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Which is safer --- staying at home, traveling to work on public transport, or working at the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low.However, what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any of human activity, and almost as safe as staying at home. The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby.It is this that makes chemical accidents so newsworthy.Fortunately, they are extremely rare.The most famous ones happened at Texas City (1947), Flixborough (1974), Seveso (1976), Pemex (1984) and Bhopal (1984). Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small.No one died at Seveso, and only 28 workers at Flixborough.The worst accident of all was Bhopal, where up to 3,000 were killed.The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552.The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbs of Mexico City took 542 lives, just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal. Some experts have discussed these accidents and used each accident to illustrate a particular danger.Thus the Texas City was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate, which is safe unless stored in a great quantity.The Flixborough fireball was the fault of management, which took risks to keep production going during essential repairs.The Seveso accident shows what happens if the local authorities lack knowledge of the danger on their doorstep.When the poisonous gas drifted over the town , local leaders were incapable of taking effective action.The Pemex fire was made worse by an overloaded site in an overcrowded suburb.The fire set off a chain reaction of exploding storage tanks.Yet, by a miracle, the two largest tanks did not explode.Had these caught fire, then 3,000 strong rescue team and fire fighters would all have died. Chemical accidents are usually important enough to be reported as news because _ . they often cause loss of life Once there was a boy named Fritz who loved to draw. He drew everything. In the morning, he drew a picture of his cereal with milk. His papa said, "Don't draw your cereal. Eat it!" After school, Fritz drew a picture of his bicycle. His uncle said, "Don't draw your bicycle. Ride it!" At nighttime, after he finished washing his face, he drew a picture of the toothpaste on the sink. His mama said, "Don't draw the toothpaste. Brush your teeth!" One day Fritz got a splinter in his foot. It hurt. He wanted to take the splinter out. But first, he drew a picture of his foot with the splinter in it. He said, "Now I can remember what my foot looks like with a splinter in it." Then he took the splinter out all by himself. He told his friend Stephen that he took the splinter out all by himself. Stephen did not believe him. Fritz showed him the picture. Then Stephen believed him. What made Stephen believe Fritz? the picture of the splinter in his foot London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It has about seven million people. The river Thames runs through London. People from all over the world visit London to see Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. There are many museums, theatres and parks in London, as well as offices and factories. London began as a Roman settlement called Londinium. The plague came to London in the 1600s, followed by the Great Fire of 1666. The city was badly bombed in World War II. London is very slowly sinking into its foundations and the level of the river Thames is slowly rising. As a result, extra-high tides could flood a large part of London. To prevent this happening, a great barrier has been built across the Thames at Woolwich. If very high tides happen, the barrier can be raised and London will be safe. The reason why a great barrierhas been built across the Thames at Woolwich is that _ . all of the above. What causes flooding? deluges Rick Garcia is going to play outside with his friends. He is taking out his reliever inhaler and taking two puffs . Five minutes later, he's on the field with his friends, running after a soccer ball. Rick has asthma , but he knows how to control it. Asthma is a lung disease. A person with asthma may cough or suffer from shortness of breath. Asthma can begin at any age. Childhood asthma, often beginning when a child is younger than 10 years old, is one of the most common childhood diseases. Doctors report that the number of young people with asthma is increasing. It is the number one cause of absence from school. If parents have asthma, their children are more likely to develop the disease. Children in homes where an adult smokes are more at risk. It is important to find out the _ for asthma. As we know, dust, pollen, or animals often make people suffer from asthma. Once a child learns the triggers, he can help prevent future attacks. About half of all children outgrow asthma and then asthma attacks stop when they are teenagers. However, many people live with the disease into adulthood. Children often take control drugs once or twice a day to help prevent asthma attacks, if a child begins to have an asthma attack, a quick-relief drug is also necessary. This is often an inhaler. School-aged children usually carry their inhalers with them. This medication works quickly and children begin to breathe more easily in a few minutes. If a child has a serious asthma attack, he may need full-time care at a hospital or a doctor's office. The story of Rick Garcia is used to _ . introduce the topic of the text
Question: Last weekend, my kids along with a few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of washing other people's cars as well. It was pretty hot outside. She further wanted to give juice for a low cost but not free. I felt happy and decided to help her. She asked me, "What if we make this 'a smile car wash', mommy? "I couldn't hold back my tears and encouraged her and other kids to go inside the house and come up with ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the kids walked up to me with a board of beautiful signs of smiles. They had "Free Car Wash" written on it and the theme of their exercise was "Smile". It was pretty natural to see a team of kids 5 to 11 years with the task to do something for others. All that seemed natural and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to matter to them: their playtime, and then heat outside--they just wanted to help and do something nice in the community! I helped them make some fresh juice and brought out some waste materials to help clean cars. Passers-by were amazed and one even shouted at them saying "Good kids". One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. A pretty heart-warming scene! The following weekend, I saw the idea of the week, the theme of which was "Global Kindness". I was moved by such wonderful and loving souls. They made me smile! One of the slogans on their flag was: "Do not fear! Smile retrievers are here." Why couldn't the author hold back her tears when she knew her daughter's idea? A. She was moved by her daughter's kindness. B. She felt sorry for those passers-by in hot weather. C. She was sorry for not helping the kids. D. She thought of too much hardship of the kids. Answer: A Question: No woman can be too rich or too thin. This saying often attributed to(...) the late Duchess of Windsor represents much of the strange spirit of our times. Being thin is assumed as such a virtue. The problem with such a view is that some people actually attempt to live by it. I myself have fantasies of slipping into narrow designer clothes. Consequently, I have been on a diet for the better --or worse-- part of my life. Being rich wouldn't be bad either, but that won't happen unless an unknown dies suddenly in some distant land, leaving me millions of dollars. Where did we go off the track? When did eating butter become a sin , and a little bit of extra flesh unappealing, if not unpleasant? All religions have certain days when people stop from eating and overeating is one of Christianity's seven deadly sins. However, until quite recently, most people had a problem getting enough to eat. In some religious groups, wealth was a symbol of probable high morals, and fatness a sign of wealth and well-being. Today the opposite is true. We have shifted to thinness as our new mark of virtue. The result is that being fat -- or even only somewhat overweight -- is bad because it implies a lack of moral strength. Our obsession with thinness is also fueled by health concerns. It is true that in this country we have more overweight people than ever before, and that in many cases, being overweight correlates with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease. These diseases, however, may have as much to do with our way of life and our high-fat diets as with excess weight. And the associated risk of cancer in the digestive system may be more of a dietary problem -- too much fat and a lack of fiber -- than a weight problem. The real concern, then, is not that we weigh too much, but that we neither exercise enough nor eat well. Exercise is necessary for strong bones and both heart and lung health. A balanced diet without a lot of fat can also help the body avoid many diseases. We should surely stop paying so much attention to weight. Simply being thin is not enough. It is actually dangerous if those who get (or already are) thin think they are automatically healthy and thus free from paying attention to their overall life-style. Thinness can be pure vain glory. Swept by the current trend, the author _ . A. could still prevent herself from going off the track B. had to go on a diet for the greater part of her life C. had to seek help from rich distant s D. had to wear highly fashionable clothes Answer: B Question: Sam likes fish very much.He often buys fish in the shop and takes it home.But when his wife sees the fish,she says to herself,"Good!Now I can ask my friends to have lunch,and we can eat this fish.They like fish very much." So when Sam comes home in the evening,the fish is not there and his wife always says,"Oh,your cat ate it."And she gives Sam some bread for his supper.Sam gets very angry.He takes the cat and his wife to the shop near his house and weighs the cat.Then he turns to his wife and says,"My fish weighs one kilo .This cat weighs one,too.My cat is here,you see.Then where's my fish?" Does Sam take the cat and his wife to the shop near his home? A. Yes,he does. B. No,he doesn't. C. I don't know. D. I don't think so. Answer: A Question: Do women's minds work the same as men's? Absolutely not. At least, that is what most men are convinced of. Psychologists view the subject either as a matter or frustration or a joke. Now the biologists have moved into this minefield, and some of them have found that there are real differences between the brains of men and women. But being different, they point out hurriedly, is not the same as being better or worse. There is, however, a definite structural variation between the male and female brain. The difference is in a part of the brain that is used in the most complex intellectual processes-the link between the two halves of the brain. The two halves are linked by a trunkline of between 200 and 300 million nerves, the corpus callosum. Scientists have found quite recently that the corpus callosum in women is always larger and probably richer in nerve fibres than it is in men. This is the first time that a structural difference has been found between the brains of women and men and it must have some significance. The question is "What?", and, if this difference exists, are there others? Research shows that present-day women think differently and behave differently from men. Are some of these differences biological and inborn, a result of evolution? We tend to think that is the influence of society that produces these differences. But could we be wrong? Research showed that these two halves of the brain had different functions, and that the corpus callosum enabled them to work together. For most people, the left half is used for word handing, analytical and logical activities; the right half works on pictures, patterns and forms. We need both halves working together. And the better the connections, the more harmoniously the two halves work. And, according to research findings, women have the better connections. But it isn't all that easy to explain the actual differences between skills of men and women on this basis. In schools throughout the world girls tend to be better than boys at "language subjects" and boys better at maths and physics. If these differences correspond with the differences in the hemispheric trunkline, here is an unalterable distinction between the sexes. We shan't know for a while, partly because we don't know of any precise relationship between abilities in school subject and the functioning of the two halves of the brain, and we cannot understand how the two halves interact via the corpus callosum. But this striking difference must have some effect and, because the difference is in the parts of the brain involved in intellect, we should be looking for differences in intellectual processing. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? A. Results of scientific research fail to support popular belief. B. Brain differences point to superiority of one sex over the other. C. Biologists are conducting research where psychologists have given up D. The structural difference in the brain between the sexes has long been known. Answer: C Question: In the middle of a dark forest, there lives an owl . All the animals know that he is the wisest among all of them. So they often go to him and tell him their troubles. Then the owl always teaches them what they should do. One day, a little bird goes up to the owl. She is crying. "what's wrong with you?" asks the owl. "I'm not happy at all. I don't want to be a bird," the bird says. "Why don't you want to be a bird?" asks the owl. "I am so small, weak and useless," she cries. "I want to be big and strong like the lion. He is very important, but I am not" Then the owl whispers something in her ear. At once the bird dries her _ and goes away. One week later, the bird came back. "Oh, thank you very much. You are a very wise owl," she says to the owl. "I am very happy now. Every day, I sit on top of the tallest tree and watch for lions and tigers. When they come near, I shout at the top of my voice. Then my friend all run and hide. They are very thankful to me. I am useful and important now" The wise owl smiles and says, "No one in this world is useless." The owl tells the bird _ A. that she is stronger than the lions and the tigers B. that she must be happy C. that she must run and hide D. to sit on top of the tallest tree and watch for lions and tigers Answer: D
John sent his mother expensive presents on his mother's birthday every year. He liked to show her how rich he was. "I must find something wonderful for her, and it must be the only one in the whole world. Then my mother must be very happy." John thought. He advertised in the newspapers. "Wanted--the best present for the woman who has everything. " For many days his telephone did not stop ringing. People phoned him from all over the world. They wanted to sell him "the best present". But they did not have anything that was the only one in the whole world. Then less than a week before his mother's birthday, a man came to his office. He was carrying a cage, and in the cage there was a large bird. "This bird, "the man said, "can speak ten languages and sing any pop song. There is no other bird like it in the world. " "I will listen to it, "John said. "If what you said is true, I will buy the bird from you." The man spoke to the bird. "Talk to me in French, " he said. The bird spoke to him in French. "Tell me a joke in Japanese, " he said. The bird told him a joke in Japanese. "Sing a famous pop song, "he said. The bird sang a famous pop song. "I'll buy it, "John said. "How much do you want?" "One hundred thousand dollars, "the man said. This was a lot of money but John paid him. Then he sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card. The day after his mother's birthday he phoned her. "Well, mother, "he said, "Is the bird wonderful?" "Oh, it was delicious, dear, "she said. What does the sentence "It was delicious, "really mean in the story? A. His mother ate the bird. B. His mother let the bird fly away. C. His mother began to learn languages from the bird. D. His mother thought it was the most expensive present in the world. Answer: A. His mother ate the bird. Sports can help you keep fit and close to nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should realize that sport you choose might have great influence on the environment. Some sports are _ . Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also lots of water. Besides, huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition. This causes major environmental changes. For example, in the dry places of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for (...) serious water shortage in some local areas. There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don't need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes, and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also help you stay healthy. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and keep thin. Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener than by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be "green gyms." They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership . And best of all, it's free. What does the phrase " _ " in this passage mean in Chinese? A. . B. . C. . D. . Answer: D. . How often do you sit still and do absolutely nothing.The usual answer these days is"never".or"hardly ever".As the pace of life continues to increase,we are fast losing the art of relaxation.Once you are in the habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down.But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body. Stress is fl natural part of everyday life.There is no way to avoid it, since it takes many and varied forms-driving in traffic,problems with personal relationships are all different forms of stress. _ .A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life.It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health. The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual.Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities.Others lose heart at the first sight of unusual difficulties.When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically.In fact we make a choice between "fight" or "fright" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life and death.The crisis we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response.All the energy is shifted to cope with the stress.It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Stress in some people produces stomach disorders,while others experience tension headaches.Since we cannot remove stress from our 1ires,We need to find ways to cope with it. What is implied but not stated in the passage? A. The art of relaxation can greatly help people bear stress. B. People in primitive days know certain ways to deal with stress. C. If one gets into the habit of relaxing every day he can overcome stress easily. D. Stress can lead to serious health problem if one is exposed to it for too long. Answer: C. If one gets into the habit of relaxing every day he can overcome stress easily. I was doing a weekend seminar at the Deerhurst Lodge, north of Toronto. On Friday night a tornado swept through a town north of us called Barrie, killing dozens of people and doing millions of dollars worth of damage. Sunday night, as I was coming home, I stopped the car when I got to Barrie. I got out on the side of the highway and looked around. It was a mess. Everywhere I looked there were smashed houses and cars turned upside down. That same night Bob Templeton was driving down the same highway. He stopped to look at the disaster just as I had; only his thoughts were different than my own. Bob was the vice-president of Telemedia Communications, which owns a string of radio stations in Ontario and Quebec. He thought there must be something we could do for these people with the radio stations they had. The following night I was doing another seminar in Toronto. Bob Templeton and Bob Johnson, another vice-president from Telemedia, came in and stood in the back of the room. They shared their conviction that there had to be something they could do for the people in Barrie. After the seminar we went back to Bob's office. He was now committed to the idea of helping the people who had been caught in the tornado. The following Friday he called all the executives at Telemedia into his office. At the top of a flip chart he wrote three 3s. He said to his executives, "How would you like to raise 3 million dollars 3 days from now in just 3 hours and give the money to the people in Barrie?" There was nothing but silence in the room. Finally someone said, "Templeton, you're crazy. There is no way we could do that." Bob said, "Wait a minute. I didn't ask you if we could or even if we should. I just asked you if you'd like to." They all said, "Sure we'd like to." He then drew a large 'T' underneath the 333. On one side he wrote, "Why we can't." On the other side he wrote, "How we can." "I'm going to put a big X on the 'Why we can't' side. We're not going to spend any time on the ideas of why we can't. That's of no value. On the other side we're going to write down every idea that we can come up with on how we can. We're not going to leave the room until we figure it out." There was silence again. Finally, someone said, "We could do a radio show across Canada." Bob said, "That's a great idea," and wrote it down. Before he had it written, someone said, "You can't do a radio show across Canada. We don't have radio stations across Canada." That was a pretty valid objection. They only had stations in Ontario and Quebec. Templeton replied, " _ ." But this was a real strong objection because radio stations are not very compatible . They usually don't work together. They are very cutthroat. They fight each other. To get them to work together would be virtually impossible according to the standard way of thinking. All of a sudden someone said, "We could get Harvey Kirk and Lloyd Robertson, the biggest names in Canadian broadcasting, to anchor the show." (That would be like getting Tom Brokaw and Sam Donaldson to anchor the show. They are anchors on national TV. They are not going to go on radio.) At that point, it was absolutely amazing how fast and furious the creative ideas began to flow. That was on a Friday. The following Tuesday they had a radiothon . They had fifty radio stations all across the country that agreed to broadcast it. It didn't matter who got the credit as long as the people in Barrie got the money. Harvey Kirk and Lloyd Robertson anchored the show and they succeeded in raising three million dollars in three hours within three business days! You see, you can do anything if you put your focus on how to do it rather than on why you can't. We can conclude from the passage that Bob Templeton is _ . A. compassionate and determined B. stubborn and simple-minded C. independent and strong-willed D. passionate and stubborn Answer: A. compassionate and determined Which of the following would be considered a predator? A. grizzly bear B. moose C. salmon D. lobster Answer: A. grizzly bear
Which statement correctly describes a relationship between two human body systems? Answer: The digestive system absorbs nutrients which are transported by the circulatory system. If a diver surfaces too quickly, he may suffer the bends. Nitrogen dissolved in his blood is suddenly liberated by the reduction of pressure. The consequence, if the bubbles accumulate in a joint, is sharp pain and a bent body -- thus the name. If the bubbles form in his lungs or brain, the consequence can be death. Other air-breathing animals also suffer this decompression sickness if they surface too fast: whales, for example. And so, long ago, did ichthyosaurs . That these ancient sea-animals got the bends can be seen from their bones. If bubbles of nitrogen form inside the bone they can cut off its blood supply. This kills the cells in the bone, and consequently weakens it, sometimes to the point of collapse. Fossil bones that have caved in on themselves are thus a sign that the animal once had the bends. Bruce Rothschild of the University of Kansas knew all this when he began a suty of ichthyosaurs bones to find out how widespread the problem was in the past. What he particularly wanted to investigate was how ichthyosaurs adapted to the problem of decompession over the 150 milllion years. To this end, he and his colleagues traveled the world's natural-history museums, looking at hundreds of ichthyosaurs from the Trassic period and from the later Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. When he started, he assumed that signs of the bends would be rarer in younger fossils, reflecting their gradual evolution of measures to deal with decompression. Instead, he was astonished to discover the opposite. More than 15% of Jurassic and Cretaceous ichthyosaurs had suffered the bends before the died, but not a single Trassic specimen showed evidence of that sort of injury. If ichthyosaurs did evolve an anti-decompression means, they clearly did so quickly -- and, most strangly, they lost it afterwards. But that is not what Dr Rothchild thinks happened. He suspects it was evolution in other animals that caused the change. Whales that suffer the bends often do so because they have sufaced to escape a predator such as a large shark. One of the features of the Jurassia oceans was an abundance of large sharks and crocodiles, both of which were fond of ichthyosaurs lunches. Trassic oceans, by contrast, were mercifully shark-and crocodile-free. In the Trassic, then, ichthyosaurs were top of the food chain. In the Jurrasic and Cretaceous, they were prey as well as predator --and often had to make a speedy exit as a result. The purpose of Rothchild's study is to see _ . Answer: how ichthyosaurs adapted to decompression Recycling of a resource, such as paper, is important because Answer: using recycled paper reduces the cutting of new trees. Some Advice on Travel 1) Forget fashion ! Always wear your most comfortable clothes when going on long journeys. 2) Traveling on trains and buses can be boring, so take a good book to read. 3) If you're going somewhere cold, remember to put on your warm clothes! 4) If you are going somewhere sunny, remember to bring your sun-block and sun glasses. 5) Always take a camera with you to _ those special moments. 6) Be careful with your things whenever you go to a busy place, like a train station. There are many thieves there! 7) Most countries have lower prices for students, so if you are a student, take your student card with you. 8) Always leave room in your bag for buying presents on the way home. 9) Bus tours often stop at expensive shops along the way, save your money by buying presents at local shops. 10) If you travel abroad, remember to take your passport. Whatever you do, don't lose it! If you go to Hainan Island for a trip in summer, you should take _ with you. Answer: sunglasses and sun-block Eye injuries from paintball games have increased among children, even as the protective equipment for the sport has improved, according to a study released yesterday in the journal pediatrics. The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated the number of emergency room visits for eye injuries caused by paintballs at 545 in 2001 and more than 1,200 in 2003. More than 40 percent of those injuries were believed to involve children, the study said. Paintballs are fired at a speed of up to 300 feet a second, the study said. Being so small, they can fit inside the bones meant to protect the eye. The study's author, Dr. David A. Listman of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, said paintball shopping centers had generally switched to full face masks ,which have become more effective at protecting the eyes than earlier _ . But most injuries now occur in backyard play, which is more likely to involve teenagers or children."The injuries being seen are mostly in people who did not wear the proper, or for that matter any, safety equipment,"Dr. Listman said. Those injuries can involve permanent damage to sight, he said. Dr. Listman said he believed that paintball guns should be restricted to regulated places. In the absence of such action, parents should limit children's access to the guns and insist on proper protection. Paintball guns"should be treated with the same respect as any other firearm,"he said"These are the only guns that are made to shoot at your friends." What do you learn form Dr. Listman? Answer: Children should not play paintball guns everywhere.
Everyone needs recognition for his achievements,but few people make the need known quite as clearly as the little boy who said to his father,"Let's play darts .I'll throw and you should say 'Wonderful!'" Fran Tarkenton,former Minnesota Vikings quarterback,once called a play that required him to block onrushing tacklers. FEL quarterbacks almost never block.They're usually vastly outweighed by defenders,so blocking exposes them to the risk of severe injury. But the team was behind,and a surprising play was needed.Tarkenton went into block,and the runner scored a touchdown.The Vikings won the game. Watching the game films with the team the next day,Tarkenton expected a big pat on the back for what he'd done. It never came. After the meeting,Tarkenton approached coach Bud Grant and asked,"You saw my block,didn't you,Coach?How come you didn't say anything about it?" Grant replied,"Sure,I saw the block.It was great,but you're always working hard out there,Fran.I figured I didn't have to tell you." "Well,"Tarkenton replied,"if you ever want me to block again,you do!" What does the author intend to tell us in the passage? People will be discouraged without praise. The UN Security Council was created in 1945. It is made up of 10 rotating members and five permanent members, which have a veto, the power to stop a resolution . Most UN members now consider the organization's structure outdated. But any changes need the agreement of two-thirds of the 191 members, and no veto from any of the five permanent council members. Last year, Japan, Germany, Brazil and India formed a lobbying group to get permanent council seats. But North and South Korea have doubts about Japan, Italy opposes Germany for a seat, Pakistan is against India's candidacy and Mexico and Argentina Brazil. A wave of emotion swept through China last week as millions voiced their opposition to Japan's permanent membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. By last Friday over 22 million Chinese had signed an online petition against Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the council. According to major Chinese websites, such as sina.com, more than 170,000 overseas Chinese also signed. This is the first online activity of its kind. The petition was started by US-based Alliance for Preserving the Truth of the Sino-Japanese War . They want Japan to apologize for crimes during World War II. The group also plans to present the petition to the UN this autumn. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said he didn't think the petition shows anti-Japanese feeling. He believed instead it is a request for Japan to take a responsible attitude towards history. What's the main reason for China's opposition to Japan's permanent membership of the Council? Japan is unwilling to admit to its crimes against the Chinese in the World War II. Many people tend to complain about not having good friends in their lives. Sadly, they seem to think that their own company is not enough to make them happy. Nothing could be further from the truth though. In order to get along with others, the first thing you need to do is learn to get along with yourself. Only in this way will you succeed in developing healthy, solid relationships with others. Listen to your inner voice. Remember that inner voice that keeps whispering to you what you really want and need as well as what you do not really want and need. It is about time you started listening to it. In order to get to know yourself in depth, it is important to learn and accept what you want and what you do not want. Learn to enjoy your own company. You will be surprised to find out how many things you can do by yourself and actually have fun in the process. Reading romantic novels, poetry or science fiction is only a few of the things that you can do by yourself, which not only can offer you hours of enjoyment, but also the chance to get to know yourself better. Satisfy yourself. Pay special attention to your personal hygiene . Do your hair and nails often and experiment with new styles. Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly to stay in good shape. No matter how busy your daily schedule is, always find at least an hour per day for yourself, when you can either relax doing absolutely nothing, or doing something that you enjoy. Learn to respect your own _ . Find out what your boundaries are and learn to respect them. You are the only one who knows what you can and what you cannot accept;no one else can point that out to you, or force you to compromise . What is the purpose of listening to your inner voice? To know more about yourself. Mr. Ma, a famous mental doctor from Beijing once said at an important meeting, "Now many young students can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people around them like their parents and classmates. Parents and teachers should care more about this problem." Then Mr. Ma gave some examples. One patient, a middle school students from Xi'an was doing badly in his lessons. He thought his teachers and friends often laughed at him, and he became so nervous and worried that one night he left his home without telling parents. Another student, a 14-year-old schoolgirl from Shanghai, was very afraid of exams. While she was reading the exam paper, she couldn't think of anything to write. A recent report fromJiefang Dailysays about 18% of the young students in Shanghai have mental problems. They often felt worried and very unhappy. Unluckily many of them won't go and ask for help. Some think they will look _ if they go to see a doctor. Others won't talk about their secrets. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Ma offered some good ideas to young people: u Talk to your parents or teacher often. u Take part in group activities. u Try to get on well with the people around you. u Go to see a doctor if you often feel unhappy. The schoolgirl's problem happened whenever she _ . had exams Last Friday, I was coming home late after spending time with friends and thought I'd go down to the $99 cent pizza place. On the way, I saw a man sitting on the stairs alone there. I'd seen him before every day I run late to work, but this time I had no place to rush off to. There was something about him, a quiet manner, different from many of other homeless people I had seen in New York City. I walked past him, went to the pizza place, and those 10 seconds waiting in line was enough to practice stepping outside of my usual, familiar flow. So with a few slices in hand, I went back to join him. I asked him if he was hungry. He said yes, but not for pizza because it made him uncomfortable. He'd rather have a few bucks for chicken and rice since it was easier on his stomach. It's funny, in that moment, he became more real to me. This man I had seen almost every day was someone with specific conditions, needs, and experiences. We exchanged names and ended up talking for a little over an hour that night as Kevin told me stories from his life, how he had done things when "he was younger and didn't know any better" and how he tried to make amends but too much time had passed. He shared his views on the value for young adults to learn the history of other people. He talked about his one wish being in his 60's before he leaves this earth, which is to share his story with the teenagers and young adults so they could avoid the mistakes he went through. Throughout the conversation, he eventually got his chicken and rice and gifted me a rose he had been carrying. Shortly afterwards, I made my way home, thinking to myself, "I met an amazing homeless person". What's the homeless man's last wish? To teach the young not to follow his example.
In Shanxi Province you may be offered brains to eat. Frightened? You shouldn't be because these brains are only a food, which is famous for its unusual name and rich nutrition . Brains as a food were invented more than 300 years ago by Fu Shan, an artist whose mother had been ill for a long time. To help her become well, he studied medicine and invented a kind of soup made of meat, vegetables and a number of Chinese medicines. Rice Wine was also used in the soup to cure illnesses caused by old age. After taking the soup his mother got better little by little and lived a long life. Fu's soup became the talk of the town. Many people came to see him. One day a restaurant owner asked him what was in the soup. "I'll tell you, " Fu said, "but if your restaurant is going to sell the soup, you must call it brains because of its shape and colour. And your restaurant should be renamed after my mother. " The food is called brains because _ . A. it looks like brains B. it has animal brains in it C. Fu's mother liked the name D. it makes one clever and live longer Answer: A British paychologists have found evidence of a link between excessive Internet use and depression, a research has shown. Leeds University researchers, writing in the Psychopathology journal, said a small part of Internet users were classed as Internet addicts and that people in this group were more likely to be depressed than non-addicted users. The article on the relationship between excessive Internet use and depression is from a questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults. The respondents answered questions about how much time they spent on the Internet and what they used it for; they also complete the Beck Depression Inventory---a series of questions designed to measure the seriousness of depression. The six--page report, by the university's Institute of Psychological Science, said 18 of the people who complete the questionnaire were Internet addict."Our research indicates that excessive Internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first--are depressed people drawn to the Internet or does the Internet cause depression?" the article's lead author Dr Catriona Morrison said."What is clear is that, for a small part of people, excessive use of the Internet could be warning signal for depressive tendencies." The age range of all respondents was between 16 and 51 years, with an average age of 21.24. The average age of the 18 Internet addicts was 18.3 years. By comparing the levels of depression within this group to that within a group of 18 non--addicted Internet users, researchers found the Internet addicts had a higher chance of developing depression than non-addicts. They also discovered that addicts spent more time visiting sexually pleasing website, online gaming sites and online communities. "The public speculation was further proved by this study. That's to say, over-engaging in websites which serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction," Morrison said."We now need to consider the wider social influence of this relationship and clearly prove the effects of excessive Internet use on mental health." Internet addicts are people who _ according to the passage. A. use the Internet more than enough B. feel depressed when using the Internet C. seldom connect to the Internet D. feel depressed without the Internet Answer: A I used to think of myself as a fairly open person, but my bookshelves told a different story. Apart from a few Indian novels and the Australian and South African book, my literature collection consisted of British and American titles. Worse still, I hardly ever read anything in translation. My reading was limited to stories by English-speaking authors. So, at the start of 2012, I set myself the challenge of trying to read a book from every country in a year to find out what I was missing. As I was unlikely to find publications from nearly 200 nations on the shelves of my local bookshop, I decided to ask the planet's readers for help. I created a blog called A Year of Reading the World and put out an appeal for suggestions of titles that I could read in English. The response was amazing. Before I knew it, people all over the planet were getting in touch with ideas and offers of help. Some posted me books from their home countries. Others did hours of research on my behalf. In addition, several writers sent me unpublished translations of their novels, giving me a rare opportunity to read works otherwise unavailable to the 62% of the British who only speak English. Even so, selecting books was no easy task. With translations making up only around 4.5 percent of literary works published in the UK and Ireland, getting English versions of stories was difficult. But the effort was worth it. I found I was visiting the mental space of the storytellers. These stories not only opened my mind to the real life in other places, but opened my heart to the way people there might feel. And that in turn changed my thinking. Through reading the stories shared with me by bookish strangers around the globe, I realised I was not alone, but part of a network that spread all over the planet. Which of the following words can best describe the author's experience? A. fast and effortless B. challenging but rewarding C. hopeless but beneficial D. meaningful but fruitless Answer: B As the nights get lounger, those who suffer from the winter blues will be planning ways to escape to the sunshine. But there may be a much simpler way of cheering yourself up... simply shining a bright light into your ear canal. Up to one in four Britons suffer from seasonal affective disorder, with seven per cent of the population having full-blown SAD. It is caused by the brain not receiving enough daylight which is needed to trigger serotonin , a hormone that regulates mood. Symptoms range from mild lethargy to depression and insomnia, but a cure might be in sight. Two clinical trials, run by Valkee - who make a device that can shine light into your ear - and the University of Oulu in Finland, have found that carefully targeted light can help prevent the condition. Juuso Nissila, Valkee's co-founder and chief scientist said: "We presented earlier that the human brain is sensitive to light". "These two clinical trials demonstrate that channeling bright light via ear canal into brain's photosensitive areas effectively prevents and treats seasonal affective disorder." The University of Oulu reported that in their first study, 92 per cent of the patients with seasonal affective disorder achieved full remission after a month of daily eight-to-12 minute doses of light from the Valkee. Time Takala, chief physician at the Oulu Deaconess Institute said: "These two trials show that bright light channeled into the brain via ear canal is an important future method to treat seasonal affective disorder." Valkee launched its bright light headset in August 2010. It is classed as a medical device under EU regulations. The device channels bright light direct to the brain via the ear canal to prevent and cure depression, mood swings and even circadian-rhythm disorders such as jet lag. It costs PS185 and looks like an iPod - only the earphones emit light rather than sound. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. The bright-light headset will be mainly used to cure jet lag. B. 92% patients with seasonal affective disorder achieved full remission after a month. C. Valkece made the device that can shine light into cars. D. Juuso Nissila reported that the human brain is sensitive to light. Answer: A My dad runs the Blue Street Zoo. Everyone calls him the Zoo King. That means Mom is the Zoo Queen. And that means that I'm the Zoo Prince! Being a prince is very special. I spend every morning walking around to see the zoo. It's better than any animal book. I say hello to the lions. I say woof at all of the wolves. I make faces to the penguins. Once I even gave a morning kiss to a bear! My favorite animal is the piggy. I named him Samson. He likes to eat mustard, so I toss some mustard jars into his cage every morning. I don't know why that piggy likes mustard so much. Sometimes I walk around with the Zoo King and Zoo Queen. Then we say hello to the animals together! I really like those days. Everybody who works at the Zoo says hello to us when we walk by. At lunchtime, we all go to the Zoo restaurant and eat pork chops. I hope Samson doesn't get mad about that! What animal does the narrator woof at? A. the wolves B. the lions C. the bears D. the penguins Answer: A
Once there was a piano player in a bar . People came just to hear him play. But one night, a lady asked him to sing a song. "I don't sing," said the man. But the lady told the waiter, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want the player to sing!" The waiter shouted across the room, "Hey, friend! If you want to get paid, sing a song!" So he did. He had never sung in public before. Now he was singing for the very first time! Nobody had ever heard the song Mona Lisa sung so beautifully! He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar. But once he found, by accident, that he could sing well, he went on working hard and became one of the best-known singers in the US. His name was Nat King Cole. You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel that your talent is great, but it may be better than you think. With hard work, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may have no success at all if you just your talent. Which could be the best title for the passage? A Sing in the Bar B Achieve Success in Life C Never Lose Heart D Find Your Hidden Talent Answer: D. Find Your Hidden Talent Swaying palm trees,turquoiseblue water and sugarwhite sand make beach lovers sigh with delight.But not all beaches have those ingredients.The most interesting beaches come in different shapes,sizes and colors. Those who want beauty and something unique can go to the Seychells' La Digue Island.Large granite rock formations overlook beautiful,whitesand beaches.The pinkishgrey rocks look like sculptures that have been forgotten on the beach.Tourists traveling to La Digue Island to see the unique rocks will also discover one of the world's most beautiful islands. Hawaii's Big Island has one of the rarest beaches of all--a beach made up entirely of green sand.The sand,which is formed by dark green crystals called olivine ,is deposited by volcanic activity.Green Sand Beach lies on the slopes of the world's largest active volcano,Mauna Loa. One of the world's most unusual beaches lies on the island of Santorini,Greece.The sand on Red Beach gets its reddish color from the red volcanic rocks that make up the cliffs around the beach.Tourists flock to see the red sand,making Red Beach one of Santorini's most popular beach destinations. Black sand makes up the huge beach of Karakare.Through the years,volcanic sand mixed with iron ash to form this black beach on New Zealand's wild,west coast.Many have seen Karekare in the movie The Piano and the TV show Xena:Warrior Princess. With all the beautiful beaches in the world,beach lovers have lots of choices.But for those ready for something different,a unique beach vacation might be just the ticket! If you want to see pinkishgrey rocks,then go to _ . A Santorini,Greece B Seychells' La Digue Island C Hawaii's Big Island D New Zealand Answer: B. Seychells' La Digue Island He was driving home one evening when he saw an old lady standing by the road. He could tell she needed help. So he stopped his car in front of her car and got out. He smiled at her, but she was worried. Was he going to hurt her? He looked poor and hungry. He said: "I'm here to help you ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car? By the way ,my name is Joe." She had a flat tire . Joe crawled under the car and soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. She said that she couldn't thank him enough for his help. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk . She asked him how much she owed him. But Joe wasn't thinking about the money. This was helping someone in need. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she should lend a hand. He waited until she had driven off and felt good as he headed for home. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to get a bite to eat. The waitress brought a clean towel for her to wipe her wet hair. The waitress was nearly eight months pregnant .It was tiring for her to move about. But she did it all with a sweet smile on her face. The lady was moved by the wonderful service the waitress was giving. After the lady had finished her meal, and the waitress had gone to get her change from a Y=100 bill, the lady slipped out the door. At her table, the waitress found something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady had written. It said: "You don't owe me a thing. I know life is hard for you right now. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, don't let the chain of love end with you." The old lady helped the waitress by_. A drawing something on a napkin B buying something to eat C giving her some money D giving her a ride Answer: C. giving her some money Painting, the execution of forms and shapes on a surface by means of pigment , has been continuously practiced by humans for some 20,000 years. Together with other activities that may have been ritualistic but have come to be considered as artistic (such as music or dance), painting was one of the earliest ways in which man sought to express his own personality and his emerging understanding of an existence beyond the material world. Unlike music and dance, however, examples of early forms of painting have survived to the present day. And painting, like other arts, exhibits universal qualities that make it easy for viewers of all nations and civilizations to understand and appreciate. The major extant examples of early painting anywhere in the world are found in Western Europe and the Soviet Union. But some 5,000 years ago, the areas in which important paintings were executed shifted to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and neighboring regions. Therefore, Western shared a European cultural tradition ----the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin and, later, the countries of the New World. Western painting is in general distinguished by its concentration on the representation of the human figure, whether in the heroic context of antiquity or the religious context of the early Christian and medieval world. The Renaissance extended this tradition through a close examination of the natural world and an investigation of balance, harmony, and perspective in the visible world, linking painting to the developing sciences of anatomy and optics . The first real break from figurative painting came with the growth of landscape painting in the 17th and 18th centuries. The landscape and figurative traditions developed together in the 19th century in an atmosphere that was increasingly concerned with "painterly" qualities of the interaction of light and color1 and the expressive qualities of paint handling. In the 20th century these interests contributed to the development of a third major tradition in Western painting, abstract painting, which sought to uncover and express the true nature of paint and painting through action and form. What result in the development of abstract painting? A The concern about qualities of the interaction of light and color1 and those of the paint handling. B The growth of landscape painting in the 17th and 18th centuries. C An examination of the nature and an investigation of balance and harmony, in the visible world. D Linking painting to the developing sciences of anatomy and optics. Answer: A. The concern about qualities of the interaction of light and color1 and those of the paint handling. News that Microsoft made a $44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo resulted in heated discussions made by many Internet users. Here are some responses: Diane Burke of Weeks bury, Kentucky I think it would definitely be an interesting combination. Everyone recognizes the names Yahoo and Microsoft, but everyone also says, "Did you Google it?" Such a catchphrase is going to be hard to beat. Shaun Carney of Laurelville, Ohio I think the merger will provide more competitions for Google. I don't think the merger will allow Microsoft to develop faster than Google, though. I believe the increased competition this merger brings will force Google to stay on top of its game by offering more fresh and original Internet tools and expanding on the tools it already offers. Toni Suarez of Hacienda Heights, California I view the merger as a necessary element in preventing a monopolization . Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet! Rick R. of Edgewater, Florida It sounds like a disaster to me. If this were to happen, I would stop using my Yahoo e-mail account because I don't like the feeling of Microsoft spying upon my business. I will sign up for Google. Antonio Glosser of Kansas City, Missouri Right now, Yahoo offers a lot of features and tools at no cost for all different levels of Internet users. Microsoft seeks nothing but profit. Undoubtedly, they'll do nothing other than find ways to start removing Yahoo's formerly non-priced features. Microsoft's greed will ruin the great thing that Yahoo currently is. How many companies are mentioned in the passage? A One. B Two. C Three. D Four. Answer: C. Three.
We have only one earth.In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources, the harm from the traditional business model is on the rise.Actually, the past decades has seen more and more forests disappearing and globe becoming increasingly warm.People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and that we must be able to develop in sustainable ways.That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products.In other words, we should keep the earth healthy while using its supply of natural resources. Today, sustainable development is a proper trend in many countries.According to a recent study, the global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decades.China, for example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global energy revolution.It is how trying hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains.In addition, we are also seeing great growth in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil , which is produced without cutting down valuable rainforest.In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown by more than 50%. Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets.First, they can set high targets for reducing carbon emissions and targets for saving and reusing energy.Besides, stronger arrangement of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development.Finally, governments can avoid the huge expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can accelerate the change from traditional model to a sustainable one. The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of growing population within the limits of this single planet.That is no small task, but it offers new chances for sustainable product industries. To full develop the low-carbon markets, government can _ . A. cut public expenses B. forbid carbon emission C. develop public resources D. encourage energy conservation Answer: D. encourage energy conservation My horse,Treasure,is my hero because she helped me discover how to relate to her.In the process,she " fixed " my relationship with my husband and my children. When I got her,she was 2 years old, _ . She was not going to accept any kind of instructions from me. In the interest of not getting myself killed,I started to read and educate myself on ways to manage a high-spirited horse. I discovered natural horsemanship ,a method of training that focuses on communication.In order to communicate with another person,you must be understood.The very definition of understanding is two or more persons share the same idea. This simple definition had a big influence on me.I realized that communication is a two-way street! When I started to adopt horsemanship in my life,I noticed a change in the way other people related to me.My husband,when I stopped ordering him around,became happier and more helpful.My children,when I practiced being fair,firm and most of all,considerate,were motivated to act sooner,at a polite request instead of the orders from me. I think the most valuable life skill I learned from my horse is that pressure motivates. As soon as I applied these basic skills to my daily activities, I started to notice positive changes. My children were more considerate of each other.and started to ask first,without telling.I became aware of my position as a role model. Today,five years later,I have the perfect horse.I also have very polite kids and a very happy husband.There's nothing in the world that can compare to being loved by ones you love most---even if it all started with the attitude of a very special horse. Why were the author's children slow to respond to her in the past? A. She was unfair and used to order them to do things. B. She didn't know how to manage the female horse. C. Her children were too naughty to listen to her. D. She would be unhappy if they responded quickly to her. Answer: A. She was unfair and used to order them to do things. As a newspaper reporter, Inez' s father traveled around the world. He wrote stories about the interesting people he met. On her fifteenth birthday, Inez could hardly believe it when her father announced that she was old enough to go with him on one of his trips! He said his next story would be about salt mining in Europe. Inez had never thought much about salt,she didn' t know what to expect,but she knew she would love being with her father. Months later, when Inez and her father arrived at the salt mine ,they found themselves walking into the middle of a busy workday. Mrs. Walker, the owner, said she would not be available to talk until the workday was over. She suggested that Inez and her father should help out so Inez ' s father would have first-hand experience for his story. Before Inez realized what was happening, she was in the factory. This was not what she had imagined her trip would be like. People rushed past her carrying hammers, nails, and wood to make boxes for the salt. Everyone seemed to be in such a hurry. As another newly constructed box was pushed at her, Inez spread a label with glue and stuck it on the side of the box. When she had agreed to go with her father on his newspaper assignment, she had pictured an adventure, not hard labor. Inez looked at the salt covering her father' s once-blue pants and sighed. She could taste the salt in her mouth and smell it in the air. Inez had been using salt all her life, but she had never imagined that it existed in such quantities or that it was so hard to package. Inez' s father rubbed his hands together and grinned at her. ''I know this probably isn't what you had in mind," he said, "but sometimes the best days are the ones that don' t go as planned. Best? she wondered. She had learned two lessons today. One was to value every grain of salt to fall from a shaker. The other was to hear the details before agreeing to go on a job with her father! Why does Inez's father travel around the world? A. He relaxes after he finishes writing. B. He enjoys moving around from place to place. C. He likes to take his family on adventure trips. D. He needs to collect information for stories. Answer: D. He needs to collect information for stories. Ginger and Joey were two young dogs. They were happy because it was now the summer and they could play outside more often. Today Ginger and Joey were running around in their big backyard. They had fun barking at many things. They barked at squirrels. They barked at a bus. They barked at the mailman. They barked at a weird bug. They barked so much, they were never quiet! The neighbor was a grumpy old man. His name was Bert. Bert threw a shoe at them because they were barking too much. He couldn't take a nap because they were so loud. Bert got too angry and Bert throws things when he gets too angry. The shoe missed both Ginger and Joey, but they barked a little less. Now they ran even faster. After a very long time, they began to get tired. They sniffed around the edges of the yard and found some old watermelon. That's a good snack for young dogs like Ginger and Joey! Next, they rolled around in the dirt. Then they chased their tails. Finally, their mom came out and told them to come inside. They were so dirty, they needed a bath. Ginger loved baths and jumped right into the tub. Joey was scared and ran away to hide. After a little bit, his mom found him and he got a bath in the end, too. Why was Bert so angry today? A. Ginger and Joey were barking too much B. Ginger and Joey took a bath in his tub C. Ginger and Joey were running in his backyard D. Ginger and Joey ate his watermelon Answer: A. Ginger and Joey were barking too much In some children who go blind, certain parts of the brain that normally control vision appear to switch jobs and focus instead on sound, a new study has found. The study, by researchers at the University of Montreal, involved 7 adults who could see and 12 adults who had lost their vision when they were children. Each participant sat in a room with 16 loudspeakers at different locations. The room was designed so that there were no echoes During the experiment, the speakers irregularly produced sounds. Participants had to point to where the sounds were coming from. Meanwhile, the researchers monitored blood flow in the brains of the participants to see which brain structures were working during the task. The results showed that five of the blind participants were very good at pointing to where sounds were coming from. In these people, blood flow increased in the visual cortex --- an area at the back of the right side of the brain. This part of the brain is usually associated with vision. The other seven blind participants showed no increase in activity in the visual cortex. These people didn't do very well at picking out where sounds were coming from. Now, the researchers are looking at whether these people have gained an enhanced sense of touch instead of sound to replace their lost vision. The scientists say that their study shows how adaptable parts of the brain can be. The participants of the experiment were asked _ . A. to identify the direction the sound came from B. to take down the time each sound lasted C. to tell the difference between 16 sounds D. to count the number of the loudspeakers. Answer: A. to identify the direction the sound came from
Winter is very cold in many countries. It's easy for you and me to keep warm. If we are cold, we can just buy a warm coat or use a heater and we will feel better. But what about animals? How do they keep warm in winter? Some animals migrate . This means they travel to places where the weather is warmer. Many birds leave before the winter starts. They fly in groups. If they fly together, the trip will be safer. They like to migrate to the same places every year. Do you know how they can find the same places? Scientists say that birds use the sun, moon and stars to help them. Other animals like moose also migrate. Fish and whales swim to warmer water. Some animals don't have leave their homes. They hibernate in winter. They fall into a very deep sleep. The animals' temperature drops and their breathing slows down. Before the winter, these animals must eat too much food that they get very fat. If they don't eat enough, they may die when they are hibernating. Fish and whales _ before the winter starts.. A hibernate B keep quiet in groups. C swim to warmer water D eat a lot of food. Answer: C. swim to warmer water Johnson and Tenniel owned Brownacre as joint tenants with the right of survivorship. Johnson executed a mortgage on Brownacre to Lowden in order to secure a loan. Subsequently, but before the indebtedness was paid to Lowden, Johnson died intestate, with Stokes as her only heir at law. The jurisdiction at which Brownacre is located recognizes the title theory of mortgages. In an appropriate action, the court should determine that title to Brownacre is vested A in Tenniel, with the entire interest subject to the mortgage. B in Tenniel, free and clear of the mortgage. C half in Tenniel, free of the mortgage, and half in Stokes, subject to the mortgage. D half in Tenniel and half in Stokes, with both subject to the mortgage Answer: C. half in Tenniel, free of the mortgage, and half in Stokes, subject to the mortgage. Scientists have created a"human-like robot"that can dance and do the housework. "Mahru" has been developed to imitate humans and can move its lips, eyes and eyebrows. The machine can also move its upper and lower body freely and automatically stop itself when walking. In addition, it has been programmed to give out two kinds of pleasant smells to match its emotions. The 1.5m tall robot was produced by researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KIST)and is the first South Korean-developed machine of its kind. "Mahru will open the way for the commercial use of humanoid robots doing housework," You Bum-Jae, leader of the development researchers team, said, "Mahru can dance while walking on its legs and is able to work in place of a human." Through an advanced action capture system, Mahru can follow a variety of human movements and is able to move its hands freely enough to cope with any obstacles that may get in his way when walking. State-funded KIST showed the robot during a presentation at its headquarters in Seoul. People were treated to an entertaining show which saw the robot show off the full range of its skills, a series of dance moves. The research team added that they had designed another "Mahru", this time with sensors allowing it to distinguish between faces and objects. The showing of "Mahru" came a week after researchers in Japan said they had created the "most human-like" robot in the world. A team at robotics department of Osaka University in Japan said that "robotgirl", Replee R-l, looks, moves and interacts like a human, and has silicone skin that feels almost human to the touch. Mahru made by KIST can do the following things EXCEPT _ . A express certain feelings through smells B move its body freely C stop automatically when walking D dance with other human-like robots Answer: D. dance with other human-like robots Grasslands need time to rest when cattle and other animals feed on them. Moving animals from one area of pasture to another can provide the time needed for new growth. This is called rotational grazing . Rotational grazing is good for the land and the animals, and it can save money. This form of grazing can reduce the need for pesticide treatments by reducing the growth of weeds. And it can limit the need for chemical fertilizers by letting animal wastes do the job of natural fertilizer. Rotational grazing can even help prevent wildfires by keeping grasslands in good condition. Letting animals feed continually and intensively in the same grazing areas can require costly replanting. Animals eat the most desirable growth first. When that keeps happening, the roots do not have enough time to recover. As a result, less desirable plants may replace them. Intensively used grasslands are also harmed as the soil is continually crushed under the weight of heavy animals. While rotational grazing can save money over time, it also requires planning. And that starts with a good map to mark fences, water supplies and grazing areas. Changing methods of grazing also requires time. Farmers may want to put up electric fences to enclose grazing areas, called paddocks. The paddocks will need water. Some farmers design a path for animals from different paddocks to drink from a common watering place. Farmers can start rotational grazing by removing animals from a pasture when the grass is eaten to less that five centimeters. The pasture is then kept empty until the grass grows to more than fifteen centimeters high. Sheep and goats may require special preparations. They may need stronger fences than other animals. And while they eat the grass, they may need guard animals to protect them from animals that would like to eat them. Grasslands won't depend on chemical fertilizers when _ . A the soil of grasslands is naturally rich B animal wastes serve as natural fertilizer C rotational grazing can prevent wildfires D grasslands are usually in good condition Answer: B. animal wastes serve as natural fertilizer BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have pros and cons. Good news Free museums: No charge for outstanding collections of art and antiquities . Pop music: Britain is the only country to rival (......)the US on this score. Black cabs: London taxi drivers know where they are going even if there are never enough of them at weekends or night. Choice of food: Visitors can find everything from Ethiopian to Swedish restaurants. Fashion: Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too. Bad news Poor service: "It's part of the image of the place. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced," says Professor Tony Seaton of Luton University's International Tourism Research Center. Poor public transport: Trains and buses are promised to defeat the keenest tourists, although the over-crowded London tube is inexplicably popular. Lack of language: Speaking slowly and clearly may not get many foreign visitors very far, even in the tourist traps. Rain: Still in the number one complaint. No air-conditioning: So that even splendidly hot summer become as unbearable as the downpours. Overpriced hotels: The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark. Licensing hours: Alcohol is in short supply after 11 p.m. even in 24-hour cities. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A You have to pay to visit the museums. B It's very cheap to travel by taxi there. C You cannot find Chinese food there. D The public transport is poor there. Answer: D. The public transport is poor there.
