright future. You might tell someone you are golden when that person does something very well. Gold digger is another description. But this does not say something nice about a person. A gold digger is someone who seeks to marry a rich person because he or she is only interested in that person's money. Maybe you like old songs from the nineteen fifties or sixties that are still well known and popular today. These are called golden oldies. In the nineteen eighties and nineties, an American television comedy series told about four older women living in Miami, Florida. The Golden Girls often dealt with social issues in a funny way. Today, most older people look forward to reaching their golden years. This is when hard-working people can retire to a life of ease and fulfillment. Which of the foolwing scokcoces is made out of place? My grandfather is 65 and is looking forward to reaching his Golden Ages
As a nation we are becoming more aware of the food we and our children are eating.The recent campaign to improve school dinners by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has helped raise awareness of our fast food lifestyles.While we may be trying to eat more healthily,it seems we still have some bad habits. Healthy eaters or just trendy? Are there certain things that you do and don't eat and why?With so many food programmes and books telling you what you should and shouldn't eat to be healthy,it's hard to make choices. Some people are vegetarians for moral reasons,some don't like the taste of meat and there are one or two people who do it because it's trendy.Likewise,it can be trendy to follow the latest celebrity's diet because it's what the famous are doing. Eating out People are eating out more often now,not just on special occasions as in the past.The choice of restaurants has also _ .Italian,Chinese and Indian restaurants have been around for years but have now been joined by Mongolian,Japanese,Mexican and so on.Bars and pubs are still popular for food and often promote English cuisine made with local produce. "We enjoy eating out a couple of times every month whether with friends or just as a couple.We like trying new things so we go to different restaurants." said Craig,25,County Durham. *Eating on the go From chocolate bars to sandwiches more people are eating on the go--on the street,in cars or on buses and trains.While our parents and grandparents may frown at this behaviour,considering it to be bad manners,people eat on the go because they are rushing from one place to another.And in the home the number of people sitting down at a dining table for their evening meal is on the decrease as meal times become more informal. "If I'm running late for work I don't think twice about eating toast in the car or on the bus but I know my mum wouldn't approve," said Stacey,24. What can we infer from the text? A. Our parents think highly of the eating habits mentioned in the text. B. We should get rid of the bad habits and try to be healthier. C. Japanese restaurants have been around for years. D. It's good for people to eat out more frequently. Answer: B The opening scene of The King's Speech was, in a word, terrifying. The moment King George VI--wonderfully played by Colin Firth--stepped up to the microphone at Wembley Stadium, a rush of nervousness came over me. It took me back to my school days, standing at my desk, having to read aloud to the class. I whispered to my wife, Jill, "A stutterer wrote this screenplay . I grew up with a stutter, really afraid of trying to get through simple sentences--knowing that I would then, or later, be laughed at. I still remember the reading when I was in 7thgrade at St. Helena's: "Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentlemen..." I remember reciting, "Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentlemen." The school teacher said, "Master B-B-B-Biden! What's that word?" She wanted me to say gentlemen. But by then, I had learned to put my sentences into bite-size pieces and I was reading it: "gentle"\|breath\|"man". Ninety-nine percent of the time, the teachers were great. I never had professional treatment but a couple of teachers taught me to put a regular rise and fall in my tone of speaking, and that's why I spent so much time reading poetry. But even in my small, boys' prep school, I got _ in my class with the nickname Joe Stutterer. You get so desperate, you're so embarrassed. I actually went and stood by the side of my house once, with a small round stone in my mouth, and tried to talk. Jill always thought I was kidding until she saw the movie and saw King George did the same thing. King George relied on the support his wife and the help of Lionel Longue, who, in describing working with other stutterers, said, "My job was to give them confidence in their voices and let them know that a friend was listening." I was lucky enough to have more than a couple of Lionels in my life. Nobody in my family ever--ever--made fun of me or tried to finish my sentences. My mother would say, " _ ." And because of her and others, I made sure it didn't. Through hard work and determination, I beat my stutter in high school. I even spoke briefly at my graduation ceremony in 1961--the most difficult speech of my life. My fight against shyness and embarrassment at my early age has developed my ability to understand others' feelings as Vice President of the country in public life. I still mark up all of my speeches the say way Firth's character does in the movie, pencil-marking every line to remind myself to stop, to breathe, to pause--to beat back my stuttering as best as I can. I don't stutter anymore, and most people who know me only late in my life are shocked that I ever did. By capturing exactly how a stutter feels, The King's Speech has shown millions of people how much courage it takes for a stutterer to stand up and speak. Equally important, it has shown millions who suffer from the pain that it can be overcome, we are not alone, and with the support of those around us, our deepest fears can be conquered. What message is conveyed in the passage? A. Whatever pain and fear we have, we can defeat them if we try hard. B. The similar stories of the writer and King George VI gains great admiration. C. The suffer we had at our early age will have a heavy influence on our future life. D. Stuttering is such a pain for children that we should give help and encourage them. Answer: D If you'renotmakingmistakes,you'renottryinghardenough. It's good to make mistakes. That's not a _ , folks,and I have not lost my mind. It is good to make mistakes, and here's why. First of all, mistakes are a clear sign that you are trying new things. It's always good to try new things because when you are trying new things you are growing. If you never try anything new, how can you improve? How can you expand? How can you innovate? The simple answer is, "You can't." Look around you. With very few exceptions, either everything you see in your physical world or every single detail of every single thing is the result of someone trying something new. Another good thing about mistakes is this: when you are making mistakes, you are learning. Consider this: Edison failed 10,000 times before he perfected the light bulb. When asked how he felt to fail that many times, he remarked that he hadn't failed 10,000 times, but rather had learned 10,000 things that didn't work. Finally, when you make a mistake you are that much closer to success. Why? Because when all is said and done, you will have tried some finite number of things before you succeeded. Every time you made a mistake you eliminated one of those things and are one step closer. But this all doesn't mean that you should forge ahead with disregard for the consequences of a mistake. Quite the contrary, when you try something new you have to be willing to set some reasonable limits so that, in the event that it doesn't work out the way you want it to, you will be in a position to try again. We all have limited resources in the form of time and money, so don't blow them all on one approach to a problem. Realize that it probably won't be perfect the first time and allocate these resources appropriately so you can learn, modify, and try it again. Only by embracing and using your mistakes in this way can you make significant advances in your business and your career. There is an old axiom that goes, "If you're not making mistakes, you're not trying hard enough." So go forth and make mistakes. And learn. And grow. And prosper. What does the writer mainly tell us in the passage as far as mistakes are concerned? A. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. They are unavoidable. B. Try your best to make fewer mistakes. They are expensive. C. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. They are beneficial. D. The more mistakes you make, the more advances you'll make. Answer: C As a student, you must be excited to know something about American school students. In fact, just like in China, in the United States, high school is usually divided into two periods, the first two or three years are called "junior high school" and the other is "senior high school". In China, children enjoy free education of nine years, but in the United States, the students enjoy free education(which will be started when they are about 6 years old) until they are 18 years old. As a result of the free education system, American children have little difficulty in going to senior high school. American high school students can take part in a lot of activities outside of the classroom. The activities are organized by the school, such as joining a music group or a sports team. Certainly, just like us students in China, American students have to work hard in order to get good marks if they want to go to a good university. They take classes in all kinds of subjects all through the high school period. And students with low marks at the end of a school year are still allowed to go on to the next grade. In American high schools, there is fighting or hurting or other kinds of bad behaviors. So children who want to go to university are often sent to suburban high schools, where most students want to go to university and the atmosphere is quite different. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A. The time of free education in China is longer than that in America. B. Those who get good marks can go to a good university. C. American students can take all kinds of subjects during the high school period. D. They can be allowed to join the next grade even if they fail the school-year exam. Answer: A Once we got home, there was barely time to enjoy our presents. We had to go off to our grandparents' house for our annual Christmas dinner. As we drove down the highway through town, I noticed that the family was there, standing outside the closed gas station. My father was driving very slowly down the highway. The closer we got to the turnoff for my grandparents' house, the slower the car went. Suddenly, my father U-turned in the middle of the road and said, "I can't stand it!" "What?" asked my mother. "It's those people back there at the gas station, standing in the rain. They've got children. It's Christmas. " When my father pulled into the service station, I saw that there were five of them: the parents and three children- two girls and a small boy. My father rolled down his window. "Merry Christmas," he said. "Howdy," the man replied. "You're waiting on the bus?" my father asked. The man said that they were. "Well, that bus isn't going to come along for several hours, and you're getting wet standing here. Winborn's just a couple miles up the road. They've got a shed with a cover there, and some benches," my father said. "Why don't y'all get in the car and I'll run you up there." The man thought about it for a moment, and then he beckoned to his family. They climbed into the car. They had no luggage, only the clothes they were wearing. Once they settled in, my father looked back over his shoulder and asked the children if Santa had found them yet. Three glum faces mutely gave him his answer. "Well, I didn't think so," my father said, winking at my mother, "because when I saw Santa this morning, he told me that he was having trouble finding all, and he asked me if he could leave your toys at my house. We'll just go get them before I take you to the bus stop." All at once, the three children's faces lit up, and they began to bounce around in the back seat, laughing and chattering. When we got out of the car at our house, the three children ran through the front door and straight to the toys that were spread out under our Christmas tree. That was the Christmas when my sisters and I learned the joy of making others happy. When they left, my father reached into his pocket and pulled out two dollars, which was all he had left. He pressed the money into the man's hand. The man tried to give it back, but my father insisted. "Take it. I've been broke before, and I know what it's like when you can't feed your family." We left them there at the bus stop in Winborn. As we drove away, I watched out the window as long as I could, looking back at the little girl hugging her new doll. We can draw a conclusion from the story that _ . A. only you help others heart and soul can you feel more happy B. God helps those who help themselves C. Present rose to others with fragrance lingering at hand. D. Happiness takes no account of time Answer: C
Question: The following is a true story. It happened in a small village in Australia, where some dangerous animals live in the forest. Lisa, a 33-year-old mother, went to cook lunch in the kitchen, her 3-year-old son, Barney, playing by himself in the garden. Suddenly, a loud cry of Barney came into the mother's ears. Lisa rushed into the garden in a hurry and found a big snake entwining the little boy with its terrible body and trying to eat the boy. It was a boa . Lisa was _ and quite angry. She decided to save her son from the boa's mouth. It was great mother's love that made Lisa forget what she was facing. She took up a hoe from the ground and beat the boa as hard as she could. One...two...with the hoe, Lisa beat the boa time and time again, but useless. The little boy's voice and breath were getting weaker and weaker. Lisa's heart was broken and she got nearly mad. Suddenly Lisa put away the hoe and threw herself to the boa, opened her mouth and bit into the boa's back. The boa was so badly hurt that it let go of Barney and moved into the forest hurriedly. It had never known how a woman had such terrible sharp teeth. Soon the boa was found dead in the forest. It was great mother's love that saved the little boy. In this passage the writer mainly wants to tell us _ . A. a boa is a dangerous animal B. how great mother's love is C. how sharp the woman's teeth are D. the boy is too young to fight against the boa Answer: B. how great mother's love is Question: Astronomers have found evidence for the existence of a super-massive black hole in the center of the giant elliptical galaxy M87. What is thought to cause black holes to form? A. the death of a low-mass star B. the gravity of a large nebula C. the collapse of a high-mass star D. the combining of material from planets Answer: C. the collapse of a high-mass star Question: Japanese people work very hard at studying English. They start studying English at the age of 12. Most young Japanese people spend a lot of time and work hard at studying English, but Japanese people are not good at English. Here are the reasons: There are few people from English-speaking countries in Japan. They don't have enough chances to speak with them. Japan is an island country and they feel that other countries are far away. So they don't use English very often. And the Japanese feel that it is strange to talk to each other in English. The Japanese education doesn't always follow the educational trends in the world. It puts a lot of importance on grammar and vocabulary, and less on speaking, listening and reading skills. Many Japanese students' English becomes worse after they go to university .They have to learn English again if they work in English-speaking countries. Sometimes the Japanese feel shy about speaking wrong or broken English. In fact, _ . A. the Japanese education needs to put a lot of importance on speaking B. all the Japanese people hate English C. Japanese people use English very often D. the Japanese like to talk with others in English Answer: A. the Japanese education needs to put a lot of importance on speaking Question: I was very sympathetic with world leaders burdened with resolving conflicts between nations. When my three children were young, in most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a war zone. It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn't make it through a day without playing tricks on his sisters, Alex and Taryn, then 11 and 9. My husband and I tried to understand his adolescent moodiness. We begged, reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how his behavior was hurting our family. His response was a shrug and "I say it because it's true". I even tried telling the girls to fight back. But it was a bad idea. Now I had three kids at war. At wit's end, I poured my heart out to my sister in an e-mail. She wrote back, "Don't e-mail me. E-mail him." Our son was online every day, mailing and instantly messaging his friends. So what if I was within shouting distance? Maybe he would actually hear me this way. There'd be no yelling or door slamming . Zack wouldn't feel under attack. And with a few simple keystrokes, he could respond. Or not. Zack didn't reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four words. I expected the worst, but then smiled when I read them, "You are right. I'm sorry." The kids still fought, of course, but Zack scaled back the abuse . Best of all, I now have an effective way to communicate with not one but three easily annoyed teens. They don't tune me out as much. They don't like to listen to me nag .Or as Alex says, "You're so much nicer online." All I know is that the house is quiet, and we're talking. In fact, Taryn just instantly messaged me from upstairs. It's time to take her to softball practice. By the first sentence of the passage, the author really means to be _ . A. humourous B. sympathetic C. serious D. inspiring Answer: A. humourous Question: According to the United States government, people are classified as homeless if they have no place to stay and no expectation of finding a place for the next thirty days.Although technically accurate, that is an impersonal assessment of an enormous and very human problem. The homeless population represents all of us Americans.It includes men and women, the elderly, children, and infants.Its members are from all ethnic groups.What they have in common is poverty. Currently in the U.S., thirty-nine million people live in poverty.When money is really tight, paying the rent or buying food often becomes a choice.Government assistance in the form of food stamps does help but, as one homeless man explains, you can't pay the rent with food stamps. With no money for rent, the streets and homeless shelters become the alternative. Although men constitute the largest group within the homeless population, homeless women with children are rapidly joining them.In fact, one quarter of the homeless people in the U.S.are teenagers and young children. People may become homeless for numerous reasons.However, there are certain factors that many of these individuals have in common.They include a lack of adequate education and job skills.A majority of the teenagers and adults have not completed high school. The abuse of alcohol and drugs is also a common factor.One third of the adult homeless population abuses alcohol.While one quarter of the same group uses drugs. Some members of this population suffer mental health problems.Within the past several years many institutions for the mentally ill have been closed and their patients sent "home".Unfortunately, a number of those people have no home to go to and they are unable to adequately look after themselves. Job loss in today's economy has also become a real factor in the loss of people's homes.The breakup of families through abandonment and divorce are also contributing factors, particularly when there are children involved.The parent who is left to care for the kids with inadequate income may be forced to depend on the homeless shelters to put a roof over their heads. The U.S.government helps the homeless by _ . A. giving them homeless allowance B. giving them food stamps C. finding jobs for them D. finding residence for them Answer: B. giving them food stamps
Question: "Hey, do you know what? Today is May Day!" my sister announced. "Do you remember the May Day baskets we used to make with colored paper and paste?" I recalled that my sisters and I would run around our neighborhood delivering the baskets brimming with spring flowers. We would place them on a doorstep, knock on the door, then run away. It was delightful to look around a bush and watch our friends open their doors and pick up the colorful gift,wondering who had left it out for them. I clearly remember the May Day of the year that I was in fifth grade. That year I was faced with a challenge involving one of my dearest friends. She lived right across the road from our family, and we had walked together to school nearly every day since first grade. Her interests were starting to change from the interests that we had shared together. A new family had recently moved into our small town,and Pam was spending more and more time at their house. When my mother asked me if I was going to take a May Day basket to Pam's house, I responded angrily, "Absolutely not!" My mom told me that I would have many other friends throughout my lifetime. "But Pam was my very best friend ever," I cried. Mom wiped away my tears and told me that circumstances change and people change. She explained that one of the greatest things friends can do is to give each other a chance to grow, to change and to develop into what we want to be. And sometimes that would mean that friends would choose to spend time with other people. I could express my forgiveness by giving her a May Day basket. It was a hard decision, but I made an extra special basket of flowers with lots of yellow because that was Pam's favorite color. I asked my two sisters to help me deliver my basket of forgiveness. As we watched from our hiding place, Pam picked up the flowers, and said loudly enough for us to hear, "Thank you, Susie, I hoped you wouldn't forget me!". What lesson can we learn from the story? A. Friends won't forget each other in life. B. We can grow up even without friends. C. There is no forgiveness in true friendship. D. We can't expect too much from our friends. Answer: D. We can't expect too much from our friends. Question: WELLINGTON, September 19 (Xinhua) -- If your teenage son won't get out of bed in the morning, then take comfort from the fact that he might be sleeping his way to a healthier future, according to a new research from New Zealand. Researchers in human nutrition at the University of Otago have found that teenage boys who sleep less have more body fat when compared to girls, for whom lack of sleep has no noticeable effect on their body fat ratios. The study of 386 boys and 299 girls aged 15 to 18 found that average-sized 16-year-old boy weighing 69.5 kg and 176 cm tall, who slept for eight hours a day, had a waist size l.8 cm bigger and l.6 kg, or 9 percent, more body fat than the average-sized boy who slept 10 hours a day. "The boys who slept eight hours a day would also have l.8 kg more lean (bone and muscle) mass compared to the boys who slept 10 hours, but that's only a 1.4-percent increase, compared to the 9- percent increase seen in body fat," said lead researcher from the Department of Human Nutrition, Dr. Paula Skidmore. "Our results suggest that for older teenage boys, making sure that they get enough sleep may help to maintain a healthier body. It seems to be that, within reason, the more sleep the better for boys," Skidmore said in a statement Thursday. "It was unexpected that we did not find the same result in girls, who may actually be more aware of their diet and more in tune with a healthier lifestyle." The researchers ruled out the effects of food choice and number of screens, such as televisions, games and consoles, which the teenagers had in their bedrooms. Who would be the most pleased to hear the news? A. Teachers. B. Girls. C. Parents. . D. Boys. Answer: D. Boys. Question: "Plants were expected to get larger with increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere, but changes in temperature, humidity and nutrient availability seem to trumped the benefits of increased carbon dioxide," said researchers from the National University of Singapore. 45 percent of the species studied now reach smaller adult sizes than they did in the past. The researchers pointed out that warmer temperatures and changing habitats, caused by climate change, are possible reasons for shrinking creatures. "We do not yet know the mechanisms involved, or why some organism are getting smaller while others are unaffected," the researchers said. "Until we understand more, we could be risking negative consequences that we can't yet quantify." The change was big in coldblooded animals. Only two decades of warmer temperatures were enough to make reptiles smaller. An increase of 1 degree centigrade caused nearly a 10 percent increase in metabolism . Greater use of energy resulted in tiny tortoises and little lizards. Fish are smaller now too. Though overfishing has played a part in reducing numbers, experiments show that warmer temperatures also stop fish growth. There is a recent report on warmer temperatures' negative effects on plankton , the base of the marine ecosystem. Warmblooded animals weren't immune from the size change caused by climate change. Many birds are now smaller. Mammals have been miniaturized too. Soay sheep are thinner. Red deer are weaker. And polar bears are smaller, compared with historical records. This is not the first time this has happened in Earth's history. 55 million years ago, a warming event similar to the current climate change caused bees, spiders and ants to shrink by 50 to 75 percent over several thousand years. That event happened over a long time than the current climate change. The speed of modern climate change could mean organisms may not respond or adapt quickly enough, especially those with long generation times. So, it is likely that more negative influences of climate change will be shown in future. What can we learn from the passage? _ A. Ants, bees and spiders have been shrinking by 50% to 70% in the past decade. B. Birds have suffered more from climate change than fish. C. Climate change has even affected plankton negatively. D. A warming event causing species to become smaller has never happened before. Answer: C. Climate change has even affected plankton negatively. Question: The air bag is a piece of safety equipment in cars. It was first designed by John W. Hetrick in 1952. Like many inventions, he came up with the idea as a result of an event that had occurred in his life. He says: "In the spring of 1952, my wife, my seven-year-old daughter, Joan, and I were out for a Sunday drive in our 1948 Chrysler Windsor. About three miles outside Newport we were watching for deer jumping across the road. Suddenly, there was a large rock in our path. I hit the brakes and we went into a ditch . "As I applied the brakes, both my wife and I threw our hands up to keep our daughter from hitting the car. There was soft mud in the ditch, so the car wasn't damaged, and no one was hurt." "During the ride home I couldn't stop thinking about the accident. I asked myself,'Why couldn't some object come out to stop you from striking the inside of the car?'As soon as I got home that night I drew some sketches . Each evening for the following two weeks, I'd add or reduce something from the sketches." Hetrick applied an event he had observed while in the Navy to the design of the air bag. He was repairing a torpedo which had a cloth covering. When the compressed air that was in the torpedo was let out, the covering was suddenly filled with air and was shot to the ceiling. With this knowledge, he developed his design until he was able to obtain a patent on the invention on August 5, 1952. The idea was similar to the air bag designs of today. Compressed air is stored in a container and when a traffic accident occurs and the car slows down at a rapid enough rate, the air will be released into the air bag. The idea was _ , but Hetrick's air bag never would have functioned properly. It was really a breakthrough, but it would require years and years of designing and testing by some top car designers before it could be used. Hetrick's experience in the Navy _ . A. turned out to be dangerous B. was helpful to his invention C. involved designing torpedoes D. inspired him to design an air bag Answer: B. was helpful to his invention Question: In the depths of the French Guianese rainforest, there still remain unusual groups of indigenous people. Surprisingly, these people live largely by their own laws and their own social customs. And yet, people in this area are in fact French citizens because it has been a colony of the French Republic since 1946. In theory, they should live by the French law is often ignored or unknown, thus making them into an interesting area of "lawlessness" in the world. The lives of these people have finally been recorded thanks to the effects of a Frenchman form Paris called Gin. Gin spent five months in early 2015 exploring the most remote corners of this area, which sits on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, with half its population of only 250,000 living in its capital, Cayenne. "I have a special love for the French Guianese people. I have worked there on and off for almost ten years," says Gin. "I've been able to keep firm friendships with them. Thus I have been allowed to gain access to their living environment. I don't see it as a lawless land. But rather I see it as an area of freedom." "I wanted to show the audience a photographic record touching upon the uncivilized life," continues Gin. "I prefer to work in black and white, which allows me to show different specific worlds more clearly." His black-and-white pictures present a world almost lost in time. These pictures show people seemingly pushed into a world that they were unprepared for. These local citizens now have to balance their traditional self-supporting hunting lifestyle with the lifestyle offered by the modern French Republic, which brings with _ not only necessary state welfare, but also alcoholism, betrayal and even suicide. Gin introduced the special world of the indigenous Guianese as _ . A. a tour guide B. a geographer C. a film director D. a photographer Answer: D. a photographer
Your teenage daughter is supposed to be doing homework, but you catch her chatting online. She tells you that she's talking about the math test tomorrow. Before your eyes start rolling, listen up: teens are using social networking sites for more than just gossip, according to a new study by the National School Boards Association. The students who took part in the online survey, aged 9 to 17, said they spent almost as much time on social networking online as they did watching television. And it is what these kids are talking about online that is causing such a cheer: education. Of the students who took part in the study 60 percent reported that some of the most popular social networking topics were college planning, learning outside of school, careers, and schoolwork. They also reported posting writing and art projects that might have nothing to do with schoolwork. Ann Flynn, director of education technology for the National School Boards Association, says social networking tools into educational is the way forward. Flynn says a school in Cleveland, Ohio is posting students' book reports on a blog for students of their own ages, parents and other teachers to read and comment on. "If someone reacts other than the teacher, a child is much more likely to take an assignment seriously," Flynn says. Not only students but also parents can benefit. Now parents can go online and know what the class is doing. So, next time your child says her blog is educational, get curious, sit down and check out the blog with her. You might just learn something new yourself. How does the school in Cleveland mentioned in the text use social net-working sites? It welcomes comments on students' book reports online. Human Capital - How what you know shapes your life Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 20 Feb 2007 Language: English ISBN: 9789264029088 Price: C15 I $19 1$10 This book explores the influence of education and learning on our societies and lives and examines what countries are doing to provide education and training to support people throughout their lives. Economic Policy Reforms -- Going/or Growth, 2007 Edition Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 15 Feb 2007 Language: English ISBN: 9789264030473 Price: $60\|$75\|$41 Based on a broad set of indicators of structural policies and performance, Going for Grcwth 2007 takes stock of the recent progress made in implementing policy reforms and identifies, for each OECD country, five policy priorities to lift growth. Climate Change in the European Alps -- Adapting Winter Tourism and Natural Hazards Management Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 22 Jan 2007 Language: English ISBN: 9789264031685 Price: $24 $32$ 17 The first systematic cross-country analysis of snow-reliability of Alpine ski areas under climate change for five countries in the region: France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany. OECD in Figures 2006--2007--Statistics on the Member Countries -- OECD Observer-- Volume 2006 Supplement 1 Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 05 Jan 2007 Language: English ISBN: 9789264022638 Price.; $15 \|$20 \|$10 A handy pocket reference containing key data covering the entire range of OECD work including the economy, employment, health, education, migration, the environment, science and technology, public finances, agriculture, trade, and development aid. OECD Economic Outlook -- December No, 80 -- Volume 2006 Issue 2 Version: Print (Paperback) Publication date: 26 Jan 2007 language-English ISBN: 9789264030954 Price: $80 \| $97\|$55 OECD's twice yearly assessment and projections for the economies of the OECD area and selected non-members. This edition also looks at the rise in household debt. From the book with ISBN _ you can get a wider range of information about OECD. 9789264022638 Scientists have produced new evidence suggesting eating lots of red and processed meat damages health. They found big meat eaters had a raised risk of death from all causes over a 10-year period. In contrast, a higher intake of white meat was associated with a slightly reduced risk of death over the same period. The US study, based on more than 500,000 people, found those whose diet contained the highest proportion of red or processed meat had a higher overall risk of death, and specifically a higher risk of cancer and heart disease than those who ate the least. People eating the most meat were eating about 160g of red or processed meat per day-- approximately a 6oz steak. Those who ate the least were only getting about 25g per day-- approximately a small piece of bacon. Just the opposite, those who ate the highest proportion of white meat had a lower risk of overall death, and a lower risk of fatal cancer or heart disease than those who ate the lowest proportion. Meat is a major source of saturated fat, which has been associated with breast and colorectal cancer. In addition, lower meat intake has been linked to a reduction in risk factors for heart disease, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The latest study adds to a growing body of research linking high red and processed meat consumption to an increased risk of ill health. Ed Yong, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said, "Evidence from large studies tells us that cutting down on processed food, such as bacon or burgers, can reduce the risk of dying from cancer and other diseases." Dr Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina stressed there were health benefits from eating some red meat. But he added: "The need is for a major reduction in total meat intake, an even larger reduction in processed meat and other highly processed and salted animal source food products and a reduction in total saturated fat." Dr Mark Wahlqvist, a nutrition expert from Australia, said eating small amounts of red meat--around 30g a day--provided a good source of key nutrients. He said, "Fresh, lean red meat of these amounts is likely to be of more benefit than harm." According to the passage, we know _ . people eating more red meat have a higher risk of death Architects say they will soon be able to print a whole house by simply using a 3D printer. The technology is still ly new, but it's already being used in the medical world and in industry to bring down the cost of precision parts. Now designers in the Netherlands are planning to create a complete building. If it all goes to plan, you will see the first house to be made from 3D printing before long. It's been named the Landscape House. Following its success across different industries, Dutch architect Ruijssenaars believes printing technology has come far enough to create the first full size building. He said, "With 3D printing, you can actually directly print the shape that you want without first having to make the mould. It is not only an interesting technique, because you have actually density of printing that you can later see in the product, but it's also economically (better) because you save time and energy." To create his design with traditional construction methods, builders would have to pour concrete into specially constructed moulds and these would have to be removed once the concrete had set. The house will occupy about 1.115 square meters and if it stays within the projected budget, it is predicted to cost between 5 and 6 million US dollars. The house will occupy about will employ is the creation of Enrico Dini. He said, "My personal approach in 3D printing of building construction is: using 3D printing as our start basis of making free form cages and from then move on with the traditional construction technique." This is Dini's printer. It's big, measuring 5 meters by 3 meters. But his company D-Shape is planning to produce a new giant 3D printer, which can construct the Landscape House. Ground rock, or sand is put into the printer and then hardened by a binding agent .The 3D printer will print pillars that would go up straight. The project is expected to be completed sometime in 2014. Compared with traditional printing method, 3D printing _ . ly saves time and energy A group of students found metamorphic rocks near a campsite. The presence of metamorphic rocks is most likely evidence of high pressure
Once there was a king. He had two old ministers. One was kind and the other was bad. The bad minister often said bad words about the kind minister before the king. The king was very angry. One day the king said to the bad minister, "Write two words on two pieces of paper. Write 'live' on one piece and 'die' on the other. Then put them in a jar and tell him to choose. If he takes out the paper with 'live' on it, I'll let him go. If he takes out the paper with 'die' on it, I'll kill him at once. " The bad minister was quite happy. He got two pieces of paper ready. He wrote 'die' on each piece of paper. The kind old man came. He knew the bad minister wanted to kill him. He also knew the words on the two pieces were both "die". But he knew what to do. Later the king had to keep his word and let the old minister go. Do you know what the kind man did about this at that time? He chose a piece of paper and ate it, When they saw the word "die" on the other piece, the king and other ministers thought the word on the piece that the kind man had eaten must be "live", so he saved his own life by his cleverness . Who was told to write "live" and "die"? Answer: Sports can help us a lot. Taking exercise can make us strong. In collectivesports like basketball,volleyball or football,wewill learn the importance of cooperation. And sports can also help us relax after work or study. However,as the saying goes,"There are two sides of everything. "Sometimes we may hurt other players or ourselves if we are not careful enough when participatingin sports activities. What's more,too much or hard practice can be bad for our health. Sports can make us healthy both physically and psychologically. It is also a good way for people to know each other and can improve friendship between people. So long as we are careful enough,sports can do us nothing but good. The best title for this passage can be" _ ". Answer: In today's world, we rely on computers as never before.They are used for everything from ordering a pizza to running hospitals and military defense systems.Banking and credit card information is stored and accessed by computers.So what happens when a computer gets infected with a virus? One effect is that people's access to their e-mail accounts is cut off.A more serious possible consequence is that billions of dollars could be lost. A virus is a computer program that copies itself onto other programs and infects them. Similar to an easily spread disease, a computer virus goes from computer to computer, either adding to or changing the tasks a program is designed to do. The first computer viruses were created in the mid '80s and had varying effects.Some caused files to be deleted, or made the letters on the screen appear to fall off.Others displayed a specific message once the computer was turned on. Viruses today are much more widespread and dangerous than ever before.Perhaps the most damaging to date has been the "I Love You" virus."I Love You" appeared in May 2000 and has possibly been the most destructive virus in terms of monetary loss. The virus is released when an attachment to a fake e-mail message is opened.By changing the names of files on computers, "I Love You" makes them difficult to access.It also searches for important personal information, including passwords, which it sends to a web site for others to see. It is estimated that more than 45 million people in 20 countries have had their computers infected by the "I Love You" virus.Some say the cost of repair and lost business has been more than US$10 billion. If you own a computer, it is important to keep it in good health by installing an anti-virus program.If updated frequently, it will protect your e-mail access-not to mention your wallet. Which of the following is one of the damages brought by "I Love You" virus? Answer: Q: On Facebook, my friends are a mix of real-life pals, former classmates, professional colleagues, extended-family members, and ... my mom. Mom is the first to like and comment on everything I post, which is annoying. I tried talking to her about it, but her feelings quickly got hurt, so I backed off. I know I can't block her, but now I don't want to post anything. How do I handle this? A: This is about Facebook, not your mom. The often-shrugged-off truth about social media is that nothing is private. It's easy to forget this, so in a way, you're lucky that your mom is reminding you. Everything you post--comments, likes, photos--is freely available to future friends, employers, lovers etc unless blocked. That said, you can ask Mom again nicely to tone it down. You can also customize your controls so she can't see everything you post. Q: In which situations am I required to make a phone call versus send a text message? A: A text is for information--time, date, news. It's for the stuff you can keep short and sweet. A phone call is for analysis, discussion, opinion, and, if you must, gossip. Q: I'm always on Facebook, so I just send messages to friends through the site. But when should I log off and send an e-mail? A: When you're serious about anything. Think of it as chatting with someone on a bus versus asking her to meet you for coffee. The former is good for casual conversation; the latter is personal and requires attention. Q: For which occasions should I mail paper invitations versus send e-mail ones? (E-cards are free and easy--what's not to love?!) A: Anything important needs a paper invitation. That's your baseline. So ask yourself: "Do I want people to dress up for this event?" If the answer is yes, dress up your invitation by making it printed instead of virtual. For more casual events and gatherings, e-card away. Q: Is using emoticons ever inappropriate to express a feeling or make a point in texts or e-mails? A: Emoticons are for fun. Is the message you're writing fun? Use an emoticon. Are you asking for a big favor? Skip it. Is the message to your boss or a colleague? Skip it. Avoid them if you want to be taken seriously about anything. Q: I have a big, happy announcement to share with a lot of people. Is it appropriate to share it on my blog? A: Yes, so you don't have to go cc-ing everyone in an e-mail. Post away. But send a private message to those who should know first. Q: I have a big, sad announcement. What should I do? A: Respect your privacy--and yourself. Pick up the phone and call a trusted friend or family member to let her know, and then ask her to help spread the news offline. What do we learn about social media from the first Q and A? Answer: "BANG !" the door caused a reverberation . It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I on the other side. We were both in great anger. "Never set foot in this house again!" stormed father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street. The street lights were shining, causing rather sad feelings. I walked aimlessly. A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree. But now ... I don't know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always puts his opinions of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never turns a blind eye to it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened. I walked aimlessly on the streets, without an exact place in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to be with me. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived. I saw that all the lights were off except the father's. I thought to myself: "Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?" "Am I wrong?" I whispered, maybe... With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my cheeks. I suddenly realized that there was no iron door between us at all. Love - it's second to none. What made the writer think of his childhood? Answer:
Question: Each student at an engineering college in Canada gets a steel ring upon graduation in addition to graduation certificate. There is a story behind the unusual ring. Several years ago, a graduate from this engineering college designed an iron-steel bridge. Unfortunately, because of many mistakes in his design, the bridge collapsed soon after it came into use. This event shook the engineering college. And the college authorities decided to take back the framework of the iron-steel bridge and use it as raw material for making rings to give the students upon their graduation. The college wants the students to remember this lesson forever so as to avoid making such mistakes again. The best title for the passage is _ . A. A Warning Ring B. A Shocking Event C. A Great Mistake D. A Lesson to Be Remembered Answer: A. A Warning Ring Question: Barack Obama, a black man, is the president of the United States now. He was born on August 4th, 1961, in Hawaii and has lived in many places. His mother was from Kansas and his father was from Kenya. Obama went to Columbia University in New York and got a law degree at Harvard University in Massachusetts. His wife is Michelle Obama. She also worked as a lawyer and later worked for the University of Chicago. They have two young daughters. Obama wrote a bookDreams from My Father. "I always live in the dream of my father and American people, " Obama once said. He was born in a poor family. And he was taken good care of by his grandparents when he was young. He also lived and worked in Africa. Then he got good education in Harvard University. On November 4th, 2008, he became the president of America for the first time. Barack Obama became the president at the age of _ for the first time. A. 37 B. 47 C. 38 D. 48 Answer: B. 47 Question: Mr. Brown was on his way home from the railway station. It was very late, and he was alone on the dark road. Suddenly he heard someone behind him. He began to walk faster. The man behind him walked faster, too. He walked more slowly, and the man moved more slowly, too. He began to run, and the man was following him and he was really scared. There was a wall on one side of the road, and he quickly climbed up on it and jumped down on the other side. "If he passes and doesn't stop," Mr. Brown thought, "everything will be all right." But the man didn't pass. He climbed up on the wall and jumped down, too. Mr. Brown's only thought was, "I'm in great danger!" He stood up and shouted, "What do you want? Why are you following me?" The man was so tired that at first it was difficult for him to speak. "I didn't know that you were a very good runner," he said at last, "I have to go to Mr. White's house, but I don't know the way. A man at the station told me that you lived next to Mr. White's and he told me to follow you. I'm too tired to go any farther." Mr. Brown was really _ . A. in great danger B. a policeman C. afraid of the man D. too tired to move Answer: C. afraid of the man Question: When Cath Pirret and her husband Iain took their daughters Jessie, 10, and Holly, 7, to Britain earlier this year, it was a trip that was all about showing the girls where their parents grew up. But there were also some key sightseeing opportunities, such as Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall and Tate Modern, before heading to Paris to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. So, what did the couple from Melbourne hope their girls would get from the trip? "A greater understanding that travel is not a difficult thing to do," Cath says."Some of the highlights are to meet new people and adapt to lots of different situations." Cath believes that children, in order to truly benefit from travel, need to be old enough to understand and appreciate the experience. Sydney-based ABC Radio broadcaster and film critic C.J. Johnson travelled a lot with his parents as a child. His father was "really into rivers" and decided he was going to make it the "family mission" to see the "seven great rivers of the world". There's no doubt, thanks to a richer society and the greater ease and access to all forms of travel, that few -- if any -- generations of parents and children have ever had the ability to journey together as far, as wide and as deep as the present one.Travel brings history to life, builds children's independence and opens their minds. A child's view also helps adults to see the world through new eyes. For Keith Bellows, the award-winning editor-in-chief of the American National Geographic Traveler magazine says the world is simply"the greatest classroom we have". He's convinced, like Spicer, that any parent willing and financially able to give the gift of travel offers a gift that keeps on giving. "Children who learn to travel will travel to learn," he says. "And they will do it all their lives." With that in mind, Bellows, a father of three, wrote a book, 100 Places that Can Change Your Child's Life. Why did the couple take their daughters to Britain? A. To prove their parents grew up in a rich country. B. To meet the friends and relatives in Britain. C. To help them enjoy their wonderful holidays. D. To assist them to get benefit from travelling. Answer: D. To assist them to get benefit from travelling. Question: It was once unheard-of to be a businessman in China. Nowadays, though, it's quite common to become your own boss. Let's say you have an idea. Maybe you want to open an English school or sell Japanese comics. First, you need a business plan. It sets out what you'll sell and how much everything will cost. Most businesses that fail didn't have this. If you need to borrow money at the start, banks will ask for a detailed plan. The best starting place for a business plan is the 4Ps: product, place, price and promotion. All these must be strong to be successful. #Product Your product must have something unique. What makes it special compared to other similar products? If you want to start a noodle shop that has nothing new, don't expect people to show much interest. You can research your product. For food, let people try it for free. For toys, let a few children play with them to see if they like them. #Place There's no point having a product that people want to buy if your shop is in an empty mall. Think about which type of person is going to buy what you sell. Where do they usually go shopping? When looking at possible places, spend the day there. See how many people pass by. Also, are there other shops nearby selling similar products? _ , how can you be better than them? #Price Work out how much it costs to make or provide your product. As a general rule, your price will be double the cost. After all, you're also paying for rent, staff and you need to eat too! #Promotion How can you attract people to your shop? Advertising in newspapers and on TV is expensive. Perhaps you can get free advertising by getting a newspaper to write about your business. If you want to start a noodle shop, you should _ . A. expect people to show much interest B. research your noodles C. let people try it at a low price D. let children have a try Answer: B. research your noodles
Farah was sitting in the kitchen going over the party list with her mother.The exams were over and Farah wanted to invite her friends for a party. "Farah,aren't you going to invite Hafsa?"her mother asked.Hafsa had been her best friend since childhood. "Mother,you know I am now a part of Purple Girls Club and we have some rules about people we can be friends with,"Farah answered. "Really?And what are the rules?"her mother asked. "Well,only very pretty girls can be part of our group.And Hafsa is so...you know...dark." "I cannot believe it,"her mother said angrily. As Farah left the kitchen,her father called her from the living room. Farah went to her father and paled when she saw the exam report in his hands."Farah,what has happened to your grades?You have failed in Mathematics,"her father said. Farah had no answer.The truth was that the activities of Purple Girls Club left her with very little time for studies. "Farah,it says that you can take part in supplementary exams .If your grades don't improve then,I'll cancel your trip to Spain." Farah went to her room and called Gina,the leader of Purple Girls Club, "Gina,can you help me to complete my notes before the exams?" Gina laughed."Exams?Who cares about exams?" One by one,she called her friends in the club but no one seemed to care or wanted to help. Farah knew Hafsa would help her.Farah also knew Hafsa had been hurt by her,but Hafsa said,"If you need any help,just let me know.We can study together till your exams." Next Monday,as two friends entered the school together,Gina called out. "Farah,you know our rules.You cannot be friends with those who do not belong to our club." "Gina,I have a new rule about friendship,"Farah replied. Farah became pale after going to her father because _ . Answer: she didn't do well in her exams polar bears are white due to an inherited Answer: characteristic 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." Donna knew nothing about Felipe's heart until _ . Answer: she was well and strong enough Most employers say that they wish to employ the right person for the right job. A recent report by Britain's Independent Institute of Manpower Studies, however, disagrees with this. The report states that most employers wish to avoid employing the wrong person. Rather than looking for the right person, they are looking for applicants to turn down. The report also suggests that in Britain and in many other parts of the world the selection methods used to pick out the right person for the job certainly do not match up to those used to judge a piece of new equipment. Employers used three main selection methods: interviewing, checking resume or application forms and examining references. Most of the employers asked in this survey stated that these selection methods were used more for weeding out unsuitable applicants rather than for finding suitable ones. Interviews were considered to be more reliable than either resume checks or references from past employers. Research, however, proves otherwise. Interviewers' decisions are often strongly influenced by their earlier judgment of the written application. Also different employers view facts differently. One may consider applicants who have frequently changed jobs as people with broad and useful experience. Another will see such applicants as unreliable and unlikely to stay for long in the new job. Some employers place great importance on academic qualifications whereas the link between this and success in management is not necessarily strong. Some employers use handwriting as a standard. The report states that there is little evidence to support the value of the letter for judging working ability. References, also, are sometimes unreliable as they are not very important while checks on credit and security records and applicants' political opinions are often the opposite. The report is more favorable towards trainability tests and those which test personality and personal and mental skills. The report concludes by suggesting that interviewing could become more reliable if the questions were arranged in a careful, organized system and focused on the needs of the employing organization. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Employers get different conclusions from the facts. You may know May Day, but do you know Lei Day? Like May Day, Lei Day is also celebrated on May 1st. People wear leis on this day. A lei is a big circle usually made of flowers . On Lei Day, people give leis to each other. Where do you know this holiday is celebrated? Hawaii, of course! People give leis on birthdays, weddings and as a way to say "I love you". In 1928, a writer, Don Blanding, wrote an article saying that this tradition should become a holiday. Another writer, Grace Tower Warren, thought of the idea of celebrating this day on May 1st and said, "May Day is Lei Day."On this day in 1928, people wore leis and celebrated with music, dancing and a lei-making competition. The next year, Lei Day became a public holiday. Today, people still celebrate Lei Day in Hawaii. We hope they all have a happy May Day and a happy Lei Day! What is the passage about? Answer: Lei Day in Hawaii.
The English language is the result of the invasion of the island of Britain over many hundreds of years.The first invasions were by a people called Angles about 1, 500 years ago. The Angles were a German tribe who crossed the English Channel . Later two more groups crossed to Britain. They were the Saxons and the Jutes. Through many years, the Saxons, Angles and the Jutes mixed their different languages. The result is what is called Anglo-Saxon or old English. The next great invasion of Britain was done by Vikings about 1, 100 years ago. Many English words used today come from these ancient Vikings. The next invasion of Britain took place more than 900 years ago, in 1066. History experts call this invasion the Norman Conquest. The Normans were a French-speaking people from Normandy in the north of France. These new rulers spoke only French for several hundred years. It was the most important language in the world at that time. It was the language of educated people. But the common people of Britain still spoke old English. Old English took many words from the Norman French. Some of these include "damage", "prison", and "marriage". The French language used by the Norman rulers greatly changed the way English was spoken 800 years ago. English became what language experts call Middle English. Middle English sounds like Modern English. But it is difficult to understand now. The history of the English language continues as Middle English becomes Modern English, which is spoken today. During the rule of the Normans, the language people spoke showed their _ . Answer: social positions This is my school. There are many trees and flowers in it. It's very beautiful. The teaching building is big and tall. There is a big playground in our school. After 4:30 in the afternoon, many students come to the playground to play football and some students play table tennis in the table tennis room. There are 1,200 students and 25 classes in our school. The students all like to study. The teachers in our school are very good. They help the students to study and the students like them, too. Do the students like to study? Answer: Yes,they do. Language is a way to communicate with each other. We started to learn language when we were born. However, people are used to speaking their native language, so immigrants are having many problems between the first generation and the second generation because they don't have the same native language. Also, the second generation is losing their identity. Especially in America, there are many immigrants that came from different countries to succeed in the States. Because they suffer in lots of areas such as getting a job and trying to speak English, they want their children to speak English, not only at school, but also at home in order to be more successful. Because of this situation, their children are losing their identity and, even more, they are ignoring their parents whose English is not very good. I think most immigrants are trying to preserve their native language in their new country, but this doesn't help very much in getting a good job. My aunt taught Korean to her children not to help hem succeed in the U.S. she did so, hopefully, to help them establish a Korean identity. Though the second generation was born in the new country, they often get confused about their identity because they look different from others, and also, if they visit their parents' country, they will probably feel different from other people there too. My cousins told me that when they visited Korea a few years ago, they felt different from other Koreans. They could even feel it just strolling around the street because they wore different clothes and walked differently. We must realize that language is important and valuable for many reasons. Immigrants should make an effort not to be ignored by their children understand their background by teaching them the parents' language. This is very important, not only for the harmony of the family, but also in helping the second generation establish their identity. The writer's cousins felt different in their parents' country because they _ . Answer: behaved quite differently There is nowadays in schools a great movement that places major emphasis on higher order skills, these being those skills that encourage the ability to reason. This group of skills involves recalling information, basic concept formation, critical thinking, and creative idea formation. Formerly viewed as the tools of mathematics, these skills are now recognized as necessary to abilities across the curriculum. Higher order thinking skills are now recognized as important for those who will enter the twenty-first century work force. Preparing young learners for their future requires that teachers employ a great deal of inventiveness and creativity in designing lessons that meet the dual challenge of providing the basics as in reading, language arts, and mathematics, and developing the ability to reason. This unit uses detective fiction to address both of these challenges, and the activities that lie here are designed to draw the learner along a path that moves him from the simple skills, such as recalling information, to the more difficult area of creative thinking. Activities may be modified, simplified, lengthened, or deleted to meet the needs of the intellectual diversity found in most classrooms. For this unit I have chosen three separate series of children's detective fiction. The easiest to read are the Private Eyes club mysteries, written and illustrated by Crosby Bonsall. This series centers on the activities of four neighborhood boys who along with their cat Mildred keep the area they live in free of crime. Each title is centered on one issue and the list of titles is expanding. The reading levels range from about 1.6 to 2.0 and the print is large and well organized on the page. Snitch, Wizard, Skinny, and Tubby are funny and engaging, and are represented in lively color illustrations. The only issue that could be a problem is that the private eyes are all boys. However, girls are well represented among the peripheral peer group. What will mostly likely be presented after this passage? Answer: The Private Eyes club mysteries. In what section of Earth do earthquakes happen? Answer: crust
Based on new analysis, we are rapidly approaching major climate change and the effects on society and the environment could be quite severe. Geographers predict that within the next eighty years, current world climate zones could shift and some could completely disappear. Polar regions will get colder while tropical regions will get even hotter, forcing animals to migrate north. Climate changes like these could lead to the spread of diseases. Tropical storms and hurricanes will not only increase but may also become more intense. If the changes come too quickly, animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear. According to Science Daily, a new study predicts that by the year 2100, many of today's familiar climates will be replaced by climates unknown in today's world. It is urgent that we reduce the risks of these far-reaching consequences for the whole world. The planet itself has been showing signs of change. In 2004, a serious tsunami created by a major earthquake killed thousands in Sumatra and in 2008, thousands died in China because of another severe earthquake. Egypt was hit in 2009 with a major earthquake and Haiti was _ in 2010 by yet another massive earthquake. Within just the last few months, new reports from around the world have been coming in and most agree that our climate situation is much worse than previously thought. At this point, it doesn't matter what is causing it, but rather, what can be done about it. What's more, our world is getting more and more unstable every year. There is war and threat of war everywhere. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious. However, other planets are experiencing global warming as well as our own and some scientists believe there may be some connection between this. No one knows anything for sure at this point because there is simply not enough data. Which of the following would be the best title for the Passage ? Answer: Recently I came in contact with the true meaning of love. That would have been, Kane, a boy. Kane was the two-year-old son of Jolene, my new neighbor. At a glance Kane was a sight. He'd been born with hard sticks for legs. And on that morning I witnessed the effect that Kane's physical shortcomings had on his family. But I also witnessed much more than that. I saw an extraordinary family that embraced this special child. A family that wouldn't allow Kane to know he was different. Jolene had constructed a small cart just a few inches off the floor for his son to get around. Using his hands to move about, Kane moved the cart to "go to" any place just as everyone else was able to do. Kane worked that little cart like a master. Kane was a vital focus of the entire family. He was more than just a member of the family; he was the soul. This child was the driver, the motivator, and the founder of much of the interaction. Much later in my life, I came to realize that God had sent this child to help some of us who just weren't getting what love was all about. Even with my limited capacity for understanding at the time that Kane was a highly developed spirit with great wisdom. Kane demanded attention, but not because of his mobility challenges or other apparent shortcomings. In his mind, he had no challenges or shortcomings. The truth is that he received attention because he was alive and real and had so much to offer. Kane was and still is a lot of warm and powerful energy sent to us all, so we might learn that love surpasses all things. Kane, a fragile yet lovely baby, was here to teach us all an important lesson. And at the age of two he did just that. What can we learn from Kane's story? Answer: Why are you study habits different from those of your friends? Why do you seem to learn faster in some classes while more slowly in others? One reason you may not know is that people have different types. Scientists say there are three different learning types: Visual ,Auditory ,and Kinesthetic . Visual learners learn best by seeing. If you seem to easily remember information from pictures, graphs ,and videos, you are probably a visual learner. You're not good at copying down what the teacher says in class. Never mind. You can draw graphs or pictures instead, if you find that works better for you. Auditory learners learn best by hearing. If you seem to easily remember things by hearing them, then you are probably an auditory learner. You must listen carefully while the teacher is speaking because it's the easiest way for you to learn . Sometimes you may find that taking notes tops you from listening carefully. After class, you can write down what you remember or borrow your friend's notes to copy. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing. If you seem to learn best by working with your hands, you are probably a kinesthetic learner. Taking notes by writing can make you pay close attention to information as you receive it. Of course, you can learn best by making full use of labs or other class activities. Hope you learn better by knowing what your personal learning type is. There are _ different learning types according to the passage. Answer: Kiss crisis, hug horrors and the UK's handshake headaches Greeting someone, saying goodbye - these situations fill me with unease. You have a second to make a dangerous decision. One peck ? Two pecks? Three? No kisses at all? Why, I think, as I crash into the other person's face, why can't it be as simple as a handshake? A survey by the soap company Radox in May showed one in five Brits now feels a handshake is "too formal", according to the Daily Mail. Some 42 percent said they never shook hands when greeting friends. For one third of people the alternative was a hug, for 16 percent a kiss on the cheek. British people are known to be reserved - unfriendly, some would say. Handshakes used to work for us because we didn't have to get too close. But the super-British handshake is no longer fashionable. We want to be more like our easygoing Mediterranean neighbors who greet each other with kisses and hugs. The trouble is, we still find it a bit awkward. What does a married man do when greeting a married female friend, for example? How should someone younger greet someone older? Guys don't tend to kiss one another; my male friends in Britain go for the "manly hug", taking each other stiffly in one arm and giving a few thumps on the back with words like "Take it easy, yeah?". The biggest questions, if you do decide to kiss, are how many times and which cheek first. Unlike the French, who comfortably deliver three, our cheek-pecks usually end in embarrassed giggling : "Oh, gosh, sorry, I didn't mean to kiss you on the lips, I never know where to aim for first!" But then it's never been easy for us poor, uncomfortable Brits. Even the handshake had its problems: don't shake too hard, but don't hold the other person's hand too limply either, and definitely don't go in with sweaty hands. Maybe it's better to leave it at a smile and a nod. What is the article mainly about? Answer: The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC has thousands of objects on display, including the 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, and a lunar rock you can touch. In addition to our exhibition galleries, you may want to visit the Albert Einstein Planetarium, Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, and the Public Observatory on the east end. There are many things to do at the Museum in DC. We offer daily tours and educational activities for both children and adults. We also have scheduled lectures and events throughout the year. Hours and Admission:Open every day except December 25. Admission is free. Regular Hours:1000 am to 5:30pm Extended Hours: 10:00 am to 7:30pm December 26----30,2014 March 30----April 20, 2015 Fridays and Saturdays, April 24----May 16,2015 May 17----September 7, 2015 VISITING TIPS: Limit the number of bags: All visitors are screened through metal detectors upon entry. The fewer items you bring inside the Museum, the faster your entry. Before you visit, please review the list of prohibited items,which include pocket knives and tripods . Visitors carrying prohibited items will not be allowed inside the Museum, so please leave them at home or in your car. No Food or Drink: Only bottled water is permitted in the Museum. You may only consume food and other drinks in the Food Court, not in the Museum. Groups who bring food are encouraged to picnic on the National Mall. Please Take Photos: You are welcome to take photos for personal use. However, tripods and monopods are not permitted without approval. First Aid: The Museum has a First Aid office and a nurse on duty. Please contact the nearest security officer or the Welcome Center for assistance. Visit the Welcome Center: At our Welcome Center in the South Lobby, staff and volunteers can answer any questions you have during your visit. Open:10:00 am to 5:30 pm Phone: 202-633-2214 E-mail: NASM-visitorservice@si.edu A visitor to the Museum can_. Answer:
Whether you prefer burning the midnight oil or going to bed early so you can get up at the break of dawn depends on your genes , according to experts. I jump out of bed each morning, eager to start an active day. But I can hear my neighbour's alarm clock ringing non-stop every morning and I doubt he gets to work on time. A lot of noise comes from his flat in the evening. He's happy to stay up watching TV till after midnight, while I go to bed early and try to sleep. Well, it might not be his fault after all. I'm called 'a lark ' and my neighbour 'an owl '. We all have inside 'clocks' in the brain to control all kinds of bodily functions and it is reset every day by light. These inside clocks run to a different schedule in 'larks' and 'owls'. If you have a fast clock, you like to do things early, and if you have a slow clock, you like to do things late. Because we live in a 24/7 world, scientists believe it's important to understand a person's 'chronotype' - the time of the day when they function the best. It could help us lead a healthier life. A US professor has studied sleeping patterns and thinks work times should be changed and made more individual to fit in with our chronotypes. And he has advice for those who can't choose their working hours: "If that's not possible, we should be more careful about light exposure", says the professor. "You should try to go to work not in a covered vehicle but on a bike. The minute the sun sets we should use things that have no blue light, like computer screens and other electronic devices." Things with blue light are not recommended after sunset because blue light _ . Skin-diving is a new sport today. This sport takes you into a wonderful new world . It is like a visit to the moon! When you are under water, it is easy for you to climb big rocks , because you are no longer heavy . Here, under water, everything is blue and green. During the day ,there is enough light .When fish swim nearby , you can catch them with your hands . When you have tanks of air on your back, you can stay in keep water for a long time. But you must be careful when you dive in deep water. To catch fish is one of the most interesting parts of this sport. Besides ,there are many other uses of skin-diving. You can clean ships without taking them out of the water. You can also get many things from the deep sea. ,. Skin-diving can take you to _ As students, you may have many dreams. They can be very big like becoming Superman, or they can be small. You may just want to become one of the ten best students in your class. If you find a dream, what do you do with it? Do you ever try to make your dream come true? Follow Your Heart by Australian writer Andrew Matthews tells us that making our dreams come true is life's biggest _ . "You may think you're not very good at some school subjects, or that it is impossible for you to become a star. These ideas stop you from getting your dream," the book says. In fact, everyone can make his dream come true. The first important thing you must do is to remember what your dream is. Don't let it leave your heart . Keep telling yourself what you want. Do this step by step and your dream will come true faster. A big dream is, in fact, many small dreams. Never give up your dream. There will be difficulties on the road. But the biggest problem comes from yourself. You need to decide what is the most important. Studying instead of watching TV will bring you better exam points. Saving five yuan instead of buying an ice cream means you can buy a new book. When you get closer to your dream, it may change a little. Then you will be able to learn more skills and find new interests. If you want to make your dream come true, you should _ . Which best describes the orbit of the Moon around Earth? Mr. White was in bed and was trying to go to sleep when he heard the doorbell ring. He turned on the light and looked at the clock. It was half past twelve. "Who can be it at this time of night?" he wondered. He decided to go and find out. So he got out of bed, put on his jacket and went to the door. When he opened the door, there was nobody there. "That's very strange," he thought. Then he went back to his bedroom, took off his jacket, got back into bed, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep. A few minutes later he heard the doorbell ring again. Mr. White jumped out of the bed very quickly and rushed to the door. He opened it, but again he found no one there. He closed the door and tried not to feel too nervous. Then he saw a piece of paper on the floor inside the door. He picked it up. There were some words on it: "Now it's after midnight, so it's April 1st. Happy April Fool's Day!" "Oh, it was the funny boy next door!" Mr. White smiled. ,. At first Mr.White turnedonthelightand _ .
The majority of astronauts from America have been men. At the start of the space programme there was strong resistance from some people against having women in space. However, some women were very keen to become astronauts and in the end they were successful. In 1978, NASA began the first training programme for women astronauts. Judy Resnick and Christa McAuliffe were both astronauts and they were both women, but in many other ways they were very different. Both of them were on Flight STS-5L-L. Judy Resnick was born in 1949 and studied engineering at university and went on to obtain a PhD in 1977. She was a member of the first group of women selected for astronaut training in 1978, and in 1984, she became the second woman in space. During that flight, she helped to launch three new satellites and she carried out a programme of research. She was, in many ways, a professional astronaut whose whole life was devoted to space travel. Christa McAuliffe was born in 1948 and she was an astronaut almost by accident. In 1984, NASA decided to find a teacher who could accompany astronauts into space. They hoped that she would be able to communicate with students from space and encourage every one of them to be interested in space travel. Christa was a secondary teacher in history and social studies. She was a gifted teacher and she was selected from over 11,000 applicants to go on flight STS-51-L. She was also a very good communicator and she immediately established a very good relationship with the news media(radio, television and newspapers). It was partly because of this that there was a great deal of interest and excitement about the flight. Thousands of students in schools and universities all around the country were looking forward to communicating with Christa in space. Millions of people were watching her flight with great interest. It is partly because of the excitement over McAuliffe's place in the flight that the disaster in 1986 had such an effect on people. Christa McAuliffe was chosen for training because _ . Answer: she was an excellent teacher and communicator Can you write down a Chinese word being read to you? Sometimes it can be difficult when you find the word is not included in most dictionaries. Lu Jialei, 14, from Hangzhou Foreign Language School, won the CCTV Chinese Character Spelling Contest on Oct 18th, 2013. About 160 people competed. The host read a word to the contestant, explained its meaning and gave sample sentences. The contestant was required to write down the word. Winning the contest was a "surprise" to Lu. "I was not the smartest one," she said. "But I paid attention to details." To prepare for the contest, she and her teammates studied the Modern Chinese Dictionary for 10 days. There are more than 56,000 entries including characters, words and phrases in it. She also had a secret weapon. She studied how Chinese characters were formed. "When others paid attention to the plot of a story, she looked at how authors use words and sentences to express themselves," said Su Yunsheng, Lu's Chinese teacher. Su is happy to see students like Lu find the beauty of Chinese language. "Besides using something Chinese and having Chinese traditional festivals, learning to write Chinese characters is also an important part of inheriting Chinese culture," said Su. Lu Jialei's secret weapon was that _ . Answer: she studied how Chinese characters were formed Bullied kids face a high risk of mental health problems as teens and as young adults. Indeed, kids troubled by bullying may be worse off than those who had suffered physical abuse or neglect, as the study found. Until recently, most studies of child victims focused not on bullying but on maltreatment , Dieter Wolke says. Maltreatment includes physical or emotional abuse, neglect or other behaviors that can harm a child. Wolke's team wanted to better understand bullying's long-term effects compared to those due to maltreatment. They focused on 4,026 children in the United Kingdom and 1,420 more in the United States. Information about bullying and maltreatment was collected for American children to age 13. They collected the same information for British youth up to age 16. The researchers also gathered data on each individiial's mental health as a young adult. Among the Americans, 36 percent of bullied kids had mental problems later. Those problems included anxiety, which is a state of excessive worry. They also included depression. That is a feeling of hopelessness that can last a long time. Among kids who had been maltreated by adults, 17 percent later suffered mental health problems. That was less than half the rate seen in people who had been bullied as school kids. In the U.K. group, the difference was less dramatic. Roughly 25 percent of the bullied kids reported mental health problems later, compared with about 17 percent who had been maltreated. But however you look at it, the findings are disturbing. And that's why Wolke says schools,health services and other agencies must work together to end bullying. Studies like this are important, says C.orinna Jenkins Tucker. They bring attention to the lasting impacts of bullying. Tucker does, however, question the value of comparing bullying to other types of abuse. Such an approach can make it seem like one type of bad experience is worse than the other, she says. In fact, both types have short-term and long-term effects on health. She'd like to see researchers study the big picture. They should try to understand how all ofthese negative experiences together shape children--and sometimes harm them. In Tucker's opinion, Wolke's study is_. Answer: Improvable When you first arrive in Oxford, it may take a little while for you to find your way around. Some of the first things our students do when they arrive include finding a bike (most students in Oxford find cycling is the best way to go around), setting up a bank account, getting their computer and mobile phone working, finding their department, getting to know their college and working out the best places to socialize. One of the major events you will experience shortly after "coming up" to Oxford is matriculation. Matriculation is held at the University's Sheldonian Theatre and is the ceremony at which you are formally admitted to the university. International students are invited to an orientation day at the start of the academic year. Sessions run throughout the day that will give you practical information about living and studying in the UK and introduce you to other graduate students from all over the world who are starting their studies at Oxford at the same time as you, as well as to current Oxford graduate students and staff who will be able to help and advise you. The day covers topics such as studying and learning in the Oxford system, University services, information on living in Britain and cultural differences, as well as addressing practical issues such as employment, immigration and visas, health and safety. You can choose which talks to attend and at the end of the day there is a social hour so you can meet fellow students. Another good thing to experience early is college dining. Most colleges have a tradition of regular formal hall dinners, which consist of three or four courses, and the atmosphere of an evening out in a nice restaurant. On some of these occasions you can invite people around to your college for dinner and _ . In this way, you can get to know people studying your own and other subjects at the same time as visiting many of the historical college grounds and dining halls. What is matriculation? Answer: A ceremony when students are formally admitted to Oxford. Mr. Smith is telling two funny stories of his police work. Story A I remember catching a "thief" in a clothes shop once. It was strange. The man was hiding a yellow sweater inside his coat. I thought he had stolen it, so I caught him. We found later that his wife gave him the sweater for his birthday, but he hated it. He just wanted to return it to the shop for money, but he didn't want his wife to see him! We soon let him go. Story B Another day, a man called Bob went into a bank on Sixth Street. He wrote on the back of an envelope, "Give me the money! Or I'll kill you." and gave it to the bank clerk. She gave him $100,000 and the man ran away. Then we received a phone call from the bank clerk. She told us to go to the man's house in Candy Town and get him. We caught him as soon as he got out of the elevator. He couldn't believe that we found him so quickly. We told him that the front of the envelope he used his name and address on it! Bob was caught so quickly because _ . Answer: his address was found on the envelope he used
Once upon a time, there was a little white mouse that lived on a farm. He liked to hide in the hay stacks where it was warm through the day and night. On cold winter days, he would wiggle out from the hay stack to get closer to the lamp in the barn, getting some extra warmth. One winter day, the mouse was very cold, but needed something to eat. He left the hay stack, and ran past the lamp. He ran across an old wood board that was laying on top of the snow - the mouse didn't have mittens and wanted to keep his feet warm. He ran and ran until he couldn't any longer. The cold weather was keeping every living thing inside, so the mouse was all alone. He walked towards the house and met a little bug named Fred. Fred told the mouse that he went inside and found lots of crumbs to eat on the kitchen floor. The mouse waited until the farmer's wife, Julie, came out the back door, and then the mouse ran into the kitchen. There were bread crumbs everywhere! The mouse ate as many as he could before anyone found him. He heard the back door open again, and hid under the oven. It was warm there - there must have been a pie baking. Farmer Bill liked pies more than bread, cake, or cookies. The mouse stayed there to warm up, then ran back to the barn to sleep for the night. What was the bug's name? Answer: Fred When I was ten, my mother worked all day so I had to take care of my younger brother. At that time my little brother was about four years old and he missed mum all the time. One day, after I had given him his dinner, he started crying for mum. He was so young and really needed mum. So I dressed him, put on his shoes, carried him on my back and walked out. Soon he fell asleep. About half an hour late, I found that he had lost a shoe while sleeping. I took him off my back and put him down. I knew we needed to find that shoe, for our mother couldn`t afford new shoes. We had to go back to find it, so I told my brother to Wait right here. A man heard it and stopped me just before I walked off. He asked me, "You are leaving your brother here to find the shoe? What would you do if he is not here when you return?" I did not know how to answer that question. He continued,: It is OK if you can`t find the shoe, but it is not OK to lose your brother." Then he sent us to mum`s workplace by taxi. I have depended on the kindness of many strangers in my whole life. I feel regretful that I cannot find them and say thank you. I don't even remember what the man`s face looked like, but he taught me a lesson--people are more important than things. ,,. According to the passage, which word can best describe the man? Answer: Kind WHEN an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at former US President George W.Bush at a news conference last December,the president's bodyguards quickly moved to protect him. Those bodyguards were from the US Secret Service.Their job is to protect the president.Now America's first black president Barack Obama also has the same people at his side.Here are some details about these mysterious men and women. History The Secret Service is known today for protecting public officials and their families. However,when it began in 1865,it was started to protect money.A third to a half of all US money during the Civil War was fake .President Abraham Lincoln created the United States Secret Service to find those responsibly. The first 25 presidents had no special protection.That changed after President William Mckinley was murdered in 1901. Who gets protection? About 30 people get full-time protection in the United States (more in an election year). Included are: Presidents and vice-presidents and their wives,for up to 10 years after leaving office,and their children up to age 16.Anyone can decline protection after leaving office.Richard Nixon did. Candidates for president and vice-president,their wives and children at a cost of $500,000 a month for 30-plus special agents . The Secretary of State,National Security Adviser and others.The Secret Service also protects 80 to 200 visiting foreign political leaders every year. Getting around Rules for president Limousines that can withstand a missile are used. Entering and exiting are never done on a street. Exact travel plans are kept secret. Bulletproof reading stands for speeches are used. Agent's task Teach the president how to wave and move. Test his food for poison. Use special radio channels for the police and the Secret Service. Use X-ray checks before allowing entry to secure areas,and search bags. Check lists of hundreds of people known to be dangerous. Keep files on thousands of people who have made even vague threats. Be part of counter-sniper teams. What's the purpose of writing the passage? Answer: To introduce the US Secret Service to us. This is an interview between the reporter and Sarah, a girl who created a website for her school. Reporter: Why did you start this new website for Alcott Middle School? Sarah: Three months ago, my mom was complaining about how she never hears about the days our school ends early until after the fact. She works late and sometimes she has to ask our neighbor at the last minute to pick me up after school. It happened several times, and she was frustrated that there wasn't better notification from the school. Reporter: Didn't your school already have a website with that information? Sarah: We had a website. But there wasn't much information on it, and nobody was _ keeping it up-to-date . I asked my teacher if our class could update the school calendar. That seemed pretty easy. Reporter: Was it? Sarah: Yeah, and it was kind of fun. So then we asked the principal if we could redo the whole site. He said okay, so we went to work. We discovered websites that taught us how to make our site look better and added more hot links that people could click to get more information about a subject. We posted photos from basketball games. Our class even started a blog about what's going on at school. Then we persuaded the teachers to create their own pages. Reporter: So what's next? Sarah: A few friends and I started a small Web design business. We're asking other schools if they'll employ us to set up a site like the one we created. Reporter: Wow! That's pretty enterprising for a 13-year-old. Sarah: I guess so. But it doesn't seem like work when you're doing something you enjoy. Sarah set up the new school website _ . Answer: by researching on other websites They say that soon, we will be able to receive more than 500 television networks on cable or by satellite. Some people think that it's useless to have that many channels. Their usual criticism goes something like this: "I already get more channels on my TV than I have time to watch. No one needs to see that much TV. There's not enough time in the day to watch all that!"They also say that most of what's on television now isn't worth watching in the first place. I think they're missing the point. If the local library wanted to add another 5,000 books, would we say, "That's silly, we'll never have time to read all those books"? The point is that we would have more choices. I don't believe that most people should watch more television. And if we had 500 or even 1,000 channels to choose from, we wouldn't have to spend more time watching TV. We would, however, have more programs to choose from. That means that the quality of our viewing time would be improved. I think the more channels we have, the better. Give me more choices! If they're not worth my time, I'll just hit the "off" button. The number of television channels is _ . Answer: increasing fast
Salem, the "City of Peace", is a small city with a big history. It is the second established city in Massachusetts and the second oldest settlement in New England. While Salem has been long known as the "Witch City" due to the notable witch trials of 1692, Salem also played an important part in Revolutionary times and was an active leader of several Massachusetts' industries, which is why you will find mansions of the country's first millionaires there. Salem is located approximately 16 miles (30 minutes) north of Boston and is bordered by Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Marblehead, Peabody, Swampscott and the Atlantic Ocean. Boston & Maine Railroad serves Salem with transport service, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority maintains a rail stop and bus service. Air service is available from Beverly Airport (5 miles away) and Logan International Airport (16 miles away). Access is also available on a ferry from Boston. Salem has various restaurants including outdoor cafes, various restaurants and fine dining establishments. For shoppers there are malls and department stores, an open market, a waterfront village, as well as a downtown shopping district. There are many local artists and musicians who have shops along the city streets. On a nightly basis, one can stop in a local restaurant or nightspot and listen to some of the most creative music. World famous artwork is displayed at the Peabody Essex Museum and the work of local artists can be found displayed in many downtown shops including Artist Row. The City of Salem has long had a commitment to the promotion of art and culture. The Salem Cultural Council is a local agency of Salem residents that supports public programs and educational activities in the arts, sciences and humanities. Local artists and theaters, such as CinemaSalem, the Salem Theatre Company, the Salem State College Center for the Arts, the Griffen Theater and the Rebel Shakespeare Company provide entertainment and learning opportunities to residents and visitors alike. The Salem Arts Association, Inc. is an entirely volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization. The SAA seeks to bring art, in all its forms, to the community and bring the community, in all its diversity, to the arts in Salem, Massachusetts. Visitors to Salem have a secure chance to appreciate first-class works of art in _ . Answer: The ability to memorize things seems to be a vanishing technique.So what can we do to bring out brain cells back into action? A newly published book on memory, Moomvalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by American journalist Joshua Foer, makes a telling point, one that is an analysis of the importance of memorising events and stories in human history; the decline of its role in modem life; and the techniques that we need to adopt to restore the art of remembering. As For points out, we no longer need to remember telephone numbers.Our mobile phones do that for us.We don't recall addresses either.We send emails from computers that store electronic addresses.Nor do we bother to remember multiplication tables .Pocket calculators do the job of multiplying quite nicely.Museums, photographs, the digital media and books also act as storehouses for memories that once we had to keep in mind. As a result, we no longer remember long poems or folk stories by heart, feats of memory that were once the cornerstones of most people's lives.Indeed, society has changed so much that we no longer know what techniques we should employ to remember such lengthy works.We are, quite simply, forgetting how to remember. And let's face it, there is nothing sadder than someone who has lost their mobile phone and who finds they cannot even phone home or call their parents or partners because they cannot remember a single telephone number.That is a sad example of loss of personal independence.So, yes, there is a need for us to he able to remember certain things in life. Therefore, Foer's book outlines the methods that need to be mastered in order to promote our memories and regain the ability to recall long strings of names, numbers or faces.In the process, he adds, we will become more aware of the world about us. The trick, Foer says, is to adopt a process known as " elaborative encoding", which involves transforming information, such as a shopping list, into a series of "absorbing visual images".If you want to remember a list of household objects--potatoes, cottage cheese, sugar and other items, then _ them in an unforgettable manner, he says.Start by creating an image of a large jar of potatoes standing in the garden.Next to it, imagine a giant tub of cottage cheese--the size of an outdoor pool--and then picture Lady Gaga swimming in it.And so on.Each image should be as fantastic and memorable as possible. Using methods like this, it becomes possible to achieve great feats of memory quite easily, Foer says.It certainly seems to have worked for him: he won the annual US Memory Championships after learning how to memorize 120 random digits in five minutes; the first and last names of 156 strangers in 15 minutes; and a deck of cards in under two minutes."What I had really trained my brain to do, as much as to memorise, was to be more mindful and to pay attention to the world around," he says. These techniques employed by Foer to master his memory were developed by Ed Cooke--a British writer and a world memory championship grandmaster.He acted as Foer's trainer during preparations for the book and helped him achieve his championship performances." Memory techniques do just one thing: they make information more meaningful to the mind, making the things we try to learn unforgettably bright and amusing," said Cooke. One method of memorizing things mentioned in the passage is to _ . Answer: "Can I get a light?" This question is among the most common between smokers. What if this question was to come from an unusual source? In April 2014, the National Health Promotion Foundation uploaded an anti-smoking advertisement onto YouTube. The anti-smoking ad has quickly been known as the "most powerful anti-smoking ad." The anti-smoking video, called the "Smoking Kid," features children walking up to adult smokers asking for a light. The children in the ad are actors but the adults smoking are _ participants in the project. The video begins with the statement "adults know that smoking is harmful, but don't remind themselves of this fact " Once a "smoking kid" approaches the adults, every adult asked is shocked that a child with a cigarette in hand is asking for a light. The first adult starts by saying, "I'm not giving it to you," and the video goes on to state "every adult filmed said no and reminded the children that smoking is bad." Before going away, the kid hands each adult a booklet after being turned down for a light. The booklet says, "You worry about me, but why not about yourself?" Each adult looks around for the child as their faces are filled with confusion and discomfort. The video shows that a few of the smokers quickly threw away their cigarettes or put their cigarettes away, showing that this experiment was affective at that moment. The most influential element in the ad isn't the use of children or the responses from the smoking adults. It comes down to something much simpler than that. Why is it that we worry about other people, forgetting to worry about ourselves? The best title of the text might be _ . Answer: Do you need friends? I'm sure your answer is "Yes,of course. Everybody does! " You need friends when you play and when you work. If you have friends, you will feel happy. If you have no friends. you will feel lonely . Do you know how to make friends? There is only one good way--You make friends by being friendly. A friendly person is interested in other people. He is always helpful If you want to make friends with a new classmate, you can talk with him, tell him about the other classmates in your class and try your best to be helpful to him. A friendly person is _ other people. Answer: The federal school lunch program for 30 million low-income children was created more than half a century ago to combat malnutrition . A breakfast program was added during the 1960s, and both attempted to improve the nutritional value of food served at school. More must be done to fight the childhood obesity epidemic, which has caused a frightening peak in weight-related disorders like diabetes, high-blood pressure and heart disease among young people. The place to start is schools, where junk food sold outside the federal meals program--through snack bars and vending machines--has pretty much canceled out the benefits of all those efforts. Federal rules that govern the sales of these harmful foods at school are limited and have not been updated for nearly 40 years. Until new regulations are written, children who are served healthy meals in the school cafeteria will continue to buy candy drinks and high sodium snacks elsewhere in school. Many states' school districts have taken positive steps, but others are likely to resist, especially districts that sell junk food to finance athletic program extracurricular activities, and even copier expenses. Those districts should take note of a study released in 2009 in West Virginia showing that the budgetary costs of switching from sodas to healthy drinks such as fruit juice, milk, and water were very little. Even if the switch costs money, so be it. The school should not be trading their students' health to buy office supplies. Over the last five decades, the obesity rates for adolescents have tripled. Unless there is decisive action, weight and inactivity-related disorders will bother a steady larger proportion of the work force and replace smoking as the leading cause of premature death. The passage is concerned mainly with _ . Answer:
Question: Almost all theme park accidents can be prevented.Here, based on coverage of theme park safety, are some tips to help you and your family stay safe on your next visit. If you are visiting with a child, take a moment to explain the ride to them, and tell them what they should do.They are depending upon you to keep them safe.Set a good example for them by following the rules of the park, and make sure that they know you expect them to follow those rules, too. Tell them to stay seated, to hold the grab bar or put their hands in the laps, and not to stick their knees and feet outside a ride vehicle.Make them look to you for the okay to get on or off a ride, too.And never put a crying child on a ride.If your child starts to cry, let others pass you in line until your child is calmed.Or, gently _ the queue and find something more relaxing to do. Young kids can't keep an adult's pace in a theme park.Let them take plenty of breaks. "Kids get tired," said TPI reader Matt Johnson, a father of four."Tired kids make parents even more tired.And tired kids and parents may get hurt -- physically and emotionally." He advises that parents plan a mid-day break, perhaps a swim back at the hotel, to avoid mid-day heat and crowds."You will see cranky families having a miserable time while you are refreshed and having a great evening." Which of the following is NOT right for children who are taking the rides? A. They cannot put their hands away from the grab bar. B. They are forbidden to put their knees or feet out. C. They should ask adults' permission first to get on a ride. D. Without adults' okay sign, children shouldn't get off a ride. Answer: A. They cannot put their hands away from the grab bar. Question: Once upon a time, a young man was standing in the middle of the town announcing that he had the most beautiful heart in the world. A large crowd gathered, and they al praised his heart for it was perfect. Suddenly, an old man appeared and said, "Why ,your heart is not as beautiful as mine." The old man's heart was ful of scars . Some pieces of his heart were removed and some pieces from other people were put in, but they didn't fit quite right. So there were several jagged edges. In fact, there were stil some holes in his heart where the pieces were missing. The young man laughed,"Comparing yours with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess." "Yes,"said the old man. "But, every scar shows that I took out a piece of my heart and gave it to a person, and often he gave me a piece of his heart in return." "Why do you have some jagged edges in your heart?"asked the young man."Because the shapes of the pieces weren't the same.""Then the holes?""Sometimes I gave pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't given back a piece of his, so ... but I don't care.""How come?""They remind me of the love we shared." The young man was deeply moved. He walked up to the old man, took a piece of his heart out and gave it to the old man. The old man placed it in his heart, then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fitted, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges. The young man looked at his heart, not perfect any more but more beautiful than ever. How sad it must be to go through life with a whole untouched heart! It's clear that the old man was _ . A. a silly man B. a humorous man C. a well-known man D. a kind-hearted man Answer: D. a kind-hearted man Question: BUS SERVICE New York City -- Brennan, New Jersey (Trip time: 30 minutes each way ) Timetable Buses leave the Railway Station, New York 7:00 a.m. and every half-hour thereafter until 11:30 p.m. (7 days a week). Buses leave Brennan Station 20 minutes before and after every hour from 6:20 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. (7 days a week ). Evening rush hours(5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) buses leave the Railway Station, New York every 15 minutes (Monday -- Friday). Holidays: buses leave every hour on the hour time, each direction. All tickets must be bought at Window 12, the Railway Station, New York, or at the Brennan Station Window before boarding buses. What time does a bus leave New York for Brennan every Thursday? A. 10:20 a.m. B. 6:30 a.m. C. 6:45 p.m. D. 4:40 p.m. Answer: C. 6:45 p.m. Question: My friend Alice visited my city last week. She arrived on Wednesday morning. She is from Australia. I showed her around the city. We visited the Clock Tower first. The Clock Tower was very tall. We took some photos there. Then we went to City Museum. After that,we saw a good movie. The next day, we visited the Ladies' Street .There were a lot of clothes shops. The clothes were cheap and beautiful. Alice bought some clothes for her parents and friends. Then we went to the Seafood Street. We bought some seafood. We also had seafood in a restaurant. All of us enjoyed the meal. Then we went to a concert in the evening. The music was fantastic! On the third day,the weather was very hot so we decided to visit the Monkey Garden. We found different kinds of monkeys in the Garden. The monkeys were funny and active. Alice went back to Australia on Friday evening. She enjoyed the trip. She invited me to visit Australia next summer. What didn't the writer and Alice do during the vacation? A. Went to the concert. B. Bought some clothes. C. Went to the beach. D. Had seafood. Answer: C. Went to the beach. Question: It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn't invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. "Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It's a beautiful day." "No! Leave me alone!" Those were the last words I said to him that morning. My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went with them. I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. "Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital". When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me my father's injuries were extensive. "Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there's no telling what might have happened. A broken rib might have pierced a lung...." My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear. I didn't hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day? It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him. "Daddy... I am so sorry...." "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay." "No," I said, "I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?" My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me and said, "Sweetheart, I don't remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before, though." He managed a weak smile. My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on. What lesson did Beck learn from the matter? A. Don't treat your parents badly. B. Don't hurt others with rude words. C. Don't move the injured in an accident. D. Don't be angry with friends at small things. Answer: B. Don't hurt others with rude words.