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS 6-15 September 2012, Jeju, Korea Forum Addressing the world's most pressing sustainable development challenges, the Forum offers a unique platform for debates, workshops, dialogues, roundtable discussions, training courses, music and exhibitions. Events are organized by the IUCN Secretariat, IUCN Members, Commissions and partners and the host country. The Call for Contributions invites you to propose events to be considered for the Forum, part of Congress which is open to all (from 7 to 11 September 2012). Simple stepson how to submit a proposal for the Forum 1) Click here: _ : propose an event for the Forum. 2) Go below "Sign in" and create your account. 3) Edit your proposal: Check again all the information you provide and make changes if you want to. Click on Save draft. 4) Invite co-organizers: Get people to join you in organizing the event by inviting them via e-mail. 5) Click on Submit Proposal. Basically, you have the opportunity to teach, host a discussion, give training or just show your work. Workshops (TEACH) 120 minutes session, number of people to be confirmed. The idea is to promote understanding on a specific issue while engaging participants to share their knowledge and know-how. Knowledge Cafe (DISCUSS) 120 minutes session, suitable for 12 people at the most. These aim to share collective knowledge (explore areas of common interest) and gain a deeper understanding of a subject and the issues involved. Conservation Campus (TRAIN) Half day or full day modules , for up to 30 people. It's an interactive training session where participants develop new skills and knowledge transfer on relevant conservation topics. This type of event provides more in-depth exploration of topics aimed at building the capacity of participants. Posters (SHOW) Your posters are meant to "display conservation work and achievements in an easy and direct way. *Owners will have time to present their poster during lunch breaks (approximately 10 minutes). The following statements about the Forum are true EXCEPT that _ . Answer: Johnny is a nine year old boy. On one hot summer day, Johnny is outside his house playing with his dog. He is very hot and wants to have some ice cream. He looks in his freezer and sees that he does not have ice cream. Johnny then hears the song of the ice cream truck. Johnny runs outside but does not see the ice cream truck. He looks down the street but the ice cream truck is nowhere to be found. The music of the truck starts to get softer and then louder. Johnny waits outside for an hour. Johnny then thinks that he needs money when the ice cream truck comes. He runs inside and finds five dollars in his room. He then hears the ice cream truck song get very loud. He runs back outside and sees the truck pass his house. Johnny runs after the truck and catches up with it. Johnny buys 4 ice cream pops and some candy. He gives his five dollars to the ice cream man and gets one dollar back. He walks home and happily eats all of his candy and ice cream. How much money does Johnny spend one ice cream and candy? Answer: Climbing to the Top The year 2013 is the 60th anniversary of the first successful climb to Qomolangma. Do you know why so many people wanted to reach the top of the world? It was breathtaking. It was wonderful and a bit of frightening. It was Qomolangma, the highest mountain in the world. For many years, it has attracted tens of thousands of people who tried to climb its dangerous slopes. During May's 60th anniversary of the first successful climb, nearly 600 people from around the world, including a 5-year-old Italian boy, tried to reach the "roof of the world". China Central Television(CCTV) also sent a team to join the adventure. It broadcasted a special program, called "Standing at the world's third pole in 2013", from May 18 to 24 to cover the Chinese climbing Qomolangma. Over the last century, the 8848-metre-high peak has proven a great challenge for mountaineers. Those who try to stand on top of the world do so at great risk from extremely cold, avalanches , and falling ice. At 8,500 meters, the air contains just one-third of the oxygen at sea level, requiring most climbers to use oxygen tanks. Some of those who climbed the mountain paid the highest price---175 people have lost their lives on the slopes. On May29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal became the first men ever to reach the top of the mountain. Nearly half a century later, the sons of the two pioneers, Peter Hillary and Jaming Tenzing Norgay, followed in their fathers' footsteps. In 2002, they also successfully reached the roof of the world. Over the last 60 years, more than 10,000 men and women have tried to climb the mountain and more than 1,200 have succeeded. The first Chinese climbers reached the top of the mountain in 1960. Despite the dangers, many different people are drawn towards the challenge. But why do they suffer such hardship and take such risks to climb Qomolangma? "I don't think climbing the mountain is blindly risky. Instead, it's a chance to challenge oneself," said Chen Qi, a reporter of CCTV. Com, who was among May's mountaineering team. "Only when you are surrounded by the mountain can you understand the love of nature and the true meaning of life." What's the attitude of Chen Qi, the reporter of CCTV, to climbing Qomolangma? Answer: Is reading better than watching TV? I believe it is. Is reading better than playing video games? I'm not so sure if it is. If learning is important to you, but not necessary so,and if pleasure is what you want,these activities can be pleasant in their own way. Reading might be better than many activities if you want to educate yourself and improve your chances of succeeding in your work. If you're serious about creating the habit of reading,what's important is finding a time you can read every day--often that's early morning or late at night,or both. For others, it might be during their lunch break. You only need to read for 10 to 20 minutes a day to form the habit. Then, you need to find a place that's comfortable. Make sure it has good lighting, the temperature is nice and you're in a good chair. Or you can find some place that you can relax in without falling asleep, although there's nothing wrong with sleep. Next,be sure to shut off the TV,Internet,cell phone,radio, or other music. Let reading be a quiet time. Mark an "x" on your calendar every day you read, and try to keep your unbroken "x"es going as long as possible. A habit is much easier to form if it's something you enjoy, not something you are made to do. So make the time, you spend reading a joy. I've been a lifelong reader, so the pleasure of a good book is one of my favorite things in the world. I love to lose myself in the world of a book. Which of the following CANNOT be used to describe the writer? Answer: Come and see the Indian elephants and the new tigers form Northeast of China. The beautiful birds from England are ready to sing songs for you, and the monkeys from Mount Emei will be happy to talk to you. The lovely dogs from Australia want to laugh at you. Sichuan pandas will play balls for you. The giraffes from Africaare waiting to look down on you. Keep the zoo clean. Do not touch, feed or go near to the animals. From the passage we can infer that a giraffe _ . Answer:
A petition on change.org with some 75000 signatures is asking a Florida school district to change the name of a high school that is named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a founding member of the original Ku Klux Klan. The KKK was a secret American political organization of white men who opposed people of other races or religions. According to Marsha Oliver chief of communications for the Duval County School District, it doesn't matter how many people sign the petition because the process for changing a school's name is community-based and the final decision is up to the school board . The school board was asked by the School Advisory Council in April 2007 to change the name but the board voted 5-2 against it. Its membership has changed since then. The school was named after Forrest when it opened with white students only in 1959, a name suggestion that came from an organization called Daughters of the Confederacy. Now, more than half of the school's students are African-American. The change.org petition was drawn up by a man named Omotaya Richamond, who wrote the following to explain his action: I moved to Jacksonville from Long Island 12 years ago. Since then, I have put down roots here. I have helped raise a beautiful daughter here. This place is my home now. Jacksonville is home to Nathan Bedford Forrest High School, named in honor of a founding member of the original Ku Klux Klan. I don't want my daughter, or any student, going to a school with such a name. Five years ago, the school board voted 5-2 to keep the name. But a lot has changed in five years. All five members who voted for Nathan Bedford Forrest High School have been replaced. There is a new school superintendent who publicly stated that he would support a push from our community to change the name. Now is the time to correct a historical wrong. African-American Jacksnville students shouldn't have to attend a high school named for someone who killed and terrorize their ancestors one more school year. Please support changing the name today. Omotayo Richmond's attitude towards Daughters of the Confederacy might be that of _ Answer: Are you competitive enough to make it in America? There is an undeniable excitement about coming to study in the U.S., but it's not all excitement. Yes, it is America; it is the land of freedom; it's the place where different cultures clash ... and live together in peace. However, you guys might agree with me. it's not easy to leave home and the security of family, friends and people who love and care about us. And doing it raises some questions: Is it worth it? Are you equal to the challenge? You might be sitting in front of your computer watching a documentary about America, which shows you the breathtaking views of skyscrapers in New York, the beautiful warm weather in San Diego, and the huge parties along the beaches of the Sunshine State, Florida. Just so you know, it's all true. I remember how my heart was racing the first time I visited Times Square in New York. I can't find any words in the dictionary to describe how I felt at that moment. Someday, when you get lucky and go there, you will know what I mean. Unfortunately, TV and movies never show the other side of what students must do to survive America. Education in the States is really different from other places. Yes, there is the traditional A, B, C, and D grading system, and you get to be on the Dean's List if you have all A's on your transcript. However, these grades don't just come from your test performances. The requirements of classes in the U.S. are much more varied and this is the biggest adjustment that overseas students have to manage. Some have papers that you have to write every week, others have group projects you must do with your classmates, presentations you make in the class, or research you do by yourself to prove your own idea. There comes a night when you have a couple of projects for different classes, a paper, and an exam to study for. And that night you ask yourself, "What did I get myself into?" I'm not trying to intimidate you, but you should know what it really is like to study in the States. One thing I can promise you is that it is worth all the hard work you put in. And the more time you give to your study, the more open doors you will have by the time you finish your degree. When the author first visited Times Square, he felt _ . Answer: It's hard to predict the weather in the near future. It's even more difficult to know what the climate of the coming season is like. Now you know the winter of 2011/12 was not warm but a freezing one/ many people in the Northern Hemisphere died of cold. but a Native American tribe was fortunate enough to survive the terrible winter because of what was foretold by a weatherman. One day in early September o 2011 the chief of the Native American tribe was asked by his tribal elders if the winter was going to be cold or mild. The chief asked his _ , but the man also had lost touch with the reading signs from the natural world around the Great Lakes. In truth, neither of them had idea about how to predict the coming winter. However, the chief decided to take a modern approach, and rang the National Weather Service in Gaylord Michigan. "Yes, it is going to be a cold winter," the weatherman told the chief. Consequently, the chief went back to his tribe and told his tribe people to collect plenty of firewood. A fortnight later the chief called the National Weather Service and asked for an update. "Are you still forecasting a cold winter?" he asked. "Yes, very cold," the weatherman told him. As a result of this brief conversation the chief went back to the tribe people to collect every bit of wood they could find. A month later the chief called the National Weather Service once more and asked about the coming winter. "Yes," he was told, "it s going to be one of the coldest winters ever." The weatherman was right! And the Native American tribe went comfortably through the terrifying winter. The chief was thankful and curious. He rang the weatherman again and asked, "How can you be so sure about it tat it was freezing winter?" The weatherman replied, "Because the Native American tribe of the Great Lakes are collecting wood like crazy." The chief decided to take a modern approach, so he turned to _ . Answer: French novelist Jules Verne (1828--1905) is often called the father of science fiction. Although he was not a great traveler himself, his characters travelled to the moon (inFrom the Earth to the Moon), under the sea (inTwenty thousand leagues under the sea), into a volcano (inA journey to the centre of the earth), around the world (inAround the World in Eighty Days) and to many other places. Jules Verne was born in the French city of Nantes in 1828. When he was a boy he ran away from home to work on a ship. However, his father soon found him and brought him home. After that he decided that any future travel he did would be in books. In 1847 his father sent Jules to Paris to study to be a lawyer. Even though he was busy writing, Verne passed his exams in 1849 with high marks. When Jules told his father he did not want to be a lawyer, his father was very angry. He stopped sending his son any money, so Jules had to earn a living by his writing. Over the next few years he wrote many stories and plays, which brought him only a little money. Then, in 1856, he met Honorine de Viane, a rich, young widow with two children. The couple married the next year. After his marriage, Verne worked as a businessman in Paris. However, he was not very successful at his job and spent most of his time writing books and doing research for the next one. In 1863 he published his novelFive Weeks in a balloonand the following year he publishedA Journey to the centre of the earthwhich made him famous. His books became so popular and earned him so much money that he was able to leave his job and work full time on his writing. In his Lifetime, Jules Verne wrote more than 50 books and he became a rich man. Many of this imaginative novels have been turned into films. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: Being in an unfamiliar school can be frightening. If you start a new school, you'll have to worry about making friends. Here are some simple tips which help you make new friends more easily. Try speaking to the students you're sitting next to in class. As they're close by, it is easy to chat to them first. Try to speak to everyone in your class. You will study here for three years, so it helps if you get along well with them. If you don't have many friends in your class, try and make new friends in your neighbor classes. You can also chat to them at lunchtimes and after school. Join a lunchtime or afterschool club. You'll get to meet kids of all years that way. Ask your teacher to pair you With another student. Use your "celebrity status" ! Since you're the new person, you'll have got celebrity status, which you can use for a couple of weeks. Talk to classmates, remember to smile, and be open and friendly. Don't break in while your classmates are speaking. When your classmates talk to you, you should listen carefully and look at them in the eye to make them feel important. As you grow older, it's natural to make new friends and sometimes that means you begin to grow apart from your old friends. So try and make time for all your friends. But what if a friendship group is pushing you out? If this is happening to you, ask someone you're friendly with what has happened .If the friendship is hopeless, try to find new friends. According to the passage, moving to an unfamiliar school is _ . Answer:
Many environmentalists and entrepreneurs are looking for ideas on how to "capture gold" -- that is, how to collect and convert plastic waste into new plastic or fuel. OK, describing plastic waste as potential "gold" may be overdoing it. But the campaigners say that publicizing the notion that plastic is worth something may help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in oceans and the bellies of sea creatures. To that end, they have set up a competition inviting members of the public to submit ideas online. Organizers will take the best ones to the Rio+20 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro next month, where they are planning a daylong side event called Plasticity focusing on issues related to plastic pollution. The plastic waste problem is gaining broader attention as environmentalists, scientists, manufacturers and the public become more aware of the sheer volume of the stuff that finds its way into the sea. More than 260 million metric tons of plastic are now produced per year, according to the trade association PlasticsEurope. The majority of that is not recycled. Most of it ends up in landfill, and a significant amount ends up as litter on land, in rivers and in the oceans. Technological advances have made clear that it is possible to reuse much of this plastic by turning it into fuel or new products. Yet the companies that have come up with such solutions have not achieved the economies of scale that would allow them to function profitably. Insufficient waste-collection and recycling systems in most countries also stand in the way of " _ " concept, said Doug Woodring, an environmental entrepreneur in Hong Kong who is among the organizer of the Plasticity forum in Rio. Rather than breast-beating, the form aims to highlight some of the technologies and ideas out there for collection and reuse. My personal favorite for now is a vacuum cleaner with plastic parts made from plastic waste. What can be the best title for the text? A Earth Summit =" Way" Out? B Plastic Waste =" Great" Wealth? C Waste Recycling =" Green" Life? D New Technology =" Little" Waste? Answer: B If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault . But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame , and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can't read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering. Which is the best title for this passage? A Don't Stop Using Your Arms or Legs B How to Have a Good Memory C Strong Arms and Good Memories D Learn From the People Answer: B Recently, we've been talking about how we need better teachers. There's no doubt that a great teacher can help in a student's achievement but here's what some new studies are also showing: We need better parents. Every three years, the organization called O.E.C.D. organizes exams as part of the Program for International Student Assessment , or PISA, which tests 15-year-olds on their abilities to solve real problems. America's 15-year-olds have not done as well as students in Singapore, Finland and Shanghai in the PISA exams. To better understand the reasons, the PISA team, starting with four countries in 2006, and then adding 14 more in 2009, went to the parents of 5,000 students. They interviewed them about how they raised their kids and then compared it with the test results for each of those years. Two weeks ago, the PISA team published the main findings of its study: Fifteen-year-olds whose parents often read books with them during their first year of primary school get much higher scores in PISA 2009 than students whose parents don't often read with them or not at all. Parents' concern for their children is strongly connected with better results in PISA. According to Schleicher, the leader of the team, just asking your children how their school day was and showing great interest in their learning can help a lot. It is something every parent can do, no matter what their education level. The study found that getting parents concerned about their children's learning at home is more powerful than parents attending parent-teacher meetings, volunteering in classrooms, taking part in money-raising, and showing up at back-to-school nights. To be sure, nothing can replace a good teacher. But let's stop putting the whole responsibility on teachers. We also need better parents. Better parents can make teaching more effective . The study was done in _ countries in total in 2009. A 4 B 14 C 18 D 40 Answer: C There is a park near our school. We can see many trees and flowers there. We can see a hill behind the park, too. At the foot of the hill we can see a river. There are some boats on it. It is Sunday today. There are many Young Pioneers in the park. Some are walking and singing. Some are dancing or playing games. Ann and her sister Kate are flying a kite. Tom and his brother Sam are throwing a frisbee . Their parents are sitting under a tree. All the family are having a good time. Do their parents come to the park, too ? A Yes, they do. B No, they don't. C Yes, they are. D No, they aren't. Answer: A Have you ever heard that we humans use only ten percent of our brains? This opinion holds a certain appeal because if it were true, then we could instantly become ten times more intelligent just by firing up that sleepy majority of the brain! The idea that we use only a small part of the brain dates back to animal experiments in the 19th century. When scientists stimulated a specific part of the brain, the animal moved its leg or tail. If a tiny part of the brain could do something so great, what was the use of the rest of the brain? Some scientists assumed that large parts of the brain were simply useless. Then, in the early 20th century, scientists observed that stimulating certain parts of the brain had no physical effects. They named these seemingly useless parts of the brain the "silent cortex." Today we know that in humans, much of the "silent cortex" is actually devoted to complex activities like language, learning, and imagining. Brain scans have shown that different parts of the brain become much more active as we shift our attention and focus, but even as we sleep, many areas of the brain are extremely active. Would you be smarter if your entire brain constantly worked to maximum capacity ? Interestingly enough, the opposite is probably true. The less brain activity you need to perform a given task, the more the brain as a whole is able to do. What did scientists discover in their experiment in the 20th century? A The majority of the brain is sleeping. B Animals' legs and tails have some connection with their brain. C Stimulation on some parts of the brain causes no physical reaction. D Certain parts of the brain are devoted to language and learning activities. Answer: C
For families on vacation,a playground provides a welcome break from sightseeing.It can also provide a glimpse into the local culture,from the setup of the park to the ways families interact.Here are the designs that live up to that challenge. Fruit and Scent Park, Stockholm Is there a picky eater on a steady diet of chicken fingers and cheese? Perhaps a trip to Sweden's Fruit and Scent Park will change his or her culinary tune.This playground features a banana slide,an orange seesaw,pear huts,a watermelon jungle gym and a pair of cherry swings,all designed by public artist Johan Ferner Strom.Now,who can say you can't play with your food? Nishi Rokugo Park, Tokyo Located between central Tokyo and the city of Kawasaki,Nishi Rokugo combines recycled rubber tires with traditional playground equipment.In total,more than 3,000 tires of different sizes are used to create tunnels,bridges,tall sculptures for climbing and,of course,tire swings.There's little shade,so you can visit here in the early morning or late afternoon for the most comfortable weather, and be sure to wear your play clothes. $?Bicentennial Children's Park, Santiago,Chile Set a top San Cristobal Hill,the Bicentennial Children's playground in Metropolitan Park was built to celebrate 200 years of Chilean independence and improve the lives of Santiago citizens.Dozens of slides are built into the slope,creating a design completely complementary of the surrounding landscape.Fountains offer some relief from the sun,and ample seating gives parents a place to relax. Why does the author recommend Bicentennial Children's Park? It amuses kids and helps parents get relaxed. One in 400 children in the United States has diabetes . And the most difficult thing for the young diabetic patients is that many of them don't have a clear idea when they need to take insulin(a drug used in treating diabetes).The parents of one Long Island boy found the perfect solution--Hero, a specially trained dog that can discover when a diabetic is in trouble and find help. Johnny Pion, eight years old, is a poor kid that was told he was a diabetic in 2008. He can't do without insulin. His blood-sugar levels should be closely checked. He even can't go out to play without his mom or dad fearing he might need help. With Hero in her new home, Johnny's parents may worry a little less. They received the news about Hero on the newspaper. The dog cost around $20,000. With the help of friends and family, the Pions brought Hero home from Warren Retrievers in Virginia. Mary Campbell. Hero's trainer, said the dog could discover the slightest changes in blood sugar by her sense of smell."Humans have 5 million smell receptors ; dogs have 5 billion smell receptors,"she said. When the dog discovers something's wrong, she'll rub her head against Johnny's legs. If he doesn't answer her, Hero knows to look for Johnny's mom and dad. Hero even could ring up 911. On their first night, Johnny's was comfortably sleeping in his own bed with Hero and not with his parents for the first time. Night time is very important because blood sugar goes unchecked while sleeping. Now Hero is a round-the-clock nurse. What can we learn from the passage? Hero is helpful for the family. Maybe you have seen this in schools: some students are studying hard all the time but they just pass their exams, while some others may spend much less time on their books but do much better in exams. How could this happen? People used to think that hard-work is the only way to success. But now they have understood that smart work can make them succeed, too. Hard workers don't mind working for long hours, while smart workers always think of several different answers to these questions, " Why should I suffer this? Isn't there s better way to do this?" Thanks to these people, we can use computers instead of the abacus now. Progress in every field is the direct result of " try a better way" by smart workers. There was a large soap factory in Japan. Once it received an unusual letter, complaining that there was no soap in the soapbox he bought. How could empty soapboxes go out of the factory? The engineers checked the producing and packing . The producing was fine, but in about one in ten thousand cases, the packing machine let an empty soapbox go. There was no need to spend a lot of money repairing the machine for such a small problem. The engineer soon work out a solution. He put a huge X-ray machine and two large computers to find out the empty soapboxes. After teaching the worker how to use it, he sat down in his seat, exhausted . " Sir, we could have solved the problem in a much easier and cheaper way." said one worker. " Really? How?" " We can put a huge fan near the packing machine. The wind will _ the empty boxes. There would be no need for an X-ray machine and computers." See, this is smart work. In order to succeed, we should not work hard like the engineer, but also think smartly like this worker. Some students spend much less time on the schoolwork but do much better in exams _ . Because they try to find a better way A man claiming to be a pastor apparently tried to stiff a waiter on a tip, explaining that his work for God allowed him not to leave one. A photo of the receipt, posted to Reddit.com, shows a bill for $34.93 with an automatic 18 percent gratuity (or $6.29) added above a blank space for an additional tip. "I give God 10%," the diner wrote on the receipt, scratching out the automatic tip. "Why do you get 18?" He then wrote "Pastor" above his signature, and an emphatic "0" where the additional tip would be. (The automatic gratuity, however, had already been added to the total.) The Reddit user who submitted the image explained in the comments section that the receipt was part of a total bill for a party of 20, which is why the gratuity was automatically added. "Parties up to eight ... may tip whatever they'd like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity," the server wrote. "It's in the computer; it's not something I do." The server added: "They had no problem with my service, and told me I was great. They just didn't want to pay when the time came." Scribbling notes on receipts has become something of a trend. Earlier this month, the manager of a North Carolina Red Robin surprised an overdue pregnant woman by comping her meal. "Once seated, a manager came up to us and started talking," the woman's husband told Consumerist. "He was extremely friendly and jokingly asked my wife if this was her last meal before heading to the hospital." When the check came, a note from the manager next to her portion of the bill read: "MOM 2 BEE GOOD LUC." "It was a pleasant surprise and made my tired-of-being-pregnant wife a little more cheery," the man said. What did the pastor mean by saying, "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?" He didn't mean to pay the gratuity at all. Life can be so wonderful, full of adventure and joy. It can also be full of challenges, setbacks and heartbreaks. Whatever our circumstances, we generally still have dreams, hopes and desires--that little something more we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet knowing we can have more can also create a problem, because when we go to change the way we do things, up come the old patterns and pitfalls that stopped us from seeking what we wanted in the first place. This tension between what we feel we can have and what we are seemingly able to have is niggling suffering, the anxiety we feel. This is where we usually think it is easier to just give up. But we are never meant to let go of the part of us that knows we can have more. The intelligence behind that knowing is us--the real us. It's the part that believes in life and its possibilities. If you drop that, you begin to feel a little "dead" inside because you are dropping "you". So, if we have this capability but somehow life seems to keep us stuck, how do we break these patterns? Decide on a new course and make one decision at a time. This is good advice for a new adventure or just getting through today's challenges. While, deep down, we know we can do it, our mind--or the minds of those close to us--usually say we can't. That isn't a reason to stop, it's just the mind, that little man or woman on your shoulder, trying to talk you out of something again. It has done it many times before. It's all about starting simple and doing it now. Decide and act before overthinking. When you do this you may feel a little, or large, _ and you will be on your way. What does the author intend to tell us? It's easier than we think to get what we want.
A car engine is a source of heat and therefore needs A. radiator fluid B. water added C. wiper fluid D. gasoline Answer: A. radiator fluid Oscar is investigating how many days it takes for a chick to hatch from an egg. Which number of eggs would give Oscar the most reliable results? A. 1 B. 3 C. 5 D. 7 Answer: D. 7 In New Britain, Connecticut, a new official in charge of schools named Kelt Cooper wants to end high truancy rates among public school students, and he's suggesting financial punishments to get job done. A plan to fine students up to $75 for each day they skip school is now being considered by New Britain authorities. The concept of fining kids for skipping school may come as a shock, but it's not new. In Ohio, the parents responsible for a student guilty of habitual truancy can be fined up to $500 and/or be required to perform up to 70 hours of community service. Until recently, students in Los Angeles could be hit with a $250 punishment for each count of truancy; in early 2012 the law was changed and the heavy fines were removed, though a $20 punishment may still be handed out if a student truants for the third time. Fines for truancy are also in effect overseas. In the UK, The Guardian reports, parents can be fined PS50 (about $80) per skipped school day. The punishment doubles if it's not paid within 28 days. The question is: Do fines like this work? The vast majority of authorities in the UK said that, indeed, they do. The fines were believed either "very successful" or "fairly successful" by 79% in reducing truancy, according to a survey. If the plan is passed in Connecticut, it's unclear how effective the law might be, how to make parents and students obey the law and what might happen if they refuse to pay. However, local officials seem to be willing to _ . According to the Hartford Courant: "The mayor agrees that truancy is a real issue in New Britain schools, and what's been done in the past hasn't been working to reduce truancy." said Phil Sherwood, assistant to Mayor Timothy O' Brien. And what do the students think? In the New Britain Herald, one 17-year-old entering her senior year called the plan "ridiculous" and predicted that the punishments will bring about negative effects on the court system. Besides, "I don't see the point," she said. "Kids will just try harder not to get caught." The passage mainly discusses whether _ . A. schools have the right to punish students B. authorities should consider protecting kids C. students should be fined for skipping school D. parents are responsible for children's truancy Answer: C. students should be fined for skipping school The poorer mental function seen among alcoholics, many of whom also regularly smoke cigarettes, may be partly caused by the long-term effects of nicotine , new study suggests. "People who are also smokers are more dangerous," Dr. Jennifer M. Glass, of the University of Michigan's Addiction Research Center, said. In her study, "cigarette smoking had bad effects on IQ and thinking," she said. This finding may seem wrong because many smokers feel better after smoking. Studies show that up to 87 percent of alcoholics smoke cigarettes. Yet, few studies have looked into cigarette smoking as a reason that might explain the cognitive deficits reported among alcoholics. To find out that connection, Glass and her partners examined brain function among 172 men from the same community, including 103 men who are alcoholics. The team found that heavy smokers and those alcoholics both had lower IQ scores. In the further study, the experts found that smoking also appeared to be connected with weaker verbal and visual-spatial reasoning . So, though smoking did not account for all of the poorer mental function among the alcoholics, it did seem to account for some of the effects, the report shows. Which of the following is true? A. Smoking can make mental functioning better for a long time. B. Glass and her partners studied 275 persons in all to find the connection. C. Half percent of alcoholics smoke cigarettes. D. Smoking can also influence a person's weaker verbal and visual-spatial reasoning. Answer: D. Smoking can also influence a person's weaker verbal and visual-spatial reasoning. Young women are more adventurous than young men when traveling abroad in gap years. One in three female backpackers visits more than three countries during a year out and travels alone, according to new research. By contrast, the majority of their male counterparts visit only one country and tend to travel in groups, says a survey by the Gap Year company, which provides information and services for students considering taking a year out. More women than men say that their prime reason for taking time off is to see the world and experience different cultures. Men were more likely to rank "having fun" higher on their list of priorities. Women were more likely to value the challenge of a foreign trip, and many cited reasons such as learning a language and meeting new people. The more adventurous gap years taken by women seem to work to their benefit: more than three quarters of those surveyed reported increased confidence, self-reliance and independence, whereas only half of the men had that experience. The research also showed that women were more likely to do voluntary work while traveling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects. One of the reasons given for this is a wish to see the country in an authentic light. A greater proportion of women than men faced objections or criticism from their families over their gap-year plans. Among the men surveyed, lack of money was the main barrier to travel. Carolyn Martin, a doctor from London, was a typically confident female traveler. Starting in Cape Town, she traveled around southern Africa and Australia with a string of unusual and sometimes dangerous jobs. "I had one job chasing elephants off the runway in Africa by banging a stick against a pan," she recalled. "It was OK but one day I did get chased by one." She said that she had traveled alone because "you meet more people". According to the article, _ . A. most of the women students will travel abroad during the summer holidays B. one third of the women students will travel abroad in a year C. women students are more likely to travel abroad alone D. women students are willing to travel abroad in a group Answer: C. women students are more likely to travel abroad alone
To determine the boiling point of a liquid, a student must use all of these tools except A a stopwatch. B a heat source. C safety goggles. D a thermometer. Answer: A It seemed like there were quarrels every evening.My children were always fighting over something.They never agreed on who had last washed the dishes,or who had last picked the,TV program.I was tired of constantly being a judge. One day,I thought over what my life was like before marriage.I recalled my high school days when the terms"Odd "day/and"Even"day meant something.My class schedule changed by turns between "O" days and"E"days.On O days I might attend Physics and Maths. And on E days I'd go to another elective class,such as First aid or Art. So I explained our new system to the children."Jolee,you were born first,"I said. "Is one an odd number or all even one?" "It's odd,Mom." "And A1,you arrived second.Is two odd or even?" "It's even,Mom." "Ok,so Jolee,from now on,every odd day is automatically your own special day.That means you get to pick what to watch,or which board game to play.Al,the same applies to you on even days." He thought about it a minute,then said,"But there are more odd days than even ones in some months.Jolee will get'her day'two times in a row when a month ends in 31,and the next one begins with a one." "True," I said,"but that also means she'11 be taking the smelly,disgusting rubbish out,washing the dishes,and doing other less-enjoyable things two more days in a row,and you won't.It's part of life's give-and-take." For the first few days after that,whenever one kid shouted,"Mom!"I'd just call out,"Whose day is it?"That settled it.Soon.the quarrelling ended. Ah,the complete joy of peace and quiet ! What made the writer bored? A Programs on TV. B Washing the dishes. C Her children's quarreling. D Her dull marriage. Answer: C Which term describes an organism's ability to maintain a stable internal environment? A reproduction B extinction C locomotion D regulation Answer: D Great Wall Xmas BBQ Beijing Hikers is organizing a three-hour hike on a rarely-visited part of the Great Wall and will celebrate Christmas afterwards with a Christmas barbecue dinner in a small hotel at the foot of the Great Wall.Meet at 8:30 am.Dec 25 in front ofStarbucks at Lido Holiday Inn, Jiangtai Lu.Please write to _ or 139-100-25516.Pingyao tour High Club will guide a weekend trip to Pingyao, an ancient-walled town near Taiyuan, capital city of Shanxi Province.The town is among one of the best-preserved featuring a number of courtyard buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties(1368-1911).Among them is the Qiao family courtyard house, the shooting location of Zhang Yimou's " Raise the Red Lantern (')".Leave on Friday (December 23) night by train and back to Beijing on Sunday morning.For sign-up and more information, contact Lucy at _ or 8580-5080, 130-11171326. New year Harbin trip The Chinese Culture Club is running a new year trip to Harbin, to catch a fresh view of its yearly ice and snow lantern festival. As the temperature is expected to fall between minus 20 degC to 30 degC, visitors are warned to prepare well with down jackets, masks, fur gloves and boots.The trip sets out by train at night on December 31 and gets back on the morning January 2.The cost is 2,300 yuan (US $284).Reservation is required at 8457-2772 or 138-101-33998. One interested in life of ancient Chinese is more likely to contact _ . A 139-100-25516 B 138-101-33998 C 8580-5080 D 8457-2772 Answer: C Nowadays many people have to work very hard in order to live a better life. And the hard they work, the less they pay attention to their health. But it's very important for us to keep healthy in our everyday life. Here are some ways for you to follow. First, you should have a healthy diet. It's necessary to eat enough fish and vegetables, as they contain many kinds of vitamin you need every day. Do not eat too much fat, such as butter or anything too fatty. Too many sweets can do harm to your teeth, so you'd better not eat too many sweets or chocolates and keep off coffee. Second, good habits can help you keep fit. Doing regular exercise is certainly a good way to ensure that your body is healthy. After a day's work, an eight-hour sleep is needed. And avoid working or studying too hard. Doing the following can help you keep fit except _ . A doing regular exercise B sleeping eight hours a day C keeping good habits D working too hard Answer: D
FreeRice.com--For Each Vocabulary Word You Get Right, We Donate Free Rice through the United Nations World Food Program to Help End World Hunger 1 word = 20 grains; 5 words = 100 grains Play and feed hungry people . How to play Click on the answer that best defines the word. If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word. For each word you get right, we donate 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. WARNING: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance... (more) Frequently Asked Questions How does playing the vocabulary game at FreeRice help me? Learning new vocabulary has tremendous benefits. It can help you: Present your ideas better Write better papers, emails and business letters Speak more accurately and influentially Read faster because you understand better Get better grades in high school, college and graduate school Perform better at job interviews and conferences Be more effective and successful at your job... After you have done FreeRice for a couple of days, you may notice an odd phenomenon. Words that you have never consciously used before will begin to pop into your head while you are speaking or writing. You will feel yourself using and knowing more words. How does the FreeRice vocabulary program work? FreeRice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. There are words proper for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most learned professors. In between are thousands of words for students, business people, doctors, truck drivers... everyone! FreeRice adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, designs a proper starting level for you. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. There are 60 levels in all, but it is rare for people to get above level 50. Playing the vocabulary game at Freerice enables you to do the following EXCEPT _ . be admitted to a top university Two Chinese living in South Africa were killed in a robbery on February 5, bringing the total number of Chinese killed in the country to four in less than a month. Chen Jianqing, 35, from Southeast China's Fujian Province who ran a shop with her husband in a small town 45 kilometers away from South African capital prefix = st1 /Johannesburgwas shot dead. "One of her business partners died later in the hospital, "the Chinese consulate officials in Johannesburg said yesterday."Local police are trying to find more information about the case.And we have told the victims' s and are helping them come to Johannnesburg," consul Wu Gang told China Daily. Chen's husband was injured during the robbery but did not suffer seriously ,said Wu. The robbery happened at about 5:45pm local time and the armed robbers ran away after taking more than 50,000 South Afican rand (US$8,200)and some jewellery,Xinhua News Agncy reported. The killing happened just three days after Chen Jingmin, a 23-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong province, was shot dead north outside Johannesburg by armed robbers .On January 10, a Hong Kong businessman was attacked and robbed at his home in Johannesburg and died the next day in the hospital.All these happened just in less than a month. According to records, there were more than 40 robberies attacking Chinese in South Africalast year ,in which eight were killed .More than 100,000 Chinese are doing various kinds of businesses inSouth Africa,according to a Chinese official in the country. An increasing number of them are becoming targers of robbers after buying big houses or expensive cars, the official said. How many Chinese were killed in South Africa since January? 4 A man who served 11 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of murdering his wife was officially _ yesterday, walking free from Jingshan County People's Court--the same body that sentenced him to a 15year jail term in 1998--as over 2000 local residents cheered. "Police and other law enforcers made the errors,"39yearold She Xianglin told China Daily, "I believe the law will punish them and give me a just result." The original conviction came based on a confession which She said was extracted under police torture and the misidentification of a still-unknown woman's body. "The provincial Hubei government has sent a team of police, procurators and high people's court officials to investigate the case," a spokesperson for the Jingmen government, which administrates Jingshan County, said yesterday. The miscarriage of justice only came to light when Shen's wife, Zhang Zaiyu, resurfaced late last month after being thought missing for 11 years. This was despite at least five letters from Zhang to her brother over the last two years, which he said he didn't report to police because he thought they were a hoax. Zhang disappeared in January 1994 from Yanmenkou Township, and 3 months later a body was found in a pond that her relatives positively identified. Local police arrested Shen for murder in April 1994,although questions had been raised about discrepancies between the features and clothes of the body and Zhang. Confirmation through DNA testing had not been attempted. Zhang Chengmao, Shen's lawyer, said yesterday he would seek State compensation "but we have not reached a figure yet". When asked about compensation, Shen said, "My mother, who died from the stress of continually appealing, cannot be bought. Eleven years of freedom cannot be bought. Schooling of my daughter that was stopped because of poverty cannot be bought." As for his wife, the man said he did not hate her at all. "If she had not reappeared, maybe I would have been wronged for life," he said. He also said he did not plan to sue Zhang for bigamy, though she had remarried in Shandong Province without divorcing him. Which of the following is NOT true? Zhang Zaiyu wrote at least five letters to her brother over the last two years to hoax him. It may be one of Britain's most successful exports - Miss World. This 53-year-old event took place in China last week and attracted over 120 women worldwide with knockout looks in a mad struggle for the crown. Traditional values have long kept the Chinese, especially women, from displaying beauty. But Chinese people have now changed their attitude toward beauty contest, although some men will still be shouting that the winner is no more beautiful than his wife or his former girl friend or even his mother in a sour tone. But such men are not shouting for the right reason. The question to be asked is : Why isn't there a Mr. World Beauty Contest? And a further question to be asked is: Does taking part in a beauty contest show a woman's courage, wisdom and liberation or rather the opposite - a forced choice and a revolting act made under conditions of long-term discrimination? Organizers of such beauty contests claim that the contestants are judged on qualities other than just their physical appearance. But still no answer is given to why there isn't a Mr. Beauty or a Mr. World Contest? Or at least, why isn't that kind of contest popular? Why is it that only women's "qualities" need to be recognized but not men's? Think about who is always standing beside a fancy car on show? Is it a boy or a girl? And this is how "qualities" are judged: if the girl looks good, there is little reason why the car beside her is not of high quality. The beauty contests go on year after year, with winners enjoying fame which quickly disappears. While such events go on and on, what never changes is the routine practice that in every fancy car show, a girl stands beside a fancy car. What never changes is the need to hold a women's conference every year to appeal for the promotion of respect for and improvement of women. What never changes is the fate of women as a class. So let's put more time and resources into trying to change all this rather than holding beauty contests. Miss World Beauty Contest in Britain has a history of _ . about half a century American actress Marisa Tomei won an Academy Award for her work in the 1992 movie My Cousin Vinny. People laughed when they saw her film character telling a boyfriend that they need to get married. Why marriage? Because her biological clock is ticking and she wants a baby. "Well I hate to bring it up because I know you got enough pressure on you already. But...we agreed to get married as soon as you won your first case(law case). Meanwhile, ten years later...my niece...the daughter of my sister is getting married. My biological clock is ticking like this (stomp, stomp, stomp). And the way this case is going...I ain't never getting married." "Lisa, I don't need this. I swear to God I don't need this right now." Using it this way, a biological clock means the time in a woman's life when she is able to bear children. In the not-so-distant past, most people thought that when a woman reached her 40s it was too late for her to have children. The time on her biological clock had run out. Well, that has changed. These days some women are resetting their biological clocks. They are giving themselves more time to have children. Make no mistake. Being a "Single Mother by Choice" is very different from younger women who find themselves pregnant, perhaps not by choice. Generally speaking, single mothers by choice are older and well educated. They are usually financially secure and successful in their careers. So, they have the money. What they may not have is a partner. This is the place in life where writer Kerry Reichs found herself several years ago. She says she did not plan to become a single mother. She says she just did not find the right partner. "Well, I think I had a set of standards for the partner I was looking for and I didn't meet anyone that fit those standards. And, at 39 I found myself single, without children and I wanted them very much. So, I made the difficult decision that I could do this on my own. According to the passage, in the past, when a woman reached her 40s, _ . she might not be able to have children.
Question: An increase in the number of suicides in prefix = st1 /South Korea, has led policeman Yoo Byoung-jong to a new job. He patrols Seoul's bridges to stop desperate people from throwing themselves into the river. According to South Korea's health ministry, suicide rates have doubled in a decade and are now the leading cause of death for people in their 20s and 30s. The country has the fourth-highest suicide rate among the 30 industrialized countries in the Organization for Co-operation and Development (OECD). It recorded 22.8 suicide deaths for every 100,000 people in 2003. That's lower than Hungry, Finlandand close neighbourJapan. But the number is growing by about 1 percent each year, faster than for all other OECD nations. In a move to cut suicides by a fifth by 2010, the health ministry is running a television ad campaign. It opens with a lonely man walking on a bridge. A voice over says: "Think five minutes more before you give it all away. Don't forget you have a loving family." Other ministry plans include setting up more hotlines and training more suicide counselors. Authorities are also limiting websites that provide suicide methods and sometimes even sell toxic chemicals. Distressed individuals range from students worried about poor grades to people in debt as well as disgraced politicians. Experts say the rising toll in some way can be blamed on media coverage of recent high-profile suicides. These include top business leaders and celebrities who apparently lead a number of people to copy their actions. "We saved 50 lives this year when people turned to bridges as a place to die after news reports of such deaths by 'big shots'," said the 38-year-oldYoo, in December. Last July, the government and civil associations urged media to avoid reporting specific methods and locations of suicides. But it is difficult to clearly give reasons for the suicide increase. Yoo Byoung-jong's new job to patrol Seoul's bridge has . A. made him suffer a lot B. prevented people from jumping into water C. burdened himself D. proved a good way to save lives Answer: D. proved a good way to save lives Question: Robert Fredy was general manager of a large hotel in Ashbury park. New Jersey. One cold day two years ago when he stopped his car at a traffic light, Stephen Pear man, an out-of-work taxi and truck driver, walked up to Fredy's car hoping to earn some change by washing his windshield.Like many motorists who try to keep the beggars off, Fredy turned on the wipers to show he wasn't interested. Pearman put his head close to the window."Come on, mister.Give me a chance.I need a job," he said.Something in Stephen Pearman's voice moved Robert Fredy.In the seconds before traffic started moving again, Fredy handed a business card and told him to call if he was serious. "My friends told me he was just pulling my leg, "said Pearman."But I said, " No, he's a businessman.I need to give it a shot." Two days later,29-year-old Pearman appeared in the manager's office of the big hotel.Fredy gave him a job and housing and lent him pocket money while training him. Today, Pearman works full time setting up the hotel's dining halls for business meetings.In the past two years, he has found a flat, married and repaid Fredy's loans. "Mr.Fredy gave me a second chance, "says Pearman, " And I took advantage of it.I could have just come here a while, eaten up and left.But there is no future in washing windshields." Ordinarily, Fredy keeps away from the street people."But Pearman seemed so honest and open, asking for a chance rather than just money," Fredy says, "I don't hand my business card to just anybody.But I'm glad I did in this case." What can we learn about Fredy? A. He helps those who will work hard themselves. B. He likes to give his help to anyone in need. C. He always gives help to the unemployed. D. He is easily moved by poor people. Answer: A. He helps those who will work hard themselves. Question: When I was 10 years old, I tried out for the cheerleading squad. I had taken gymnastics classes for two years to prepare for these tryouts. However, I didn't make the team. It was a heavy blow to me. I cried all night. Kids today won't experience that kind of rejection. They're growing up in "everybody gets a turn" world where every child gets a chance to kick the ball, sing the song, and win the award. But that's not always such a good thing. Parents have become fearful of letting kids fail, thinking that our children are easily hurt and will never recover from anything--that's a serious problem. Last week, my 7-year-old daughter didn't get into the school play. At first, I was upset by it. How would she react? When I gave her the news, I was ready to hug her and cry with her. She looked at me, made a slight face and said, "That's too bad. What's for dinner?" It clearly wasn't the end of her world. Maybe if we let our kids experience rejection once in a while, we'd realize they are much stronger than we think. Kids need to be able to handle disappointments; doing so helps them to prepare for real life. Most importantly, rejection carries the possibility not only for growth and can also motivate kids to try harder the next time. Rejection is pain. There is no way around that. How will our kids ever discover their true talents if we don't let them? Instead of complaining, maybe we should consider rejection an opportunity. When failing to get into the school play, the author's 7-year-old daughter _ . A. felt greatly disappointed B. was upset about it C. cried all night D. thought nothing of it Answer: D. thought nothing of it Question: This is a photo of Ben's family. He has a big family. Look! Ben's grandparents are on the sofa. They are workers. They are old, so they don't work now. Ben's father is a doctor. He works in a hospital. He often drives his car to work. Ben's mother is a teacher. She teaches English in our school. The man in white is Ben's uncle. The young woman in red is Ben's aunt. They are office workers. Ben's family live in Beijing now. Ben and I are classmates. We are good friends. ,. What does Ben's grandfather do? A. A doctor. B. A teacher. C. A farmer. D. A worker. Answer: D. A worker. Question: What should a scientist do to help make sure the results of an experiment are unbiased? A. Keep the results a secret. B. Do the math without a calculator. C. Change all of the variables in the experiment. D. Ask other scientists to attempt to reproduce the results. Answer: D. Ask other scientists to attempt to reproduce the results.
You are seeing a film in which two men are having a fight. They hit one another over the heads with chairs. And so it goes on until one of the men crashes through a window and falls thirty feet to the ground below. He is dead! Of course he isn't really dead. With any luck he isn't even hurt. Why? Because the men who fall out of high windows or jump from fast moving trains, who crash cars or even catch fire, are professionals. They do this for a living. These men are called stuntmen. That is to say, they perform tricks. They actually do most of the things you see on the screen. For example, they fall from a high building. However, they do not fall onto hard ground but onto empty cardboard boxes covered with a mattress. Again, when they hit one another with chairs, the chairs are made of soft wood and when they crash through windows, the glass is made of sugar! But although their work depends on tricks of this sort, it also requires a high degree of skill and training. Often a stuntman's success depends on careful timing. For example, when he is " blown up" in a battle scene, he has to jump out of the way of the explosion just at the right moment. Naturally stuntmen are well paid for their work, but they lead dangerous lives. They sometimes get seriously injured, and even killed. A Norwegian stuntman, for example, skied over the edge of a cliff a thousand feet high. His parachute ( ) failed to open and he was killed. In spite of all the risks, this is no longer a profession for men only. Men no longer dress up as women to perform some dangerous actions. For nowadays there are stunt girls , too. Which of the following is the main factor of a successful performance? Answer: Exactness Al Ossinger,an experienced mountain guide,knew it was time to leave Longs Peak in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park,and get off'quickly.The sky had turned threatening dark,and his ice ax at times gave out upset sounds.Suddenly,as Ossinger was crossing a large mass of rock,both hands pressed against it for balance,there was a roar,a flash of light and an electric current charged through his arms. "In that second. I thought 1 was finished,"he said,"Then I realized 1 was still there--the jolt hadn't knocked me off.My body and legs were all right,but my arms were paralyzed from the shoulder down.''Fortunately Ossinger was able to continue down and soon the feeling began to return to his shoulders,upper arms,and,two hours later,his fingertips.Ossinger was a lucky man. A single stroke of lightning,which is usually three to four miles long,travels at speeds of up to 100,000 miles per second.In a single flash,it can carry 100 million volts of electricity and reach a temperature of 55,000 degrees Fahrenheit,five times hotter than the surface of the sun.During its brief life span,lightning carries enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for as long as three months.If you find yourself unlucky enough to be near lightning's path,you could suffer a direct hit,sending electrical current though your body for some 5 00 milli-seconds.Because of the short duration,severe burns aren't common and the resulting burns are usually superficial . According to the national Weather Service,more people have been killed by lightning in the United States during the past 30 years,an average of 87 a year-than by either tornadoes or hurricanes,484 people were injured in 1994 alone.These"swords from the sky" are also responsible for an estimated$100 million to$300 million of property damage a year.During the 1980s an average of 5502 wildfires a year were sparked by lightning on national forest lands alone. Earth is struck by at 1east 100 of these flashes every second-more than 8.6 million strikes a day.For all its destructive power,lightning has its good sides too.It's likely that humans discovered fire from some early lightning-sparked flames.And all that activity above the earth may help create ozone ,which protects us from the sun's harmful rays.Lightning dancing across a summer night sky is a force to be respected and appreciated-from a distance. In the passage the author implies that _ . Answer: we should recognize the positive effects of lightning Are you looking for something fun and would you like to help others in your free time? Then join us to be a volunteer ! We're a non-profit organization . We have volunteer jobs of all ages. Anyone, from twelve-year-old children to people about seventy years old can become a volunteer. You can help people in many ways. Schools need help with taking care of children while parents are working. Hospitals need volunteers to look after children while their parents are seeing a doctor. Animal lovers can help take care of those dogs and cats without homes. There is something for everyone. "As a volunteer. I don't want to get anything. Seeing the children's happy faces, I'm happy, too." said Carlos Domingo. an old woman of 62. "I often played computer games in my- free time before. Now I help older people learn how to use computers," said another volunteer at the age of 18. Carlos Domingo does volunteer work with _ . Answer: children Dear Jenny, I'm very busy on Friday. At 8: 00 I have math. It is not fun. The teacher says it is useful, but I think it is difficult. Then at 9: 00 I have science. It is difficult but interesting. At 10: 00 I have history. After that I have P. E. at 11: 00. It's easy and fun. Lunch is from 12: 00 to 1: 00, and after that we have Chinese. It is my favourite subject. Our Chinese teacher, Mr. Wang, is great fun. My classes finish at 1: 50, but after that I have an art lesson for two hours. It is really relaxing! How about you? When are your classes? What is your favourite subject? Your friend, Yu Mei What's Yu Mei's favourite subject? Answer: Chinese. When I was in primary school, I got into a big argument with a boy in my class. I forgot what the argument was about, but I will never forget the lesson I learned that day. I thought that I was right and he was wrong - and he thought that I was wrong and he was right. The teacher decided to teach us a very important lesson. In the middle of her desk was a large, round ball. I could clearly see that it was black. She asked the boy what color the ball was. "White," he answered.uShe brought us to the front of the class and asked him to stand on one side of her desk and me on the other. I couldn't believe he said the ball was white, when it was obviously black! Another argument started between us, this time about the color of the ball. The teacher told us to change places and then asked me what color the ball was. I answered: "White." It was a ball with two differently colored sides, and from his side it was white. Only from my side it was black. Sometimes we need to look at problems from the other person's view in order to truly understand his or her perspective . What lesson can we learn from the story? Answer: Put yourself into others' shoes.