Question: Learn a Foreign Language Spend the time! The more time you spend with the language, the faster you will learn. This means listening, reading, writing, speaking, and studying words and phrases. This does not mean sitting in class looking out the window, nor listening to other students who do not speak well, nor getting explanations in your own language about how the language works. This means spending time enjoyably connected to the language you are learning. Listen and read every day! Listen wherever you are on your MP3 player. Read what you are listening to. Listen to and read things that you like, things that you can mostly understand, or even partly understand. If you keep listening and reading you will get used to the language. One hour of listening or reading is more effective than many hours of class time. Focus on words and phrases! Build up your vocabulary, you'll need lots. Start to notice words and how they come together as phrases. Learn these words and phrases through your listening and reading. Read online, using online dictionaries, and make your own vocabulary lists for review. Soon you will run into your new words and phrases elsewhere. Gradually you will be able to use them. Do not worry about how accurately you speak until you have _ plenty of words through listening and reading. Take responsibility for your own learning! If you do not want to learn the language, you won't. If you do want to learn the language, take control. Choose content of interest, which you want to listen to and read. Seek out the words and phrases that you need to understand your listening and reading. Do not wait for someone else to show you the language, nor to tell you what to do. Discover the language by yourself, like a child growing up. Talk when you feel like it. Write when you feel like it. A teacher cannot teach you to become fluent, but you can learn to become fluent if you want to. Relax and enjoy yourself! Do not worry about what you cannot remember, or cannot yet understand, or cannot yet say. It does not matter. You are learning and improving. The language will gradually become clearer in your brain, just make sure you spend enough time with the language. That is the greatest guarantee of success. What is the author's intention by writing this passage? A. To make a comparison about which is the best way to learn a foreign language. B. To make an advertisement for some foreign language training centre. C. To introduce the effective ways to learn a foreign language. D. To encourage students to learn a foreign language well. Answer: C. To introduce the effective ways to learn a foreign language. Question: There is an apple tree, it loves a little boy, the boy also loves to come and play around it. One day, he needs a toy, but he has no money, so the tree asks him to sell all the apples. At last, the boy gets the toy happily. Then the boy grows up ,he becomes a man. But he doesn't go to see the tree for a long time. The tree is very sad. One summer day, the man returns and the tree is very happy "Come and play with me!" the tree says. "No, I have to work, because I must buy a big house. Can you help me?" the man asks." Sorry, I have no house, but you can cut all the brunches on me, you can _ the house with them ." the tree answers. So the man gets the house. After many years, the man becomes older, and he comes back again. "I only have the dying roots ,but you can have a remember to love your parents at any time! What does the writer want to tell us? A. Don't go to see parents if we're busy. B. Ask our parents to buy things we like. C. Love our parents and look after them. D. Only remember to love ourselves. Answer: C. Love our parents and look after them. Question: Looking for a new weight loss plan? Try living on top of a mountain. Mountain air contains less oxygen than air at lower altitudes, so breathing it causes the heart to beat faster and the body to burn more energy. A handful of studies have found that athletes training at high altitudes tend to lose weight. Doctor Florian Lippl of the University Hospital Of Ludwig-Maximilians-university Munich wondered how the mountain air would affect overweight individuals if they weren't doing any more physical activity than usual. Lippl and his colleagues invited 20 overweight men to an environmental research station about 300 meters below the summit of Zugspitze, a mountain around 2,970 meters near the Austrian border. They were allowed to eat as much as they liked. The men also gave blood so that researchers could test for hormones linked to appetite and fatness. At the end of the week, the men, whose mean weight starting out was 105kg, had lost on average about l.5kg. The men's blood pressure also dropped, which the researchers believed was due to weight lost. Exactly what caused the weight loss is uncertain. Loss of appetite is common at higher altitudes, and indeed the men ate significantly less than usual--about 700 calories fewer per day. Lippl also notes that because their consumption was being recorded, they may have been more self-conscious about what they ate. Regardless, eating less accounts for just l kg of the l.5 kg lost, says Lippl. He thinks the increased metabolic rate, which was measured, also contributed to weight loss but cannot separate the different effects with the given data. Appetite loss at high altitudes could certainly be key, notes Damian Bailey, a physiologist at the University of Glamorgan, UK, who recently lost 11 kg during a 3-month expedition to the Andes in Chile. Unfortunately, for the average person there is no treatment that can resemble living at high altitude, says Lippl. The only alternative is hypobaric chamber, which exposes subjects to low oxygen and isn't practical as a treatment. He says, half- jokingly, "If fat people plan their holidays, they might not go to the sea, but maybe to the mountain." In what manner does Lippl talk about the way of losing weight by spending holidays on mountains? A. casual B. inaccurate C. uncertain D. confident Answer: A. casual Question: The hallways cast shadows since the only light available was from open windows and doorways. The lights are turned off to save money on the electricity bill. The rooms, borrowed rooms, were not like being in hospitals. There were no color1s on the walls, or framed pictures for us to be distracted by. There were no magazines to look at, or pens to write with. There were no plants, or matching chairs, or paper spread over the examining tables. By the second day of a medical mission hosted by PAMS (Peruvian American Medical Society) in Abancay, Peru, it was easy to start adapting and taking advantage of what we did have inside the hospital. I learned to reuse a brown paper bag in order to transport items the entire week. I hid my mask, hat and shoe covers whenever I needed to leave the surgery floor to be sure they were available again. The one towel was creatively folded so that we could keep using it. By the third day, I realized how wasteful I was the first day. I had thrown away a rubber band that had held a pile of envelopes, a used water bottle, and worst of all: we had used two gloves instead of one. The free medical care the local Indians were receiving today was a new experience for many of the people. PAMS is a nation-wide, non-profit organization that helps bring Peruvian and American doctors together to offer medical treatment and education to towns in Peru. Several other towns including Cusco, Lima, and Trujillo also benefit from these medical missions. All the volunteers donate their own time and services. The mission is organized for two weeks, once or twice a year. Volunteers are encouraged to stay as long as possible. Abancay is a beautiful town, 7,000 feet above sea level with a population of 80,000 people. This first week, there are 19 other people who volunteered to help those less fortunate. Many of the volunteers stayed in the same hotel together and many were paired up to have a roommate. On the first night, the mayor welcomed everyone as the high school children performed a dance of local custom. Work started at 8 a.m. the next morning. The first task to accomplish was setting up a room to be used as an office and pharmacy . Everything that was donated was set up on portable shelves that were put up for the occasion. The writer is probably telling about _ . A. her medical experience in Peru B. her organization work in Peru C. her volunteering experience in Peru D. her traveling experience in Peru Answer: C. her volunteering experience in Peru Question: The TV shows a baby's pram rolling off a train platform as the mother makes a mad rush to save her son, but she is too late and it falls onto the rails in front of an incoming train. This heart-stopping scene happened yesterday at Ashburton station in Melbourne, Australia. But the story has a happy ending: the six-month-old baby survived with just a cut on his forehead, although the pram was dragged about 35 metres by the braking train. The nurse Jon Wright said the boy just "needed a feed and a sleep" and didn't need to stay in hospital. "Luckily, he was strapped into his pram at the time, which probably saved his life. I think the child is extremely lucky, " Wright told theHerald Sunnewspaper after the baby was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Fortunately the train was already slowing down to stop at the station so it stopped quickly when the driver put on the brakes as soon as he saw the pram fall in front of him. Rail firm Connex is to look into how the pram rolled off the platform. The accident came one day after Connex started a child safety awareness activity warning parents to keep babies strapped into their prams at all times while on platforms. The accident happened at the same time as the "balloon boy "story in the US, in which a six-year-old Colorado boy was reported to be trapped in a flyaway balloon. However, he was later found hiding in the family's garage. Many people believe that it had all been a publicity _ by the parents. No such doubts surround the baby on the train platform. The child was not killed most probably because _ . A. the mother strapped him into his pram B. the platform is not very high C. he was well fed and asleep D. the mother rushed to save him Answer: A. the mother strapped him into his pram
Love, success, happiness, family and freedom--how important are these values to you? Here is one interview which explores the fundamental questions in life. Question: Could you introduce yourself first? Answer: My name is Misbah, 27 years old. I was born in a war-torn area. Right now I'm a web designer. Q: What are your great memories? A: My parents used to take us to hunt birds, climb trees, and play in the fields. For me it was like a holiday because we were going to have fun all day long. Those are my great memories. Q: Does your childhood mean a lot to you? A: Yes. As life was very hard, I used to work to help bring money in for the family. I spent my childhood working, with responsibilities beyond my age. However, it taught me to deal with problems all alone. I learnt to be independent. Q: What changes would you like to make in your life? A: If I could change something in my life, I'd change it so that my childhood could have taken place in another area. I would have loved to live with my family in freedom. Who cares whether we have much money, or whether we have a beautiful house? It doesn't matter as long as I can live with my family and we are safe. Q: How do your get along with your parents? A: My parents supported me until I came of age. I want to give back what I've got. That's our way. But I am working in another city. My only contact with my parents now is through the phone, but I hate using it. It filters out your emotion and leaves your voice only. My deepest feelings should be passed through sight, hearing and touch. In Misbah's childhood, _ . Answer: which of these would have a better chance at thriving? Answer: As I write this, I have half an eye on an old James Bond film that is showing on my computer. But this is a story about how I stopped watching TV and began reading again for pleasure, after ten years in which I hardly turned a page. I suppose I was an enthusiastic reader of "literature" between the ages of nine and fourteen. I had enough time to be White Fang, Robinson Crusoe, and Bilbo Baggins and Jeeves. Of course there was room in the schoolboy's imagination for some real historical figures: Scott of the Antarctic, all of the Vikings, and Benjamin Franklin were good friends of mine. Then, in adolescence, I began a long search for strange and radical ideas. I wanted to challenge my elders and betters, and shock my fellow students with amazing points of view. Of course, the only place to look was in books. I hunted out the longest titles and the authors with the funniest names; I searched the library for completely unread books. Then I found one which became my bible for the whole of 1982, it had a title composed of eleven long words and an author whose name I didn't know how to pronounce. It was really thick and looked dead serious. Even better, it put forward a whole world-view that would take days to explain. Perfect. I took it out of the library three times, proud to see the date-stamps lined up on the empty library insert. Later, I went to university. Expecting to spend long evenings in learned discussion with clever people, I started reading philosophy. For some reason I never found the deep-thinking intellectuals I hoped to meet. Anyway, I was ready to impress with my profound knowledge of post-structuralism, _ and situationism. These things are usually explained in rather short books, but they take a long time to get through. They were the end of my youthful reading. Working life was hard to get used to after so much theory. It was the end of books for me. There didn't seem to be much in books that would actually get things done. To do things you had to answer the telephone and work a computer. You had to travel about and speak to people who weren't at all interested in philosophy. I didn't stop reading, you can't avoid that. I read all day. But no books came my way, only manuals and contracts and documents. Maybe most people satisfy their need for stories and ideas with TV and, to tell the truth, it was all I needed for ten years. In those days I only had a book "on the go" for the duration of aeroplane flights. At first I would come home and watch TV over dinner. Then, I moved the TV so I could watch it from bed. I even got a switch so I could turn it off without getting out of bed. Then, one fateful day, my TV broke and my landlady took it away. My new TV is an extra circuit board inside my computer. It's on a desk in front of a working chair and I can't see it from the bed. I still use it for the weather forecasts and it's nice to have it on while I'm typing this... but what to do last thing at night? Well, have another go with books. Now, I just like books. I have a pile of nice ones by my bed and I'm reading about six at the same time. I don't want to be any of the characters. I don't care if a thousand people have already read them. I don't have to search through libraries. There are books everywhere and all of them have something to read in them. I have the strange feeling that they've been there all along, waiting for me to pick them up. The writer enjoyed reading "literature" between the ages of nine and fourteen because _ . Answer: ohn Cruitt, 62, spent decades tracking down his third- grade teacher. He wanted to talk with Cecile Doyle about 1958--- the year his mother, who was seriously ill, passed away. Her death came just days before Christmas. Cruitt had been expecting to go home from school and decorate the Christmas tree. "When I found out she died, I could certainly relate to that, because when I was 11, my own father died," Doyle tells Cruitt at StoryCorps in Monroe, N.Y. "And you just don't know how you're going to go on without that person." When Cruitt returned to school, Doyle waited until all of the other children left the room at the end of the day, and told him that she was there if he needed her. "Then you kissed me on the head," Cruitt says. "And I felt that things really would be OK." "Well, Cruitt, I'm so glad that I could be there with you for that time," says Doyle, 82. Decades after his mother's death, Cruitt began to think more and more of Doyle. He finally wrote a letter: Dear Mrs. Doyle, If you are not the Cecile Doyle who taught English at Emerson School in Kearny, N.J., then I'm embarrassed, and you can disregard the letter. My name is John Cruitt, and I was in your third- grade class during the 1958-1959 school year. Two days before Christmas, my mother passed away, and you told me that you were there if I needed you. I hope life has been as kind to you as you were to me. God bless you. John Cruitt Doyle says his letter, which arrived in February, could not have come at a better time. Her husband, who passed away this August, was struggling with Parkinson's disease. "And I had just come home from the hospital, and I read this beautiful letter, and I just was overwhelmed," she says. "Well the funny thing is, when I finally wrote to you again after 54 years, I typed the letter--- I was afraid my penmanship wasn't going to meet your standards," Cruitt says as Doyle laughs. "John, what can I say--- I'm just glad that we made a difference in each other's life." Why did Cruitt type the letter? Answer: Our village carpenter , John, came one day and made a dining table for my wife. He made it just the right size for the space between the two windows. When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill for the job. My wife said to me quietly,"That's his ninth cup of tea today. "But she said, in a loud voice,"It's a beautiful table, dear, isn't it?" "I'll decide about that when I see the bill. "I said. John laughed and gave me his bill for the work. I read: One dining table 10 November, 1998 Cost of wood $17. 00 Paint $1. 50 Work, 8 hours ( $1 an hour ) $8. 00 Total $36. 50 When I was looking at the bill, John said, "It's been a nice day, hasn't it?Quite sunny. " "Yes. "I said. " I'm glad it's only the tenth of November. " "Me, too. "said John. "You wait -- it'll be a lot colder by the end of the month. " "Yes,colder -- and more expensive! A dining table will be $20 more expensive on November 30, won't it, John?" John looked hard at me for half a minute. Was there a little smile in his two blue eyes?I gave his bill back to him. "If there isn't too much trouble, John," I said,"please add it up again. You can forget the date..." I paid him $26. 50 and he was happy to get it. When the writer gave John the money, he was happy because _ . Answer:
I was doing some Christmas shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces. A nicely dressed little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well. As she was looking, a little boy came to the Pokemon toys. He was dressed neat-ly, but his clothes were obviously old. He was with his father as well, and kept picking up the Pokemon video toys. Each time he picked one up and looked at his father, his father shook his head and said,"No. " The little girl had chosen her Barbie. However, she stopped and was watching them. Rather dejectedly, the boy had to give up the Pokemon toys and choose something else. The little girl put her Barbie back on the shelf, and ran over to the Pokemon toys. She excitedly picked up one and raced towards the checkout. I picked up my purchases and got in line behind them. Then, much to the little girl's delight, the little boy and his father got in line behind me. After the toy was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier and whispered something in her ear. The cas her smiled and put the package under the counter. I paid for my purchases and was rearranging things when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier checked his purchases and said," Congratulations, you are my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize !" With that, she handed the little boy the Pokemon toys, and he could only stare in surprise. It was exactly what he had wanted ! The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway during all of this. Then they walked out. As I walked back to my car, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that. I'll never forget what she said to him. "Daddy, didn't grandparents want me to buy something that would make me happy?" He said,"Of course they did, honey. " To which the little girl replied," Well, I just did !" I feel very shocked to have witnessed the true spirit of Christmas in that toy store, in the form of a little girl who understands more about the meaning of this festival than most adults I know. How did the little boy get the Pokemon toys? Answer: A kid having a preference is something like Answer: Dear Fang, How are you these days? I have been in England for two months. It's not a long time for a newcomer, and there are still a lot of things to do. Sorry for not being able to write to you soon. London is an old but beautiful city. There are lots of places of interest to visit. Last weekend I went along Thames River with some friends from Japan, Korea and some other countries. The modern skyscrapers among the old buildings impressed(...) us deeply. The classes started two weeks after I arrived here alone. Besides the language, I'm trying to learn about the culture as well. British people are quite different from the Chinese. Do you know the people here do not shake hands as much as we do in China? And it's never a good habit to make noise when you eat. They think it's impolite. There is so much to say, but I have to stop. I will write to you soon again. Love, Harry Harry has studied in London _ . Answer: Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina, is a popular vacation spot on the East Coast of the US. There are 250 restaurants on the island. You can try the following excellent restaurants. Skull Creek Boathouse 397 Squire Pope Road 843-681-3663 It's a good place for seafood lovers. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and weekend lunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu is mostly seafood. Quarterdeck 32 Greenwood Road 1-866-561-8802 The view from this restaurant is wonderful. You have many choices, such as beef, burgers and soups. Open for lunch and dinner, the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for lunch, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner. Frankie Bones 1301 Main Street 843-842-4033 They are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For lunch you can enjoy sandwiches, salads, rice, and pasta dishes. The entree is served with soup or salad. The salad also has cheese, pine nuts and dried berries. Mellow Mushroom 33 Office Park Road 843-686-2474 If you want something different, stop in at the Mellow Mushroom. They have specialty pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. If you enjoy wines, you'll surely find something you like. It is open 7 days a week -- Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Where is the restaurant that closes the latest on Saturdays? Answer: Wolves travel in groups, and they perform almost all the other activities of their lives in the company of fellow wolves. This is one of the most important facts that modern science have learned about wolves and one of the things that most clearly explain their way of life. The pack is usually a family group. It is made up of animals related to each other by blood. The centre of a pack is a pair of wolves----an adult male and female that have produced young. The other members of the pack are their offspring : young wolves ranging in age from pups to two- and three-year-olds. Most packs have 6 or 7 members, although some may include as many as 15 wolves. Relationships among creatures that live close together in groups are often very complex, and this is true of the ties that connect the members of a wolf pack. Scientific studies of captive wolves and wolf packs in the wild have shown that many complex rules of behavior seem to govern the way that the animals relate to each other. When wolf pups are born into a pack, one of the most important things they must learn is the "language" of the group, the method by which pack members keep in touch with each other, sharing information and communicating their feelings. Scientists have discovered that wolves have a very complex system of communication. The most famous wolf sound is, of course, the howl, and it is a very important part of wolf language. When people think about howling, they usually imagine a sad, lonely sound made by a wolf sitting all alone on a hilltop in the moonlight. However, this picture in most human beings' mind is not completely true. Wolves howl at any time, not just at night, and they often howl together, not alone. Group or chorus howling is another means by which the members of a wolf reaffirm their ties with each other and their closeness as a group. One wolf----often the male leader----will point its nose at the sky, open its mouth, and start to howl. Immediately the other members of the pack rush to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder, and join their voices to his. Each wolf howls on its own note so that a big chorus of slightly different sounds is produced. Chorus howling often takes place before a wolf pack goes out to hunt. At the end of a successful hunt, the pack may also celebrate with a group howl. While wolves are on the track of prey ,they are usually silent. There are occasions when a wolf will howl by itself. This may happen when an animal is separated from the pack. Pack members seem to recognize each other's voices and will keep responding to the howl of their wandering relative until the group is reunited. Because howling is a sound that carries over a considerable distance, it is very useful in communications among separated members of a pack. Howling is also used when members of different packs have to get in touch with each other to pass on information about their locations and their purposes. When will wolves howl according to the passage? Answer:
Great white sharks! Just hearing that name _ . In reality, these big fish have more to fear from us than we do from them. For many years, people killed countless great white sharks in the waters around the United States. But thanks to conservation efforts, great whites are making a comeback in the U.S. Two recent studies show that the population of these sharks is rising along the east and west coast. Why is the growing population of a killer fish something to celebrate? "When you fish too many of them, you start to lose balance in the environment," says shark researcher Tobey Curtis. As the biggest killer, sharks help keep the populations of fish, seals, and other creatures they eat from growing too large. In spite of their importance, great white sharks had long been hunted for their meat and their fins . Then, in 1997, the U.S. government passed a law that didn't allow the hunting of great whites. Afterwards, the numbers of these sharks in the U.S. waters started to increase. The law wasn't the only thing that has helped great whites. Conservationists have also played a part in the sharks' comeback. The research group OCEARCH is using a method called tagging to help change people's attitudes about great white. They let the public follow each shark as it travels the world's oceans. OCEARCH also gives each tagged shark a name to help people form a closer connection with the big fish. The group's most well-known shark is named Katharine. She was tagged last year near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Since then, thousands of people have tracked Katharine's movements on Twitter and the OCEARCH website. This helps people see sharks in a new way. Chris Fischer, the founder of OCEARCH believes learning to appreciate great whites will encourage people to do more to protect them. The main purpose of the passage is to _ . Answer: Mr. Hadley was my 6th grade teacher. At that time I was a short girl weighing 70 kilograms. Boys always laughed at me because of it. So I became an extremely shy young lady. One day Mr. Hadley told us that we would be required to come to the front of the class and read the reports that we had completed. When my turn came, I refused to stand in front of all those students and open up to their tricks. Mr. Hadley handed me my report and asked me to read it. I gave it back to him. He walked to the front and said,"Martha has a very good report here and I think everyone needs to hear her read it. If you make strange noises or make fun of her in any way, I will let you fail right here and now. OK?" Mr. Hadley walked back to me and handed me the paper again, asking me to go to the front of the class. I walked there on legs that were shaking and I felt a rabbit in my chest. Everyone was all quiet, including those boys. I stood there trying to be calm. Mr. Hadley walked over to me and put his arm around me,"You can do it. I have confidence in you!" His words helped me calm down. I read the report and instead of the kids laughing at me and making fun of me, they all stood up and clapped their hands. From that day on the kids never made fun of me any more and some actually made friends with me. I continued to be quite shy all through school but I knew if I had to stand up in front of the class, I could do it. Martha felt extremely shy because of her_. Answer: At least eight babies in East China'sprefix = st1 /AnhuiProvincehave died since last year. they died of serious deficiency disease which happened to them because of fake milk powders. More than 100 other babies in Fuyang, mostly between three and five months old, are still in poor nutrition after drinking different kinds of cheap milk powders produced in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and Beijing. The baby victims were born healthy, but they became thinner and thinner, and had large heads for their bodies after fake milk powders were fed to them. "My girl, the first child of mine, died when she was only four months old after drinking the 'Haobaobei'milk powder."said Zhang Linwei, a 32-year-old villager of the Wangzhuang Village in Fuyang. Zhang found that his daughter got ill after the girl didn't want to drink the milk powder any more half a month before. "Before that , I though my daughter's face was becoming fatter and fatter because she was fed well and grew fast."the baby's father said. The girl died nine days later after she was sent to hospital and all of the family's savings were spent on her medical treatment. "It is like a terrible dream. I never thought that my baby would _ like this ."he said. Zhang said he tried to telephone and write to the producer of the milk powder by the address on the packing bag but never made it. "The fake milk powders only have 5-6 per cent protein and the lowest is has only 1 per cent. For babies, drinking such fake milk powder is no different from drinking water,"Zhang Fangjun, said a medical expert with the Fuyang People's Hospital. "Such so-called milk powders cannot afford any nutrition for babies' growth," Zhang said. Which may NOT be right according to the passage? Answer: Watch for us on TV THIS summer, many Beijing middle school students had a different kind of vacation. Instead of hanging out with friends or traveling, they were training hard for the National Day celebration. To mark the special anniversary of China this year, the students performed a group dance in a big parade on Tian'anmen Square on October 1. Students were training from 7:30am to around 10:00am or from 4 pm to 6:30pm. It was to avoid the summer heat. They wore white hats, T-shirts and dark-blue trousers. The hats and T-shirts were printed with a red logo, the number '60". The first week of training was PE. Students practiced standing and squatting . Then they moved on to practice the group display. The use colored sheets in the shape of flowers as a prop . When we watch the parade on TV we will see them making colorful patterns with them. What do the students think of their unusual summer? "Sometimes we find it a bit tiring." says Lu Wenqi,13."But most of us think it's a great honor to take part in such an important celebration." Li Hui, 15, thinks the same as Lu. She says her classmates are seldom late for training. "It's a wonderful chance for us,' says Li. "When my parents were in college, they also took part in a national day celebration. Now it's my turn!" By Wang Min 21st Century Teens staff What did they practice doing at first? Answer: Bertie knew there was something in the wind. His mother had been sad in recent days, not sick, just strangely sad. The lion had just lain down beside him, his head warm on Bertie's feet when Father cleared his throat and began," You'll soon be eight, Bertie. A boy needs a proper education. We've found the right place for you, a school near Salisbury in England." His heart filled with a terrible fear, all Bertie could think of was his white lion. "But the lion," he cried, "What about the lion?" "I'm afraid there's something else I have to tell you," his father said. Looking across at Bertie's mother, he took a deep breath. Then he told Bertie he had met a circus owner from France, who was over in Africa looking for lions to buy. He would come to their farm in a few days. "No! You can't send him to a circus!" said Bertie. "People will come to see him. He'll be shut up behind bars. I promised him he never would be. And _ will laugh at him. He'd rather die. Any animal would! " But as he looked across the table at them, he knew their minds were quite made up. Bertie felt completely betrayed. He waited until he heard his father's deep breathing next door. With his white lion at his heels, he crept downstairs in his pyjamas, took down his father's rifle from the rack and stepped out into the night. He ran and ran till his legs could run no more. As the sun came up over the grassland, he climbed to the top of a hill and sat down, his arms round the lion's neck. The time had come. "Be wild now," he whispered. "You've got to be wild. Don't ever come home. All my life I'll think of you. I promise I will." He buried his head in the lion's neck. Then, Bertie clambered down the hill and walked away. When he looked back, the lion was still sitting there watching him; but then he stood up, yawned, stretched, and sprang down after him. Bertie shouted at him, but he kept coming. He threw sticks. He threw stones. Nothing worked. There was only one thing left to do. With tears filling his eyes and his mouth, he lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired over the lion's head. Bertie's mother was sad probably because she _ . Answer:
When you are not happy, there are six ways to make you happy or feel good about yourself. (1) Look in the mirror and say to yourself, "I'm a special person and there's no one in the world like me. I can do anything!" It really works! (2) Do something nice for someone. Helping others always makes you feel good. (3) Smile! Be friendly to people around you. Look for the good things in your friends and family. (4) Learn something new! Do you always want to learn how to swim? Go for it! (5) Read and start a diary . Turn offthe TV and let your imagination fly! If you have any ideas or dreams, write them down! (6) Stay with your family. We all need our family time. Talk with your mum and dad or maybe even your cousin. What's the best title of the passage? A. Do something nice. B. Smile at other people. C. Stay with your family. D. Feel good about yourself. Answer: D. Feel good about yourself. Mother's Day is coming up. Maybe your gift is wrapped and your dinner plans booked for mom, step-mom, grandmother - whoever the person is who fed, cared for, taught and loved you. But there are other people who said their most special Mother's Day memories rarely dealt with beautifully wrapped objects, but rather, the ways people showed they cared. Mother's Day 2012 was the last one Jannet Walsh was able to celebrate with her mother, Margaret, who had a stroke in 2009. In her last few years, Walsh always shot photos and videos of their visits together, and with Walsh's West Highland White Terrier, Andrew. "My mother had a dog just like him, so I would tell her it was her dog, and she would hold onto his leash, even in bed up to the last few weeks before she passed away," Walsh said. As Mother's Day approached, Walsh wanted a way to remember her mother and "best friend". She decided to build the memories she captured during those last few years into a video memorial - images of her mother with Andrew or quiet moments at her gravesite. "I thought it good to tell the story with few words, just show my mother as she was - happy, and loved till the end," Walsh said. Mother's Day was not a light-hearted subject for Wendy Bowers in the past. Her mom had walked out when she was 18, and Bowers had tried for years to become pregnant without success. She had almost convinced herself she wasn't meant to be a parent. But three years after she gave up on having a baby, Bowers discovered that she was pregnant. Six weeks earlier than expected, little Nathan arrived. That first year, Nathan, only 10 months old, was sick with a stomach bug. Bowers said she spent the day holding him between loads of laundry. "I would not have been anywhere else in the world that day," she said. "I wouldn't trade that first Mother's Day for anything, and I'm pretty sure Mother's Day will always be a reminder to me of just how lucky I am to even be a mom." How does Bowers feel about what happened on her first Mother's Day as a mother? A. It was worth it. B. It was unlucky. C. It was unexpected. D. It was unbearable. Answer: A. It was worth it. Sugar is made up of many molecules. When sugar is dissolved in water, what happens to these molecules? A. They no longer exist. B. They exist in solution. C. They evaporate. D. They combine with water to form new elements. Answer: B. They exist in solution. Laura prepared to roll a bowling ball down a lane. She swung the ball back with her arm. At the top of her backswing, the ball had a velocity of 0 meters per second (m/s). She swung her arm forward to release the ball down the lane. The ball left her hand with a velocity of 12 m/s. The time it took her to swing the ball forward was 0.5 seconds. What was the average acceleration of the bowling ball during her forward swing? A. 2.4 m/s^2 B. 6.0 m/s^2 C. 11.5 m/s^2 D. 24.0 m/s^2 Answer: D. 24.0 m/s^2 Most of the bacteria in a forest ecosystem are best classified as which of the following types of organisms? A. consumers B. decomposers C. predators D. producers Answer: B. decomposers
The arrival of autumn starts the traditional fall festivals which aim to welcome the new season. Here's a guide to several fall festivals that are held in the Roanoke region each year. Boones Mill Apple Festival It is held the third Saturday in September every year.The festival is hosted by the Boones Mill Lions Club and attracts people from all over Virginia. The most important things of the festival include art shows, fried apple pies,and a high school band. There are lots of food,crafts,music,and games for every age group. Admission is free. For more information, call 540-334-5975. Blue Ridge Folklife Festival Ferrum College hosts the festival as an October celebration of the harvest every year.The festival shows some farm fresh produce and the farming practices of the last year.Children can enjoy playing many of the games.The festival begins at 10:00 a.m.Admission is $ 10 for adults and $ 5 for children and senior citizens.You can call 540-365-4412 or visit the website:http://www,blueridgeinstitute.org. Mountain Magic Fall Festival The town of Buchanan on the outskirts of Roanoke is the place where the Mountain Magic Fall Festival is held.The festival is held in October and has two to four groups of crafters,antique dealers,and food vendors.Live Bluegrass music plays all day and children enjoy visiting the pet zoo. The auto show and farmers' market are also big attractions. Call 540-357-2509 for more information. Vinton Fall Festival A 5K walk, a truck ride, and a civil war group are just some of the exciting parts of the Vinton Fall Festival.The festival is held in October under the golden shade trees in downtown Vinton.Other attractions include hayrides,agriculture judging, health education,and children's activities.Phone: 540-343-1364. If a boy and his parents go to Blue Ridge Folklife Festival,they should pay _ . Answer: $25 One morning, Elena woke up, much like she did every day. She threw the covers on the floor and rolled out of bed, yawning hugely. She walked to the window and said, "Hello there, Mr. tree!" at the big tree in the yard. It waved its branches back at her. She walked over to her fish bowl next. "Hello there, Mr. Fish!" But wait. Where was Mr. Fish? The bowl was empty--oh, the rocks and water and tiny castle were all there alright, but the pretty blue fish with the long shiny tail was nowhere to be seen. Elena was very worried. She liked Mr. Fish very much. She looked all around her desk, but here wasn't there. Then she looked on the floor behind the desk--and there he was! He was covered in dust bunnies and not moving. Elena picked him up and put him back in the bowl. And what do you know? He shook himself off and started swimming around again! What was missing from the fish bowl? Answer: Mr. Fish When Mary was seven, her family moved to a new town. She usually went to school by bus, for it was not near her house. One morning, their family clock stopped and when they got up, it was too late for Mary to catch the school bus. Her mother said she would drive Mary to school on her way to the office. "But how can you find the way, Mum?" Mary asked. " You have only been to my school once. "Yes," her mother answered. "But you've been there by school bus seven times, you know the way. "Oh, yes" said Mary. They started out and Mary asked her mother to turn one way or another on their way to school, so she made her mother drive round most of the town before they got there. When they arrived, her mother found it was not really very far from their house. "Why did you make me go such a long way?" her mother asked her. "Well, Mum." answered Mary. "I know only this way. The bus always goes like this, so the other children can take it to school." Did Mary know the way to her school? Answer: Yes, she knew only one way. Since the beginning of the year, smog has covered parts of North China. In January, Beijing saw only five days without smog. The rising PM 2.5 readings terrified many people, and some health experts said that whenever the smog gets serious, hospitals receive more patients suffering acute respiratory and heart diseases. Later, news of polluted underground water in some provinces scared people who wondered whether the water they drink is safe. So the need to emphasize environmental protection while developing the economy is heard everywhere. Smog especially is a common concern. Like a popular online post said, air may be the only thing that is equal for everyone, despite your income or vocation. People with higher incomes are able to drink only bottled spring water and eat only organic food by paying higher prices, but they breathe the same air as everyone else. At a meeting on Monday, many Representatives have expressed their concerns about the air quality, too. One talked about his experience in Beijing. "After taking a taxi from the capital airport to my hotel, which took about an hour, I washed my nose and found the inside of my nose was black. We should ask ourselves this question: Why do we want to develop? It's for living a better life. Dirty air is definitely not a better life," he said. China needs to develop its economy and invest in high-tech. Every Chinese wants a strong country. But without blue sky, clean water and safe food, the achievements in the economy will become meaningless. Space technologies are not to be developed for building a base on Mars so that one day all human beings can migrate to the red planet because _ have destroyed Earth. What the public wants is a strong and beautiful China. Former president Hu Jintao spoke at the 18th Party Congress last November saying that great efforts must be made to promote ecological progress and build a beautiful China. The words have shown the central government's resolution to address the environment issue. Why smog has become a common concern? Answer: Because nobody can avoid it. If you dream in color, you're not alone: the majority of people today claim to have colorful dreams. But it wasn't always thus. Research conducted in the early part of the last century consistently found that people reported dreaming most often in black and white. According to Eva Murzyn at the University of Dundee, there are at least two possible explanations for this strange situation. The first is the methods used in the researches. The early studies tended to use questionnaires , while more modern studies use dream diaries (filled in upon rising in the morning) or so-called "REM-awakening", which involves interrupting people's dream-filled periods of sleep to find out what they were dreaming about. People's memories of their dreams are likely to be less accurate by using the questionnaire approach and they are more likely to reflect their beliefs about the form dreams generally take in an unclear way. The second explanation has to do with black and white television and film. It's possible that the sudden increase in black and white film and television during the first half of the last century either affected the form of people's dreams at that time, or affected their beliefs about the form dreams generally take. According to Murzyn's findings, it's the explanation based on media exposure that _ . She used both questionnaire and diary methods to study the dreams of 30 older (average age 64) and 30 younger people (average age 21). The methodological technique made no difference to the type of dreams people reported. However, the extremely important thing was that, across both questionnaires and diaries, the older participants (who had had significant early life exposure to black and white media) reported experiencing significantly more black and white dreams over the last ten days than the younger participants (22 per cent vs. 4 per cent). Another finding was that older participants reported black and white dreams and colorful dreams to be of equal clearness. By contrast, the younger participants reported that the quality of black and white dreams was poorer. This raises the possibility that the younger participants didn't really have any black and white dreams at all, but were simply regarding poorly remembered dreams as black and white. What did Murxyn do to find out the explanations for the colors in people's dreams? Answer: She applied both questionnaire and diary methods to study people's dreams.
Part-time Front Desk Position Fuse Fitness is looking for a part-time front desk receptionist at our new Carlsbad location. Job duties include: l Welcoming and greeting members; l Answering phone calls; l Signing up new members; l Cleaning and performing other various duties. You should have great communication skills and be dependable. More importantly, you should have a positive spirit in stressful situations. You are expected to work five days a week (including weekends). Tel: (760) 434-7704 E-mail: info@fusefitness.com Apply in person at: 2502 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008 _ The first impression you make in a job interview is very important. The first judgment an interviewer makes is based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual. l Before you even think about going to an interview, make sure you have suitable interview clothes and that everything fits correctly. l Get you clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview. l Polish your shoes. l Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building. For more information: Visit: Or Tel: (800) 421-7250 or (760) 603-4000 Carlsbad, California How should you contact Fuse Fitness about the front desk position in the morning if you can't go in person? Air is an odorless , invisible gas that surrounds the earth. It is everywhere on the planet. An "empty" drinking glass and an "empty" room, to give two examples, are not really empty. Each is filled with air. When the glass is filled with water, the water pushes the air out of the glass. Air, as a gas, has no definite shape, but, because it is matter, it takes up space. It is easy to prove that air is something that takes up space. _ a dry handkerchief into the bottom of a glass so that it will not fall out when the glass is turned upside-down. Push the upside-down glass; hold it straight into a jar of water till the glass is completely covered. When the glass is taken out of water, the handkerchief will be dry. The air inside the glass takes up space and keeps the water from coming in. The writer tells us that _ . Being honest are fundamental requirements if you want to grow spiritually and follow your true destination of personal development. It's not simply about being honest with people. While that will make you a better person and a more accepted one it's more importantly about being honest with yourself. Living your life honestly means that you've decided to live openly and to show your true self to others and that you can be relied upon to be trustworthy. On the other hand, dishonesty is all about shade and concealment and living your life in 'dark corners'. When you're dishonest, it means that you remain living in the dark and cannot grow spiritually. Honesty produces trust-trust in ourselves and in all those around us. Trust in turn produces confidence which we all need to overcome life's problems and which also encourages us to take risks in order to achieve our goals. You'll have no doubt you have heard expressions such as "what goes around, comes around" and "you get back, what you give out in life" and that's very true. If you don't live your lives honestly, you can be assured that the people you'll attract will turn out to be very similar to you and it's therefore unavoidable that one day you'11 be on the receiving end of someone's dishonest actions or words. There may be situations where telling the whole truth causes you to bring a lot of pain on somebody else. For example, John may have told Paul that he can't go on a weekend fishing trip with him because he has a family commitment arranged that weekend. You know differently and that the real reason John isn't going is because he hates Paul. When Paul asks you if you know whether the reason is true, what do you say? Well, in situations like this, it's often better to be economical with the truth. You might say that you don't know why John can't go or that you think he has something on that weekend." Of course, this isn't telling the complete truth but you are sparing Paul's feelings on something that won't, after all, have strong influence on Paul's future. The passage tells us that if you choose to live a dishonest life, you will _ . In today's world, we rely on computers as never before.They are used for everything from ordering a pizza to running hospitals and military defense systems.Banking and credit card information is stored and accessed by computers.So what happens when a computer gets infected with a virus? One effect is that people's access to their e-mail accounts is cut off.A more serious possible consequence is that billions of dollars could be lost. A virus is a computer program that copies itself onto other programs and infects them. Similar to an easily spread disease, a computer virus goes from computer to computer, either adding to or changing the tasks a program is designed to do. The first computer viruses were created in the mid '80s and had varying effects.Some caused files to be deleted, or made the letters on the screen appear to fall off.Others displayed a specific message once the computer was turned on. Viruses today are much more widespread and dangerous than ever before.Perhaps the most damaging to date has been the "I Love You" virus."I Love You" appeared in May 2000 and has possibly been the most destructive virus in terms of monetary loss. The virus is released when an attachment to a fake e-mail message is opened.By changing the names of files on computers, "I Love You" makes them difficult to access.It also searches for important personal information, including passwords, which it sends to a web site for others to see. It is estimated that more than 45 million people in 20 countries have had their computers infected by the "I Love You" virus.Some say the cost of repair and lost business has been more than US$10 billion. If you own a computer, it is important to keep it in good health by installing an anti-virus program.If updated frequently, it will protect your e-mail access-not to mention your wallet. What does "virus" mean in the article? It's seven fifty in the morning . The students are coming into the classroom. A boy is opening the window. Some of the students are laughing and talking. Some others are laughing to them. Some are reading books.Some are doing their homework. Miss White is standing behind the teacher's desk. She is writing on the blackboard. Lucy and Lily are wearing their new dresses today. Mary is cleaning her desk. Jim is helping her. They all look happy. What are John and Tom doing? Oh, dear! They are still playing football on the playground. The students are _ .
Ice Hotel Quebec, located 30 minutes west of Downtown Quebec City, Canada, is only open during the winter season. The hotel is made entirely of ice. The two galleries at the Ice Hotel Quebec feature events such as ice painting and ice sculpture competitions. Things to Do Guests have a choice of different winter vacation activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding , ice fishing and sliding . Ice Hotel Quebec has a sauna( ),so remember to pack your bathing suit. Rooms & Suites The hotel offers 18 rooms and 14 theme suites built from 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice. The walls at Ice Hotel Quebec are four feet thick and allow the hotel to keep a temperature of -2degC to -5degC. The furniture at the hotel is made of snow and ice, including the beds. The beds are equipped with a thick foam mattress and an extra thick sleeping bag. That is enough to prevent you from catching a cold. Vacation Tip Ice Hotel Quebec offers 30-minute guided public tours daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It costs $15 CAD for adults, $7.5 for children (under eight), $13for students\seniors (above sixty), and $42 for families. Plan This Vacation Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada will be open for its sixth season from January 5thto April 1st. Costs for overnight stays start at $199CAD per person. If you're looking for something really different to do on your next trip, think creatively and plan to visit the truly unusual Ice Hotel Quebec! Sleeping is not a problem in the Ice Hotel because _ . Answer: the sleeping bags are warm What is most likely to push objects? Answer: rivers It was only a few weeks after my surgery, and I went to Dr. Belt's office for a checkup. It was just after my first chemotherapy treatment. My scar was still very tender. My arm was numb underneath. As usual, I was taken to an examination room to have my blood drawn, again --a terrifying process for me, since I'm so frightened of needles. I lay down on the examining table. Ramona entered the room. Her warm smile was familiar, and stood out in contrast to my fears. She knew about my fear of needles, and she kindly hid the equipment under a magazine. As we opened the blouse, the fresh scar on my chest could be seen. She said, "How is your scar healing?" I said, "I think pretty well. I wash around it gently each day." The memory of the shower water hitting my numb chest flashed across my face. She gently reached over and ran her hand across the scar, examining the smoothness of the healing skin and looking for any irregularities. I began to cry gently and quietly. She brought her warm eyes to mine and said, "You haven't touched it yet, have you?" And I said, "No." So this wonderful, warm woman laid the hand on my chest and she gently held it there. For a long time, I continued to cry quietly. In soft tones she said, "This is part of your body. This is you. It's okay to touch it." But I couldn't. So she touched it for me. The scar. The healing wound. And beneath it, she touched my heart. Then Ramona said, "I'll hold your hand while you touch it." So she placed her hand next to mine, and we both were quiet. That was the gift that Ramona gave me. I began to have the courage to touch the scar _ . Answer: because of Ramona's encouragement Funerals are common occurrences after Answer: a person has ceased taking in oxygen and pumping blood thru their system If you hear that its snowy outside, you can expect there to be Answer: a plethora of snow
My boss's daughter was studying in the Philippines. He asked me if my husband and I could take care of her. He thought his daughter would be able to improve her English communication skills in this way. After days of thinking, we agreed. He then brought her here and left after 3 days. I thought that my boss's daughter was well-mannered, but that was wrong. After a month of staying in the Philippines, she started to show her true colors. When my husband asked her what she wanted for breakfast, she answered him in a rude way. From then on, we experienced fights at home. There was a time when we didn't talk to her for a week as a punishment of not being good to us. What I hated most was that she didn't care about other people's feelings. She ate ahead of us when we were still working and didn't leave anything for us. So we had to separate her food from ours to avoid such a problem. The worst thing about her was that she shouted at us. I was wondering if she did this to her parents. We told this to her parents, but unfortunately I didn't think _ solved the problem. This situation lasted for almost 8 months. Our patience was tested during that time. We tried to teach her everything we could to make her a better person, but I guess 8 months may not to be enough. We even tried to understand her and adjust for her, but it didn't work. I just hope that she learned something from us and from other Filipinos. Why did the boss want his daughter to stay with the writer ? A Because he was too busy to take care of his daughter B Because he wanted his daughter to take a holiday there C Because he wanted his daughter to improve her English in this way D Because he wanted the writer to teach his daughter good manners . Answer: C. Because he wanted his daughter to improve her English in this way There is an old saying: No one thinks he's a bad driver. Here's an updated 21stcentury version: No one thinks he sends annoying e-mails. But, plenty of us do. Aprefix = st1 /PrincetonUniversityresearch found that 22 percent of Americans say e-mail has added to their work pressures and caused misunderstandings. Here's a guide on e-mail etiquette to help you avoid being annoying. Experts say there are three types of e-mails with different rules--close friends, office and public e-mails.The close friends e- mail You can send your lover, your closest friends and your siblings(brothers and sisters)anything from jokes to"you gotta see this!".But bear in mind that not everyone shares your sense of humour and you may expose them to viruses.The office e-mail Don't add to people's workload. Keep e-mails short and to the point. Make the subject line factual and brief. Write in clear, concise sentences. Provide your name and phone number at the end.The Public e-mail Occasionally we have to send an e-mail to a group of people. If possible, write your public e-mails with a who, what, when, where structure. For example: Who:All members of the soccer team What:Team photo When:Saturday, March 25, at noon Where:Playing field 2. Finally, before you hit"Send", check the following. Is the e-mail a"flame"? Never send an e-mail in anger. It could stay around forever and haunt your professional and personal life. Check the "To"field. Is this really who you want to send the message to? Spell-check the message. Does it have an error that can affect you badly? The writer uses the old saying at the beginning of the passage to show that_. A many people are good at driving B not everyone can be a good driver C many people can be good at sending non-annoying e-mails D many people think highly of themselves Answer: D. many people think highly of themselves When you hear Westerners say " Drop in anytime" or "Come and see me soon" , you should realize that it doesn't mean you are welcome to come over to their house anytime. It's wise to telephone before visiting someone. Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying, "Thank you for inviting me, but I may not be able to come." If you are unable to come after accepting the invitation, be sure to tell those who invite you in advance that you will not be there. When you have accepted the invitation to a party or a dinner, it is polite to bring small gifts with you, such as bottles of drink, flowers and chocolate. Sometimes Westerners may take you out to dinner in a restaurant and it does not necessarily mean that he is going to pay the bill at the end of the meal. He might want you to " _ ", which means each person pays his own bill. When Westerners say " Drop in anytime" or "Come and see me soon" , it means _ A you are welcome to visit them anytime B you are welcome to visit them, but you still need to call them before going to their house. C they don't want you to visit them. D they will hold a party for you. Answer: B. you are welcome to visit them, but you still need to call them before going to their house. A man came home from work late, tired, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door. "Daddy, how much money do you make each hour?" "If you must know, I make $20 each hour." "Oh," the little boy answered, 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 f or the money to buy a toy or some other rubbish, the go straight to your room and think about why are you so selfish !" The little boy went to his room no words and shut the door. After a short while, the father calmed down, and started to think, "Maybe he really needs to buy something and he didn't really ask for money very often." So he went to the little boy's room. "Sorry!Maybe I was too hard on your 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 little boy replied, "Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy one 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 lovehisson at all D often camehomeearly Answer: B. spent little time with his son We Chinese are not big huggers. A handshake or a pat on the shoulder is enough to convey our friendship or affection to one another.So when our newly-acquainted Western friends reach out in preparation for a hug, some of us feel awkward. Many questions go through our head. Where should I put my arms? Under their armpits or around their neck? What distance should I maintain? Should our chests touch? It's even more difficult with friends from some European countries. Should I kiss them on the cheek while hugging? Which side? Or is it both cheeks? Which side should I start on? But it isn't just people from cultures that emphasize a reservedness in expressing physical intimacy who find hugging confusing. Hugs can cause discomfort or even distress in people who value their personal space. In a recent article for The Wall Street Journal, US psychologist Peggy Drexler said that although the US remains a "medium touch" culture -- "more physically demonstrative than Japan, where a bow is the all-purpose hello and goodbye, but less demonstrative than Latin or Eastern European cultures, where hugs are strong and can include a kiss on both cheeks", Americans do seem to be hugging more. From politicians to celebrities, hugs are given willy-nilly to friends, strangers and enemies alike; and the public has been quick to pick up the practice. Public figures know that nothing projects like the ability as a good hug. US First Lady Michelle Obama has put her arms around icy foreign leaders like Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Queen of England, on the latter occasion actually breaking the rule of royal manners. But not all are grateful to be embraced, even by the most influential and famous. To them, any hug is offensive if it's not sincere. Amanda Hess, writing for US magazine Slate, says public figures should stop imposing hugs on everyone they meet. For them, a hug is rarely a gesture of sincere fellowship, compassion or affection. It's all part of a show. Hugs are falsely intimate power plays used by public figures to establish their social dominance over those in their grasp. Cecilia Walden, a British journalist writing for The Telegraph who lives in New York, holds the same opinion. _ , as she calls it, is "an offender dressed up as kindness". It has become a fashion in the US where "bosses are already embracing their staff (either shortly before or after firing them), men and women ,their friends or enemies, in a thousand cheating displays of unity". The example of US first lady Michelle Obama is given to show that _ . A Americans hold a "medium touch "culture B public figures know hugging functions well in public C she is much liked by American people D hugs are forbidden in England Answer: B. public figures know hugging functions well in public
Many private institutions of higher education around the country are in danger. Not all will be saved, and perhaps not all deserve to be saved. There are low-quality schools just as there are low-quality businesses. We have no duty to save them simply because they exist. But many promising institutions that deserve to continue are threatened. They are doing a fine job educationally, but they are caught in a financial squeeze, with no way to reduce rising cost or increase income significantly. Raising tuition doesn't bring in more income, for each time tuition goes up, the enrollment goes down, or the amount that must be given away in student aid goes up. Schools are bad businesses, whether public or private, not usually because of mismanagement but because of the nature of the enterprise. They lose money on every customer, and they can go bankrupt either from too few students or too many students. Even a very good college is a very bad business. It is such colleges, promising but threatened, that I worry about. Low enrollment is not their chief problem. Even with full enrollment, they may _ . Efforts to save them, and preferably to keep them private, are a national necessity. There is no basis for arguing that private schools are inherently better than public schools. There are many examples to the contrary. Anyone can name state universities and colleges that rank as the finest in the nation and the world. It is now inevitable that public institutions will be dominant, and therefore diversity is a national necessity. Diversity in the way we support schools tends to give us a healthy diversity in the forms of education. In an imperfect society such as ours, uniformity of education throughout the nation could be dangerous, In an imperfect society, diversity is a positive good. Supporters of public higher education know the importance of sustaining private higher education. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Private schools have more money than public schools. Hello, my dear friends, today here's a funny cartoon for you! It is a Chinese cartoon. Its name is Happy Sheep and Big Big Wolf. In this cartoon, there are some sheep and three wolves. Happy Sheep is the leading role. He likes playing football and running. He runs faster than the other sheep. Pretty Sheep likes making clothes and growing flowers. She is very beautiful. Lazy Sheep is clever. But he doesn't like doing sports. He likes sleeping best. Force Sheep is stronger than the other sheep. Warm Sheep is the class monitor at school. Slow Sheep is 68 years old. He is old. He is the village head. Every sheep has a lovely pet. Big Big Wolf wants to eat sheep. Red Wolf is Big Big Wolf's wife. She is very bad. Banana Wolf is nice. He is the friend of the sheep. He likes eating bananas very much. . _ is the sheep's friend. Banana Wolf Each time I see a balloon, my mind flies back to a memory of when I was a six-year-old girl. It was a rainy Sunday and my father had recently died. I asked my mom if Dad had gone to heaven. "Yes, honey. Of course." she said. "Can we write him a letter?" She paused, the longest pause of my short life, and answered, "Yes." My heart jumped. "How? Does the mailman go there?" I asked. "No, but I have an idea." Mom drove to a party store and returned with a red balloon. I asked her what it was for. "Just wait, honey. You'll see." Mom told me to write my letter. Eagerly, I got my favorite pen, and poured out my six-year-old heart in the form of blue ink. I wrote about my day, what I learned at school, how Mom was doing, and even about what happened in a story I had read. For a few minutes it was as if Dad were still alive. I gave the letter to Mom. She read it over, and a smile crossed her face. She made a hole in the corner of the letter where she looped the balloon string. We went outside and she gave me the balloon. It was still raining. "Okay, on the count of three, let go. One, two, three." The balloon, carrying my letter, darted upward against the rain. We watched until it was swallowed by the mass of clouds. Later I realized, like the balloon, that Dad had never let his sickness get him down. He was strong. No matter what he suffered, he'd persevere, dart up, and finally transcend this cold world and his sick body. He rose into sky and became something beautiful. I watched until the balloon disappeared into the gray and white and I prayed that his strength was hereditary. I prayed to be a balloon. When the girl asked her mother if they could write to her father, her mother _ . felt it hard to answer When war broke out between Spain and the United States, it was very necessary to communicate quickly with General Garcia, who was somewhere in the mountains of Cuba -- No one knew where. The President must secure his cooperation, and quickly. What to do! Someone said to the President, "A fellow by the name of Rowan will find Garcia for you, if anybody can." Rowan was sent for and given a letter to be delivered to Garcia. How he took the letter, in four days landed by night off the coast of Cuba from an open boat, disappeared into the jungle, in three weeks came out on the other side of the Island, and had delivered his letter to Garcia, are things I have no special desire now to tell in detail. The point I wish to make is this: Rowan was given a letter to be delivered to Garcia; Rowan took the letter and did not ask, "Where is he?" He was loyal to a trust. He acted quickly and concentrated the energies: do the thing -- "Carry a message to Garcia!" My heart goes out to the man who, when given a letter for Garcia, quietly takes it, without asking any idiotic questions, but delivers it. This man is wanted in every city, town and village -- in every office, shop, store and factory. The world cries out for such: he is needed, and needed badly -- the man who can carry a message to Garcia. Who is Garcia? A general Timothy likes to play sports. He spends his time after school playing basketball and baseball. Sometimes Timothy pretends he is a famous baseball pitcher for his favorite team with his friends. He plays with his friends Mandy and Andrew. Timothy also plays pretend when he is alone. He has an imaginary friend named Sean. Sean is an elephant who watches television with Timothy. Mandy likes playing baseball but she also likes to paint. Mandy's favorite class at school is art. She likes making pictures of flowers. Her teacher says she is a good artist. She painted a picture of a tree for her teacher. There were red and yellow leaves on it. It had apples on it. When Andrew goes home after baseball, he likes to eat a snack. He eats carrots and bananas. If he is a good boy his mom, Mrs. Smith, sometimes gives him milk and cookies. Afterwards, Andrew finishes his homework. What does Mandy like to paint? flowers
Nearing the age of 101 has not slowed down one Japanese woman.In fact,in the swimming pool--she is only getting faster. Recently,a 100-year-old Japanese woman became the world's first _ to complete a 1,500-meter freestyle swimming competition in a 25-meter poo1. Her name is Mieko Nagaoka.Ms.Nagaoka set a world record for her age group at a recent Japan Masters Swimming Association event in the western city of Matsuyama.She swam the race in 1hour,15 minutes and 54 seconds. By comparison,the overall female world record holder completed the same distance in just under 15 and a half minutes.But that swimmer,Katie Ledecky,is only 17 years old.And Ms.Nagao.ka was not competing against her.In fact,Ms.Nagaoka was the only competitor in the 100-104 year old category.Her race was not a race of speed but of endurance,or not giving up. Breaking swimming records is nothing new to Ms.Nagaoka.So far she has broken 25 records.But she began competing when she was much younger--at 88. Ms.Nagaoka sufferred a knee injury in her 80s,so she began swimming to help her body recover.Since her first international swimming competition,she hasn't looked back,except maybe to see if her competition is catching up. In 2002.at a masters swim meet in New Zealand,Ms.Nagaoka took the bronze medal in the 50-meter backstroke.In 2004,she won three silver medals at an Italian swim meet. Masters swimming is a special class of competitive swimming to promote health and friendship among participants.Swimmers compete within age groups of five years. Japan has a large number of people who live beyond 100 years old.Until she passed away this month,the oldest person in the world was also from Japan.Misao Okawa was born in 1 898.She said her secrets for longevity,or long life,were good genes,regular sleep,sushi and exercise. Which is possibly the age category of the masters swimming competition? Answer: Mike found a job in a bookstore after he finished middle school. He wouldn't do anything but wanted to get rich. It was a cold morning. It snowed and there was thin ice on the streets. Few people went to buy books and the young man had nothing to do. He hated to read, so he watched the traffic. Suddenly he saw a bag fall off a truck and it landed by the other side of the street. "It is full of expensive things." Mike said to himself. "I have to get it right now, or others will take it away." He went out of the bookstore and ran across the street. A driver saw him and began to whistle , but he didn't hear it and went on running. The man drove to the side, hit a big tree and hurt himself in the accident. Two weeks later, Mike was taken to the court . A judge asked if he heard the whistle when he was running across the street. He said that something was wrong with his ears and he could hear nothing. "But you heard me this time," said the judge. "Oh, I'm sorry. Now I can hear with one ear." "Cover the ear with your hand and listen to me with your deaf one. Well, can you hear me?" "No, I can't , sir." "You told a lie. There is nothing wrong with either of your ears," the judge said. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Answer: Medical scientists are already putting computer chips directly into the brain to help people who have Parkinson's disease, but in what other ways might computer technology be able to help us? Ray Kurzweil is the author of the successful book The Age Of Intelligent Machines. He is also one of the world's best computer research scientists. He is researching the possibilities. Kurzweil gets computers to recognize voices. An example of this is Ramona, the _ hostess of Kurzweil's website, created by the computer, who is able to understand what you say. Visitors to the website can have their own conversations with her. Ramona also dances and sings. Kurzweil uses this technology to help people with physical problems. One of his ideas is a "seeing machine". This will be "like a friend that could describe what is going on around," he explains. Blind people will use a sensor which will probably be built into a pair of sunglasses. This machine will describe to the person everything it sees. Another idea, which is likely to help deaf people, is the "listening machine". This invention will recognize millions of words and understand any speaker. The listening machine will also be able to translate what it hears into other languages, so even people without hearing problems are likely to be interested in using it. But it is not just about helping people with physical problems. Looking further into future, Kurzweil sees a time when we will be able to store what we hear, see and think in a computer. This technology probably won't be ready for at least 50 years, but when it arrives, it means our minds will be able to live forever. What can be the best title for the text? Answer: It was Thanksgiving morning and in the crowded kitchen of my small home I was busy preparing the traditional Thanksgiving turkey when the doorbell rang. I opened the front door and saw two small children in rags huddling together. "Any old papers, lady?" asked one of them. I was busy. I wanted to say "no" until I looked down at their feet. They were wearing thin little sandals, wet with heavy snow. "Come in and I'll make you a cup of hot cocoa." They walked over and sat down at the table. Their wet sandals left marks upon the floor. I served them cocoa and bread with jam to fight against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started again on my household budget. The silence in the front room struck me. I looked in. The girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, "Lady, are you rich?" I looked at my shabby slipcovers. The girl put her cup back in its saucer carefully and said, "Your cups match your saucers." Her voice was hungry with a need that no amount of food could supply. They left after that, holding their bundles of papers against the wind. They hadn't said "Thank you." They didn't need to. They had reminded me that I had so much for which to be grateful. Plain blue china cups and saucers were only worth five pence. But they matched. I tasted the potatoes and stirred the meat soup. Potatoes and brown meat soup, a roof over our heads, my man with a good steady job--these matched, too. I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy prints of small sandals were still wet upon my floor. Let them be for a while, I thought, just in case I should begin to forget how rich I am. The writer left the muddy prints of small sandals on the floor for a while to _ . Answer: Next Stop: Planet Mars Fly me to the moon? That's not far enough. On September 14, 2011, NASA released designs for a superrocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). This time the final destination will be Mars. The SLS is a huge, liquid-fuelled rocket. If it is fully developed, it will be the most powerful rocket ever built. Its lift capability will be much bigger than that of the space shuttle of Saturn 5, the rocket that sent the Apollo missions to the moon. NASA is planning to launch its first unmanned test flight in 2017. It is hoped that the first crew will fly in 2021 and astronauts will make it to a nearby asteroid in 2025. NASA hopes to send the rocket and astronauts to Mars from the asteroid by the 2030s, according to the Associated Press (AP). NASA used liquid rockets to send Apollo, Gemini and Mercury into space, but later changed to solid rockets boosters because they were cheaper. Tragically, however, a booster flaw caused the space shuttle Challenger to crash in 1986. The new project plans to return to liquid fuel. According to AP, the rockets will at first be able to carry 77 to 110 tons of payload . Eventually they will be able to carry 143 tons into space, maybe even as many as 165 tons, NASA officials said. By comparison, the Saturn 5 booster could lift 130 tons and the space shuttle just 27 tons. However, unlike reusable shuttles, these powerful rockets are mostly one use only. New ones have to be built for every launch. This will be very costly. NASA estimates that it will cost about $3 billion (19 billion yuan) per year, or $18 billion until the first test flight in 2017. NASA hopes to make money by allowing private companies to send astronauts to the International Space Station like giant taxi services, so that the program can be "sustainable". "This is perhaps the biggest thing for space exploration in decades," said Senator Bill Nelson, a former astronaut. "The goal is to fly humans safely beyond low-Earth orbit and deep into outer space where we cannot only survive, but one day also live." According to NASA's schedule, it will take _ years to fully complete the SLS program. Answer:
Question: Every day we use money to buy what we want. But have you ever really noticed the bill in your hand? There are different pictures on both sides of banknotes and interesting stories behind them. Most banknotes have famous people on the front, such as a country's leader or a great scientist, while on the back of the paper note there are usually some well-known scenes or national buildings. The latest editions of Chinese banknotes use the picture of Mao Zedong, founding father of the People's Republic of China, on the front of all yuan bills. However, the backs of the bills are different. The Great Hall of the People, on the 100-yuan note, is a landmark in Beijing. Important meetings are always held there. The Lijiang River in Guilin, on the 20-yuan note, is one of the most beautiful scenes in the world. The US 1-dollar bill has the first president, George Washington, on the front side. A 13-level pyramid is on the back. Benjamin Franklin, a great scientist and politician from the US, appears on the front of the 100-dollar bill. You can see the White House, where the presidents live, on the back of the 20-dollar bill. The Lijiang River of Guilin is _ . A. on the back of 20-yuan note B. on the front of 20-yuan note C. on the front of 100-yuan note D. on the back of 100-yuan note Answer: A Question: During the 20th century there has been a great change in the lives of women.A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century probably has been in her middle 20's and would be likely to have seven or eight children.By the time the youngest was 15,the mother would have been in her early 50's and would expect to live a further 20 years,during which chance and health made it hard for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children.Usually a woman's youngest child will be 15 when she is 45 and she can be expected to live another 35 years and is likely to get paid work until 60. This important change in women's life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's economic position.Even a few years ago most girls left school and took a fulltime joB. However,when they married they usually left work at once and never returned to it.Today the school-leaving age is 16,many girls stay at school after that age,and though women marry younger,more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born.Many more return to work later.Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage,with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties of family life. Now a husband probably _ . A. plays a greater part in doing housework B. does almost all of the housework C. feels unhappy about his wife's going out to work D. takes a part-time job so as to help at home Answer: A Question: When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelon was expensive. One of my father's friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St. Paul. Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie's place. We' d sit on the edge of the dock , feet dangling , and got ready for a big meal. Bernie would take his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we'd bury our faces in watermelon, eating only the heart--the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, most seed-free part--and throw away the rest. Bernie was my father's idea of a rich man. I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie's wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon. What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the watermelon. If you don't take the time to dangle your feet over the dock and enjoy life's small pleasure, your work is probably hurting your life. For many years, I forgot that lesson I'd learned as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy making all the money I could. Well, I've relearned it. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That's _ . I have learned again to throw the rest away. How did the writer and his father eat the watermelon? A. They ate it in a polite way. B. They only ate its best part. C. They ate every part of it. D. They shared only one piece. Answer: B Question: In a zoo, many animals have claws: birds, dogs and lions. Even some monkeys have claws! One summer day, the eyes of many visitors were facing the lion cage. It was like the famous movie "The Lion King". One lion cub had been born and was drinking from its mother. There was a straw bed for the lions to sleep on, and all visitors loved to watch the baby lion cub. Well, a monkey (with claws) came into the lion's cage all of a sudden! But the lions weren't afraid, because they are kings of the animal world. Also, they had seen the movie and knew what the monkeys wanted. So it happened that the monkey took the cub from its mother into its hands. It walked over to the gate by the visitors and held up the cub for all to see! People cried. People took pictures. They were seeing the real-life 'Lion King'! Why were the people crying and taking pictures? A. because it's the circle of life B. because it was a real-life "Lion King". C. because monkeys have claws D. because the lions allowed the monkey to take the cub Answer: B Question: Although Thomas Edison created the technologies behind three major 21st century industries electrical power,recorded music and movies--his greatest invention may have been the modern method of inventing.He basically came up with the modern system of research and development.Edison was not the only scientist doing research in his garage but someone who gathered around him a team of creative scientific minds.Edison's 1aboratories were the forerunners of Apple,Google and Microsoft. Yet for a11 his scientific gifts,he was no Steve Jobs or Bill Gates.He once said,"Anything that won' t sell,I don' t want to invent." But Edison,unlike Jobs or Gates,had no real sense of what the public wanted or how to change his discoveries into products that might sell.It took him years to understand that the phonograph was not a business tool but an entertainment invention.He helped create movies but resisted the idea that people might want to go into a theater to watch one. We chose Edison this year because we need his example now more than ever.Though we live in a time of great reformation,the U.S.is in danger of losing its advantage in science and technology.American investment in research and development has not increased as a percentage of GDP since the mid1980s,while the government' s share has been dropping.And this is at a time when China is rapidly increasing its money on research and development.The U.S.was once among the 1eading nations.Now it ranks near the bottom of the 23 nations that collect such data.We hope that Edison' s story might not only encourage reformation but also inspire more young Americans to study science and engineering. We can infer from the text that _ . A. the USA is no 10nger advanced in science and technology B. the USA falls behind China in research and inventions C. more and more young Americans will be interested in science D. China is spending more and more money on research and development Answer: D
How many seconds would it most likely take to get to Mars? 4000000000000000000000 seconds Mr Clark goes to a dinner party in old clothes. He comes into the room, but the people in the room don't look at him. They don't ask him to sit at the table. Mr Clark goes home and puts on his good clothes. He goes back to the party. People in the room stands up and smiles at him. They give him very good food to eat. Mr Clark _ his clothes, and puts them in the food and say, "Eat, clothes!" The other people ask, "What are you doing?" He answers, "I'm asking my coat to eat food. When I am wearing my old clothes, you don't look at me. You don't ask me to sit down. Now I am in these clothes. And you give me very good food. Now I know, you give the food to my clothes, not to me!" ,. From the story , we know _ . Mr Clark does not like the people at the party It is easy to say "to be Best Friends Forever (BFF)". However, a true BFF helps out when the other is in trouble, not just once or twice, but for a lifetime. Milo is six years old. He has become Eddie's BFF. They are special because they are not humans, but dogs. Their owner, Angie Baker, brought them up. They spent many years playing together. However, last year, Eddie suddenly started walking into dustbins and walls. Soon he lost his eyesight. When Milo felt something was wrong, he decided to act as Eddie's "guide" dog. He leads Eddie through the house. When they go for walks, he holds Eddie's leash . Once, Milo had to spend a few nights at the hospital himself. Poor Eddie often bumped into walls and furniture. Ever worse, he got lost during walks. Angie realized how much Eddie depended on his friend. Luckily, Milo is now fine and back at his BFF's side, guiding him through life again. What does Milo do for Eddie? He acts as Eddie's guide. People who smoke could lose around one third of their daily memory, researchers say. A study by a team at Northumbria University showed that smokers lost more of their memory when compared to non-smokers. And the research also found that those who kicked the habit saw their ability to recollect information restored to almost the same level as non-smokers. The study involved more than seventy 18-to-25-year-olds and included a tour of the university's campus. Those who took part were asked to recall small details, such as a list of songs played at a campus concert and tasks completed at various points-known as real world memory test. Smokers performed badly, remembering just 59 percent of tasks. But those who had given up smoking remembered 74 percent and those who had never smoked recalled 81 percent of tasks. Dr. Tom Heffernan, who leads Northumbria University's Collaboration for Drug and Alcohol Research Group, said the findings would be useful in anti-smoking campaigns. He said, "Given that there are up to 10 million smokers in the UK and as many as 45 million in the United States, it's important to understand the effects smoking has on everyday cognitive function-of which prospective memory is an excellent example. " "This is the first time that a study has set out to examine whether giving up smoking has an _ on memory. We already know that giving up smoking has huge health benefits for the body, but this study also shows how stopping smoking can have knock-on benefits for cognitive functions too. '' The research will now investigate the effects of passive smoking on memory, while Dr. Heffernan and Dr. Terence O'Neil will look into the effects of third-hand smoking-toxins left on curtains and furniture. How did those who took part in the study perform when asked to recall small details? Smokers did the worst among the participants. New plants sprang up everywhere seeds were taken by cool breezes
24 hours is equal to one what? day-night cycle Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and, at its best, it makes little environmental influence. But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness, it is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively and leave no mark. Wild camping is not permitted in many places, particularly in crowded lowland Britain. Wherever you are, find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces, and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building. For example, it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland, but in England you must ask the landowner's permission except in national parks. Camping is about having relaxation, sleeping outdoors, experiencing bad weather, and making do without modern conveniences. A busy, fully equipped camping seems to go against this, so seek out smaller, more remote places with easy access to open spaces and beaches. Better still, find a campsite with no road access: walking in makes a real adventure. Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night's sleep. Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum influence on others and the environment. Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot. When camping in woodland, avoid standing dead trees, which may fall on a windy night. Avoid animal runs and caves, and possible homes of biting insects. Make sure you have most protection on the wind ware side. If you make a fire, do so downwind of your shelter. Always consider what influence you might have on the natural world. Avoid damaging plants. A good campsite is found, not made-- changing it should be unnecessary. You needn't ask for permission when camping in _ . national parks in England Lydia Sebastian achieved the top score of 162 on Mensa,s Cattell III B paper, suggesting she has a higher IQ than well-known geniuses Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. The comparison doesn't sit well with the British student, who's currently in Year 8 at Colchester County high school, a selective girl's grammar school in Essex, England. "I don't think I can be compared to such great intellectuals such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. They've achieved so much. I don't think it's right," Lydia told CNN. Lydia sat the test in her summer holidays, after raising the idea with her parents and pestering them for the best part of a year. It turns out the test wasn't that hard after all. "I was really nervous before the test and I thought it was going to be really hard. But as I started the test, I thought it was a bit easier than I thought it was going to be," she said. Lydia's not quite sure what she wants to do when she leaves school, although she's leaning toward something "based around Maths, because it's one of my favorite subjects. " "All I,m going to do is work as hard as I can, and see where that gets me," she said. To explain Lydia's mark's level, the top adult score in the Cattell III B test, which primarily tests verbal reasoning, is 161. A top 2% score which allows entry to Mensa, the club for those with high IQs would be 148 or over. Lydia scored 162, placing her in the top 1% of the population. Lydia wanted to have an IQ test because _ , she felt that she might have a high IQ At school many things happen to us. We may feel excited when we have success in a school play. We may feel sorry if we lose an important game. We want to keep the memory for the rest of our lives. How to keep the memory? Our English teacher, Miss Wang, has taught us a good way of remembering things to make our own yearbook. What is a yearbook? A yearbook is a kind of book which is used to keep the memory of exciting moments. It's usually made at the end of the year. Last December, we began to make our yearbook. First we chose the persons who had done something special, then some students interviewed them, some wrote down their stories, others took photos of them. Everyone in our class had something to do. Finally our teacher helped us to put the things together. We had our first yearbook. All of us put a lot of love into making the yearbook. It is so wonderful that not only the students but also our parents and teachers will remember the special time for ever. They made their first yearbook _ . with the help of their teacher Imagine you're at a party full of strangers. You're nervous. Who are these people? How do you start a conversation? Fortunately, you've got a thing that sends out energy at tiny chips in everyone's name tag . The chips send back name, job, hobbies, and the time available for meeting-whatever. Making new friends becomes simple. This hasn't quite happened in real life. But the world is already experiencing a revolution using RFID technology. An RFID tag with a tiny chip can be fixed in a product, under your pet's skin, even under your own skin. Passive RFID tags have no energy source-batteries because they do not need it. The energy comes from the reader, a scanning device ,that sends out energy (for example, radio waves)that starts up the tag immediately. Such a tag carries information specific to that object, and the data can be updated. Already, RFID technology is used for recognizing each car or truck on the road and it might appear in your passport. Doctors can put a tiny chip under the skin that will help locate and obtain a patient's medical records. At a nightclub in Paris or in New York the same chip gets you into the VIP (very important person) section and pays for the bill with the wave of an arm. Take a step back: 10 or 12 years ago, you would have heard about the coming age of computing. One example always seemed to surface: Your refrigerator would know when you needed to buy more milk. The concept was that computer chips could be put everywhere and send information in a smart network that would make ordinary life simpler. RFID tags are a small part of this phenomenon. "The world is going to be a loosely coupled set of individual small devices, connected wirelessly," predicts Dr.J.Reich. Human right supporters are nervous about the possibilities of such technology. It goes too far tracking school kids through RFID tags, they say. We imagine a world in which a beer company could find out not only when you bought a beer but also when you drank it. And how many beers accompanied by how many biscuits. When Marconi invented radio, he thought it would be used for ship-to-shore communication. Not for pop music. Who knows how RFID and related technologies will be used in the future. Here's a wild guess: Not for buying milk. The article is intended to _ . predict the applications of RFID technology
A radio is used for what? Answer: China is known as a state of manners and ceremony . Many proverbs have been passed down from generation to generation such as "Polite behavior costs nothing" or "Showing respect demands reciprocity " and so on. For instance, there is an interesting short story. Once upon a time, a man went on a long tour to visit his friend with a swan as a gift. But it escaped from the cage on the way. Though he tried hard, he got hold of nothing but a feather . Instead of returning home, he continued his journey with the swan feather. When his friend received this unexpected gift, he was deeply moved. And the saying "The gift is nothing much, but it's the thought that counts." was spread far and wide. Chinese used to cup one hand in the other before the chest as a greeting. This tradition has a history of more than 2, 000 years and nowadays it is seldom used except in the Spring Festival. And shaking hands is more popular on some formal occasions. Bowing, as to show respect to the higher level, is often used by the lower like subordinates , students, and attendants . But at present Chinese youngsters prefer to simply nod as a greeting. In a way, this development shows the ever-increasing pace of modern life. It is common social practice to introduce the junior to the senior, or the familiar to the unfamiliar. When you start a talk with a stranger, the topics such as weather, food, or hobbies may be good choices to break the ice. For a man, a chat about current affairs , sports, stock market or his job can usually go on smoothly. Similar to Western customs, you should be careful to ask a woman private questions. However, relaxing talks about her job or family life will never put you into danger. She is usually glad to offer you some advice on how to cook Chinese food or get used to local life. Things will be quite different when you've gotten to know them. Though Chinese are said to be implicit , they are actually humorous enough to be pleased about the jokes of Americans. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: Greenspace facilities are contributing to an important degree to the quality of the city environment. Fortunately it is no longer necessary that every lecture or every book about this subject has to start with the proof of this idea. At present it is generally accepted, although more as a self-proved statement than on the base of a closely reasoned scientific proof. Recognizing the importance of greenspaces in the city environment is a first step on the right way, this does not mean, however, that enough details are known about the functions of greenspace in towns and about the way in which people are using these spaces. As to this subject I shall within the scope of this lecture, enter into one aspect only, namely the recreative function of greenspace facilities. The theoretical separation of living, working, traffic and recreation which for many years has been used in town and country planning, has in my opinion resulted in more attention for forms of recreation far from home, while there was relatively little attention for improvement of recreative possibilities in the direct neighborhood of the home. We have come to the conclusion that this is not right, because an important part of the time which we do not pass in sleeping or working, is used for activities at and around home. So it is obvious that recreation in the open air has to begin at the street door of the house. The city environment has to offer as many recreation activities as possible, and the design of these has to be such that more required activities can also have recreative aspect. The very best standard of living is nothing if it is not possible to take a pleasant walk in the district, if the children cannot be allowed to play in the streets because the risks of traffic are too great, if during shopping you can nowhere find a spot for enjoying for a moment the nice weather, in short, if you only feel yourself at home after the street door of your house is closed after you. According to the author, greenspaces should be designed _ . Answer: 169 junior 1 students at No. 35 Middle School of Shenyang took their first noteacher exam. After the teacher handed out the exam paper, he left the room and never came back. A student collected the papers when the exam ended. "That test was not only a test of knowledge, but also a test of moral . We wanted to show students how important honesty is," said Cai Wenguo, the school's headmaster. The school says no cheating happened in the test. Next year, it wants 80% of its exams to be without teachers. But students have different ideas. "I was happy and excited during the exam because my teachers trusted me," said Lang Yudan, a 13yearold girl in Class 11. "Schools must trust students a lot not to use invigilators . But I think it is too early. Some students will cheat if there are no invigilators. And the students will not be able to ask for help when needed," said Hua Sha. "I don't like having invigilators in exams. When they walk around the classroom, they make me nervous. I would get higher marks without them in the room because I would feel more relaxed," Liu Qingxi said. "I think it's very important to have invigilators in exams. Many students want to check their answers with each other after they have finished papers. And they can also keep the classroom in order when something unusual happens. They may make me nervous, but I still think we need them," Shangguan Yuan said. Not using invigilators may be a good idea. But before using it, schools must tell students the importance of honesty and try to find ways to solve something unusual in exams. From what the students have said, we know _ . Answer: In 1620,about half the USA was covered by forests .Today the forests have almost gone .A lot of good land has gone with them ,leaving only sand .China doesn't want to copy the USA's example.We're planting more and more tress .We've built the "Great Green Wall "of tress across northern pat of our country .The "Great Green Wall"is 7,000 kilometers long ,and between 400 and 1,700 kilometers wide .It will stop the wind from blowing the earth away .It will stop the sand from moving towards the rich farmland in the south .More "Great Green Wall "are needed .Trees must be grown all over the world. "Great Green Wall "will make the world better . ,. _ will make the world better . Answer:
MIANYANG--At a corner of the city's Jiuzhou Stadium, one of the biggest camps set up for those left homeless in the earthquake, 62-year-old Liu Yaorong was leaning against a window on Thursday. Pointing to a quilt and clothes he received from the local government, he said: "These are all I have. My home collapsed in the quake, and everything in the town was flooded." He used to live in Xuanping town of Beichuan county which was destroyed by the quake. Adding to his _ , rivers blocked by landslides led to flooding in the town. But Liu said he was lucky because he was healthy, otherwise he would not have the energy to walk 10 hours on damaged and dangerous mountainous roads to escape the flood on Monday. He said the trip used to take him about 90 minutes when the roads were in good condition. The journey was difficult and "rocks kept falling," he said, showing injured legs and black, split toenails. Liu said his three sons were working in eastern cities as migrant workers. "I've been living alone in the mountains for more than 20 years. My wife died 30 years ago," he said in a low voice. During his journey to Mianyang, Liu said he saw many elderly people who chose to stay. "Soldiers were persuading them to leave for fear of floods," he said. Talking about his home before the quake struck, Liu's mood lifted. "I raised pigs and chickens, and grew vegetables. I could have rice, meat and greens almost every day," he said. "But now, I have only biscuits and instant noodles." Liu said one of his sons returned home from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, after the quake, but left because the father refused to go with him. "I don't want to leave home. And I know it is difficult for them out there. How could I add to their burden?" he asked, his eyes red. "I still want to go back to my home. Given a small piece of land, I could live by myself." It is learnt that resettlement plans for displaced people have not been finalized. However, not every elderly person is as strong-willed as Liu. Psychologists said the elderly need as much comfort as children. Lu Jianguo, a psychologist from Chengdu Medical College, said "We will first let them cry and tell their stories, and then help them regain confidence." What's Liu Yaorong's attitude towards self-relief after the earthquake? Teachers Wanted Do you like kids? We need a teacher for our son. He's six years old. We want you to work from March to November, 3 pm. to 6 pm., but you don't need to work in July and August. You can get Y= 30 an hour . Sometimes we want you to work on weekends, and you can get Y=45 an hour. You need to: Help our son with Chinese. Read to him. Play with him. Go to movies with him. You need to work at my home. We live in Taipei Road, next to the Zhongshan Bus Station . Please call (02)2956-4938. Ask Miss Liu. The teacher must _ . It's hard to make friends if you stay at home alone all the time. Get out of house and do things that will put you in touch with other people. It's easier to make friends when you have similar interests. Don't be afraid to show people what you're really good at. Talk about things you like and do best. People will be interested in you if there is something interesting about you. Look at people in the eyes when you talk to them. That way , they'll find it easier to talk to you. Be a good listener. Let people talk about themselves before talking about "me ,me, me" Try to make friends with the kinds of people you really like, respect and admire ,not just with those who we are easy to meet. Be friends with a lot of people .That way ,you 'll have a bigger group of people to choose and have more chances for making friends. Which of the following is NOT true? A "lost tribe" that reached America from Australia may have been the first Native Americans, according to a new theory. If proved by DNA evidence, the theory will break long established beliefs about the southerly migration of people who entered America across the Bering Strait, found it empty and occupied it. On this theory rests the belief of Native Americans to have been the first true Americans. They would be classified to the ranks of escapee, beaten to the New World by Aboriginals in boats. To a European, this may seem like an academic argument, but to Americans it is a philosophical question about identity, Silvia Gonzales, of Liverpool University said . Her claims are based on skeletons found in the California Peninsula of Mexico that have skulls quite unlike the broad Mongolian features of Native Americans. These narrow-skulled people have more in common with southern Asians, Aboriginal Australians and people of the South Pacific Region. The bones, stored at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, have been carbon-dated and one is 12,700 years old, which places it several thousand years before the arrival of people from the North. "We think there were several migration waves into the Americas at different times by different human groups," Dr. Gonzales said. "The timing, route and point of origin of the first colonization of the Americas remains a most contentious topic in human evolution." But comparisons based on skull shape are not considered conclusive by anthropologists, so a team of Mexican and British scientists, backed by the Natural Environment Research Council, has also attempted to take out DNA from the bones. Dr. Gonzales declined yesterday to say exactly what the results were, as they need to be checked, but indicated that they were consistent with an Australian origin. Which of the following statements is true according to the text? A thousand years ago, Hong Kong was covered by a thick forest. As more and more people came to live in Hong Kong, these trees were cut down and burnt. Now there is no forest left, though there are still some small areas covered with trees. We call these woods. Elephants, tigers and many other animals were living in the thick forest. When people came to live in Hong Kong, the animals began to die out. Early farmers grew rice and kept pigs and chickens in the valleys. They cut down the trees and burnt them. They needed fire to keep themselves warm in winter, to cook their food and to keep away the dangerous animals. Elephants quickly disappeared because there was not enough food for them. Many other animals soon died in the same way. You might think that there are no longer any animals in Hong Kong except in 2005. But there are still about 36 different animals living there. One of the most interesting of Hong Kong's animals is the barking deer. These are beautiful little animals with a rich brown coat and a white patch under the tail. They look like deer but they are much smaller. They are less than two feet high. They make a noise rather like a dog barking. In Hong Kong the barking deer has only a real enemy---- men. People hunt these little animals though it is illegal, There are now not many barking deer left. So it is important for people to protect wild animals. The _ began to die out when people came to live in Hong Kong.