I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal , eggs or toasts. While others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different from other kids' too. But at least I wasn't alone in my sufferings. My sister and two brothers had the same mother as I did. My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, then we be gone one hour or less---not one hour and one minute. And she always insisted upon us telling the truth. Now you can see how mean she was. The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning. We had to wash the dishes, make beds, and learn to cook. We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath, while the other kids always wore their clothes for days. I believe she laid awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us. Through the years, things didn't improve a bit. We could not lie in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and miss school. Our marks in school had to be up to par. Our friends' report cards had beautiful color1s on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, being as different as she was, would settle for nothing less than ugly black marks. As the years rolled by, we were one by one put to shame. We were graduated from high school. With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure of being a drop-out. My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four children, a couple of us attained some higher education. And whom do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You're right, our mean mother. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. Now I am trying to raise my three children. I am filled with pride when my children call me mean. Because, you see, I had the meanest mother in the whole world. The author's mother wanted her children to _ . Answer: do their best at school and be educated and respected citizens Every year landslides cause 25 to 50 deaths and $2 billion in damage in the United States. And in December, a single _ killed more than 2000 people in the Philippines. Sending workers to stabilize mountainsides using steel bars can help a lot, but it introduces new difficulties because of dust and loosen heavy, dangerous debris from the work. "It's a quite dangerous job," says Giorgio Pezzuto of D' Appolonia, working with eight other companies. Now there may be an answer: a three-ton robot called Roboclimber. "The idea is to operate a machine far away that can do the stabilizing job without a human being near,"says Pezzuto, manager for the project, which is supported by a European organization. Engineers say that the machine will be faster and cheaper than manual labor. The robot, a large radio-controlled four-legged spider, has cost at least $2 million so far. It should be able to climb mountainsides, drill holes and insert steel bars there. Testing should begin in May. A landslides cause _ in damage in the United States Every year . Answer: both A and C What should you think about in trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work .So it is important to do well at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. Knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs. Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metal work or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job. Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.. According to the passage, if a student's school record is not good, he _ . Answer: may do well in his future work The huge explosion in Tianjin is only a symptom of a much bigger problem plaguing China today ! Laws are often not enforced , or are enforced half-heartedly. The law clearly prohibits storage of dangerous goods and chemicals within a certain radius of residential areas, and there must be strict adherence to rules on storage and transportation, etc. The fact that this accident occurred so close to residential areas, resulting in devastating damage to homes and serious injuries to residents, shows that the law was not strictly enforced. Whoever approved the siting of that logistic plant in that particular area has a lot to answer for. Often, officials come to take action only after lives are lost. Another case in point is the unfortunate death of a young mother in the escalator accident in a shopping mall recently. Problems with elevators and escalators have been around for ages, and residents have made countless complaints, but to no avail. After the accident, city officials fan out all over the country checking on escalators for faults, and many escalators have been shut down for repairs. This kind of action is a kneejerk reaction to a serious disaster! There are many disasters waiting to happen. And all are due to weak or non-existent enforcement. For instance, it's well known that many residents add an extra floor to the roof-top of their apartment bocks, endangering the safety of the block, while others dig into their ground floor units to create an extra basement living area, hacking away concrete slabs and cutting steel bars which are the basic foundation of the building, seriously jeodardizing its safety. Neighbors complain, city officials come round and leave, saying they can't do anything as the owner wouldn't open his door for an inspection! They would often leave a note on the owner's door telling him to stop construction, but true to form, the owner just ignores it. This is the kind of enforcement we see so often in China. What is urgently needed in China is a complete overhaul of the enforcement practice, with every official held accountable for his failure to enforce the law strictly! Why wait till lives are lost before acting? In what purpose do some residents dig into their ground floor units according to the passage ? Answer: To create an extra basement living area. Mr. White works in an office. He liked reading in bed when he was at school. It was bad for his eyes and now he is near-sighted. But he wouldn't want anybody else to know about it and he never wears a pair of glasses. It often brings him some trouble. One winter morning he was sent to a village school on business. He got off a bus at a stop in a small town. Then he had to walk there. The road to the village wasn't smooth. There were stones here and there. He fell over several times and it made his clothes very duty. At last he got to the village. Suddenly it began to blow strongly and it got much colder. His hat was blown off while he was looking for the school. He had to run after it but he couldn't catch it. He was wondering why his hat ran into a house as if it had legs. And then he ran into the house, too. A big woman appeared and stopped him by shouting angrily, " What are you running after my hen for?" Mr. White couldn't get his hat because _ . Answer: he couldn't see his hat at all
Question: "Ladies and gentlemen,we got him!" With those words,Paul Bremer,the US's top administrator in Iraq,told the world that Saddam Hussein had been caught. Saddam was found last Saturday night hiding in a hole on the land of his former cook.He had a gun with him when he was found by US soldiers,but did not use it.He also had US $750 000."He was quite cooperative .Not one shot was fired,"said Richardo Sanchez,the US's top army official in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was the leader of Iraq from 1979 to April 2003.In 1990,he went to war with Kuwait ,one of Iraq's neighbours.Iraq's army killed many Kurds living there.The US and other countries went to war with Iraq in 1991 to get the Iraq army out of Kuwait.The war was won quickly by the American-led army.But Saddam was left to lead Iraq. In 2003,America said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and decided to go to war with Saddam again. The US-led army occupied Iraq in April.But they could not find Saddam.Saddam had around 30 hiding places in the country and he moved among them every four hours.The US-led army only found him after being told where he was by one of his former workers. America and Britain now want to put Saddam on trial for "war crimes ",such as killing Kurds in the 1990s. George W.Bush,the US President,wants Saddam to "pay the ultimate penalty " for such crimes.By that,he means the death penalty.The UN and European countries,though,do not want Saddam to be put to death. Saddam Hussein led Iraq for _ years. A. 20 B. 11 C. 12 D. 24 Answer: D Question: Enjoy wonderful programmes on Hello TV 7.00 a.m.-8.00 a.m. Follow Billy As Billy grows up, his tail is becoming longer and longer. He is worried about it very much and wants to ask someone for help. It is said there is an old man in the forest. He has magic power to do everything. Billy decided to visit him. You can have an adventure in the forest with Billy and learn some useful English vocabulary from it. 10.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m. Best Friends It is about two kids ----Jane and Alice. They are good friends and always trust and support each other. After watching this drama series, you will know the magic of friendship. 5.00 p.m-6.30 p.m. World Sport This is a sports round-up for kids. It covers the recent important sporting events. There are also interviews with some young sports stars. They are hard-working and full of dreams. By answering questions on the phone, you can get some sports posters. What might be the main character in Follow Billy? A. A boy B. A girl C. A monkey D. An old man Answer: C Question: Paper was first made in the year 105. It was made by a Chinese named Cai Lun. People in Japan learned of paper around the year 600. As years went by, people in other places began to make paper. The lead pencil is not made of lead. It is made of graphite . People found graphite in 1564. They thought it was a kind of lead. Today we still call pencils "lead pencils". The first pencils were made by putting strings around sticks of graphite. The first wooden pencils were made by Kasper Faber from Germany in 1761. Erasers like those we use today were first made in France by a man named Magellan in 1752. It was Hyman L. Lipman who first put eraser on the ends of pencils. And that is how the pencils come to be. Kasper Faber was _ . A. an Englishman B. a Frenchman C. a German D. an American Answer: C Question: He seemed to appear from nowhere and became the hottest sports star in NBA, the United States, and in China. "Linsanity," "Lincredible," "Linderella" screamed the headlines around the world and his popularity increased worldwide. He is the star of the moment having scored 89, 109 and 136 points in his first three, four and five starts in the big league, eclipsing former NBA MVPs Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan. He also made the cover of Time Magazine, something Kobe Bryant has never achieved. And it is not just his sporting achievements that are causing him a hit. His No 17 jersey is flying off the shelves in New York and online around the world. Some US media have even begun matchmaking possible girlfriends for the golden boy, with Emma Stone, Vanessa Hudgens and so on. Is Linsanity really that big? Despite all the hype and glory, he is known as a modest and sometimes shy guy. Jeremy Lin is the NBA's first American-born player of Chinese descent. Who is Jeremy Lin? A. The hottest sports star only in NBA B. A Chinese basketball player in NBA C. An American of Chinese descent D. A golden boy from an important family Answer: C Question: In Greek mythology , the gods punished Sisyphus by forcing him to roll a rock up a steep hill for eternity . But he was probably better off than if they'd forced him to sit and stare into space until the end of time, conclude the authors of a new study on keeping busy. They found that people who have something to do, even something pointless, are happier than people who sit around. "The general phenomenon I'm interested in is why people are too busy doing what they are doing in modern society," says Christopher K. Hsee, of the University of Chicago. "People are running around, working hard, the way beyond the basic level." Sure, there are reasons, like making a living, earning money, and so on. But, Hsee says, "I think there's something deeper: We have extra energy and we want to avoid idleness." In a study 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or at a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever option they chose, they received a chocolate bar. Not everyone chose to go to the faraway location. Two-thirds chose the lazy option. Yet those who chose to stay busy by going to the faraway location were found to be happier than those who had _ . But if the chocolate bars offered at the two locations were different, they were more likely to choose the far location--because they could make up a good and acceptable reason for the trip, Hsee and his colleagues say. Hsee thinks it may be possible to use this principle--people like being busy, and they like being able to show being busy right or reasonable--to benefit society. "If we can find a way for idle people to engage in activity that is at least not harmful, I think it is better than destructive business," he says. Hsee himself has been known to give a research assistant a useless task when he doesn't have anything to do, so he isn't sitting around the office getting bored and depressed. According to Hsee, people are busy in modern society because they want to _ . A. make others think they are not lazy B. keep their energy at the basic level C. earn more money to support their family D. avoid the state of having nothing to do Answer: D
Sedimentary rock is where you'll find most Answer: Request a teacher training workshop or school visit If you are interested in discovering new ways to supplement the materials you use in the classroom through the use of a daily newspaper, our Youth Outreach Specialist can come to your school and show you how to incorporate(... )the news into your curriculum. Armed with your newspapers and experience, she can conduct an activity with your class, making it fun and easy for you to bring real-world learning into your classroom. The Outreach Specialist is also available to run workshops with staff who are also looking for new ideas on how to use the newspaper as a learning tool. Please send us an e-mail at ghiten@seattletimes.com or give us a call at 206/652-6290. Once we have received your request, we will confirm the date, time, place and activity with you. Your request will be honored of a first-come, first-served basis. These services are FREE for current Newspapers In Education (NIE) subscribers . We recently visited Ridgecrest Elementary and conducted a class workshop. An overview of our time in the classroom, and our in-class lesson, can be read online. Schedule a tour Follow a newspaper from start to finish ... and get your copy that has just recently been printed. See how robots move giant paper rolls, how the press is "prepared" for printing and much more. Tours of our North Creek production facility in Bothell are offered Thursdays throughout the school year at either 10 am, 11 am or 4 pm. The tour lasts one hour. To make reservations contact: Kate Palmer 425/489-7000 kpalmer(r) seattletimes.com North Creek Facility is located at: prefix = st1 /19200 120th Avenue NE, Bothell. WA 98011-9506 The Youth Outreach Specialist is most probably _ . Answer: You might have noticed that the cost of food has gone up.In fact the price of wheat and rice has nearly doubled in the past few years.It's thought that right now,850 million people--that's more than 10 times the population of the UK--are short of food because it's too expensive or there's not enough of it. The price of basic food such as wheat and corn has stayed the same for quite a long time,about 30 years.But as the world's population is getting bigger,there's more pressure to feed more people,plus there's less land and water to go round. Another reason is climate change.Droughts and floods make it hard to grow crops like rice and grain.The price of oil has gone up and that makes it more expensive for farmers to run their tractors and to transport the food they make.And lots of fields are being used to grow crops to make other things that can't be eaten--which is bad news for hungry people. The main losers are poor people who live in cities in poor countries,who are facing higher prices for food.Some people are doing well out of the food crisis though.Farmers in rich countries like the US,Canada and Australia are getting record prices for their harvests. World leaders are meeting in the Italian capital Rome to talk about the problem of rising food prices.Some countries are helping out with the cost of foods and international aid agencies have called for more money for food production in poor countries. What is the best title for this passage? Answer: Building a foundation for your child of family values may not be as easy as you think. Often we believe that our child will pick up on our values if they live in the same home. While they may pick up many of our values, parents need to remember they are not the only influence in their child's life. These outside values often compete with family values for your child's attention. If we do not make a conscious effort to _ our children, they may not get instilled at all. I wish I had learned that lesson a little earlier. I thought if I lived my values for my children they would pick them up and make their own. Sometimes this happened and sometimes it didn't. I often see twenty-something "kids" who have no faith in many of the values of their family in favor of the values of their friends. Children will often pick up the negative you show quicker than the positive, so the positive things need extra focus to set them. Some of the influences your children face every day include their church, their school, their friends, any clubs or sporting groups they are part of and more. Kids spend many hours a day at school and with their friends. Sometimes in the business of life, we suppose our children will obtain that foundation we want for them. Instilling a foundation of family values to sustain your child requires more than living it in front of them. That is important, but building up your child with this important foundation must become intentional. That means we plan times to gather as a family. We plan activities together that show the values we want to pass on. We talk about our values; we live our values; we discuss the values of others and how they differ from ours; we constantly look for opportunities and make our own opportunities to share these values in word or deed with our children. Family values give our children a foundation to build upon. It helps them know they are loved and gives them a sense of belongings. Upon this sure foundation, they can spread their wings and grow to become parents who share these same values with their own children. We can learn from the passage that children _ . Answer: Swamp plants die, fall to the ground, and are buried by other dying plants. Approximately how long would it take for plants to possibly become a fossil fuel? Answer:
Dear MSN, I live in San Diego. I'm single and would like to meet people near me. Can I do this on the Internet? Searching in San Diego Dear Searching, On the Internet, you could easily go looking for love in all the wrong places, but here are lots of great ways to meet singles near you. The Web is a good place to start. MSN also has international sites for Europe, Australia and South America. There are several California-based MSN web communities where you can meet like-minded people near you as well as city-specific chat rooms for real-time interaction . Hope for some clever friends. What about a little more excitement in your online interactions? Try the "Gaming Zone!" I also tried MSN Search, looked under the "Personal" heading and found "Relationships". Clicked on that, then found "Ads & Personals", by "Region" and found San Diego specific personal from there. Try it! Also, give "IRC" (Internet Relay Chat) and "Usenet Newsgroups" a shot. Many a net romance has started and then developed in these off-the-Web communities. If you'd rather make friends F2F (face to face), the Web has some helpful dating and redating tips. From the second letter we can infer that MSN treats an ordinary reader so kindly and warmly because _ . Answer: it needs to attract as many readers as possible so as to make greater benefit There are many famous museums throughout the world where people can enjoy art, Washington, D.C. has the National Gallery of Art ; Paris has the Louvre; London, the British Museum. Florida International University(FIU) in Miami also shows art for people to see. And it does so without a building, or even a wall for its drawings and paintings. FIU has opened what it says is the first computer art museum in the United States. You don't have to visit the University to see the art. You just need a computer linked to a telephone. You can call the telephone number of a University computer and connect your own computer to it. All of the art is stored in the school computer. It is computer art, produced electronically by artists on their own computers. In only a few minutes, your computer can receive and copy all the pictures and drawings., Robert Shostak is director of the new computer museum. He says he started the museum because computer artists had no place to show their works. A computer artist could only record his pictures electronically and send the records, or floppy discs , to others to see on their computers. He could also put his pictures on paper. But to print good pictures on paper, the computer artist needed an expensive laser printer. Robert Shostak says the electronic museum is mostly for art or computer students at schools and universities. Many of the pictures in the museum are made by students. Mr Shostak said the FIU museum will make computer art more fun for computer artists because more people can see it. He says artists enjoy their work much more if they have an audience. And the great number of home computers in America could mean a huge audience for the electronic museum. To see the art in FIU museum, your special needs include _ . Answer: a computer and a printer World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is to be staged in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010. If you plan to visit the Shanghai Expo this summer, China Pavilion is a must - see area for you. China Pavilion, which is called Oriental Crown, is located at the center of the Expo site. Standing 63 meters tall, the China Pavilion takes the shape of an emperor's crown, with the upper layers larger than the lower ones. Covering 160,000 square meters in floor space, the pavilion is made up of a national hall and a regional( ) hall. Buildings on the China Pavilion began on Dec. 18, 2007. The design of the China Pavilion was picked from a total of 344 designs put forward by Chinese from around the world. The pavilion has both traditional and modern features, which helps develop the theme of the 2010 Expo; "Better City, Better Life. For example, it is red in appearance, which covers the traditional Chinese culture, and it is green indoors, with the use of energy - saving techniques. The Shanghai World Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from across the globe. It is estimated that 400,000 people will visit the Expo and its 140 pavilions every day during the period, but the China Pavilion is only able to receive about one tenth of the total. How to hold so many people in the pavilion remains a tough task. Luckily, the China Pavilion is built as a permanent landmark. During the Expo, the main structure( ) will be used for an exhibition based on the theme of " Chinese wisdom in urban development" by explaining the values of harmony( ), nature and spirit. The three - story pavilion has three sections. The top floor's "Footprint of the East" will show some of the changes in Chinese cities. There, you can see a film which shows how Chinese cities have changed, especially in the past 30 years. According to Lu Chuan, director of the film, the scenery is like something from Lord of the Rings. On the second floor, "Journey of Wisdom" will explain China's four great inventions. And the ground's " Blossoming" City will display scenes from cities of the future. On the second floor, you can _ . Answer: find out how paper was invented When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you're hearing, and say: "Thank you". This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice. I'll give you an example from my life when I totally _ in terms of practicing what I teach. In my work I travel constantly. I always put off going to the airport until the last second. My wife, Lyda, was sitting next to me in the front seat. I was racing along and not paying much attention. Lyda cried out: "Look out! There is a red light up ahead. " Being a trained behavioral science professional--who teaches others the value of encouraging advice--I naturally screamed at her: "I know there is a red light up ahead! Don't you think I can see?" When we arrived at the airport, Lyda didn't speak to me. I wondered why she seemed mad at me. During the flight to prefix = st1 /New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis. I asked myself: "What was the cost of just listening when Lyda called out the warning? Zero." I then reasoned: "What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?" Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people. I landed in New Yorkfeeling ashamed of myself. I immediately called Lyda and told her my cost-benefit story. I convinced her: "The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, 'Thank you.'" A few months passed, and I had long forgotten the incident. Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lyda cried out: "Look out for the red light!" I was embarrassed, and then shouted: "Thank you!" I'm a long way from perfect, but I'm getting better. My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better. And be ready for an answer. Some people may tell you things like "Look out for the red light." When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit. Then just say: "Thank you." What do we know about the author? Answer: He is expert at behavioral science. When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, "Well, it's soandso's fault."or "I know I'm late, but 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 stepping stone for success. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? Answer: A Winner's Secret.
A newly-wedded couple on a four-month honeymoon were hit by six natural disasters, including the Australian floods, Christchurch earthquake and Japanese tsunami . Stefan and Erika Svanstrom left Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6 and were immediately stuck in Munich, Germany, due to one of Europe's worst snowstorms. Travelling with their baby daughter, they flew on to Cairns in Australia which was then struck by one of the most violent cyclones in the nation's history. From there, the couple, in their 20s, were forced to shelter for 24 hours on the cement floor of a shopping centre with 2,500 others. "Trees were being knocked over and big branches were put down across the streets, " Mr. Svanstrom told Sweden's Expressen newspaper. "We escaped by the skin of our teeth." Mr. Svanstrom said they then headed south to Brisbane but the city was experiencing massive flooding, so they crossed the country to Perth where they narrowly escaped burning bush fires. The couple then flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving just after a massive magnitude 6.3 earthquake attacked the city on February 22. Mrs. Svanstrom said, "When we got there the whole town was like a war zone. We could not visit the city since it was completely blocked off, so instead we travelled around before going to Japan." But days after the Svanstroms arrived, Tokyo was rocked by Japan's largest earthquake since records began. "The trembling was horrible and we saw roof tiles fly off the buildings," Mr. Svanstrom said. "It was like the buildings were swaying back and forth." The family returned to Stockholm on March 29 after a much calmer visit to their last destination China. But Mr. Svanstrom --- who also survived the destructive Boxing Day tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004 --- said the marriage was still going strong. He added, "I know marriages have to experience some difficulties, but I think we have been through most of them. We've certainly experienced more than our fair share of disasters, but the most important thing is that we're together and happy." In Svanstrom's opinion, a marriage _ . A has to go peacefully and happily for all time B has to experience many disasters at the beginning C must always allow the couple be together and happy D should experience difficulties to make it steady Answer: D. should experience difficulties to make it steady A group of people decided to climb a mountain together. They thought it was going to be an easy climb, so they laughed and talked among themselves and didn't notice the sky growing darker. They soon got lost for they couldn't see very far in front of them. They _ together that night over a fire. No one walked too far away from the group by themselves because it would surely lead to death. They sat close to each other throughout the dark hours not just for warmth, but for the fact that staying with the group was their only hope for survival. After what felt like a century, the sun started its slow climb up the sky. They were now able to see as far ahead of them as they liked, so they began to go down the mountain. They still remained as a group at this time even though there was no real need. A bond had formed throughout the group that could not be broken or ignored. They knew each other just as well as they knew themselves. As they reached the place where they had started their journey, they knew it was time to say goodbye. Feeling at peace, they bowed deeply to each other. All of them kept the love they created as a group close to their hearts as they made their way out into the world alone. They remained as a group when going down the mountain because _ . A the way was still not clear B they enjoyed being in a group C they needed others to pull them D the way became difficult to walk on Answer: B. they enjoyed being in a group Barry collected four different rocks. The rock with the GREATEST mass will feel the ___. A heaviest B smoothest C sharpest D hardest Answer: A. heaviest 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 has purple fingers? A Katie. B Mike. C Rich. D Jane. Answer: A. Katie. High in the sky, a group of birds fly past. The 5-foot-tall creatures are whooping cranes, the tallest birds in North America noted for its loud call. The wild animals appear to be following much larger birds. But those aren't birds at all. They are three-wheeled aircraft called trikes , and the pilots flying them are wearing white helmets and white gowns. That plan might sound like a stupid idea, but it's not. The pilots are from an organization called Operation Migration. They are helping the whooping cranes learn to migrate, or move from one area to another when the seasons change. The cranes are endangered. In 1941,the species had dwindled to roughly 20 birds because of hunting and habitat loss. US wildlife officials counted 149 whooping cranes in November 1995,the most since the American government began taking censuses in the 1930s.Today,about 380 remain. In the fall, whooping cranes are supposed to migrate south. However, many of them don't know how. "With so few birds left, young whooping cranes typically don't have parents around to teach them," explains pilot Joe Duff. That's where the trikes come in. Each October, pilots dress up as whooping cranes and take to the skies in Wisconsin. The young birds follow them because they think the trikes are big whooping cranes. It takes about three months to reach south--with plenty of rest stops on the way. The pilots lead the cranes to refuges, or protected areas, in Florida. This spring, the birds will migrate north by themselves--no trikes needed! "It's nice because you know the birds are going to make it," Duff told WR News. What's the main idea of the passage? A Baby whooping cranes don't have parents around. B Pilots show baby whooping cranes how to migrate. C Whooping cranes are becoming endangered. D Whooping cranes are a clever species. Answer: B. Pilots show baby whooping cranes how to migrate.
One morning in Philadelphia, the sun shone bright through all the thick jungles and the tall churches. John, 6, wearing the worn-out clothes, walked from afar, his dark small hands holding a piece of stolen bread. John stopped for a moment at the entrance to the sacred church and then left tightlyholding the bread, He was an orphan , whose parents were killed in World War Illeaving him alonein the orphanage for five years, Like many children in the orphanage, he had a lot of free time. Mostly no one took care of them, so they had to learn how to steal those they wanted. John believed the existence of God, so every Sunday morning in any case be would go to the cburch to have a look and listen to those people singing inside or reciting the Bible.He felt only at this moment he was the child of God and so close to God. But he couldn'tenter because his clothes were so dirty. John himself knew it. John was quietly counting. This was his 45th Sunday at the entrance to the church. He stood on tiptoe for a while and walked away. As time passed, the pastor noticed John and learned from others that he was thesmall boy who liked stealing things in the orphanages. On the 46th Sunday, the sun was shining and John came still holding a piece of bread with his dark small hands. When he just stood there, the pastor came out. He felt like running away, but he was carried by the pastor's friendly smile. The pastor walked up to his side, clearly seeing John's small hands tremble. "Are you John?" John didn't answer, but looked at the pastor and nodded. "Do you believe in God?" the pastor petted John on his head stained with dust. "Yes,l do!" This time John told him loudly. "So you believe in yourself?" John looked at the pastor, without a word. The pastor went on saying, "At the first sight of you, I find you're different from other kids because you have a good heart." His face tunung red, John said timidly, "In fact, I'm a thief." With that, he loweredhis head. The pastor didn't speak, but held John's dark small hands, slowly opened them andput them against his wrinkled face. "Ah:" Just at the same time, John shouted and was about to take out his dark smallhands. Yet the pastor tightly held his small hands and spread them out in the sun. "Do you see, John?" "What?" "You're cupping the sunshine in your hands." John blankly looked at his hands: when did they become so beautiful? "In God's eyes, all cluldren are the same. When they are willing to spread out their hands to greet the sun, the sun will naturally shine on them. And you have two things more than they do. First is courage and the second is kindness." With that, the pastor led him into the church. It was the first time that John went into this sacred place, and at this moment he didn't feel inferior, but the unspeakable warmth. On that morning embracing the sunshine, John found himself again, along with the confidence, satisfaction, happiness, dreams he had never had. Twenty years have passed. Now the boy who ever tightly held the bread with his dirt hands has been the most famous chefin Philadelphia and made many popular dishes. Every Sunday morning, he would personally send the bread he baked to the orphanage. Those children who greeted him with cheers were used to consciously spreading their palms before they got the bread. Because they all knew when we are willing to spread out our hands to greet thesunshine, the sun will naturally shine on us. Which of the following can best reflect the pastor's great influence on John? Answer: John spread warmth to other orphans. When most of us look at our hands, we might notice that we need to clean, or stop biting our fingernails, and that's about it. But if you ask a doctor, he can see a whole lot more. Everything from poor diet and stress to serious kidney problems can be revealed by a glance at your fingernails. There are about 30 different nail signs that can be associated with medical issues, though may indicate more than one problem, according to Dr.Amy Derick, a clinical instructor of dermatology at Northwestern University. Here are five of the things a doctor can tell about your health based on your fingernails. 1. People who aren't eating well and lack vitamin or dietary may have thinner than normal nails, which are more likely to break. 2.Horizontal lines are associated with serious physical stress. They frequently occur in people who have gone through chemotherapy .They can also occur after some illnesses, injuries, or with severe malnourishment .Interestingly, there may be an altitude connection too. They've also been found in people who dove 1,000 feet and others who participated in an Everest exploration. 3. Vertical lines, however, are generally not such a big deal. Some people are more genetically prone to them than others, but they're commonly associated with aging. 4. When people lack iron, their nails can turn spoon-like. Instead of curving down and covering the finger normally, they 'll start to rise up on the sides and front, like the part of a spoon that holds liquid. 5. Kidney and liver problems can create "half-and-half nails", where one part of the nail is white and the other part dark or pink, according to Derick. Doctors note that because disease diagnosis is complex and some symptoms can be associated with different diseases, you should always see a medical professional if you are concerned about something you notice. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: Doctors can tell us something about our health by looking at our nails. How is a location of lower elevation affected by flooding as opposed to a higher location? Answer: It is more affected by the flood (Q =" Question;" A = Answer) Situation I Q: If someone sits right next to me in an empty movie theater, is it rude to move? A: Maybe, but nobody will fault you for it. Chances are that the close sitter doesn't realize he disturbs you, so he may miss your annoyance. You undoubtedly aren't the first person he's met who needs enough room. Forgive his bad judgment, move quietly and enjoy the show. Situation II Q: If I use the bathroom at a store, do I need to buy something? A: Consider frequency and urgency. Is this a one-time thing or an emergency? If so, you don't have to buy anything, but it would be kind if you did. However, if you regularly use the bathroom at this place, then you are a customer, and you should act like one. Situation III Q: If someone is talking loudly on the bus, is there a nice way to ask him to keep it down? A: No. Try other means: 1) Stare at him until he gets aware of it and quiets down. 2) Lift your finger in a silence motion and smile. 3) Put on earphones and ignore him. Situation IV Q: If I remember my friend's birthday a day late, should I apologize or just wish her a happy birthday like nothing happened? A: This is the reason why the word _ was invented. "Happy belated birthday!" is short for: "Well, I know I forgot, but then I remembered. Forgive me and happy birthday." Situation V Q: Can I lie about seeing a text because I was loo busy or lazy to respond to it? A: Don't lie. Receiving a text does not mean you need to respond to it. Why waste a perfectly good lie when the truth will serve? "Yes," you can say if ever asked, "I saw it." No explanation is needed as to why you don't respond. How will you quiet someone down in a public place? Answer: By looking purposefully at him. Hi Jane, I hope you and your family are all well. I'm e-mailing you to tell you about my new hobby, surfing. My brother, Peter, is at home from college for the summer holiday. He is very good at surfing. We go to the beach every day and Peter teaches me to surf. I don't do well in it but it's fun. Most days we bring a picnic and stay on the beach all day. Surfing is a good exercise and an interesting way to get a suntan ! All my friends think it's a great new hobby. Bye for now. Love, Rose What does Rose like now? Answer: surfing
Most people make their living with their hands, but Bob makes his living with his feet. Bob's story began in a small city of England. His family was poor. Seven people lived in a small house. Bob had no place to play but on the street. Kids in the city like playing football very much. Little Bob wanted to play football, too. So his father made a soft ball for him to kick. It was a sock full of old cloth. He kicked it every day. At last ,Bob learned how to kick a real football. And after a few years, he could play football very well. ,. Why did the father make a soft ball for his son? Because Bob also liked playing football. Here are some interesting places in America: Lake Placid Lake Placid in New York State has everything you want: great downhill skiing , great golf courses, and ponds for swimming. It is also a beautiful village with shops, restaurants, and hotels. It is well-known as the place of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. While many travelers visit here for outdoor activities, others come to this beautiful town simply to get away from cities and enjoy the clean mountain air. Whether you come to Lake Placid for adventure or rest, you'll surely enjoy your stay here. Old Forge Located in New York State, Old Forge is a deeply-wooded town with many rivers and lakes. It is a place where many people come to spend their summers. Biking, boating, and skiing are all popular sports in Old Forge. And on rainy days, the town's small shops become the best places for people to look for special local gifts. If you are looking for a quiet place to keep away from trouble, Old Forge is a good choice. Leavenworth This comfortable mountain village is just a few hours' drive to the east of Seattle. Many people from Seattle and from the rest of the country come here to enjoy the local shops and delicious German food. Outside of Leavenworth, you will find some of the best views in Washington. High mountains rise from the wooded valleys and rivers run through the forests. There is no doubt that the environment is what makes Leavenworth such a special place for visitors. Why do people prefer to visit Leavenworth? They like the special food there. I have a big family. In my family,there are 6 people--my father,my mother,my two sisters,my brother and me. My mother is Linda. My father is Mike. And our family name is Hand. My sisters are Gina and Sonia. They like baseball very much. My brother,David,is a lovely boy. He likes computer games. My name is Bob. I my family. What's the writer's full name? Bob Hand In 1974, the price of petrol in Britain rose by 120 percent; cars became expensive to run and train and bus fares increased. People who hadn't used a bicycle since they were children decided that they would buy bicycles.They discovered that cycling could be enjoyable and cheap. Bicycle sales had been falling for many years but suddenly everything changed.In 1975, British people spent more than one million on bicycles. Bicycle traffic increased by 11 percent. Bicycle fans compare the cost of running a car with the cost of running a bicycle.They also say bicycle-riding is a good form of exercise.In towns bicycles can often be faster than cars or buses.The bicyclists can ride through traffic jams and at the end of his journey he doesn't have to look for a parking space.Cycling through the countryside is a real pleasure; the cyclist has time to see things that the motorist, driving at over 100 kilometers an hour, never sees. But in the cities, cycling can be dangerous.You need good concentration and strong nerves, especially when a truck or a bus is trying to pass you.Since cycling became popular again, there has been an increase in the number of accidents. Cyclists say the answer to the problem is to separate bicycles from other traffic.Stevenage, a new town near London, has a system of "bikeways", where only bicycles are allowed to travel.However, in most towns, cyclists say, the needs of the bicycle riders are overlooked.Cyclists have formed into "action groups" in many towns in Britain.They want to persuade local councils-who are in charge of the roads and traffic in their areas-to make sure there are safe facilities for cyclists.Or, they say, interest in cycling will die. The main reason for so many people's riding bikes in England is that _ . bike-riding does good to people Nowadays, more and more teenagers use smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices more than ever before. And the amount of time they spend on these devices is only likely to increase in the future. But are all these changes good? We sometimes call children who are able to use mobile devices and technology easily digital natives. They can text, email, get Wi-Fi, and download. Some experts say that long periods of time spent chatting to friends online, playing video games and listening to mp3s, for example, may possibly change how their brains work. Then there is the question of privacy. All this online activity creates a digital footprint. Every time we share a photo or a post on social media, and every time we search for something on the Internet, information about our activity is stored somewhere. Our inability to control what happens to our children's digital footprint and their personal privacy has big possibilities. It might become normal for companies to ask their employees for their social media qualifications. We are also becoming more aware that companies and governments may be able to 'listen in' on our communications. So it is important to make our children aware of the possible results of over sharing. Another area where the digital world may have a big effect is in education. One worry is that kids who spend a lot of time online at home are sometimes unable to socialize properly with other children when they are at school. Other experts point out that, when it comes to children and technology, the children are the experts, not the teachers. They say that we should stop seeing online as 'bad' and offline as 'good' and there is evidence of innovative work in some schools. So, do we really need to rescue our children from the dangers of the digital world? Which of the following can summarize the main idea of the text? Do we need to rescue our kids from the digital world?
Uncivilized behavior by passengers unacceptable For the first time, airline passengers have been blacklisted for uncivilized behavior. Their names will remain on the blacklist for one or two years, according to an announcement by the China Air Transport Association on Saturday. The blacklisting means they will not be able to travel by air until their names are removed from the list. Blacklisting passengers who disobey the rules for traveling by air and so place their own interests before everything else, including safety, has long been overdue (,). There have been frequent reports of passengers making a scene when their flight was delayed or when they believed that they were not treated as they should be on a flight. Yet it is natural for some flights to be delayed because of reasons such as bad weather or mechanical problems that need to be solved. However, some passengers seem to take it for granted that their flight must take off at the time stated on their ticket, and they even assume that the members of the cabin crew are simply there to do their bidding . They forget that they should behave themselves in the first place and that respect is reciprocal .There is no reason for them to be respected when they do not show enough respect for others. _ rules can never be over-emphasized when it comes to flight safety. No one has the right to disregard the rules for any reason. Of course, airlines should provide quality services to meet the needs of passengers. Yet, even if passengers are not satisfied with the service provided, there is still no reason for them to flout the rules that are designed for the safety of all. The blacklisting of these three passengers should serve for others to know they have to toe the line . Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Never before have airline passengers been blacklisted. B. At no time should flights be delayed, whatever the reasons. C. Members of the cabin crew should be at the passengers' service at any moment. D. If an airline passenger is blacklisted, he or she will never be allowed to travel by air. Answer: A WASHINGTON---Think you're savvy about food safety? That you wash your hands well, scrub away germs, cook your meat properly? Guess again. Scientists put cameras in the kitchens of 100 families in Logan, Utah. What was caught on tape in this middle-class, well-educated college town suggests why food poisoning hits so many Americans. People skipped soap when hand-washing. Used the same towel to wipe up raw meat juice as to dry their hands. Made a salad without washing the lettuce. Undercooked the meat loaf. One even tasted the marinade in which bacteria-ridden raw fish had soaked. Not to mention the mom who handled raw chicken and then fixed her infant a bottle without washing her hands. Or another mom who merely rinsed her baby's juice bottle after it fell into raw eggs---no soap against the salmonella that can lurk in eggs. "Shocking," was Utah State University nutritionist Janet Anderson's reaction. Specialists call this typical of the average U.S. household: Everybody commits at least some safety sins when they are hurried, distracted by fussy children or ringing phones, simply not thinking about germs. Even Anderson made changes in her kitchen after watching the tapes. The Food and Drug Administration funded Anderson's $50,000 study to detect how cooks slip up. The goal is to improve consumers' knowledge of how to protect themselves from the food poisoning that strikes 76 million Americans each year. "One of the great barriers in getting people to change is they think they're doing such a good job already," said FDA consumer research chief Alan Levy. Surveys show most Americans blame restaurants for food-borne illnesses. Asked if they follow basic bacteria-fighting tips---listed on the Internet at www.fightbac.org---most insist they're careful in their kitchens. Levy says most food poisonings probably occur at home. The videotapes suggest why. People have no idea that they're messing up, Anderson said. "You just go in the kitchen, and it's something you don't think about." She described preliminary study results at a food meeting last week. Having promised the families anonymity, she didn't show the tapes. For $50 and free groceries, families agreed to be filmed. Their kitchens looked clean and presumably(perhaps) they were on their best behavior, but they didn't know it was a safety study. Hoping to see real-life hygiene, scientists called the experiment "market research" on how people cooked a special recipe. Scientists bought ingredients for a salad plus either Mexican meat loaf, marinaded halibut or herb-breaded chicken breasts with mustard sauce---recipes designed to catch safety slip-ups. Cameras started rolling as the cooks put away the groceries. There was mistake No. 1: Only a quarter stored raw meat and seafood on the refrigerator's bottom shelf so other foods don't get contaminated by dripping juices. Mistake No. 2: Before starting to cook, only 45 percent washed their hands. Of those, 16 percent didn't use soap. You're supposed to wash hands often while cooking, especially after handling raw meat. But on average, each cook skipped seven times that Anderson said they should have washed. Only a third consistently used soap---many just rinsed and wiped their hands on a dish towel. That dish towel became Anderson's nightmare. Using paper towels to clean up raw meat juice is safest. But dozens wiped the countertop with that cloth dish towel---further spreading germs the next time they dried their hands. Thirty percent didn't wash the lettuce; others placed salad ingredients on meat-contaminated counters. Scientists checked the finished meal with thermometers, and Anderson found "alarming" results: 35 percent who made the meat loaf undercooked it, 42 percent undercooked the chicken and 17 percent undercooked the fish. Must you use a thermometer? Anderson says just because the meat isn't pink doesn't always mean it got hot enough to kill bacteria. Anderson's study found gaps in food-safety campaigns. FDA's "Fight Bac" antibacterial program doesn't stress washing vegetables. Levy calls those dirty dish towels troubling; expect more advice stressing paper towels. Anderson's main message: "If people would simply wash their hands and clean food surfaces after handling raw meat, so many of the errors would be taken care of." What is the main purpose of this article? A. To discourage people from cooking so much meat at home. B. To criticize the families who participated in the study. C. To introduce the Food and Drug Administration's food safety campaigns. D. To report the results of a study about the causes of food poisoning. Answer: D As we know, Human beings each have unique brains. The brain is of the greatest importance to the body. It is the boss of the body.Your eyes,ears,nose,and skin tell your brain what is going on around you.Other parts of your body tell your brain what is going on inside of you.Your brain takes in the signals.It tells your body what to do with them.When you touch fire,your skin tells your brain that your finger is too hot.Your brain tells you to move your finger.All these happen very fast.Your brain also controls your breathing,blinking,and heartbeat.It controls your feelings and thoughts too. Humans have the most developed brain of all animals.Yet it is not the largest brain.The human brain weighs three pounds.The brain of an elephant weighs 11 pounds.So the largest brain is not always the best brain.In people,a larger brain does not mean a clever person. Which brain is the most developed? A. The largest brain. B. The human brain. C. The smaller brain. D. Not too big brain. Answer: B A person wanting to harvest tomatoes in the harshest winter in decades could do so if they obtained a A. snowblower B. shovel C. underground pool D. heat lamp Answer: D "Sometimes you just get a strict teacher.Instead of letting others know that this isn't your favorite class.Make an effort to show your teacher you are doing your best." jocelyn Howard,16 "Learn to put your activities in order of importance.School comes first,and if you just study as soon as you get home,it's OK.You can also relax and play computers or do the other things you enjoy.But don't settle for just _ .Try hard! And don't be afraid to get help from teachers." April Madlangbanyan,17 "If you have trouble getting along with a specific teacher,pray about it.Ask God to help you see that teacher through HIS EYES,not your own.And talk with that teacher.Good communication can strengthen any relationship-even with a hard-to-get-along-with teacher." Lisa Shaw, 21 "Being a good student means being organized.Remember to bring all your supplies, everything-to each class every day.Make sure that you'll never skip class.And when you're in class,really pay attention! Don't let yourself daydream or write notes to friends.Completing your homework on time is also important." Victoria Walsh.16 "When you're having trouble getting along with a certain teacher,stay calm! You may not agree with him or her,but you've got to remember the teacher is the authority figure.So make sure that you're respectful and open-minded.Ask for a specific time the two of you can talk.Explain yourself and address problem,not the teacher." ----Amanda Baken,18 "Being a good student means studying often,not just cramming before a test.Identify your weak areas.For example,maybe you don't have good reading skills or it's hard for you to take notes.Once you identify what your weakness is,ask for help in these specific areas.Be willing to go in early or stay after school to get extra help.Go into the school year knowing that being a good student will require time and effort!" Tiffany Irving,20 According to passage,we can infer that _ . A. some students praised their teachers B. some teachers said something about school C. some students talked about something at school D. some teachers talked about specific students Answer: C
It seems that many college graduates are unsure of what to do with their lives, so they jump back into the college scene by default . But graduate school is costly, time consuming and requires a lot of in-depth study, and also parents will lay down more money and banks will supply more student loans. However, there are some students who should be pursuing graduate degrees. Teachers, lawyers, doctors, professors and ministers are a few examples of those who will benefit from class work past a bachelor's degree. Their professions call for additional courses and more specialization and therefore higher education is a must. Still, all students in general should not adopt the idea that graduate school is necessary for individuals who want to make more money. Working hard right after college can lead to promotions in the future. It seems that it does more good to network or internship with professionals while pursing a bachelor's degree than it does to complete a master's and distant oneself from the world of work. If a student graduates with a four-year degree and immediately enters the work force , he will most likely start an entry-level pay. In a couple of years this employee will gain seniority and experience, therefore increasing their chance for pay rise. He will learn the information at his job-site that he did not learn in school. His bachelor's degree loan can be immediately _ ,and his maturity level can increase as real work related responsibilities set in. But, if the student pursues a master's degree, he may be able to demand more pay initially when he finally goes job hunting, but years of serious money making as well as work experience will already be lost. Students should not shy from the workforce just because uncertainty follows graduation. Those who pursue a graduate degree just because they do not want to leave school and because they view the "real world" as scary should think again. Using graduate studies as a hiding place from the full-time job is a waste of time. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Students use graduate school to avoid reality David Cameron mistakenly left his eight-year-old daughter in a pub by herself when he drove off without her, as was reported last night. The Prime Minister --who had been enjoying Sunday drinks with his family near Chequers--only realized his eldest daughter was missing when he arrived back at his official country house. The Camerons had been drinking at the Plough Inn, in Cadsden, Buckinghamshire, with their three children and two other families. As they were to leave, Nancy went off to the toilet without telling them. The Prime Minister was driven back to Chequers, which is two miles from the pub, with protection officers in one car. Mr Cameron thought that Nancy was in the car with his wife, while she thought that their daughter had jumped in with the Prime Minister. A spokesman for the Prime Minister last night said he was worried when he realized what had happened. They later confirmed that Mr Cameron returned to the pub to pick up Nancy. "Thankfully when they phoned the pub she was there safe and well," the spokesman said. "The Prime Minister went down straight away to get her." When Mr Cameron arrived back at the pub, he found his daughter happily helping the owner of the pub. It is understood she had been left by herself for 15 minutes. The spokesman refused to discuss whether Mr Cameron had drunk alcohol. "He had gone with friends at lunchtime, with a number of families with children, and they left in various different vehicles. As you know, the Prime Minister is a very busy man but he always tries to live as normal a life as possible with his family." he said. Last night a pub "insider" said: "You'd have thought that someone would have done a headcount or something." It's not like you can look up David Cameron in the phonebook and then ring to say you've left your daughter behind. It's frightening that the Prime Minister of Britain can forget something so important as his own daughter. What can we learn about the Camerons? Answer: Nancy was left at the pub by chance. Coolest Hotels in the World Artau Aragon Towers The Ariau Amazon Towers hotel lets you sleep in a tree house. Eight towers make up this hotel that offers over 300 rooms. If you really want to get into the spirit, book the Tarzan Suite which is large enough for a big family. You'll be thirty feet up in the air and can travel between the towers through their wooden walkways. Prices: starting at $300 one night for each person for a regular room and going all the way up to $3000 for the Tarzan Suite. For more information, visit the website: http://Hwww.ariautowers.com The Ice Hotel Every winter in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, a special kind of hotel called the lce Hotel is built. Each year, world-famous artists are invited to design and produce works of art from the ice, many of which can be found in the rooms. You'll have your choice between hot or cold rooms but you will be well advised to stay at least one night in a cold room for a true experience. Prices: starting at $318 one night for each person for either a cold room or a warm one. For more information, visit the website: http:Hwww.icehotel.com Propeller Island Propeller Island City Lodge is a very special hotel that was designed by a German artist. Each room provides you with the possibility of living in a work of art. Every single piece of furniture in the thirty rooms of the hotel has been hand-made and each room is completely different. You'll be able to choose a room based on your own personal tastes. Prices: starting at just $91 a night, and an additional person for only 20 extra dollars. For more information, visit the website: http://www.propeller-island.com For information about other cool hotels In the world, visit the website: http://www.bahamabeachclub.com Which hotel would invite artists to come to work every year? Answer: The Ice Hotel. A common problem involving waste in the excretory system is Answer: having the runs Today is November 20th. It's my sister Mary's 8thbirthday. In the morning, my parents take us to Zig Zag's Clothes Store. There my mother buys a red sweater for Mary. And we go to Huaxing Book Store. There I buy some CDs for Mary. My father also buys a book for Mary, and its name is Harry Potter. It's Mary's favorite book. In the afternoon, my parents have a birthday party for Mary at home. Mary's friends, Bill and Cindy come to the party. Bill brings a new pencil box to Mary. Mary likes it very much. Cindy gives Mary an English-Chinese dictionary. Mary is very happy. Oh, I'm Mary's brother. My name is Nick. ---What does Nick buy for Mary? --- _ Answer: Some CDs
Scientists perform experiments to test hypotheses. How do scientists try to remain objective during experiments? Scientists analyze all results. Researchers found that compared with teens who spent much of their free time in front of TV sets, those who were physically active often had higher self-respect, better grades and were less likely to have risky behavior like taking drugs, smoking, or drinking.The findings, based on a national survey of nearly 12,000 middle and high school students, were published in a journal. "Across the board, children who engaged in any kind of activity were belier off than kids who watched a lot of TV," said study co author professor Penny Gordon Larsen of the University of North Carolina. Other studies have linked certain content of television programs, such as violence and sex, to children's behavior.But beyond this issue, Gordon-Larsen said that kids who spend hours watching TV "miss opportunities" to develop skills, learn teamwork and have other experiences that their more active peers benefit from. That doesn't mean, however, that kids have to be on the football team. The study found that some activities like skating and skateboarding----which adults sometimes frown upon----were also related to better self respect and less risk taking. That skaters were better behaved than TV watchers might come as a surprise to some adults who consider these teens to be bad, according to Gordon-Larsen.Skateboarding is forbidden in many public areas, and some communities oppose building skating parks.But if kids who like to skate have nowhere to do it, "it's a shame," said Gordon-Larsen. Not only should parents encourage their kids to engage iii the physical activities they enjoy, she said, but schools and communities should also do more to create opportunities for children to be active. From the passage we know that_. physically active kids get into less trouble An acquired characteristic is a permanent welt gotten many years ago Google has been collecting tons of data about smartphone usage around the world. Here are some of the most surprising and interesting facts: Android is most popular in Japan, with 55% of respondents using it, compared with 39% for iOS.Android is also number one in a few other countries, including New Zealand (41%), the US(40%), and China (38%). iOS is farthest ahead in Switzerland, with 52% usage vs 23% for Android.Other countries where iOS is far ahead include Australia (49% vs 25% Android), Canada (45% vs 23% Android and 23% Blackberry), and France (43% vs 25% Android). In Egypt, Windows Mobile is far more popular than iOS.13% of survey respondents use the Microsoft smartphone platform, behind Symbian (19%) and Android (14%). iOS is very far down at 4%. Mobile social networking is biggest in Mexico and Argentina, where 74% and 73% of users visit a social network daily.But mobilesocial is weak in Japan where 34% of users never visit a social network on their phone, and this figure rises to 41% in Brazil. Watching video is most popular in Saudi Arabia, with 59% of respondents doing it daily.Number two is Egypt, with 41%. Chinese users shop from their phones.59% of Chinese users do this, compared with only 41% in secondplace Egypt.Chinese users also love to write reviews.41% of them write a review of a local business after looking it up on their smartphone.Number two, Japan, is far behind, with only 24% of respondents doing this. . In which of the following countries is mobile social networking least popular? Brazil. I don't want to brag , OK, maybe I do want to a little. I have two very smart daughters. My oldest is 7 and she is one of the best students in her second grade class and my youngest, who is 2, is learning new things every day. When it comes to their cleverness, I believe this is because they love reading. When my wife and I first became parents, we were told by a number of people that the best thing we could do for our kids was to encourage them to read. However, with things like television and video games out there, we found it was sometimes hard to make books seem more interesting. But, we succeeded with both of them by doing a few different things. One of the first things we did was reading to them. My youngest daughter can't read books herself yet. But, I also take the time to read to my oldest daughter, too. Not only is this a great way to _ and make them like you, it also introduces them to a world that they might not realize. One thing I recommend is making sure you plan first so you have plenty of time to read more than one book if they want it. This allows you to read their favorite stories while mixing in something new, too. Another thing I started doing with my oldest daughter is having her read to her younger sister. This makes her practice reading out loud something she gets to do at school and loves to and I've noticed my 2-year-old seems to pay closer attention to the stories for some reason. The second thing we do with our kids is we challenge them to read outside their level. I have given my oldest daughter books that are a little more complicated . I do this so she doesn't get bored with "kids" books. For example, the other day, I had her try to read a Sherlock Holmes story. It was a bit hard. But, she understood it enough and she wanted to read it again with my help. I also encourage her to read newspapers and magazines. I do the same thing when I read to my youngest daughter and will sometimes borrow one of her sister's books. So far, she's still paying attention when I read them. Third, and most important, I let them be kids and consider their interests. Reading is a great thing. But, you can get too much of a great thing, too. I let them mix in television, video games, etc. This keeps reading a bit more exciting for them because they like reading the books that they want to rather than think I'm forcing them to read instead of letting them do other things. What makes the writer feel difficult is _ . how to keep TV and video from disturbing his children
Question: Cancer researchers urged people on Wednesday to take more vitamin D to lower risk of cancer, saying studies showed a clear link. "Our suggestion is for people to increase their intake, through diet or a vitamin supplement," Dr. Cedric Garland said in a telephone interview. Garland's research team reviewed 63 studies, including several large long-term ones, on the relationship between vitamin D and certain types of cancer worldwide between 1966 and 2004. "There's nothing that has this ability to prevent cancer," he said, urging governments and public health officials to do more to fortify foods with vitamin D.Garland is part of a University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center team that published its findings this week online in the American Journal of Public Health. Vitamin D is found in milk, as well as in some fortified orange juice, yogurt and cheeses, usually at around 100 international units (IU) a serving. People might want to consider a vitamin supplement to raise their intake to 1000 IUs per day, Garland said, adding that it was well within the safety guidelines established by the National Academy of Sciences. The authors said that taking more vitamin D could be especially important for people living in northern areas, which receive less vitamin D from sunshine. African Americans, who don't produce as much of the vitamin because of their skin colour, could also benefit significantly from a higher intake, the authors said. People from which area should take more Vitamin D according to the passage? A. Asian people B. American people C. European people D. African people Answer: D Question: Ted and Susan are good friends. Last Saturday, Ted asked Susan to go with him to watch a movie or take a walk down by the lake. Susan really wanted to go, but she was really busy all Saturday. First, her mom asked her to help clean the house in the morning, and then she had to go to the dentist's at 12:30. Two hours after that, she met Julia to help her with her science. Then she had to go to soccer practice with her brother at 4:30, and her mom asked her to cook dinner for the family at 5:30. Then, she had to do her history homework. Ted knew that Susan was going to have a full day. So he asked her to watch a video at home. Susan thought that was great, but something was wrong with their video player. So they had to just play a game. How many things did Susan have to do on Saturday? A. 3. B. 4. C. 5. D. 6. Answer: D Question: Fat on human body is distributed in two different ways. Some fat people have a large chest and no waistline , looking rather like apples. Others are fatter below the waist, looking more like pears. Doctors in Cambridge, England have been examining the relationship between health and fat distribution. They find that the pear-shaped fat people have fewer problems than the apple-shaped people. What seems to be most important is not just how much fat you have but where you have it. The doctors measured the apple-shaped women and pear-shaped women and examined them with X-ray scanners (X). Human beings have two types of fat, one is outside fat that is the fat below the skin and the other is inside fat that lies inside the body. Using the X-ray scanners, the doctors found that the "apples" have a large amount of inside fat. If this inside fat is much more than outside fat, it will probably cause health problems such as obesity . The best treatment for obesity is to reduce the inside fat. But unfortunately diet treatment simply makes an apple-shaped person into a smaller apple and a pear-shaped person into a smaller pear. At the moment there is no effective way of reducing the inside fat. According to the relation between health and fatness A. it's better to be pear-shaped than apple-shaped B. it's better to be apple-shaped than pear-shaped C. apple-shaped fat people have fewer problems than pear-shaped people D. fatness is the most dangerous enemy to health Answer: A Question: There is good and bad news for parents today. The word "mother" has been voted the most beautiful word in the English language. But "father" failed even to make it on the list of the 70 best words in a survey of thousands of non-English speakers across the world. From Ankara to Zurich, "mother" was voted above "love", "smile" and "blossom". In second place was "passion", followed by "smile", "love" and "eternity", with "fantastic", "destiny", "freedom", "liberty" and "tranquility" completing the top 10. The results were given by the British Council which carried out a huge survey of more than 40,000 people in 102 non-English speaking countries. The study was done to celebrate the group's 70th anniversary --and it threw up a few surprising words to the list. "It's interesting that 'mother', the only word of the 70 that describes a direct relationship between people, came top of the poll ",said British Council spokesman Greg Selby. "It is great to see words in the survey that are so positive and suggestive of the British Council' s purpose -- words such as 'freedom', 'liberty', 'peace'." Those surveyed were allowed to choose their words on either meaning or sound, said Mr. Selby. This explained why words that are satisfying to pronounce, like "flip-flop", made the list. Famous mothers like Kate Winslet, Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer have all done their bit to make the word popular. Kate, 28, even stopped shooting Woody Allen's new film to spend more time with her young family. Singer Robbie Williams is proud to express his love for his mother, while actor Peter Kay went through a marathon British tour to pay for a new house for his mom. The mood was added to by Britney Spears, yesterday as she showed her love for her mother. She said: "My mom was and still is a supermom. She is just so much fun and I think the reason why I love so much her is because she's a young mom." She added: "Mom, thanks for being the best role model--you rock." Which of the following shows the correct order of the first five words? A. Mother, smile, passion, love and eternity. B. Mother, passion, smile, love and eternity. C. Mother, smile, love, eternity and passion. D. Mother-in-law, passion, smile, love and eternity. Answer: B Question: Perfect Disaster All around us buildings shook. We decided to leave the town. We stopped once we had left the buildings behind us. The carts were moving in opposite directions, though the ground was perfectly flat, and they wouldn't stay in place even with their wheels blocked by stones. In addition, it seemed as though the sea was being sucked backwards, as if it were being pushed back by the shaking of the land. Certainly the shoreline moved outwards, and many sea animals were left on dry sand. Behind us were frightening dark clouds that opened up to show fire--like lightning, but bigger. Not long after that the clouds reached down to the ground and covered the sea. Now came the dust, though still thin. I looked back. A dense cloud appeared behind us, following us like a flood pouring across the land. Then a darkness came that was not like a moonless or cloudy night, but more like being in a closed and unlighted room. You could hear women and children crying, men shouting. Some were calling for parents, others for children; they could only recognize them by their voices. Darkness and ashes came again, a great weight of them. We stood up and shook the ash off again and again; otherwise we would have been covered with it and crushed by the weight. At last the cloud became thinner and thinner until it was no more than smoke or fog. Soon there was real daylight. The sight that met our still terrified eyes was a changed world, buried in ash like snow. --from Pliny's letter to a friend The reason why it was dark is that _ . A. it was very late at night B. clouds of ash covered the sun C. there was a very bad storm D. there was no moon that night Answer: B