My friend Alice visited my city last week. She arrived on Wednesday morning. She is from Australia. I showed her around the city. We visited the Clock Tower first. The Clock Tower was very tall. We took some photos there. Then we went to City Museum. After that,we saw a good movie. The next day, we visited the Ladies' Street .There were a lot of clothes shops. The clothes were cheap and beautiful. Alice bought some clothes for her parents and friends. Then we went to the Seafood Street. We bought some seafood. We also had seafood in a restaurant. All of us enjoyed the meal. Then we went to a concert in the evening. The music was fantastic! On the third day,the weather was very hot so we decided to visit the Monkey Garden. We found different kinds of monkeys in the Garden. The monkeys were funny and active. Alice went back to Australia on Friday evening. She enjoyed the trip. She invited me to visit Australia next summer. Alice thought the seafood was _ in the restaurant. Answer: Tour Inside a Volcano in Iceland Operation dates: From June 15th -July 31st Departure times: 8:00 AM / 10:00 AM /12:00 PM / 14:00 PM. Duration: 5-6 hours (up to 1 hour inside the volcano) Fitness level needed: Average. No knowledge of hiking or climbing is needed. Distance Walked: About 2.5 km (1.7 miles) each way. Age limit: 12 years Included: Pick-up at your hotel in Reykjavik All safety equipment Soup, coffee/tea and perhaps some sweets as well Transfer back to Reykjavik Bring with you: Good shoes. Sneakers will work, but we don't recommend them. Water. The walk over the lava field is a good workout! Outdoor clothing. Dress according to weather for the walk. A warm sweater or a jacket would be useful. About the tour: This volcano tour takes you inside a volcano, through the top crater and down to the bottom of its magma chamber . The Thrihnukagigur volcano has not erupted for 4,000 years and shows no signs of coming to life again anytime soon. Hence, you are safe! You depart from Reykjavik and drive to the area of Blafjoll mountains (About 30 minutes' drive). From there, an easy 35- to 40-minute walk awaits you, in order to get to the volcano. Using a system normally used to carry window cleaners outside skyscrapers, you will go down 120 metres in an open elevator, a basket lift that is supported by cable wires. The group is split into smaller parties of four to five persons. The trip takes about 10 minutes and the first ones to go down will be the first ones to go up. After exploring the volcano on the inside, you will walk back over the lava field where the coach awaits and transfers you back to Reykjavik. How long does it take to get to the volcano from Reykjavik? Answer: Speech--the act of uttering sounds to convey meaning--is a kind of human action. Like any other constantly repeated action, speaking has to be learned, but once it is learned, it becomes a generally unconscious and apparently automatic process. As far as we can determine, human beings do not need to be forced to speak; most babies seem to possess a sort of instinctive drive to produce speech like noises. How to speak and what to say are another matter altogetner. There actions are learned from the particular society into which the baby is born; so that, like all conduct that is learned from a society--from the people around us--speech is a patterned activity. The meandering babble and chatter of a young child are eventually channeled by imitation into a few orderly grooves that represent the pattern accepted as meaningful by the people around him. Similarly, a child's indiscriminate practice of putting things into his mouth becomes limited to putting food into his mouth in a certain way. The sounds that a child can make are more varied and numerous than the sounds that any particular language uses. However, a child born into a society with a pattem of language is encouraged to make a small selection of sounds and to make these few sounds over and over until it is natural for him to make these sounds and not others. The sounds that a child is able to make are_. Answer: Where is most of the mass of the atom located? Answer: It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn't invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. "Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It's a beautiful day." "No! Leave me alone!" Those were the last words I said to him that morning. My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went with them. I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. "Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital". When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me my father's injuries were extensive. "Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there's no telling what might have happened. A broken rib might have pierced a lung...." My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear. I didn't hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day? It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him. "Daddy... I am so sorry...." "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay." "No," I said, "I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?" My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me and said, "Sweetheart, I don't remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before, though." He managed a weak smile. My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on. The author was in bad mood that morning because _ . Answer:
Growing strawberries in pots The best way to start growing strawberries is to buy pot-grown strawberry plants m spring:5 plants are plenty for a hanging basket and 10 for the average 13 inch-sized pot. Plant them immediately in soil-based compost and they will produce a modest crop in their first year.The second year should see a bumper crop,followed by a slightly lower yield the third summer .Then start again with fresh stock . Careful watering and feeding are essential If you are to harvest a good crop,you must never let the compost dry out, particularly when the fruit is forming and ripening;if you do.most of your crop will drop offe bush almost immediately. Water well then leave the pots for up to 3 weeks,until they reach the point of drying out be careful not to overwater them during the winter months. Pruning apple trees A one-year-old tree is known as a "maiden".It has a single stem when purchased.Immediately after planting, cut it back by about half to leave 4 good buds at the base of the stem..This will force growth from the base or the plant during the summer. In the second year ,prune in winter by cutting all side branches back by about one-third, Make sure each cut is made cleanly just above an outward-facing bud.In the third and fourth years, new side branches will have emerged from the previous year's growth.Cut back all these new side branches by a third, pruning to an outward-facing bud. *By the fifth year the tree should have a well-balanced shape.From then on ,cut back all new branches by one-third in winter.Remove any diseased wood and broken branches, and ensure the centre is open to air circulation The two pieces of advice probably appear in _ A. a scientific repot B. a gardening guide C. a book review D. a fashion column Answer: B. a gardening guide Canada is famous for its winter lifestyle, for the season lasts half the year there. A great example of this is the Quebec Winter Carnival . Quebec is an old city with beautiful historic building, and many agree that winter is the best time to visit. The city comes alive in the snow, especially during the winter festival. People who visit the cold city can find tons of things to do that will make winter seem perfect. The Carnival has a magical ice palace made with 9,000 tons of snow, a boat race on the St. Lawrence River, and two night parades with funny people and colorful cars. Other interesting things include a 122-meter ice slide, and a large football game. There is also an exciting dogsled race that runs through six kilometers of the city's streets. With more than 20 teams in the game, the dogsled race is noisy, fun and full of great cheer. Even better, artists from around the world come to enter the snow sculpture competition. It is amazing how these artists can bring snow to life. The Quebec Winter Carnival has everything for the whole family and more. It is surely a great way to experience winter at its fullest. Another famous winter festival is on the other side of the world in China. Known as the City of Ice, Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang Province, which is next to Siberia. In the winter, it is very cold, and temperatures there can drop to 30degC below zero. Even so, the cold weather makes the city the right place for the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The festival is held every year. Which of the following is TRUE about Harbin? A. It is known as the City of Ice. B. It's famous for its four seasons. C. It is in Northern China, next to Quebec. D. It holds an exciting festival every month. Answer: A. It is known as the City of Ice. My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, WE USED 2go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :-@ KIDS FTF. ILNY, its gr8. Can you understand this sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad: neither could the middle school teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or cellphones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York; it's great. School teachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes can be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted . Everyone should just relax, say linguists . They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says. "Kids who are now doing text messaging, e-mail, and instant messages will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents." Linguist James Milroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can _ that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted"; they simply change to meet the new needs. However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia McVey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future." Perhaps, we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Text is just for fun." The expression "bet your bottom dollar" in paragrap5 means _ . A. be fairly sure B. be greatly surprised C. think it a pity D. find it interesting Answer: A. be fairly sure John Smith was a writer, who wrote detective stories for magazines , though he never dealt with criminals . One evening he could not finish an end for a story. He sat in his study , but he had no ideas. So he decided to go to the cinema. When he came back, he found that he had had a visitor. Someone had broken into his house. The visitor had had a drink, smoked several of his cigarettes and had read his story. The visitor left him a note. "I have read your story and I don't think it is very good. Please read my suggestions and you can finish it. By the way, I am a thief. I'm not going to steal anything tonight. But if you become a successful writer, I will return." John read the thief's suggestions. Then he sat down and wrote the rest of the story. He is still not a successful writer, and he is waiting for his "visitor" to return. Before he goes out in the evening, he always leaves a half-finished story in his study. John would like to _ . A. have a talk with his visitor B. get more ideas from the visitor C. make friends with the visitor D. catch the visitor and take him to the police Answer: B. get more ideas from the visitor Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third WheelBy Jeff Kinney A dance at Greg Heffley's middle school is going to be held, but he can't find someone to go with him. Finally he finds a girl from his class to go with him. That is when The Third Wheel story begins. The Third Wheel is full of jokes and interesting drawings. Ivy and Bean Make the RulesBy Annie Barrows Bean's older sister Jessie goes to a summer camp called Girl Power 4-Ever, but Bean can't join her because she is too young. So Bean and her best friend, Ivy, decide to create their own camp. At Camp Flaming Arrow, Ivy and Bean come up with all the activities and, of course, they make the rules. Their happiness and kindness will make you want to keep reading. Stick DogBy Tom Watson Stick Dog is a dog that lives in an empty pipe. He has four dog friends named Poo-Poo, Stripes, Karen and Mutt. When Stick Dog smells some delicious hamburgers, he and his friends decide to steal the food from a human family that is having a picnic in Picas-so Park. Along the way, they face a lot of funny challenges. White Fur FlyingBy Patricia Maclachlan Zoo and Alice's mother might just have the coolest job ever. She rescues Great Pyrenees dogs! But dogs aren't the only things that need to be saved. The family's new neighbour, Philfip, doesn't speak, and no one knows why. White Fur Flying is all about understanding that love can come from both inside and outside. Although it is a little sad, the book is good to read. Kids who love animals and a good story will really like it, too. There are interesting drawings in _ . A. Stick Dog B. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel C. Ivy and Bean Make the Rules D. White Fun Flying Answer: B. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
You might think that "global warming" means nothing more than a rise in the world's temperature But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation of an island nation--the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland. During the 20th century , sea level rose 8--12 inches. As a result ,Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country's drinking water. Paani Laupepa , a Tuvaluan government official ,reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years .Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms. Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions ,which are a main cause of global warming . "By refusing to sign the agreement ,the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years," Laupepa told the BBC. Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries . Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable to rising sea levels .Maumoon Gayoon ,president of the Maldives ,told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an "endangered nation". Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not _ . A rapidly advancing contemporary science that is highly dependent on new tools is Earth system science. Earth system science involves observation and measurements on the Earth at all scales from the largest to the smallest. The huge amounts of data that are gathered come from many different locations and require special techniques for handling data. Important new tools that facilitate Earth system science include satellite remote sensing, small deep-sea submarines, and geographic information systems. More than any other way of gathering evidence, satellite observations continually remind us that each part of the Earth interacts with and is dependent on all other parts. Earth system science was born from the realization of that interdependence. Satellite remote sensing makes possible observations at large scales, and in many cases, measurements of factors that could not otherwise be measured. For example, the ozone hole over Antarctica--the decrease in the concentration of ozone high in the atmosphere--is measured by remote sensing, as are changes in deserts, forests, and farmlands around the world. Such measurements can be used in many areas of specialization besides Earth system science. Archaeology, for example, has benefited from satellite observations that reveal the traces of ancient trade routes across the Arabian Desert. New tools for exploring previously inaccessible areas of the Earth have also added greatly to our knowledge of the Earth system. Small deep-sea submarines allow scientists to travel to the depths of the ocean. There they have discovered new species and ecosystems thriving near deep-sea vents that emit heat, sasses, and mineral-rich water. Just as important as new methods of measurement and exploration are new ways to store and analyze data about the Earth system. Computer-based software programs known as geographic information systems, or GIS, allow a large number of data points to be stored along with their locations. These can be used to produce maps and to compare different sets of information gathered at different times. For example, satellite remote sensing images of a forest can be converted to represent stages in the forest's growth. Two such images, made at different times can be overlaid and compared, and the changes that have taken place can be represented in a new image. What is the main idea of the passage? One day a doctor said to the boy's father that he could graft a pair of ears for his son, if they could be offered. Two years went by. Then, "You are going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will _ the ears you need. But it's a secret," said the father. The operation was a brilliant success. Later the boy married and entered the diplomatic service . "But I must know who gave so much to me. I could never do enough for him." "But the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet," said the father. The years kept their secret, but the day did come... one of the darkest days that ever passed through his son. Slowly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to show... that the mother had no ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?" Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what that is done but not known. Why was the boy laughed at at school? Self-absorbed people most love This is a picture of the twin brothers Li Lei and Li Ping's bedroom. It's not big, but it's very bright. It's a nice room. In the bedroom, we can see two beds, two chairs, two desks, a table and a cat. The two beds look the same. On the wall, there are some pictures of their family. Li Lei's green coat is on his bed, but his blue shoes are under his chair. Their books and pencil-boxes are on their desks. We can see some flowers and a clock on Li Ping's desk. Li Lei's schoolbag is behind his chair, but Li Ping's is on his chair. Where is their white cat? Oh, it's under Li Lei's bed. Their pencil-boxes are _ .
The greatest contribution to civilization in the century may well be the air-conditioning- and American leads just as amazing is the speed with which this situation came to be. Air-conditioning began to spread in industries as a production aid during World War II. Today most Americans need to take air-conditioning for granted to homes, offices, factories, theatres, shops, studios, schools, hotels, and restaurants, and we can see it almost everywhere in today's America. But not everybody is aware that high cost and easy comfort are merely two of the effects of the vast cooling of American. In fact, air conditioning has substantially altered the country's character and customs. Many of the byproducts are so conspicuous that they are scarcely noticed. To begin with, air-conditioning transformed the face of America by making possible those glassy, boxy, sealed-in skyscrapers. It has been indispensable, no less, to the functioning of sensitive advanced computers, whose high operating temperatures require that they be constantly cooled. . . It has, at will, forced families into going back into families with closed doors and shut windows to improve the effects of the air-conditioning, reducing the interactions of neighborhood life. I think there is no need explaining the seriousness of this consequence . It is really surprising that the public's often noted withdrawal into self-pursuit and privacy has kept in pace with the historic spread of air-conditioning. Though science has little studied how habitual air-conditioning affects mind and body, some medical experts suggest that, like other technical avoidance of natural changes in climate, air-conditioning may damage the human capacity to adapt to stress. If so, air-conditioning is only like many other greatly useful technical developments that liberate man from nature by increasing his productivity and power in some way - while indirectly weakening him in others. According to this passage, which of the following played a role in the forming of the unique character of U.S.? Answer: BEIJING - A research team led by Chinese scientists have discovered dietary modulation of gut microbiota can alleviate both genetic and simple obesity in children. The findings of the team, led by Zhao Liping with Shanghai Jiaotong University, Yin Aihua with the Guangdong province children's hospital, and Tang Huiru with Chinese Academy of Sciences, have been published on EBioMedicine, a renowned medical journal co-sponsored by Cell and The Lancet in July. The team identified bacterial genomes specifically for producing obesity-related metabolites , and said an improved gut microbiota can significantly help to treat genetic obesity such as Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Beginning in childhood, PWS affected kids develop an insatiable appetite, leading to chronic overeating and obesity. The scientists used a diet therapy with beneficial gut bacteria on trial patients and found considerable _ appetite, weight loss and improved health conditions on the patients. The paper concluded dysbiosis of gut microbiota is highly related with both genetic and simple obesity in children, implicating dietary modulation of gut microbiota a potentially effective treatment method. Which of the following factors contributes to child obesity ? Answer: In our daily life now, you may often find some people like to do several things together at the same time. They may watch TV while playing cell phones, and they may work while chatting with their close friends. As a new research suggests, people who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once. The findings, based on performances and self-evaluations by about 300 college students, indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity, but because they are easily distracted and can't focus on one activity. And "those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things," said David Sandy, a psychologist at the University of Utah. Sandy and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked, how good they thought they were at it, and how sensation-seeking or impulsive they were. They then evaluated the participants' multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters. Not surprisingly, the scientists said, most people thought they were better than average at multitasking, and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cell phone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once. But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test. They also were more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted. "People multitask not because it's going to lead to greater productivity, but because they're distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important," Sandy said. Adam, a researcher at the University of California, who was not a member of the research group, said one limitation of the study was that it couldn't find out whether people who start out less focused tend toward multitasking or whether people's recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking. The findings do suggest, however, why the sensation-seekers who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving. "People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations," said Paul, another researcher not in the group. "This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they're dangerous. According to Sandy, people multitask because of their _ . Answer: When I was going home to India last year, I called up my mother to ask if she wanted anything from China. ks5. When India had not opened up its markets to the world, I carried suitcase loads of dark glasses and jeans. Thankfully, we can get all these anywhere in India now. ks5uStill, her answer surprised me:"Green tea!" kAs long as I can remember she didn't even drink Indian tea. ks5u I dutifully bought a big packet of Longjing and headed home to hear the story. My mother and her brother, both regular newspaper readers, believed that Chinese green tea was the wonder drug for all illnesses ks5u At the turn of the century, China was not really familiar to the average Indian. It was a strange country.. How things change! And how soon!s5uNow every town of any size seems to have a "China Market". And everyone is talking about China ks5u The government of India has planned to send a team to China to see how things are done. A minister once said that India must open the doors for more foreign investment and such a step would "work wonders as it did for China". ks5u But it's a two-way street, I just heard about a thousand Shenzhen office workers who have gone to Rangalore to train in software. Meanwhile, all the IT majors are setting up a strong presence in China, ks5u No wonder that trade, which was only in the millions just ten years ago, is expected to his about US $15 billion for last year and US $20 billion by 2008, a goal set by both governments. No wonder, my colleague wrote some weeks ago about this being the Sino-Indian century as the two countries started on January I the Sino-Indian Friendship Year, ks5u But what is still a wonder to me is my mother drinking Chinese tea. ks5u In the text the author expresses _ , ks5u Answer: I got tired of living the life that everybody told me I "should" be living , so one day I decided to start living life on my own terms. Frustrated with my job, I came home, put on my shoes, and just started running. It felt so good to be free. That first day I ended up running 30 miles without stopping. Yes, I had rediscovered my old passion ( ) -- and it felt so good I set a goal to support myself and my family from my running alone. I trained hard every day. Since I wanted to be the best I could be, I knew I would have to set some clear goals for myself. A couple of my goals were: run a 135-mile ultra-marathon across Death Valley, win the Badwater Ultra-Marathon, and run a marathon to the South Pole. I had no idea how I was going to achieve these goals, but they certainly encouraged me to work hard. Today, I am really grateful to say that I have achieved all of them. Shortly after completing these goals, I set another goal: to run fifty marathons, in fifty states, in fifty days. Nobody had done anything like this before. To be honest, I was not quite sure if I could. But there was only one way to find out...so I just started training and preparing to give it my best try. I completed _ one year ago, and it felt great! But for me, life is not all about achieving goals. Sure, it feels good to succeed, but the greatest reward for me was learning more about myself and what I was able to do. Only by stepping out into the unknown and stretching ourselves can we really discover what our true potential is. The author probably agrees that _ . Answer:
How would we travel without maps? It would be a bit adventurous to set off from Oxford University to go to London Bridge if there wasn't a map of the London Underground at each station. In fact, a lot of the early map-makers were adventurers and explorers, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries. So what did people do before there were maps? Well, it was quite easy to use natural signs like mountains and rivers if you were travelling on foot or riding a horse. People took small boats down rivers and followed coastlines. And it was much more logical to use time, not distance, to measure journeys: the next village is a three-hour ride, for example. In fact, in the earliest maps, people didn't draw landmarks. They drew the stars. It was very easy to see the night sky and use it for navigation . The sky was a lot clearer before the light pollution from cities that we have today. When towns and cities were built, people drew road maps which gave correct distances and directions. The London Underground was opened in 1863 and it also used a road map style. But a man called Henry Beck realized that travelling by train wasn't the same as driving your car across London. Passengers only needed to know which stations to change at. His new design for the Underground map wasn't very popular with the train companies at first. But the passengers loved it and in 1933, 700,000 copies were printed. These days, of course, you can ride a bike, drive a car or go through a forest and know where you are exactly, using a GPS. It's really difficult to get lost! What was drawn in the earliest maps? Jim and Tom were eating at a restaurant . On the table there was a cup of hot ( )mustard . Jim thought it was sweet and took a spoonful of it into his mouth. Tears ran down from his eyes. However, he wished Tom to do the same thing. So he said nothing. Tom saw Jim crying , and asked,"What for, my friend?" "I'm thinking of my father, he was hanged 20 years ago,Jim said.Soon after Tom took a spoonful of mustard and when tears began to run down from his eyes, Jim asked "Why are you crying, then?""I am thinking why you were not hanged 20 years ago." How was the mustard? It was. There are many protests and outraged people about humans changing the environment of the rain forest because changing even something small in an environment can Aged just 25,Gaga has become the icon . Born Stefani Germanotta , Gaga was a child who learnt to play the piano at the age of four .She wrote her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open nights a year later .But as a teenager she had a hard time at her strict Catholic school and admitted that she didn't like to obey. She sobbed during a recent HBO documentary: "I still sometimes feel like a loser kid in high school and I just have to pick myself up and tell myself that I'm a superstar every morning so that I can get through this day and be for my fans what they need for me to be. " But aged 17 Gaga managed to escape to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and by 19 she signed to Def Jam Recordings but quickly dropped after three months .The star went on to write songs for the likes of Britney Spears ,New Kids on the Block , Fergie ,and the Pussycat Dolls but it was Akon who gave her first big break after they worked in pairs as songwriters at Interscope. She released her first album The Fame in 2008 and the rest is pop history--first singleJust Dancetopped the charts and follow-up Poker Face landed her a Grammy award .In 2009,she released The Fame Monster.Gaga was the queen of the Brit Awards in 2010 where she won three prizes .At the MTV Video Music Awards later that year, Gaga won eight prizes in all . Gaga has been busy working on her second album, Born This Way, which is set to be released on May 23.She has already released four singles from the album -the title track,Judas,The Edge of Glory and Hair. Gaga said to herself "I'm a superstar" in order to _ . John was part of my childhood growing up in the 1970s and a link to sunny, fun-filled days spent on the beach at Bangor in Northern Ireland where we went for our summer holidays. To many, he was a mystery. Every afternoon John would wander to the end of the pier where he fed the seagulls and delighted in the sound of their excited cries as they flew around his head. Often I asked my family questions regarding John. Eventually I gave up as no one could tell me anything about him. As I grew up, my visits to the beach became less frequent, and my memories of John buried in a child's imagination. Last year memories came flooding back as I walked along the coastline, where I noticed a lady feeding the seagulls on the pier, and I decided to introduce myself. Then I came to know that the lady was John's daughter, and after John left this world she carried out the ritual , which had held such importance for her father. In some strange way I felt we shared a bond, each needing to remember. In return, Lucy told me of John's life, his days in the British Navy during World War I and how he almost lost hope when his ship was attacked by a German U-boat in the North Sea and he found himself in a lifeboat with five others. Close to death, he thought he heard the sound of wings. He put up his hands, only to catch a seagull that had landed on the side of the boat. The seagull saved the lives of the six men as it was used to catch fish, which kept them alive until they reached land. This period of John's life was one he never talked about. But the ritual he first performed as a young man remained a part of him until he died. Now I visit Lucy as often as I can, just to chat or very often walk along the beach to the pier end. We enjoy the comfortable silence, each lost in special memories. What does the author mainly tell us in the text?
Two of the most dangerous storms which hit America are hurricanes and tornadoes. They are very much feared by anyone who may live in the path of their destruction and cause millions of dollars of damage to life and property every year. If one should travel inland across the Great Plains and the Prairie states of America, one will mostly not experience a hurricane, but there is another kind of storm in the Midwest which is equally feared. It is called a tornado. Tornados are violent low-pressured storms with an intense updraft near their center which is capable of lifting quite heavy objects from the ground. A tornado,therefore, is a dark, funnel-shaped cloud containing violently rotating air. It can pick up trees and cars right into the air and even uplift heavier objects such as homes and railway cars. Like a vacuum cleaner across a rug, it sucks up into anything which may lie in its path. These storms occur most often during the summer months and are noticeable by their strong wind and lack of rain. The sky turns black as dust is sucked up into the air. Tornadoes travel normally around 60 kilometers per hour and the winds can reach 800 kilometers per hour in the most violent storms. Tornados are most frequent in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and especially in the central plains area of the Mississippi basin where about 150 occur each year. Tornados may also strike the southern states in winter and have even seen known to develop in the northeast. Both hurricanes and tornados cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year. Today they can be predicted more easily than in the past, but they cannot be stopped or ignored. When they come, they must be endured with the hope that one survives their fury and wraths. All of the following are true EXCEPT that _ . tornados cannot be predicted now "Everything happens for the best," my mother said whenever things weren't going my way. "Don't worry, one day your luck will change." Mother was right, as I discovered after I had finished my college education. I had decided to try for a job in radio. One day, I wanted to host a sports program. I went to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station. But I got turned down every time. In one station, a kind lady said my problem was that I hadn't got enough experience. " Get some work with a small station and work your way up," she said. I went back home. I couldn't get a job there, either. Then my dad told me a businessman had opened a store and needed someone to help him. But again, I didn't get the job. I felt really down. " Your luck will change," Mom said to me. Dad lent me the car to help me to look for my job. I tried another radio station in Iowa. But the owner, a nice man, told me he had already had someone. As I left his office, I asked, "How can someone be a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?" I was waiting for the lift when I heard the man call. " What did you mean? Do you know anything about football?" He put me in front of a microphone and asked me to try to imagine that I was giving my opinion on a football game, I succeeded. On my way home, Mom's words came back to me, "One day your luck will change, Son. And when it happens, it'll feel doubly good because of all the hard work you've had." At that moment I knew what just what she meant. Why didn't the writer get the job in Chicago? Because he hadn't got enough experience Who would win in a competition to memorize numbers, a chimp or a teenager? The teenager? Think again. Scientists have proved that chimps perform better than human beings when it comes to this kind of problem. We may have to rethink what we believe about human memory. Memory is our ability to learn something, save it and recall it when needed. Our memories are important to our sense of self, our personalities, and our ability to understand the world. Scientists say that there are different types of memory. There is short-term memory and long-term memory. Your short-term memory saves information for a few seconds or a few minutes. For example, the time it takes to compare the prices of a few items in a store. Long-term memory involves the information you try hard to keep, because it's meaningful to you (an example is data about family and friends. ) And then there is visual memory and sound memory. But these are not hard and fast: scientists argue a lot about the nature of memory. Scientists have also found that people memorize things in different ways. Some memorize better with the help of pictures. Others are helped more by sounds. One thing's for sure. If you can combine different kinds of memory together, you will remember a lot! So why not try pictures with English words? At the same time listen to recordings of the same group of words. It may help when it comes to memorizing it. Imagination and association can be useful too. By imagination scientists mean picturing a word in your mind. Association means relating the word to something you already know. According to the article, which of the following is TRUE? Long-term memory usually involves more important things. Even after his death, Mitchell Whisenhunt has found a way to surprise and bring comfort to his wife and young daughter, with some letters he designated to be opened on certain dates. Mitchell lost his battle with Marfan syndrome at 26. The rare genetic disorder affects the body's connective tissue, which is used to hold together organs, cells and tissue. Ashley Whisenhunt, 22, cared for her husband until his death but said she was astonished when she discovered the 30 letters he left for her, their 18-month-old daughter Brynleigh and the community. The little girl will grow up with a letter every year from her second to 18th birthday from a man she didn't get to spend much time with but who left no doubt that he loved her unconditionally. "Through his testimony,there is so much she is going to learn," Ashley told ABC News. One letter was also addressed to their Longview, Texas, community, thanking them for their support. "It just blows my mind," Ashley said of her husband's secret gesture. "He thought about everybody else instead of himself." Ashley said she would respect her husband's wishes and open each letter as he planned, however there was one special surprise left for her that she said hit her the hardest. In a spiral notebook that Ashley used before she dropped out of college to care for her husband, he wrote a letter to her asking that she publish a book of poetry he had written. Mitchell Whisenhunt even planned his own funeral, and the funeral director said he couldn't tell Ashley because it was Mitchell's plan and secret. Ashley said she couldn't help but wonder what other surprises her husband had in store. "There are ones we still don't know about it," she said. How many letters will Ashley Whisenhunt receive from her husband? 12. There was a strange father, John Blake, from Michigan, who named his children after a computer software term. He told the local newspaper the US traditional way of adding "Junior" or "II" after a boy's name was too common. So, when his son was born last week, he decided on the name John Blake 2.0, as if he were a software programmer. Mr. Blake admitted that it took months to persuade his wife, Jamie, to accept the idea. Mrs. Blake said she asked several friends whether they could accept this name or not. "All the men," she said, "felt the name was cool." However,her women friends did not think so. "I think the women end up like it,"she said. Mr. Blake told the local newspaper he got the idea from a film called The Legend of 1900,in which an abandoned baby is given the name 1900 to remember the year of its birth. "I thought that if they can do it , why can't we?" he said. After little John version 2.0 was born, Mr. Blake even sent a celebratory e-mail to the family and friends, which was designed to look as if he and his wife had created a new software. "I wrote things like there are a lot of new features from Version 1.0 with additional features from Jamie," he said. And he has already planned for his son's future. "If he has a child, he could name it 3.0," he said. What do the name of "1900"and "Jon Version 2.0"have in common? They are both untraditional.
Li Siyi, a student from Jinan Foreign Language School, takes up a new habit. She refuses to believe everything that she reads. "Not everything in books is true," she said. Many other students in her school think the same thing as Li. They learned this through finding a mistake in their Chinese textbook. They learned a Tang poem, Ci Beigu Shanxia, last year. There was a picture that showed a boat in full sail on a river. "But according to the famous line from the poem, feng zheng yifan xuan, the sail shouldn't be spread ," said Zhang Jiayi, Li's classmate. To get the right answer, the students turned to their Chinese teacher, Liu Yan. Liu and the students looked up books, searched on the Internet and made sure that the People's Education Press had really made a mistake about the picture. The students wrote a letter to them about the mistake. "I think my students did a right thing but I never expected a reply," said Liu. "I took it as a way of letting them know the importance of spirit of questioning." To their surprise, one month later, they got the reply from Gu Zhenbiao, the expert of Chinese textbooks in middle schools. Gu said sorry for the mistake and he also said he really thinks the students are very great. When Liu read the letter loudly to all the students, everyone was excited. "We are very happy we have our own ideas!" said Li. Which of the following is true? Ask most people how they define the American Dream and chances are they'll say, "Success." The dream of individual opportunity has been home in American since Europeans discovered a "new world" in the Western Hemisphere. Early immigrants like Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land. His glowing descriptions of a classless society where anyone could attain success through honesty and hard work fired the imaginations of many European readers: in Letters from an American Farmer (1782) he wrote. "We are all excited at the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained, because each person works for himself ... We have no princes, for whom we toil ,starve, and bleed: we are the most perfect society now existing in the world." The promise of a land where "the rewards of a man's industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor" drew poor immigrants from Europe and fueled national expansion into the western territories. Our national mythology is full of illustration of the American success story. There's Benjamin Franklin, the very model of the self-educated, self-made man, who rose from modest origins to become a well-known scientist, philosopher, and statesman. In the nineteenth century, Horatio Alger, a writer of fiction for young boys, became American's best-selling author with rags-to-riches tales. The notion of success haunts us: we spend million every year reading about the rich and famous, learning how to "make a fortune in real estate with no money down," and "dressing for success." The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships: today it's as important to be "successful" in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business. But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to "make it" also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become indulged in status symbols: we try to live in the "right" neighborhoods, wear the "right" clothes, eat the "right" foods. These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens. What is the essence of the American Dream according to Crevecoeur? I am sure we've all come across inspiring quotes that made us nod in agreement or made us think, "Wow, that's good quote".But we end up going back to procrastinating on whatever it was we were procrastinating on.So are these inspirational quotes even worth reading? Well, that depends. Quotes, books, articles, audio programs... all of these things are just tools and they're only effective when you use them.I don't know about you but most quotes I read don't do anything for me.However, every now and then, I will come across one that will positively affect me in some way such as reminding me to be grateful, getting me to work out extra hard at the gym without being pressed by my wife, or never give up when things get tough. From my experience, reading quotes is more effective when you're actually trying to motivate yourself rather than just reading them for the sake of reading them.The second you feel the urge to take action, you'd better immediately get up off your chair and take action. These quotes aren't for everyone.If you have read tons of them and have never been motivated or had a positive change in the way you look at life or how you treat others, or these quotes don't help you to insist on doing something when you feel like giving up on it, then it's probably not worth your time reading more of them.If you have done something a bunch of times and it's not giving you the results you want, don't keep doing it.Try something else. Now if you've found some value in reading these quotes in the past, continue to make them more effective by letting them guide your life. I'll end this text with one of my favorite quotes, which reminds me to constantly examine my habits."We are what we repeatedly do.Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."---- Aristotle What is the purpose of the passage? Everybody is afraid of something. More than 2500 children told us what they were afraid of. Some don't like the darkness. Some hate bad dreams and scary movies . And some of them want to run away from dogs and snakes. Tom, 11, is afraid of the darkness because he worries that someone might his house. 10-year-old Kathy said he was afraid of thunderstorms and the sound at night. The worst thing about the afraid feeling is that we don't know how to deal with it. Here are three ways to help children feel better. 1. Do something interesting in your free time. 2. Talk to your parents about your feeling. 3. Talk to a close friend. ,. (5) When you feel afraid, _ A book review tells not only what a book is about, but also how successful it is at what it is trying to do. Professors often assign book reviews as practice in careful analytical reading. As a reviewer, you bring together the two parts of accurate, analytical reading and strong, personal response when you indicate what the book is about and what it might mean to a reader. In other words, reviewers answer not only the WHAT but the SO WHAT question about a book. Thus, in writing a review, you combine the skills of describing what is on the page,analyzing how the book tried to achieve its purpose, and expressing your own reactions. Most book reviews start with a heading that includes all the basic information about the book, like: Title. Author. Place of publication, publisher, date of publication. Number of pages. The review usually begins with an introduction that lets your readers know what the review will say. The first paragraph usually includes the author and title again, so your readers don't have to look up to find this information. You should also include a very brief description of the contents of the book, the purpose or audience for the book, and your reaction and evaluation. Then you move into a section of background information that helps place the book in context and discusses how to judge the book. Next, you should give a summary of the main points, quoting and explaining key phrases from the author. Finally, you get to the heart of your review -- your evaluation of the book. In this section, you might discuss some of the following issues: How well the book has achieved its goal. What possibilities are suggested by the book. What the book has left out. How the book compares with others on the subject. *What personal experiences you've had related to the subject. It is important to use labels to carefully distinguish your views from the author's, so that you don't confuse your readers. Then, like other essays, you can end with a direct comment on the book, and tie together issues raised in the review in a conclusion. There is, of course, no set form, but a general rule is that the first one-half to two-thirds of the review should summarize the author's main ideas and at least one-third should evaluate the book. What is the most important part of a book review?
I arrived at my mother's home for our Monday family dinner. The smells of food flew over from the kitchen. Mother was pulling out quilt after quilt from the boxes, proudly showing me their beauties. She was preparing for a quilt show at the Elmhurst Church. When we began to fold and put them back into the boxes, I noticed something at the bottom of one box. I pulled it out. "What is this?" I asked. "Oh?" Mom said, "That's Mama's quilt." I spread the quilt. It looked as if a group of school children had pieced it together; irregular designs, childish pictures, a _ line on the right. "Grandmother made this?" I said, surprised. My grandmother was a master at making quilts. This certainly didn't look like any of the quilts she had made. "Yes, right before she died. I brought it home with me last year and made some changes," she said. "I'm still working on it. See, this is what I've done so far." I looked at it more closely. She had made straight a crooked line. At the center of the quilt, she had stitched a piece of cloth with these words:"My mother made many quilts. She didn't get all lines straight. But I think this is beautiful. I want to see it finished. Her last quilt." "Oh, this is so nice, Mom," I said. It occurred to me that by completing my grandmother's quilt, my mother was honoring her own mother. I realized, too, that I held in my hands a family treasure. It started with the loving hands of one woman, and continued with the loving hands of another. The author was surprised because _ . A. the quilt looked very strange B. her grandmother liked the quilt C. the quilt was the best she had seen D. her mother had made some changes Answer: A. the quilt looked very strange Dear Harry, You ask me whether you should spend the next three years at university,or get a job.I will give you three different answers. _ Answer A.You are ambitious.Your sights are set on going to the top,in business or the government.In today's high-tech times,big companies cannot be managed by uneducated amateurs.Even the middle managers are at a disadvantage unless they get a university degree and an MBA.Same thing in government. Anyway,you are too young to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life.If you spend the next few years at university,you will get to know the world--and yourself--before the time comes to choose your career. Answer B.Stop wasting your time on academia .Stop subjecting yourself to the boredom of textbooks and classrooms.Stop cramming for exams before you acquire a strong love for reading. The lack of a college degree will only be a slight influence on your career.In Britain,you can still get to the top without a degree.What industry and the government need at the top is not experts but leaders.The character traits which make people scholars in their youth are not the traits which make them leaders in later life.You put up with education for 12 boring years. Answer C.Don't judge the value of higher education in terms of careemanship.Judge it for what it is--a priceless opportunity to furnish your mind and enrich the quality of your life.My father was a failure in business,but he read Horace in the washroom until he died,poor but happy. If you enjoy being a scholar,and like the company of scholars,go to a university.Who knows,you may end your days as a Regius Professor.And bear in mind that British universities are still the best in the world.You have a first-class mind.Stretch it.If you have the opportunity to go to a university,don't pass it up.You would never forgive yourself. Tons of love, David According to the passage,the author's father might _ . A. succeed in business B. live a rich and happy life C. enjoy reading in life D. live a poor and miserable life Answer: C. enjoy reading in life A prosperous moneylender bought a house located right next door to the house of a tanner .From morning till evening the tanner change hide into leather by treating it with tannin .From day one the moneylender was put off by the unpleasant smells of the tannery. So,he visited the tanner's house and offered to buy his house."I would love to sell the house if you buy it," said the tanner.He didn't want to do any such thing but he liked to play tricks."Give me a week or so to deal with some things,will you?"The moneylender agreed and went away. A week later,the overpowering smell coming from the tannery brought the moneylender to the tanner's doorstep again."I understand sir," said the tanner with wideeyed sympathy."But my mother is visiting me this week.I can't sell the house until she goes away.Please wait for a month." The moneylender agreed with great reluctance.He began to wait eagerly for the guest's departure.In the beginning he counted each day,impatiently waiting for one to finish and the other to begin.After a while,he found he was no longer so interested in the month coming to an end.He had simply forgotten about it. He did not ask the tanner to leave when they met next,either.You see,by then the moneylender had become accustomed to the tanyard's smell."What have you done to drive away that terrible smell?" he asked the tanner."Have you reduced the solution?" The tanner smiled and nodded.He had been waiting for the day the moneylender would get used to the smells from the tannery and stop bothering him.That was why he had asked the moneylender to wait in the first place. How many times did the moneylender ask the the tanner to leave? A. 1. B. 2. C. 3. D. 4. Answer: B. 2. Lindsay Binegar of Greenfield, Ohio, made her first $ 100 at the age of four, when she won a prize for showing a pig from her family's farm to the local 4H Club. Most kids would be thrilled to spend that money on toys, but not Lindsay. "I didn't get the money; it went to the bank," she told the Columbus Dispatch. Over the years, Lindsay kept on raising and showing pigs, and kept on winning prizes. Some were $ 100 for small wins, but she won thousands of dollars for championship prizes at county fairs. Before long, she earned an impressive amount of cash--but, aside from a purse when she was 14, Lindsay had never spent a dollar of her savings. By the time she was 18, she had got more than $ 40,000, which she planned to put towards her college education at nearby Ohio University. But her parents said that if she continued living at home while attending school, they wouldn't have to pay for her dorm housing, and would be willing to cover the entire cost of her education. It sounded like a good deal to Lindsay. But what should she do with her savings? Her father had an idea:buy a house, just as he'd done when he was young. He used the house's sale to help him buy the family farm where Lindsay had grown up and raised all those lucrative pigs. Lindsay was able to buy a house in Greenfield, paying for the entire purchase in cash. She did a bit of painting and then rented it out for $ 450 a month. After finishing college, Lindsay plans to marry Heath McNeal, and use the income from her house to buy a block of land and build a new house. But she'll never move too far from home. "I would like to stay in Greenfield," she said. "I just love everybody here. " At her current rate, she'll probably be the town's biggest real estate tycoon by the age of 25. Lindsay's father advised her _ . A. to pay for her college education with the money B. to pay the money for her dorm housing C. to buy a house with the money D. to save the money for her future life Answer: C. to buy a house with the money Two strangers were sitting together in a plane . They were on a long journey . One of the men was a teacher . The other was a farmer . They sat without talking for a while , then the farmer said , " Let's do something to pass the time ." " What do you want to do ?" the teacher asked . " We can ask each other riddles ( )," the farmer said, " You start." " Let's make the rules first ," the teacher said . " And to make the game more interesting , let's play it for money . If we don't know the answer to the riddle , we have to pay a dollar ." The farmer thought about this for a while , then he said , " That's not fair( . You are a teacher , an educated ( ) man . You know more things than I do . I am just a farmer ." " That's true ," the teacher said , " What do you think we should do ?" The farmer said , " If you don't know the answer to a riddle ,you pay me 100 dollars .If I don't know the answer to the riddle , I'll pay you 50 dollars." The teacher thought for a while , then he said , " OK. That's fair . Who'll go first ?" "I will ," the farmer said . " Here's my riddle . What has three legs when it walks , but only two legs when it flies ?" The teacher thought and thought , " What has three legs when it walks, but only two when it flies ?" Then he said , " That's a good one . I don't know the answer ." He gave the farmer 100 dollars and said , " Tell me the answer . What is it ?" " I don't know , either ." The farmer said , and gave him 50 dollars . The best title of this story is _ . A. How to Answer Riddles . B. A Rich Teacher. C. A Way of Getting Money. D. A Clever Farmer. Answer: D. A Clever Farmer.
sugar dissolves in what when they are combined? LAST week, the College Board announced that it was revising the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) in an effort to make it more acceptable to test-takers, teachers, college admission officers and the public more generally. Test-takers who receive lower scores than they have hoped for are likely to be concerned about their academic future. It's no wonder that it's hard to discuss the test without negative feelings. The SAT isn't perfect. Like any test, it can be misused, and may reflect unequal educational opportunities. Even before the announcement of the SAT's redesign, experts were discussing the test's limitations. Writing in The New Yorker, Elizabeth Kolbert described its questions as limited: "Critical thinking was never called for, let alone curiosity or imagination." But the SAT provides an effective measure of a person's ability to reason through verbal and mathematical materials, a skill required in college. Although there are conflicting reports on the issue, a study published in the journal Educational and Psychological Measurement in 2011 found that the SAT can meaningfully add to the prediction of a student's first-year college academic performance, above his grades in high school alone. The fact that the SAT can help predict this is, to me, an astonishing achievement that cannot be ignored. We cannot afford to ignore tests because they fall short of perfection or make us uncomfortable. But there's a better way to make the SAT more acceptable in the long run: We should expand the types of tests we use so as to more fully reflect what students can do. What if, in addition to the SAT, students were offered new tests that measured more diverse abilities? For future artists or musicians, there are tests that measure creative thinking --a largely ignored ability by the SAT. For future engineers, there are tests that measure their sense of space. And new measures of "personal intelligence" -- the ability to reason about a person's motives, emotions and patterns of activities -- may also tell us something important about students' self-knowledge and understanding of others. Elizabeth Kolbert may consider the SAT to be _ . In front of a popular restaurant, a line of customers wait for taxis. And wait. Most of the cabs(taxis) are full. That's nothing unusual in this city of 4 million people. But it's 2:30 in the morning. Visitors to the Olympic Games may leave disappointed if they see Athens only through the eyes of the typical tourist, who makes a beeline of the islands after the visit to the Acropolis and the unusual and attractive Plaka district. To fully appreciate and discover Athens' many charms , do as the Greeks do: walk out into the neighborhoods, find the packed nightclubs, eat at one of the innumerable restaurants, or see Hollywood stars under real stars in a romantic outdoor cinema. The Greek capital is named for the ancient goddess Athena, whose favourite animal was the owl . It's a fitting symbol for the city's nocturnal nature, which often reaches its highest point in summer with a rush hour just before dawn. As native Athenian Panos Demestiha said, Athens by day is unlivable , but it's magical at night. Athenians face up to heavy traffic block, decreasing green space, dusty streets... City officials are using the momentum of the August 13-29 Olympics to fix some of these problems and make city life more bearable. The typical visitors will often visit the following places EXCEP _ . There are two methods by whichhydrogen can be used to power cars. The first way is to use hydrogen to drive the engine, in much the same way as many cars use gas. The second method is to use the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen in a battery, making the car a kind of electric one. The dream of producing hydrogen in the car while driving along byelectrolyzing water is a long way off, so we are still at the period of batteries and filling the tank with hydrogen gas. This is the difficulty for potential car users and producers. There are only sixteen hydrogen filling stations in Los Angeles and none in 99% of other cities worldwide. Indeed, some of the big name automobile producers have pulled out of the race to put the first practical hydrogen car on the streets. Ford and GM have announced that they are pulling out in America and so has Renault in France. However, the Japanese companies are pressing on. In fact, Honda introduced its first hydrogen fuel cell car in 1999. They are now producing second generation hydrogen car known as the FCX Clarity. Guess where they are available for sale? In only one city because of its filling stations. Honda thinks that they could go into full-scale production of the FCX Clarity by 2020 if the world is prepared for _ by then. Then there are hydrogen-powered buses in several European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg and Madrid. Lotus, the makers of London taxis, have announced that they propose to manufacture hydrogen-powered taxis in time for the London Olympics. So, the hydrogen vehicle is out there and the numbers will be growing fairly soon. The buses go back to their bus station, where an electrolyzing machine changes water into fuel for them to fill up on and the same will be the case for many of London's taxis. Unfortunately, getting fuel is not the only difficulty for the average motorist, a number of these vehicles cost about $300,000 each. According to the text, hydrogen-powered buses _ . Parents are often amazed at how fast their child grows and develops. New research has determined that the ability to quantify may develop much sooner than most parents realize. Kristy vanMarle, professor of the University of Missouri, has determined that contrary to what previous studies have shown, infants are able to quantify substances --like sand or water--as early as 10 months. As long as the difference between the two substances is large enough, infants will choose the larger amount, especially when it comes to food. With the assistance of her team researchers, vanMarle tested the quantifying skills of babies by presenting them with two cups: one containing a small amount of food, and one containing a larger amount. Consistently, the babies chose the larger amount. "Several studies throughout the last 15 years have shown that infants are very good at telling how many objects they see; however, infants don't seem to count things like water or sand," vanMarle said. "What we're saying is that they can quantify substances; The infants can see how much food goes into each cup and compare that in their memories. They decide which amount is larger, and they almost always select the larger one." This information further refutes the long-held idea that babies "know nothing of the world," vanMarle said. "Since psychologists have begun studying infants with sensitive measures, we've discovered a lot of early abilities. I think for parents, it should be exciting to know that there's somebody there that has some fundamental and basic knowledge of the world, and that knowledge is guiding their development," vanMarle said. In the future, vanMarle says this kind of study could be linked to a child's progress in math-related skills, although programs marketed to increase those abilities, such as "Baby Einstein," still have mixed reviews when it comes to academic study. We can learn from the text that _ .