It was another rainy day, it had stopped raining but the ground was still wet, with this remarkable smell of freshness, I was in the car with my friend, and ahead of us was a pitiful-looking old man, with a walking stick in his hand as it seemed he was having a hard time standing up or barely doing any effort. I have always had a weakness for old people; they break my heart, especially the ones begging on the streets, or selling flowers, I feel sad for them, having to be on the streets instead of being taken care of by their families or the government. There was a car in front of us before we reach next to him. I had prepared money in my hand to give it to him, and I was looking at the car in front of us when the driver took a bill of money and threw it off the window--he threw it in the face of the old man and it fell on the ground, in a wet spot. The old man looked at the bill with a sad look, knowing it would take him an enormous effort to pick it up and he was hardly standing up, so I opened the car door, ran to him as he was bending to pick it up, took it, wiped it with my jeans since it was almost wet, gave it to him and gave him the money I had prepared for him. The look on his face when he saw me doing that was the most rewarding look anyone has ever given me. He was shocked, and started thanking me for what I did and asking God to bless me, but I couldn't hear a word of what he was saying, I couldn't look him in the eye, how can someone so sweet like him with a kind and gentle look be left on the streets? Helping him out surely made his day, but what he didn't know is that he affected me in a way he could never imagine--I still think about him very often, and I just hope everyone will look at old people the way I do. The old man was shocked at what the author did probably because _ . A he knew he had given the author the most rewarding look B he was often treated in a rude way by most people C he suddenly found himself unable to say anything D he was able to stand up easily without a walking stick Answer: B Bamboo flooring is a growing trend in home flooring and is also a great improvement to traditional hardwood floors.It is the most environmentally friendly kind of natural flooring that you can select for your home.It is also a renewable resource,is stronger than steel,and does not suffer from problems as a result of temperature changes. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth,and only takes five years to grow to adult form.Bamboo is harvested every five years,and starts to re-grow immediately after being harvested.For this reason,bamboo is a kind of grass,not a tree.Bamboo is hollow but very hard and can stand up to 50,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. Bamboo flooring has become very popular with its rich and beautiful golden earth colors.But it is important to shop around for a good-quality bamboo flooring product that contains no formaldehydes ,which is said to be the best kind of bamboo flooring.Many brands use cheaper bamboo that may contain formaldehydes,and this can cause indoor air pollution problems as certain chemical materials in the bamboo slowly release their pollutants into the air. So,why should we turn to bamboo to save the enviroment?In fact,bamboo cannot save the environment directly,but it is an excellent replacement product for much of the hardwood species of trees that are being harvested in rainforests.Once harvested,if these hardwood trees do grow back,it can take up to 200 years!Rainforests are the lungs of our planet and they make a significant contribution to global oxygen production. By selecting bamoo flooring,you can reduce the demand for hardwood materials and help save the environment for future generations.Of course,everyone wants to buy good-quality bamboo flooring.The brands from our shop are very high in quality and have received a lot of public praise. Bamboo is a kind of grass because _ . A it grows quickly B it isn't as high as a tree C it doesn't grow in forests D it is hollow Answer: A One evening last fall, while Marcos Ugarte did his homework and his father, Eduardo, a teacher, prepared lesson plans, they heard shouting outside. Eduardo, 47, and Marcos, 15, stepped onto the balcony of their two-story home. Immediately, Marcos' s eye was caught by a flame from one of their neighbors' houses. "Dad, the house is on fire!" Marcos cried. Dressed only in shorts, the barefoot teen dashed towards the Mas' home with his dad. Grandmother Yim Ma, mother Suzanne Ma, and son Nathan Ma were gathered on the front grassland shouting for help. When the Ugartes got there, they saw through the open front door that father Alex Ma was falling down the stairs, coughing, his face black with dirt. "Is anyone else in the house?" Eduardo asked. "My son!" Alex managed to say, pointing to the second floor. Eduardo started up the stairs, but thick, black smoke, swirling ash, and extreme heatforced him to his knees. He inched upstairs and down the hall where Alex said he would find Cody, eight, who had locked himself in a bedroom. "I'd never seen smoke like that," says Eduardo. "My glasses immediately turned black from the ash." As the fire spread across the hall, Eduardo banged on the bedroom door and tried to turn the handle. But Cody didn't respond, and Eduardo made his way back downstairs. At the same time, Marcos saw Yim and Suzanne pulling an aluminum ladder out of the garage. "Cody was standing at the window, screaming for help," says Marcos. "I knew I had to do something." He grabbed the ladder, positioned it near the window, and climbed towards the boy. When Marcos reached the window, he pushed the screen into the room and persuaded Cody out. "It's OK," Marcos told him. "I've got you." Holding Cody with one arm, Marcos moved down the ladder. Halfway down, he handed the boy to a neighbor. The day after the fire, Alex visited Marcos. "Thank you for saving my son," Alex said. "You are his hero forever." The Ugartes went onto their balcony to _ . A have a rest B enjoy the cool C see where the fire was D see what was the matter Answer: D During my elementary school years,I used to compare my mom with my best friend Tiffany's mom. Tiffany's mom always gave her lots of money to buy the most fashionable clothes and favorite food. Her morn allowed her to do anything she liked. I really admired Tiffany. My mom didn't give me much pocket money and she always told me that I should behave my self. 1 was annoyed with her. Whenever I didn't get what 1 wanted,1 would complain to my mom,Tiffany's mom would give her that!1 wish she were my mom. "Every time,my mom would calmly say "Poor Tiffany". I couldn't understand her. "She shouldn't be feeling sorry for Tiffany!"I thought. "She should be feeling sorry for me. " One day,I couldn't help saying to Morn,"Poor Tiffany?Lucky Tiffany! She gets everything she wants! Why do you feel sorry for her?"I burst into tears. My mom sat down next to me and said softly , "Yes,I do feel sorry for her. I have been teaching you a lesson that she will never be taught. " I looked up at her. "What are you talking about?" Mom said with care,"One day she will really want something. Maybe she'11 find out that she can't have it. Her mother won't always be around to give her money,and what's more,money can't buy everything. " She continued,"I have taught you valuable lessons by not giving you everything you want. You'11 know how to look for bargains and save money,but she won't. You'11 under stand that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she won't. When Tiffany is a grown woman,she'11 wake up one day and she will be wishing that she had a mom like the one you've got. Life lessons are more important than modern clothes and delicious food. '' It took some time,but I eventually understood my mom's words. Now I am a happy and successful woman. Why did the author's mom always say "Poor Tiffany"? A She felt sorry for Tiffany because Tiffany was poor. B She wanted to tell a lie to comfort the author. C She thought that Tiffany was spoiled by her mother. D She told the author this and wanted her to help Tiffany. Answer: C When I saw a big handmade signboard "Welcome Yuxin" at the airport,I knew I had found a caring family at the other side of the world -- the United States. My host mom had already decorated my room for me. There was a doll on one side of the room,and a bookcase full of books on the other -- they had heard I loved reading. Mom had also prepared a keyboard for me,since she knew that I played the piano. My life in the family did not go so well at first. Because I am the only child in my family in China,I was not used to having two younger kids -- Zachary and Grace--running around me yelling all the time. Mom had a serious talk with me about this problem on a Sunday afternoon. She told me,"You can't just come home from school every day,go to your room and do your homework. You need to be a part of this family. You need to play with my kids for at least an hour. " This rule was very annoying at first. I did not have much experience playing with children. However,the more time I spent with the kids,the more I grew to love them. We played games and read books together. I even taught them Chinese. Thanks to Mom's rule,I began to feel like I was really part of the family. Mom also inspired me to live a healthier life. She got up early every morning to go running. On weekends,she took the whole family to visit parks or go camping. I did not like sports much when I was back home,but now I love to join all kinds of sports. I am healthier and more confident too. With my American family,I found joy and laughter. I learned to live with energy and optimism ,thanks to the care and responsibility of my loving American parents. What can we infer from the passage? A Yuxin's life with her American host family went very smoothly from the beginning. B The host mom cared about Yuxin's overall development. C The host family's two children didn't like Yuxin at all. D Yuxin didn't notice what the host family did for her. Answer: B
One day, Allan and his friend Henry went swimming in a river. It was very hot. How happy they were in the river! After they got out of the water, they played games in the sun for a while. On their way back, Henry saw some flowers. He liked flowers very much and ran into the green field to look at them. Now Allan was walking by himself. Then he heard Henry calling out, "A snake ! Help!..." "What's wrong with you?" asked Allan. "A snake bit me in the leg. Come here!" Allan ran over and saw a small red wound on Henry' s leg. "The snake was in the grass. I didn't see it." "Sit down quickly"! Allan told Henry. Allan put his mouth at the little red wound and began to suck at it. In this way he saved Henry's life. "Oh, Allan, it's very kind of you to help me." "That's all right. We are friends and we must always help each other." Which of the following is true? A series of small holes that lead to various locations are found in soil where these legless things burrow: James is a good student and he has lots of friends,but he also has a problem.Some older boys are bullying him at school.James is very unhappy and he doesn't know what to do about it.Here are some suggestions to him and other teenagers in this situation. Don't feel worried.It's not your fault ! Being bullied can make you feel very lonely and angry,but you are not alone.Don't feel that you have to hide the problem.You should find a person you can trust,and tell them.It might be your teacher,your parents,or even your friend's parents.After you tell someone,you will get some support and feel some relief . Speaking to an adult might make you nervous,but here are other things you can do.Some people express their feelings more easily on paper.Write a letter to someone or keep a diary.Include all the details about what the bullies do, as well as when and where the bullying happens.You can use it as proof to show what is going on.And it is a wonderful idea to show your letter or diary to a teacher or another responsible adult.Then the bullies will feel very afraid if their names appear in a letter! Also,don't show you are sad and don't try and fight with the bullies. You could get in trouble yourself. Ignore them and just walk away. The bullies will soon stop. Why does the text advise you not to feel worried if bullied? Wugging, or web use giving, describes the act of giving to charity at no cost to the user. By using Everyclick. com, which is being added to a number of university computers across theprefix = st1 /UKthis week , students can raise money every time they search, but it won't cost them a penny. Research shows that students are enthusiastic about supporting charity, 88% of full time students have used the Internet to give to charity. This figure is high, considering this age group is often the least likely to have their own income. 19% of 22 to 24 years old have short-term debts of more thanPS5,000. With rising personal debt levels in this age group, due to university tuition fees or personal loans and a lack of long-term savings, traditional methods of donating to charity are often not appealing or possible. Beth Truman, a 21-year-old recent university graduate has used Everyclick. com to donate to her chosen charity, the RSPCA, for two years and has seen the "wugging" movement grow popular with students. "When you're at university you become more socially aware, but it's sometimes hard to give to others when you have little money yourself. " says Beth. "Wugging is great for people in this age group as it allows them to use the technology on a daily basis to give it to charity, without costing them a single penny. " Wugging is perfect for people who want to be more socially aware and supportive but don't feel they have the _ to do so. Students using the web can generate money for causes they care about without it costing them anything in terms of time or money, and charities get a valuable source of funding. Everyclick. com works like any other search engine, allowing users to search for information, news and images but users can identify which of the UK's 170,000 charities they would like to support through their clicks. Everyclick. com then makes monthly payments to every registered charity. Launched in June 2005 Everyclick. com is now the eighth largest search engine and one of the busiest charity websites in theUK. According to the passage, "wugging" is actually a _ . Water District is an independent municipal water-supply district incorporated under the applicable laws of the state of Green. The district was created solely to supply water to an entirely new community in a recently developed area of Green. That new community is racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse, and the community has never engaged in any discrimination against members of minority groups. The five-member, elected governing board of the newly created Water District contains two persons who are members of racial minority groups. At its first meeting, the governing board of Water District adopted a rule unqualifiedly setting aside 25% of all positions on the staff of the District and 25% of all contracts to be awarded by the District to members of racial minority groups. The purpose of the rule was "to help redress the historical discrimination against these groups in this country and to help them achieve economic parity with other groups in our society." Assume that no federal statute applies. A suit by appropriate parties challenges the constitutionality of these set-asides. In this suit, the most appropriate ruling on the basis of applicable United States Supreme Court precedent would be that the set-asides are
Like most people, I have grown up hearing the story Cinderella, in which a young girl lived with her cruel stepmother and suddenly had her life changed by a kind fairy and a smart prince. So when to see Rodger & Hammerstein's Cinderella, which is now playing on Broadway, I was very excited, As soon as I sat down, I noticed the trees lining the stage ,which gave it a magical appearance. The orchestra started to play and the lights became dark as the show began. I loved the entire performance. Everything and everyone on stage seemed like they had just jumped off the pages of the beloved story. It turns out that the Broadway experts agree with me. The show has received nine Tony nominations . Tony awards are the top prizes for Broadway shows. Laura Osnes, who plays the role of Cinderella, has been nominated for the Tony for best actress in a musical. How similar is the show to the story of Cinderella you know? The answer, of course, depends on which version of the story you've seen or read. In an interview with TIME FOR Kids, Osnes pointed out that many people are familiar with the Disney movie version. There are some differences between that movie and the Broadway show. For one thing, the stepmother and the sisters are not as cruel in the show as in the movie. Also, in the Broadway version, when Cinderella escapes from the dancing party, she picks up her shoe after dropping it. So how does the prince find Cinderella again? You'll have to see the show to find out! I just think anyone would enjoy this play, including both kids and adults. The attention to detail is amazing. In my opinion, this play deserves a double thumbs-up! Which of the following shows that the Broadway experts agree with the author? Answer: Broadway experts have given the show nine Tony nominations. Mary is getting married next Saturday.Today she asks her best friend Lucy to shop for clothes to wear at the wedding.'So what are we looking for, Mary,' Lucy asks. 'Well, my parents want me to wear a traditional Chinese dress, but I prefer a more modern style.I think I'll buy two dresses and wear them at different times on my wedding day.' Mary answers.The girls look in many shops.At one shop, Mary tries on a Chinese-style dress.'I like it,' Lucy says.'Red is a very strong color and represents love and prosperity for Chinese weddings.I think your parents will be pleased. ' Mary does not look happy.'I don't think I look good in red. I think it makes me look too od. What about this blue one?' 'Well, that's a nice dre ss too, but blue is a calm color.It could help you feel calm, but I think you want a happier color for your wedding.If you don't like red, what about orange? It represents joy and it is a good color for weddings,' Lucy explains. After listening to Lucy's opinions, Mary says, 'Even though the orange dress would be the best for my wedding because it represents joy, I'll choose the red dress because it will remind my mother of her own wedding and will make her happy.' What is the passage about? Answer: Mary's choice for a wedding dress. If you see someone drowning, speed is very important. Once you get him out of the water, if he isn't breathing, you have four minutes before his brain is completely destroyed. Support his neck, move his head back and press his chin upwards. This stops the tongue blocking the airway in the throat and is sometimes enough to get him breathing again. If that doesn't work, start mouth-to-mouth breathing. Press his nostrils (the two holes at the end of your nose, through which you breathe and smell things) together with your fingers. Open your mouth and take a deep breath. Blow into his lungs until his chest rises, then remove your mouth and watch his chest fall. Repeat twelve times a minute. Keep doing until professional help arrives. To bring a child back to life, keep your lips around his mouth and gently blow into his mouth. Give the first four breaths as quickly as possible to fill the blood with oxygen. If, in spite of your efforts, he starts turning a blue-grey colour, and you can feel no pulse , then pressing is the last chance of saving his life. With arms straight, rock forwards, pressing down on the lower half of the breastbone. Don't be too hard or you may break a rib. Check how effective you are by seeing if his colour improves or his pulse becomes independent to your chest pressing. If this happens, stop the pressing. Otherwise continue until rescue arrives. Which of the following statement is true? Answer: If a man does not breathe for four minutes, his brain will be completely destroyed. When I was born, my parents immediately noticed something wrong. My feet were deformed , pointing inward and curling under. I wore casts and foot braces in my first two years to correct the problem. Yet I learned to balance and walk in casts. Soon after the last set of casts came off,Mom enrolled me in dance classes as therapy for my feet. I, however,quickly decided to try something else. Not far from my house was an ice rink in the mall. There,local skaters would perform ice shows. I wanted to try skating. I started taking group skating lessons. Performing on ice came naturally. For me,skating has never been about beating others. It's been about being my personal best. I progressed through various levels rapidly and gave my first ice performance at age seven. Soon I started winning local and regional competitions. That's because being on the ice has always been the one place I can truly express my emotions. _ I began seriously training when I was nine years old. After graduating from girls' high school,I moved to Canada. Saying goodbye to my family and friends made me homesick,but I knew deep down that I had to leave and train full-time to give my dreams a chance at reality. I went to compete in the Olympic Games in 1992.I was the first of the final six skaters on the ice. My long performance started well,but I slipped while landing one of my easiest triple jumps,and my hand touched the ice. I didn't want to make two mistakes in a row,so next I did a jump with just two spins to play it safe. As I neared the end,I had one more jump. I landed it perfectly. When medals were awarded,I found myself on the top step,the gold hanging around my neck and America's national anthem playing. Words can't describe the overwhelming mixture of emotions I felt. The author moved to Canada after graduating from girls' high school because _ . Answer: she would do full-time training there 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 Timothy do with Mandy and Andrew? Answer: plays baseball
A puppy was uneducated on how to go through a doggy door until A the mom did it B it read how to C it went to school D it made a plan Answer: A 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 . From the whole passage we can see that _ . A the girl preferred playing to learning English B the girl hates her father because he was strict C the girl is very thankful to her father D the father gave up after knowing his daughter could not understand Answer: C Kate Green is a girl. She is my good friend . She is English. Kate is her first name.Green is her family name. Mr Green is her father .His first name is John. Mrs Green is her mother . Her first name is Helen. Kate is eleven years old. Her home telephone number is 865---64108. (10) _ is the girl's first name. A Kate B Ann C Mary D Helen Answer: A Once there was a rich man who lived with his wife and child.He loved the child so much that he sent him to Oxford university for two or three years.At the end of the first year at the university, this young student came home.He wanted a change.And he also wanted to tell his parents about Oxford. It happened one night that the father, the mother and the young student were sitting at supper.They had in front of them only two chickens.Just as they were about to begin eating, the father said, "My boy, I have spent a lot of money on you to send you to Oxford.Now I want to know what you have learned."The son smiled and said, "Father, I have studied a science which can prove that these two chickens on the plate are really three chickens.""Well," said the father, "This is something I would like very much to know.""There are two chickens on the plate, "said the student.He took one of the chickens in his hand and said, "Here is one more ; and one and two makes three.So here are three chickens."Then the father took one of the chickens to himself, gave the other to his wife, and said, "I will have one of the chickens myself, your mother shall have another, and you can have the third for your supper and nothing else."The father kept his word and so the student went without his supper. (5) The student said that _ . A hecouldmakethreechickens B hecouldchangethetwochickensontheplateintothree C hecouldprovethetwochickensontheplatewerereallythree D hewasgoodatmaths Answer: C This is a picture of Mr Wang's family. The man in the middle is Mr Wang, the father. The woman is the mother. They have two daughters. One is Wang Fang. She is twelve. The other is Wang Li. She is thirteen. Wang Fang and Wang Li are in the same school, but not in the same grade. Wang Fang is in Grade One. Wang Li is in Grade Two. They are good students. Wang Li is _ . A Grade One B Grade Two C in Grade Two D in Grade One Answer: C
Cleveland has won the distinction of being the worst city in the United States, according to a new survey. The city has high unemployment, terrible weather, heavy taxes, and ordinary sports teams, all of which have pushed it to the No. 1 position in the Forbes.com list. "Cleveland was the only city that fell in the bottom half of rankings in all nine categories. And it has been entitled with a less than endearing nickname: the Mistake by the lake," Forbes said on its website, The economic downturn hit cities across the United States last year particularly in the mid-west section of the country. Crime and unemployment secured the No. 2 spot for Stockton, which held the top position in last year's ranking. Memphis got third place thanks to its violent crime rate and the number of officials who are guilty, while the poor auto industry drove the Michigan cities of Detroit and Flint into the top five. "A lot of the cities that showed up on our list are going through hard times fight now, dealing with high unemployment, with declining producing bases. Many have experienced strong movement out of the city over the last 20 and 30 years." Despite its fine weather, Miami scored in the bottom 10 percent in commuting time, and violent crime which sent it into sixth place. "One of the biggest surprises is Miami. The good weather and no state income taxes _ some of the severe problems that Miami has related to crime as well as long commutes," Badenhausen added. Florida was followed in the poor ranking by St Louis, Buffalo, Canton, Ohio and Chicago, which has the country's highest sales tax at 10.25 percent. New York, the nation's biggest city, is rich in culture but its lengthy commuting time and high income taxes pushed it into 16th place. From the text we can learn that _ . A. Cleveland has been entitled a lovely nickname B. the economic downturn hit cities in the mid-east section C. Miami scored in the bottom 10 percent in all nine categories D. commuting time in New York is too long Answer: D Everyone has good days and bad days. Sometimes, you feel as if you're _ and all the questions on your maths test might seem easy. But occasionally you feel horrible, and you lose things and cannot focus on our schoolwork. For more than 20 years, scientists have suggested that highself-esteem is the key to success.Now, new research shows that focusing just on building self-esteem may not be helpful. In some cases, having high self-esteem can make people less likeable or more upset when they fail in something. "Forget about self-esteem," says Jennifer Crocker, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, US. "It's not the important thing." Feeling good Crocker's advice may sound a bit strange. After all, feeling good can be good for you.Studies show that people with high self-esteem are less likely to be depressed, anxious, shy, or lonely than those with low self-esteem. However, after reviewing about 18,000 studies on self-esteem, Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University, has found that building up your self-esteem will not necessarily make you a better person. He believes that violent people often have the highest self-esteem of all. He also said:" There's no evidence that kids with high self-esteem do better in school." Problems All types of people have problems. People with high self-esteem can have bigegos that can make them less likeable, said Kathleen Vohs, a psychology professor at Columbia University.People with high self-esteem tend to think more of themselves, VOhs says. People with low self-esteem are more likely to rely on their friends when they need help. What to do Researchers say it is best to listen to and support other people. Find positive ways to contribute to society. If you fail in something, try to learn from the experience. "The besttherapy is to recognize your faults," Vohs says. "It's OK to say, 'I' m not so good at that,' and then move on." Which of the following is TRUE according to Vohs? A. Feeling good doesn't mean you lead a happy life. B. People with high self-esteem always seek others' help. C. People with high self-esteem tend to be selfish. D. People with low self-esteem are often more popular. Answer: C There are four seasons in a year in China. February, March, and April make the spring season. .May, June and July make the summer season. August, September and October make the autumn season.. November, December and January make the winter season.. Near the North Pole there are only two seasons. They are winter and summer. The nights in winter are very long. For more than two months you can't see the sun, even at noon. In summer the days are long. For more than two months the sun never sets, and there is no night. In the tropics there are also two seasons: a rainy season and a dry season. There are _ seasons in years in China. A. two B. four C. three D. one Answer: B When we're young and we dream of love and fulfillment, we think perhaps of moon-covered Parisian nights or walks along the beach at sunset. No one tells us that the greatest moments of a lifetime are short, unplanned and nearly always catch us off guard. Not long ago,as I was reading a bedtime story to my seven-year-old daughter, Annie,I became aware of her focused look. She was staring at me with a faraway, blank expression. Apparently, completing The Tale of Samuel Whiskers was not as important as we first thought. I asked what she was thinking about. "Mommy," she whispered, "I just can't stop looking at your pretty face."I almost dissolved on the spot. Little did she know how many trying moments the glow of her sincerely loving statement would carry me through over the following years. Not long after, I took my four-year-old son to an elegant department store, where the sweet notes of a classic love song drew us toward a tuxedoed musician playing a grand piano. Sam and I sat down on a marble bench nearby, and he seemed as astonished by the pleasant theme as I was. I didn't realize that Sam had stood up next to me until he turned, took my face in his little hands and said, "Dance with me." If only those women walking under the Paris moon knew the joy of such an invitation made by a round-cheeked boy with baby teeth. Although shoppers openly chuckled and pointed at us as we glided and whirled around the open space, I would not have traded a dance with such a charming young gentleman if I'd been offered the universe. From the passage we know_. A. Annie knew how important she was to her mother B. shoppers didn't notice the author dancing with her son C. there are bedtime stories in the Tale of Samuel Whiskers D. Sam was not surprised at the music which was played in the store Answer: C What are the biggest problems that society will have to deal with in the new age? There are diseases like AIDS and cancer. There's climate change, of course. And what about producing enough cheap food and energy for the world's growing population? Who's going to solve all these terrible problems? Yes, politicians and world leaders will have a big part to play. Yes, businesses will need to create the economic wealth to pay for some of these things. But who's going to make a much greater difference to something like AIDS or climate change? It's going to be a scientist. It is the scientist who can turn some new bit of science into a new technology to solve these problems. If you like thinking about the world around you, why not become a scientist? It doesn't mean you have to wear a white coat and plastic glasses and spend all your time in a lab as most people often imagine! Scientists do all kinds of amazing things that are actually interesting! Military scientists develop not only new weapons but new military technologies that could help make wars out of date. Forensic scientists work with the police to find quite small clues to catch criminals. Scientists work in schools and colleges as the teachers and professors who will train tomorrow's scientists. Don't think a scientist is far away! Maybe you like cooking? You could be a food technologist helping to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. Perhaps sport is your thing? Do you know that most top athletes work with sports scientists in order to improve their performance? You could even be the science writer who gets to spend the life studying the latest advances and sharing them with the world. Looking for something to do for the rest of your life? My advice? Take a long and hard look at science. It is interesting and ever. What is needed to solve these problems? A. Advanced weapons. B. Enough energy. C. New technologies. D. A growing population. Answer: C
In an ideal world,people would not test medicines on animals. Such experiments are stressful and sometimes painful for animals,and expensive and timeconsuming for people. Yet animal experimentation is still needed to help bridge vast gaps in medical knowledge. That is why there are some 50 to 100 million animals used in research around the world each year. Europe,on the whole,has the world's most restrictive laws on animal experiments. Even so,its scientists use some 12 million animals a year,most of them mice and rats,for medical research. Official statistics show that just 1.1 million animals are used in research in America each year. But that is misleading. The American authorities do not think mice and rats are worth counting and,as these are the most common laboratory animals,the true figure is much higher. Japan and China have even less comprehensive data than America. Now Europe is reforming the rules governing animal experiments by restricting the number of animals used in labs. Alternatives to animal testing,such as using human tissue or computer models,are now strongly recommended. In addition,sharing all research results freely should help to reduce the number of animals for scientific use. At present,scientists often share only the results of successful experiments. If their findings do not fit the hypothesis being tested,the work never sees the light of day. This practice means wasting time,money,and animals' lives in endlessly repeating the failed experiments. Animal experimentation has taught humanity a great deal and saved countless lives. It needs to continue,even if that means animals sometimes suffer. Europe's new measures should eventually both reduce the number of animals used in experiments and improve the way in which scientific research is conducted. Which of the following statements is true about animals used in the lab? A. America uses only about 1.1 million lab animals per year. B. Europe does not use mice and rats as lab animals at all. C. Britain does not use as many lab animals as China does. D. Japan has limited data on the number of lab animals used each year. Answer: D. Japan has limited data on the number of lab animals used each year. Look at the picture. Who is the girl? She is my friend. Her name is Alice Black. She is an English girl. Alice has a big family. Her grandparents have two daughters and one son -- her father. Alice lives with her grandparents, parents, two brothers and one sister. Alice has two dogs -- Bobby and Tony. Bobby is black and Tony is white. Alice likes them very much. Alice is a middle school student. She has a good friend at school. Her name is Helen. They are cousins, too. Helen is Alice's _ . A. aunt B. sister C. teacher D. cousin Answer: D. cousin Washington, D.C. is home to famous buildings, memorials and museums that visitors love. But it is also home to a large and beautiful green space. There are many _ in the city. Today, we take you to the United States National Arboretum, an active center for both scientific research and public education. Many people who come to Washington are astonished when they first visit the National Arboretum. The Arboretum is only a short drive from the center of the city. However, visitors often feel like they are remote from the busy American capital. The Arboretum covers one hundred eighty hectares of green space in the northeast part of Washington. The area is famous for its beautiful flowers, tall trees and other plants. About nine thousand different kinds of plants grow there. The National Arboretum was established by an act of Congress in 1927. Today, the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service operates the Arboretum. The goal of the Arboretum is to carry out studies and provide education in an effort to improve the environment. The goal includes protecting trees, flowers and other plants and showing them to the public. The National Arboretum is a popular stop for visitors to Washington. It is open every day of the year except December twenty-fifth, the Christmas holiday. Money is not necessary to visit the Arboretum. As many as six hundred thousand people visit the Arboretum's grounds each year. Hundreds of thousands of people also visit with the help of computers. They use the Arboretum's Internet web site to learn about current research programmes and how to care for plants. Director Thomas Elias says Arboretum officials would like to see even more visitors. He says they believe that many people do not know it exists. Part of the problem might result from the fact that the Arboretum is about five kilometers from the closest train station. Many famous places in Washington are a short walk from Metrorail, the local train system. The Arboretum is easy to reach by automobile or bus, however. About fifteen kilometers of roads have been built on the property. The roads connect to major collections and seasonal flowers. The Arboretum also welcomes people on bicycles. Disabled persons or those who want to walk only short distances may visit four beautiful areas that are close to each other. How many ways are there for visitors to choose if they visit the Arboretum? A. Five. B. Six. C. Seven. D. Eight. Answer: A. Five. The King lived a small house near New York with their child . Sometimes Mr King came back from work very late. When his wife and the child were asleep, he opened the front door of his house with his key and came in very quietly. But one night when he was coming home late, he lost his key. So when he reached his house , he rang the bell. Nothing happened. He rang it again. Again nothing happened. Nobody moved inside the house. Mr King knocked at the bedroom window. He spoke to his wife, he shouted, but she didn't wake up. At last he stopped and thought for a minute. Then he began to speak like a small child. "Mum," he said, "I want to go to the toilet." He spoke quietly, but at once Mrs King woke up. Then he spoke to her, and she opened the door for him. At last _ . A. Mrs King opened the door for Mr King B. his child opened the door for Mr King C. Mr King opened the door by force D. Mr King opened the door with his wife's key Answer: A. Mrs King opened the door for Mr King I Don't Have to Be Like Them All students have to face their own problems when they are growing up. You may not think that having a good family is a problem. But for me , it was. I had to face the problem of being the youngest of the Smith girls. We live in a small town in Pennsylvania, US. There are three girls in the Smith family, Amanda, Theresa and me . People often say things to me , like " Oh, the three of you , you're such nice girls. Your sisters are so pretty and so thin! You're really nothing like them . " That made me sad. At school , all of my teachers had taught my sisters . On the first day of school , they said , "Oh , the youngest of the three! I hope you're just like your sisters. They're such wonderful students." People always compared me with my sisters . So I couldn't help comparing myself with them , too. Theresa was smarter , Amanda was prettier . I began to work hard to be more like them . What my sisters did , I did , too. At last , I became drum major of our school 's marching band . Both Amanda and Theresa had been drum majors . I became editor of the school's newspaper . Theresa had been the editor two years before. But last year, Amanda went to college , and Theresa went to high school . Now I'm by myself at junior high . Everyone knows me , because I'm the drum major and the newspaper's editor . Now I don't feel like a Smith girl any more , I feel like myself . I'm proud of doing all of the same great things that my sisters did . But the best thing I did was to learn to stop comparing myself with them . The author _ A. had the same teachers with her sisters B. had different teachers from her sisters C. was taught by some of her sisters' teachers D. was taught by herself Answer: A. had the same teachers with her sisters
I first visited hutong as part of a tourist group several years ago. We rode on a trishaw with a guide explaining the history, architecture and lifestyle of the local inhabitants. Having visited the "must-sees" of Beijing, like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Drum Tower and the Summer Palace, going into the hutong home of some famous ancient families gave the "Beijing experience" a human element. My curiosity has sharpened over the years from reading about them at every opportunity. During the preparation for the Olympics, I was eager to learn that some siheyuan courtyards in hutong were turned into accommodations for visitors. I wished to stay in one someday. Preparing for a recent trip to the capital, I eagerly sought one out. On my limited teacher's salary, I settled on an affordable option, though I looked longingly at the more courtyard accommodations. As usual, by not being able to go upmarket, I ended up having something closer to a true experience. A real family still lives in the courtyard, which is closer to the original. The rooms all opened into the central courtyard. Flowers were blooming, beans and peas were climbing up the bamboo fence, and the cat was napping in the sun. Every day after exploring the city, I'd hurry back to the hutong, take a quick shower and join the cat - snoozing in a bamboo-made chair with a book ready nearby. As the other guests came back we'd greet one another. There was a mother and young daughter from France, a guy from Canada, a mother and teenage daughter from the Netherlands, a teacher from England and several guests from various parts of China. Coming and going through the narrow alleys of the hutong, the residents would smile and give cheery "ni hao" (hello). Laughing children were playing under the watchful eyes of the neighbors. I felt right at home in this friendly neighborhood. When did the author have the idea to visit Beijing hutong? the author doesn't mention it specifically This is a picture of Mr. Li's family. The man in the middle is Mr. Li. The woman is Mrs. Li's wife. They have two sons. The child behind Mr. Li is Li Lei. He's thirteen. The boy in front of Mrs. Li is Li Ming. He is seven. Li Lei and Li Ming are in the same school, but not in the same grade. Li Lei is in Grade Two. Li Ming is in Grade One. They are good students. There are _ people in the picture. four There's a big zoo in our city. It's about five kilometres away from my house. I like all kinds of animals. I often go to the zoo by bus on Sundays. In the zoo, I can see many different kinds of animals, such as monkeys, bears, pandas, tigers, lions and dolphins. Some animals are friendly, but some are not. Tigers, lions and bears are dangerous, so they have to stay in cages. But I don't think it's good for animals to stay in cages. They are not happy. They should be free. Tigers and lions usually live in forests. They can run very fast there. They catch and eat small animals like deer and rabbits. But now in the zoo, they live in small rooms. They walk round and round in the cages, and they want to get out. I feel sorry for them. Of all the animals I like dolphins best. The most interesting animals in the zoo that I like are dolphins. I like watching them swim and jump. They swim fast and they jump very high. They are very clever. They can play with balls. They are very friendly to people. If you fall into the water and can't swim, they may come to help you. Why do people have to put the tigers in cages? Because they are dangerous. When Josephine Cooper was growing up, she learned the importance of charity from her parents. Although they made a modest living for their family of 10, they insisted on sharing with those less fortunate. Half a century later, Mrs. Cooper became a beloved volunteer at the San Diego Food Bank, where she devoted herself to helping others. She organized and ran a distribution center from a church, helping it become the organization's largest emergency food distribution center in San Diego. She was one of 25 outstanding senior volunteers in the nation selected and invited to Washington D.C. to receive the award. "She was the main person who helped us make that program grow," said Mike Doody, former director of the Food Bank. "She had a way of getting people to work together and to work hard. She was determined and stubborn, but in a good way. She had a good heart." People knew her as "Grandma" because of her selflessness and her devotion to helping hungry children and families. "She reminded people of their Grandma." Doody said. As a widow with a young child in 1979, Mrs. Cooper was helped through a difficult financial time when the Food Bank provided her with groceries. "She dedicated her life to giving back," said her daughter, Monica Cooper. "She loved life, and she loved people. She was very outgoing, caring and very concerned about our community." Cooper said it wasn't unusual for a local church to call Mrs. Cooper to ask her to aid a needy family. "She would give people food out of her cupboard. Sometimes we would cook a meal for a family living out of their car," Cooper said. Although Mrs. Cooper was honored to receive the national award for her volunteer work, she said being able to help others was her reward. Mrs. Cooper was confined to a wheelchair in recent years. She died of liver disease and kidney failure this year, aged 93. The San Diego Food Bank is meant to_. help hungry children and families Years ago I worked at a factory in a small county.Every day I got up very early and often did much extra work at night.I was so tired and exhausted.My whole life was hopeless.Then one day I read the following article from a magazine: "A woman went to live with her husband in camp on the Mojave Desert during the war.She simply hated the place:the heat was almost _ ,125 degree in the shade,the wind blew incessantly,and there was sand--sand everywhere.Finally,in desperation she wrote her parents in Ohio that she couldn't stand it another minute and was coming home. Quickly came the reply by airmail from her father--just two lines: 'Two men looked out from prison bars.One saw the mud,and the other saw stars.' The daughter did some real thinking,not only with the intellect but also with her heart.She decided to stick to her post. She made friends with the natives,learned to love the country,and eventually wrote a book about it. The desert hadn't changed,but her attitude had.Because she listened with her heart to the words her father sent,a whole new world opened up to her." A change of attitude could change everything. After reading the article,I was deep in thought ... From her father's reply,we can infer that _ . her parents wanted her to stay there with her husband
There was once a blind man, who did a lot of traveling alone. He was making his first trip to Texas and happened to be seated next to a Texan on the flight. The Texan spent a lot of time telling him how everything was bigger and better in Texas. After the blind man reached his destination, a large resort hotel, he was very excited about being in Texas. The long trip had worn him out a little so he decided to stop at the bar for a small soda and a light snack before going up to his room to sleep. When the waitress set down his drink, it was in a huge cup. "Wow, I had heard everything in Texas is bigger," he told her. "That's right," she replied. The blind man ate his snack and finished his drink. After drinking such a large amount, it was natural that his next stop was to be the restroom. He asked the waitress for directions. She told him to turn left at the corner, and then take the second door on the right. He reached the first door and continued. A few steps later he stumbled slightly and missed the second door and ended up going through the third door instead. Not realizing he had entered the swimming area he walked forward and immediately fell into the swimming pool. Remembering that everything was bigger in Texas, he had his head above water and started shouting "Don't flush ! Don't flush!" Why did the blind man shout out "Don't flush! Don't flush!"? Answer: The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family members would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began. The following are some countries' birthday traditions: Canada---Putting butter on the nose. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday child's nose is put butter on for good luck. China---Noodles for lunch. The birthday child pays respect to his / her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life. England---Money cakes. Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, you will be rich. Ireland---Birthday bump . The birthday child is lifted upside down and " bumped" on the floor for good luck. Italy---Pulling ears. The child's ears are pulled as many times as how old he / she is turning. Japan---New clothes. The birthday child wears new clothes to mark the occasion. New Zealand---Birthday claps. After the candles are hit, the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year he / she has been alive and then one for good luck. The United States---Cake, candles and the birthday song. A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is. In which section of a website does the passage probably appear? Answer: On a lot of occasions, you have to make some public speaking. However, public speaking fills most people with dread. Humiliation is the greatest fear; self-exposure and failing to appeal to the audience come a close second. Women hate it most, since girls are pressurized from an early age to be concerned with appearance of all kinds. Most people have plenty of insecurities, and this seems like a situation that will bring them out. If you were under pressure to be perfect, you are terrified of failing in the most public of ways. While extroverts will feel less fear before the ordeal , it does not mean they will necessarily do it better. Some very shy people manage to shine. When I met the British Comedian Julian, he was shy and cautious, yet his TV performances are perfect. In fact, personality is not the best predictor of who does it well. Regardless of what you are like in real life, the key seems to be to act yourself. Actual acting, as in performing the scripted lines of a character other than yourself, does not do the job. While politicians may limit damage by having carefully rehearsed, written scripts to speak from, there is always a hidden awareness among the audience that the words might not be true. Likewise, the incredibly perfect speeches of many American academics are far from natural. You may end up buying their book on the way out, but soon afterwards, it is much like fast food, and you get a nameless sense that you've been cheated. Although, as Earl Spencer proved at his sister Princess Diana's funeral, it is possible both to prepare every word and to act naturally. A script rarely works and it is used to help most speakers. But, being yourself doesn't work either. If you spoke as if you were in your own kitchen, it would be too authentic, too unaware of the need to communicate with an audience. I remember going to see British psychiatrist R.D. Laing speak in public. He behaved like a seriously odd person, talking off the top of his head. Although he was talking about madness and he wrote on mental illness, he seemed to be exhibiting rather than explaining it. The best psychological place from which to speak is an unselfconscious self-consciousness, providing the illusion of being natural. Studies suggest that this state of "flow", as psychologists call it, is very satisfying. Which of the following is NOT the author's viewpoint? Answer: Tanzania Tarangire is a national Park which lies in Tanzania. The park itself covers an area of around 2,850 square kilometers, making it the sixth largest park of its kind in the country. I recently visited Tarangire to see what it was like.... One of the first sightings upon entering the park which I found was a huge herd of elephants. Our guide told us that Tagrangire was probably the best place in Tanzania to find large herds of elephants, and that their population in the park was around 2,500. We continued to watch the elephants as they stood under trees and scratched themselves against the trees to hit the spot of an itch . To the right of the elephant herd, we noticed a big tree! Our guide informed us that this was a Baobab tree and that they could live for hundreds of years. Compared with this tree, the elephant just looked like dwarfs ! We were informed that Tarangire was one of the best National Parks in Africa to see so many Baobab trees. As we continued our drive through the park, we finally reached a watering hole. Our guide warned us that there were lions all around us. It took us all a while to find them, but there they were! Most of them are resting in the shade under brushes, but there was one that was drinking from the watering hole directly in front of us. We then noticed just to our right, there were a couple of fresh zebra corpses -- it seemed as if the lions which were resting had killed them! We were unlucky not to have seen the actual kill, as our guide had mentioned that the zebra corpses were fresh and the kill had occurred within the last hour. Our final big sighting was one that none of us were expecting to see, even our guide! We pulled over to where there was a large gathering of cars, with a sleeping leopard there! We took photos happily and excitedly and observed its surprising body before returning to our hotel as it was getting late. So, I hope you enjoyed my description of Tarangire, and that I have inspired you to add this amazing park to your very own Tanzania travel route. What may this passage be probably taken from? Answer: A new United Nations report shows that fish farming may soon be the world's most important provider of fish. The Food and Agriculture Organization says fish farming is growing at a rate of 6.6 percent a year. Fish farming now produces forty-six percent of the world's supply of fish. That represents a forty-three percent increase from 2006. The report also said fish farming earned more money in 2008 than traditional fisheries. In fish farming, fish are raised in tanks or small bodies of water called ponds. They are also raised in cages or nets in oceans, lakes and rivers. The report says increased fish farming has helped people around the world eat record amounts of fish. The FAO says each person ate an average of almost seventeen kilograms of fish last year. However, the FAO says the current yearly wild-fish harvest of ninety million tons shows no improvement. Decreasing numbers of fish and stronger catch limits have reduced the possibilities for catching wild fish. The FAO report says about thirty-two percent of world supplies are overfished. It says these supplies of fish need to be rebuilt at once. Some scientists have criticized fish farming. They say the nets and cages permit fish diseases and pests to spread. Some fish farming critics doubt whether fish farming can keep growing at the current rate. But Wally Stevens of the trade group Global Aquaculture Alliance says the industry must continue developing to feed growing populations. Mr. Stevens says a one hundred percent increase in fish farming over ten years is necessary to keep providing for people at the current level. He notes that fish farming creates jobs and wealth, especially for people in coastal areas of China. We learn that since the year 2006, fish farming has been _ . Answer:
Question: Language is a major problem for the European Union (EU) . The Treaty of Rome ,which created the organization that finally became the EU, stated that each country's language must be treated equally. The original six countries had only three languages between them: French, German and Dutch/Flemish. However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters. All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming. It is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches and nearly half of the EU's administrative costs are spent on this task. In the near future it is probable that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse. The problem is just cost; there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages, there are 132 possible "translation situations" that might be needed. It is often difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from, for example, Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard. In practice the problem has been less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials , since almost all of them speak some English. However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, this is strongly resisted by powerful member countries like France and Germany . The writer mentions "Danish into Greek" as an example of _ . A. a situation that occurs often. B. a situation that might be difficult to deal with . C. languages easily being interpreted. D. one of the 12 situations that requires an interpreter Answer: B Question: Wine drinkers tend to buy healthier food than beer drinkers, according to a Danish study published on Tuesday on the website of a weekly medical magazine. People who bought wine at the store were also more likely to buy fruit, vegetables, fish, lean meat and milk than beer buyers did, said the study. Beer buyers were more likely to buy frozen dinners, cold cuts, pork, sugary products, and soft drinks. The study was conducted by four researchers from the National Institute of Public Health over the course of six months. Alcohol researchers Erik Schulenburg and Marten Greenback and two other doctors collected 3.5 million receipts from 98 stores. The customers at the stores represented a large number of Danish people, they said. "Our results confirm international studies which show that wine drinkers tend to eat more fruit, vegetables and fish and rarely eat fats, compared to those who like other kinds of alcoholic drinks," they concluded. Wine buyers also tended to have higher education levels, higher earnings and be in better mental health, they added. Their interest in consumers' shopping bags followed a series of studies in the Danish media. The studies suggested that wine drinkers ran a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer than beer drinkers. Which of the following is NOT a feature of wine drinkers according to the passage? A. Rarely eating fats. B. Being in better mental health. C. Exercising more. D. Having higher education levels. Answer: C Question: Driving home from work one evening in the heavy rain, I found a very wet, injured cat on the side of the road. He looked up at me, meowing pitifully. A car must have hit it so it wasn't able to move. I stopped my car and carried the cat in and went on driving. At the nearest vet clinic, the vet gently examined it. "He's about eight months old and has two broken legs, but I would need X-rays to know how serious the damage is," he told me. "As he's not your cat, I don't know if you want to go ahead with this. It could be rather expensive." I knew it would cost me hundreds of dollars, but I agreed with his advice. The following morning the vet rang to say the X-rays confirmed two bad breaks in his legs. "I'll operate on his legs and put metal pins in them to keep them fixed." he told me. That afternoon I went to pick up my little friend. There I could hardly recognize him. His previously dirty fur was now a beautiful silver grey. His front legs were in two casts and he lay there looking at me, purring happily. I thanked the doctor and went out to pay the bill. "I think you've given me the wrong account," I said to the clerk. "This is only $85. He's had X-rays and an operation on his legs." "No, that's right," she replied. "The vet has only charged you for the medication. There's a message on the bottom." Written under the total were the words "SPECIAL RATE FOR ADOPTIONS." I was speechless at his kind and generous gesture. I paid the account and under his message I wrote "WITH GRATEFUL THANKS, CAT AND MUM." Why didn't the vet give the cat X-rays immediately? A. The damage was not serious at all. B. The cat was too young to be X-rayed. C. The doctor wasn't sure whether the author would like to cover the expenses. D. The examination was too expensive for the author to afford. Answer: C Question: Reptiles become more active as the day gets warmer. This is because A. they have scaly skin. B. they have slimy skin. C. their body temperature stays at a constant level. D. their body temperature changes with the environment. Answer: D Question: True real friends double your happiness and half your burdens. Basically how you would like a true real friend to be,you should be like this to your true friends. Trust and forgiveness are some ingredients of a true friend. True friendships are hard to come by. And what's more,life is short. So treasure these friends if you have already had them. If you don't continue to search,because once you have them,life becomes so much easier to live,no matter what happens. I have been through pretty rough patches and I dare say,without my friends I would not have made it. Friendships need lots of energy and patience to maintain them. Not to mention time too. When your friend needs you,sometimes when things are not going too well on your side,it is often so easy to turn a deaf ear to their pleas. It is especially during these times,that you must find the strength in you to help your friend. And it is during these times that your friendship will be forged and made stronger. And you must always be happy for their successes,even when things are not going too well on your side. It might be hard to do for some people but it is something that you need to learn. Think about all the sacrifices your friend has made for you and all the times when he or she was happy for you despite his or her own troubles. Remember,true _ friends _ are _ the _ next _ best _ thing _ to _ family. They will always be your pillar of support no matter what happens. Always. The passage is mainly about _ . A. a true real friend B. true real friends and your life C. the advantages of true real friendship D. friendship and success Answer: A
Question: I'll be a photographer. I'm going to bring bits of Australia back home with me. I told myself this before, yet I feel so doubtful on this plane that's flying me thousands of miles away. I was so confident yesterday .But today I don't belong to this plane where men sit with briefcases reading newspapers. They're all adults. I've never been out of the US. And now ,I'm traveling into Australia alone, a world I know nothing about. A part of me recognizes it as home. I remember little about my mother, but I remember she had an Australian accent and golden hair. She wan fun and she would often take us to New Jersey beaches, where we would spend the whole day taking walks along the shore. My mom told me that in Australia, Christmas was always spent on the beach with friends and family, and everyone wore Santa hat with their bathing suits. It never got cold and bitter there. My mom was different and I was proud of her. I don't know how she met my father. but after they met several years, they got married and moved into an apartment in New Jersey. Then I was born and we were a perfect family of three who went out to dinner and watched movies in the dark and loved each other. I know things have been hard on my father since my Mom died years ago. It's hard for me, too, and I have to experience the wonderful place my mom grew up in and loved. My mom talked about Australia so much and now I have to see this place. This is an adventure. How did the author feel when he was on the plane? A. Confident B. Foolish C. Doubtful D. Childish Answer: C Question: Is Your Diet Destroying the Environment? A vegetarian diet is often praised for its health benefits. Studies have shown that vegetarians usually have lower levels of heart disease and a lower risk of diabetes than people who eat meat. What most people are less aware of, however, are the effects that a vegetarian diet can have on the environment. Researchers from the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US recently studied how consumer behavior affects the environment. The study showed that meat consumption is one of the main ways that humans can damage the environment, second only to the use of motor vehicle. Then, how can eating meat have a negative effect on the environment? For a start, all farm animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep give off methane gas by expelling wind from their bodies. One cow can produce up to 60 liters of methane each day. Methane gas is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Many environmental experts now believe that it is more responsible for global warming than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that 25% of all methane released into the atmosphere comes from farm animals. Another way that meat production affects the environment is through the use of water and land. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef, whereas 20 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat. One acre of farmland used for crop production can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 pounds of carrots, or 50,000 pounds of tomatoes. Many people now see the benefits of switching to a vegetarian diet, not just for health reasons, but also because it plays a vital role in protecting the environment. However, some nutritionists advise against switching to a totally strict vegetarian, or vegan diet. They believe a vegan diet, which excludes all products from animal sources, such as cheese, eggs, and milk, can be short of many necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need." Today, many people know it's important to take better care of their bodies and to use the earth's resources more efficiently. As this understanding spreads, more people may realize that to help the environment and for the human race to survive, more of us will need to become vegetarians. What message does the passage want to tell us? A. More and more people are becoming strict vegetarians. B. Raising farm animals affects the environment. C. A vegetarian diet helps to protect the environment. D. Our diet is destroying the surroundings. Answer: C Question: Rupert Hoogewerf, whose name sounds Dutch, is actually an Englishman. The 34-year-old man is very famous in prefix = st1 /China--though many Chinese merchant princes have complicated feeling towards him. Every day people, meanwhile, take delight in talking about his work. All of the fuss is over the annual report that Hoogewerf puts out ranking Chinese millionaires. On the wall of Hoogewerf's office in Shanghai, there is a massive Chinese map, and on almost every province is glued a small strip of paper. On each strip is written how many millionaires are registered on Hoogewerf's list. Hoogewerf, wearing jeans and sandals, speaks fluent Chinese to introduce the initial motivation for compiling the list. When Hoogewerf went into university to study Chinese in 1997, he says, he was affiliated with the renowned accounting firm Arthur Andersen, and was assigned to work in Shanghai. Working in Shanghai, he could see first-handChina's fast economic development. "But my fellows and I don't understand the process of how this could happen," he says, "let alone to explain this phenomenon in the concept of economics." Then he had an idea to compile a ranked list to introduce Chinese tycoons abroad, knowing that foreigners preferred reading people's stories to data. With the help of two colleagues in 1999, Hoogewerf complied the first ranking of Chinese millionaires. The most difficult task was to select candidates, and Hoogewerf and his colleagues spent two months reading Chinese and English magazines and newspapers. From a list of more than 1,000 people, they chose 300 people to survey and contact further. Finally, a list with the hundred richest businessmen in Chinaappeared. The listing astounded the populace; the Chinese have a tradition where people are afraid to exhibit their wealth. The achievement of a hundred millionaires became the main topic in everyone's conversation. Hoogewerf instantly became famous acrossChina. Hoogewerf also brings forward some advice to Chinese companies. In his opinion, compared to foreign companies, Chinese companies are still in the beginning phase. Their finance management and public relations need most work. So the service in accountant, auditing, public relations, consultation and so on is still required. "If I don't compile ranks one day," Hoogewerf says,"I hope to do my Chinese career in _ ." Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage? A. Rupert Hoogewerf is from Holland. B. Many Chinese merchants like Rupert Hoogewerf very much. C. Ordinary people take delight in talking with the Englishman. D. Rupert Hoogewerf speaks fluent Chinese. Answer: D Question: You may think that inventions are far away from your everyday life. But in fact, almost everyone can invent. It's just that they do not recognize that their idea could be the start of an invention. Once inventors see their ideas have some practical value, they don't let them slip away. For example, the inventor of the dishwasher, American Josephine Cochrane, loved to give dinner parties. But she found it took too long to wash her dishes by hand and too many of them broke. She decided that a machine could do the job faster and with fewer mistakes. So, in 1886, she set out to make one for herself. Like Cochrane's, most inventions are created to solve a problem. So, the first and most important step is to find the problem. You can start by looking at what is wrong with things you use now. You can ask grandparents or neighbours if they remember ever saying: "I wish someone would invent something for..." Or you can look at people in different areas such as on the street, or at school. Then you might notice situations or things in need of improvement. Remember to record your ideas and work. This will help you develop your invention and protect it when it is completed. The next step is to think about possible solutions. An invention is a new way of solving a problem. So think of many, varied, and unusual ways. You can often come up with a solution for a problem by looking at it from a different angle or thinking about it in a new way. Example 1 -- instead of thinking of shoes as protecting your feet from the ground, think of using something to protect the ground from your feet. Example 2 -- instead of thinking about how you can carry oranges home from a store, think of how they can come to you by delivery or growing your own. Example 3 -- instead of experimenting with only one solution, can you put two or three solutions together, or arrange them in different orders? And if one solution doesn't work, can it be put to other uses? That was how yellow post-it notes (N) came about -- a "failed" adhesive experiment proved a weak adhesive had good uses too! After all, most inventions are not brand new. They do not come out of nowhere, but come out of things or ideas that already exist. And the hardest part of inventing, even for a lot of inventors, is coming up with a problem and finding a solution. Once you have an idea, you can always get help building your invention. This problem-solving technique can also work in your everyday lives. So, why not try it in your studies, in your relationship with others, or even in the way you look at the world? The main idea of this story is _ . A. how to put your ideas to other uses B. that you can invent and how you will be able to do so C. problem-solving technique D. how inventors invent Answer: B Question: In a far away land known as Board, there was a great man named Pawn. This was a very odd land because the only thing to do was play chess. Pawn did not very much care for chess as he was very bored with it. Another problem Pawn had was that he didn't like some of the other people in this land. They had names like Bishop, Queen, Rook, and Knight. And most of all, there was King. He was the greatest person in Board. One day, during their normal battle, Pawn saw an opening to move to the far end of Board. He almost got hurt by Knight but he got away. Amazingly, when he got to the other end he became as powerful as Queen. With this amazing power, Pawn chose to help keep King safe. All was well until Pawn woke up and knew that it was only a dream. He was still Pawn. Who did Pawn protect with his new power? A. Bishop B. Rook C. Queen D. King Answer: D
My friend Matt and I arrived at the Activity Centre on Friday evening. The accommodation wasn't wonderful,but we had everything we needed(beds,blankets,food),and we were pleased to be out of the city and in the fresh air. On Saturday morning we met the other ten members of our group. Cameron had come along with two friends,Kevin and Simon,while sisters Carole and Lynn had come with Amanda. There were some other members I didn't know. We had come from different places and none of us knew the area. We knew we were going to spend the weekend outdoors,but none of us was sure exactly how. Half of us spent the morning caving while the others went rock-climbing and then we changed at lunchtime. Matt and I went to the caves first. Climbing out was harder than going in,but after a good deal of pushing, we were out at last. Though we were covered with mud,we were pleased and excited by what we'd done. ,. We can learn from the passage that _ . A some of the group had been there before B the group had done rock-climbing many times C some of the group already knew each other D group all came from the same city Answer: C. some of the group already knew each other There are many differences between America and China. The biggest difference is traffic rules. In America there are too much more cars than in China. But there are much fewer traffic jams and accidents in America than in China. We hardly see traffic police in the street, but all cars obey strictly traffic rules, and people hardly find that a car does not obey traffic rules in the street. About American traffic rules, there are many better terms, such as: 1. Stop line: There are stop lines in all crossing without traffic light (some have two stop lines and others have four stop lines). All cars must stop while meeting the stop line. 2. Traffic light: There is traffic light in the crossing of the road. Cars may almost turn every direction. The traffic light can give signal step by step including u-turn. There is a kind of middle lane of turning left. When a car wants to turn left in the road, he may enter into the middle lane of turning left and give a signal of turning left. When he thinks being safe, he may turn left. In many conditions the order of passing is also given very specifically. If people want to change lane or turn, they must look behind and think being safe. Only so, they may do it. 3. Specific item: Such as parking, there are three kinds of lines (their colors are white, blue or red) in the roadside. Every line may park different kinds of cars. There are many streets in some residential areas , and there is a kind of rule that any car cannot park at any time or any period time. In every parking, there are some special positions for invalid people. 4. About the priority of passenger and car: At any case, passengers have the priority to cars. And only after passengers have passed the road and got the top of sidestep, cars may go ahead. In general, traffic rules of America are very specific, convenient, safe and humanizing. Why is there a middle lane of turning left on the road? A It is designed for the cars that want to turn left. B It is very safe to drive there. C It is very convenient for the traffic police to find the cars that break the rules. D The cars that want to turn left can easily give a signal of turning left. Answer: A. It is designed for the cars that want to turn left. There is a long history behind the first T-shirts and today's colorful outerwear . Many stories talk about the first T-shirts and the reason why people wear them. One says the first T-shirt had something to do with war. In World War I Some American soldiers found that European soldiers' undershirts were cooler and more comfortable. They started to wear the same kind. Because the design of the undershirts was simple and looked like the letter T, Americans called the clothes T-shirts. By World War II Many soldiers started to wear T-shirts as under-wear. In the 1930s Many American students started wearing white T-shirts for playing sports. In 1951 Marlon Brando, a very famous American actor, wore a tight-fitting T-shirt in a film. After this, many American men started to dress like him. In the 1970s T-shirts became the favorite kind of clothing for young people in many countries. At that time, they were a sign of being cool and different from others. In the 1980s T-shirts started to be hot in China. Now many young people show their own ideas on their T-shirts; special pictures, funny words... T-shirts are more like artworks than just simple summer wear What did the American students wear T-shirts for at the beginning? A For being different B For playing sports. C For being cool. D For making money. Answer: B. For playing sports. Having crossed mountains and plains, rivers and lakes, some of prefix = st1 /France's greatest works of art are now on display atChina's National Museum of fine Arts. Fifty-one Impressionist paintings are forming part of an exhibition inBeijingto kick off the Year of France. The show is being held in the capital between October 10 and November 27. Then it will move on to Shanghai and Hong Kong. "It is such a good opportunity to see the masters' works up close," said Feng Jiajia, a Senior student form the High School Affiliated to theAcademyofArtand Design. Although Feng is very busy with his studies at the moment he says he will definitely make time to see the exhibition. "I hope it will inspire me and help me with my own work," he said. Worth a total of US $600 million, the paintings ate by French Impressionist masters, including Monet, Cezanne, Renoir and Degas. As an art style, Impressionism was developed inFranceduring the late 19thand early 20thcenturies. Their work was a fresh and original way of painting. It seems that the artists painted a scene after just a quick look at it. Often painting outside, rather than in a studio, the artists observed nature more directly and tried to capture individual moments in time especially the changing light of the sun. They avoided black and earth color1s and as a result their work is often very bright and can also look like that it is shining. When they first appeared, the artists were criticized for not finishing their paintings and for being lazy. Critics said the Impressionists were satisfied with just a few inexact brushstrokes instead of completing a real painting. It was an art critic who first used the term "Impressionist" in a review of Monet's work "Impression, Sunrise"(1873) to satirize his loose, inexact manner of painting. "Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love," said Monet. Monet is the leading figure in the creation of Impressionism. He painted sunlit rivers and gardens with forceful brushstrokes and bright color1s, in which objects lose their shape in the light. Monet's painting reached its height in his later life with his paintings of water lilies. Which of the following is likely to be an Impressionist's painting? A Portrait of God. B A girl with a vase. C Thunder and lightening. D Beautiful lake in the sunshine. Answer: D. Beautiful lake in the sunshine. Saturday was my husband's birthday, but we spent most of the time in the car. We were driving to Phoenix for the weekend to celebrate his birthday and see the Warriors play the Suns. My husband is a lucky man. Not only has he lived to see another birthday, but he doesn't mind driving 200 miles to see an NBA basketball game. In the car, his cellphone kept ringing with birthday greetings from family and friends. He put them all on the speakerphone so he could drive with both hands and I could listen in even though it wasn't my birthday. Meanwhile, on the CD player, the Reverend AL Green began to singLove and Happiness. A little good music makes a bad road better. Four hours later, we checked into hotel, got dinner and sat out a rooftop feeling glad to be alive. We had a great weekend--we ate too much, slept too little and the Warriors, well, they lost. But still, it was worth the drive. On the way home, I started thinking about birthdays. In our family, we celebrate four in January, four in February, and all the others throughout the year. Mine is next week. I felt lucky, like my husband, I will get cards and calls and maybe a few videos. I don't need presents any more. When you've seen as many birthdays as I have seen, the only gift you truly want is to see one more. Birthdays are the mile markers on the road of life. They tell us how far we have come, but not how far we have gone. Life is a journey more than a destination. What matters is whom we choose as traveling companions, and how often we get to sit back and enjoy the ride. What could be the best title for this passage? A My lucky Husband B Driving to See a Basketball Game C Mile Markers on the Road of Life D A birthday journey Answer: D. A birthday journey
A smuggler drove to the border. When a soldier looked in the truck, he was surprised to find six big bags. "What's in them?" the soldier asked. "Dirt," the smuggler answered. "Take them out," the soldier said. "I want to check them." The smuggler opened the bags, and sure enough, each one of them was filled with dirt. So the soldier let him go. A week later, the smuggler came back, and once again, the soldier looked in the truck. "What's in the bags this time?" he asked. "Dirt, more dirt," said the smuggler. Not believing him, the soldier checked the bags and, once again, he found nothing but dirt. The same thing happened every week for six months, and the soldier finally became so frustrated that he left and worked as a waiter in a restaurant. Then one night, the smuggler went to the restaurant and had a drink. The waiter saw him and said, "Listen! Drinks are free tonight if you tell me what you were smuggling all that time." Slowly, the smuggler got close to the waiter and said, "Trucks." Where is the passage probably taken from? Answer: A joke book. Empathy is a quality that is essential to most people's lives and yet the modern world makes it easy to lose sight of the feelings of others. But almost everyone can learn to develop this crucial personality trait , says Roman Krznaric. Roman Krznaric used to regularly walk past a homeless man around the corner from where he lived in Oxford and took almost no notice of him. One day he stopped to speak to him. It turned out his name was Alan Human and he had a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford. They afterwards developed a friendship based on their common interest in Aristotle's ethics . This unexpected meeting taught Roman that having conversations with strangers opens up our empathic minds. We can not only meet amazing people but also challenge the prejudices that we have about others based on their appearance, accents or backgrounds. Furthermore, it's about recovering the curiosity everyone had as children. Respect the advice of oral historian Studs Terkel, who always spoke to people on the bus, "Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer ." The world's first Empathy Museum, which is starting in the UK in late 2015 and will then be travelling to Australia and other countries. Amongst the unusual exhibitions will be a human library, where instead of borrowing a book you borrow a person for conversation-maybe an unhappy investment banker or a gay father. In other words, the kind of people you may not get to meet in everyday life. As the psychologist and inventor of emotional intelligence Daniel Goleman puts it, without empathy a person is "emotionally tone deaf". It's clear that with a little effort nearly everyone can put more of their empathic potential to use. So try putting on your empathy shoes and make an adventure of looking at the world through the eyes of others. What should adults learn from children? Answer: Be curious about others. Check out our tsunami facts and learn some interesting information related to these great walls of water that can cause so much destruction. Find out what causes tsunamis and read about some recent examples of tsunamis that have occurred around the globe. The Japanese word for tsunami means harbor wave. Tsunamis are sometimes called tidal waves but this term has fallen out of favour because tsunamis are not related to tides. Tsunamis are huge waves of water that are usually caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. As a tsunami approaches the shore, water may move back from the coast. If it is shallow enough the water may be pulled back hundreds of metres. If you are in the area, you can know that a tsunami is on the way when you see this phenomenon. Regions in tsunami danger zones often have warning systems in place to give people as much time as possible to move to a safe place. When tsunamis hit shallow water (often near the coast) they slow down but increase in height. An earthquake in the Indian Ocean off Indonesia in December 2004 caused a tsunami that killed over 200,000 people in 14 countries. In March 2011, the Tohoku earthquake off the eastern coast of Japan caused a tsunami that was a major factor in the death of over 15,000 people. The tsunami waves created by the Tohoku earthquake reached a height of over 40 metres in some areas, wiping out coastal towns and causing a number of nuclear accidents. How many causes of tsunamis are mentioned in the text? Answer: Two. Everybody dreams. But only some people remember their dreams. Our dreams often include all the senses--smells, sounds, sights, tastes and things we touch. Early in the twentieth century, two famous scientists developed their personal ideas about dreams. Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud believed people often dream about things they want but can't have. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung worked closely with Freud for several years, but he believed dreams provide solutions to problems we face when we are awake. Other researchers are studying how dreaming helps our bodies work with problems and very sad emotions . Robert Stickgold is a professor of psychiatry . He says that when we dream, the brain is trying to make sense of the world. He does not agree with Sigmund Freud that dreaming is the way we express our hidden feelings and desires . Scientists believe it is important to keep researching dreams. Yet there is still no agreement on exactly how the brain works when we are dreaming or why we dream. Which would be the best title for the passage? Answer: The Mystery of Dreams and Dreaming Which rapid changes are caused by heat from inside Earth? Answer: volcanoes
One morning Julie took her dog, Rosie, for a walk. Rosie loved to walk outside. She loved to walk any time - morning, afternoon, or night. She liked to smell everything. This morning she smelled something new. It was another animal. It was not a squirrel. It was not another dog. Maybe it was a tiger! Rosie sniffed around until she saw the other animal. It was not a tiger. It was a cat. The cat was watching Rosie. The cat was afraid Rosie would try to bite her, so she climbed up a tree. Rosie tried to follow her, but she could not climb up. Instead, she barked at the cat in the tree. Julie did not want Rosie to scare the cat. She called Rosie away from the tree. The cat watched them walk away. When they came back, the cat was gone. Rosie remembered the cat. She started digging in the dirt under the tree. But there was no cat there. Julie and Rosie went home for breakfast. What time did Julie and Rosie go for a walk? A. The story does not say what time it was B. morning C. night D. afternoon Answer: B George liked flying a plane. Once he bought a small plane and learned how to fly it. He soon became so good that he could make his plane do all kinds of tricks . George had a friend. His name was Peter. One day George said to his friend, " Peter, would you like to have a trip in my plane?" Peter thought, " I've traveled in a big plane several times, but I've never been in a small one, so I'll go." They went up, and George flew around for half an hour and did all kinds of tricks.Peter said in a shaken voice , " Well, George, thank you very much for these two trips in your plane." George was very surprised and asked, " Two trips? " "Yes, my first and my last." Answered Peter. From the passage we know that _ . A. Peter thanked George for the nice trip B. Peter thought it was wonderful to have such a trip C. Peter felt surprised that his friend could fly so well D. Peter was worried about his safety while George was doing tricks in the sky Answer: D It was a morning, about 8:30 am, when an old man in his 80's reached my hospital to take care of his finger. He said he was in a hurry because he had an appointment at 9 am. While taking care of his finger I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The old man told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to have breakfast with his wife. I asked if she would be unhappy if he was a bit late. He replied that there was something wrong with his wife's mind and she hadn't known who he was since five years ago. I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled to me and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is." There was something wrong with his wife's _ . A. finger B. feet C. heart D. mind Answer: D In late March,Southwest University became the first school in China to open a 24-hour hotline providing suicide-prevention counseling. College suicide is a heart-breaking and argumentative topic.Chinese college students have long been the focus of public attention:their youth,education and,most importantly, bright futures make them the envy of society. However, in recent years,we've read more reports of student suicides.Perhaps that's simply because of society's attention with youth.But it could also signify the increasing troubled mental state of college students. Many studies have sought to find out the causes of student suicides.Not surprisingly, the top factors usually include psychological and physical sickness,emotional trouble and peer pressure. Despair about their futures is also quickly becoming a leading factor:Many students say they feel hopeless and confused about the direction of their careers in a crowded job market. Thankfully, more and more universities and colleges are providing counseling services to address students'mental and psychological problems.These at least offer some comfort to students facing tough job prospects and personal difficulties. From appointing in-house student counselors to setting up hotlines and recruiting students to help their troubled peers.many universities are making efforts to fight student depression.There is no denying that much remains to be done,but such efforts are already working,helping students and saving lives. However, the most important front in this battle lies with the students themselves.Whatever efforts school officials make,it is up to students to realize their problems and ask help.Unfortunately, many students considering suicide refuse to seek help.By shutting themselves away, they can easily fall into vicious cycles ,becoming ever more vulnerable to.personal difficulties and the pressures of the outside world. While establishing better on-campus psychological education and outreach programs are a step forward,students themselves must actively reach out for help.These dangers are a reality for every student not only those who feel confused and depressed. Why are there so many students that commit suicide? A. Because of psychological and physical sickness. B. Because they feel hopeless and confused about their future. C. Because of the emotional trouble. D. All of the above. Answer: D Large numbers of children in Britain are missing out on the natural world, a study from the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) suggests. The three-year project found that only 21 % of children aged 8 --12 were "connected to nature". Girls were much more likely than boys to be exposed to the great outdoors, while children in Wales had the lowest score across the UK. The RSPB says that a perception among some adults that nature is dangerous or dirty could be holding children back. There has been an increasing amount of research in recent years underlining the lack of contact and experience with nature among modern children. Some have argued that this is having a negative impact on their health, education and behaviour. The RSPB says its new study is the first to quantify the scale of British children's exposure, or lack of it, to the natural world. They came up with a definition of what "connected to nature" actually means and then deve -loped a questionnaire with 16 statements designed to assess the level of connection among children. Some 1, 200 children from across the UK were asked to agree or disagree with these statements. Only 21 % of children in the UK had a level of connection with wildlife and the natural world that the RSPB believes should be realistic and achievable for all youngsters. This "realistic and achievable" value is based on the average scores of children visiting RSPB sites or who are junior members of the organization. One interesting finding was the gender difference. While 27 % of girls were at or above the "realistic and achievable" target, only 16 % of boys were at the same level. "We need to understand these differences," Sue Armstrong Brown, head of conservation at the charity, told BBC New. "Whether boys and girls are scoring differently on different questions, are girls more empathetic to nature than boys for instance? We need to analyze the data to find that out." The report also stressed significant regional differences. Only 13% of children in Wales achieved the basic level of exposure, compared with almost twice this number in Northern Ireland and Scotland. How did the RSPB assess the level of nature connection among children? A. By doing an experiment. B. By carrying out a survey. C. By running a test. D. By visiting wildlife. Answer: B
During the Victorian period, ordinary people started going on holidays to the seaside for the first time. When a woman entered a room, it was considered rude for a man to offer his seat to her because the cushion might still be warm. People thought that you could digest food better in the dark, so the dining room was often located in the basement. It was considered improper to look into someone's bedroom, so most bedrooms were on the second or third floor. People went to great lengths to hide their water closets from view. In some homes, they were behind a curtain or screen, in a separate part of the house or even outside. A lot of men used macassar oil to slick back their hair. In order to stop this grease from sticking to the furniture, pieces of material called antimacassars were placed over the backs of chairs. For a lady, to show her ankles was considered taboo . ks5u Many people kept a hedgehog in the basement so it could eat insects. When Queen Victoria came to the power in 1837, most people lived in villages and worked on the land. There was no electricity (gas lamps or candles were used for light) and most people walked or traveled by boat, train and horse. However, by the end of her reign in 1901, the majority of the population lived in towns and worked in offices, shops and factories, and there was piped water, gas and even electricity. When Queen Victoria came to power, _ . Answer: a minority of her people lived in towns and worked in offices There are about 7,000,000 people in London. London is one of the big cities in the world. London is famous for many things. People from all over the world come to see the famous buildings. There is a famous clock called Big Ben, too. Like many big cities, the _ is very busy in London. When the work hours begin, over 1,000,000 people use the London underground , but there are still too many buses and cars on the streets. The air isn't clean. For me, the best things about London are the parks. There are five in the middle of the city. But my children's favorite is playing in Hamleys, the biggest toy shop in the world. ,,. What do people from the world come to London to see? Answer: The famous buildings. The accident at Lake Sherwood was in our backyard. An SUV had gone off the road,down a hill, and collided with a tree. When we heard the wreck, I remembered to say "call 911". My family was the first on the scene. Nick, my son, was on the cell phone with 911. He saw a friend who was a victim in the crash who was a 15 years old girl who was badly disfigured and had died instantly. It was a terrible scene. There had been six people in the truck, all between 15 and 17 years old. My husband and I checked all the victims, and I picked one who was conscious and stayed with him. I talked with him and had him lay on the ground. When I asked him if he was hurt, he said he was sore all over. When help arrived, they asked me to stay and continue working with them. I did as Debbie Romine, .my instructor, said in class, and did what they wanted. They even said thank you before they left. The sheriff deputies came by Saturday night to get our statements and play the 911 tape back, so Nick could identify all the voices in the background. They said over and over that the way he handled the call was the best they had heard in a long time. He was calm and worked with them even when he saw his friend who had died. The Sheriff's Department is sending some people over to help us work through our emotions. The first aid and CPR course I took in January really helped me. I just didn't expect to put it to good use so soon. Pennyd. Miller Kansas State Dept of Education,Topeka According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? Answer: The writer took a first aid and CPR course in January. Mary likes to invent things. She creates a new language and teaches it to her friend, Jean. Mary and Jean like to talk to each other in their own language because they think no one understands them and it is funny. When they go shopping, they say things like: "Look! He is fat." "This CD is awful." "I want to eat free hamburgers." A clerk comes but he can't understand what they say. He asked them: "May I help you?" Mary and Jean just laugh. What fun it is to create something new. Why does Mary like speaking her new language with her friend Jean? Answer: Because they can talk but no one knows what they say. Malaria, the world's most widespread parasitic disease, kills as many as three million people every year--almost all of whom are under five, very poor, and African. In most years, more than five hundred million cases of illness result from the disease, although exact numbers are difficult to assess because many people don't (or can't) seek care. It is not unusual for a family earning less than two hundred dollars a year to spend a quarter of its income on malaria treatment, and what they often get no longer works. In countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Gambia, no family, village, hospital, or workplace can remain unaffected for long. Malaria starts suddenly, with violent chills, which are soon followed by an intense fever and, often, headaches. As the parasites multiply, they take over the entire body. Malaria parasites live by eating the red blood cells they infect. They can also attach themselves to blood vessels in the brain. If it doesn't kill you, malaria can happen again and again for years. The disease passed on to humans by female mosquitoes infected with one of four species of parasite. Together, the mosquito and the parasite are the most deadly couple in the history of the earth--and one of the most successful. Malaria has five thousand genes, and its ability to change rapidly to defend itself and resist new drugs has made it nearly impossible to control. Studies show that mosquitoes are passing on the virus more frequently, and there are more outbreaks in cities with large populations. Some of the disease's spread is due to global warming. For decades, the first-choice treatment for malaria parasites in Africa has been chloroquine, a chemical which is very cheap and easy to make. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world, malaria parasites have become resistant to it. Successful alternatives that help prevent resistance are already available, but they have been in short supply and are very expensive. If these drugs should fail, nobody knows what would come next. Which of the following may be the reason for the wide spread of the disease? Answer: Its ability to defend itself and resist new drugs.
Tibet is in the southwest of China. It is the home to many natural wonders, such as valleys, mountains, lakes and even deserts. Tibet is very large, so it is perfect for traveling, especially the bike tour . You can start the wonderful bike tour in Tibet's capital, Lhasa. It is 3600 metres above the sea level. It's very high, isn't it? So it is important to spend a few days there to get used to the thin air there, or you may feel sick and get hurt. The bike tour will pass rivers, large open grassland and high mountains, including the world's famous Mount Everest . After finishing the bike tour, people will feel quite successful. They will also have hundreds of photos of the wonderful places. Tibet is a perfect place for the bike tour _ . Answer: because it is large The traditional tent cities at festivals such as prefix = st1 /Glastonburymay never be the same again. In a victory of green business that is certain to appeal to environmentally-aware music-lovers, a design student is to receive financial support to produce eco-friendly tens made of cardboard that can be recycled after the bands and the crowds have gone home. Major festivals such as Glastonburythrow away some 10,000 abandoned tents at the end of events each year. For his final year project at the University of the West of England, James Dunlop came up with a material that can be recycled. And to cope with the British summer, the cardboard has been made waterproof. Taking inspiration from a Japanese architect, who has used cardboard to make big buildings including churches, Mr. Dunlop used cardboard material for his tents, which he called Myhabs. The design won an award at the annual New Designers Exhibition after Mr. Dunlop Graduated from his product design degree and he decided to try to turn it into a business. To raise money for the idea, he toured the City's private companies which fund new businesses and found a supporter in the finance group Mint. He introduced his idea to four of Mint's directors and won their support. Mint has committed around PS500,000 to MyHab and taken a share of 30 per cent in Mr. Dunlop's business. The first Myhabs should be tested at festivals this summer, before being marketed fully next year. Mr. Dunlop said that the design, which accommodates two people, could have other uses, such as for disaster relief and housing for the London Olympics. For music events, the cardboard houses will be ordered online and put up at the sites by the Myhab team before the festival-goers arrive and removed by the company afterwards, They can be Personalized and the company will offer reductions on the expense if people agree to sell exterior advertising space. The biggest festivals attract tens of thousands of participants, with Glastonburyhaving some 150,000 each year. Altogether there are around 100 annual music festivals where people camp in theUK. The events are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. Mr. Dunlop established his business_. Answer: in partnership with a finance group Not a day goes by when we don't use the World Wide Web. Today it has become almost as important to every family as food and water! This year, the World Wide Web has turned 25 years old. What many people don't know is that the web was at first created to improve communication between thousands of scientists in Switzerland. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee was a 34-year-old British physicist working as a software engineer at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland. Since CERE was a huge organization with thousands of scientists, communication between them was becoming increasingly difficult. Berners-Lee wanted to develop a system to solve the problem. His paper suggested an information system, where a page on one computer could have a link to another page on another computer ( connected through the Internet) allowing scientists to read lots of information quickly. However, Berners-Lee's boss said that it sounded exciting but impossible. Even though there were many difficulties and few supporters, Berners-Lee went on to develop the World Wide Web. He came up with ideas such as Hyper-text Transfer Protocol to allow computers to talk to each other, Hyper-text Markup Language (HTML) to create the pages, a server to serve the pages, and a browser to see them. In December 1990, the World Wide Web was demonstrated and in 1991, the WWW project was made public, so that other programmers could develop their own browsers. Berners-Lee believed that it could be used for more than scientific purposes. He wanted the Internet to be easy for anyone to use-a free open software. His wishes soon came true. Although the World Wide Web has today turned into a completely different thing from what it meant at first, it has become necessary and important to our lives, powering our mobile technologies and the way we get information. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: World Wide Web turns 25! Singing songs is fun, but is it also useful? For learning English pronunciation , Mr. Joe thinks songs are the most useful way to learn. At the same time, you can learn some new words and phrases while singing songs. Mr. Joe has used songs to help himself learn French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. You should do the same. Some words used in songs are not everyday English, so you have to be careful how you use song lyrics when you speak. Most words and sentences are very useful. You don't have to sing songs aloud if you are shy, but after learning a song you should be able to follow the words without looking at the lyrics. When you can do that, you have learned something that you will never forget! Some good songs to listen to are from the Beatles, John Denver and the Carpenters. Their songs are not too fast and the lyrics are close to normal spoken English. Just for fun, you can try Mr. Joe's favorite singer, B.B. King. His songs are not easy at all! If you can understand even 80% of "Why I Sing the Blues", you are a very _ student. If you become good at singing English songs, you can try to go to karaoke and sing with your friends. When you are able to sing a song in another language, even if you don't sing so beautifully, you will really impress(......) other people! Which is Mr. Joe's mother language? Answer: English. One day, I received a call from a colleague. He was about to give a student a zero for his answer to a physical problem ,while the student claimed a perfect score. I was elected as their arbiter( ).I read the examination problem: "Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer ." The student had answered: "Take the barometer to the top of the building,attach a long rope to it,lower it to the street,and then bring it up, measuring the length of the rope. The length of it is the height of the building. " The student had really answered the question completely ,but the answer didn't confirm his competence in physics. I suggested the student try again. I gave him six minutes to answer the question, warning that the answer should show some knowledge of physics. Five minutes later, he said he had many answers and clashed off one, which read: "Take the barometer to the top of the building and lean over the edge of the roof. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch. Then, use the physical formula to calculate the height of the building. " At this point, my colleague had to accept it, and then the student made almost full marks. I couldn't help asking the student what the other answers were. He listed many others ,and then added5"Probably the best is to take the barometer to the. administrator and said to him,' Sir, here is a fine barometer. If you tell me the height of the building, I will give it to you.," Then, I asked the student if he really did not know the conventional answer to this question. He admitted that he did ,but said that he was fed up with high school and college instructors trying to teach him how to think. The name of the student was Bohr who later was famous all over ,the world. He won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: students should be given more freedom in thinking
Question: An elephant and a monkey were arguing. "Look, how big and strong I am!" The elephant said. The monkey disagreed, "Look, how fast I can run and climb! Can you?" At last they asked a wise tiger, "Which is better--to be strong or to be quick?" The tiger said, "Go across the river and pick the fruit on that tree for me, then I can tell." So they went to the river, but the water ran fast and the monkey was afraid. "Get on my back," said the elephant proudly, "I shall carry you." Soon they crossed the river. There stood the tree. But the fruit was too high for the elephant to reach. He also tried to pull the tree down, but failed. "Don't worry." The monkey climbed quickly up the tree, and picked the fruit. Then they returned and gave the tiger the fruit. "Which is better--to be strong or to be quick?" The tiger smiled, "Neither of you could get the fruit alone. It took both the elephant's strength and the monkey's quickness to get it." The elephant and the monkey argued about _ . A. who could climb faster B. whose skill was better C. how to be stronger D. where to pick the fruit Answer: B. whose skill was better Question: After three military tours in Iraq and three in Afghanistan, Dennis Swols gets angry easily. He is unable to really talk about his time on the battlefield. But as Swols sits in a clinic at Fort Bragg, his hand drops to the furry head beside him. His mood brightens. Sitting at his feet, Lexy , a 5-year-old German shepherd, gives Swols a few moments of distraction . It's her job. And, according to Swols, she is good at it. "I have a hard time talking to people about my battlefield experiences and everything," says Swols, who took part in several wars. Now he's been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder . "I just pet Lexy. Or I'm sitting here and we won't talk about military things. We'll just talk about the dog. My day is better every time I come in." For Doctor Christine Rumayor, Lexy is a partner and a living, breathing medical tool. The dog can calm a patient and make a therapy appointment a little more enjoyable. Animal therapy is used in only a few other army medical centers. A small number of dogs like Lexy are being used almost as co-therapists. The army is struggling to address stress disorders and mental health problems brought by more than ten years of war. One of the big difficulties is getting soldiers to seek treatment. Lexy, it turns out, is particularly good at that. Rumayor , who uses Lexy in her practice, said there was a resistance at first. "You don't expect everyone to think they can just bring their dog to work," she said. Walking around the base, she uses Lexy to attract soldiers, and then draws them into conversation. "There's nothing better than coming to an appointment where you get to have a warm furry thing that you get to pet all the time. People don't want to come in the door. When they see Lexy coming in, it makes them want to come in the door." What was people's attitude towards Rumayor's treatment at first? A. Favorable B. Supportive C. Negative D. Positive Answer: C. Negative Question: British Newspapers In Britain there are 11 national daily newspapers and most people read one of them every day. There are two kinds of newspapers. One is large in size and has many detailed articles about national and international events. These newspapers are called the serious papers or the quality papers. The other kind, called the tabloids , is smaller in size. They has more pictures and shorter articles, often about less important events or about the private lives of wellknown people. Although some people disapprove of the tabloids , more people buy them than buy the serious newspapers. The Sun, for example, which is a tabloid,is the biggest-selling newspaper in Britain. The tabloids are sometimes called the gutter press And in 1997, some photograph reporters of the tabloids were said to be involved in the tragic death of Princess Diana in France and they were criticized as gossip reporters by the public. Most national newspapers in Britain express a political opinion and people choose the newspaper that they read according to their own political beliefs. Most of the newspapers are right-wing, which means they support the Conservative Party . These are The Daily Telegraph ( serious newspaper ) , The Daily Express,Daily Mail, Daily Star, The Sun and Today ( all tabloids) . Of the other serious newspapers, The Times,the oldest newspaper in Britain,did not formerly have one strong political view but it is now more right-wing. The Independent does not support any political party, and neither does The Financial Times, which concentrates on business and financial news. The Daily Mirror^ a tabloid) is the voice of the Labour Party. Some reporters of the tabloids were considered to be _ . A. devoted fellows B. national heroes C. radicals D. gossip reporters Answer: D. gossip reporters Question: Hey there, So you're about to spend four years of your life and tens of dollars of your parents' money, and all you really know about college is that all of your friends are going. Do you ever stop to wonder why you're going? Relax. You're making the right decision. First of all, you'll discover what interests you by taking courses in many subjects. For example, it's hard to decide if you want to be a painter if you've never painted any pictures; once you're in a drawing-room on campus, you'll know one way or the other. College is also a lot of fun--after you graduate, you'll be working every weekday for 50 or so years. And remember that college graduate earn about twice the income of those who never attended college. Finding the right college can be difficult. Fortunately, Johnson Review is here to help you every step of the way. Researching Schools. To us, the most important decision you'll make is to choose the school that really fits you best -- not the one that is the most competitive or has the best-equipped rooms. Applying to School. On JohnsonReview.com., you'll find hundreds of actual college applications and links to many more. Raising Your Scores. American College Test is one of the most important parts of the admission course. It's not the most important, though, and everyone needs to prepare for the best. But, if you can do better, find the right course for better scores. Paying for School. Most families need financial aid for the high cost of college. The problem is that financial aid seems difficult to get and many families get caught up in the price of college rather than learning the ways to get financial aid. If you really do your research, you'll learn that you can afford to attend any college, no matter the cost. For more information, call 600-3681 or visit JohnsonReview.com.Wherever you go, have a nice trip! Johnson Smith Founder and CEO Johnson Review What does the author advise you to do to pay the high cost college? A. To ask the family for help. B. To get to know how to ask for financial aid. C. To do research on the price of college D. To make a study of financial courses. Answer: B. To get to know how to ask for financial aid. Question: Patricia was worried.She had a job interview, and she wanted to look good.She decided to get some new clothes.The store owner, Pallas Hansen, helped Patricia find a suit.But when she left the store, she didn't pay for the suit! How could Patricia do this? She was in a special store called Career Closet in San Jose, California.Pallas Hansen and Charlotte Krumwiede started this nonprofit store to help women.They knew that many women don't find jobs because they don't have the right clothes for a job interview.Women who don't have a lot of money have to use their money to buy food and clothes for their children.They can't buy clothes for themselves. Pallas and Charlotte started the store in 1992 after they heard about a store like this in Chicago.Volunteers work in the store.Working women donate most of the clothes to the store.This makes it possible for the customers at Career Closet to get clothes for free. Career Closet has helped 2,500 San Jose women, but clothes aren't the only things women get at the store.They also get confidence.Patricia is 36 years old.Her husband was hurt in an accident, and Patricia needed a job to support her seven children.She went to Career Closet and got a jacket, a skirt, and a blouse."The whole day made me feel special," she said.Patricia was a success at her interview, and she got the job.One reason why she got it was that she was wearing the right clothes for the workplace. Pallas says," I love this job.Sixty percent of the women get jobs.It's like being a fairy god-mother." The best title for the passage might be _ . A. Getting Clothes Free of Charge B. Fashion C. Success of women D. Job Interview Answer: A. Getting Clothes Free of Charge
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. The other woman my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it impossible to visit her often. That Friday after work, when I arrived at her house, my mother waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and comfortable. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. An attached note said "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates--one for you and the other for your wife. You w ill never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son." At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time 'I love YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve because these things cannot be put off till some "other" time. From the passage we can see _ . In many countries, heart disease kills a lot of women and even more men. There are four major causes of this disease and these are smoking, poor or bad diet, a family history of heart disease and stressful work. Among these main wrong-doers, the most common cause is stress. What is stress and how do you feel when you are under stress? Imagine you live alone - you are lying in bed at night and, suddenly, you hear someone in the kitchen. Immediately your heart begins to beat very fast and you feel that you can hardly breathe. What you are feeling is not stress, but fear. However, your body changes in the same way when you feel stress. That means that if you feel anxious and worried during an important examination, your heart may beat very fast and you may feel breathless too. You are experiencing stress. Another common situation in which a person is likely to feel stress is to have to do something, for example, performing a boring duty, every day. Let us look at the case of Annie who was a nurse. She felt a lot of stress in her work and began to have very bad headaches at the end of the day. Each morning she woke up more tired than she was when she went to sleep. She did not want to go out in the evening with her friends and she felt unhappy all the time. Finally, she sat down and thought about her life. She saw a lot of illness and death in her work but that was not the reason why she was under stress. The real reason was that she felt unable to make a positive decision in her job - she had to do what the doctors and sisters told her. So, Annie went back to college for further study. When she graduated, she found a job where she was part of a team as before, but where she had responsibility in making decisions. Her working hours were longer and her work more difficult than when she was a nurse but she enjoyed it. She felt she was in control of her life and her work. For Annie, stress in her old job had made her change her life and end a difficult situation. Stress in her new job became a good thing because it helped her achieve satisfaction in her life and in her work. Feeling _ is one form of stress. "Experience may possibly be the best teacher, but it is not a particularly good teacher." You might think that Winston Churchill or perhaps Mark Twain spoke those words, but they actually come from James March, a professor at Stanford University and a pioneer in the field of organizational decision making. For years March (possibly be wisest philosopher of management) has studied how humans think and act, and he continues to do so in his new bookThe Ambiguities of Experience. He begins by reminding us of just how firmly we have been sticking to the idea of experiential learning: "Experience is respected;experience is sought;experience is explained." The problem is that learning from experience involves serious complications , ones that are part of the nature of experience itself and which March discusses in the body of this book. In one interesting part of the book, for example, he turns a doubtful eye toward the use of stories as the most effective way of experiential learning. In our efforts to make stories interesting, he argues, we lose part of the complicated truth of things. He says "The more accurately reality is presented, the less understandable the story, and the more understandable the story, the less realistic it is." Besides being a broadly knowledgeable researcher, March is also a poet, and his gift shines through in the depth of views he offers and the simple language he uses. Though the book is short, it is demanding: Don't pick it up looking for quick, easy lessons. Rather, be ready to think deeply about learning from experience in work and life. What's the purpose of this text? A famous doctor once received a little child who was badly ill. Thanks to his skill and care, his young patient got well and was soon able to get up and run about again. The child's mother was very much obliged to the doctor, and she called on him to thank him for what he had done for her child. "Doctor," she said, "you have saved my little son. I don't know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you, so I have made this little purse with my own hands, as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it." The doctor stood up and said coldly, "Madam, a little present like that is very nice between friends, but a doctor needs to be paid properly for what he has done." The lady was so surprised and hurt so much that she could not reply for a moment. Then she said quietly, "Perhaps you will tell me how much your fee is?" "Fifty pounds", he answered. The lady opened the little purse and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor, and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag and, saying good bye to the doctor, went out of the room. How do you think the doctor would feel in the end? How can you find out what is going on inside a person's body without opening the patient's body up? Regular X rays can show a lot. CAT scans can show even more. They can give a complete view of body organs. What is a CAT scan? CAT stands for a kind of machine. It is a special X-ray machine that gets a 360-degree picture of a small area of a patient's body. Doctors use X rays to study and determine diseases and injuries within the body, X rays can find a foreign object inside the body or take pictures of some inside organs to be X-rayed. A CAT scanner, however, uses a group of X rays to give a cross-sectional view of a specific part of the body. A fine group of X rays is scanned across the body and around the patient from many different directions. A computer studies the information from each direction and produces a clear cross-sectional picture on a screen. This picture is then photographed for later use. Several cross sections, taken one after another, can give clear "photos" of the entire body or of any body organs. The latest CAT scanners can even give clear pictures of active, moving organs, just as a fast-action camera can "stop the action", giving clear pictures of what appears unclear to the eye. And because of the 360-degree pictures, CAT scans show clear and complete views of organs in a manner that was once only shown during operation or examination of a dead patient. Frequent appearance before X rays can cause skin burns, cancer or other damage to the body. Yet CAT scans actually don't cause the patient to more radiation than regular X rays do. CAT scans can also be done without getting something harmful into the patient, so they are less risky than regular X rays. CAT scans provide exact, detailed information. They can quickly find such a thing as bleeding inside the brain. They are helping to save lives. We can infer from this passage that_.
How often do you go on holiday? Going on holiday makes you feel good while you're there-you gain the health benefits for months, new research shows. Jetting off to exotic destinations such as the Maldives cuts your blood pressure, helps you sleep better and bounce back from stress, it found. The benefits last at least a fortnight longer than the vacation and can be felt for months in some cases where it is claimed. Experts say workers should always take their full holiday entitlement each year-as many as one in three don't-to get the benefits. The study compared key health markers in holidaymakers visiting Thailand, Peru or the Maldives, with people who stayed at home and continued working. The average blood pressure of those on holiday dropped by 6% while the workers saw their blood pressure rise by 2% over the same period. The sleep quality of holiday-makers improved by 17% while that of the non-holidaymakers _ by 14%. The study also found the ability of vacationers to recover from stress--known as the stress-resilience test-improved by 29%. There was a 71% fall in stress resilience scores among workers. Test showed a fall in blood glucose levels, reducing the risk of diabetes, trimmer waistlines and enhanced mood and energy levels, with the effects sustained for at least 2 weeks after returning home. The Holiday Health Experiment was conducted by tour operator Kuoni and Nuffield Health, the UK's largest healthcare charity. The author intends to tell us that _ . A it is best to go to foreign countries like Maldives. B we had better go on holiday for the benefits of health C we have to go on holiday as much as possible D you'll certainly get depressed if you don't go on holiday Answer: B US actress Natalie Portman,33, has always been praised for her smarts. At 18, she went to Harvard University following the release of her film Star Wars: Episode I in 1999. Four years later, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Then she took graduate courses at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She speaks six languages and has twice been published in scientific journals. You may think she has achieved all of these things easily thanks to her fame as actress, but only Portman herself knows what she has been through. In late May, the Oscar winner revealed that her time at Harvard had some "dark moments" when she gave a speech to graduating Harvard students. "I felt like ... that I wasn't smart enough to be in this company, and that every time I opened my mouth I would have to prove that I wasn't just a dumb actress," she said. It was that fear that helped her carve out her own path, Portman admitted "My belief that I could handle these things (her own limitations) ... was half the battle. The other half was very hard work," she said. "Sometimes, your insecurities and your inexperience may lead you to take on other people's expectations, standards, or values," she added. How did Portman overcome her disadvantages? A By her fame and education. B By means of her belief and hard work. C Through her beauty and smarts. D With her fear and inexperience. Answer: B How did it make you feel when you learned that KFC'S Beijing restaurants pulled three more items from their menus last week? There were fears that the items may have contained the cancer-causing coloring Sudan I.Do you have any desire to take the food provider to court because it feeds you something dangerous? After all,the law supposedly gives people the right to fight for their rights.But some experts have said it might not be so wise to take the company directly to court. Qiu Baochang,a lawyer in Beijing,suggested that consumers not take the company directly to court."In addition to the high costs,consumers'complaints are unlikely to win unless they can prove they have had the banned dye at KFC,"--Qiu explained. One problem for those wanting to take action against the fast food chain is that few customers ask for or keep receipts .And,this must be the first step. If they can prove that their health has been damaged by KFC,they can cue the company.But that would be almost impossible to do so because the Sudan I damage is a long-term effect and is not immediately apparent. A KFC spokesperson said on Monday that the company was confdent of being able to handle customers'complaints,"We will obey legal procedure if We raceive any complaints." This passage most probably appears in _ . A a notice. B a book on cooking. C a story book. D a newspaper. Answer: D Mary loved walking through the woods with her dog, Max. Max and Mary would go on all sorts of adventures together. They really loved looking for blueberries together and then falling asleep next to each other in the tall grass. One day, as Mary was picking the blueberries, she turned around to find that Max was not there. She became worried and ran off to look for her dog. She looked in all of their favorite spots...next to the stream, in their secret hiding place behind the raspberry bushes, and even inside the old cabin that sat in the woods. But poor Max was nowhere to be found. Nonetheless, Mary would not give up. She kept looking and she found him not very far away. He had seen a squirrel and run to chase it. When Mary called Max's name he left the squirrel and happily returned to Mary, wagging his tail as he went. Why did Max run off? A He was afraid B He heard a loud noise C He wanted some water D He chased a squirrel Answer: D Blue-eyed people have been living in Europe for at least 7,000 years, scientists have discovered. A man who lived on the Iberian Peninsula before Europeans became farmers probably had blue eyes but dark hair and skin, according to scientists who have sequenced his DNA. This surprising combination of eye, hair and skin color1ing may not have been unusual during his lifetime, but it is no longer seen among modern Europeans, reported by the journal Nature. The man, a Neolithic hunter-gatherer known to scientists as La BranaI, is of great interest to scientists because he offers a snapshot of what was in Europeans' DNA before agriculture spread through the continent. Experts have theorized that certain genetic feature spread quickly among humans after they adopted the farming lifestyle. La BranaI shows that at least some of their predictions were correct. The man's skeleton, along with that of a male companion, was discovered in 2006 in a cave in what is now northeastern Spain. The site, known as La Brana-Arintero, sits about 5,000 feet above sea level, and the cave provided a cold, refrigerator-like environment that preserved his DNA. In the lab, scientists were able to remove enough DNA from a single tooth to reconstruct La BranaI's entire genome . They compared it to the DNA of other ancient Europeans (including Otzi, the 5, 300-year-old mummy found in an Alpine glacier) and determined that he was a closer match with hunter-gatherers than with farmers. When it came to genes that would influence La BranaI's appearance, the researchers found that their 7,OOO-year-old subject had versions of two skin pigment genes that are either very rare or nonexistent among Europeans today. Then they looked at other places in the genome that influence pigmentation and found a mix of ancient and modern gene variants . Taken together, La BranaI's DNA "is likely to have resulted in dark skin pigmentation and dark or brown hair," they wrote. However, his DNA indicates that his eyes were most likely blue, the scientists found.This suggests that gene variants for light-color1ed eyes and skin did not spread together, they wrote, adding that La BranaI's combination "of dark skin and non-brown eyes is unique and no longer present in contemporary European populations. " Today, a blue-eyed person would typically have fair skin. To get some idea of whether La BranaI's color1ing was unusual for his day, the researchers will try to sequence the DNA of his companion, who has been named La BranaII. Which of the following is TRUE? A La BranaI's gene variants spread together. B La BranaI's DNA influences his appearance. C La BranaI's appearance influences contemporary Europeans. D La BranaI's gene is completely different from the contemporary Europeans'. Answer: B
Question: The English policeman has several nicknames but the most frequently used are "copper" and "bobby". The first name comes from the verb to "cop", meaning to "take" or "capture", and the second comes from the first name of Sir Robert Peel, the nineteenth-century politician, who was the founder of the police force as we know it today. An early nickname for the policeman was "peeler", but this one has died out. Whatever we may call them, the general opinion about the police seems to be a good one except, of course, among the criminal part of the community where the police are given more bad nicknames which came from America, such as "fuzz" or "pig". Visitors to prefix = st1 /Englandseem, nearly always, to be very impressed by the English police. It has, in fact, become a standing joke that the visitor toBritain, when asked for his views of the country, will always say, "I think your policemen are wonderful." Well, the British bobby may not always be wonderful but he is usually a very friendly and helpful sort of character. A music-hall song of some years ago was called, "If You Want To Know The Time, Ask A Policeman". Nowadays, most people own watches but they still seem to find plenty of other questions to ask the policemen. In London, the policemen spend so much of their time directing visitors about the city that one wonders how they ever find time to do anything else! Two things are noticeable to the stranger, when he sees an English policeman for the first time. The first is that he does not carry a gun and the second is that he wears a very special type of helmet . His helmet, together with his height, enables an English policeman to be seen from a long distance, a fact that is not without its usefulness. From time to time it is suggested that the policeman should be given a gun and that his helmet should be taken from him, but both these suggestions are not accepted by the majority of the public and the police themselves. If you see an English policeman for the first time, you will probably notice at once that _ . A. he often tells people time B. he is usually trying to tell others the time C. he has a helmet on his head D. he wears special clothes Answer: C. he has a helmet on his head Question: Regarded as one of the English language's most naturally gifted poets, John Keats wrote poetry that concentrated on imagery, human nature, and philosophy. Although Keats didn't receive much formal literary education, his own studies and passion brought him much success. Additionally, his own life situation influenced his poetry greatly. Growing up as a young kid in London in a lower, middle-class family, the young John didn't attend a private school, but went to public school in Enfield, near his home. His teachers and his family's friends regarded him as an optimistic boy who liked playing and fighting much more than minding his studies. After his father's death in the early 1800s, followed by his mother's passing away due to illness, he began to view life differently. He wanted to escape the world and did so by reading anything he could get his hands on. At around the age of 16, the teenage John Keats began studying under a surgeon so that he too might become a doctor. However, his literary appetite had taken too much of his time, especially with his addiction to the poetry of Edmund Spenser. He was able to have his first full poem published in the Examinerin 1816, namedO Solitude! If I must with thee dwell. Within two months in 1817, Keats had written an entire volume of poetry that would be published, but criticized sharply in Blackwood's Magazine. However, the negative response didn't stop him. John Keats' next work to be published was Endymion, which he wrote in 1817 and was published in May 1818. The story involves a boy who falls in love with the moon goddess and leads him on an adventure of one boy's hope to overcome the limitations of being human. FollowingEndymion, he wroteIsabella. During this time, John Keats began seeing his limitations in poetry due to his own limit in life experiences. He would have to have the "knowledge" associated with his poems. His next work wasHyperionthat would attempt to combine all he learned. However, a bout with tuberculosis while visiting Italy kept him from his work and eventually took his life in 1821. According to the passage, John Keats' attitude towards life was changed by _ . A. the death of his parents B. his early education at school C. the poetry of Edmund Spenser D. the criticism from a magazine Answer: A. the death of his parents Question: They think they're lucky that they're living and it's Christmas again. They can't see that we live on a dirty street in a shabby house among people who aren't much good. Johnny and the children can't see how pitiful it is that our neighbors have to make happiness out of this filth and dirt. My children must get out of this. But how? The money that we've saved isn't nearly enough. The McGaritys have money, but they are show-offs with it. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of cookies while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts, and when she couldn't eat any more, she shrew the rest down the sewer . Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn't rich, but she knows things. She understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. Everybody else here looks away because they're ashamed of their lives. I'd like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grew up. The writer suggests that her family _ . A. is extremely rich B. is an unhappy one C. are accustomed to their life D. long for a change in their life Answer: C. are accustomed to their life Question: By the age of almost four, Elijah Edney has never had a haircut in his life. But now he can ' t wait to visit the barber's - for two reasons: losing his two - foot - long golden hair will mean that strangers stop mistaking him for a girl; the hair will be donated to charity to provide a wig for a child with cancer. Mrs. Edney, who works in a restaurant, says, "Elijah has always had beautiful hair, so I let him grow it as he w8nted. It' s like silk. But now it is at a stage where people mistake him for a girl and he wants it cut into a boy's haircut. " Mrs. Edney and her husband want to collect enough money-PS350-to process Elijah's hair for a sick child. She says, "I couldn't bear to see all Elijah's beautiful hair go to waste and my mum mentioned charities that have human hair made into wigs. " Mrs. Edney says, "If we can raise the amount we want, it will mean a family will not have to pay for the wig and can receive it for free. When you've got children yourself, you hope that if they lost their hair someone would do the same for them by donating their hair. " The two-foot-long hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to make a wig for children suffering cancer. Elijah keeps telling people he is giving his hair to poor princesses and he is so excited about it. A spokesman for the Little Princess Trust says, "We're very grateful to anyone who decides to have their hair cut to donate it to the Little Princess Trust. As a result of hair donations like this, the charity receives real-hair wigs for free to pass on to families whose children have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. " Elijah's parents try to raise money to _ . A. pay the barber for his work B. process his hair into a wig C. give the Little Princess Trust along with a wig D. give a child who lost his hair through cancer treatment Answer: B. process his hair into a wig Question: An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You've never been to an American's home before, and you're not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you're the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That's what hospitality is all about: making people feel at home when they're not. The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests squirm . Giving your host a gift is not just a social _ in some cultures-it's expected. But in American culture, a guest is not necessary to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small present to their host to show their thanks. The right gifts for the host might be flowers, candy, and you can bring toys if the family has small children. _ You can _ if you want to bring a gift to your friend according to the passage. A. bring a bundle of beer B. bring him some beautiful clothes C. bring delicious food D. buy a bunch of fowlers Answer: D. buy a bunch of fowlers
In most cases, drivers lose their driving licenses because they drink and drive. I have always promised myself that I will never drive if I have drunk alcohol . Still, half a year ago, I made a terrible mistake and drove after having drunk two beers at my friend's while watching a football match. I then drove my car to take another friend to his place. I thought there would be no problem because it was night and there would be no policemen on my way. But to my surprise, a policeman stopped me. I was not allowed to drive for three months and I also had to pay a fine. I told my parents nothing at the beginning, but then I had to invent a lie because I did not have the courage to tell them that I had driven after drinking and _ was the real reason why my driving license was taken away. Those three months seemed to pass very slowly for me because I was used to driving almost daily and I really needed my car quite often. I had to take a taxi and it cost me a lot of money. Then there were times when I had to ask a friend to take me to some place or another, especially if I wanted to go out of town. It was indeed a punishment for me not to have my driving license and I promised myself not to repeat this mistake again. Apart from this, being drunk while driving represents a real danger not only for the driver, but also for people in the car and for people on the street or in other cars. Therefore, I advise people to avoid drinking alcohol before driving. Form the passage, we can learn that the author _ . Answer: It was a hot Saturday afternoon, and James was going shopping with his mother. While she made her shopping list, James looked out the window. In the sky, he saw pretty birds. He smiled - James liked birds. He saw one last Friday when he was getting muddy in the puddles, and another on Wednesday when he was playing with his toy spaceship. Once his mother was done making her list, James got his shoes on before getting in the car. "Should I bring my jacket, Mom?" he asked. "No," his mother answered, fixing his hair, "it is warmer today than it was yesterday, in fact, it's hot!" James and his mother got in the car, and drove off to the store. He leaned his head on the car window, looking at the animals and trees they passed. He saw flowers, a puppy, ants, and people walking, and even a chipmunk! When they got to the store, James and his mother grabbed an empty shopping cart. James always liked helping his mother do her shopping - she sometimes let him get a treat if he was good. They went up and down the aisles, picking up the things on the list, including James' favorite food - peanut butter - and James was very well behaved. As they finished their shopping and walked to the front of the store in order to pay, James' mother said, "James, you can get a candy bar if you'd like, so I can say 'thank you' for being a super good helper today." James was so excited. He picked one with peanuts and chocolate, and placed it with the rest of their items. When they got home, James spent the rest of the day playing Legos in his room. It was a good day. Did James get a treat? What kind was it? Answer: As water increases in an environment the number of aquatic animals such as zooplankton, nekton, and benthos will Answer: Jenny was a 13 year old girl with blond hair and blue eyes. She had gotten out of her last day of school and was free for the summer. Two of her friends were going to the nearby beach to do some swimming and enjoy the sun. Jenny went with them and when they got there the beach was very full and there were people everywhere. They changed into their bathing suits and went to the water. The water was very cold. They chose not swim and walked to the sand. Then they laid down on some towels and enjoyed the sun. After several hours Jenny and her friends fell asleep. They woke up and the sun was beginning to set. When Jenny sat up she found that it was painful to touch her skin. When she looked down she saw that she had a very bad sunburn. Her friends were also very badly sunburned so they went home. Jenny's mother gave her a cream to put on the sunburn. Afterwards she felt a lot better and went to sleep. How many friends did Jenny have with her? Answer: There's a story told about an elderly lady in Arkansas.The state voted to increase welfare payments to the poor.Hoping for a tear-jerker story,a television interviewer went into the back hills where many welfare recipients lived. The old woman he chose to interview lived in a one-room shack :cold in winter;hot in summer.Her bed was a few rough planks nailed together,with a pine-needle mattress.A couple thin blankets,and a fireplace,did little to protect her from the cold. Her furniture,a table and two chairs,were fashioned from the same rough wood as her bed.Some shelves held a few cans of food from the general store.a three mile walk down the road.Several jars of preserves and a few squash completed her larder . She had no fridge or freezer.The fireplace provided heat for cooking.With no phone or television her only connection with the outside world was an old radio that pulled in two or three local stations on a good day. The old woman had one convenience, running water.A crystal clear stream.flowed a short distance behind her home. A small garden near her back door provided fresh vegetables during the summer,and some squash and turnips for the winter.A tidy flower garden brightened the front of her house. The television crew arrived and set up their big expensive cameras.Their mobile station. broadcast pictures of the woman and the place she called home. Eventually the interviewer asked the old woman,"If the government gave you $200 more each month,what would you do with it?" Without hesitation the woman replied,"I'd give it to the poor." What do we know about the woman? Answer:
Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don't give friendship back. That is why some friendships do not last very long. To have a friend, you must learn to be one. You must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules. Be honest; be generous; be understanding. Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you do not tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven't been honest you may lose your friends' trust. Good friends always depend on one another to speak and act honestly. _ means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You do not have to give your lunch money or your clothes of course. Instead you have to learn how to share things you enjoy, like your hobbies and your interest. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them you help your friend know you better. Sooner or later every one needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve . Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend's place so you can understand the problem better. No two friendships are ever exactly alike . But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friends, you must practise honesty, generosity, and understanding. Some friendships don't last very long because _ . Answer: Summer Rain The worst days of any summer are the rainy ones. We spend all year looking forward to nice weather and long, hot days. All of winter, with its cloudy days and bitter cold, we dream of those endless days at the beach, lying on the sand and enjoying the bright and burning sun. And then, summer comes, and it rains. As a child, I would wake up to rainy summer days and come close to crying. It wasn't fair. We suffered through months of school and experienced bad weather for those short ten weeks of freedom and pleasant weather. On those rainy summer days, I had nothing fun to do and could only sit inside, staring out at the rain like a bird in a cage. I was an only child, so there was no one else to play with. My father worked from home, so I was not truly alone, but he could not actively play with me since he was at work. It was those days that I would watch whatever was on television or read any books that I could find lying around. I'd drag through the day and pray each night that the rain would not be there the next day. As an adult, though, my opinion of summer rain has changed. When you have to work every day, summer is not as exciting. Everything seems dull. Such a mindset makes you cheer for anything new or different. I spend the winter dreaming of summer and the summer dreaming of winter. When summer comes, I hate how hot it is. And then I look forward to the rain, because the rain brings with it a cold front, which makes me comfortable. Rainy days are still the worst days of the summer, but summer rain today means positively beautiful -- and considerably cooler -- weather tomorrow. As an adult, the author views summer rain differently because _ . Answer: Which of the following tools is most useful for tightening a small mechanical fastener? Answer: My 16-year-old son, Anton, had gone to the local swimming hole. Most of the kids who swim there are fit and strong teens, and there are plenty of rocks for them to use as safe harbors, so I had no fears for his well-being. Still, the firefighter's first words, "You need to come up here to the Stillwater River," made me catch my breath. When I got to the river, I saw Anton sitting quietly on a low platform of the fire engine, with a towel wrapped about his shoulders. I hurried over to him. "You OK?" I asked. "Yeah," was all he said. But my eyes begged for an explanation. I didn't get it from my son. The story was this: A couple in their 20s, unfamiliar with the Stillwater, had gotten caught in the current and began screaming for help. Without hesitation Anton and his friend dived into the water, swam out to the drowning woman, and brought her safely to shore. In an age in which the world "hero" is broadcast with abandon and seemingly applied to anyone, I realized the real thing in my son and his friend--the disregarding of personal safety for the sake of another human being. I know that teens are headstrong and self-centered, but this didn't lower the gravity of the event and the desire to do good. Along the way home I tried to get some more information from him, but the only words were, "What's for supper?" I thought twice about the tragedy that might have been. Questions flew across my mind like a flight of swallows: Would I have risked my life to save a drowning person? Or would I have chosen to dial 911? Would I have told the story over and over to anyone who'd listen? The next morning, when Anton got up, I half expected him to tell me the story from his point of view, now that he had some distance from the event. But all he did was to toast a pie, pull himself together, and head for the door to begin the new day. Which would be the best title for the passage? Answer: The moment a college student arrives on campus, he or she _ credit card offers. Advertisements for student credit cards are everywhere: in bags at the bookstore, in the campus newspaper, in your regular mailbox, in the residence halls. With so many college students graduating with large amounts of credit card debt (figures vary, but most are at least in the thousands), learning how to manage a student credit card can be an important lesson for any student. While using a card wisely can be an important part of building credit and making it through a difficult time, knowing how to use a card wisely can be the hard part. Stick to the following rules when, and if, you need to use a credit card: You can repay the charge(s) within the card's next billing cycle. You must meet your basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter, but set rules and be aware that you will need to repay those charges at the end of the month. You can talk to the financial aid office in your school for an alternative in "emergency" situations. If you do want a credit card, just be smart about it. (They let you in to that school because of your brain, right?) Don't automatically get the first one you find. Shop around for a card that has the lowest interest rate possible, and consider places that may not be advertising on campus. Additionally, be aware of any card's repayment options: When will payments be due? How much will they be? A credit card is not like a loan that comes with a grace period after you graduate and waits until you are done with school. That new sweater and nice dinner out will need to be paid back right away. What's the best tittle for this passage? Answer:
Difficult times often bring out the best in people. And this was the case for basketball star Yao Ming, who hosted a television show in Shanghai that raised US $ 300, 000 to help researchers find a cure for SARS. Fund-raising, or charity, is an act of goodwill towards others. Charities in the West have more ways. Look at a typical day for Ruth, a wealthy woman in the UK, for example. Ruth wakes up in the morning and collects her post. There's a letter addressed to her with a picture of a half-dead, beaten horse. It's from a charity asking Ruth to donate money to save the animals. The door bell rings and there, on Ruth's doorstep, is an old woman asking for money to help the aged. She turns on the television, hears sad music and sees a picture of a wide-eyed child dying of hunger in Africa with an appeal for money to help the child. Ruth then goes shopping for a dress to wear to that evening's large party for the rich and famous. The tickets for charity shows often cost her a large sum of money, but she doesn't mind because most of the money is going to a charity that fights AIDS. She feels good about going because she's helping the sick. Edna, a little old lady, looks after an old secondhand shop. Any profit it has made goes to a cancer charity. Now that she has retired, she has plenty of spare time to offer her services for free. www.ks5u.com For people like Yao Ming, Ruth and Edna, charity is a virtue that holds the same importance in life as faith and hope. "As you look back on your life, the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others," said Scottish author Henry Drummond. What's the writer's attitude towards charity? Answer: Charity is a virtue and he admires those who practice it. Obama Still Smokes in Secret US President Barack Obama has just made life more difficult for cigarette makers. He has just signed a law that will set tough new rules for the tobacco industry. The new law gives the US Food and Drug Administration the power to strictly limit the making and marketing of tobacco products. At a White House signing ceremony Monday, Obama said that he was among the nearly 90% of smokers who took up the habit before their 18 th birthday. Obama, who has publicly struggled to give up smoking, said he still hadn't completely kicked the habit. Every now and then he still smokes in secret. "As a former smoker I struggle with it all the time. Do I still smoke sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No." Obama said at a news conference. "I don' t do it in front of my lads.I don ?t do it in front of my family.I would say that I am 95% cured, but there are times when I mess up, " he said. "Once you go down this path, it' s something you continually struggle with, which is exactly why the law is so important.The new law is not about me, it' s about the next generation of kids coming up.What we don ' t want is kids going down that path," he said. Nearly 20% of Americans smoke and tobacco use kills about 440,000 people a year in the United States due to cancer, heart disease, and other serious diseases. What do we know about Obama? Answer: He is trying hard to give up smoking. Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert system using text messages delivered to cell phones. Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates more than 48 billions text messages are sent each month. The plan comes from the Warning alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvement to the nation's emergency alter system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies. "The ability to deliver accurate and timely warning and alert alters through cell phone and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan. Participation in the alert system by carriers -- telecommunication companies -- is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry. The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts. There would be three types of messages, according to the rules. The first would be a national alter from the president, likely involving a terrorists attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts. The service could be in place by 2010. The carriers' participation in the system is determined by _ . Answer: the carriers themselves Normally and naturally, a daughter is more attached to her mother in comparison to her father or other siblings . The attachment is also due to the fact that the daughter finds it easier to believe in the mother on personal and biological matters at different stages while growing up. The bonding between mother and daughter will increase with their being together and going out on excursions. An excursion is a journey to some far-off place undertaken by people. It is not necessary that such a trip be taken on a lavish scale involving lots of money. It can be as short as an overnight trip to some place to improve bonding. To surprise her daughter with an unexpected excursion, mother can plan a trip to some local spa without the knowledge of her daughter. She can be ready with baggage packed and wait for the moment the daughter comes back from school. Once in the hotel they can enjoy the night together getting refreshing treatments like massage or mud packs. After relaxing spa they can laze in bed, enjoying favourite food or drink and if possible enjoying nature through the window. After a long period of relaxation, going out for a walk together will improve bonding. Going out overnight to enjoy walk at the beach, and relaxing at intervals without the interference of any other person can be a great idea of bonding. Being of the same sex, and often having the same set of likes and dislikes, they can spend time on makeup or applying nail polish. The daughter should never forget to thank the mother for the wonderful time they spent together, and the mother should never hesitate to say a few words of praise to the daughter. Going out for shopping together is a good bonding idea too. It is not essential that lots of money should be spent on shopping. The mother can take the daughter to some shops where she can buy her uniform or some other things. They can jointly enjoy window shopping, expressing love and gratitude for the other. According to the passage, an excursion . Answer: can be a short overnight trip Many scientists are now exploring the idea of going to live on Mars. Some other scientists from the MASA AMES Center have already started the creation of a "Mars town" and many others are in fact already experimenting with it. Of course, these experiments are done on Earth itself but this "Mars town" has an environment practically like that of Mars. The astronauts working in these towns wear their space suit and also do everything they would really have to carry out if they ever go to Mars in the future. But Mars would be like Earth, a temporary place for humans. When the Sun starts swallowing up the planets, Mars will disappear only hours after Earth. So Mars only seems to be the ideal place to spread the human beings. It is also a good location to send humans if ever there is a disaster on Earth. By saying disaster, I mean asteroids hitting and things like that. If we humans do not want to disappear when Earth or Mars gets swallowed up, we will have to go and live beyond the solar system. But are there any planets outside our solar system prepared to support life? Astronomers' answer is: "If Earth can support life, why can't other planets do the same too? Astronomers have already discovered a Jupiter - like planet _ a Sun-like star, so why not an Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star? To achieve this goal though, many other problems have to be taken into consideration. How do we transform a dusty planet like Mars into one more or less like our Earth? How should we go on? There is still a long way to go. The "Mars town" mentioned in the passage is _ Answer: an experimental lab built on Earth.