The Australian continent is a land like no other. Its animals, plants and landscapes have evolved over one thousand years, and there are about a million different natural species in Australia. More than 80 per cent of the country's plants and animals are unique to prefix = st1 /Australia, along with most of the fish and almost half the birds. Australia has more than 140 species of marsupials ,including koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian devil, now found only in the Australian wilderness. More than 750 species of birds have been recorded in Australia, 350 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Among them are the kookaburra, the rainbow lorikeet and fairy penguins. There are also 55 differernt species of macropods--the kangaroo family--native toAustralia. They vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from half a kilogram to 90 kilograms. The country has been making every effort to protect its natural heritage. Despite the large size of the continent, the majority of Australians live on the coast and in major cities--around 75 per cent of Australia's population lives in city areas. Australia is the driest continent on earth. Its center has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world and about three-quarters of the land is dry. These dry areas extend from the large central deserts to the western coast. Soils in these areas are very poor compared to other deserts. This has given Australians a great challenge.They have to make the best use of the variety of regions to meet the competing demands of agriculture, economy and conservation. Wombats and the Tasmanian devil are the names of_. A plants B animals C places D people Answer: B. animals Directions Read the information about wind erosion then answer the question. Wind can cause erosion that changes the surface of the Earth. Wind erosion can have negative effects on the environment by removing soil and polluting the air during dust storms. Walter wanted to find out if faster wind speeds increased the amount of wind erosion. Which instrument should he use to measure wind speed? A anemometer B barometer C rain gauge D thermometer Answer: A. anemometer Colored alcohol is used in some glass thermometers. When placed in air of different temperatures, the column of alcohol rises or falls in the glass thermometer. Which of the following best explains why the height of the alcohol column changes? A The glass contracts when heated. B The alcohol contracts when heated. C The glass expands more than the alcohol when heated. D The alcohol expands more than the glass when heated. Answer: D. The alcohol expands more than the glass when heated. The students were not exactly overjoyed that Steve Jobs was going to be the speaker. Everyone wanted Bill Clinton. After all, his daughter Chelsea had gone to school at Stanford. So every year that Clinton was not named speaker was a disappointment no matter who it was. Graduation is not in order. It wasn't until we started walking into the stadium that I even realized that I'm actually graduating right now. Stanford has this tradition, the wacky walk, where everyone dresses up in different clothes or throws Frisbees or beach balls. I'm from the South so I had a seersucker suit shipped in from back home in Georgia. Some other guys dressed up as iPods. It was good fun. That was an interesting contrast to Job's speech. He started talking about being fired from Apple and then having cancer, how doctors told him he was going to die and how he was adopted as a baby into a family with parents who never went to college --- an unusual experience that played out over his life. His speech was very raw and very open. He told us that he gets up every morning and looks in the mirror and asks "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" "If the answer is not for too many days in a row", he said, "it's time to make a change. That has really driven a lot of my decisions since then. When I've reached certain points in my job where I'm not very excited to get to work early or stay late or work on something over the weekend or all night. When I lose that excitement then it's probably not the right thing for me anymore". He said, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." Exactly. Death is a great motivator. You have to get out there and do something because some day you won't be there. Of all the advice I've received I rely on that the most. The students went into the stadium to _ . A dress up in different clothes B listen to the speech C have the wacky walk D throw Frisbees or beach balls Answer: B. listen to the speech By 2050, half of the world's population will live in the tropics--the ly warm belt that circles the globe--according to State of the Tropics, a report released today. Rapid population growth, along with economic growth, means that the region's influence will grow in coming decades, the authors of the 500-page work predict. The project, first launched in 2011, aimed to answer one significant question: Is life in the tropics improving? To find out, the researchers analyzed environmental, social, and economic indicators collected over 6 decades. It finds that the region has made "extraordinary progress" in many areas. For example, more people have access to safe drinking water, and the number of protected areas is increasing. The tropics also have outperformed the rest of the world in economic growth over the past 30 years. However, some challenges remain. Investment in research and development, for example, has increased cautiously, but tropical nations still invest less than the rest of the world. "As a proportion of GDP the Rest of the World invests almost four times as much in research and development than the Tropics." concludes the report. The report also includes a new analysis of how climate change will affect the region. Many plant and animal species are moving poleward in an attempt to stay within their preferred environmental conditions in the tropics, the authors write. However, some organisms may not be able to keep pace with the changing conditions, they predict. As a result, they can experience population declines or go extinct. In addition, an expanded tropical zone also threatens health and safety issues, the authors warn. As regions become more suitable to insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, the spread of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease could rise, causing a burden to human health and the economy. Bruna, a researcher, says he sees a lot to be concerned about in the report. "While we've made incredible advances in some areas, I think the risks for the tropics that are highlighted in this report are things that we really need to be concerned about." What was the original purpose of the project State of the Tropics? A To answer if life in the tropics is improving. B To do research about environment, society and economy. C To warn people of the problems in coming decades. D To help the development in the tropics. Answer: A. To answer if life in the tropics is improving.
Question: When you're having a hard time with your homework or when you're preparing for your term paper, these student-focused websites can help you with just about anything you need. The key to getting the most out of these online resources is to know how they can best be used to your advantage. Facebook Although Facebook can be one of your biggest time-wasters and distractions when you are supposed to getting work done, it can also be one of your most valuable resources. Most of your classmates will probably have a Facebook account, so anyone you need to connect with about a class you missed or about a problem is usually just a few clicks away. SparkNotes With a free library of history, philosophy study guides and summaries, SparkNotes has covered just about any reading-related tasks you have to finish. Just search for the book, play, or short summary of the material you are supposed to read. Amazon.com Do you finish every term with many expensive textbooks you will never open again? Instead of letting the money spent go to waste, get back some of your cash by selling your books on Amazon. RateMyProfessors.com Choosing new classes can sometimes be like trying to pick out your clothes in the dark, a total guessing game. Which teacher gives out the hardest problem? How much homework will that history professor give you every week? At RateMyProfessors.com, students all over the country rate their professors on quality, helpfulness, and how hard their classes are. Wikipedia While Wikipedia isn't aimed specially at students, it is difficult to think of another website that does more to reduce the pain of paper writing and researching. Wikipedia gives you a quick way to find sources and get the details of almost any topic you need research - all without walking to the library. The passage was mainly written to _ . A. explain some websites for parents B. compare some educational websites C. introduce different parts of a website D. offer some websites that may help students Answer: D Question: Lose yourself in the sights and sounds of Madrid -- a three-night break from PS175 per person. * Have a three-night break in Madrid, with a four-star hotel. * Prices range from PS175 to PS245 per person, depending on when you travel (PS350 as usual). * Stay in the Hotel Santo Domingo in the heart of the city. * Return flights are included in the cost of the voucher . Details * The voucher is valid from January 9th, 2014 to March 25th, 2014 (no discounts during January 16th -18th, February 1st-2nd, 12th-16th, March 1st-2nd). * PS175 per person for arrivals between January 9th and January 31st; PS210 per person for arrivals between February 1st and February 28th; PS245 per person for arrivals between March 1st and March 25th. * Once you have bought the voucher, book by calling 0800 368 0300. Book as early as you can. You cannot call off your deal once you book one. * One voucher can only be used for one stay. You cannot use more vouchers to extend your stay. It's not available with any other discounts. The unused parts of the deal are not exchanged for cash or any other service. What you will get Madrid's mix of culture, wisdom and fun makes it one of Europe's most exciting capital cities. By day, go to the Golden Museum Triangle to enjoy works of art by Picasso and Van Gogh, and visit the Royal Palace. At night, go to clubs to experience the culture. When it comes to the food, no words can describe it. In the hotel, you can have free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, LCD televisions and bathrooms. As well as being based in the best shopping area in Madrid, the hotel is also close to the biggest museum. If a customer arrives at the Hotel Santo Domingo on January 20th, he'll be offered a discount of _ . A. 50% B. 40% C. 30% D. 10% Answer: A Question: A hydrologist is studying the acidity level of a city lake. She collects samples twice a week and takes them to her lab to test them. After testing the samples, she places the data on a graph. She tells the city engineers that her tests indicate that the pH level has been steadily dropping over the past few months. Which of the following steps is the best way to check the accuracy of her data? A. retest new samples B. retest the original samples C. show the graphs to the engineers D. show the samples to the engineers Answer: B Question: One dollar a week The doorway of the house where Chandler has a room. He is dressed in his best clothes, ready for his evening out. He is going out as his friend, Jeff 'White, comes in. WHITE What are you doing this evening, Towers? CHANDLER (Smiling) Tonight I'm going to live like a man with a million dollars! WHITE What are you talking about? You haven't got a million dollars! CHANDLER How much money are you and I paid each week, Jeff? WHITE Eighteen dollars. Why? CHANDLER And how much of that eighteen dollars do you spend each week? WHITE All of it, of course. CHANDLER Well, I don't. Each week I save one dollar out of my eighteen. Then, every ten weeks, I can buy myself an evening to remember. WHITE What do you do? CHANDLER I put on my finest clothes, go to one of the best restaurants in New York, eat the most expensive food on the menu, drink the best wine, and then take a taxi home! WHITE ( _ ) Why? CHANDLER Why? Because it makes me feel wonderful to sit with some of 'the richest people in America, and to make them think that I'm rich, too. WHITE You're crazy! CHANDLER (Laughing) Perhaps I am! Mrs Black comes in. MRS BLACK Ah, Mr Chandler. I wanted to see you. CHANDLER Good evening, Mrs Black. What a lovely evening! MRS BLACK Lovely evening perhaps, but you haven't paid me for your room this month. When am I going to get the money? CHANDLER Soon, Mrs Black. Very soon. Mrs Black looks at Chandler s clothes. MRS BLACK You can spend money on expensive clothes, but you can't pay for your room. Is that right? CHANDLER (Hurrying away) Good night, Mrs Black! This is most probably part of _ . A. a play B. a novel C. a poem D. a speech Answer: A Question: There would be a school party on Friday evening. The girls were talking about what they were going to wear. "I'm going to wear a black dress, so everybody will notice me," said Emily. "How about you, Linda?" "I'm not sure. Maybe jeans, an old shirt, and a hat. People will notice me more than you!" Linda said. "What are we going to do about the boys?" asked Jane. "Do you remember the last school party, last year? They just stood there, and we girls had to dance by ourselves!" "I hear that some of the boys learned how to dance this summer. Maybe it'll be better this time," said Mary. The party was held on Friday evening. Groups of students arrived. The music began. The girls stood in a line on one side, and the boys on another side. Mr. Green, their teacher, tried to get them together, but failed. After a while, Tim said, "I don't want to stand here the whole time. The party is only for two hours. It'll be over soon." He started to dance. All the others watched him. Then David asked Emily if she wanted to dance. Then Jack and Linda. Then, all began to dance. Soon there were more dancers than watchers. . The teachers tried to _ . A. invite the girls to dance B. play music instead of dancing C. get the girls and boys to dance alone D. get the girls and boys to dance together Answer: D
Question: Wood can be reused to make a A. dresser B. plastic bottle C. candy cane D. glass bottle Answer: A Question: One of the problems career people have in the morning is dressing for the office when there will be an evening party immediately followed, with no time to return home to change. The easiest solution is to keep a full set of toiletries and make-ups stored somewhere at the office. A woman going to an evening party should dress in one of her "basic dresses" in the morning--the kind that can change into a different look with an added scarf or jewelry. In fifteen minutes, when her office day has ended, she can metamorphose herself into another person with freshly cleaned teeth, combed hair, a new face, a different and dressier pair of shoes, and some sparkling jewelry. If she must wear a long dress for the party, she should bring it to the office in a protective bag and store it safely until she has to put it on. How long does it take a woman to change herself at least? A. About five minutes. B. About fifteen minutes. C. About half an hour. D. About fifty minutes. Answer: B Question: A person wants to use a ruler to measure something so they measure A. an ounce of water B. the volume of a room C. a liter of gas D. an old broken phone Answer: D Question: Lots of people make it as their aim to get to the top of Mount Everest. Mark is one of them. The difference between Mark and other climbers is that he lost both his legs when climbing. New Zealand's highest mountain, Mount Cook. He was caught in a big ice hole and he had to have his legs cut below the knees after he was saved. But that couldn't make Mark lose heart, who has become the first person with man-made legs to reach the top of Mount Everest. From the top of the world's highest mountain, Mark called his wife to say he made it. His wife, Anne got the phone when she was sleeping. She couldn't hear him clearly on the phone. She was unable to say when he reached the top but thought it was around mid-day. She also said his "legs" didn't work well sometimes, so her husband was carrying a spare leg and repair tools. Mark used to be a mountain guide before his accident. He said it was not important that no one like him had ever reached the 8850-meter mountain. "I'm not doing this to be the first. I have been climbing most of my life and I just feel Mount Everest is really a great aim. I want to send a message that I can do-anything better." Mark's wife thought is was _ on Mount Everest when Mark reached its top. A. noon B. morning C. mid-night D. evening Answer: A Question: The porter brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know.Then he points to the phone and says:"If there's anything else you need, just call."All this time you have been thinking of one thing:"How much should I tip him?" To make your next trip a little easier, here's guide to tipping across some Asian countries. Bangkok In general, the more westernized the place is, the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip.Some top-end restaurants will add a 10% service charge to the bill.If not, waiters will appreciate your tacking on the 10% yourself.However, if you're eating at a lower-end restaurant, a tip is not necessary.If you're staying at one of Bangkok's many five-star hotels, expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht ,depending on how many bags you have.Taxis are now metered in Bangkok.Local custom is to round up the fare to the nearest five baht. Hong Kong Tipping is customary in this money-mad metropolis .Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner. If the service is good, add another 10% to the bill, up to HKMYMl00 in an especially nice restaurant.For HK MYM10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HKMYM20 bill may be more acceptable.When in a taxi, round up to the nearest dollar. Kuala Lumpur Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive westernized hotels, which often add a 10% service charge to your meal or hotel room.If you are at a hotel restaurant, expect a 10% service charge. But at local restaurants, there's no need to add a tip. At five-star hotels, one or two ringgit will satisfy a porter. At lower-end buildings don't feel you have to tip Like Bangkok, many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit. Seoul Tipping is not part of Korean culture, although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10% service charge is often added.If you're at a Korean barbecue joint , there's no need to add anything extra.But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10% contribution. If you're at a top-end hotel, so expect to pay 500~l,000 won per bag.Taxi drivers don't accept a tip.Keep the change for yourself. The writer seems _ . A. to tell the readers how to travel B. to give the readers some advice on how to tip C. to ask the readers to go on a travel to Asian cities D. to make the trip more pleasant Answer: B
The other day my aunt paid me a visit. She was overjoyed. "I got the highest mark in the mid-term examination!" She said. Don't be surprised! My aunt is indeed a student, exactly, a college student at the age of 45. "Compared with the late 70s," she says, "now college students have many doors." I was shocked when she first told me how she had had no choice in her major. Look at us today! So many doors are open to us! I believe there have never been such abundant opportunities for self-development as we have today. And my aunt told me that we should reach our goals by grasping all these opportunities. The first door is the opportunity to study different subjects that interest us. My aunt was happy to study management, but she could also attend lectures on ancient Chinese poetry and on Shakespearean drama. As for myself, I am an English major, but I may also go to lectures on history. The second door is the door to the outside world. Learning goes beyond classrooms and national boundaries. I have many fellow international classmates, and I am applying to an exchange program with a university abroad. As for my aunt, she is planning to get an MBA degree in the U.K. The third door is the door to life-long learning. Many of my aunt's contemporaries say she's amazingly up-to-date for a middle-aged woman. She simply responds, "Age doesn't matter. What matters is your attitude. I don't think I'm too old to learn." Yes, she is right. Since the government removed the age limit for college admissions, there are already some untraditional students, sitting with us in the same classrooms. Like them, my aunt is old but young in spirit with incredible energy and determination. The doors open to us also pose challenges. For instance, we are faced with the challenge of a balanced learning, the challenge of preserving our fine tradition while learning from the West, and the challenge of learning continuously while carrying heavy responsibilities to our work and family. So, each door is a test of our courage, ability and judgment, but with the support of my teachers, parents, friends and my aunt, I believe I can meet the challenge head on. Which of the following words can best replace the "door" in the passage? Answer: opportunity There was a cat. Her name was Maggie. Maggie was a large cat. She was not tall but rather round. She was happy most of the time. Maggie lived with a family that loved her very much. They all lived in the city together downtown. They were no other animals that lived with them. They lived in an apartment. Maggie was lucky because she and her family lived on the ground floor and they had a big back yard that had a fence. This meant she got to go outside and play! Maggie's family loved her very much. She knew this because they took such good care of her. She had her very own purple cat bed. She loved her bed, and purple. This was her favorite color and her favorite place to sleep. If she did not sleep on the lap of one of her family this was her favorite place to sleep. She also knew that they loved her because they made sure to feed her every day. In fact, they fed many times a day. This is why she was so large. One day when she was in the yard a group of street cats came up to her. "Oink, oink" they said in mean voices. They were teasing her because she was so big. She did not know that other cats thought that being big was a bad thing. She knew they were upset because they did not have a family to feed them. Maggie went in and meowed to the family to come feed these new cats. They did, and from then on, every day, they came to Maggie's to eat, and Maggie became the most popular girl in the neighborhood. Where did Maggie live? Answer: an apartment in the city A Most of us feel upset if we miss just one meal, and if we try to go without food for 12 hours we would really be uncomfortable. But there are some people who seem able to "fast" for very long periods. Various records are claimed for long fast, but in most cases there is no medical proof and so the records are doubtful. One South African woman claimed that she lived for 102 days on nothinig but water and soda water. There are great differences among living things in the ability to survive without food. For example , a tick , which lives on animals, may survive a whole year. Warm-blooded animals use up their stores of food in the body more quickly. In fact, the smaller and more active the animal, the more quickly it uses up its reserves. A small bird starves to death in about five days, a dog in about twenty. In general, we can say that a warm-blooded creature will die when it has lost about half its normal weight. This matter of weight is important. Man and other creatures live in a state of metabolic equiplibrium which means maintaining the body weight once a certain point has been reached. This regulation of body weight is done by thirst, hunger, and appetite. When your blood lacks nutritional materials, this registers in the hunger center of the brain and you feel "hungry". The body is crying out for any kind of fuel(food). And it is our appetite that sees to it hat we chooose a mixed diet, which is the kind the body needs. According to this passage, a man will die _ . Answer: when a certain point in losing weight has been reached. International Students Club (ISC) is a friendship club organized by the American Student Union (ASU) for all international students. Visit the ISC table on the Tempe Main Campus from 9:30am to 12:30pm Monday -- Thursday to get information, practice speaking English, meet new friends and sign up for ISC activities. Our goal is to help all international students during their time here in the USA through practical help, social activities, trips, conversational English classes and Bible studies. International Graduates & Scholars A free dinner is held weekly on Friday nights at the Peterson home at 6:30pm. Transportation is provided from the ASU Bookstore at 6:10pm on Friday nights for free. Every year in June we have special activities -- summer camps. Want to make new friends or practice your English? Join us! For more information on activities for graduates and scholars, contact Nancy Peterson at 480-540-1518 or nancyp 310@cox.net. International Undergraduates If you're an international undergraduate hoping to meet new friends, join us at the Rita House on Friday nights, 7:00pm for a free meal, fellowship and Bible discussion. On Friday nights we offer free transportation from the ASU Bookstore at 6:45pm. Join our Facebook page at "ISC Undergraduates" for more specific information or you can contact Charles Boyle at 480-686-0561 or charles.boyle@asu.edu. African Students All African students are invited to join us in our monthly activities designed for them to encourage one another and some club members also participate in the activities. This month we're meeting on April 18th at 4:00pm. Some of our club leaders will join them for student interaction and cultural exchange. For more information, contact Emmanuel Chijindu (from Nigeria) at 480-248-5121 or echijindu@isionline.org. ISC Leaders & Staff If you want to become our club member, contact one of our student leaders or campus staff members. Caroline Tao wtao6@asu.edu \| 480-326-5135 Nigel Pinto nigel.pinto791@gmail.com Nancy Peterson Charles Boyle (staff) Emmanuel Chijindu (staff) What can we learn about ISC? Answer: It is related to the American Student Union. There are several ways to break the technology code that teenagers have written among themselves. The following are ideas to help parents understand the sometimes confusing world of the teens. SocialNetworking Sites: Sites like MySpace and Facebook _ all generations and are a good way for a parent to understand what social standards your teen is living with. There are many ways to help you take part in your child's online activities. You also can be from an onlooker who keeps a bird' s-eye view of his cyber world to an active member of his social group. MMORPG: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game comes in the form of games. A child can easily become addicted to them if no limits are set. To fully understand the attraction behind MMORPG, you can make your own account and character to explore the digital world. Playing the online games may seem strange at first to your teen, but experience has led me to only positive feedback from young people who can communicate with adults about their gaming experiences. Text and Instant Messenger: The ways of teenage communication have produced a whole new language, such as "LOLZ" (laughing out loud) and "PSOS" (parent standing over shoulder). Learning the basic shorthand of teens can open up a whole new world of communication, not only talking to your teens, but being able to listen on their terms as well. You may just find yourself texting faster and ending your correspondence with TTYL (talk to you later). To teens, texting anyone looks cool, even Mom and Dad. Email: Emailing your child is easy. This, of course, cannot take the place of face-to-face communication, but it provides another way for your child to reach you. Another benefit is that your child cannot act like he didn't hear you. What does the passage mainly tell us? Answer: Parents can use technology to stay in touch with their children.
Question: Owning a personal island is a luxurious treat one can imagine. New Holland Island $400 million, 18 acres Roman Abramovich Investment Banker Located in Saint Petersburg Canal in Russia, the island takes its name after its resemblance to areas in Amsterdam. The owner plans to turn it into a cultural center. The new look of this island is expected to be revealed in another six years. Musha Cay Island $150 million, 700 acres David Copperfield Famous magician World-famous magician David Copperfield has developed the island located in the southern part of Bahamas into a magical resort with adventures, treasure hunts, luxurious apartments, and water sports. All these, for $32,250 a night! Mago Island $10 million, 5,400 acres Mel Gibson Actor Interestingly, this island is almost the size of a small country! Mel Gibson does not plan on developing it into a resort, thus keeping its natural beauty. Mosquito Island $15 million, 120 acres Richard Branson Investor This island is rich in eco-diversity and is also one of the rich rainforest places. Branson plans to make this island the most eco-friendly and develop the biodiversity of this island. James Island $19 million, 780 acres Craig McCaw Cell phone pioneer Craig McCaw plans to develop the island, but not at the cost of losing its natural beauty. Smoking is banned on the island, and only electric bikes or cars are used for transport. All power lines are laid underground. The island also has a golf course designed by the excellent golf champion Jack Nicklaus. Allan Island $13.5 million, 292 acres Paul Allen Investor The island is reportedly named after a hero, and Paul Allen plans on building a vacation home here. However, his vacation home was built on another island nearby. So, the Allan Island now has only a caretaker's small house without electricity. And it is up for sale. Hands anybody? Who will be potential visitors to the James Island? A. Those who like adventures and treasure hunts. B. Those who like rich cultural atmosphere. C. Those who long to live in a luxurious apartment. D. Those who agree with the environmentalists' ideas. Answer: D Question: Mr Evans works in Sydney. Last week he had a two-week holiday, but he didn't know where to go. He said to his friend Robert, "I hate the hot weather here, but I can't think of a cool place in Australia. Where shall I take my holiday?" "That's easy," said Robert, "You can go to Moscow. Snow and ice are covering the ground there now." Mr Evans agreed with his friend. He bought a plane ticket and soon arrived in Moscow. He was having a good time there, but one day he got into trouble . After lunch, he went to a park outside the city. He noticed a dog following him when he was walking past a house. It was hungry and wanted some food to eat. But Mr Evans had no food in his pockets. He tried to shoo it away, but it began to bark at him. Just at that moment, he saw a stone on the ground. He tried to pick it up, but he couldn't. "How strange these Russians are!" Mr Evans said to himself, "They do not tie up their dogs, but firmly tie down the stones!" Mr Evans couldn't pick up the stone because _ . A. it was too cold B. it was too heavy C. the Russians tied their stones to the ground D. it was not a stone Answer: A Question: Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries. These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go. But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost. Many times, the driver is to blame. Sometimes a GPS error is responsible. Most often, says Barry Brown, it is a combination of the two. We spoke to Mr. Brown by Skype. He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States. There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay. Barry Brown: "And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination. And, then it wasn't until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived. They actually put their home address in. So again, the GPS is kind of 'garbage in garbage out'." Mister Brown says this is a common human error. But, he says, what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings, or failures, of GPS equipment. Barry Brown: "One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn. Because they just give you the next turn, sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it's going to the wrong place." Barry Brown formerly served as a professor with the University of California, San Diego. While there, he worked on a project with Eric Laurier from the University of Edinburgh. The two men studied the effects of GPS devices on driving by placing cameras in people's cars. They wrote a paper based on their research. It is called "The Normal, Natural Troubles of Driving with GPS." It lists several areas where GPS systems can cause confusion for drivers. These include maps that are outdated, incorrect or difficult to understand. They also include timing issues related to when GPS commands are given. Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers, passengers and GPS systems work together. What would be the best title for the text? A. driving with GPS can be difficult B. driving confusions can be caused by small screen C. driving without GPS should be much more convenient D. GPS equipment in driving: to be deserted or improved? Answer: A Question: I go to Australia for a meeting with my workmate, Chris. We decide to drive across the country after the meeting. The drive will take four days and most of it was across the desert . The first day is a lot of fun because we are happy to hear each other's jokes . But on the third day, we begin to get _ . We are quite quiet for some hours when Chris sees some kangaroos .We are both excited and decide to take a closer look. Chris drives very quickly to catch up with them. We got closer and closer. Suddenly , we hear a loud BANG! Chris stops the car and we get out. Beside the car is a large kangaroo lying on the ground. Chris goes over to it and puts his cap on its head. He takes off his sunglasses and puts them on the kangaroo and does the same with his jacket. Then he puts his arm around the kangaroo and tells me to take a photo of them together. I take out my camera. When I am focusing the camera, I sees the kangaroo move . It suddenly wakes up, and runs away before we can do anything. I start laughing but Chris looks worried. He says his wallet is in the jacket. I start laughing even louder . I stop laughing when he says that our car keys are also in the jacket. What can we know from the passage? A. The writer takes a photo of Chris and the kangaroo. B. The kangaroo runs away together with Chris's wallet and their car keys in his jacket. C. They decide to walk across the desert. D. The writer is still very happy at the end of the story. Answer: B Question: When 7-year-old Warren Buffett said, "I will be the richest man one day," his friends made fun of his "daydreaming". But ever since then the little boy has set about learning how to make money by selling drinks, delivering newspaper and buying stocks. The American had already earned $9,000 (equal to $90,000 today) by the time he graduated from the high school. And this month the 78-year-old, who earned his fortune by making a lot of sound investment in the stock market, took the place of Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, as the world's richest man. Gates' worth declined $1.5 billion to $55.5 billion in 33 days after the recent financial storm, according to Forbes Magazine. Buffett, the only son of a stockbroker, was ready to think outside the box to develop his business from a very early age. At 8, he went to golf courses collecting and selling the used balls. At 11 when he sold soda pop door-to-door with a friend, the pair collected lids on streets to judge which flavor was the most popular. As a paper boy during high school, Buffett delivered two competitor papers, so that even when customers canceled one of the subscriptions , he could still make a profit from the other. With his paper delivery savings, Buffett bought 162,000 square meters of farmland and collected rent. Young Buffett stepped into the stock market at 11 but earned only $5. The experience taught him one of the virtues in investing patience. After graduating from university, Buffett started his venture with stocks with his childhood earnings and money from friends. He researched the stocks and just bought those of solid companies that were undervalued and inexpensive at the time. By sticking to companies such as American Express and Coca-Cola, Buffett has become rich. "Learning is important to Buffett's success. He is a learning machine who can spend his entire day reading. He keeps learning from books, street smarts and investigation, from both success and failure. In this way, he over achieved his aptitude ," said Charlie Munger, his longtime business partner. How did Buffett behave at the stock market? A. He will buy the stock whose price is lower than its value. B. He often prefers some inexpensive stocks. C. He always borrows money from his friends to buy stocks. D. He will sell the stock if its price doesn't go up. Answer: A
I am a strong believer that if a child is raised with approval he learns to love himself and will be successful in his own way. Several weeks ago, I was doing homework with my son in the third grade and he kept standing up from his chair. I kept asking him to sit down, telling him that he would concentrate better. He sat but seconds later, as if he didn't even notice he was doing it, he got up again. I was getting annoyed, but then it hit me: I started noticing his answers were much quicker and right when he stood up. Could he be focused while standing up? This made me start questioning myself and what I had been raised to believe. I was raised to believe that a quiet child was more likely to succeed. This child would have the discipline to study hard, get good grades and become someone important in life. Kids that were active and loud would only be objects of stares. Now people perhaps come to realize that their kids are born with their own sets of DNA and personality features, and all they can do is loving and accepting them. As parents, throughout their growing years and beyond that, we need to be our kids' best cheerleaders, guiding them and helping them find their way. I have stopped asking my son to sit down and concentrate. Obviously, he is concentrating, just in his own way and not mine. We need to accept our kids, and their ways of doing things. This way may have worked for me but doesn't mean we need to carry it through generations. There is nothing sweeter than seeing our children being individual . It makes us happy and that's just the way I want my kids to live life. According to the passage, the author tried to keep his son seated so that _ . Answer: Where is that noise coming from? Not sure? Try living with your eyes closed for a few years. Blind people are better at locating sounds than people who can see, a new study says, Without the benefits of vision the ears seem to work much better. Previous studies have shown that blind people are better than others at reaching out and touching the sources of sounds that are close by. Researchers from the University of Montreal wanted to see if blind people were also better at locating sounds that are far away. Twenty-three blind people participated in the study. All had been sightless for at least 20 years. Fourteen of them had lost their vision before age 11. The rest went blind after age 16. The experiment also included 10 people who could see but were wearing blindfolds. In one task, volunteers had to pick the direction of a sound coming from about 3 meters away. When the sound was in front of them or slightly off center in front, both groups performed equally well. When sounds came from the side or the back, however, the blind group performed much better than the blindfolded group. The participants who had been blind since childhood did slightly better than those who lost their sight later. Recognizing the locations of distant sounds can be a matter of life-or-death for blind people, say the researchers. Crossing the street, for instance, is much harder when you can't see the cars coming. Still, the researchers were surprised by how well the blind participants did, especially those who went blind after age 16. In another experiment, the scientists also found that parts of the brain that normally deal with visual information became active in locating sound in the people who were blind by age 11. These brain parts didn't show sound-location activity in the other group of blind people or in the sighted people. The scientists now want to learn more about the workings of brains of "late-onset" blind people. Which would be a proper title for the passage? Answer: Jack gets to the bus station very early. The bus for London leaves at twelve. He sees many people at the station. Some are waiting in line , and others are walking around. Jack looks around but there is no room for him to sit in. He walks into a restaurant. He looks up at the clock there. It's only 11:30. Then he finds a seat and sits down. At that time, Tom, one of his friends, comes in and sits in front of him. They talk and drink. After a while , Jack looks up at the clock again, "oh, my god. It's still 11:30. The clock doesn't work at all." Jack becomes very sad because he misses the bus. Jack goes into the restaurant because _ . Answer: Mark Twain was famous in his days as a public speaker. In his public speeches he always liked to tell funny stories. He also liked to listen to funny stories and play jokes on his friends. One day one of his friends lost his wallet and asked Mark Twain to pay his train fare for him. "But I don't have enough money to pay both your fare and mine, "Mark Twain said. The friend didn't know what to do. "We can do this, "said Mark Twain. "We can get on the train and when the conductor comes to check the tickets,you can hide under my seat. " Later, however, when the conductor came to check the tickets, Mark Twain gave him two tickets-one for his friend and one for himself . Then he explained in a loud voice. "My friend here is a strange man. When he travels on a train, he doesn't like to sit on the seat. He prefers to lie on the floor under the seat. "Of course everybody in the train looked at the poor friend and laughed at him loudly. Mark Twain spoke in a loud voice because _ . Answer: Invitation to a going-away party Wednesday, 17 May Dear Lucy and Jack, You are invited to a farewell for the "White family's visit to Africa". Departure Date:6 July The best part of their big adventure to Africa will be when they come face-to-face with lions, elephants, crocodiles and other African wildlife. They have always wanted to do this. Party given by: Mr. and Mrs. White, Eric and Tom Date: Saturday, 8 June. Time: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm Place: 12 Gold Street, New Town, Sydney Reply by: Thursday, 4 June Phone: 6457226 Food and drinks will be prepared at the party. What is the main reason for the White family to go to Africa? Answer:
"I think it's a great thing when I know it's going to help someone else."said l3-year-old Spencer Goldstein,after collecting hundreds of pieces of baseball equipment for kids who can not afford to buy their own. Spencer collected the bats,balls,gloves,helmets and masks for his mitzvah project,which is a community service project that many Jewish kids do around their bar or bat mitzvahs .A bar mitzvah is a ceremony for a boy while a bat mitzvah is intended for a girl.The ceremony means that you are old enough to take on a grown-up's responsibilities. Spencer got the idea for his mitzvah project alter seeing the Ugandan national team at last year's Little League World Series.Some of the Ugandan players didn't even have their own gloves.And Spencer's donations are going to a group called "Pitch for Baseball"--a group that gives baseball equipment to kids in low-income communities around the world. Mollie Schwartz and Mia Schwartz also came up with a sports-related mitzvah project.The money they raised went to the Israel Sport Center for the Disabled.They raised at least $9,000-enough to pay for at least three wheelchairs made for playing basketball. In Massachusetts,Abigail Miller decided to collect musical instruments for her mitzvah project.The instruments Abigail collected were then donated to groups that distribute them to kids who can't afford to buy them."I want to make sure everybody can get the chance to enjoy music like I do,"Abigail said.Abigail collected more than three-dozen instruments-wind instruments,string instruments,keyboards,even a drum set. Whether it's playing sports,playing music or something else,kids such as Spencer,Mollie,Mia and Abigail are using their mitzvah projects to change the woad for the better."They learned about generosity,''said Mollie's mother,Loft Schwartz,"and the power to make things happen". From the passage we can know_. A. some kids are famous for their funny projects. B. not all mitzvah projects are related to sports. C. the requirements are different for boys and girls. D. few girls are willing to do the mitzvah projects. Answer: B Beatrix Potter was a great English writer and artist, best known for her children's books featuring animal characters such as in the children's classic -- The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Beatrix was born into a rich London-based family where she was tutored by very strict private teachers and so spent her youth isolated from other youngsters. During her youth she had a lot of pets and spent vacations in Scotland and also the Lake District. It was at the Lake District that she developed a love of wildlife. She studied the area's natural wonders carefully and painted them continuously. But her old-fashioned, Manchester-born parents discouraged her intellectual improvement, thinking it inappropriate for a young lady. However, her study and watercolour paintings of wild mushrooms made her widely respected within the field of biology. In her 30's, Beatrix Potter wrote the remarkably successful kid's book, The Tale of Pew Rabbit. Close to that time she became secretly engaged to her publisher Norman Warne. This caused a great disagreement with her parents, who did not approve of Beatrix getting married to somebody of lower social status. Sadly, Warne died before the marriage ceremony. Ultimately Beatrix Potter began writing and also illustrating kid's books full-time. Using profits from her books, Beatrix grew to become economically independent of her parents and was eventually in a position to buy Hill Top Farm in the Lake District. She extended the property with additional purchases of neighbouring land over time. In her 40's, Bestrix married William Heelis, a local lawyer. She ended up becoming a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to publish as well as illustrate books for children. In all she authored 23 publications. Beatrix died on December 22, 1943, and left the majority of her property to the National Trust. Her books carry on selling well globally, in many different languages. Her stories have been retold in numerous formats including a ballet, movies, and cartoons. Such is her reputation, and that of the characters from her publications, that many Beatrix Potter statues have been created. These tiny Beatrix Potter statues which include pretty much all the actual characters in her publications have become highly valued by art collects and fans of her literature throughout the world. Why did Beatrix Potter's parents oppose the idea of her marriage to Norman Warne? A. They did not believe she was mature enough to get married. B. They thought Warne was only interested in Beatrix Potter's wealth. C. They believed that the couple's characters were mismatched. D. They considered Warne to be too common for their daughter. Answer: D Heather Jack and her family, including her two children, usually spend the Christmas holidays preparing a feast--for others to eat. Last Christmas Eve, they went to a house in the neighborhood and prepared a dinner for an elderly woman and her son, who has muscular dystrophy . They stayed for an hour and chatted before heading home to prepare for a visit from Santa . "I think it is that kind of direct experience that many find so meaningful," says Heather, president and founder of The Volunteer Family, a Boston-based organization dedicated to matching families with volunteer opportunities, both during the holidays and year-round. "It's a great way for parents to involve the kids." In a holiday season that stretches from before Thanksgiving to just after the New Year, it's nice to hear stories about people with their children giving instead of receiving. Last December Gary and Debra Danoff and their two teenage sons drove to the Washington, D. C. Jewish Community Center(JCC) and spent Christmas morning in the Center's kitchen preparing a feast for homeless shelters. By choosing to prepare meals for the homeless, the Danoffs bring together a belief in community service with their love of cooking, "It feels good to prepare food with our kids for other people at Christmas," says Gary. "We want them to know that many people don't have the ability to go to the supermarket and pick the foods they want to eat and pay for them." The Danoffs were in good company. Across the city, at least 1000 volunteers with their children went across the region to provide food to the poor people as part of the D. C. JCC's annual "December 25th Day of Service", now in its 22nd year. Why do the Danoffs want their children to join in the volunteer work? A. To let them learn to prepare meals by themselves. B. To let them know that many people are in need of help. C. To let them know that they have the ability to cook. D. To let them have a meaningful Christmas with the homeless shelters. Answer: B Speech--the act of uttering sounds to convey meaning--is a kind of human action. Like any other constantly repeated action, speaking has to be learned, but once it is learned, it becomes a generally unconscious and apparently automatic process. As far as we can determine, human beings do not need to be forced to speak; most babies seem to possess a sort of instinctive drive to produce speech like noises. How to speak and what to say are another matter altogetner. There actions are learned from the particular society into which the baby is born; so that, like all conduct that is learned from a society--from the people around us--speech is a patterned activity. The meandering babble and chatter of a young child are eventually channeled by imitation into a few orderly grooves that represent the pattern accepted as meaningful by the people around him. Similarly, a child's indiscriminate practice of putting things into his mouth becomes limited to putting food into his mouth in a certain way. The sounds that a child can make are more varied and numerous than the sounds that any particular language uses. However, a child born into a society with a pattem of language is encouraged to make a small selection of sounds and to make these few sounds over and over until it is natural for him to make these sounds and not others. The selection says that most babies have an instinctive drive to_. A. express ideas in words B. make speech like noise C. convey meaning D. imitate sounds around them Answer: B As we look back at 2007, there are some faces we cannot forget. Here we present three such people as we wave goodbye to 2007. Wang Baoqiang The lead actor of the 28-episode TV drama "Soldiers Sortie," Wang Baoqiang is the TV star with the highest attention in newspapers and magazines. Acting Xu Sanduo, a simple-minded country boy who wins the respect and confidence of his comrades, Wang moved the audience with his tenacity , a rare quality in our times. Yu Dan Studying ancient texts suddenly became popular in modern-day China following the publication of "Yu Dan's Reflections on The Analects," by Yu Dan, a professor at Beijing Normal University, in December 2006. Since then, it has sold 6 million legal copies. Yu is followed by reporters and surrounded at appearances around the nation -- 60,000 people showed up for one Beijing book signing in March. In July, she was selected as one of China's three most beautiful women. Tang Wei Chinese actress Tang Wei finally became famous at the age of 27, after playing in Ang Lee's latest film "Lust, Caution." For many Chinese actresses, being cast by Lee is a ticket to Hollywood. Zhang Ziyi is a good example, having starred in Ang's "Crouching tiger, Hidden Dragon." Tang Wei had waited a long time for her chance and, when it came, she caught it. 2007 was meaningful for her. After Wang Baoqiang starred "Soldiers Sortie", he _ . A. became famous B. liked newspapers C. became tenacious D. was relaxed Answer: A