People faint when the normal blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut down. This can happen if they are surprised or shocked by sudden news or by something they see suddenly. Some people faint if they see others hurt .Some people faint in crowds. Others faint if they are in a room that is hot and stuffy. If a person faints while standing, lay him down. If his face is pale, lift his feet .If he is sitting down when he faints, place his head between his knees, loosen any tight clothing that might keep him from breathing easily .If possible, place a wet cloth on his forehead. In this passage, the writer explains _ . My name's Randall Davis, and I'm originally from the state of Indiana in the United States. When I was 19 years old, I moved to Venezuela in South America, and later returned to the United States, where I attended Brigham Young University in the 1980s. I majored in Spanish education and TESOL. After graduating from college, my wife and I moved to Japan where we lived for eight years. Now, I work back in Utah in the United States. However, my greatest interest is my family. Years ago, I wanted to make something of myself in my profession to get ahead in life. But I realized that the most important things in life lived within the walls of my own home. Today, I try to put them first. My kids wouldn't remember me for the work I did outside of the home. They would only recall the moments we spent together. Therefore, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have four children, and we go hiking and camping together. On our hikes, we often talk about life, and I tell stories or share personal experiences. When I do this, I can focus on the kids without the distractions of video games or the Internet. Telling stories sounds easy, but when you have to think of a new story on a hot, 12-kilometer hike through the desert, you always come up with ideas off the top of your head. However, this does not mean we do not have problems. All families face challenges in their lives, and our family is no exception. But we try to talk openly about our problems, and we try to solve our problems together. _ What do you think of the writer? Salesman Ramesh lived in the southern part of India. He got his first assignment in the month of June, the start of the rainy season in the area. He was given a list of local laundry owners whom he had to approach and sell products to. He was scared and thought he wouldn't be able to fulfill the task, but he accepted the challenge as he had no other choice. The next day he started approaching the laundry owners, and within 15 days he got a really nice response. Most of them purchased his products, but they borrowed money from Ramesh to buy the products. Everyone promised to pay him back within the next 15 days. During the last week of June amidst heavy showers, he started visiting the laundry owners to collect money. Upon visiting half of them, he realized he hadn't collected a penny. After almost 14 days, on a bright sunny Monday morning, he started visiting the laundry owners once again. Suddenly, by noon Ramesh realized that he had collected the payments from almost 50% of the owners. He worked hard throughout the day, and by the end of the day he had completed 90% of his target for June and July. At last, he became the "star performer" for the months of June and July. Why did the laundry owners look at the sky and tell him to come the next day when Ramesh visited them? He went to a laundry owner and asked him the question. The owner said, "This is the month of the rainy season and we have to wash the clothes, dry them off and iron them before handing them over to customers. If the sun doesn't shine, how can we dry our clothes and earn money to pay you back?" Ramesh then realized that it was his patience and endurance that kept him going and ultimately helped him achieve success. Like Ramesh, each one of us should realize that apart from being honest and hard-working, if we can keep our patience, we are inching up the ladder of success. The laundry owners asked Ramesh to come later, because _ . There are two dangers to be guarded against in old age. One of these is undue absorption in the past. It does not do to live in memories, in regrets for the good old days, or in sadness about friends who are dead. One's thoughts must be directed to the future and to things about which there is something to be done. It is unwise to be too attached to the youth in the hope of sucking vigor from its vitality. When your children are grown up they want to live their own lives, and if you continue to be as interested in them as you were when they were young, you are likely to become a burden to them, unless they are cold to you. I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests involving appropriate activities. It is in this sphere that long experience is really fruitful, and it is in this sphere that the wisdom born of experience can be exercised without being oppressive. It is no use telling grown-up children not to make mistakes, both because they will not believe you, and because mistakes are an essential part of education. But if you are one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests, you may find that your life will be empty unless you concern yourself with you children and grandchildren. In that case you must realize that while you can still _ them material services, such as making them an allowance or knitting them jumpers, you must not expect that they will enjoy your company. Some old people are afraid of death. But in fact the best way is to make your interests gradually wider and ore impersonal. An individual human existence should be like a river-small at fist, rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider and the banks move back and in the end they become mixed in the sea without any visible break. The old man who can see life in this way will not suffer from the fear of growing old and death. The author suggests that old people should _ . Airport Information Name:Copenhagen Airport Location: Located 8km southeast of Copenhagen(capital of Denmark) No. of terminals:4 Disabled facilities: Copenhagen Airport is physically accessible throughout. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and reserved seating are provided and dedicated parking spaces are available. Passengers with disabilities are requesited to inform their airline in avdance about their needs. Car Parking: There are more than 10,000 car parking spaces in short-, medium- and long-term car parks at Copenhagen Airport. The P6, P7, and P8 areas offer short-term options directly linked terminals 2 and 3. Medium-term rates are avaiable in P1, P2, P5, P8, P10 and P12, which are all ly near the terminal buildings. Economy long-term parking is available at P15 and P17, a little further from the terminals (free tasnsit buses sre provided). The airport parking office is located between Terminals 2 and 3 and is open 24 hours. Public Transport Rail; There are direct high-speed trains to Copenhagen Central station(journey time: 14 minutes; fare; Kr36), as well as a number of other destination in Denmark and Sweden. The station and ticket office are situated in Terminal 3. Metro: The Metro M2 line connects to the city center (journey time: 14 minutes;fare: Kr24). The station is situated in Terminal 3, from which tickets can be purchased. Bus: Several buses(5A, 35 and 36)run from Copenhagen Airport to the city center(journey time: about 55 minutes; fare:Kr 30)and beyond. Taxi: Taxis are readily available from ranks outside the arrival areas of Terminal 1, 2 and 3. The ride into Copenhagen takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and prices start from Kr250. The passage is intended to _
I was in my first year of college, making friends and enjoying life, but then my whole world turned upside down. I had a heart attack. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest with a knife over and over again. After three months of rest I went back to college, but then things took a turn for the worse. I was staying at my Nana's house and woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible pain in my chest. I knew I was having a heart attack again. I couldn't even shout for help. Luckily my grandpa was going to the toilet and heard me falling out of bed. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here. The two holes in my heart were causing the problems and I needed an operation immediately to repair them. Unfortunately, the surgery didn't go well and they only managed to repair one of the holes. When I woke up from the operation, I had a really dry mouth and couldn't wait to have something to eat and drink. The biggest shock of all came when I was told that I needed a heart transplant and was put on the register. The doctors were stunned at how quickly heart failure came on - it usually takes years, but it took my heart less than six months to get to that stage. My whole world came crashing down, but I stayed strong. It was a choice between crying every day and getting on with my life. As time went on, life became even harder. I hated feeling weak all the time and needing help with everything. It got to the point where I thought I would never get a new heart. I was diagnosed with depression. Even though I thought that Christmas 2008 would be my last, I really enjoyed it and even had a good New Year. Everyone was crying for me when the clock struck midnight and they told me to keep fighting. A week later, I got a call from the doctors saying they'd found a suitable donor . My wish came true and thankfully the operation went well. I spent four hours in surgery where they took out my old heart and put a new one in. When I woke up I burst out crying. I had a second chance at life. Which one would be the best title for the text? One day, a little monkey and a little fox went out to play. They saw an apple tree on the other side of the river. There were many big and red apples on it. But there was no bridge over the river. The monkey thought hard and had an idea. They pulled down a tree and put it over the river as a bridge. The monkey said, "My old friend, you go there first." But after the fox went to the other side, he kicked the tree into the river and ran to the apple tree. "How can I get 'there without the tree?" cried the monkey. The fox laughed and said, "You just stand there and watch me eating the apples." The monkey was very angry. Suddenly it began to rain. The water level in the river rose and the tree flew away with the water. "You can eat all the apples. But you can't come back," shouted the monkey. The fox stopped eating and looked at the monkey sadly. ,. The fox could not come back because _ . Our risk of cancer rises rapidly as we age. So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors or doesn't it? While such tracking of cancer is a good thing in general, researchers are increasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly. With the percentage of people over age 65 expected to nearly double by 2050, it s important to weigh the health benefits of screening against the risks and costs of routine testing. In many cases, screening can lead to additional examinations and operations to remove cancer, which can cause side effects, while the cancers themselves may be slow-growing and may not cause serious health problems in patients' remaining years. But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has become so ingrained that when health care experts recommended that women under 50 and over 74 stop screening for breast cancer, it caused a noisy reaction among doctors, patients and social groups. It's hard to uproot deeply-held beliefs about cancer screening with scientific data. Certainly, there are people over age 75 who have had cancers detected by routine screening, and gained several extra years of life because of treatment. And clearly, people over age 75 who have other risk factors for cancer, such as a family history or previous personal experience with the disease, should continue to get screened regularly. But for the rest, the risk of cancer, while increased at the end of life, must be balanced with other factors like remaining life expectancy. A recent study suggests that doctors start to make more objective decisions about who will truly benefit from screening--especially considering the explosion of the elderly. It's not an easy calculation to make, but one that makes sense for patients. Dr. Otis Brawley said, "Many doctors are ordering these tests purely to cover themselves from medical disputes. We need to think about the wise use of health care, which means making some difficult decisions with elderly patients, and going against the misguided belief that when it comes to health care, more is always better." How do some researchers now look at routine cancer screening for the elderly? Boys need friends, suffer when they don't believe they have any, and worry over the ups and downs of relationships. Many adults believe that somehow boys need friends less than girls do, in truth, though, no boy is an island; boys value their friends throughout childhood and adolescence and are happier and healthier when they have solid relationships with peers . Despite the common belief that girls are better at relationships, most boys consider their friends a very important part of their lives, and boys may actually be better at keeping friendships than girls are. A recent study of 10 to 15yearold boys and girls found that girls' friendships are actually more fragile. Girls tend to say and do hurtful things to each other more frequently than boys, and girls are more hurt by the end of a friendship. Boys are the living definition of the phrase "peer group"; they love games with rules, competition, and doing things together. Boys seem to enjoy, even need the opportunity to test themselves against others, and many lasting friendships begin in karate class or on the basketball court. Competence and skill are widely respected; being picked last for a team or left out altogether is an experience that can haunt a boy for years. As boys mature , the friendship becomes even more important, and it frequently widens to include girls. During the teen years, friends can become the most important part of a boy's life--and a part in which his parents are not included. The confusion of being a teenager leads boys to form close bonds with friends. There is the sense for many boys that a friend is someone who is "always there for me", someone he can trust. They may be partners in crime or partners in study, but the friendship of adolescent boys can run surprisingly deep. As a boy gets older, he tends to _ . I might be letting my young son watch too much television. I am certainly watching too much many of his programs. They can really be puzzling as they force you to _ . For example, when Franklin (the turtle) wanted a pet, his parents did not want it to be a frog. They felt that frogs belong in a pond. Isn't that where turtles belong? And why is it that Little Bear's animal friends can all talk and behave like people, but his friend Emily has a dog that can only bark and fetch? Tell me that isn't a mystery! Dog lovers can be reassured (less worried or frightened) by Kipper and his friends. These dogs are very human. However, the only time they wear clothes is when they put on bathing suits to go swimming. I am confused! Speaking of dogs, could Pluto ever be Goofy's pet? I don't get it! What did the great Mr. Disney have in mind? And this is unfair! The other day we watched a very nice little pig setting up a picnic. One of the foods was a big ham. Could it have been a soybeam ham? Is there such a thing? I hope so! Another thing that really bothers me: what if Elmo(one of my son's favorite cartoon stars) isn't real? He can't be a mere puppet ! He's got a better attitude than most people. I just keep wondering. I think we will turn off the TV and go out for a walk. Maybe we will run into that mouse who dresses well but certainly doesn't speak as clearly as the average bear. The author is implying that _ .
Question: Last year, two days after Christmas, we kicked China out of the house. Not the country obviously, but bits of plastic, metal, and wood with the words "Made in China". We kept what we already had, but stopped bringing any more in. because it had coated our lives with toys, and useless stuff. Sometimes I worried about jobs sent overseas, but price triumphed over virtue at our house. We couldn't resist what China was selling. But on that dark Monday last year, an unease feeling washed over me as I sat on the sofa. It wasn't until then that I noticed a fact: China was taking over the place. It stared back at me from the empty screen of the television. I spied it in the pile of tennis shoes by the door. It glowed in the lights on the Christmas tree and watched me in the eyes of a doll lying on the floor, I slipped off the couch and sorted gifts into two piles: China and non-China. The count came to China, 25, the world, 14. Christmas, I realized, had become a holiday made by the Chinese. Suddenly I wanted China out. I persuaded my husband, and on Jan. 1 st, we started a-year-long household embargo on Chinese imports. The idea wasn't to punish China. And we didn't fool ourselves into thinking because we wanted to measure how far it had pushed in. We wanted to know what it would take in time, money, and worry to kick our China habit! In the spring, our 4-year-old son started a campaign to support "China things". "It's too long without China," he cried. He kept at me all day. I have discovered for myself that China doesn't control every aspect of our daily lives, but if you take a close look at the underside of boxes in the toy department, I promise it will give you pause. "When we can buy China things again? Let's never stop." My son said. After a year without China I can tell you this: You can still live without it, but it's getting costlier by the day. And a decade from now I may not be brave enough to try it again. According to the passage, why did the author stop bringing in things "Made in China"? A. Because she wanted to bring back job opportunities for her natives. B. Because she has a strong sense of nationalism against "Made in China". C. Because she wanted to learn what life would be like without "Made in China". D. Because too much stuff made in China was take over her house. Answer: C. Because she wanted to learn what life would be like without "Made in China". Question: A Child's History of the World Our Price: $28.00 Item #: 010821 ISBN: 978-8-8828-7028-7 Grades: 4--Adult Product Description V. M. Hillyer, the first headmaster of Calvert School, spent many of his school years studying only American history. Believing that studying world history would broaden children's horizons and give them a better understanding of the world and history in general, he set out to write an understandable and comprehensive world history children could enjoy. A Child's History of the World functions to familiarize young children with some historical events and people of significance while reading like a good story. The subjects are covered in chronological order, from the beginning of the world through the end of the Cold War. This gives the child a linear view of world history that allows the details to be filled in later. A Child's History of the World is a basic reader and is not intended to be used as a supplementary reader. Customer Reviews This is a must-have book. It is a complete and engaging curriculum that is easy to use and understand. My girls are so close in age I was able to use it with all three at once and they loved it. And it's inexpensive! Love the way it is written. Katrena R. from Shingle Springs, CA This is a great book. Everyone (elementary/primary aged) should have this book in their homeschooling library. My kids (ages 4-9) have all enjoyed this book. It is engaging and well written for young ones. There is a lot of information packed into this book and it is presented in a way that is not boring for kids. It is kind of like The Story of the World. Patrice T. from Seattle A Child's History of the World was written _ . A. in order of space B. in order of time C. in numerical(of numbers) order D. in alphabetical order Answer: B. in order of time Question: Which of these is the BEST reason to study weather? A. To be prepared for storms B. To learn how fossils are formed C. To see changing phases of the Moon D. To find ways for animals to live longer Answer: A. To be prepared for storms Question: Build the Dream is a website produced by Travis Perkins, one of the UK's leading builders merchants, to assist with self-builds, renovations, extensions and improvements. Go with the first step; find land, get planning permission and cost your project. Start out with our advice and practical help on costing your project--labor, materials and those hidden extras. All of the information you need on all aspects of building your project, from sourcing building materials to understanding building regulations and from site safety to hiring tools and equipment. Click for details Cost Your Project. Our cost-effective estimating and take-off service gets your project off to a flying start. Your material and labor costs are set out by build stage to help you control your project costs. Use Our Estimating Service All Your Toolhire Needs, All in One Place Visit the Travis Perkins Hire Website Branch Finder. We supply more than 120,000 products across our 1200+ branch network to satisfy your self-build needs. Use our Branch Finder Service your local branch. Use Our Branch Finder Service Code For Sustainable Homes. The Code for Sustainable Homes sets new national standards for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. Read More About the Code for Sustainable Homes Finishing Touches. We can provide everything you need to complete your project including _ , _ , _ , _ and _ . Building Materials. We supply over 120,000 products from the leading manufacturers. Read more about Building Materials Where will you click when you need to hire tools? A. Use Our Estimating Service B. Use Our Branch Finder Service C. Visit the Travis Perkins Hire Website D. Read more about Building Materials Answer: C. Visit the Travis Perkins Hire Website Question: Tom with his grandparents lives in a farmhouse. He studies in a small school. It is not far from his home. So he walks to school every day. There is a small river in front of the school. There is a small bridge over the river. There is only one shop near his school. There is a big playground behind the teaching building. There are some tall trees near the classroom building and the students often read and play under the tree after school. People there are all very friendly. Tom lives in _ A. a townhouse B. an apartment C. a farmhouse D. a building Answer: C. a farmhouse
You may get a cold sometimes. It often starts with a sore throat. You sneeze and your nose runs. You usually have a headache, too. Often you have a cough later. It's not a serious illness, but you may feel quite bad. _ For example, you can take aspirin to get rid of your headache. It is good to rest and drink a lot of water, too. A doctor once told me, "With the right medicine, the cold will last for seven days. With no medicine, it will go on for a week!" Where does our medicine come from? A long time ago, people knew that some plants made them feel better. For example, the juice of lemons makes a sore throat better. Now, scientists find some parts of plants can make some medicine. Because of these medicines, people now live longer than their grandparents. What should we do when we catch a cold? Answer: All of the above. Ever since I started my freshman year in another state, I've realized that people make many assumptions about college students, many of which are based on partying. Even my sociology professor jokingly told our class: "If your motto isn't 'I am partying therefore I am,' you're college-ing wrong." Whenever I say partying isn't fun, I get the same response: wide-eyed stares, dropped jaws and a resounding "Seriously?", which makes me feel like I'm being judged. Don't get me wrong - I've tried to enjoy dancing in hot, crowded spaces to loud rap music. But at last, I've always escaped to an empty corner while trying to ignore rude, crazy people. I wondered if I was weird for wanting to stay in on a Friday night to read a book. I even questioned whether or not I was living the "authentic " college experience. "Maybe you - a shy boy - just need to go out more." Friends have said. Suggestions like these make me think about food. Have you ever tasted something that someone else really likes and you don't? When that happens to me, I have a habit of eating more hoping that it will eventually taste good. Does that ever work? No. For me, partying is a lot like that. From what I can tell, I'm just not a fan. I'm not trying to set myself apart - I just have a different definition of fun. As you begin to think about your present college life, I hope this helps you realize that there isn't just one way to experience college life. Some turn up at a party to relax. I turn to a good book. Which option have you made in college? And remember: college is a place where you can keep yourself originally. It means not going with the flow and means figuring out what you want for yourself, originating your own values and thinking a way towards your future success. What is the author's purpose to write this passage? Answer: To remind college students of what college means. Herta Muller, the Romanian-born German writer, has won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature.The award was announced in Stockholm on Thursday. Ms.Muller, 56, immigrated to Germany from Romania in 1987.She is the first German writer to win the Nobel in literature since Gunter Grass in 1999 and the 13th winner writing in German since the prize was first given in 1901.She is the 12th woman to win the literature prize.But unlike previous winners like Doris Lessing and V.S.Naipaul, Ms.Muller is ly unknown outside of literary circles in Germany. "I am very surprised and still cannot believe it," Ms.Muller said in a statement delivered by her publisher in Germany."I can't say anything more at the moment." She has written some 20 books, but just 5 have been translated into English, including the novels "The Land of Green Plums" and "The Appointment." At the news conference on Thursday at the German Publishers & Booksellers Association in Berlin, where she lives, Ms.Muller, wearing all black and sitting on a leopard-print chair, appeared nervous with all the cameras flashing on her. When asked what it meant that her name would now be mentioned in the same breath as German greats like Thomas Mann and Heinrich Boll, Ms.Muller remained philosophical."I am now nothing better and I'm nothing worse," she said, adding: "My inner thing is writing.That's what I can hold on to." Earlier in the day, at a news conference in Stockholm, Peter England, secretary of the Swedish Academy, said Ms.Muller was honored for her "very, very distinct special language" and because "she has really a story to tell about cruelty and repression in a village much like the one Muller grew up in." The awards ceremony is planned for Dec.10 in Stockholm.As the winner, Ms.Muller will receive about $1.4 million. Ms.Muller was surprised at the news about her winning the award because _ . Answer: she thought she was just an unknown writer in this field A horse could start trembling when Answer: a cold front is moving in Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was once traveling in France .He went by train to Dijon. He was very tired and wanted to sleep. He therefore asked the conductor to wake him up when the train came to Dijon But first he explained he was a very heavy sleeper,"I may bossibly protest loudly when you try to wake me up,"he said to the conductor. "But don't take any notice of what I say. Just put me off the train anyway." Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up it was night time and the train had reached Paris already. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up at Dijon. He was so angry that he ran to the conductor and began to shout at him. "I have never been so angry in my life,"Mark Twain said. The conductor looked at him calmly ."You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off the train at Dijon,"he said. Mark Twain knew that he was a heavy sleeper, so_. Answer: he told the conductor to wake him up no matter how loudly he might protest
A train stops at a station. Many people come out to buy food and fruits. A young man wants to come out, but it starts to rain. A boy stands under an umbrella. The young man says to the boy. "Can you go and get us two hamburgers, one for you and one for me? Here are two dollars. Be quick!" "Great!" says the boy and then he goes to buy hamburgers. After some time, the boy is back. He eats a hamburger. "Where is my hamburger?" asks the young man. "Oh, there is only one hamburger left. So I eat my hamburger. Here is your dollar." The young man doesn't _ . Answer: eat a hamburger Solar energy for your home is coming. It can help you as a single home owner. It can help the whole country as well. Whether or not solar energy can save your money depends on many things. Where you live is one factor and the type of home you have is another. Things like insulation , present energy costs, and the type of system you buy are added factors. Using solar energy can help save our precious fuel. As you know, our supplies of oil and gas are very limited. There is just not enough on hand to meet all our future energy needs. Sooner or later Mother Nature will say that's all. The only way we can delay hearing those words is by starting to save energy now and by using other sources, like the sun. We won't have to worry about the sun's running out of energy for another several billion years or so. Besides, the sun doesn't offer as many problems as other energy sources. For example, fossil fuel adds to already high pollution levels. With solar energy, we will still need sources of energy, but we won't need as much. That means we can cut down on our pollution problems. With all these good points, why don't we use more solar power? There are many reasons for this. The biggest reason is money. Until now, it was just not practical for a home owner to put in a solar unit. There were cheaper sources of energy. All that is changing now. Solar costs are starting to equal the costs of oil and electricity. Experts say that gas, oil and electricity prices will continue to rise. The demand for electricity is increasing rapidly. But new power plants will use more gas, oil or coal. Already in some places the supply of electricity is being rationed . Solar energy is now in its infancy . It could soon grow to become a major part of our nation's energy supply. The sun is an endless source of energy, and it will not run out of energy for _ . Answer: several billion years Evolution has changed our bodies and faces over thousands of years, and it's still happening. Here's how experts predict what people will be like in 1,000 years. We'll be about 1.83~2.13 metres tall because of improved nutrition and medical science. Our arms and fingers will get longer to reduce the need to reach too far. We'll have smaller brains, maybe because computers will help us memorize and think most of the things. There will be larger eyes and smaller mouths. And there may be fewer teeth as softer food needs less chewing and biting. We could even get our nutrition from liquids or pills in the future. We can expect other great changes too. Everyone will have the same shape of noses. That's because climate will have less influence on noses with the help of air conditioning and central heating. Besides, we will have more wrinkles as a result of looking at our electronic devices. We also may end up with saggy necks because extra sun will cause loose skin. And there will be darker skin as people move around the planet and races mix. ,. Why will people become taller in 1,000 years? Answer: Because there will be improved nutrition and medical science. Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle, once said that the perfect portable bike would be "like a magic carpet...You could fold it up and put it into your pocket or handbag". Then he paused: "But you'll always be limited by the size of the wheels. And so far no one has invented a folding wheel." It was a rare -- indeed unique -- occasion when I was able to put Ritchie right. A 19th-century inventor, William Henry James Grout, did in fact design a folding wheel. His bike, predictably named the Grout Portable, had a frame that split into two and a larger wheel that could be separated into four pieces. All the bits fitted into Grout's Wonderful Bag, a leather case. Grout's aim: to solve the problems of carrying a bike on a train. Now doesn't that sound familiar? Grout intended to find a way of making a bike small enough for train travel: his bike was a huge beast. And importantly, the design of early bicycles gave him an advantage: in Grout's day, tyres were solid, which made the business of splitting a wheel into four separate parts relatively simple. You couldn't do the same with a wheel fitted with a one-piece inflated tyre. So, in a 21st-century context, is the idea of the folding wheel dead? It is not. A British design engineer, Duncan Fitzsimons, has developed a wheel that can be squashed into something like a slender ellipse . Throughout, the tyre remains inflated. Will the young Fitzsimons's folding wheel make it into production? I haven't the foggiest idea. But his inventiveness shows two things. First, people have been saying for more than a century that bike design has reached its limit, except for gradual advances. It's as silly a concept now as it was 100 years ago: there's plenty still to go for. Second, it is in the field of folding bikes that we are seeing the most interesting inventions. You can buy a folding bike for less than PS1,000 that can be knocked down so small that it can be carried on a plane -- minus wheels, of course -- as hand baggage. Folding wheels would make all manner of things possible. Have we yet got the magic carpet of Andrew Ritchie's imagination? No. But it's progress. Which of the following would be the best title for the text? Answer: Progress in folding bike design In a comparison of metals to nonmetals, metals tend to have Answer: greater conductivity and higher melting points than nonmetals.
Annie was helping her little brother Max pick flowers from the garden. They wanted to put the flowers in a jar to put on the kitchen table. Mother's Day was the next day and their mother loved fresh flowers. After they picked flowers and put them in a jar, Max asked Annie if they could have a snack. Annie took Max into the kitchen and got out an apple to slice up. They sat down at the table looking at the flowers and ate their apple slices. There was a window in the kitchen that let in sunlight. "Hey!" Max said, pointing at one of the roses in the jar. "There's something moving on that rose." Annie looked more closely at the flowers. "It's a ladybug," she said. "We need to take it back outside." Suddenly the ladybug began flying around the kitchen. Max jumped up and ran around trying to catch it. At last he clapped his hands around it. "Careful!" said Annie. Max walked outside and let the ladybug go. Where did Max and Annie put the flowers they had picked? Answer: Humidity is the amount of what vapor in the air? Answer: Franklin's ships had everything they needed . They had enough food in tins for three years and thousands of litres of lemon juice to stop disease. They also had two libraries with 3,000 books , excellent maps , scientific instruments , musical instruments and a new invention: a camera. Franklin and his men left Engand on May 19th , 1845 and they sailed without problems across the Atlantic towards Canada . When Franklin arrived at Baffin Bay in July 1845, things were going very well for the expedition . On July 26th , some sailors saw Franklin's ships when they were entering the bay . That was the last time that anyone saw Franklin and his men alive . The British government became very worried when they heard nothing from Framklin . They sent expeditions to 1ook for him , but the expeditions all returned without any news . The government offered PS20,000 to anybody who could help Franklin or anybody who had information about Frailklin . Nobody came with information . Then, in August 1850 some sailors found the first signs of the Franklin Expedition while they were searching on Devon Island: some old food tins , some papers , and , something very strange , the graves of three men . The men all died in January 1846 while Franklin was waiting in Baffin Bay for the ice to melt . But why did they die? The three men were all young and three deaths in the first months of the expedition were very strange . What happened to them ? And where were the ships and all the other sailors? The mystery of the Franklin Expedition was growing stronger... Which of the following statements is NOT right? Answer: David Beckham was born on 2nd May, 1975, in the suburbs of London, at a place called Leytonstone. When he was a young boy, his greatest passion was football. He played it whenever he had the chance. Sometimes he would go and watch a game with his friends. When David Beckham was 12 years old, he won the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skill award. This was an important step forward for this young boy, and it led to him going for a visit to a football training camp in Spain. As a boy at secondary school he played for the schools of Essex and also for his county team. On 8th July, 1991, he became a trainee with Manchester United. This meant that he could practice football as much as he wanted to and play for the highly successful Manchester United Youth Cup team and Under- 21 team. On 2nd April, 1995, he played his first major football league game against Leeds United. During 1995 and 1996, David became a regular member of the team and Manchester United won in both seasons , with David scoring many goals. His goals made him a household name. In the first game of the 1997/7 season, he scored an amazing goal from beyond the halfway line. Seeing the goalkeeper a little way out of his goal, David sent the ball over the goalkeepers head and into the goal. It was a wonderful goal and Beckham became famous overnight. He continued to score astonishing goals, especially from free-kicks. The speed of one of his shots was timed at 157kph. He also had the ability to make the ball curl from left to right, or right to left, whenever he chose. He could made it glide high through the air, or dive down steeply. Goalkeepers were never sure where the ball was going, and it regularly ended up in the goal. The passage is mainly talking about _ . Answer: For many years, Yang Shanzhou was the local party secretary in a remote, mountainous village in southwest China's Yunnan Province. Though he could live a better life in the city, he still decided to move even further into the mountains, and devoted himself to greening the land. He passed away in 2010, but his story lives on. A blanket of green - And it all started with a surprising decision made by Yang Shanzhou back in 1988. The 62 year old decided to return to his hometown in Daliang Mountain, to bring green back to the _ hills. Along with fifteen other people, Yang settled down deep in the mountains and began to work on his plan. It was a life that was harder than most people could ever imagine. Su Jiaxiang, Yang Shanzhou's secretary, said, "I went to visit him several times. He didn't even have decent shoes and it was very cold at night. But you know he was almost seventy!" In 2010, Yang Shanzhou passed away. He was buried in Daliang Mountain, according to his will. More than twenty years has passed since he first began his planting in the mountains.The hills are now covered with kinds of trees. By planting trees, Yang Shanzhou also planted hope. This hidden hero left his local government with a priceless legacy. Which of the following sentences is NOT true? Answer:
Question: Recently, Chinese netizens enjoy themselves on "growing and stealing crops" on the Internet. This is a game called "Happy Farms". Now more and more people are joining in the game, and getting addicted. Some of them are even found playing the game at work. Because of this, some players have been fired by their bosses. Lovers have broken up, but none of them can stop Happy Farms from becoming more popular. Here we interviewed some young netizens and let's see what their opinions were. Nongmin: Playing happy Farms at work, that's terrible! A clerk was fired because she was online playing it at work. King: I find that all the dreams of having houses and fields, which are very hard to get in real life, are very easy to be realized in the games. I think I know the reason why the game is so popular. Kaixin: We have to know how to control ourselves. We should keep our minds on study. Games are just games. I prefer to play sports with my classmates when I am free. Kitty: I like Happy Farms. My high-pressure work makes me feel like I can't breathe. I wish I could have a real house and farm, but it seems so far away. I have to turn to virtual nature for my own house and farm. People often get tired from work or study, so they go to their own farms, take care of their crops and pull out weeds. It is really delightful to forget about the pressure. But some players work from morning to night to "grow and steal crops". They lose themselves in the game and show no interest in anything else. It is really terrible. From Kaixin's words, we can guess that he is probably a _ . A. farmer B. worker C. student D. clerk Answer: C. student Question: Research says that husbands do not do their fair share of work around the house. A study from an American university says that men seldom do the same share of housework. Researchers interviewed 182 working couples who became first-time parents. Both husbands and wives worked almost the same number of hours in full-time jobs. However, men did five hours a week less housework than women after their baby was born. _ Becoming a parent added 21 hours a week to a mother's work. Most of this was looking after her baby. New fathers did not do more woke because they did not realize the mother was doing so much more. Another reason is that after a baby is born, fathers follow the "traditional" roles. That is, the mother looks after the baby and the father works outside. This happens even when the mother is working the same number of hours in her job. What is the "traditional" role of a father? A. Working outside B. Looking after the baby C. Doing housework D. Doing part-time jobs Answer: A. Working outside Question: Dear Sir, Just over six months ago, I saw an advertisement in the Morning Mail for a set of the complete works of William Shakespeare.Your company, Cosmo books Ltd , offered this set ( eight books of plays and two books of poetry) at a "remarkable" price: fifteen pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packing. I had wanted a set of Shakespeare's plays and poems for some time, and these books looked particularly attractive, so I sent for them. Two weeks later, the books arrived, together with a set of works of Charles Dickens which I had not ordered.So I returned the Dickens books to you, with a cheque for fifteen pounds and fifty pence for the works of Shakespeare.Two more weeks passed.Then there arrived on my door step a second set of the works of Shakespeare, the same set of novels by Dickens and a six book set of the plays of Moliere, in French.Since I do not read French, these were of no use to me at all.However, I could not afford to post all these books back to you, so I wrote to you right away instructing you to come and collect all the books that I did not want, and asking you not to send any other books until further notice. You did not reply to that letter. Instead you sent me a bill for forty two pounds, and a set of the plays of Schiller, in German.Since then, a new set of books has arrived every two weeks, the works of Goethe, the poems of Milton, the plays of Strindberg; I hardly know what I have.The books are still all in their boxes, in the garage, and my car has to stand in the rain outside. Please send no more books, send no more bills, send no more angry letters demanding payment.Just send one large lorry and take all the books away, leaving me only with the one set of the complete works of Shakespeare for which I have paid. Yours faithfully, SIMON WALKER The advertisement that Mr. Walker saw in the Morning Mail was for_. A. unlimited number of Cosmo Books B. a set of 10 books of the works of Shakespeare C. fifteen pounds and fifty pence D. a book containing all the plays and poems of Shakespeare Answer: B. a set of 10 books of the works of Shakespeare Question: If you go to a fast food restaurant, you will probably see a lot of teenagers. Today, many teenagers are overweight, and this is because of their bad eating habits. Most teenagers are fond of food with a lot of fat, oil, salt and sugar. People call this kind of food "junk food". But bad eating habits go beyond fast food. We find many teenagers eat unhealthily. Some don't have breakfast before they go to school. During the day, some don't have a proper meal for lunch. In a recent survey at one school, scientists found that over two thirds of the students didn't follow a healthy diet. They didn't like vegetables, and many of them didn't like to eat fruits. They preferred to eat food with a lot of salt, sugar, or fat. Parents today also worry about their children's diet. Some doctors give the following advice: Teenagers shouldn't eat too much junk food. Teenagers shouldn't eat food with too much salt. Salt can cause high blood pressure in the future. Teenagers should eat food without much fat, oil and sugar. Teenagers need to eat some fruits and vegetables every day. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and have little fat. Teenagers need to drink more milk. Milk will help their bones grow. Teenagers need to eat breakfast every day. It is good for their body and mind. The main purpose of the passage is to tell the children _ . A. how to keep a healthy diet B. to eat fruits and vegetables C. how to have a proper meal for lunch D. not to eat junk food Answer: A. how to keep a healthy diet Question: Patti Page, the top-selling female artist of the 1950s with more than 100 million records sold, died on January 2nd, 2013, when she was 85. She was one of the most beloved singers of the post-war era. Take her "Tennessee Waltz" for example, it sold more than 10 million copies and was her biggest hit . Born in Claremore, Oklahoma, a small town near Tulsa, Page once dreamed of a career in commercial art. Her first job in the art department at a local radio station soon led to her performing 15-minute program on her own. At age 20, Page was discovered by big-band leader Jack Rael, who gave up his job to become her manager. The next year, she signed her first recording contract with Mercury Records and enjoyed her first hit record soon. She stayed with Mercury for the next 14 years and recorded hit after hit including: "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" and "Old Cape Cod". Her last hit was "Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte" , recorded for the Bette Davis movie of the same name. And then, there was "Doggie in the Window". The creative tune was a huge hit, but with its repeated barking sounds and silly lyrics , the song has been used by many people as an example of all that was wrong with pop music in the early 1950s. Throughout the 1950s, Patti Page made regular appearances on a variety of television shows and in 1957 she was chosen to host the musical program "The Big Record". The following year, Page appeared in her own CBS television series "The Patti Page Show". She continued to record and perform into the 21st century, most recently releasing an album of songs for children, a Christmas record, and a new "best of" collection. Besides music, Patti Page did a bit of acting. She co-starred with the Oscar-winning Burt Lancaster in "Elmer Gantry", and also starred on stage in the musical play "Annie Get Your Gun". According to the passage, Patti Page _ . A. wanted to be a singer as a child B. was born in a small town in 1927 C. was known mainly for her acting skills D. started her work as a TV program hostess Answer: B. was born in a small town in 1927
You are busy with your job but want to make new friends? You miss your old friends and try to find them? Then try a new website --- Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg,a Harvard student,created Facebook only about eight years ago. At first,it was only for Harvard students. Soon it became popular on the Internet. Now over 25 million people around the world use it to keep in touch with their friends. People like Facebook because it makes them feel comfortable. On Facebook,they share joys or sorrows by posting pictures and videos. What's more,they leave messages and give online presents to their friends. Now Facebook,like eBay,is a place to sell things. The best part about Facebook is to help find old friends. For people,the only thing to do is to sign their real names. Then it takes a short time to sign their old friends. So have fun with Facebook if you love to be with friends,old or new. What is the best title for the passage? Spending hours playing violent video games prevents teenagers from their moral growth, a study has found.It is thought that regular touch to violence and lack of contact with the outside world makes it harder for them to tell right from wrong.They also struggle to trust other people,and see the world from their viewpoints. Researchers from Brock University in Ontario found that those who spend more than three hours each day in front of the screen are particularly unlikely to have developed the ability to empathise . The Canadian researchers surveyed 109 boys and girls,aged 13 and 14,about whether they played video games,which games they liked,and how long they spent playing them.Their findings found that 88 percent of teens said they played games,and more than half admitted to playing games everyday.Violent games were among the most popular. The teenagers also filled in a questionnaire designed to measure their moral development.For example,they were asked how important it is to save the life of a friend. Previous studies have suggested that a person's moral judgement goes through four phases as they grow from children and enter adulthood.By the age of 13 or 14,scientists claim young people should be entering the third stage,and be able to empathise with others and take their viewpoints into account.The research found that this stage appeared to be delayed in teenagers who regularly played violent video games. It is also thought that teenagers who play games regularly did not spend enough time in the real world to learn to take other's thoughts into consideration.Researcher Mirjana Bajovic said:"The present results indicate that some teenagers;who spent three or more hours a day playing violent video games,are deprived of such opportnnities."Writing in the journal Educational Media International.the researchers added:"Touch to violence in video games may influence the development of moral reasoning because violence is not only presented as acceptable but is also justified and rewarded." They concluded that rather than trying to enforce an'unrealistic'ban on the games, parents and teachers should encourage teenagers to do charity work and take up after-school activities. Why did the Canadian researchers carry out the studies? Good afternoon,and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today,I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws. The first one is about drinking. Now,you may not buy alcohol in this country if you are under 18 years of age,nor may your friends buy it for you. Secondly,noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means,but please don't make unnecessary noise,particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet. Thirdly,crossing the road. Be careful!The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings and do not take any chances when crossing the road. My next point is about litter (throwing away waste material in a public place).It is an offence to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away,please put it in your pocket and take it home,or put it in a litter bin. Finally,as regards something,it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age. I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance,you should _ your local police station,who will be pleased to help you. Now,are there any questions? How many laws are there discussed in the speech? Jeanne Calment, a French woman, become a record breaker on 17 October 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days. Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France, her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes here as being "more like a 90-year-old in good health" than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on the 120thbirthday what she expected of the future, she replied, "A very short one." She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her. So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a say, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good _ from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86. A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: "Sorry, I'm still alive!" How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age? Cosmetic ( ) surgery is usually performed to correct a physical abnormality or to enhance an otherwise normal physical feature and thus improve appearance. Cosmetic surgery is an extremely broad field that may offer reconstructive surgery for a patient after a damaging burn or other physical injuries yet can also be used to smooth out wrinkles or reshape a nose. Cosmetic surgery was first used regularly after World War I, when treatment and reconstruction of war injuries gave hope to young soldiers. As recently as fifty years ago, as the rich and famous began opting for elective cosmetic surgery, the subject was whispered about and considered taboo. Celebrities would disappear for months and then appear after secret cosmetic surgery looking younger, prettier, and thinner. Over time, cosmetic surgery has become accepted and even encouraged in some circles. Today there are even television reality shows about it. Some of the more popular forms of cosmetic surgery are liposuction( ), in which excessive fat is sucked out of the body with a tube and vacuum device; laser facial resurfacing, which smooths lines on the face around the eyes and mouth and eliminates facial blemishes ; and hair replacement surgery, which fills in balding areas using a patient's own hair. There are many more forms of cosmetic surgery, including variations of these.Anyone interested in cosmetic surgery should consider the risks and remember that it is, ultimately, surgery. Not all procedures come out exactly the way doctors and patients foresee, and recovery is just like any other surgery, complete with pain and the possibility of infection . While cosmetic surgery is an option, patients should choose doctors wisely,obtain several references, and keep realistic expectations. What is the author's attitude towards cosmetic surgery?
Question: Our plan was to drive into Cambridge, catch the 7:34 train to Liverpool Street Station, then to separate and meet again for lunch. We should have arrived at Liverpool at 9:19, but due to a typical London fog, the train had to move along so slowly that it was not until 10:30 that it got there. In spite of our late arrival, Joan, my wife's sister, decided that she would go to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London while we went shopping. It was only after her sister had disappeared into the fog that my wife realized that we hadn't decided where we should meet for lunch. Since I had our three tickets for the concert in my pocket, this was indeed a problem. There seemed to be nothing we could do except taking a taxi to the Tower of London, and try to find her there. Needless to say, we didn't find her. It was now one o'clock, and the concert began at 2:30. "Perhaps she will think of waiting outside the concert hall," suggested my wife hopefully. By this time the fog was so thick that road traffic had to stop, and the only way to get there was by underground railway. Hand in hand we felt our way along the road to where we thought the nearest station should be. An hour later we were still trying to find it. Just as I was about to lose my temper completely when we met a blind man tapping his way confidently through the fog. With his help we found Tower Hill tube station just fifty yards down the road. By now it was far too late even to try to get to the concert hall before the performance began at 2:30, so we decided to return to Cambridge. It took seven long hours instead of the usual two to make that journey. Nor were we able to get any food and drink on the train. Tired and hungry we finally reached home at ten, opening the door to the sound of the telephone bell. It was Joan; she had seen the Crown Jewels, had managed to get another ticket for concert, and had had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant near the hotel where she decided to stay for the night. Now she was ringing to discover whether we had had an equally successful day. What did the writer plan to do in the afternoon? A. Go to the concert. B. See the Crown Jewels. C. Return to Cambridge. D. Go shopping. Answer: A. Go to the concert. Question: Are you a gourmand ? Do you want to eat every delicious food in the world? Then do you watch the popular program?"A Bite of China " is a documentary on Chinese delicious food which has been broadcasted by Chinese central television. Is there any holiday that isn't celebrated with a special festival food? Here are several traditional Chinese foods: Eggs hold a special meaning in many cultures, and China is no exception . The Chinese believe eggs mean producing something new. After a baby is born, parents may hold a "red egg and ginger party," where they pass out eggs to announce the birth. In some areas of China the number of eggs represents the sex of the child, for example, an even number(1,3,5,---) for a girl, and an odd number(2,4,6---) if a boy has been born. Noodles are a symbol of longlife in Chinese culture. They are as much a part of a Chinese birthday celebration as a birthday cake with lit candles is in many countries. Since noodles represent long life, it is considered very unlucky to cut it off. Although westerners sometimes may be very sorry to see fish lying on a plate, in China a whole fish is a symbol of richness. In fact, at a party it is traditional to serve the whole fish last, pointed toward the valued guest. Fish also has a special meaning because the Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for richness or plenty, and it is believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true in the year to come. A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat Festival is Zongzi. This tasty dish is made of rice dumplings with meat, peanut or other delicious food in bamboo leaves. The tradition of Zongzi is meant to remind us of a great man, Qu Yuan. The 50-minute program tries to bring something new by presenting more cultural elements ,such as eating habits and the quality of eating. How many kinds of traditional food are mentioned in the passage? A. two B. three C. four D. five Answer: C. four Question: A powerful earthquake struck the northeastern coast of Japan at 2:46 p.m. local time on March 11th. Japan's Meteorological Agency released its first tsunami warnings just three minutes later. The country has one of the best earthquake early warning systems in the world. More than 4,000 Seismic Intensity Meters provide information within two minutes of an earthquake happening. There are also concrete sea walls around much of the Japanese coastline. But these measures proved no match for the powerful earthquake and tsunami. Costas Synolakis is a tsunami expert in the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He says: "Japan is one of those most well-prepared countries on earth in terms of tsunami warning. They had a warning. I think what went wrong is that they had not anticipated the size of this event." He says there are two reasons for this. First, scientists had not expected such a large earthquake. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake was the 4th most powerful earthquake ever recorded worldwide. It was also the worst ever to hit Japan. The tsunami waves reached as high as 13 meters in some areas. Second, Japan's concrete sea walls were not built to handle such high waves. " In Sendai , they were about three meters. At least in that area they were not expecting such a sizeable wave because they would have built a higher seawall." A tsunami wave can travel as fast as 800 kilometers per hour. To get to higher ground people would often have to travel for many kilometers. This can take more time than a fast traveling tsunami will permit. This is especially true in cases like Japan. The tsunami waves followed almost immediately. Experts say early warning systems will continue to be limited by these facts until earthquakes and tsunamis can be predicted. According to the writer, why hadn't people got to higher ground? A. Because tsunami doesn't leave much time for them. B. Because they thought the seawalls were reliable. C. Because higher ground can't be reached at all. D. Because didn't know there would be a tsunami. Answer: A. Because tsunami doesn't leave much time for them. Question: What will man be like in the future----in 5000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time. Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change to the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger. Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over very long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger. On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life. But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald. Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own. Which of the following is true about a human being in the future? A. He thinks and feels in different way. B. He has smaller eyes and wears better glasses. C. He is hairless because hair is no longer useful. D. His fingers grow weaker because he doesn't use them. Answer: C. He is hairless because hair is no longer useful. Question: Perhaps the most astonishing theory to come out of kinetics,the study of body movement,was suggested by Professor Ray Birdwhistell.He believes that physical appearance Is often culturally programmed.In other words,we learn our looks;we are not born with them. A baby generally unformed facial features.A baby,according to Birdwhistell,learns where to set the eyebrows by looking at those around family and friends.This helps explain why the people of some regions of the United States look so much lilke.New Englanders or Southerners have certain common facial characteristics that cannot be explained by genetics .The exact shape of the mouth is not set at birth,it is learned later.In fact,the final mouth shape is not formed until well after permanent teeth are set.For many,this can be well into adolescence .A husband and wife together for a long time often come to look somewhat alike.We learn our looks from those around us. This is perhaps why in a single country there are areas where people smile more than those in other areas.In the United States,for example,the South is the part of the country where the people smile most frequently.In New England they smile less,and in the western part of New York State still less.Many Southerners find cities such as New York cold and unfriendly,partly because people on Madison Avenue smile less than people on Peach Tree Street jn Atlanta,Georgia.People in densely populated urban areas also tend to smile and greet each other in public less than people in rural areas and small towns. The passage might be taken out of a book dealing with _ A. physics B. health C. chemistry D. body movement Answer: D. body movement
During 1976 a series of arsons, one of which damaged the Humongous Store, occurred in the City of Swelter. In early 1977 Swelter's City Council adopted this resolution: The City will pay $10,000 for the arrest and conviction of anyone guilty of any of the 1976 arsons committed here. The foregoing was telecast by the city's sole television station once daily for one week. Subsequently, Humongous, by a written memorandum to Gimlet, a private detective, proposed to pay Gimlet $200 "for each day's work you actually perform in investigating our fire." Thereafter, in August 1977, the Swelter City Council by resolution repealed its reward offer and caused this resolution to be broadcast once daily for a week over two local radio stations, the local television station having meanwhile ceased operations. In September 1977, a Humongous employee voluntarily confessed to Gimlet to having committed all of the 1976 arsons. Humongous's president thereupon paid Gimlet at the proposed daily rate for his investigation and suggested that Gimlet also claim the city's reward, of which Gimlet had been previously unaware. Gimlet immediately made the claim. In December 1977, as a result of Gimlet's investigation, the Humongous employee was convicted of burning the store. The city, which has no immunity to suit, has since refused to pay Gimlet anything, although he swears that he never heard of the city's repealer before claiming its reward"In which of the following ways could the city reward offer be effectively accepted? Answer: There are a lot of school rules around the world. For example, in Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States, students have to wear uniforms, and they are not allowed to wear earrings. Some schools in Japan and other countries have rules about hair. For example, students are not allowed to change the color of their hair. In the United States, boys can not have their hair grow long. For safety at some US schools, students must have a pair of indoor shoes at school every day. This makes sure students won't fall over on the wet floors and keeps the schools clean. Gum chewing is not allowed in many US school buildings, as it is difficult to clean up. And if students chew gum in class, they may not pay much attention to their studies. In most foreign countries, school students are allowed to work part-time. But differently, Japanese school students are not allowed to work part-time or change the color of their hair. ,. (5,2,10) What may happen if students chew gum in class? Answer: Most American families are smaller than the families in other countries. Most American families have one or two parents and one or two children each. Children in the US will leave their parents' home when they grow up. They usually live far from their parents because they want to find good jobs. They often write to their parents or telephone them. And they often go to visit their parents on holiday. Parents usually let their children choose their own jobs. Americans think it important for young people to decide on their lives by themselves. Children are asked to do some work around their house. And in many families, children are paid for doing some housework so that they learn how to make money for their own use. Some parents pay their children for doing housework because _ . Answer: Talking on a mobile phone is expensive, so a lot of people send text messages. Text messages are much cheaper than talking on a mobile phone, and you can make it cheaper by making the words shorter. You can do this by taking out "unimportant" letters in the words and using numbers instead of words (2 =" to," 3 =" free," 4 =" for," 8 =" ate," so h8 =" hate," etc.). You can also keep away from using punctuation . Here is an example: Do U wnt 2 g 2 th cnma tnite (Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?) What do you think these text messages mean? Whr hv U bn? Iv bn wtng hrs fr a cll. Im hm nw, why nt gv me a cll. I gt a txt mssge frm my frnd. Shes hvng a prty on Strdy. Mobile phone users have developed a group of symbols to show how they feel. They are called emoticons, and there are some examples below. To read an emoticon, you have to look at it sideways. For example, if you say something in a text message that is a joke, you can follow it with a smiling face. Like this: Why didt u call me? I'm so sad. ( Here are some others. Can you think of text messages where you could use them? ) laughing ( sad < really sad V shouting \|\| asleep :0 shocked 8\| surprised \*o bored What does this text message "Do U wnt 2 cm?" mean? It means " _ ?". Answer: Miss Huang and Mr Huang are teachers in No.16 Middle School. Their school isn't big, but it's beautiful. There are 35students in Miss Huang's class, twenty-one boys and fourteen girls. They are all Chinese. In Mr Huang's class, there are two Americans, one boy, Robert and one girl, Kate. They are good students. Miss Huang and Mr Huang like their students very much. Are Mr Huang's students all Chinese? Answer:
For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call "amusic." People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes . Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale. As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. "I used to hate parties," says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition. Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn't involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see certain colors. Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed . For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. "When people invite me to a concert, I just say, 'No thanks, I'm amusic,'" says Margaret. "I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy." (335 words) What is the passage mainly concerned with? Answer: What do working mothers worry about the most? It's the kids of course. Whatever the setting, the question I get asked the most is "Will the kids be alright?" It has made me realize that we tend to look at the glass half-empty rather than half-filled when it comes to mixing work and family. We forget about all the benefits that we bring to our children when we work - and I'm not talking about the obvious financial benefits, although these of course shouldn't be taken for granted. About a year ago I remember getting a call from the school just as I was pulling up to the house after having driven 20 minutes to the school and 20 minutes back. "Mrs. Brown Quinn, your son asked us to call. He forgot his sports clothes. Can you come back to the school and drop them off?" I was exasperated ! I had already spent 40 minutes in aggressive weekday morning traffic. I replied, "Sorry, I'm working at the moment. I'm afraid my son needs to learn to be organized." Being a good parent requires delivering tough love sometimes. Kids need to learn to be independent. It can be a cruel and competitive world out there. Seeking interests, including business, outside of your kids, can give you that extra idea that you need not care for your kids with attention. This benefit of working isn't always immediately evident. It wasn't until our daughter went away to college that she realized why we had raised her in the way that we did. "Mom, I can't believe how so many of my friends struggle to manage things on their own. They are constantly calling their parents for help." You'll love that moment! After all those years of complaining about why you don't do this or why you don't give them that, your kids realize that tough love has made them better people. How can kids become better people according to the author? Answer: Wearing ties was originally the mark of Britain's most powerful classes, which made the tie itself a symbol of power and respect. And that led it to be adopted by a much larger tribe--the business tribe. You cannot wear a tie if you work with machinery. So wearing a tie became a sign that you were a man who used your brain to make a living, rather than your hands. It showed you were serious. It showed you were a professional. It meant that everyone who wanted a job in business had to wear one. It was just impossible to take seriously a man who didn't wear a piece of color1ed silk around his neck. This is how millions of people came to be wearing ties across the world. They are part of the uniform of business. "Ties offer a point of indifference," says John Milne, head of the British Guide of Tie Makers. "They give a chance to say something about their own personality." So if you happen to meet a man with a very brightly color1ed tie, there is a good chance that he is the office joker. There is also a good chance that he will be wearing brightly color1ed socks. Is there a future for ties? The signs are not promising. Tie wearing seems to be rare among the new bread of entrepreneurs in the Internet and new technology industries. Many political leaders,including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now go without ties. This shows they are men of the people--but not the people wearing ties. Up until around 1960, it was common for men across the Western world to wear hats as part of their business uniform. That changed with the election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency of the United States. Kennedy never wore a hat in fact his nickname was"hatless Jack". Seeing that the most powerful man in the world did not have to wear a hat, millions of other men decided that they did not have to, either. Hats simply vanished across the Western world. Perhaps"tieless Tony"(UK Prime Minister Tony Blair) will have the same effect as "hatless Jack". The writer may hold the opinion that _ . Answer: Last week at a friend's birthday party, there was a mooncake eating contest and I persuaded my good friend Jonathan to take part in it. Even though he had just finished a big dinner, he managed to win the contest. Not only did he win a bottle of nice whiskey, but also a big box of expensive Hong Kong mooncakes. A few days later, I was hosting an opening party for my new office. Jonathan showed up with the lovely box of Hong Kong mooncakes he had won the other night. I thought it was a lovely joke, and the mooncakes were delicious. Still, it got me thinking about the concept of regifting in prefix = st1 /China. In the States, we have a tradition around Christmas similar to giving mooncakes, only we call them fruitcakes. Fruitcakes are made from terrible preserved fruit and nobody likes to eat them. You often find your friends giving the fruitcake you gave them to someone else, and so on. But fruitcakes aside, it isn't very often to catch someone regifting something in America, as it's seen to be very cheap and embarrassing . An obvious way to tell if something has been regifted is to check the wrapping . However, many of my friends in Chinawill proudly regift an old gift, especially if it is still wrapped in a pretty box. I find it somewhat uncomfortable to receive a gift that I know wasn't bought for me. But I also understand that the gift is perfectly good, it just lacks the special meaning of being picked out by a friend. There are many occasions in Chinese culture when gifts are necessary. There are traditional items such as tea, cigarettes and liquor which seem fine to regift. These gifts are not personal and have no special meaning. But is it really proper to give someone something that was never bought for them in the first place? The author thinks it really uncomfortable to receive_. Answer: Sports may be fun, but you need to play them safely. Here are some tips to help you stay safe while you're playing sports in winter. * Get your body ready! Before you do any exercise, be sure to warm up for at least five minutes. During warming up you should stretch all parts of your body. * Wear the right clothes! Be sure to wear the right clothes for sports. If you play winter sports, make sure that you dress warmly. Also make sure to use suntan oil . It may be cold, but the sun is still bright! If you don't put on suntan oil, your skin may be hurt. If you go skiing, be sure to wear waterproof trousers and gloves. If you go running in cold weather, try to wear a scarf. It will keep your face, ears and neck warm. * Stop playing sports when you are hurt! If you get hurt when playing sports, don't play again until you get well. * Don't get thirsty! Drink a lot when playing sports because it is easy to become thirsty. ,. In the passage, the writer tells us _ . Answer:
One night, as Diaz stepped off the train and onto a nearly empty platform, a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife. "He wanted my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go '" Diaz says. As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm." The robber looked at him puzzled, saying, "Why are you doing this?" Diaz replied, "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me....." Diaz says he and the teen went into a diner and sat in a booth. "The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. The kid said, "You know everybody here. Do you own this place?" "No, I just eat here a lot," Dias said. "But you're even nice to the dishwasher," he said. Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?" "Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said. When the bill arrived, Diaz said, "You're going to have to pay for this bill because you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you." The teen returned it immediately. "I gave him $20.... I figure maybe it'll help him." Diaz says he asked for something in return--- the teen's knife--- "and he gave it to me." Afterwards, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch." "I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world." What did Diaz do to the teen? A He gave the teen a new wallet B He treated the teen to dinner C He gave his coat to the teen D He taught the teen a lesson Answer: B. He treated the teen to dinner Book Description This isn't an education children's picture book with plenty of facts to expand young minds. Sara Myers simply explains all about dogs with easy words or phrases. Children will learn about : What dogs are Where they can be found What they eat And much more ! The fantastic photos are sure fire your chid's imagination ,and keep them interested all the way through . Publication Date :September 3,2013 Publisher: Hazed Published Language:English The book is written mainly for _ . A children B teenagers C adults D old people Answer: A. children Dear Coach, I have been out of work for almost six months now and things are starting to get very tough for me. I am practically living out of my savings. I have been looking for a job,but things are really bad and 1 cannot find a single person who wants to hire me. I know that the main problem is that I do not have a degree. I want to go back to school and get my degree,but I also need a job now. I owe money to some people who have been helping me. Because I am out of work,I cannot pay them back. What do you think 1 should do? I need to find a job as quickly as possible, and want to know what else to do to get people to give me a chance to work for them. The Unemployed. Dear Unemployed, Before you get yourself in a really bad situation, you need to stop borrowing money from people. If you continue doing that,you will be deep in debts and the situation will get even worse for you. The next thing you need to do is look for a job depending on your abilities, skills, and experience. By doing that, you will be increasing your chances of finding a job that suits you best. And the last thing I will suggest is that you should stop feeling sorry for yourself and continue working hard to get a job that you need. Borrowing money, complaining, and feeling bad for your situation will do no good to you. Stay strong and get out there and start showing the world what you can offer. I promise if you work hard and never give up,you will soon find the job that you are looking for. And while you are doing it,thing about getting your degree as well because it will help you to become more challenging. Try those tips. The Coach The unemployed couldn't find a job mainly because_. A he always borrowed money B he didn't have a degree C he didn't work well D he didn't get on well with others Answer: B. he didn't have a degree Nonverbal Communication When you are in another country, it is important to know the language, but it is equally important to know how to communicate nonverbally. Before saying anything, people communicate nonverbally by making gestures. According to an investigation ,only 30 to 35 percent of our communication is verbal. When people don't know the language, the most common way to communicate is through gestures. However, many gestures have different meanings, or no meaning at all, in different parts of the world. In the United States, for example, nodding your head up and down means "yes". In some parts of Greece and Turkey, however, this motion can mean "no". In Southeast Asia, nodding your head is a polite way of saying "I've heard you." In ancient Rome, when the emperor wanted to spare someone's life, he would put his thumb up. Today in the United States, when someone puts his/her thumb up, it means "Everything is all right." However, in Sardinia and Greece, the gesture is insulting and should not be used there. In the United States, raising your clasped hands above your head means "I'm the champion" or "I'm the winner". It is the sign that prizefighters make when they win a fight. When a leading Russian statesman made this gesture after a White House meeting, Americans misunderstood and thought he meant he was a winner. In Russia, however, it is a sign of friendship. There are other nonverbal signals that people should be aware of when they go to another country, such as the distance to maintain between speakers. Americans stand closer to each other than English people. English people don't like touching somebody or being touched. Now in America, touch is important. For example friends touch each other on the arm. They often put an arm around a friend when they say "hello" or "goodbye". If a native in Singapore nods his head up and down when you talk to him, his motion means _ . A yes B no C that's all right D I've heard you Answer: D. I've heard you 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 obliged to attend a showing of their performance in court. Selfridges was the first big London store to install closed-circuit 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, called sputniks, 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 'sputnik' 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. " What can you infer from the woman's action before leaving the store _ . A was sorry for what she had done B decided she didn't want what she had picked up C was afraid she would be arrested D wanted to prove she had not intended to steal anything Answer: C. was afraid she would be arrested
Question: There was a pilot and four people in a small plane.Suddenly there was something wrong with the machine while it was flying in the air. The smoke was everywhere in the plane.The pilot told the people there were only four parachutes .They all became worried and started to make excuses . "I must go and mend the machine,"said the pilot , taking one of the parachutes.There was nothing he could do so he jumped out. The first person stood up. "I'm a doctor,"he said. "I help people live longer and I save lives"He also took a parachute and jumped out. The next person said , "I must have a parachute.I'm a very clever person.I have to attend an important sports match.I know I'll win the game because I'll be the cleverest person there."He picked up a pack and jumped out. Two men were left--- an old businessman and a young mountain climber .By this time the plane was going down fast.The businessman said, "Young man,I'm old but you're still young ,You take the last parachute."The yougng mountain climber smiled , "Don't worry."he said, "We can both jump to safety because there are still two parachutes.Just now the clever person jumped out with my backpack." .The clever man jumped out with _ . A. a parachute B. nothing C. the pack of the climber's D. the businessman Answer: C Question: We all waste food, you and me, every day, millions of tons of it.In China, enough food is wasted in restaurants every year to feed 200 million people.And the amount of food wasted by Chinese consumers is increasing fast.So our nation is being encouraged to stop wasting food. So what should Chinese consumers do to prevent food waste? Keep a kitchen diary All of us should keep a kitchen diary, and we can know that how much food we waste at home.The first thing for us to do is to stop throwing away food that we can still eat.We should eat everything we buy and if we cannot, we should buy less. Buy only what we need We should ask for smaller portions in stores.We should also check how much food we have before buying more.We shouldn't bring much food we don't need home even if large posters ask us to do so. Develop the habit of packing food Chinese consumers are generous and friendly.In restaurants, often too much food is ordered and served.So when ordering out, we are supposed to exclude the food in the order if we don't plan to eat it.And order smaller servings in restaurants and take home what we cannot finish. Don't put it off! Let's stop food waste today! In order to urge more and more people to prevent food waste, we design a poster with the words _ . A. Enjoy the food! B. Keep healthy! C. Share the dish! D. Waste not, want not! Answer: D Question: If you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they will become weak, and when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault. But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents may be blamed, and few of us know that it is just his own fault . Have you ever found that some people can't read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and when they have to remember things, they cannot write them down in a small notebook. As a result, they have to remember days, names, songs and stories, so their memory is being exercised the whole time. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: practice remembering things in a way as other people do. Which of the following statements is true? A. Your memory needs chance for practice. B. A good memory is inherited from parents. C. Your memory works in the different ways as your arms or legs. D. Don't learn to read and write if you want to have a good memory. Answer: A Question: Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don't like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus . But the old ideas are still very strong, and many _ . Many people in different countries have _ ideas about why people catch colds. A. no B. one C. the same D. different Answer: D Question: Mr and Mrs Green come from Australia .They are in Beijing now .Mr Green is a teacher in a high school .He teaches English ,He likes reading and running .His son, Jim, is a student.He likes playing football very much .He likes school, too. He does his homework every day . Mrs Green is a teacher ,too. She can speak a little Chinese. She likes Chinese food .She doesn't like doing housework at all, but she likes cooking .They all like China a lot. _ likes running. A. They B. Tom C. Mrs Green D. Mr Green Answer: D
Do you know who is the most popular star on the Internet now? Yes, he is "Brother Coat" Zhu Zhiwen! A few months ago, Zhu Zhiwen was an unknown farmer. A video of his show has been watched by more than millions of people,now his videos are the most popular. Zhu Zhiwen attracts Chinese netizens' hearts. And he is called "Brother Coat" by them. In March 2011, he took part in a program called "I'm a Big Star". He walked out onto the stage in a dark green coat. Then he began to sing the song of the TV drama Romance of Three Kingdoms. When the audiences heard rich and powerful voice,all of them stood up and cheered. After that, he became a well-known person. The judges asked him if he had any professional training. Zhu said no. "When he started, I thought someone played the original tape by mistake. But later on, I got it, " said one of them, "we can't _ ." At last, he won the first prize in the program of "I'm a Big Star". Zhu Zhiwen was born in a village of Shandong in 1969. He liked listening to the radio. When the music played, he sang it along. Every morning, he would get up early and practiced singing near a river. He keeps doing it for nearly 30 years. "When I'm working in the fields, "said Zhu Zhiwen, "I often sing for myself, some villagers even think me crazy,but I really love it. I'm not singing for money, I'm singing for ordinary people in China." Mrs. Sun, a 56-year-old engineer, one of his fans said, "I watched his videos without getting tired of it! It is so amazing, and every time I watch it, I am filled with excitement and his voice is perfect! I am crossing my fingers in hope that he has a bright future." When did Zhu Zhiwen become a well-known person? Answer: In 2011. We humans can play the piano . of course we play the piano with our ten fingers . But Teotronica can play with its 19 fingers . Teotronica is not a human . It is a robot . It is a special robot which can play the piano like humans . Nattei Suzzi is the inventor of Teotronica . Matteo Suzzi comes from Italy and he is more than thirty years old . He was interested in science when he was young . He always likes to use his head to create amazing things . He spent four years making the musical robot . He made the piano-playing robot at a cost of about 4,700 dollars . Teotronica is a special and great robot . It has more fingers than humans . It plays the piano faster than a human . Teotronica can sing as well when it plays the piano . It is the first robot to do so and many people feel excited to see it ,. Teotronica can even use its eyes to interact with humans because there are cameras in its eyes .Teotronica is amazing , isn't it ? How long did it take Matteo Suzzi to make Teotronica ? Answer: Four years . Hydrochloric acid is added to a beaker containing a piece of zinc. As a result, zinc chloride is formed and hydrogen gas is released. This is an example of Answer: a chemical reaction One morning, Mr Black was driving in the country and looking for a small hotel. When he saw an old woman on the side of the road, he stopped his car and said to the old woman, "I want to go to the Sun Hotel. Do you know it?" "Yes," the old woman said,"I will show you the way." She got into Mr Black's car and they drove about twelve miles. When they came to a small house, the old woman said, "stop here!" Mr, Black stopped and looked at the house."But this isn't a hotel." He said to the old woman. "No"the old woman answered, "This is my house. And I'll show you the way to the hotel. Turn round and go back nine miles. Then you'll see the hotel." Where did Mr Black want to go? Answer: The Sun Hotel Christina is an American girl. She is a good student. Every morning she gets up at 6:00. She has her breakfast at home. Then she wears her uniform and goes to school. She studies hard every day. She eats in the dining room when she is in school. After school, she does her homework first, then she cleans the room and helps her mother with the dinner. Before she goes to bed, she usually reads some books. Then at 10:00 p. m. she goes to bed. She thinks she is happy every day. What do you think of her? What does she do before she goes to bed? Answer: She reads some books.
Attending a university is an important part of a person's life. Today, many people go to a university to study and train for a future job in subjects like law, medicine, or education. But the university is not a modern invention. It has a history that is over a thousand years old. The world's oldest university, Al-Azhar, is in Cairo, Egypt. It was first built as a mosque in A.D. 972. A few years later, learners and teachers began meeting in the mosque in "tutoring circles". They read and talked about the subject of law. Around 988, leaders in the city of Cairo decided to create a school for higher learning and the University of Al-Azhar was founded. At Al-Azhar, there were many university 'firsts.' _ were created. The earliest ones taught at Al-Azhar were in law and religion. In a course, students read and studied with the teacher, but there was also free discussion. Often, students and teachers talked about a topic, and there was no 'right' answer. Finally, scholars from around the world came to Al-Azhar to teach and do research. At the university, people studied the past, but it was also a place for sharing new ideas. Over a thousand years later, Al-Azhar is still an important university in the world. Its library contains more than 250,000 of the world's oldest and most valuable books. Today, many of the world's most important universities such as Oxford and Harvard still follow the traditions started at Al-Azhar. The oldest university in the world is _ . Answer: Al-Azhar Combining families with kids can be tough and offers even more unexpected problems. You just don't know how things will shake out until everyone is under one roof, trying on new roles with name that start with "step". This is what happened to Sheila and Will, and Sheila's 8-year-old daughter Ashley. After the couple got married, and Will became the member of the new family, things got worse than expected. How did they make it work? Read the full version of the story here. Shelia's Turn: When Shelia and Will were dating, he seemed like kids, especially Ashley. He'd bring her presents, play games with her. But after the wedding, things took a turn. Will suddenly became a super strict stepfather, scolding Ashley for watching too much cartoons, constantly picking fights and punishing her for offenses as small as spilling milk. Shelia's thought about leaving Will, but soon after they married, they had a son, Billy. Will adores his well-behaved boy, but Ashley hates him. Shelia doesn't know what to do--- her daughter is miserable, but leaving her husband might mean losing her son. Will's turn: Will was so excited to be a male role model in Ashley's life. He didn't just want to be a guy living in her house; he wanted to treat her like his own daughter, which, to Will, meant giving Ashley more rules and help her learn responsibility. He'd always felt that Shelia let Ashley loose on everything. But after the wedding, Will was surprised that Shelia didn't want him to do that. If Will takes away Ashley's TV privileges or tells her to clean up her room, Shelia just lets Ashley do what she likes and does it herself. Will was tired of this and he'd rather take his son and go. The advisor's turn: The counselor quickly recognized their conflict as a classic case of unspoken, hidden expectations. Before the wedding, when it was just Shelia and Will, everything was easy. But now, everyone in their big family is competing for attention, and the couple never sat down and discussed the biggest issue---their child-upbringing philosophies . The counselor suggested Shelia allow Will to give some rules on Ashley but Will's punishments couldn't be extreme. Once Ashley saw that her mom and stepdad had become a united front, she cooperated more. What can we know about Will? Answer: Will has a good intention. On Earth, water can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. Which energy source has the greatest influence on the state of matter of water? Answer: the sun Writing has become a fashion among today's teenagers. Look at how popular young writers like Han Han and Guo Jingming are. Gao Can is a writer. Actually, the 18-year-old is the youngest member of the Association of Writers of Shanxi. So far, the second grader in the Senior High School Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University has published several books. She writes fairy tales, short essays, and most of all, poems. Gao said she began poem writing when she was in primary school. Once her teacher asked the class to write composition called "If I were". Gao had an idea--"Why not make it a poem?" Since then, she has written hundreds of poems and published three books of them. "I don't have too much life experience," said Gao. "I write about nature, about things I feel inside and my spiritual world." However, teenagers these days rarely write poems, or read them. Exams want "any style but poetry". But like Gao, there are those who still read and write poems. Hu Jingzhi is one of them. The 19-year-old boy said that poems inspire them. "But it's annoying that I can't find many poem collections in nearby bookstores," he said. Gao agreed with Hu. She said that today's bookstores were filled with books on "how to make money quickly" or "how to give a successful speech". "Poems won't teach you how to make money," said Gao, " but the beautiful words clear your mind and stimulate your imagination." "Writing poems is not at all difficult. Just express yourself. And read poems-for their beautiful style....and for the pure things in life." According to the passage, Gao Can probably likes writing _ best. Answer: poems I was 9 years old when I found out my father was ill. It was 1994, but I can remember my mother's words as if it were yesterday: "Kerrel, I don't want you to take food from your father, because he has AIDS. Be very careful when you are around him." AIDS wasn't something we talked about in my country when I was growing up. From then on, I knew that this would be a family secret. My parents were not together anymore, and my dad lived alone. For a while, he could take care of himself. But when I was 12, his condition worsened. My father's other children lived far away, so it fell to me to look after him. We couldn't afford all the necessary medication for him, and because Dad was unable to work, I had no money for school supplies and often couldn't even buy food for dinner. I would sit in class feeling completely lost, the teacher's words muffled as I tried to figure out how I was going to manage. I did not share my burden with anyone. I had seen how people reacted to AIDS. Kids laughed at classmates who had parents with the disease. And even adults could be cold. When my father was moved to the hospital, the nurses would leave his food on the bedside table even though he was too weak to feed himself. I had known that he was going to die, but after so many years of keeping his condition a secret, I was completely unprepared when he reached his final days. Sad and hopeless, I called a woman at the nonprofit National AIDS Support. That day, she kept me on the phone for hours. I was so lucky to find someone who cared. She saved my life. I was 15 when my father died. He took his secret away with him, having never spoken about AIDS to anyone, even me. He didn't want to call attention to AIDS. I do. Why did Kerrel keep her father's disease a secret? Answer: She was afraid of being looked down upon.
It is the last day of June today. It is grandma's birthday. Father, mother and I go to see her. My grandma lives with my uncle in a village not too far away. Uncle works there. Early in the morning we buy a birthday cake and some fruit and go to her home by bus. Grandma and uncle are very glad to see us. We give the present to grandma and say, "Happy birthday to you!" She is very happy. Then we sit down to talk. Uncle goes to prepare lunch. The meal is very nice. We all enjoy it very much. At 4 o'clock, we say goodbye and go back home. Which sentence is NOT true?_. A Uncle works in a village B We take a bus to see grandma. C Grandma is happy to see us D We are back at home at 4 o'clock. Answer: D We pick up your children at school and give them a safe place to play,do homework,and learn after school. Experienced Teachers/Lunch&Snacks/Toys&Books Ages 6 to 12 Our Programs:Languages Maths Computer Music Open 11:00 am to 7:00 pm,Mon.to Fri. 26 Market Road,Star City (between First Street and Second Street,next to the Flower Market) TEL:8765--4321 Where's Little Rabbit? A It's on Second Street. B It's on First Street. C It's on Market Road. D It's in the Flower Market. Answer: C Tearing an object changes that object's A formation B biology C chemical composition D nutrition Answer: A Do you go to the movies during the holidays? What do you eat there? Popcorn ? Yes, of course! More and more Chinese youth now like to eat popcorn when they watch movies at the theater. However, it may be the Americans who love popcorn the most. Americans do fun things with their popcorn. They like to put butter on their popcorn. But that's not all; they also like other kinds of things like chocolate, and even cheese! Americans like to eat popcorn as a snack . These days, there are a lot of "low -fat" kinds of popcorn in US shops to keep people healthy. Americans started eating popcorn in movie theaters in the 1930s. Before this, they couldn't because movies were silent and popcorn made too much noise. When movies got noisier, people could eat noisier food. Next time you eat popcorn, why not try to eat it American style. Americans couldn't eat popcorn in cinemas before 1930s because _ . A popcorn at that time wasn't healthy B people were too poor to buy popcorn C other foods were more popular than popcorn D movies were silent and popcorn made noise Answer: D It doesn't matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive.That's what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin.Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves. Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind.So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw Herpin sleeping.In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one. The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness.They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer.They found only one answer that might explain his condition.Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born.But that was all.Was this the real reason? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94. The main idea of this passage is that _ . A large numbers of people do not need sleep B a person who actually didn't need any sleep was found C everyone needs some sleep to stay alive D people can live longer by trying not to sleep Answer: B
Thomas Alva Edison was awarded more patents on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout(,). All electric power would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps his suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion . A blackout was out of the question. On the day of Edison's funeral ,many people silently dimmed their lights. In this way they honoured the man who had done more than anyone else to the great force of electrity The suggested plan was to _ . Answer: shut off all electricity for a short time A flamingo may be able to run across a pond easier than a human, sparrow or a cat because it has Answer: webbed feet When I entered college in the early 1980s, I had my heart set on being a first-grade teacher. I did all of my observations in others' first-grade classroom. I interviewed for my first job in a first-grade classroom. At last the district offered me a job---as a fifth-grade teacher in an inner-city building, considered at the time to be one of our district's most difficult tasks. It wasn't the first-grade classroom after I had hoped for, but it was my classroom after I had made such great efforts! I managed to deal with everything in first year successfully, while working to form relationships with my students was no easy thing, especially with Alexader. He had learning disabilities in both math and reading. The other children were sometimes unfriendly to him. He was a difficult child to get to open up, but I was determined to make efforts. You can imagine my delight when finally, in late spring, Alexander raised his hand during the math class discussion for the first time ever. Thrilled, I immediately called him. Well, you can imagine my surprise when he suddenly told a story about his grandma, who had a hole in her head. You see, we were studying fraction that day, and I had just explained that a fraction is "a part of a whole". Alexander obviously didn't realize the difference between "whole" and "hole". "Homophones ''I told myself,"had better be tomorrow's English lesson." Acknowledging Alexander that day was exactly what he needed from me. We had suddenly developed a special relationship. Alexander felt such a connection to me after that, that he even went one step further. I arrived at the school the following morning and was surprised to find Alexander and his grandma waiting for me. Grandma began by saying,"Alexander said he told you that I had a hole in my head."I smiled nervously and said ,"Don't worry. You know kids! They have great imaginations"Grandma replied,"You didn't believe him, did you?""No, of course not,"I said .Well, just at that time, Grandma proudly showed the hole in her head. I will never forget that day, and the lesson that I learned from being Alexander's teacher. If a child ever again tells me about a family member with a hole in his or her head, I will believe him or her! According to the passage, the writer found it difficult to _ Answer: have a good connection with her students Paul worked as a cook in a restaurant. For Valentine's Day, he made chocolate desserts. He tripled the recipe to feed all the people. He separated the eggs and measured the sugar. Then he melted the chocolate. He mixed the egg whites until they made a thick foam. He mixed the egg yolks with the sugar. But as he was ready to mix everything, his boss asked him to do a different job. Paul chopped some vegetables. When he came back, Greg had taken over his work and made a mistake. The mix was much too thin. It looked like chocolate soup. It wouldn't rise at all. Luckily Paul was ready. He had practiced the dessert recipe before. It looked like it didn't have enough egg whites. Paul separated more eggs and mixed the egg whites. He added the extra egg whites to the mix. His addition worked. The desserts rose high in the oven. He saved the day! What did the desserts do in the oven? Answer: They rose Telephone: 22706030 Address: 9020 Bridgeport Road Open: Mon. --- Fri. 7:00a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 5:00p.m. - 9:00p.m. Sat 7:00a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:00p.m. Sun 11:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. and 5:00p.m. - 9:00p.m. NEW YORK MESEUM Telephone: 77364431 Address: Vanieer Park, 1100 Chesnut St. New York American's largest museum specializing(...) in American history and art of our native people Open: Mon. --- Fri. 9:00a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday free) Sat 9:00a.m. - 1:00 p.m. LANSDOWNE PARK SHOPPING CENTRE Telephone: 33562367 Address: 5300 No. 3 Road Open: Mon. Tues & Sat 9:30a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Wed Thurs & Fri 9:30a.m. - 9:30p.m. Sun 11:00a.m. -- 5:00p.m. SKYLINE HOTEL Telephone: 22785161 Address: 3031 No. 3 Road (at Sea Island Way) The Hanger Den --- Wed to Sun Dinner from 5:30 p.m. Coffee Shop --- Mon to Fri 6:00 a.m.; Sat, Sun 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. You don't have to pay on Monday if you go to _ Answer: New York Museum
Every day millions of letters go from one country to another. Letters mailed in Italy are received in Japan. Letters mailed in Canada are received in Africa. On the letters are many different kinds of stamps,bought in different countries. The Universal Postal Union helps each letter get to the right place as quickly as possible. It sets up rules about the size and weight of letters,postcards,and small packages . It has rules that all countries must follow about international postal rates . One hundred years ago,international mail did not move so smoothly. One country did not always accept another country's letters. Letters from some countries were too large to fit into the mailboxes of other countries. Letters travelled by many different routes .Some were lost along the way. Sometimes the person who sent the letter could pay only part of the . The person receiving the letter had to pay the rest. The United States was the first to suggest that all countries work together to settle the questions of international mail. In 1974,men from twenty-four countries met in Switzerland to form the Universal Postal Union.Today,more than 120 nations belong to this union. From its office in Switzerland,the union helps the mail to move safely and quickly around the world. From the story we can infer that _ . A. mail is important to all countries B. not enough letters are sent all over the world C. all the letters must go to Switzerland first D. all stamps look exactly the same Answer: A. mail is important to all countries The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel.The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sports car.Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras.The bride wore a silk wedding dress.She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time. Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station's competition.The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other.Miss Germaine,23,is a model.Mr.Cordell,27,is a TV salesman.They were among the two hundred people who entered for a particular "experiment" organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham,England.Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on radio.They took a lie detector test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities.The competition judges included an astrologer who declared that they were suited. The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening,but not everyone shared their joy.Miss Germaine's mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr.Cordell's parents are reported to be less than delighted. Organizations,including the marriage guidance service Relate,have criticized the marriage.As one expert put it,"we have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously.Marriage should always be about love." The couples are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists.Their other prizes include a year's free use of a wonderful apartment in the centre of Birmingham,and a car.But will it last? One of the prizes for the couple is _ . A. to use an apartment free for some time. B. to spend their honeymoon wherever they like. C. to have a wedding dress free. D. to own an American sports car. Answer: A. to use an apartment free for some time. Norah had a cottage on a cliff above a big bay. In winter it could be very unpleasant because of strong winds and sea waves. In fact, when a _ was blowing, Norah and her husband got used to sleeping in a small room downstairs, because their bedroom upstairs, which faced the gales, had a very big window, and they were afraid that an extra violent wind might break it and blow pieces of broken glass over them. Also, the salt wave from the sea put an end to many of the colorful plants Norah planted in her garden. She tried putting up a fence to protect them, but the wind just hit it, went up over the top and then down the other side, so in the end she filled the garden with trees and bushes that liked salt. But most of the summer Norah enjoyed her cottage and garden very much. At weekends she could sit out-of-doors in the sun, looking at the beautiful view, with interesting ships and boats passing by, and she could very easily cycle down to the sea for a swim. Now, Norah and her husband had plenty of friends and relations. In the summer lots of them used to come to enjoy the beautiful place, and in the end it really became quite annoying for the couple. When they were at home, they found friends and relations arriving, expecting to be given unlimited drinks and meals, and to sit in the sun for hours, talking as if Norah and her husband had nothing else to do but entertain and listen to them. This went on for several years. Norah didn't wish to appear rude by refusing to let her friends and relations in, but on the other hand, she was getting tired every summer. Then one day Norah was complaining about this to her hairdresser while she was doing her hair. "You're disturbed by too many uninvited guests, are you?" said the hairdresser. "Why don't you try my way of escaping?" "What's that?" asked Norah. "Well," the hairdresser answered, "when the bell rings, I put on my coat and take my shopping bag. If it's someone I don't want to see, I say innocently, 'I'm sorry, but I've got to go out.' But..." The hairdresser likely to continue to say " _ " in the end? A. if I'm tired, I say 'Sorry, can you come next time?' B. if it's someone I like to see, I say 'How lucky! I've just come in!' C. if it is fine that day, I say, 'I'm tired of this, but I'll show you around the place.' D. if it's someone I like to see, I say, 'How happy to see you! But I was going shopping now .' Answer: B. if it's someone I like to see, I say 'How lucky! I've just come in!' The London Underground is one of the best transport networks in the world with around 24 million journeys made each day, so it is important that everything runs smoothly. Remember the following to travel like a Londoner. Keep right on escalator London Underground asks that you stand on the right when using the escalators and leave the left free for others to walk down. If you are traveling in a big group, or with lots of shopping bags, stand and stay right and let others pass you---it will speed up the process and be a more pleasant journey for everyone! Remember the "rush hour" The tube network is very busy during the rush hour. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning and between 17:00 and 19:00 in the evening. Move down the platform to find more space As you enter the station platform, you will often find more room if you walk down to the end of the platform. Here, the train carriages are usually the emptiest as well. Carry a bottle of water in warmer moths The London Underground is over 150 years old and although the trains have been modernized, many still lack air conditioning and cooling units. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, especially in the summer, as the long tube journeys can get very hot. Keep your personal belongings safe Like any large city be cautions of pickpockets operating in the busy stations and tubes. Carry a bag with zips and keep your personal belongings and valuable items in it to avoid becoming the victims of theft. Plan your journey on the London Underground in advance with a free tube map. Click here to download. What can we know about the London Underground from the text? A. It is used by about 24 million people every week B. Its rush hour is around 10:00 am on weekends C. It has a history of more than one and a half centuries. D. It is enjoyable for people to travel on it all year round.. Answer: C. It has a history of more than one and a half centuries. As a young adult, Noah Webster was a teacher. At this time, the colonies were fighting for independence from Britain. Yet the books that American children used in school all came from Britain. The books were all about British people and British places. Webster wanted books that would mean more to American children. So he wrote three books that used American examples -- a grammar book, a spelling book, and a reader. These books were very popular, and millions of them were sold. Webster was interested in changing the spellings of words. He wanted words to be spelled the way they were pronounced. For example, he thought the word "head" should be spelled "hed", and the word "laugh" should be spelled "laf". People liked Webster's suggestions. However, few words were actually changed. One group of words that were changed were words in which an unpronounced "u" followed an "o". That is why Americans write "color" and "labor", and the British write "colour" and "labour". With the money he made from his books, Webster was able to write. It was the first American English dictionary, published in 1828. Webster's dictionary had over 70000 words and gave the meaning and origin of each. To this day, Webster's work is the example that most dictionaries of American English follow. In American history, Noah Webster is famous for _ . A. his teaching methods B. his dictionary C. his fighting for freedom D. learning foreign languages Answer: B. his dictionary
Traveling is one of the most important activities and people have been interested in it for many years. Modern traffics develops fast, so traveling to different places has become much easier than before. Staying healthy:while traveling can make your trip happier. But do you know how to keep healthy during a trip? The following information may be useful for you. Before leaving: * Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunglasses. * Take some necessary medicine with you. They can be used when you get sick or have other problems. * If you do lots of sports like walking or climbing on your trip, you should do some exercise for weeks or months before you leave. While traveling: * Be sure not to eat dirty food or bad fruit. * Have enough time to take a rest during your trip. * Tap water is not safe, so drink bottled water and always clean the cover on the bottle. You should _ before you leave your home for trip. Answer: take some medicine with you People diet to look more attractive.Fish diet to avoid being beaten up,thrown out of their social group,and getting eaten as a result.That is the fascinating conclusion of the latest research into fish behavior by a team of Australian scientists. The research team have discovered that subordinate fish voluntarily diet to avoid challenging their larger competitors."In studying gobies we noticed that only the largest two individuals,a male and female,had breeding rights within the group," explains Marian Wong."All other group members are nonbreeding females,each being 5-10% smaller than its next largest competitor.We wanted to find out how they maintain this precise size separation." The reason for the size difference was easy to see.Once a subordinate fish grows to within 5-10% of the size of its larger competitor,it causes a fight which usually ends in the smaller goby being driven away from the group.More often than not, _ is then eaten up. It appeared that the smaller fish were keeping themselves small in order to avoid challenging the boss fish.Whether they did so voluntarily,by restraining how much they ate,was not clear.The research team decided to do an experiment.They tried to fatten up some of the subordinate gobies to see what happened.To their surprise,the gobies simply refused the extra food they were offered,clearly preferring to remain small and avoid fights,over having a feast. The discovery challenges the traditional scientific view of how boss individuals keep their position in a group.Previously it was thought that large individuals simply used their weight and size to threaten their subordinates and take more of the food for themselves,so keeping their competitors small. While the habits of gobies may seem a little mysterious,Dr.Wong explains that understanding the relationships between boss and subordinate animals is important to understand how hierarchical societies remain stable. The research has proved the fact that voluntary dieting is a habit far from exclusive to humans."As yet,we lack a complete understanding of how widespread the voluntary reduction of food intake is in nature," the researchers comment."Data on human dieting suggests that,while humans generally diet to improve health or increase attractiveness,rarely does it improve long-term health and males regularly prefer females that are fatter than the females' own ideal." What is the text mainly about? Answer: Fish dieting. I fell in love with music from a young age and often sat down making a few songs of my own.What would life be like, I wondered, without a beautiful song? In 1992, I made two love songs to my darling wife and watched tears run down her face as I sang."Sam," she said earnestly, "Your songs should be heard by more people." She got my ballads and started bothering various media people about me, her singing barber husband.Two radio stations took an interest and played the songs.After the programme was aired, I became known in our community as the Singing Barber. The biggest surprise, however, was still to come.I received a call from a music promoter who offered me a long-term recording contract.He explained that he would be investing a lot of money to market my songs.I needed to be wholly focused on selling my records all over Australia. But I hesitated. My friends all told me to go for it.And Mary also thought I should do."Go, Sam.I'll manage with the family...it'll be OK." I watched my daughter and son playing in the backyard.Soon they would both be in high school...and where would I be? I was so used to my family turning to me for love and support.If I were to start a singing career, I would not only miss them terribly, I'd also certainly miss out on watching them grow up.Signing this contract would put a huge gap between my family and me...and I couldn't bear it.My family was my life.So I refused the music promoter's offer.I'm still making music, I'm rich in love and I have no regrets. Why did the author give up the contract? Answer: Because he didn't want his family life damaged. Older fathers have uglier children, researchers have claimed after linking age to genetic mutations . The finding comes weeks after leading scientists reported children born to men over the age of 45 run a higher risk of having autism and mental disorders. With age, sperm -producing cells do not copy a man's DNA as effectively, leading to genetic mutations. Martin Fielder, an anthropologist at Vienna University, told the Sunday Times: 'Every 16 years the mutation rate doubles. Other researchers found 25 mutations per sperm in a 20-year-old, but at age 40 it is 65 mutations. By 56, it doubles again. The effect is very visible - someone born to a father of 22 is already 5-10 per cent more attractive than those with a 40-year-old father and the difference grows with the age gap. In contrast, women pass on a maximum of 15 mutations to their baby, regardless of age, according to the study published in the journal Nature. Surveying a group of six men and six women, researchers showed them each 4,018 photographs of 18-20-year-old men and 4,416 of women the same age, and asked to assess their attractiveness. Those with older fathers were consistently considered less attractive. However, the children of older men, though less attractive, are likely to outlive their peers with younger fathers, it is claimed. Professor Lee Smith, a geneticist at Edinburgh University, told the Sunday Times other research found such children have longer telomeres - the caps on the end of chromosomes --- which are associated with longer life. But the mounting research connecting parents' age with autism is cause for concern, experts warn. Autism is an umbrella term for a range of developmental disorders that have a lifelong effect on someone's ability to interact socially and communicate openly. In the UK, around one in 100 adults is thought to be affected by autism, mostly men, caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Researchers said men should be advised about the potential problems in order to help their personal decision-making when it came to having fathering children at older ages. They warned that advancing paternal age faced a risk of 'numerous public health and societal problems'. Among well-known older dads are Simon Cowell, 54, whose son was born earlier this month, and comedian Frank Skinner whose first child was born in 2012 when he was 55. From the passage, we know that _ . Answer: When a man becomes older, sperm-producing cells copy his DNA less effectively Sigmund Freud was a world-famous doctor of Vienna . He was also a man full of humour. Once, at his 70th birthday party, a friend asked Freud if he could put his work into several words."Well,"said Freud, "we take the sick out of their trouble and return them to the common suffering." As a devoted son, Freud often visited his old mother. His mother usually spent her summer in a small mountain town in Austria. The King Josef usually spent his summer there, too. One day in the summer, a band was playing a lively tune when Freud's mother was sitting at the window and watching the people singing and dancing on Main Street. The old woman had a poor memory. She heard the band playing, but forgot it was the King's birthday. Freud was visiting his mother on her 95th birthday. He told his mother, "Mama, the band is playing for your birthday."She believed him and had a wonderful day. From what Freud said at his 70th birthday party, we can see that he was _ . Answer: a man full of humour
One of the easiest ways to keep healthy is to do jogging. Jogging is the name for a very gentle running--it is just a little faster than walking. Start slow jog 20 meters, then walk 20 meters. Little by little, if you are not feeling very tired, you may do more jogging and less walking. Finally, jog the whole way. It will be easy for you to start jogging for 15 minutes twice a week, slowly, increase this to 20~30minutes every day. The longer you join in jogging, the more you enjoy it and the healthier you will become. Some people like jogging alone, and others enjoy doing it with friends. Jogging in groups makes more people keener , because you just can not stay in bed while there is a group of friends waiting outside. If you want to start jogging, prepare a pair of comfortable shoes and _ mind. If you are not feeling very tired, _ . A. you may do more jogging B. you may do more running C. you are very healthy and needn't do more jogging D. you may just do more walking Answer: A. you may do more jogging The Cuban iguana is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas, one of the most endangered groups of lizards. This species with red eyes and a thick tail is one of the largest lizards in the Caribbean. The Cuban iguana is primarily _ ; 95% of its diet consists of the leaves, flowers and fruits from as many as 30 plant species, including the seaside rock bush and various grasses. However, Cuban iguanas occasionally consume animal matter, and individuals have been observed eating the dead flesh of birds, fish and crabs, The researchers wrote that quite a few people on Isla Magueyes could have caused this incident. The Cuban iguana is distributed throughout the rocky southern coastal areas of mainland Cuba and its surrounding islands with a wild population booming on Isla Magueyes, Puerto Rico. It is also found on the Cayman Islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, where a separate subspecies occurs. Females guard their nest sites and often nest in sites half destroyed by Cuban crocodiles. To avoid the attack from them, the Cuban iguana often makes its home within or near prickly-pear cacti . In general the species is in decline, more quickly on the mainland than on the outlying islands. One of the reasons for their decline is habitat destruction caused by the over consuming of farm animals, housing development, and the building of tourist resorts on the beaches where the animals prefer to build their nests. Although the wild population is in decline, the numbers of iguanas have been sharply increased as a result of captive-breeding and other conservation programs. .What's the author's purpose of writing the text? A. To give us a brief introduction to the Cuban iguana. B. To show he is concerned about the Cuban iguana. C. To explain reasons for the Cuban iguana's decline. D. To draw people's attention to the endangered Cuban iguana. Answer: A. To give us a brief introduction to the Cuban iguana. The Lies of George W. Bush By David Corn Imprint: Three Rivers Press Trade Paperback: 368 pages Pub Date: May 2004 Price: US $ 12.195 ISBN: 1400050677 All American presidents have lied, but George W. Bush has seriously abused the truth, this book tells us. It's full of sharp accusations against the prefix = st1 /USpresident and his inner circle. David Corn, theWashingtoneditor of "The Nation", details the many times the Bush administration knowingly and intentionally misled the American public to advance its own interests and plan. These include: Unclear reports and presenting misleading arguments to gain public support for the war againstIraq. Misleading explanations, instead of telling the full truth, about the 9/11 attacks. The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty By Kitty Kelley Imprint: Doubleday Hardcover: 736 Pages Pub Date: September 2004 Price: US $ 29.95 ISBN: 0385503245 They have got huge financial power and controlled world politics for more than half a century. They have been elected as governors, congressmen, senators and presidents. They have shaped America's past and, with the country at war under the leadership of their No. 1 son, they are, shapingAmerica's future. As the Bush family has risen to power, they have been masters of their own public image. They act and operate under the protection of privacy their money and status has afforded them. America's Secret War By George Friedman Imprint: Doubleday Hardcover: 368 pages Pub Date: October 2004 Price: US $ 25.95 ISBN: 0385512457 Friedman tells the surprising truth behind America's foreign policy and war in Afghanuistan andIraq. In "America's Secret War", George Friedman identifies the Untied States' most dangerous enemies. He also examines presidential strategies of the last quarter century, and reveals the real reasons behind the attack of 9/11 and the Bush administration's reasons for the war inIraq. He describes in detail America's secret and open efforts in the global war against terrorism. If you are an official from the department of foreign affairs, which book will most interest you? A. America's Secret War. B. The Lies of George W. Bush C. The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty. D. The Nation. Answer: A. America's Secret War. These days, it seems that almost all of us are too serious.My older daughter often says to me, "Daddy, you've got that serious look again." Even those of us who are committed to non-seriousness are probably too serious.People are frustrated and anxious about almost everything -- being five minutes late, witnessing someone look at us wrong or say the wrong thing, paying bills, waiting in line, overcooking a meal, making an honest mistake -- you name it, and we all lose perspective over it. The root of being anxious is our unwillingness to accept life as being different, in any way, from our expectation.Very simply, we want things to be a certain way but they're not a certain way.Life is simply as it is.Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best: "Our limited perspective, our hopes and fears become our measure of life, and when circumstances don't fit our ideas, they become our difficulties." We spend our lives wanting things, people, and events to be just as we want them to be -- and when they're not, we fight and we suffer. The first step in recovering from over-seriousness is to admit that you have a problem.You have to want to change, to become more easygoing.You have to see that your own anxiety is largely of your own creation -- it's made up of the way you have set up your life and the way you react to it. The next step is to understand the link between your expectations and your frustration level.Whenever you expect something to be a certain way and it isn't, you're upset and you suffer.On the other hand, when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free. A good exercise is to try to approach a single day without expectation.Don't expect people to be friendly.When they're not, you won't be surprised or bothered; if they are, you'll be delighted.Don't expect your day to be problem-free.Instead, as problems come up, say to yourself, "Ah, another barrier to overcome." As you approach your day in this manner you'll notice how elegant life can be.Rather than fighting against life, you'll be dancing with it.Pretty soon, with practice, you'll lighten up your entire life.And when you lighten up, life is a lot more fun. According to Benjamin Franklin, what was the cause of over-seriousness? A. The fact that people's perspective, hopes and fears are limited. B. The fact that people can't change life itself. C. The fact that things fail to meet people's expectations. D. The fact that circumstances turn out to be difficult. Answer: C. The fact that things fail to meet people's expectations. In China, people usually set off firecrackers to celebrate Spring Festival. But this year seemed very quiet. It was really different. A man called Zhang Wei was asked by a reporter in an interview. He said that his friends and he hadn't set off a single firecracker. "We all suffered from last month's smog . If we don't call an end to the firecracker, the environment will get worse and worse during the holiday." said Zhang Wei. He put up a notice in his community in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. In the notice, he called on more people to set off fewer firecrackers during this year's Spring Festival holiday. Lots of parents agreed with Zhang Wei's idea. They said that they hated the noise of firecrackers. The noise used to wake up their babies too early. The babies really needed quiet mornings, More Chinese looked forward to celebrating the holiday in a greener way. They decided not to set off firecrackers. They also decided not to waste food. They said that the new celebrations sounded fashionable. "My family didn't buy any fireworks this year. Instead, we donated the money to charity. It's good for the environment and charity as well." Internet user "Fighter" wrote on Sina Weibo. ,A, B, C, D,. (10) .What's the best title for the passage? A. Don't Waste Food B. Spring Festival Celebrations C. Firecrackers and Noise D. Spring Festival Goes Green Answer: D. Spring Festival Goes Green