It's rare that you see the words "shyness" and "leader" in the same sentence. After all, the common viewpoint is that those outgoing and sociable guys make great public speakers and excellent networkers and that those shy people are not. A survey conducted by USA Today referred to 65 percent of executives who believed shyness to be a barrier to leadership. Interestingly, the same article stresses that roughly 40 percent of leaders actually are quite shy--they're just better at adapting themselves to situational demands. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Charles Schwab are just a few "innies". Unlike their outgoing counterparts who are more sensitive to rewards and risk-taking, shy people take a cautious approach to chance. Rather than the flashy chit-chat that defines social gathering, shy people listen attentively to what others say and absorb it before they speak. They're not thinking about what to say while the other person is still talking, but rather listening so they can learn what to say. Along the same lines, shy people share a common love of learning. They are intrinsically motivated and therefore seek content regardless of achieving an outside standard. Being shy can also bring other benefits. Remember being in school and hearing the same kids contribute, until shy little Johnny, who almost never said a word, cut in? Then what happened? Everyone turned around to look with great respect at little Johnny actually talking. This is how shy people made good use of their power of presence:they "own" the moment by speaking calmly and purposefully, which translate to a positive image. Shyness is often related to modesty. Not to say that limelight-seekers aren't modest, but shy people tend to have an accurate sense of their abilities and achievements. As a result, they are able to acknowledge mistakes, imperfections, knowledge gaps and limitations. Since shy people have a lower sensitivity to outside rewards than outgoing ones, they're more comfortable working with little information and sticking to their inner desires. Shy people are also more likely to insist on finding solutions that aren't primarily apparent. Don't believe me? Maybe you'll believe Albert Einstein, who once said, " _ " Obviously, finding certainty where uncertainty is typically popular is a huge plus for any successful person. The myth that shy people are less effective leaders than their outgoing fellows is just a misunderstanding. Make wise use of your personality strengths to lead your business no matter what side of the range you fall on. The example of Johnny shows _ . Answer: People always think about "the problem of youth". If there is one -which I take leave to doubt- it is older people who create it, not young themselves. Let us get down to fundamental s and then the young are after all human beings -people just like their elders. There is only one difference between and old man and young one: the young man has a beautiful future before him while the old man a splendid future behind him and maybe that id where the rub is. When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and unknown -that I was a new boy in a hug w school, and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem. For one thing, being a problem gives you a certain identity, and that is one of the thing s the young are busily engaged in seeking. I find young people exciting .they have and air of freedom, and they have not a dull promise to mean ambitious or love of comfort .they are not anxious social climbers, and they have no devotion to important things .all this seems to me to ling then with life, and the origin of things .it's as if they were some sense of cosmic beings in violent and lovely contract with us suburban creatures. all that is in my mind when I need a young person .he may be too proud, ill-mannered or self-satisfied, but I do not turn for protection to boring cliches about respect for elders as if age were a reason for respect .I accept that we are equals, and I will argue with them, as an equal, if I think he is wrong. One of the thing s the young are engaged in is that they want t o _ Answer: Plants are very important living things. Life could not go if there were no plants. This is because plants can make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals and man cannot make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals get their food by eating plants and other animals. So animals and man need plants in order to live. This is why we find that there are so many plants around us. If you look carefully at the plants around you, you will find that there are two kinds of plants: flowering plants and _ plants. Flowering plants can make seeds. The seeds are protected by the fruits. Some fruits have one seed, some have two, three or four, and some have many seeds. But a few fruits have no seeds at all. An example of a fruit without seeds is the banana fruit. Most non-flowering plants don't grow from seeds. They grow from spores. Spores are so small and light that they can float in the air. We may say that spores are quite the same as the seeds. When these spores fall on wet and _ , they usually grow into new plants. Which of the following is NOT TRUE? Answer: She was returning from teaching out in a small community . It was a moonless night, and a heavy snow was falling. She remembered back to when she had first started teaching out in small communities. In those days she had always picked up hitchhikers , until the day her sister told her of a friend who had been shot in the head by a hitchhiker, all because she had stopped out of kindness to help him during a storm. Her family didn't become concerned about her safety over the hitchhikers until the family heard the promise: "No more hitchhikers!" The snow that night was making her think back to this. Then she saw a man waving. She slowed down for him, but now as he ran toward the car in the dark she shook with fear. Yet she thought that if he was truly in need she couldn't leave him here in this storm. The stranger explained that his car was dead, and she told him to get in. They drove for an hour into the next city and she took him to a telephone booth . She waited until he had made a call. When he reported back to her that a family member would soon come for him, she wished him well and left. _ "I hope they'll understand why I had to break my promise," she thought. What would be the best title for this passage? Answer: Dyslexia is a learning disorder, it interferes with the ability to recognise words, and for some readers to understand what they have read. Experts say dyslexia affects about five to ten percent of the population of the United State. Researchers have long known that people with dyslexia write or read words and letters backwards in the wrong order. But a new study shows that people with dyslexia may have trouble redirecting their attention between senses, from seeing something to hearing something. The study suggests something that might help dyslexic people learn more quickly - play video games. Vanessa Harrar of Britain's University of Oxford led the study. She reported the findings in the journal Current Biology. The study suggests that dyslexic people may have trouble moving quickly from what they read to what they hear. Doctor Harrar calls this a " _ shifting of attention across the senses." "So, if you are trying to read something and then trying to listen to somebody who's reading aloud and you're trying to follow along with what they are reading -- they have to switch their attention from hearing what they are saying to looking at the piece of paper and back again. So we found they have quite sluggish shifting of attention across the senses," said Harrar. In the study, Doctor Harrar tested 17 people with dyslexia, and 19 others without reading problems. The volunteers were asked to push a button as quickly as possible when they heard a sound, saw a light or experienced both together. Doctor Harrar compared the speed of their reactions. She found that people with dyslexia were just as fast as the others when they saw only a picture or heard only a sound. But the dyslexics had a slower reaction time when they heard a sound and saw a picture at the same time. Doctor Harrar feels like playing action video games could help dyslexic people shift from seeing to hearing more quickly. She adds that images in video games force the eyes to move and focus quickly. "Video game types of things pop out of here and there, they move your eyes around the screen quite quickly in response to things quite quickly, and the more you play a video game the faster you get that kind of thing. So, the video game is really training the attention system to move quickly," said Harrar. The study also shows that dyslexic people have the most difficulty going between what they saw and what they heard, this may have an effect on how dyslexic children are taught how to read. When children learn the alphabet,they usually see the letter first and then hear the sound, or they see and hear the letter at the same time. The study shows that dyslexics might learn more quickly if they hear the sound of a letter or word first before seeing it. What is the importance of the finding? Answer:
Not so long ago, a sailor sailing across the cold waters of the northern Pacific Ocean might have had every chance of being confronted by a sea cow. This cow would have measured 10 meters long, and weighed between five and ten tones. And it would spend most of its day cruising the seas, eating grass growing underwater. The cow in question was known as Steller's sea cow, which is now extinct. Today, many people are unaware that such an extraordinary creature once existed, or don't know its incredible story. But scientists have discovered many fundamental facts about this mystical animal. Surprisingly, the first recorded sighting of a Steller's sea cow didn't happen until 1741, when a sailing expedition was stuck on an uninhabited island, later named Bering Island. The sailor survived by hunting and eating the huge sea cow. Like its modern relatives, the sea cow lived in herds. _ and its slow-moving behaviour made it easy to be caught. Those sailors that escaped Bering Island spread word of the bounty of meat to be found off its shores. As a result, more and more expeditions came to hunt the animals. One report stated that one sea cow could feed 33 men for a month. Incredibly, just 27 years after the island and species had been discovered by modern man, the last sea cow was reported killed. That makes the Steller's sea cow one of the few truly large mammals known to have been driven extinct in the modern age. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Why did expeditions hunt the Steller's sea cow? B. When did the Steller's sea cow become extinct? C. How did the Steller's sea cow become extinct? D. What do we know about the Steller's sea cow? Answer: C. How did the Steller's sea cow become extinct? There are one billion homeless people living in our world today. The Homeless World Cup exists to end this, so we all have a home, a basic human need. The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament , uniting teams of people who are homeless to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has inspired and supported over 50 grass roots football projects around the world working with homeless people throughout the year. The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 17 national teams. At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen in 2004, 48 nations, 500 players were united for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country. 25,000 players were involved in pre-tournament training and trials around the world. The Homeless World Cup is full of players with courage, spirit and determination. Research shows that 73% of players change their lives for the better after the international tournament by _ drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for professional or semi-professional football teams. David Duke (Scotland) played in 2004, came off alcohol, passed his coaching qualifications . He became assistant coach for Scotland 2005, coach in 2006 and now owns his own home. The best goal scorer in 2004 Yevgen Adamenko (Ukraine) went on to play in a professional club in Ukraine. The Homeless World Cup supporters include Nike, UN, Manchester United, Real Madrid and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand. The purpose of the Homeless World Cup is to _ . A. find a home for homeless people B. collect money for homeless people C. help the homeless kick bad habits D. help the homeless start a new life Answer: D. help the homeless start a new life Kate's room is big. A TV set is in the room. The TV set is on the table. Some red flowers are on it, too. We can see a nice picture on the wall . We can see a hat and some books on her bed. Her _ are under the bed. A desk is near the window . On the desk is a clock. It's time to go to school . Where's Kate's bag? Oh, it's on the chair. Kate is putting on her shoes. Where's Kate's bag? It's _ . A. on the chair B. under the bed C. on the wall D. on the bed Answer: A. on the chair The history of newspapers is an often-dramatic chapter of the human experience going back some six centuries.In Renaissance Europe handwritten newsletters circulated privately among merchants,passing along information about everything from wars and economic conditions to social customs and "human interest" features.The first printed newspaper appeared in Germany in the late 1400s in the form of news pamphlets or broadsides. In the English-speaking world,the earliest predecessors of the newspaper were corantos,small news pamphlets produced only when some event worthy of notice occurred.The first successively published title was The Weekly News of 1622.The first true newspaper in English was the London Gazette of 1666. In America the first newspaper appeared in Boston in 1690,entitled Public Occurrences.Published without official permission,it was immediately suppressed .Its publisher was arrested,and all copies were destroyed.The first successful newspaper was the Boston News-Letter,begun by postmaster John Campbell in 1704.By the eve of the Revolutionary War,some two dozen papers were issued at all the colonies.At the war's end in 1783 there were forty-three newspapers in print. The Bill of Rights in 1791 at last guaranteed freedom of the press,and America's newspapers began to take on a central role in national affairs.By 1814 there were 346 newspapers. In the 1830s,advances in printing and papermaking technology led to an explosion of newspaper growth--the emergence of the "Penny Press";it was now possible to produce a newspaper that could be sold for just a cent a copy.The cheap newspaper helped people to get more interesting reading materials easily.In 1850,there were 2526 different papers.By the 1910s,all the basic features of the modern newspaper had emerged. What is the main reason for newspapers in the USA increasing so fast in the 1830s? A. The pass of the Bill of Rights in 1791. B. Newspapers began to take on a central role in national affairs. C. Advances in printing and papermaking technology. D. All the basic features of the modern newspaper had emerged Answer: C. Advances in printing and papermaking technology. Outdoor picnics and parties are very popular in America in the summertime. Visit any park between Memorial Day (end of May) and Labor Day (beginning of September) and you'll find families and groups of friends enjoying the warm weather and sharing a meal. Birthday celebrations, family reunions, sporting events and holidays are all common reasons to host a get-together. But just wanting to be outside on a nice summer day is the best reason! Food is an important part of any gathering, and in the summer Americans love to cook outside on grills . All kinds of meats, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and sausages, and even vegetables like corn, peppers or potatoes can be cooked on the grill. Many typical families have grills in their yards, and many parks also have grills for public use. Men seem to particularly like to do the job of barbecuing the food, even if they don't usually cook at any other time. Many have "secret recipes" for a delicious barbecue sauce . Other guests at the party will often be asked to " bring a dish to share". This means that they will make some kind of side dish (a salad or vegetable) or dessert, and share it with the others. If you make something very delicious, people may want you to make it every time! Fried chicken and sandwiches are popular at picnics too, because you eat them with your hands. Potato salads and baked beans are favorite side dishes. According to the passage, who generally barbecues the meat at gatherings? A. women B. men C. the old D. the young Answer: B. men
Jiajia, a third grader who was born with anemia, a medical condition in which there are too few red cells in blood, wrote an affecting article that moved many netizens. In the article, she shared her biggest wish: to survive so she could take care of her grandparents. Jiajia, 9, currently lives in the city of Suining in Sichuan province. In the article, she writes, "My heart gets heavier each time I see my grandma cry for me. If I ever get to grow up, I will take good care of her." Jiajia contracted pneumonia when she was 4 months old. Since then, she has required a blood transfusion every two weeks. After her parents' divorce, her grandparents took her in and faced many challenges in the process of raising her. The girl's article was only 235 words long, and it was handed in as a school assignment. Nevertheless, Jiajia's words "deeply impressed" her elementary school teacher, who then posted the article online, where it struck a chord with many people. Up till now, a fund started by teachers at Jiajia's school has reached more than 30,000 RMB, which will be put toward Jiajia's future blood transfusions. What is Jiajia's biggest wish? A. to have her parents return B. to have more netizens read her article C. to survive D. to have her grandparents survive Answer: C Susan is very careless . She often loses her things. It's time for the geography class. But Susan can't find her geography book in her schoolbag. She looks into the desk, and it's not there. "Oh, no!" Susan thinks. "Is it at home? Do I lose it? Where is it? I need it!" Just then, the geography teacher, Mr. White, _ Susan's name. He gives her a geography book. And in the book, Susan sees a note: Susan I see the name "Susan" on the geography book. I find it on your seat. Mrs. Smith, school bus driver Who finds the geography book? A. Susan. B. Mr. White. C. Mrs. Smith. D. Susan's classmates. Answer: C It is good to get in touch with your inner child from time to time,and obviously some people are willing to pay big money for the chance to do so in a proper environment.A Brooklyn-based adult preschool is charging customers between $333 and $999 for the chance to act like a kid again. At Preschool Mastermind in New York adults get to participate in show--and--tell,arts--and--crafts such as finger paint,games like musical chairs and even take naps.The month-long course also has class picture day where the adults are expected to have a field trip and a parent day. 30-year-old Michelle Joni Lapidos,the brain behind the adult preschool,studied childhood education and has always wanted to be a preschool teacher.She's always on the lookout for new ways to get people in touch with the freedom of childhood.A friend encouraged her to start the mastermind course instead. According to Candice,her blogger friend,Preschool Mastermind gives adults a chance to relearn and master the things that they failed to understand as children."I realized all the significances of what we learn in preschool,"said founder Michelle Joni,"People come here and get in touch with their inner child.It's magical.We are bringing ourselves back to another place,another time with ourselves when we are more believing in ourselves,more confident and ready to take on the world." "One person's here because they want to learn not to be so serious."Michelle said."Another's here to learn to be more confident."She explained that most of the classes were planned.However,Joni added that while the planned activities were fun,it was often the spontaneous moments that attracted students."It's the things you don't plan for,the sharing between friends and learning from each other.'' What do we know about Michelle Joni? A. She used to be a preschool teacher. B. She likes to make plans in advance. C. She founded Preschool Mastermind. D. She gained confidence by sharing. Answer: C Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on neighboring farms fell into conflict . It was the first serious one between them in 40 years of farming peacefully side by side. In the end, they fell apart. One morning, a man with a carpenter's toolbox came for some work. The elder brother said, "I just have a job for you. Look at the farm across the creek . My younger brother lives there. It was he who used his bulldozer to dig the creek last week to spite me. So I want you to build me a fence, an 8foothigh fence, in order not to see his place any more." The carpenter smiled and said, "I see. I'll try to do a job that satisfies you." Then the elder brother went downtown. At sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide! To his surprise, there was no fence there at all! Instead, there was a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work! He saw his younger brother coming to him with the hands outstretching. The brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. They turned to see the carpenter lift his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other work for you," said the elder brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have so many more bridges to build." It can be learned that the carpenter was _ . A. unwilling to obey the farmer B. fond of building bridges C. unable to build a fence D. willing to help others Answer: D Mr Green is an Englishman. He teaches English well His English classes are very interesting. He likes us and we like him, too. Mr Green has two children----Mike and Nancy. Mike is eight and his sister Nancy is five. Mike goes to school but Nancy doesn't. Mr Green likes to wear a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Football is his favorite sport. After school we often have a basketball match. Sometimes Mr Green watches and joins us. He plays basketball just for us. Mr Green is _ . A. a Chinese teacher B. an English teacher C. a Japanese teacher D. ran English teacher Answer: D
Just put your special clothes on in the morning and you could jump 3 meters into the air and even carry more than 60 kilograms without getting tired. The walk to school would be very, very easy. Such _ clothing is one of the products that could be created using "wearable robotics" technology. Designed to improve a person's senses and skills, the device could be as simple as a hearing aid. Or it could be a full-body suit that senses what you're going to do, then helps you do it better. "A superman suit would be the final result in wearable robot i cs ",s a id Francois Pin, head of robotics and energy systems at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory , US. While these suits are at least ten years away, in some areas the technology is already in use. Researchers are developing artificial- arms and legs that allow old,disabled or injured people to move freely. Thus US Army is interested in using wearable robot legs to help soldiers run faster, carry more equipment and be stronger in battle. Jobs that involve lifting heavy loads or saving lives from the rubble of an earthquake could also become much easier. A robot is a device that responds to a command. You're probably with simple robots, such as toy cars or airplanes that respond to buttons you push on a remote control. Wearable robotics goes further. Instead of just receiving information through a wire or remotecontrol- the robotic device can send information back to its controller. Suppose you wore a sleeve that has sensors where your joints are. Every time you move your arm, the sleeve senses your movements and sends the information to a robot, which then moves its arm just as you did. When the robot hits or touches something, it sends a signal back to the sleeve and you sense the action. In this way,scientists are working to wrap the robot around the person. Their goal is to make the sleeve, shoe or suit help you do what you want to do. From the passage, we can infer that _ . A. it will be ten years before robotic devices are in use B. the wearable robotics technology has been employed in some areas C. the robots in the robotic devices will do whatever you want to do D. people must become lazier and less healthier in the future Answer: B Live Music--Late Night Jazz Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player. Heis known to play well into the late hours, so don't expect to get much sleep. Place: The Jazz Club Dates : 10 - 25 July Price: $ 100 -- 150 Time: 10:30 p.m. till late Tel: 4668736 Scottish Dancing Scottish dancing is nice and easy to learn. The wonderful dance from Britain will beshown. Place: Jack Stein's Dates :12 -19 July Price: $150 Time: 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Tel: 4021877 Shows in Shanxi Museum There are 12,000 pieces on show here. You can see the whole Chinese history. Place: Shanxi Museum Dates: Jun 1 - Aug 15 Price: $ 60 ( $ 30 for students) Time: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tel : 4886888 Weekends: 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Which number should you call if you like jazz music? A. 4668736. B. 4021877. C. 4886888. D. 4028736. Answer: A It seems that many parents have a lot to learn about what their children are doing online. According to a recent survey by the Symantec Corporation, which makes many kinds of security software for home and business computers, there's a "significant digital divide between parents and their kids." Parents of children under the age of 18 were asked to estimate how much time their kids spent online each week. The parents said about three hours a week on average. The kids - ages 8 to 17 - who took the survey said they're spending an average of seven hours online each week. "I really think that's due to the time they spend on their mobile phones and computers, when their parents don't even know they're online," says Symantec's Bill Rosenkrantz. "Remember, cell phones, PDAs and video game machines all make it possible to access the Internet. You don't have to sit in front of a computer screen." And what are the kids doing on the Web? "They're doing things like downloading music, they're going to social networking sites, they're actually shopping online when parents don't think they're doing those kinds of activities," says Rosenkrantz. "They're also, we think, doing some things with research papers and other kinds of activities with homework maybe where they're getting content online and they really shouldn't be." Nearly a quarter of the kids (23 percent) admit to doing things their parents would not approve. So how does a modern parent deal with this type of situation? "The first thing we strongly recommend is that parents spend time with their children online," Rosenkrantz says. "Sit down with them and understand what they're doing. Secondly, have a dialog about it. Have a dialog about what's an acceptable activity, what's an unacceptable activity, and set some ground rules -- time online, things you can and can't do. Really have those conversations. That's the most important." There are a lot of bad people on the Internet. That's why it's so important for parents to know what their kids are doing online. What's the purpose of the passage? A. To advertise a new security software. B. To give a short introduction to a survey. C. To warn children of the danger online. D. To give reasons for kid's Internet addiction. Answer: B An example of feeling A. Water sitting in front of me B. My pants against my skin C. Plants in the sun D. The TV turned on Answer: B A wild baby bison at Yellowstone National Park had to be killed because of tourists. The tourists thought that the baby bison looked cold. They put it in their car and drove to a park ranger station. A ranger described the action of the tourists as a "dangerous move" because adult bisons can look after their babies very well and they will attack to protect their young. Park rangers took the animal from the car and set it free. But, sadly, the baby was refused by its family because it had the smell from humans. Yellowstone National Park explained on Facebook that the smell from people can cause parent animals to refuse to accept their young. The park tried again and again to make the baby bison lives with its parents. After several times they had to give up. Many people expressed anger at both the tourists and the park. The park said that they did not have the ability to care for a young bison. They also said that it is "not the task of the park to save animals". The tourists were fined $110 for touching park wildlife. Park rules say that visitors to Yellowstone should stay at least 22 meters away from all wildlife, and at least 90 meters away from bears and wolves. One ranger said that Yellowstone recently added many safety signs that say staying near the wildlife there is dangerous to humans and animals as well. Those signs are written in English and other languages. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The park refused to send the baby bison back. B. The visitors saved the baby bison. C. Many people are angry at the bison family. D. The smell from humans may bring trouble to bisons. Answer: D
Question: I can use electrical energy to A. Run a mile B. Swim C. bake a bagel D. Rock climb Answer: C. bake a bagel Question: "It hurts me more than you," and "This is for your own good." These are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin, clean my room, stay home and do homework That was before we entered the permissive period in education in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school. The schools and the educators made it easy to us. They thought that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy. We stopped making our children do homework. We gave them calculators, turned on the television, left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation. Now teachers, faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years, are realizing we've made a terrible mistake. One such teacher is Sharon Klompus who says of her students - "so passive" - and wonders what happened. Nothing was demanded of them, she believes. "Television," says Klompus, "contributes to children's passivity. We're not training kids to work any more. We're talking about a generation of kids who've never been hurt or hungry. They have learned somebody will always do it for them. Instead of saying 'go look it up', you tell them the answer. It takes greater energy to say no to a kid." Yes, it does. It takes energy and it takes work. It's time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work. It's time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it's for their own good. It's time to start telling them "no" again. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Parents should leave their children alone. B. Kids should have more activities at school. C. It's time for parents to be stricter with their kids. D. Parents should always set a good example to their kids. Answer: C. It's time for parents to be stricter with their kids. Question: Which is true about flashlights? A. they are pure silicon B. they fade out over time and distance C. they last literally forever D. they work better over distance Answer: B. they fade out over time and distance Question: Lots of human foods are dangerous to pets, many of which may seem tasty to our pets but can prove deadly if eaten. It can be very appealing to offer pets food from the table, but pets should not be given human food unless recommended by veterinarians . If you suspect your pet may have eaten a dangerous food, contact veterinarians immediately. In many cases, early recognition and treatment are very important. Chocolate, Coffee, and Caffeine Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that is toxic to dogs in large quantities. Chocolate also contains caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea, and certain soft drinks. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine and caffeine. For example, dark chocolate and baking chocolate contain more of these compounds than milk chocolate, so a dog would need to eat more milk chocolate to become ill. However, even a few ounces of chocolate can be enough to cause illness in a small dog, so no amount or type of chocolate should be considered "safe" for a dog to eat. Chocolate toxicity can cause vomiting , diarrhea, rapid or irregular heart rate, restlessness, muscle tremors, and seizures. Death can occur within 24 hours of intake. Grapes and Raisins Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in .cats and dogs. It is unknown what the toxic agent is in these fruits. However, clinical signs can occur within 24 hours of eating and include vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness. Other signs of illness relate to the eventual shutdown of kidney functioning. Garlic and Onions Garlic and onions contain chemicals damaging red blood cells in cats and dogs. Affected red blood cells can damage or lose their ability to carry oxygen effectively. Cooking these foods does not reduce their potential toxicity. Fresh, cooked, and/or powdered garlic and/or onions are commonly found in baby food, which is sometimes given to animals when they are sick, so be sure to read food labels carefully. Many cases of human food toxicity in pets are accidental. A pet may find and chew on a package of gum or candy, or steal food from a countertop or table. The best way to prevent this is to keep all food item: in closed cupboard or areas inaccessible to pets. This may be particularly difficult during the holiday season, when more candy, chocolate, fruit baskets, and other food item: are around. During these times, increased alertness can help prevent pets finding and eating dangerous foods. Children should also be taught to never give candy, gum, or other human foods to pets. What effect do chocolate and grapes have in common if eaten by pets? A. They both can cause pets' sudden kidney failure. B. They both contain different amounts of theobromine and caffeine. C. They both can cause pets to vomit. D. They both can cause pets' hearts to beat irregularly. Answer: C. They both can cause pets to vomit. Question: Lipitor is a prescription medicine. Along with diet and exercise, it lowers "bad" cholesterol in your blood. It can also raise "good" cholesterol. Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors, including family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, age and smoking. WHO IS LIPITOR FOR? Who can take LIPITOR: * People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise. * Adults and children over 10. Who should NOT take LIPITOR: * Women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby. * Women who are breast-feeding. Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. * People with liver problems. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR Serious side effects in a small number of people: * Muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. * Liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it. Call your doctor right away if you have: * Unexplained muscle pain or weakness, especially if you have a fever or feel very fired. * Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing. * Stomach pain. Some common side effects of LIPITOR are: * Muscle pain. * Upset stomach. * Changes in some blood tests. HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR DO: * Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor. * Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor. * Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food. * If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed dose, wait. Take the next dose at your regular time. Don't: * Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor. * Do not start new medicines before talking to your doctor. If it has been over 12 hours since you missed a dose, you should _ . A. change the amount of your next dose B. eat more when taking your next dose C. have a dose as soon as you remember D. take the next dose at your regular time Answer: D. take the next dose at your regular time
I'm Bessy. I began to learn English in Grade 6,not like most of my friends who have been learning English since kindergarten( ) or at least in Grade 3.I fell in love with this foreigner language at once. As an old saying goes, "Interest is the best teacher." I began to be crazy about English. I learned words and grammar, made sentences, wrote essays and read English storybo oks as many as I could. Some of my friends find it easy to forget the words they learned the other day. So do I! You can't remember words well without using them often. So you should turn to a dictionary for help when you meet new words and want to know their other meanings and usages. Then make your own sentences from time to time.Another way to keep new words in mind is reading articles. You can easily remember new words through _ As for spoken English, I'm lucky to have some foreign friends. So I have more chances to improve my spoken English. If you want to communicate with foreigners, don't be shy, and just practice with anyone who knows English. Which way of memorizing English words is NOT mentioned? Answer: Making word cards Tears came into this mother's eyes when she talked about waking up her son. Every morning, her ten-year-old boy puts up one finger with his eyes still closed, begging for one more minute to sleep. Why is he so sleepy? Because, like thousands of student "early birds" in China, he has to get up before 6 a.m. every morning. School students usually need eight to ten hours' sleep a night. But in Shanghai, it's reported that 90% of the students do not get enough sleep. And studies show that without a good night's sleep, students seem to be weaker than they should be. Many become near-sighted as a result. Li Ming, a student at Qinghua High School, said that he usually goes to bed after 11 p.m. But when he has exams coming up, he can stay up as late as midnight. This "night bird" lifestyle has made many students nod off in class. Li Ming said that it is during afternoon classes that he feel most sleepy. "My parents are usually happy to see me studying so late," he said. "They think I work very hard and they make me cups of coffee." However, not all parents are happy about this. "My daughter gets up so early. She looks tired and it really hurts me." said one of the parents. Why don't so many students get enough sleep? Now many members of society began to think about it. Which is NOT the result of lack of sleep? Answer: Poor academic developments. Almost every person _ . Even if you love sugar really much it is now time to learn a very important but also very little known truth regarding sugar. Sugar really has no benefits for your health and the only actual benefits from it are that it sweetens your taste buds and satisfies your sweet tooth. Sugar is not a natural substance and is produced through a special industrial process called refining the sugar cane. Sugar cane has a lot of health benefits but in the refining process it loses all its vitamins, proteins, minerals and other nutrients which are essential. Therefore, you end up consuming empty calories only. Moreover, your body gets all the sugar it needs from the consumption of regular food such as bread, vegetables, fruits and so on. No added sugar is really needed. However, most people love sugar and simply feel like they need to eat food high in sugar. The latest researches show that the recommended intake of sugar which is healthy for your body on daily bases for children, men and women is as follows: children-- 12 grams, which equals 3 teaspoons; men-- 36 grams, which equals 9 teaspoons; *women-- 20 grams, which equals 5 teaspoons. The sugar intake when it comes to diabetics is a lot different based on the type of diabetes. It is best to consult your doctor in order to find out about your personal requirements for the intake of sugar before you follow the guidelines mentioned earlier. When we speak about the recommended daily intake of sugar, it does not mean only simple sugars that we consume in the form of desserts and sodas but also sugars that come from complex carbohydrates and also fruit. You should not exclude all of the sugar from your diet but you should make up for all the extra sugar you eat by exercising. It is not really simple to calculate your sugar intake but you can still control it if you try and you can also get a bigger amount of exercise in order to regulate the sugar amount that is being taken in and then digested by your body. As for diabetics, _ . Answer: the sugar intake varies depending on the type of diabetes Passage 1 As one of China's most popular and widely known story ,Monkey King, is set to return to screens with 3D effects. It may feature many of the same leading actors from the earliest 1986TV series Journey to the West. According to the producer, which can be got easily in the market? The TV drama, with a total investment of 150 million yuan, will be broadcast on Sichuan TV. Almost 90 million yuan has been put into 3D effects with each 45-mniute episode containing eight minutes of 3D. "The 3D effects not only cost us a lot of money but also a lot of time," director Kan Weiping said. "We had to put off its broadcasting time, which was set at first this summer." Passage 2 The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy using power from the sun, while providing safer driving conditions along with power. American inventors of the Solar Road said that it will power itself, and reduce the country's carbon marks. Many panels are fixed on the Solar Road. The top of the Solar Road panels is made of glass and the inventors are working together with top glass researchers to develop super strong glass that would offer vehicles pulling power they need. The Solar Roadway creates and carries clean renewable electricity and, therefore, electric vehicles can be recharged at any rest stop, or at any business that uses solar road panels in their parking lots. Such parking lots will be safer at night with the light provided by LED within the road panels. The inventors say their solar roadway has many applications and advantages from main roads to driveways, parking lots, bike paths and runways. About the 3D TV series Journey to the West we can learn that _ . Answer: we could watch it on TV after the summer Today is Saturday. It's sunny and warm. Many children from No. 1 Middle School are at the Old People's Home. Now, they're helping the old people. Look! Li Min and Zhan Ran are cleaning the windows. Ma Lan and Liu Qian are washing clothes. What's Li Na doing over there? Many old people are clapping their hands for her. Oh, she's singing for them. Her song is really beautiful. And where's the American boy, Tom? He likes helping others and he often comes here. Listen! Who's speaking English? It's Tom. He's teaching two old people to speak English. All the children and the old people are very happy. "We are happy when we help others, " says Tom. How's the weather today? Answer: It's sunny and warm.
Not long ago, a rock band called the Backstreet Boys _ on the music scene. Young people everywhere loved their songs. One of the band's biggest fans was a young boy named Aaron Carter. Aaron had a special reason for taking such an interest in the band. Nick Carter, one of the Backstreet Boys, was Aaron's big brother. Even before Nick joined the band in 1996, Aaron loved music. From the age of two, Aaron spent most of his time listening to the radio. He sang along with his favorite songs. He made up dances to go with them. So Aaron's family was not surprised when Aaron decided to follow Nick into the music world. Aaron got off to a fast start. At the age of seven, he joined a band in his hometown of Tampa, Florida. But after two years, Aaron didn't want to be part of a band anymore. He wanted to sing alone. Soon, Brother Nick gave Aaron a helping hand. During a Backstreet Boys show in Germany, Aaron sang a song. He did an amazing job! After the show, someone from a record company asked Aaron to make an album . Of course, Aaron said yes! Since that day, Aaron has made lots of songs that sell well. His songs include "Crush on You" and "I'm Gonna Miss You Forever". Aaron has worked hard to become a success. But he never forgets how his brother gave him his start. As Aaron has said, "If Nick wasn't a singer, then I wouldn't be there." What is discussed in the passage? Answer: The road to success of a singer. One important difference between living things and nonliving things is that only living things have Answer: cells Drinking water is good for your health. There are some scientific ways of drinking water. 1. It is the best medicine to drink two glasses of water in the morning. 2. Drink clean water. 3. Drink the water that has not been boiled. Many people think boiled water is safe and good to people's health. In fact, it is not true. The boiling point of water is 100degC. By boiling it, most bacteria in water can be killed. In the past, the water was less polluted. So boiling was a good way to make clean water. But heavy metals and other dangerous things in today's water are much more terrible than bacteria. Boiling doesn't fix that problem. And boiling water may give us more of the dangerous things in our glass. 4. Never use soft drinks to take the place of water. 5. Water is also needed in winter. 6. Drink water at the right time. 1) After getting up in the morning, you have less water in your body, because you weren't drinking for the whole night. So you should drink some water to keep your health after getting up in the morning. That can prevent high blood pressure, cerebral hemorrhages and so on. 2) Drinking water at about 10 am helps your body keep enough water. 3) Drinking water at about 3 pm can clean out the wastes in your body. 4) About eight o'clock in the evening is the best time to drink water. Your blood gets thicker when you sleep. Water will make your blood less thick. Besides, we should drink 2L of water every day. Water is so important for our life. We should drink water often. According to the passage, _ in the morning is the best _ . Answer: drinking some water; medicine if two students of equal strength pull a double sided cup in opposite directions, what will happen? Answer: the cup will remain stationary Passing a store, you might just step in and see if the store has received any new CDs. Once in the store, you're delighted to discover some new CDs that you must have. You could buy them later, of course, but you're already here, so why not now? In the checkout line you wonder whether to write a check or pay with a credit card. Either way would be OK, you suppose. The trouble with writing a check, though, is that you don't have much money left in your checking account. Using the credit card you won't have to pay at once, and when you do pay, you will only have to pay a little a month. So you hand the salesperson your plastic card, and that's the deal! There are a few good things about credit cards. For one thing, it's almost impossible to rent a car without a credit card. For another, they are helpful if you are in a situation where you don't have your checkbook or you have little cash with you. What are the disadvantages? One is that few people have the discipline to use their credit cards wisely. Instead, many fall into the buy-now-pay-later trap. Many become "addicted to plastic." Another disadvantage is that credit cards are more abstract than money or checks and thus contribute to our having less control over our money. Bank notes are physical things, and you have to _ your checking account every month when you pay with a check. This takes a bit of work, and although it's painful, it's more realistic. Credit cards represent the abstract, lending a certain air of unreality to the stage of managing your finances. All you do is sign your name; someone else does the math for you. What is the disadvantage of the credit cards? Answer: They will leave you buying more than what you can really afford.
Are extraverts really better leaders? Can an introvert be a good leader? Research has shown a consistent positive relationship between extraversion and leadership. In groups of strangers,such as a jury , extraversion predicts who will be selected foreperson of the jury. It's actually likely to be the person who talks the most,and that person is probably an extravert. So, extraverts are more likely to be chosen for leadership positions (what we call leader "emergence"). There is also a positive relationship (although a weaker one) between extraversion and leader effectiveness, particularly evaluated effectiveness of leaders. So it appears that extraverts have _ an _ edge, _ but does this mean that introverts can't be good leaders? Of course not ! Many successful leaders are introverted, for example Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, and in business, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. One of the best company presidents that I've known was easily the most introverted person among his executive team, but he was very successful and his colleagues admired his "quiet reserve and confidence". So what is the critical factor that both extraverts and introverts need to emerge as a leader and to be effective? Our research has suggested that the key element is good interpersonal, or social, skills. In one study,we looked at the relationship of extraversion to leadership emergence and effectiveness and found that the advantage that extraverts had disappeared when we put social skills into the equation . In other words,only extraverts who possessed social skills were effective leaders. Good interpersonal skills are critical whether the leader is an extravert or an introvert. In addition,we know that we are more likely to choose leaders who look like their prototypes of leaders--they speak well, interact well with others, and just look "leader-like". Extraverts just naturally look more like a prototypical leader, particularly political leaders, than do introverts. Think of the U.S. presidential campaign where presidential hopefuls were evaluated for how much each looked like he or she could be the Commander-in-Chief. The key to leadership success then is to develop the people skills needed to look like a leader, but to also develop the good leader-follower relationships that are necessary for success. If you possess these skills,introversion and extraversion don't matter very much. What can we infer from the passage? Answer: The Americans have been voted the world's "funniest nationality" ---the one "best at making people laugh" ---in a global poll , which also names the Germans the "least funny" nationality and the British "not as funny as they think". 30,000 people across 15 countries were asked to name both the "funniest" and "least funny" nationality in a poll conducted by Badoo.com, the world's largest social network for meeting new people, with 119 million users worldwide. The Americans were voted the funniest nationality, ahead of the Spanish --- the funniest Europeans --- in second, Italians in third and British in seventh. The voting for the "least funny" nationality confirmed the view of America's Mark Twain that "a German joke is no laughing matter". The Germans won, ahead of the Russians and Turks. The stereotype of German humourlessness is believed to _ from their reputation for efficiency, punctuality and rationality . Examples of German jokes include: "Yesterday, I met my friend Horst at the hospital. He'd swallowed a sponge. He says it doesn't hurt but he's always thirsty." "When we meet someone new, one of the first things we notice is whether they make us laugh", says Lloyd Price, Badoo's Marketing Director. "America is a worthy poll winner", says Price. "It's the world's only comedy superpower." The British pride themselves on their humour but learn from the poll that they're not as funny as they think. They placed just seventh of 15 --- behind the Brazilians, French and Mexicans. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: Having taken a room at the hotel at which he had been instructed to stay, Smallwood went out; it was a lovely day, early in August, and the sun shone in an unclouded sky. He had not been to Lucerne since he was a boy, but remembered a covered bridge, though not clearly, a great stone lion and a church in which he had sat, bored yet impressed while they played an organ ; and now wandering along a shady quay he tried not so much to find his way about a half-forgotten scene as to reform in his mind some recollection of the shy and eager boy, so impatient for life, who so long ago had wandered there. But it seemed to him that the most lively of his memories was not of himself, but of the crowd; he seemed to remember the sun and the heat and the people; the train was crowded and so was the hotel, the lake steamers were packed and on the quays and in the streets you found your way among the holiday-makers. They were fat and old and ugly and strange. Now, in wartime, Lucerne was as deserted as it must have been before the world discovered that Switzerland was the play-ground of Europe. Most of the hotels were closed, the streets were empty, the boats for hire rocked lazily at the water's edge and there was none to take them, and in the avenue by the lake the only persons to be seen were serious Swiss taking their dogs for their daily walk. Smallwood felt happy and, sitting down on a bench that faced the water, surrendered himself to the feelings. The blue water, snowy mountains, and their beauty hit you in the face. So long, at all event, as the fine weather lasted he was prepared to enjoy himself. He didn't see why he should not at least try to combine pleasure to himself with advantage to his country. He was prepared to enjoy himself as long as _ . Answer: Taking exams in a large group setting can be stressful for students and for the staff members who are watching over them. When classrooms are crowded and desks are close together, cheating might be tempting. One university in Thailand came up with an anti-cheating hat that makes it almost impossible for students to see other students' papers. A photo of the students wearing the anti-cheating hats made its way to the Internet, and the university was criticized for making students wear those ridiculous looking homemade hats. The hats were made by stapling pieces of paper onto a headband, one to each side of the head. After being criticized, senior academic staff at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, released a statement saying that the hats idea came from students. They said that in a bid to prevent cheating they asked the students for ideas on how to prevent cheating in the upcoming exam, which was being taken by almost one hundred students. Students came up with different ideas, then the paper hat idea was selected by them as the most suitable. The university claimed that no one was forced to use the hat, but they all chose to do so."When wearing the hat during the exam, students felt more relaxed, "Nattadon Rungruangkitkrai, a lecturer at the university said."It was not meant to indicate that Kasetsart students often cheat on exams. I apologize if the photo makes other people look at my students in a negative way, "Rungruangkitkrai added. What's the best title of the text? Answer: During the 1800s, African Americans worked long days in the fields of the American South.To ease their labor, they sang "field hollers" that they had brought from Africa.One person sang a line.Then a group of workers repeated it.The songs' words told of the hardships that people suffered.African Americans sang "shout spirituals", or joyous religious songs.They clapped their hands and stomped their feet to the music. After the Civil War, the music changed dramatically.African American music, from ballads to church music, took new forms.It also adapted dance music, called "jump-ups".which had great rhythm. Banjos became popular.A blues singer usually played a call and response with the banjo.By the early 1900s, the guitar had replaced the banjo as the main blues instrument. Northern Mississippi - called the Delta - was the center of the blues tradition.By the 1920s, the Delta had many clubs, so-called juke joints.African Americans listened and danced to music in these clubs.Some of the greatest blues men and women performed there. Blues have a soulful sound that is easy to recognize.The musical notes are often "bent".That is, they are changed slightly to give a song more strength.Whatever their origin, these bent notes most often define the blues. Lyrics are the words of a song.Blues lyrics describe everyday life.The lyrics, often about relationships between men and women, are often very intense and personal.They tell about sorrow and overwork.They tell about finding or losing love, having money or being broke, being happy or sad and lonely.The lyrics may use humor to describe life's trials and joys.They almost always use the rhythms of everyday speech.A typical blues stanza, or group of lyrics, has three lines.The second line repeats the first line.The third line has different words. By the 1940s, large numbers of African Americans had left the Delta and moved north to work. Many settled in Chicago.There, a new kind of "electric", or "Chicago" blues began.Many of its themes were the same, but these blues had "wailing" electric guitars and harmonicas.The music had a steady, strong drumbeat.The loud, driving Chicago blues was excellent dance music.Chicago blues led to the birth of a new music style-rock and roll. Shout spirituals and "field hollers" are similar in that both _ . Answer:
About five states in Nigeria will experience a total eclipse of the sun on March 29, 2006, according to a forecast by the Ministry of Science and Technology this week. An eclipse occurs in one of two ways: when the moon passes between the earth and the sun so that all or part of the sun cannot be seen for a time, or when the earth passes between the moon and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the moon for a time. The first case is a solar eclipse or eclipse of the sun, which occurs as the earth enters the shadow of the moon. The second describes a lunar eclipse or eclipse of the moon, which happens when the moon enters the shadow of the earth. More than 60 percent of Nigerians are uneducated, and eclipses in some parts of the country in the past have caused commotions in which people have been killed and property destroyed. Some Nigerians believe an eclipse is punishment from the gods for evil doing. The March 29th eclipse would be the fifth in prefix = st1 /Nigeria's history, and it is expected to last for 30 minutes -- 9:15AM to 9:45AM, according to the official prediction.Nigeriawitnessed eclipses in 1898, 1947, 1959, and 2001. The shadows in an eclipse have a central dark part called umbra, and a less dark external section called penumbra. In the umbra, all the sun's light is cut off, and this is called total eclipse; while in the penumbra, only a part of the light from the sun is cut off from the moon, and it is called partial eclipse. Five Nigerian states -- Oyo, Kwara,Niger, Zamfara, and Katsina -- are expected to have total eclipse, while other parts of the country will experience partial eclipse. This passage is mainly written to _ . A. predict a eclipse of the sun in Nigeria B. compare a eclipse of the sun with a eclipse of the moon C. provide information on a coming eclipse of the sun in Nigeria D. show that people in Nigeriareceive little education Answer: C While she may be best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, Emma Watson would rather be known for something else in her mind. The 18-year-old British actress intends to stop her acting career for the moment to pursue higher studies at a university after she finished the films, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Watson, whose parents are both Oxford graduates, is now on a gap year before starting university. Earlier this month, Watson applied to two of the top universities in the United States -- Harvard and Yale. She admitted that Harry Potter series has brought her fame and financial security . She has made more than $10 million so far, but now she "has a need to study". "I think the entertainment business is such a _ one. One minute you' re up there and the next -- nothing," she said. Watson is growing up in front of millions of viewers ( ). She was only nine years old when she started playing the role of Hermione. And the way she figured out how to deal with media attention is "try not to read too much of what is said and try to distance myself a bit from _ ". Watson has other interests. These include, interestingly, fishing and she has helped raise money for the Wild Trout Trust. Which of the following topics is not mentioned in the passage.'? A. Watson' s interests. B. Watson's intention. C. Watson's success. D. Watson's worries. Answer: D You may not be aware, but digital currency is a big part of the Internet world. QQ Coins can buy you accessories for your QQ images. More importantly, a new digital currency, Bitcoin, is bringing the world's commerce online. If you're traveling, you can spend Bitcoins at restaurants and hotels listed at BitcoinTravel.com. In China, Bitcoins can be used to buy goods at about 134 online shops on Taobao. And at a cafe named 2nd Place in Beijing, you can even buy fresh coffee with Bitcoins. So what makes Bitcoin so attractive to investors? First of all, the Bitcoin system is not controlled by anyone. One central authority cannot make policies to change the value of Bitcoins. The fixed amount of Bitcoins also means they cannot lose value through inflation , as all forms of paper money have done over time. In addition, accounts in the Bitcoin system are anonymous and transparent. Users can set up an account easily and track every Bitcoin. All of these features seem to make Bitcoins immune from loss, but that is not entirely true. "The value of Bitcoins can vary wildly as no central government makes the price of them steady. If the value drops suddenly, investors cannot get any compensation ," Zhao Qingming, a senior researcher at China Construction Bank, told China Economic Weekly. And Bitcoins, unlike company shares, are not backed by any tangible funds, which also adds to their risk. While China will not recognize the digital currency anytime soon, Xinhua said, lawmakers and officials at a hearing on Nov. 18 in the US made positive comments about Bitcoin. Ben Bernanke, outgoing chairman of the Federal Reserve, told the Washington Post that "these types of creations, such as Bitcoin... may hold long-term promise, particularly if its system promotes a faster, more secure and more efficient payment system." Bitcoin is _ . A. actually exactly like QQ Coins B. only used online C. a new currency used both online and in real life D. a country's new digital currency. Answer: C As the economic crisis forces corporations and small businesses to shed jobs , one large employer still has the "help wanted " sign out :the U.S .government Experts say the federal governments' civilian workforce of 2.8 million is likely to expand significantly over the next several years as it aims at stimulating the economy , rescue troubled banks, _ health care and pursue other elements of President Barack Obama's agenda With the economy in turmoil the stability of a government career now holds greater appeal. And it doesn't hurt that the new boss, President,Barack Obama, has encouraged citizens to consider public service-a marked contrast to predecessor George W. Bush who disparaged government "It's the same thing that happened 40-some-old years ago when Kennedy came in "said Ross Harris whose Federal Research Service helps applicants find government jobs, "It was a new generation and there was the same type of excitement behind it , and we're seeing the same type of thing with Obama"Harris said he has seen the number of unique visitors to his website double over the past year as the recession has taken hold, He estimated that the $ 787 billion economic stimulus package signed into laws last month could create at least 100,000 more government jobs next year and 120,000 by 2012 Government hiring has increased steadily over the past four years, from 79,000 in the year 2004 to 99,000 in 2007 according to the Office of Personnel Management Which one of the following is NOT TRUE'? A. President Barack Obama is trying to stimulate economy B. More and more people surf the Internet to ask for help from U .S .Government C. The government's measures may create more than 1 00.000 jobs D. Former President Bush didn't encourage people to take public services. Answer: B Most shoplifters agree that the January sales offer wonderful opportunities for the hard-working thief. With the shops so crowded and the staff so busy, it does not require any extraordinary talent to help you to take one or two little things and escape unnoticed. It is known, in the business, as "hoisting". But the hoisting game is not what it used to be. Even at the height of the sales, shoplifters today never know if they are being watched by one of those evil little balls that hang from the ceilings of so many department stores above the most desirable goods. As if that was not trouble enough for them, they can now be filmed at work and forced to attend a showing of their performance in court. Selfridges was the first big London store to install videotape equipment to watch its sales floors. In October last year the store won its first court case for shoplifting using an evidence a videotape clearly showing a couple stealing dresses. It was an important test case which encouraged other stores to install similar equipment. When the balls first make an appearance in shops, it was widely believed that their only function was to frighten shoplifters. Their somewhat ridiculous appearances, the curious holes and red lights going on and off, certainly make the theory believable. It did not take long, however, for serious shoplifters to start showing suitable respect. Soon after the equipment was in operation at Selfridges, store detective Brian Chadwick was sitting in the control room watching a woman secretly putting bottles of perfume into her bag. "As she turned to go," Chadwick recalled, "she suddenly looked up at the 'balls' and stopped. She could not possibly have seen that the camera was trained on her because it is completely hidden, but she must have had a feeling that I was looking at her." "For a moment she paused, but then she returned to counter and started putting everything back. When she had finished, she opened her bag towards the camera to show it was empty and hurried out of the store." The case last October was important because _ . A. the store got the dresses back B. the equipment was able to frighten shoplifters C. other shops found out about the equipment D. the kind of evidence supplied was accepted by court Answer: D
Cities with high levels of homeownership--in the range of 75%, like Detroit and St. Louis--had on average considerably lower levels of economic activity and much lower wages and incomes. Far too many people in financial problems are trapped in homes they can't sell, unable to move on to new centers of opportunity. The cities and regions with the lowest levels of homeownership--in the range of 55% to 60% like Los Angeles and New York--had healthier economies and higher incomes. They also had higher levels of happiness and well-being. I was shocked to read these interesting points that Richard Florida made in his recent article. Let me try to understand. The people in Detroit and St. Louis are less happy than the people in New York, and Los Angeles. And, the reason is because of homeownership rates? First, to compare them to New York City (the economic capital of the world), Los Angeles (the entertainment capital of the world) seems unfair. Most people in almost any other city in the world might be less happy! Next, let's try a different way of determining whether renters are happier than homeowners. Why don't we ask them? Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey 2010 reported: 75% of current renters believe owning a home makes more sense. 67% plan to buy a home at some point in the future. When they asked current renters for the major reason to buy a house, these were their answers (they could pick several answers): 78% said it was a good place to raise children. 75% said because they would feel safe. 70% said because you have control of your own space. If you believe renters are happier, you would also have to believe the majority enjoy living in a less safe environment, which wouldn't be a good place to raise children and would be a place where they have less control of their space. Which of the following is a fact? Answer: "We are good mothers," I said to my friend, as we sat on our comfortable beach chairs under our beach umbrella and watched our children playing in the waves. Out of nowhere, the children took off running. About fifty yards from us, a man--maybe in his fifties--was fishing. The children stood next to him and watched with their little mouths hanging open as he cast the fishing lines. He smiled at them. They ran back to us--all except my three-year-old daughter, Drew. My heart beat fast with horror. "Drew! Come here! Play with your friends!" I shouted, very aware that my speeches about not talking to strangers weren't working. It seemed that many parents heard of horrible stories about children being taken away by strangers. Responsible mothers should teach their children that the world is a dangerous place. So I felt relieved when Drew ran towards me and took hold of a shovel . Then she looked me in the eye: "I want to be with the person." Again, she approached the middle-aged man, and started digging next to him. Several seconds later, she returned, waving something shiny. "Look, Mommy! A toy fish!" It was, indeed, a toy fish--yellow and rubber. This must have been what he was using to attract the fish. And he'd given it to Drew. The three other children were deeply impressed, and they didn't try to hide how jealous they were--clearly, they all wanted the fish. "My friend gave me that fish!" Drew shouted loudly. The sand in front of the umbrella turned into a preschool cage match with a yellow rubber fish flying through the air. I felt like I might cry myself. Unexpectedly, there he was: the man, standing right next to us with three more rubber fish in hand. He handed them to each of the children. By their faces, you would have thought he was actually the really kind big brother. "Thank you," I said, realizing that there is good and kindness in strangers. The author was at a loss when _ . Answer: Back in the old days, when I was a child, we sat around the family roundtable at dinnertime and exchanged our daily experiences. It wasn't very organized, but everyone was recognized and all the news that had to be told was told by each family member. We listened to each other and the interest was not put-on; it was real. Our family was a unit and we supported each other, and nurtured each other, and liked each other, and--we were even willing to admit--we loved each other. Today, the family roundtable has moved to the local fast-food restaurant and talk is not easy, much less encouraged. Grandma, who used to live upstairs, is now. the voice on long distance, and the working parent is far too beaten down each day to spend evening relaxation time listening to the sandbox experience of an eager four-year-old. So family conversation is as extinct as my old toys and parental questions such as "What have you been doing, Bobby?" have been replaced by "I'm busy, go watch television. " And watch TV they do; count them by the millions. But it's usually not children's television that children watch. Saturday morning, the children's hour, amounts to only about 8 percent of their weekly viewing. Where are they to be found? Watching adult television, of course, from the Match Game in the morning, to the afternoon at General Hospital, from the muggings and battles on the evening news right through the family hour and past into Starsky and Hutch. That's where you find our kids, over five million of them, at 10 p. m. , not fewer than a million until after midnight! All of this is done with parental permission. Television, used well, can provide enriching experiences for our young people, but we must use it with some sense. When the carpet is clean, we turn off the vacuum cleaner. When the dishes are clean, the dishwasher turns itself off. Not so the television, which is on from the sun in the morning to the moon at night and beyond! Parents must exercise some control and show some concern about the cultural influence on the child when a program not intended for that child is viewed. Parents need to intervene . Nonintervention may be a wise policy in international affairs, but the results of parental nonintervention will not be wise at all. If we use television with some _ television can provide our young people with much knowledge. Answer: 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. Experts think young people's getting up later _ . Answer: The Norwegian government is doing its best to keep the oil industry under control. A new law limits exploration to an area south of the southern end of the long coastline; production limits have been laid down(though these have already been raised) ; and oil companies have not been allowed to employ more than a limited number of foreign workers. But the oil industry has a way of getting over such problems, and few people believe that the government will be able to hold things back for long. Ever since the war, the government has been carrying out a program of development in the area north of the Arctic Circle. For the past few years this program has had a great deal of success: Torso has been built up into a local capital with a university, a large hospital and a healthy industry. But the oil industry has already started to draw people south, and within a few years the whole northern city could be in ruins. The effects of the oil industry would not be limited to the north, however. With nearly 100 per cent employment, everyone can see a situation developing in which the service industries and the tourist industry will lose more of their workers to the oil industry. Some smaller industries might even disappear altogether when it becomes cheaper to buy goods from abroad. The real argument over the oil industry is its effects on the Norwegian way of life. Farmers and fishermen do not make up most of the population, but they are an important part of it because Norwegians see in them many of the qualities that they regard with pride as real Norwegians. And it is the farmers and the fishermen who are most against the oil industry because of the damage that it might cause to the sea and to the countryside and to the whole country. One Norwegian politician said last week, "We will soon be changed beyond all recognition." According to the passage, the oil industry might lead to _ in northern Norway. Answer:
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have gotten a lot "greener" toward the environment. "We didn't know at that time that there even was an environment, let alone that there was a problem with it," says Bruce Anderson, president of Earth Day USA. But what began as nothing important in public affairs has grown into a social movement. Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement. "The understanding has increased many, many times," says Gaylord Nelson, the former governor from Wisconsin, who thought up the first Earth Day. According to US government reports, emissions from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 tons. The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced from 40 to 9. Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with, the world is a safer and healthier place. A kind of "Green thinking " has become part of practices. Great improvement has been achieved. In 1988 there were only 600 recycling programs, today in 1995 there are about 6,600. Advanced lights, motors, and building designs have helped save a lot of energy and therefore prevented pollution. Twenty-five years ago, there were hardly any education programs for environment. Today, it's hard to find a public school, university, or law school that does not have such a kind of program. "Until we do that, nothing else will change!" says Bruce Anderson. Where does the support for environmental protection mainly come from? Answer: Which is the best explanation for how air masses move across the United States? Answer: Jack threw the papers on my desk. "Next time you want to change anything, ask me first," he said. I had changed a long sentence and corrected its grammar -- something I thought I was paid to do. Several days later, he made me angry again. I went to his office, prepared to lose my job if need be, but not before I let the man know how I felt. "What?" he said nervously. Suddenly I knew what I had to do. "Jack, the way you've been treating me is wrong. And it's wrong for me to allow it to continue," I said. "I want to make you a promise. I will be a friend." The next day I brought some cakes to Jack's office. Every time I saw Jack in the hall, I smiled at him. After all, that's what friends do. One year after our talk, I was told that I had breast cancer . When I was in hospital, my friends tried to find the right words to say, but no one could. The last day of my hospital stay, the door opened and Jack walked over to my bed. "Tulips ," he placed some bulbs beside me and said, "If you plant them when you get home, you'll be there to see them when they come up." Tears filled my eyes. In a moment when I prayed for just the right words, a man with few words said the right thing. After all, that's what friends do. Now, I have seen those tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years. The tulip bulbs that Jack gave the author probably suggest _ . Answer: Amy was looking for a gift for her little daughter. Suddenly she stopped before a store of dolls. "Girls like dolls," she thought as she was walking into it. Looking around, she saw a grandma doll - one with gray hair and a pair of glasses. In her mind appeared Joyce, her mother. When Amy was a little girl, she got her first doll from Joyce for her birthday. Then the second, the third...A doll a year from Joyce never arrived late. "Why always a doll?" This question had been in Amy's mind until one day her father gave the answer, Little Joyce dreamed to have a doll. Her parents promised one for her fifth birthday. Sadly, they both died in a traffic accident before it arrived. The never-received gift was the most _ in her eyes. Her mother's story being recalled , Amy got an idea. It was Joyce's 60th birthday. A package was delivered to her, with a card that read: Dear Joyce, I forget to send you the package that you should have received on May 20, 1956, your fifth birthday. The gift inside has aged, but I felt that you might still wish to have it. Angel of Joy Joyce opened the package and saw a lovely grandma doll. She held the doll that she had waited for so many years, with tears running down her face. The doll, given by "Angel of Joy", made her the happiest "child" in the world. How do you understand the last sentence "The doll, given by 'Angel of Joy'", made her the happiest "child" in the world? Answer: How might a dresser crab avoid attention in an aquarium containing pieces of velvet and necklaces made of colorful stones? Answer:
In the middle of a really embarrassing moment, you might feel like you just want to disappear. Maybe you wish for a time machine that could send you back five minutes. Well, time machines are hard to come by in the real world, so finding a better way of getting through the humiliation is needed. Sometimes, embarrassment is caused by how we act after we make an unwanted thing. If the thing is a small one, you can just pretend it didn't happen, and many people won't notice. On the other hand, if you stop, or get red in the face after you've messed up, people will really notice, and it will be hard to let the moment pass by. Of course, some embarrassing moments are too big or obvious for this plan to work. Sometimes when you meet or get caught in a really cringe-worthy moment, it doesn't seem funny. Other people may laugh, but you just get red in the face and feel like curling up in a ball of shame. But there are some people who can laugh at their own mistakes. When they mess up, they laugh harder than their friends do! People like _ don't stay embarrassed for long, because this can turn into another funny story. They might even make a joke about their mistake before anyone else gets the chance to. You shouldn't pretend a laugh if you really feel angry or embarrassed, but changing your attitude or outlook might be worth trying. Remember that a thing that makes you embarrassed today will probably make you laugh tomorrow. So why not try to laugh today? ,. How will you feel when you meet or caught in a really cringe-worthy moment? Bored. Color is very important in our daily life. It can influence our choice of purchase when we go shopping and can also affect the way we look and feel. A person can be naturally attracted to one particular color1 while finding another color1 repulsive. The influence of color1 on human emotions and feelings is very powerful and designers, advertisers, artists and even doctors use _ in their professions for different purposes. Every day, without even thinking about it, we use color1 to communicate our feelings. For example, the color1 we choose to wear is one way of expressing ourselves. It says something about the person, how he or she feels, and how he or she wants others to feel about the wearer. In other words, color1 talks. A person who wants to appear stylish and mature will usually wear dark color1s or black. A person who wishes to appear youngish, pure and innocent dresses in white, like the choice of a bride's wedding gown. Also clothed in white are doctors, dentists, nurses and hospital in-patients as the color1 expresses comfort, cleanliness and professionalism. Brown, blue or grey clothes are the usual color1s worn by office workers so as not to draw unnecessary attention to them. They are, in a way, conveying the message that they want to be noticed for their work, not their appearance. People who wear bright, strong color1s like to be attractive and these color1s are particularly popular with actresses, singers and party goers. In the past, common people were not allowed to wear certain color1s. In Thailand, for example, only kings, queens and members of the royal family could wear purple while in ancient China, yellow was the color1 reserved for the emperor and the empress. Nowadays, people can wear whatever color1 they like or as they think appropriate. If a girl chooses to wear a red dress to a party, it implies that she wants to _ . be noticed What are you feeling right now as you start to read this? Are you curious? Hoping that you'll learn something about yourself? Bored because this is something you have to do for school and you're not really into it -- or happy because it's a school project you enjoy? Perhaps you're attracted by something else, like feeling excited about your weekend plans or sad because you just went through a breakup. Emotions like these are part of human nature. They give us information about what we're experiencing and help us know how to react. We sense our emotions from the time we're babies. Young children react to their emotions with facial expressions or with actions like laughing or crying. They feel and show emotions, but they don't yet have the ability to name the emotion or say why they feel that way. As we grow up, we become more skilled in understanding emotions. Instead of just reacting like little kids do, we can identify what we feel and put it into words. With time and practice, we get better at knowing what we are feeling and why. This skill is called emotional awareness. Emotional awareness helps us know what we need and want, or don't want! It helps us build better relationships. That's because being aware of our emotions can help us talk about feelings more clearly, avoid or settle conflicts better, and move past difficult feelings more easily. Some people are naturally more in touch with their emotions than others. The good news is that everyone can be more aware of their emotions. It just takes practice. But it's worth the effort. Emotional awareness is the first step toward building emotional intelligence, a skill that can help people succeed in life. Where is the passage probably taken from? A science magazine. Friendship is the most important thing in the world. But now do you find a real friendship and keep it? An American writer tells young students some smart ways to find friends. He says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seed and take care of it to make it grow. First, to make friends, you must be kind and friendly to others. You should learn to smile at others and try to make a stranger feel at home. _ . Second, friends should negotiate instead of quarrel . When you don't agree with someone, please discuss with him or her. But even the best friends can quarrel. After the quarrel, you have to talk to him or her. If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter. Tell him or her how you are feeling, and explain why you did this or that. Finally, never believe in those who leave you when you are in trouble. And never leave your friend when he or she is in trouble. Remember, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Which is the best title for the passage? How to find a real friend? It was a quarter past nine as Marie hurried into the office building where she was going to work. Her bus had inched along through heavy morning traffic, making her a few minutes late for her very first job. She decided to start out half an hour earlier the next day Once inside the lobby, she had to stand at the elevators and wait several minutes before she could get on one going to the sixth floor. When she finally reached the office marked "King Enterprises", she knocked at the door nervously and waited. There was no answer. She tapped on the door again, but still, there was no reply. From inside the next office, she could hear the sound of voices, so she opened the door and went in. Although she was sure it was the same office she had been in two weeks before when she had had the interview with Mr King, it looked quite different now. In fact, it hardly looked like an office at all. The employees were just standing around chatting and smoking. At the far end of the room, somebody must have just told a good joke, she thought, because there was a loud burst of laughter as she came in. For a moment she had thought they were laughing at her. Then one of the men looked at his watch, clapped his hands and said something to the others. Quickly they all went to their desks and, in a matter of seconds, everyone was hard at work. No one paid any attention to Marie. Finally she went up to the man who was sitting at the desk nearest to the door and explained that this was her first day in the office. Hardly looking up from his work, he told her to have a seat and wait for Mr King, who would arrive at any moment. Then Marie realised that the day's work in the office began just before Mr King arrived. Later she found out that he lived in Connecticut and came into Manhattan on the same train every morning, arriving in the office at 9:35, so that his staff knew exactly when to start working. The best title for this text would be _ Punctual Like a Clock
Question: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults. Since 2000, the CDC has made efforts with goals of getting 75% of Americans to eat two or more servings of fruit a day and 50% of Americans to eat three or more servings of vegetables a day. Unfortunately, Americans aren't meeting these modest targets. Although a diet high in fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of many diseases, Americans just aren't getting enough. In fact, since 2000, the amount of vegetables Americans are eating has stayed the same and the amount of fruit Americans are eating has gone down. The CDC also finds that only about a third of adults are eating their expected servings of fruit, and just over a quarter of adults are eating their expected servings of vegetables. So why aren't Americans getting their expected servings of fruit and vegetables? It turns out that Americans might be spoiled when it comes to their produce. A national survey conducted by Fruit2day reveals that nearly half of Americans leave fruit in their fridges until it rots with people in Boston among the worst and those in New York and Los Angeles among the best. Sadly, most Americans admit to leaving fruit in the fridge for more than a week. There are many reasons why Americans don't eat their fruit or vegetables, including the inconvenience of having to wash or peel it. Fruit2day offers consumers a surprising and convenient way to enjoy the goodness of fruit. "With no added sugar, natural juices and two full servings of fruit, our Fruit2day line has really captured the imaginations of health-conscious consumers who are actively looking to get more fruit in their diets," said Hanno Holm, president and chief executive officer of Hero-White Wave. "Fruit2day makes getting more fruit in one's diet easier for any daily snack routine." For 4 million American adults, how many of them are eating two or more servings of fruit a day? A. About 1.3 million. B. About 2 million. C. About 3 million. D. About 1 million. Answer: A. About 1.3 million. Question: The pen is more powerful than the sword. There have been many writers who use their pens to write things that were wrong. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was one of them. She was born in the U. S. A. in 1811. One of her books not only made her famous but has been described as one that excited the world, and was helpful in causing a civil war and freeing the enslaved race. The civil war was the American Civil War of 1861, in which the Northern States fought the Southern States and finally won. This book that shook the world was called Uncle Tom's Cabin. There was a time when every English-speaking man, woman, and child had read this novel that did so much to stop slavery. Not many people read it today, but it is still very interesting, if only to show how a warm-hearted writer can arouse people's sympathies. The author herself had neither been to the Southern States nor seen a slave. The Southern Americans were very angry at the book, which they said did not at all represent the true state of affairs, but the Northern Americans were widely excited over it, and were so inspired by it that they were ready to go to war to set the slaves free. What can we learn from the passage? A. No wor can be won without such a book as Uncle Tom's Cabin. B. We must understand the importance of literature and art. C. We needn't use weapons to fight things that are wrong. D. A writer is more helpful in war than a soldier. Answer: B. We must understand the importance of literature and art. Question: Three rich ladies met every day by the river. They sat there and talked the whole day. Once the three ladies quarreled . One of them said. "Look, how white and beautiful my hands are!" Another one said, "My hands are more beautiful." The third one said, "Mine are the most beautiful ones." An old beggar woman came up to them. "Beautiful ladies," she said, "I'm hungry. Please give me something to eat." But the three ladies gave her nothing. They only asked, "Tell me, old woman, which one of us has the most beautiful hands?" A peasant woman was also sitting by the river. She was poor and her hands were rough because of hard work. The old woman came up to her and said, "I'm hungry. Please give me something to eat." The peasant woman took out her only cake she had and gave her a half. The old woman ate it and drank some water. Then she took the peasant woman by the hand, brought her before the rich ladies and said, "Now, I shall tell you whose hands are the most beautiful. The hands of the poor peasant woman are rough because of work, but they give us food; they are far more beautiful than your hands which have done nothing." The three ladies _ . A. had a quarrel every day B. were rich but unkind C. had a talk about their hands every day D. lived by the side of the river Answer: B. were rich but unkind Question: Bob was happy. He was at a new school, and the other students were friendly. "Hi, Bob!" They said. But some students said, "Hi, Peter!" Bob didn't understand. He asked another student, " Why do some students call me Peter?" "Oh, that is easy to answer," the student said. "Peter was a student here last year. Now, he goes to a different school. You like Peter. Some students think that you are Peter." Bob wanted to meet Peter. He got Peter's address from a student and went to Peter's house. Peter opened the door. Bob couldn't believe his eyes. He looked really like Peter! Bob and Peter had the same color eyes and the same smile. They had the same black hair. They also had the same birthday. Bob and Peter found out that they were twin brothers. They both were adopted by two different families. Soon after the boys born, one family adopted Bob, and another family adopted Peter. Bob's family never knew about Peter, and Peter's family never knew about Bob, either. Another student told Bob that _ . A. students liked Peter B. he looked liked Peter C. Peter was a good student in that school D. Peter liked his studies very much Answer: B. he looked liked Peter Question: One evening after dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Tisich called a family meeting. "We've had to make a difficult decision," Mr. Tisich announced. "You see, your mother has been offered a post as co-director of a television station in Chicago. Unfortunately, the station is not here. After thinking long and hard about it, we've concluded that the right decision is to move to Chicago." Marc looked shocked, while his sister Rachel breathlessly started asking when they'd be moving. "It's surprising, but exciting!" she said. Marc simply said, "We can't go--I can't leave all my friends. I'd rather stay here and live with Tommy Lyons!" The Tisichs hoped that by the time they moved in August, Marc would grow more used to the idea of leaving. However, he showed no signs of accepting the news, refusing to pack his belongings. When the morning of the move arrived, Marc was nowhere to be found. His parents called Tommy Lyon's house, but Mrs. Lyons said she hadn't seen Marc. Mrs. Tisich became increasingly concerned, while her husband felt angry with their son for behaving so irresponsibly. What they didn't know was that Marc had started walking over to Tommy's house, with a faint idea of hiding in Lyons's attic for a few days. But something happened on the way as Marc walked past all the familiar landscape of the neighborhood: the fence that he and his mother painted, the tree that he and his sister used to climb, the park where he and his father often took evening walks together. How much would these mean without his family, who make them special in the first place? Marc didn't take the time to answer that question but instead hurried back to his house, wondering if there were any moving cartons the right size to hold his record collection. The reason for Marc's going home was that _ . A. he did not want to be left behind B. he realized his family was important to him C. he hoped to reach an agreement with his parents D. he wished to be a more responsible person Answer: B. he realized his family was important to him
An early morning winter storm had brought several inches of snow on my small town in the mountains. Schools were canceled, roads were dangerous and all I wanted to do was to stay in bed. Still, I knew I had to get the day started so I put on warm clothes and walked outside. The snow got all over my shoes. The cold wind dried my lips and my eyes. _ Yet, when I looked out on the white blanket that covered the ground, I couldn't help but smile a bit. It was so beautiful. It softened the bare trees and hid the dead grass. In the distance I could hear the sound of the snowplow on the road, the barking of a happy dog and the laughter of children playing outside, enjoying their way off from school. The sweet music of that laughter brought back a hundred memories of winters past. I remembered catching snowflakes on my tongue, building snowmen, making snow angles, running down hills and always losing snowball fights with first my brothers and then my own children. Standing there in that warm coat of memories made the wind a little less cold and my back a little less sore . I turned up my head, stuck out my tongue and for the first time in years caught a snowflake on it. It tasted so fresh and clean. It tasted like youth, like joy and like love. May you always feel young in spirit, no matter how old or achy your body may be. May you always delight in the simple joys of life. May you always share your happiness with the hearts of children. And may you always give your love, your light, your laughter and your warmth to others even on the coldest days. From which senses did the author describe the joy of having snow? Answer: Jack and Mike are on holiday in France. Mike loves visiting old building. So does Jack. In the village Jack and Mike see a beautiful old church , but when they come into the church, some people are there. They don't know what the people are doing. "Oh! Just sit quietly , and act like the others!"Mike says. Because they don't really know French, so they stand, kneel and sit to follow other people. At that time, the priest says something. And the man who sits next to Jack and Mike stands up. "We should stand up, too!"Jack whispers to Mike. So, Jack and Mike walk to the priest. "What's so funny?"Jack asks in English. With a smile on his face the priest says, "Boys, there is a newbaby born, we ask the father to stand up." Mike shakes his head. He smiles and says, "We should understand what people do before we act like them!" The passage wants to tell us _ . Answer: Some problems are difficult to solve. But there are a lot of number expressions that can help. For example, if we put two and two together, we might come up with the right answer. We know that two heads are better than one. It is always better to work with another person to solve a problem. Some problems have only one solution. You cannot be of two minds over this. But with any luck,we can solve the problem in two shakes of a lamb's tail. In other words,we could have our answers quickly and easily. Sometimes we can kill two birds with one stone. That is, we can complete two goals with only one effort or action. But we must remember that two wrongs don't make a right. If someone does something bad to you, you should not do the same to him. If you are going out with your girlfriend,or boyfriend,but you don't want another friend to go along on your date,you can just say to your friend: two's company, three's a crowd. When I was a young child in school, I had to learn the three R' s. These important skills are reading, writing and arithmetic. These three words do not all start with the letter "R". But they have the sound of "R". My teacher used to give three cheers when I did well in maths. They gave praise and approval for a job well done. Some of my friends were confused and did not understand their school work. They were at sixes and sevens. In fact, they did not care if they finished high school. But they were happy when they completed their studies and graduated from high school. They were in seventh heaven. They were on cloud nine. Nine times out of ten students who do well in school find good jobs. Some work in an office doing the same things every day at nine-to-five jobs. You do not have to dress to the nines, or wear your best clothes, for this kind of work. What is the best title of the passage? Answer: When a volcano erupts, lava flows out from the top. What type of rock is formed as the lava cools? Answer: Most teenagers in Britain receive pocket money from their parents. A report by the Bank of Scotland interviewed over 1,000 young people in Britain and found that 77% get pocket money. Different families give different amounts of pocket money. The average for eight-to-fifteen-year-olds in the UK is about PS6 a week. Children in Scotland receive slightly more than the national average and Londoners get the most. Teenagers, logically, get more money than younger children. Some fifteen-to-nineteen-year-olds receive more than PS100 a month. The report found that many children save at least a quarter of their weekly pocket money and that more boys than girls save their money. Lots of young people have to do housework to get their pocket money. They help at home with jobs like cleaning and cooking. A part-time job is a choice for teenagers who don't have pocket money or who want to earn extra money. About 15% of teenagers have a job. Popular part-time jobs for teenagers include delivering newspapers, shop work, and working in a restaurant or cafe. There are strict government laws about working hours. Only children over 13 can work (there are some exceptions, for example, for actors.) On a school day they can work a maximum of 2 hours a day but not during school hours. At weekends and during school holidays they can work longer hours. The national minimum wage for people aged 16-17 is PS3.57 per hour. 18-year-olds must earn a minimum of PS4.83. There isn't a national minimum waged for people under 16. In Britain some children and teenagers have a bank account. There is no legal age limit at which you can open a bank account but a bank manager can decide whether to allow a child or young person to open an account. Parents can put pocket money directly into their child's bank account and then children can use it to pay for things without carrying money. Saving or spending pocket money, working part-time and dealing with banks are all parts of the process of becoming a financially independent adult and having to earn and look after your own money. The pocket money for a child in Scotland per week may be _ . Answer:
As a senior, my future is always on my mind. To be exact, thoughts of the future have kept me up countless nights and made me worry enough to do poorly on more than one test. Because of this, words of wisdom are a source of comfort. Steve Jobs gave a speech to Stanford's graduating class in 2005 and his words resound repeatedly in my mind whenever I think about my future. It wasn't always like that, though. It started when I became a junior, when college came into view. It's the first big step to making your life your own. So when Jobs discussed his life as a student, some fears were eased. He, too, felt the need to attend college to make something of himself. He faced what many are extremely afraid of: uncertainty. His lack of understanding caused him to stop attending college and focus on what he felt was important. His story had a happy ending, of course, since he certainly turned out well. This doesn't mean that students shouldn't attend college, but rather that they shouldn't worry so much. You'll get where you need to go, even if your path is a bit more winding than you'd like. Jobs talked about the hardships in his work. His love of his work helped him carry on and he got where he was meant to be, which restates the point: don't panic. One particular part of his speech stayed with me. Steve Jobs quoted the saying "Stay hungry, stay foolish" and it has become my motto. Staying foolish is realizing that you are still a fool, no matter how much you've learned or experienced. There is always more to explore. Staying hungry is wanting to find those things about which you are still uneducated. Steve Jobs's level of success is attainable, and I aim to prove that. With the will power to go into the world living every day like it's my last and allowing the future to take care of itself, I will do great things. In the last moments of my life, I'll be proud of what I have done and hope to have all the wisdom a person could wish for. What did NOT Steve Jobs encourage students to do in his speech? A. Have the desire to learn more. B. Be content with what they know. C. Stay calm in the face of hardships. D. Be modest so as to learn more. Answer: B The mineral alpha is added to bodies of fresh water to prevent the spread of certain freshwater parasites. The presence of those parasites threatens the health of the organisms living in rivers and streams throughout the country and imperils the freshwater commercial fishing industry. Alpha is currently mined only in the state of Blue. In order to raise needed revenue, Congress recently enacted a statute providing for the imposition of a $100 tax on each ton of alpha mined in the United States. Because it will raise the cost of alpha, this tax is likely to reduce the amount of alpha added to freshwater rivers and streams and, therefore, is likely to have an adverse effect on the interstate freshwater commercial fishing industry. The alpha producers in Blue have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging this tax solely on constitutional grounds. Is this tax constitutional? A. No, because only producers in Blue will pay the tax and, therefore, it is not uniform among the states and denies alpha producers the equal protection of the laws. B. No, because it is likely to have an adverse effect on the freshwater commercial fishing industry and Congress has a responsibility under the clause to protect, foster, and advance such interstate industries. C. Yes, because the tax is a necessary and proper means of exercising federal authority over the navigable waters of the United States. D. Yes, because the power of Congress to impose taxes is plenary, this tax does not contain any provisions extraneous to tax needs or purposes, and it is not barred by any prohibitory language in the Constitution. Answer: D 2010 was a good year for American farmers. They earned about eighty-two billion dollars. That is almost one-third more than that they earned last year. And it is twenty-six percent higher than the ten-year average. Values for grain and oilseed crops are up about three percent from last year. The value of animal production is up by almost seven percent. In 2011, farm exports are expected to break the all-time high set in 2008.The Agriculture Department says exports in 2011 could top one hundred and twenty-six billion dollars. The largest buyer of agricultural products is expected to be Canada. But farm exports to China are predicted to come within five hundred million dollars of Canadian purchases. Secretary Vilsack says countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are also buying more from American farmers. Poor growing conditions overseas played an important part in higher prices for American crops in 2010.Charlotte Hebe brand is chief executive of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council in Washington. She said drought conditions had a big effect over the summer. She said,"There were horrible weather problems, not just in Russia but also in some of the other former Soviet Union countries." Wheat prices rose after Russia stopped wheat exports,although Russia later eased the ban ."Wheat used to be America's top crop. What's interesting,though,is that wheat production has actually become less over the past few years because corn has become the most popular crop,"said economist Charlotte Hebebrand. Corn is mostly fed to animals. But Miss Hebebrand said with the recent increase in wheat prices, American farmers might plant more wheat again. Corn and wheat are the two largest crops supported by the government. We know that compared to 2009,in 2010 American farmers----. A. planted less corn B. planted morn crops C. planted morn wheat D. earned more money Answer: D When you get tense about something that happens in your life, you are experiencing stress. Too much stress can cause anger, depression and other related symptoms, which you need to seriously look into. The following are simple ways that can be used to deal with stress. Be Gentle with Yourself There are times when you are not fair to yourself. Often you are harder on yourself than you are of other people. If you can learn to accept yourself just the way you are, especially unconditionally, this would reduce the pressure you apply to yourself. Exercise Go for a walk. Go to the shops. You can join a local walk, swim or jog team. If you are tired out from doing housework and haven`t left your workstation, have a stretch. Change your environment for an hour or so. Stop Comparing Yourself with Others Often you don`t realize that a great deal of unhappiness is caused by constant comparisons you make. You says, "if only I had a big house like she was...", "if only my husband were as rich as hers..." The comparison is endless. The only comparison that counts is the comparison between where you were and where you are now . By all means, admire others, congratulate them and be proud of their achievements, but remind yourself that only you can decide the standard you want to set for yourself. Talk the Stress Out Sometimes it helps to share or talk about your stress to close friends or family members. The other person`s active listening can help. What can we learn from the passage? A. Comparing with others makes us happy. B. Too much stress is bad for our health C. Others put much pressure on us. D. Talking out our stress might dangerous Answer: B People like to read or listen to stories, especially children. After reading, some children wish to be writers some day. They want to write stories or books for people to read. That's good! It's good to write something for people to read! But they should know that they need to be good readers first before they are really good writers. They should read a lot of books. Instead of watching TV and spending a lot of time playing games when they are free. There is more fun in reading. After you read some good books, you may want to look for more books to read. Before you decide to be a good writer, you should say to yourself. "I must read more and more to become better and better at writing!" What does this article mainly tell us? A. Some children wish to be writers some day. B. It is good to write something for people to read. C. Reading a lot can help us to become good writers. D. Writers like to read more books for fun. Answer: C

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