Question: Every year on April 22, People all over the world celebrate Earth Day. It is a time to work to keep our earth clean. People plan projects to clean up the land, air and water. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson first thought of the idea for Earth Day in 1962 when he saw polluted rivers and cities with smoke. He needed to get support from Americans to clean up the earth. Finally, on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day! Now many countries around the world celebrate it, and you can, too. How can you celebrate Earth Day? Here are a few ideas: Join a clean-up project------Clean up your street or a favorite beach. Save energy------Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and use public transportation. Use less water. Reduce / Reuse/ Recycle ------ Practice the three Rs: First, reduce how much you use. Then reuse or recycle what you can. You can make a difference on Earth Day and every day! People celebrate World Earth Day every year to _ A. have great fun B. keep our earth clean C. get to know each other D. get support Answer: B. keep our earth clean Question: A good way to pass an examination is to work hard every day in the year. You may fail in the examination if you are lazy for most of the year and then work hard only a few days before the examination. If you are taking an English examination, don't learn only rules of grammar. Try to read stories in English and speak in English whenever you can. A few days before examination you should start going to bed early. Do not stay up late at night studying and learning things. Before you start the examination, read carefully over the examination paper. Try to understand the exact meaning of each question before you pick up your pen to write. When you have at last finished your examination, read your answers, correct any mistakes that you see and make sure that you have not _ anything _ . How do you know to pass an examination? A. Work hard every day in a year. B. Work hard many days in a year. C. Work hard most of time in a year. D. Work hard only a few days before the examination. Answer: A. Work hard every day in a year. Question: My grandfather is 70 years old this year. He is in good condition but he lost his hearing at the age of 65. Then it became difficult for me to communicate with him. My mother bought a hearing aid for him, but he often forgot where he had put it. So my mother advised me to communicate with him by gesture. Good idea! And then I began to use gesture. When I wanted to have an apple, firstly, I pointed to my mouth; later I made my hands form a round shape. Then he gave me an apple. When I was hungry, I pointed to my stomach. He would go into the kitchen and cook for me. When I wanted to use, the computer, I pointed to it. If he nodded , I could play computer games from 8 pm to 10 pm; if he disagreed, he always touched my head and pointed to the desk -- that meant that I should do my homework first. It was an easy way for us to communicate with each other! What did the write mean when he pointed to his stomach? A. He had a stomachache. B. He was cold. C. He was full. D. He was hungry. Answer: D. He was hungry. Question: Robert is sixteen now. He'll finish middle school in two years. His father has a shop and got much money. He hopes his son can go to university and makes him study hard. But the young man likes to play cards. He has to go out when his parents fall asleep. One night, when Robert came back, his father happened to see him. The old man was very angry and told his son to live upstairs. Robert has to go up and down quietly. Of course it troubles him. He thought and thought but didn't find a way. Last evening Robert listened carefully. And he was sure his parents went to sleep, he went out to play cards with his friends. He won some money and was happy. And he got back, he took off his shoes and was going upstairs. He heard a noise in his parents' bedroom. He stood behind the door and saw a man come out. He understood it was a thief . He stopped him at once. The man was very afraid and brought out all the things he stole in the room. "Tell me how you didn't wake my parents up," said Robert. "Or I'll take you to the police station!" Why do Robert's parents ask him to live upstairs? A. Because they are old. B. Because Robert doesn't like any noise. C. Because the room upstairs is better than the one downstairs. D. Because they can hear if Robert goes out at night. Answer: D. Because they can hear if Robert goes out at night. Question: No one likes to make mistakes. But a new study says organizations learn more from their failures than from their successes, and keep that knowledge longer. One of the researchers was Vinit Desai, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver Business School. He worked with Peter Madsen from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in Utah. They did not find much long-term "organizational learning" from success. It is possible, they say. But Professor Desai says they found that knowledge gained from failure lasts for years. He says organizations should treat failures as a learning opportunity and not try to ignore them. The study looked at companies and organizations that launch satellites--and other space vehicles. Professor Desai compared two shuttle flights. In two thousand two, a piece of insulating material broke off during launch and damaged a rocket on the Atlantis. Still, the flight was considered a success. Then, in early two thousand three, a piece of insulation struck the Columbia during launch. This time, the shuttle broke apart on re-entry and the seven crew members died. NASA officials suspended all flights and an investigation led to suggested changes. Professor Desai says the search for solutions after a failure can make leaders more open-minded. He points to airlines as an example of an industry that has learned from failures in the past. He advises organizations to look for useful information in small failures and failures they avoided. He also urges leaders to encourage the open sharing of information. The study appeared in the Academy of Management Journal. The mistakes we learn from do not have to be our own. We recently asked people on our Facebook page to tell us a time they had done something really silly. Fabricio Cmino wrote: Not long ago I wanted to watch TV, but it wouldn't turn on, so I did everything I could to start it. Thirty minutes later my mum showed up and, passing by, said to me "Did you try plugging it'? I'm just dusting, Mum!"So she wouldn't notice how dumb I am sometimes! Bruno Kanieski da Silva told about a time he looked everywhere for his key. It was in hispocket. He wrote: I always promise I will never do it again, but after-a few weeks,where is mywallet? For sure it will be in a very logical place. From the passage, we can infer that _ . A. The insulating material problem in 2002 didn't arouse enough attention B. There were no astronauts on Columbia C. In spite of the problem, Atlantis was considered a success D. Columbia exploded during its launch time Answer: A. The insulating material problem in 2002 didn't arouse enough attention
It was a sunny holiday Monday. Olivier Ferrante was cooking sausages on the barbecue and entertaining friends in his garden north of Paris when the phone rang. The call came from the BEA, France's air accidents investigation bureau , where the 38-year-old former football player and driver was an investigator. The news was grim. "An Airbus is missing over the Atlantic: we need you." As a safety investigator,Ferrante and his teams had participated, directly and indirectly,in the recovery of crashed planes from the Red Sea, the Black Sea,and every ocean. But this investigation would be his toughest ever: the plane had disappeared without a witness, or a trace on radar . At least eight ships and a dozen military aircraft gathered on the plane's last known position, about halfway between Brazil and Western Africa. After six days the aircraft's tail fin and 50 bodies were spotted on the surface and the first burning questions were answered. The plane wreckage and passenger injuries indicated the doomed Airbus was unbroken when it hit the water. It was not exploded apart by a bomb or lightning, now broken up by violent weather. Strangely, no mayday message had been sent by its pilots. Ferrante worked energetically with his team:collecting offers of help from around the world, consulting navy ministries and research organizations in France and elsewhere, and contracting suitable ships and high-tech equipment. He would not return home for another 29 days. His team used the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV) operated around the clock, searching about 400 square kilometers a day. But the race against time was lost and no signals were heard and no more wreckage was found. Day after day, the screen remained bare except for objects that turned out to be stones or garbage from ships. Stressed by media attention and painful meetings with victims' s,Ferrante went jogging one day to clear his head. Then he had an idea. He decided to look at what had happened to nine other planes that crashed after something abruptly went wrong while flying at high altitude. He found that none had traveled more than 30 km before hitting the sea; most covered less than half that distance. AUV operations continued but now they focused on a 30 km circle around the plane's last known position. On the ninth day of the new-strategy searching, after searching for 22 months, their hard work paid off finally. The first thing they saw was a woman's handbag. Next,they saw bits of twisted aircraft parts and a panel with "AF" painted on it. Without a doubt,this was the missing Aribus,lying 11 km northeast of its last known position, but nobody felt much like cheering the discovery. "The screen also exposed well-preserved human bodies,and for some of us they were hard to look at," says Ferrante. What happened to the plane? A. It exploded 11 km northeast of its last known position. B. It was seen crashed over the Atlantic Ocean. C. Something was wrong with its tail fin so that it went missing. D. It was flying at high altitude before going missing. Answer: D. It was flying at high altitude before going missing. People talk about energy everywhere. Green energy, for example. Then, energy independence. It has a nice ring to it. Doesn't it? If you think so, you're not alone, because energy independence has been the dream of American president for decades, and never more so than in the past few years, when the most recent oil price shock has been partly responsible for kicking off the great recession . "Energy independence" and its rhetorical companion "energy security" are, however, unreliable concepts that are rarely thought through. What is it that we want independence from, exactly? Most people would probably say that they want to be independent from imported oil. But there are reasons that we buy all that oil from elsewhere. The first reason is that we need it to keep our economy running. Yes, there is a trickle of biofuel available, and more may become available, but most biofuels cause economic waste and environmental destruction. Second, Americans have basically decided that they don't really want to produce all their own oil. They value the environmental quality they preserve over their oil imports from abroad. Vast areas of the United States are off-limits to oil exploration and production in the name of environmental protection. To what extent are Americans really willing to tolerate the environmental influence of domestic energy production in order to cut back imports? Third, there are benefits to trade. It allows for economic efficiency, and when we buy things from places that have lower production costs than we do, we benefit. And although you don't read about this much, the United States is also a large exporter of oil products, selling about 2 million barrels of petroleum products per day to about 90 countries. There is no question that the United States imports a great deal of energy and, in fact, relies on that steady flow to keep its economy stable. When that flow is interrupted, we feel the pain in short supplies and higher prices. At the same time, we get massive economic benefits when we buy the most affordable energy on the world market and when we engage in energy trade around the world. What does the author say about energy independence for America? A. It sounds very attractive. B. It ensures national security. C. It will bring oil prices down. D. It will protect the environment. Answer: A. It sounds very attractive. In a cab, a woman seemed in such a hurry. She constantly rushed the cab driver to drive quickly. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts of getting to the airport as soon as possible that she was not aware they were going by a different route. All of a sudden, a young man got inside the cab. He took her handbag in which she had put her visa, passport, and all the money for the trip. The cab driver, who was _ the robber, left her in the exactly middle of a dark street. She thought that she was rather unfortunate in the very situation. During the very night, she was told a piece of shocking news. Tears came down her cheek. Flight 360, the plane that she should have got on board, had crashed. Had she not lost her important belongings, she could surely have lost the thing far more precious----her life. Sometimes bad things really happen. There are times when nothing seems to go our way. So what should we do about it? We must get rid of all these frustrations and start all over again in the faith that we will get what we deserve. Don't waste your time and energy on things that can't be changed. Continuous worrying will only affect your health and you'll be doing much more damage than what was previously done. What if it was the other way round? What if we never ran out of good luck? There was a man who won the lottery. He became greedy and wasted all his money on everything he could get his hands on. But when he one day made it to the front page of the newspaper again, it was a different story. He had been killed because of his riches. If you attain good luck, you can never be too secure about it. Life is so unpredictable. You never know what will happen next. Live one day at a time. We sometimes subject ourselves to unnecessary emotional trouble. But please don't forget: sometimes misfortune can be the source of happiness. Live for the moment. Do what must be done for the present and the future will turn out just fine. Believe me. And believe in yourself. As Captain Planet always says, "The power is yours!" The writer presents the second example in order to _ . A. warn people of the danger of winning the lottery B. tell people life is unpredictable C. encourage people to buy lottery D. persuade people not to be greedy Answer: B. tell people life is unpredictable I was six when I joined my father and two brothers at sunrise in the hayfields of Eufaula,Oklahoma.By the time I was eight I was helping Dad fix up low-income rent properties.He gave me a penny for every nail I pulled out of old boards. I got my first real job,at JM's restaurant in town,when I was 12.My main responsibilities were cleaning tables and washing dishes,but sometimes I helped cook. Every day after school I would head to JM's and work until ten.On Saturdays I worked from two until eleven.At that age it was unlucky going to work and watching my friends run off to swim or play.I didn't necessarily like work,but I love what working allowed me to have.Because of my job I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local bar Tastee Freez.This made me proud. Word that I was honest and hard-working got around town.A local clothing store offered credit to me although I was only in the seventh grade.I immediately charged a $68 sports coat and a $22 pair of trousers.I was making only 65 cents an hour,and I was already $90 in debt!So I learned early the danger of easy credit.I paid it off as soon as I could. My first job taught me discipline,responsibility and brought me a level of personal satisfaction few of my friends had experienced.As by father,who worked three jobs,once told me,"If you understand sacrifice and commitment,there are not many things in life you can't have."How right he was! At the age of 12,the author got a job at a restaurant and often worked till late at night because _ . A. he liked that work B. he didn't like playing C. he was hard-working D. he felt rewarded by doing that work Answer: D. he felt rewarded by doing that work A creature is able to receive nutriment throughout their limbs due to A. arteries B. jeans C. oranges D. arms Answer: A. arteries
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. Who was the first invaders of Britain? A The Angles. B The Saxons. C The Jutes. D The Normans. Answer: A So far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species ,and that's just a small part of what probably exists on Earth.With so many plants,animals,fungi,and other organisms covering the planet,it can be tough to figure out what type of spider is crawling up your leg or what kind of bird just flew by. A soon-to-be-launched Website might help.An international team of researchers has announced the creation of a Web -- based Encyclopedia of Life (EOL).The project aims to catalogue every species on Earth in a single,easy-to-use reference guide. To get the encyclopedia started,the creators will use information from scientific databases that already exist.And eventually,in special sections of the site,nonscientists with specialized knowledge will join.Gardeners,for example,will be able to record the dates that their flowers first bloom each year.Bird-watchers will be able to input which birds they've seen and where.The technology for this kind of tool has only recently become available. As the EOL develops, you might find it useful for school projects.The site will have special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods.To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate,scientists will review much of the information added to it.People who visit the site will be able to choose to skip pages that haven't been reviewed. Another convenient characteristic of the EOL is that you'11 be able to pick the level of detail you see to match your interests,age,and current knowledge. If you wanted to learn about polar bears for a science class report,for example,you could use the _ setting to get basic information about the animals.On the "expert" setting,on the other hand.you could get much more detailed information about the history,literature,and exploration of polar bears. It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species.The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new tool will speed that process. Keep an eye on _ .Pages will begin to go up sometime next year,and you might find them useful for your school reports.The EOL team might have the basics for all 1.8 million entries online as early as 2017.Someday,you might add your own notes. Who are the intended readers of this passage? A Students. B Researchers. C Bird watchers or Gardeners. D People in general. Answer: A Welcome Aboard Just 15 minutes from Banff is Lake Minnewanka where a 90minute cruise to the Devil's Gap is sure to be the highlight of your summer adventure! For information & group reservations,phone 7623473! www.minnewankaboattours.com GUIDED MOUNTAIN FLIGHTS of the Columbia Ice Field & Canadian Rockies Leave the Crowds Behind Tour Narrated by Your Host Owner/Pilot Steve Neill (from $110/person) Comfortable window seats Headsets for clients/pilot conversation Ski plane available for glacier landings Reservations : 18773447117 www.rockiesairtours.com THREE SISTERS MOUNTAIN VILLAGE Which stars will you be watching tonight? When you discover the beauty that surrounds Three Sisters Mountain Village,you will be surprised at how much brighter they are in the sky than on the screen.So make some popcorn,pull up a comfortable chair and settle in for a quiet night in the mountain.All the stars will be there. Call rollfree (866) 3882877 www.threesistersmountainvillage.com PERFECT PICTURES Discover the Rockies's most desirable natural attractions on a Brewster guided excursion.As national park specialists,we are proud to share the wonders of Canada's largest outdoor living museum.Our 111 years'experience ensures a most memorable guided adventure! Wildlife viewing Nature walks Sightseeing Tollfree:18007606934 www.brewster.ca RAFTING & OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Youth & group rates available! A spectacular adventure is waiting for you between Banff and Calgary,a short scenic drive to paradise.Join us for a fun,exciting and safe adventure in the Kananaskis and Bow Valley. Adventures are available for all ages and skill levels. Our professional and highly qualified guides are all Wilderness First Aid and River Rescue certified. Tollfree:18779997238 www.insideoutexperience.com What kind of activities do the five tours all provide? A Outdoor activities. B Adventurous activities. C Educational activities. D Free activities. Answer: A Having put down your pens at the end of the college entrance exam, you have ended 12 years of hard study. Forget your studies for a while. It's time to enjoy yourselves! There are many ways to celebrate this special month of graduation. You can have photos taken with your classmates and teachers, or dine out together and exchange gifts. High school students in Western countries such as the United States and Canada usually have a prom to mark their graduation. It's to mark the time kids turn into young men and women. After the prom, teenagers either go to college or find a job. It means they are no longer as dependent on their parents as they were before. At the prom, boys usually dress in dinner jackets and bow ties, though many different types of formal clothes are worn. Traditionally, girls give boys matching boutonnieres ( ). Girls traditionally wear formal dresses, or dress to shock or be noticed, in shiny or brightly colored materials. Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom king and queen, and just talking to friends. In some cases, high school students collect funds for their class prom through the four years of their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, in a pleasure cruise boat. But often costs are cut by simply using the school gym. Students make a lot of effort to decorate the gym to make the event special. The music played at the prom will be the most popular kinds, like rock and hip-hop. The students elect the Prom Queen. She is partnered with a Prom King who is elected similarly. These are great honors that the pair take very seriously. The two dance with each other to celebrate their election. Which of the following is an economical way to hold the prom? A Renting a ballroom. B Taking a cruise boat. C Holding it in the school gym. D Wearing informal dresses. Answer: C Travis is the manager of G&G where he is responsible for forty employees and profits of over $2 million per year. He's never late to work. He does not get upset on the job. When one of his employees started crying after a customer screamed at her, Travis took her away. "Your working uniform is your shelter," he told her. "Nothing anyone says will ever hurt you. You will always be as strong as you want to be." Travis picked up that lecture in one of his G&G training courses, an education program that began on his first day and continues throughout an employee's occupation. The training has, Travis says, changed his life. G&G has taught him how to live, how to focus, how to get to work on time, and how to master his emotions . Most importantly, it taught him willpower. At the center of that education is an extreme focus on an all-important habit; willpower. Dozens of cases show that willpower is the single most important habit for a person's success. And the best way to strengthen willpower is to make it into a habit. "Sometimes it looks like people with great self-control aren't working hard--but that's because they've made it automatic," Angela Duckworth, one of the University of Pennsylvania researchers said. "Their willpower occurs without them having to think about it." The company spent millions of dollars developing programs of study to train employees on self-control. Managers wrote workbooks that serve as guides to how to make willpower a habit in workers' lives. Those courses arc, in part, why G&G has grown from a sleepy company into a large one with more than seventeen thousand stores and profits of more than $10 billion a year. Willpower will become a habit when employees can _ . A focus on the profits B benefit from the job C protect themselves well D control their feeling well Answer: D
Question: If a lake is polluted, which organism would most likely accumulate the highest concentration of contaminants? A. bass B. minnows C. aquatic plants D. fish-eating birds Answer: D Question: Yorkshire, England was the setting for two great novels of the 19th century. These were Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. The youngest sister, Anne, was also a gifted novelist, and her books have the same extraordinary quality as her sisters'. Their father was Patrick Bronte, born in Ireland. He moved with his wife, Maria Bronte, and their six small children to Haworth in Yorkshire in 1820. Soon after, Mrs. Bronte and the two eldest children died, leaving the father to care of the remaining three girls and a boy. Charlotte was born in 1816. Emily was born in 1818 and Anne in 1820. Their brother Branwell was born in 1817. Left to themselves, the children wrote and told stories and walked over the hills. They grew up largely self-educated. Branwell showed a great interest in drawing. The girls were determined to earn money for his art education. They took positions as teachers or taught children in their homes. As children they had all written many stories. Charlotte, as a young girl, alone wrote 22 books, each with 60 to 100 pages of small handwriting. Therefore, they turned to writing for income. By 1847, Charlotte had written The Professor; Emily, Wuthering Heights; and Anne, Agnes Grey. After much difficulty Anne and Emily found a publisher , but there was no interest shown in Charlotte's book. (It was not published until 1859.) However, one publisher expressed an interest in seeing more of her works. Jane Eyre was already started, and she hurriedly finished it. It was accepted at once; thus each of the sisters had a book published in 1847. Jane Eyre was immediately successful; the other two, however, did not do so well. People did not like Wuthering Heights. They said it was too wild, too animal-like. But gradually it came to be considered one of the finest novels in the English language. Emily lived only a short while after the publication of the book, and Anne died in 1849. Charlotte published Shirley in 1849, and Villette in 1853. In 1854 she married Arthur Bell Nicholls. But only a year later, she died of tuberculosis as her sisters had. What do we know about the Bronte sisters from the text? A. Their novels interested few publishers. B. None of them had more than two books published. C. None of them lived longer than 40 years old. D. Emily was the least successful of the three. Answer: C Question: Kiss of Death is a romantic detective story whose basic theme focuses totally on dogs. Whitney Marshall had just gone through a divorce, appearing practically penniless while her husband, a promising plastic surgeon, was left with the property and the debts, and his new wife. Whitney seeks help from her cousin, Miranda, who had lived with them as a child. Miranda is operating a dog walking business and lives in the caretaker's cottage of one of her employers, Calvin Hunter. Whitney's approach is timely as Miranda is getting married and leaving for a two- week honeymoon. She leaves her house and the dogs in Whitney's care. Living next door is Adam Hunter; an expert of the Iraqi war who had suffered a battle injury. During his recovery, his uncle Calvin had asked Adam to his home in prefix = st1 /Greecetelling him that he was certain someone was likely to murder him. His uncle Calvin recently died of an apparent heart attack and Adam has come to Calvin California home to straighten out his affairs and to further investigate the death. Adam is from the area, and was previously called up in the security business with his former police partner. Immediately after Calvin's death, his home had been broken into and the only things stolen were his computer and related things. Adam has an accountant trying to sort out his uncle financial affairs. His uncle had become fascinated to a pet dog who had "taken Westminster by storm,"and had caught the dog show fever, spending his time judging and attending shows. To the surprise of all, however, there does not seem to be any money in his accounts. Whitney and Adam meet when he catches her in the house. Whitney is merely dealing with Calvin's dog, one of her new responsibilities. They continue to meet as outside causes throw them together and romance starts. Whitney's former husband Ryan tries to persuade her to sign a deal over to him that he claims he had not been properly taken care of in the divorce. She is hesitating, waiting to see a lawyer. Then, Whitney's dog is missing, kidnapped by Ryan's new wife's personal trainer; the caretaker's cottage is bombed; and most importantly, they find the man that Miranda was to marry had never heard of her, and she seems missing. The plot seems to circle among all these people, heading nowhere until the end of the book when it picks up speed, and all is exposed. Kiss of Death will be unforgettable only to readers who enjoy learning mysterious facts about dogs. This passage is most probably part of _ . A. life story of the author of Kiss of Death B. an article by a literary reviewer C. a book-seller's advertisement D. a diary by a real detective Answer: B Question: Plaintiff is suing Doctor for medical malpractice occasioned by allegedly prescribing an incorrect medication, causing Plaintiff to undergo substantial hospitalization. When Doctor learned of the medication problem, she immediately offered to pay Plaintiff's hospital expenses. At trial, Plaintiff offers evidence of Doctor's offer to pay the costs of his hospitalization. The evidence of Doctor's offer is A. admissible as a nonhearsay statement of a party. B. admissible, although hearsay, as a statement against interest. C. inadmissible, because it is an offer to pay medical expenses. D. inadmissible, because it is an offer to compromise. Answer: C Question: in the presence heat, which of these comes about? A. a melted snocone at the cafeteria B. an ice cream cone C. a piece of gum D. a large metamorphic rock Answer: A
It was once common to regard Britain as a society with class distinction. Each class had unique characteristics. In recent years, many writers have begun to speak of the 'decline of class ' and 'classless society ' in Britain. And in modern day consumer society everyone is considered to be middle class. But pronouncing the death of class is too early. A recent wide-ranging study of pubic opinion found 90 percent of people still placing themselves in a particular class; 73 percent agreeed that class was still a vital part of British society.; and 52 percent thought there were still sharp class differences. Thus, class may not be culturally and politically obvious, yet it remains an imprtant part of British society. Britain seems to have a love of _ . One unchanging aspect of a British person's class position is accent. The words a person speaks tell her or his class. A study of British accents during the 1970s found that a voice sounding like a BBC newsreader was viewed as the most attractive voice. Most people said this accent sounds 'educated ' and 'soft '. The accents placed at the bottom in this study, on the other hand, were regional city accents. These accents were seen as 'common ' and 'ugly '. However, a similar study of British accents in the US turned these results upside down and placed some regional accents as the most attractive and BBC English as the least. This suggests that British attitudes towards accent have deep roots and are based on class prejudice. In recent years, however, young upper midder-class people in London, have begun to adopt some regional accents, in order to hide their class origins. This is an indication of class becoming unnoticed. However, the 1995 pop song ' Common People ' puts forward the view that though a middle-class person may ' want to live like common people ' they can never appreciate the reality of a working class life. What is the main idea of the passage? Dear Jenny, Gary is having a _ party after Month Exam! He invites all of us to come! Since it is a potluck party, I think I will bring some beef noodles. As I know, Lily will take care of the drinks and Gina will bring a big homemade chocolate cake. Can you ask your mom to buy us some KFC fried chicken? You know it is too far for all of us to ride a bike there, but your mom often drives there. We can pay the bill together. Just think about how surprised our classmates will feel when they see what we prepare! Isn't it great? The party will start at noon on March 25, so be sure to be at Gary's place around 11:30 to prepare for the party. By the way, don't forget to invite Amy, who is good at music. If you have any other questions, just call me or write me back. Take care! Leo There will be at least _ of them for the party, besides Amy. DEARAUNTYf My husband's niece is 13 and what I would call "a handful". She wants to stay with us for while, and her mother and grandmother have told me what a great influence I would be on her. Her visit ,no doubt, would bring about a long list of demands' and she'd want to bring a friend too. I don t feel comfortable hosting her, but I don 3r know how to tell my husband's family members without hurting their feelings. -Reluctant Aunt Dear Reluctant, Let's get you out of this mess. Your husband's family is making a request that borders on a demand and sugarcoating it with self-serving flattery * Put your foot down, and tell the truth. Say you don't feel equipped or comfortable hosting the little darling, and regretfully decline .Under no circumstances should you take part in any discussion that attempts to change your mind through flattery. DEAR AUNTY have two stepdaughters, 21 and 24. On holidays, the older one always buys me gift but adds her sister's name on the card. I feel insincere thanking the younger daughter -Vd rather get no gift than be a part of this pretence. Is it tacky to ask the 24-year-old to stop giving her sister credit while it isn t deserved? Will the younger one ever learn to be thoughtful? -Mindful Mum Dear Mindful, Lighten up! Your older stepdaughter is a considerate and generous sister who covers for and protects her younger sister. Good for her! The girls' relationship is between them. As for your role, you can't punish anyone into being thoughtful. You can, however, model thoughtful behavior. Spend some time with her, and get to know her better. In which section does the passage most probably appear in a magazine? Although the Samoan Natives have long claimed to be the indigenous people of their islands, holding firm to the belief that Samoans were birthed by special creation in Samoa, it has been theorized by many linguists, based on linguistic commonalities as well as archaeological findings, that migrants from Southeast Asia arrived in the Samoan Islands approximately 3500 years ago, settling in what has come to be known as "Polynesia" further to the east. Early contact with Europeans was established in the 18th century. Christianity was formally introduced with the arrival of missionaries in August 1830. During the early 20th century the Samoan Islands were divided by Germany, Great Britain and the USA. Tutuila and Aunu'u islands were claimed by the USA. The western islands became German Samoa. In 1914, New Zealand forces captured the islands from Germany, thus becoming Western Samoa. Western Samoa regained its independence on January 1, 1962. Samoans are notable in rugby. Despite its small population, the island of American Samoa produces disproportionately a large number of world-class American football players. Samoan Mosi Tatupu was a member of NFL team the New England Patriots. Samoan Troy Polamalu was a member of the NFL team the Pittsburgh Steelers until he retired after the 2014 football season. Traditional Samoan tattoo proves the strong ties many Samoans feel for their culture. Samoans have practiced the art of tattooing for over 2,000 years. To this day, a man's tattoo widely covers from mid-back, down the sides, to the knees. A woman's tattoo is not quite as wide or heavy. The geometric patterns are based on ancient designs, and often indicate rank and status. Here is the process of tattooing. The tattoo master dips his cutting tools into black ink made from burnt shells, and then punctures designs into the skin. The cutting tool consists of a short piece of bamboo or light wood with a piece of tortoiseshell bound at right angles at one end. A little bone comb is bound to the lower broad end of the tortoiseshell. The larger the comb, the greater the area on the skin is covered with fewer strokes. The process takes days, and is sometimes partially accomplished over longer periods, with recovery in between. When talking about their culture, Samoan natives most probably agree that _ In Europe many people died during the Second World War. As a result, at the end of the war there were many orphans there. A man called Hermann Gmeiner wanted to help these children. His idea was simple. He wanted orphans to have a home, and he wanted them to have the care and kindness of parents. Gmeiner asked people to give him some money. With this money he built the first SOS Children's Village at Imst, in Austria. It opened in1949. This is how the SOS stand for "Save Our Souls ." This means "Please help us!" An SOS Children' village gives help to orphans. Hermann Gmeiner's idea for helping orphans soon spread all over the world. By 1983 there were 170 SOS Children's Villages in the world. People in many countries give money to help the villages. Today the children from the first village have grown up. Now some of them work in other SOS Children's Villages. In SOS Villages orphans live in family groups. There are several houses in each village. The biggest village has 40 or 50 houses! Between seven and ten children live in a house. A woman lives with each group of children and looks after them. She gives the children a lot of love and kindness. She cooks meals for them and makes comfortable, happy home for them. Of course, the children don't spend all their time in the village. They go to school, they go out with their friends. But the village gives them a home--sometimes for the first time in their lives. Which of the following came last?
Today, paper-making is a big business. But it is still possible to make paper by hand, since the steps are the same as using big machines. You should use paper with small amounts of printing. Old envelopes are good for this reason. Colored paper also can be used, as well as small amounts of newspaper. Small pieces of rags or cloth can be added. These should be cut into pieces about five centimeters by five centimeters. Everything is placed in a container, covered with water and brought to a boil. It is mixed for about two hours with some common chemicals and then allowed to cool. Then it is left until most of the water dries up. The substance left, called pulp , can be stored until you are ready to make paper. When you are ready, the pulp is mixed with water again. Then the pulp is poured into a mold. The mold is made of small squares of wire that hold the shape and thickness of the paper. To help dry the paper, the mold lets the water flow through the small wire squares. After several more drying steps, the paper is carefully lifted back from the mold. It is now strong enough to be touched. The paper is smoothed and pressed to remove trapped air. You can use a common electric iron used for pressing clothes. When the paper is lifted from the mold, it is time to _ . make it smooth Traditional fairytales are being given up by parents because they are too scary for their young children, a study found. Research uncovered that one in five parents has got rid of old literature such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Rapunzel in favour of more modem books. One third of parents said their children have been left in tears after hearing the _ details of Little Red Riding Hood. And nearly half of mothers and fathers refuse to read Rumplesliltshin to their kids as the themes of the story are kidnapping and killing. Similarly, Goldilocks and the Three Bears was also a tale likely to be left on the book shelf as parents felt it forgives stealing. The survey of 2,000 adults was completed to mark the launch of the hit US drama GRIMM , which starts tonight at 9pm on Watch, and sees six drama series based on traditional fairytales. The survey found a quarter of parents questioned wouldn't consider reading fairytales to their kids. And 52 percent of the parents said Cinderella didn't send a good message to their children as it describes a young woman doing housework all day. Steve Hornsey, General Manager of Watch, said: "Bedtime stories are supposed to calm children down and send them off to sleep soundly.But as we see in GMMM, fairytales can be dark and dramatic so it's understandable that parents worry about reading them to young 'children.As adults we can see the innocence in fairytales, but a five - year - old child could take them too literally.Despite the dark nature of classic fairytales, as: we see in GRIMM, good will defeat evil and there is always a moral to the story." The study also found two thirds of mums and dads try to avoid Stories which might give their children nightmares. However half of parents said traditional tales are "more likely to have a strong moral message than a lot of modem kids' books, such as The Gruffato, The Hungary Caterpillar and the Mr Men books. A quarter of parents were unwilling to read fairy tales id their children because _ . their children would ask too many strange questions It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere.When squeezing past someone in a narrow aisle, people say "sorry".When getting off a bus, English passengers say "thank you" rather than the driver.In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others sometimes can't be avoided.and the bus driver is merely doing his job.I used lo think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles and came to appreciate some more polite ways of communicating with people. People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time.When people buy something in a shop, customer and retail assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more.In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation.British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room.English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs as opposed to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough. Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others.Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me.my employers stressed several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism.It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable.This also is shown in other ways.British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men.However, 1 do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men' Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted. The author develops the text through the method of _ . making comparisons Which type of rock is formed when limestone is subjected to heat and pressure? marble "Let's go Dutch, shall we?" Jim said after a dinner to his friends in a restaurant. What does Jim mean? Long ago, there was a kind of dinner called Dutch treat . At a Dutch treat, the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of the food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his or her own share. There are many other expressions related with "Dutch" in American English. However, most of them were first used in England in the 17th century. At that time, the British and the Dutch were war enemies. So when British people talked about something wrong or bad, they would like to use the word "Dutch". A common expression heard a few years ago was in Dutch. A friend may tell you, "You are in Dutch. The teacher is angry with you. Be careful!" When a soldier took Dutch leave, he left the army without permission. Dutch courage was the false courage produced by the effects of drinking wine. There is one expression that did come from the Dutch. That is to talk like a Dutch uncle. The Dutch were known for the strict and serious way they educated their children. If someone spoke to you in a very serious way, you may say that he _ . was like a Dutch uncle
How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork? Or the day after a slumber party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes. Genes are stretches of DNA that work like an instruction manual for our cells. Genes tell our bodies and brains what to do. People have about 40,000 genes, and each gene can have different forms. So, for example, certain forms of some genes make your eyes blue. Other versions of those genes make your eyes brown. In a similar way, new research suggests that a gene calledperiod3affects how well you function without sleep. The discovery adds to older evidence thatperiod3helps determine whether you like to stay up late or get up early. Theperiod3gene comes in two forms: short and long. Everyone has two copies of the gene. So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each. Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies ofperiod3. Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers. Results showed that the people with the short form ofperiod3performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did. In both groups, people performed worst in the early morning. That's the time when truck drivers and other night-shift workers say they have the most trouble concentrating. After the first round of experiments, participants were finally allowed to sleep. People in the group that performed well on the tests took about 18 minutes to nod off. People with the longperiod3gene, by contrast, fell asleep in just 8 minutes. They also spent more time in deep sleep. That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working at top form. What's the best title of the passage? Answer: Wake up, Sleepy Gene If you're looking for a fairly painless way to lose weight, researchers at Brigham Young University have a new solution for you: Put yourself on a regular sleep schedule. People who keep a regular sleep routine have a lower body fat than those who keep irregular sleep hours, says a new study. Led by Bruce Bailey, professor of exercise science, researchers followed 300 female college students aged 19 to 26, who were given activity trackers to watch their movements and activities, including waking and sleeping times . Researchers also measured their body composition before and after the one-week study period. What the researchers found: Body fat varied with sleep quantity. Women who slept between 8 and 8.5 hours a night had the lowest body fat. While those who slept less than 7 hours or over 9 hours had higher body fat. High quality sleep was associated with lower body fat while poor sleep was connected with higher body fat. Waking and going to sleep at the same time every day was most strongly linked with lower body fat. The difference in body weight was greater with more variation in sleep pattern. Women whose sleep patterns varied by 90 minutes a night had higher body fat than those whose sleep patterns varied by 60 minutes or less on average. The study followed up on a body of research conducted over the last few years that ties quality and quantity of sleep to weight loss and better weight control. While researchers don't know exactly how sleep schedules affect body weight and fat, other studies have shown that sleep has an effect on physical activity, appetite , and the hormones that control metabolism , and the signals that tell us we're full. Which of the following about the study led by Bruce Bailey is true? Answer: The participants' activities were monitored through trackers. Once Lu Xun spoke to the young men about the study of foreign languages. He said: " You must not give up studying foreign languages for even a day. To master a language, words and grammatical rules are not enough. You must do a lot of reading. Take a book and force yourself to read it. At the same time, turn to dictionaries and memorize grammatical rules. After reading a book, it's only natural that you won't understand it all. Never mind. Put it aside, and start another one. In a few months or half a year, go over the first book again; you are sure to understand much more than before ... Young people have good memories. If you memorize a few words every day and keep on reading all the time, in four or five years, you will certainly be able to read works in the foreign language. This passage mainly tells us how to _ Answer: do our reading Are you an early riser or a night owl? Researchers from Aachen University in Germany believe that about 10 percent of people can be classified as "morning people", who feel more active and function best in the morning.Around 20 percent are night owls--people who naturally tend to stay up late and are more tired during the day.And the rest of us fall somewhere in between, according to New Scientist. Previous studies have suggested that early risers are more likely to be happy and healthy while night owls experience worse sleep as well as more depression and anxiety during the day. For a long time, scientists have been trying to find out what causes the differences between the two.A new study suggests that it isn't just people's habits--early risers and night owls actually have different brain structures. Led by Jessica Rosenberg at Aachen University, researchers scanned the brains of 16 early risers, 23 night owls and 20 people with intermediate sleeping hours.They found that the brains of night owls had less "white matter"--which speeds up the transmission of nerve signals -- in brain areas associated with depression. As you know, after people fly in an airplane from one time zone to another, they often suffer from a confused and tired feeling called "jet lag" because their body clocks are out of sync with the new time zone.It usually takes about a week for their bodies to adjust to the new time.But night owls always have difficulty syncing their bodies to the right time due to their brain structure."It's like they suffer from permanent jet lag," said Rosenberg. The good news is that it is possible for night owls to turn themselves into morning people.According to the researchers, night owls should try to spend as much time in the sunlight as possible and reduce their exposure to artificial light at night to force their body clocks to shift to a more normal rhythm. We can learn from the article that night owls _ . Answer: have body clocks that are not in agreement with the actual time In the 1500s, South American fishermen said that the sea became warmer every few years. They gave this special event a Spanish name 'El Nino', meaning 'the baby'. It is called 'the baby' because it arrives around Christmas. El Nino is a huge area of warm water in the middle of cold water in the Pacific Ocean. It happens every two to seven years. It moves around the ocean and becomes bigger and smaller at different times. This warm water affects the weather. It is always raining over El Nino. El Nino contains a lot of energy. Scientists think this energy is formed when wind comes from the northern half of the world. The winds blow across warm sea water in the south. When the strong wind hits the warm water, violent weather happens. Scientists think that El Nino existed for many thousands of years. El Nino affects every person in the world because it affects the entire world's weather. It can bring the rain that farmers need. It can bring storms that destroy homes. It can mean that fishermen cannot catch fish, and it can bring floods. There is nothing we can do about El Nino. It is an event of nature. We can help the world's weather by trying to stop the greenhouse effect and air pollution. The most important job for scientists is to learn how to predict when El Nino is going to bring dangerous weather. Then, people can try to prepare for storms, floods and droughts. New technology like satellite pictures and temperature measuring equipment can help. Still, it is very hard to say when or where El Nino will cause damage. _ helps to predict El Nino. Answer: Satellite pictures
Question: As a kid,I was always chubby .In college I started _ . It got out of control when I went to law school. I'd made a decision a thousand times:I'm going to lose weight now. But what motivated me to get serious about it was turning 30. I weighed 414 pounds. I was always tired. Some of my family members have suffered from heart disease,and I was scared. I also wanted to look better. So after my birthday,I walked into the office of a weightloss doctor. She was very understanding. Her focus was on balanced meals and she wanted me to exercise. Walking was all I could do at first. I started by walking a few blocks and gradually increased the distance,until one weekend,I found myself saying,"Wow,this seems pretty easy." So I started to run. I was losing nine or ten pounds a month,and I had more energy. I started to think about the New York City Marathon. For years,I watched the runners and thought,"This looks like fun,but I could never do that." But now I realized that maybe I could. I joined the New York Road Runners. I ran a 10km,then a halfmarathon. I still wasn't confident I could run a full 26 miles. But I told myself I was going to do it,no matter what. By my 33rd birthday,I was down to 180 pounds. I started formally training for the marathon. And on the morning of November 1,I stood on the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island with more than 40,000 other runners,waiting for the event to start. It was unbelievable to have the audience cheering me on,handing me cups of water. And I crossed the finish line. My friends sprayed (......) me with beer,as if I'd won the Super Bowl. And at that moment,I knew:If I set my mind to something,nothing is impossible. What do we know from the passage? A. The author formally trained for the marathon for three years. B. The marathon the author ran started on the Verrazano Bridge. C. The author started by running when losing weight. D. The author has won the Super Bowl. Answer: B Question: After my husband died suddenly from a heart attack on the tennis court, my world crashed around me. I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities of earning a living, caring for the children and just _ . I was fortunate to find a wonderful housekeeper to care for the children during the week, but from Friday nights to Monday mornings, the children and I were alone, and frankly I was uneasy. One Friday evening I came home from work to find a big beautiful German shepherd on our doorstep. He gave every indication that he intended to enter the house and make it his home. I agreed to let him sleep in the basement until the next day. The following morning we made phone calls and checked lost-and-found ads for German's owner, but with no results. German, meanwhile, actually made himself part of the family. Saturday night he was still with us, sleeping in the basement. On Sunday I had planned to take the children on a picnic. When we stopped to get gas at a local station, we were amazed to see German racing to the gas station after us. He settled down in the back for the ride to the picnic. Monday morning I let him out for a run while the children got ready for school. He didn't come back. As evening came and German didn't appear, we were all disappointed. We were convinced that he had gone home or been found by his owner, and that we would never see him again. We were wrong. The next Friday evening, German was back on our doorstep. Again we took him in, and again he stayed until Monday morning, when our housekeeper arrived. This pattern repeated itself every weekend for almost 10 months. We grew more and more fond of German and we took comfort in his strong, warm presence, and we felt safe with him near us. Each week, between German's visits, I grew a little stronger, a little braver and more able to cope; every weekend I enjoyed his company. Then one Monday morning we patted his head and let him out for what turned out to be the last time. He never came back. We never saw or heard of German again. I think of him often. I believe German was sent because he was needed, and because no matter how abandoned and alone we feel, somehow, somewhere, someone knows and cares. We are never really alone. Which of the following doesn't agree with the passage? A. The children needn't go to school on the weekend. B. The housekeeper only came on weekdays. C. But for the dog the writer would have broken down. D. German's coming was a great comfort for the writer. Answer: C Question: Now comes word from the University of California, Berkeley, a new study has confirmed that the richer you are the less compassionate you are In a study just published in the journal Emotion, psychologist Jennifer Stellar sought to determine the empathic capacities of a group of 300 college students, who had been hand-selected for maximum economic diversity. As a rule, college students have just one income level: poor. Stellar thus chose her subjects based on the income of the people who respond to the requests and write the checks: the parents. In the first of three experiments, she had 148 of her subjects fill out reports how often they experience emotions such as joy, love, compassion and horror. She also had them agree or disagree with statements like "I often notice people who need help." When the numbers on these lists were processed, Stellar found no meaningful personality differences among the students that could be attributable to income except one: across the board, the lower the subjects' family income, the higher their score on compassion. The second study involved 64 subjects who watched two videos -- an emotionally neutral instructional video on construction techniques, and a far more charged one that involved real families coping with a cancer-stricken child. Again, the subjects filled out emotional lists and again they scored similarly. But the lower-income volunteers continued to come out higher on the compassion-and-empathy scale. During this study, Stellar also used heartbeat monitors to determine their physical reactions to the two videos. There was, not surprisingly, no difference in heart rate when the instructional video was playing, but when the cancer stories began, the heartbeats of the lower-income volunteers slowed noticeably -- a counterintuitive sign of caring. An immediate threat to ourselves or another causes heart rate to jump, the better to snap into action to respond to the danger. An emotional crisis can have the opposite physical effect on observers -- helping them settle down to provide the quieter attention that simply listening and comforting requires. In the final part of the study, 106 of the participants were paired off and told to interview each other as if they were applying for a position as lab manager. So that the subjects would have real skin in the game, the ones who performed best in the interviews -- as judged by Stellar-- would win a cash prize. All of the subjects reported feeling the same levels of stress or anxiety when they were being interviewed, but only the lower-income subjects were reliably able to detect the same feelings in their partner when the roles were reversed. So does this mean the rich really can't feel the poor? A low score on the compassion scale doesn't mean a lack of capacity for the feeling, Stellar argues. It may just mean a lack of experience observing -- and tending to -- the hardship others. Perhaps that helps explain why so many wealthy college kids find their way into the Peace Corps and other volunteer groups. In Stella's opinion, the lower-income volunteers' heart rate lowers when _ . A. When they are having their first lesson in a new school. B. They are talking to someone they admire so much. C. They are trapped in a building suddenly on fire. D. They find someone is injured in an accident on the road. Answer: D Question: What could make Michael Jordon, one of the greatest basketball players in history, shed tears? It was when he became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11. The hall is in Springfield, Massachusetts and honors the best basketball players, greatest coaches and other contributors to the game. "The game of basketball has been everything to me ," said Jordan, 46. "It is the place I have always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace." Jordan retired twice in his 15-year career, finishing with 32292 points, the third highest total points in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His average of 30.12 points a game is the best in the League. "One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said. "Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion." In other words, it was motivation that made Jordan such a success.. A great career did not mean a smooth one. His high school coach cut him from the team in favor of a taller player when Jordan was in 10thgrade. His college coach wouldn't allow him on the cover of Sports Illustration in 1981 with North Carolina's four other players because Jordan was a freshman. In his first NBA All-Star game, older NBA stars wouldn't throw him the ball because of jealousy. "That burned me up," Jordan said. "But _ don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." When in college basketball team, Jordan _ A. was not experienced enough to be favored by his coach. B. was the pet of his basketball coach. C. was the best player in the team D. was the tallest one of all basketball players. Answer: A Question: Bob Butler lost his legs in 1965 in Vietnam. Later he returned to the USA and began his life in wheelchair . One day he was working in his yard when he heard a woman calling for help. He began moving towards the woman's house, but something on the ground stopped his wheelchair going through the back door. So he got out of his wheelchair and started to crawl . When Butler got through the back door of the house, he found there was a little girl in the pool. She had no arms and couldn't swim. Her mother was calling for help crazily. Butler got into the pool and pulled the little girl out of the water. Her face was blue, and she was not breathing. Butler did CPR on her right away. As Butler continued doing CPR, he talked to the mother. "Don't worry," he said. "It'll be OK. I was her arms to get out of the pool. I am now her lungs. Together we can make it." Soon the little girl coughed and began to cry. The mother asked Butler how he knew it would be OK. "I didn't know," he told her. "But when my legs were blown off in the war, a little girl in Vietnam said to me in broken English, 'It'll be OK. You will live. I'll be your legs. Together we make it.' Her kind words brought hope to me and I wanted to do the same for your little girl." What did Butler find when he got through the woman's back door? A. A little girl lost her legs. B. The woman was saving her kid. C. The woman was in the pool. D. A little girl was in the pool. Answer: D
According to the latest research in the United States,men and women talk such different languages that it is like people from two different cultures trying to communicate.Professor Deborah Tannen of Georgetown University has noticed the difference in the style of boys' and girls' conversations from an early age.She says that little girls' conversation is less definite than boys' and expresses more doubts.Little boys use conversations to establish status with their listeners. These differences continue into adult life,she says.In public conversations,men talk most and interrupt other speakers more.In private conversations,men and women speak in equal amounts--although they say things in a different style.Professor Tannen believes that,for women,private talking is a way to establish and test intimacy(,).For men,private talking is a way to explore the power structure of a relationship. Teaching is one job where the differences between men's and women's ways of talking show.When a man teaches a woman,says Professor Tannen,he wants to show that he has more knowledge,and hence(,)more power in conversation.When a woman teaches another woman,however,she is more likely to take a sharing approach and to encourage her student to join in. But Professor Tannen does not believe that women are naturally more helpful.She says women feel they achieve power by being able to help others.Although the research suggests men talk and interrupt people more than women,Professor Tannen says,women actually encourage this to happen because they believe it will lead to more intimacy and help to establish a relationship. Some scientists who are studying speech think that the brain is pre-programmed for language.As we are usually taught to speak by women,it seems that the brain must have a sexual bias in its programming,otherwise male speech patterns would not arise at all. The theme of this article is . A women are naturally more helpful B men and women talk different languages C men talk most and interrupt other speakers more D little girls' conversation is less definite Answer: B. men and women talk different languages The cattle egret has lived in American continent in recent years. Non-native species are a worldwide problem and studies are devoted to assess the damage they cause to local species populations. The cattle egret primarily lives on the grassland and feeds in close association with animals like cattle and sheep. This bird is native to Africa, southern Europe and western Asia. The cattle egret in Brazil is unlike a number of bird species that have been established and expanded to non-native areas through human assistance. The first sight of the cattle egret in the New World were reported between 1877 and 1882, followed by sightings in British Guiana and Colombia and later expansion throughout the Americas. In Brazil, the cattle egret was first recorded in the northern region of the country in 1964, feeding along with buffalos on Marajo Island in the state of Para. While the cattle egret is not currently a threat to native animals and birds in Brazil throughout most of its geographic distribution, it has the potential to produce bad effects, as evidenced by its occupation of island environments. For example, in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, the cattle egret drives adult native seabirds away from their nests in producing time. Understanding how the cattle egret settled and lived in Brazil is important for the better understanding of spreading patterns of bird populations and their interaction with the local species. Explaining the egret cattle's settling in the Americas is a challenging task due to the lack of sufficient information and reports on entrance time, location, and number of events. Comparisons between native and non-native populations can provide a 'natural' experimental way to clarify the biological and environmental factors that may contribute to range expansion and adaptation to climate change, and to find how animals respond to strange and sudden ecological and environmental pressures. In America, humans first found the cattle egret _ A in the 1870s. B in Colombia C in British Guiana D in the 1960s Answer: A. in the 1870s. The European Union announced plans on Tuesday to temporar-ily ban the use of animal cloning for food production, while allowing imports of food derived from the offspring of clones from the United States and elsewhere. The report from the European Commission followed a call by EU lawmakers in July for a total ban on food derived from cloned animals and their traditionally bred offspring, citing ethical concerns over the industrial production of cloned meat. The Commission said a temporary five-year EU ban on cloning for food production was justified on animal welfare grounds, but said banning imports of food from the offspring of clones was unnecessary and would disrupt global trade. "Food from cloned animals is safe. In fact, the scientific opinion is that it cannot be differentiated in any way from food normally bred animals. The issue is animal welfare," EU Health and Consumer Commissioner John Dalli told reporters. Food derived from the offspring of clones presents no such animal welfare issues, and banning its sale and import would be impossible because the origin is untraceable, Dalli said. "Such a prohibition would lead to a ban of imports of any food of animal origin (meat, milk and processed products)from third countries allowing the cloning technique," the report said. "We're not going to regulate for the world," Dalli added. But animal welfare groups criticized the Commission's decision, saying it had bowed to pressure from third countries. "We do not accept the Commission's position that it would be impossible to enforce a ban that includes the offspring of cloned animals, as (other) meat traceability systems are already in place," said Sonja Van Tichelen, director of the Eurogroup for Animals. From the passage we can infer that the ban is_. A justified B welcome C controversial D meaningless Answer: C. controversial More than 2,400 years ago, a sickness struck Athens. The disease is said to have killed up to one third of all Athenians, including their leader Pericles. The huge loss of life helped to change the balance of power between Athens and its enemy, Sparta, in the ancient world. Historians say the sickness began in what is now Ethiopia. They say it passed through Egypt and Libya before it entered Greece. Knowledge of the disease has come mainly from the writings of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who survived it. So what caused the fall of Athens? Now, a study based on genetic testing says it was probably typhoid fever. Greek researchers announced the results. Journal of Infectious Diseases published the findings online last week. Researchers from the University of Athens tested human remains from an ancient burial place in the Greek capital. The researchers collected genetic material from teeth. They say tests found genetic evidence similar to that of the modern-day Salmonella . Manolis Papagrigorakis led the University of Athens team. He says the findings throw light on one of the most debated mysteries in medical history. Typhoid fever is a life-threatening disease that is common today in developing countries. Experts say there are more than 21,000,000 cases each year. Typhoid can be spread by food or drink that has been handled by a person infected with the bacteria that causes it. Bacteria in human waste can pollute water supplies. So water used for drinking or to wash food can also spread the infection. Hand washing is important to reducing the spread of typhoid. And there are vaccines that can help prevent it. Some people recover but continue to carry the bacteria. These carriers can get sick again. And they may continue to infect others. Doctors can do tests to make sure the bacteria has left the body. We can infer from the text that _ . A teeth can hold the largest amount of typhoid bacteria B typhoid is now a common deadly disease in the world C there are some solutions to preventing typhoid fever D most of the typhoid patients won't get infected once again Answer: C. there are some solutions to preventing typhoid fever Dogs can know the meaning of a human perspective, say researchers. Dogs are more capable of understanding situations from a human's point of view than has previously been recognized, according to researchers. They found dogs were four times more likely to steal food they had been forbidden, when lights were turned off so humans in the room could not see. This suggested the dogs were able to alter their behavior when they knew their owners' perspective had changed. The study, published in Animal Cognition, conducted tests on eighty-four dogs. The experiments had been trying to find whether dogs could make their behavior suitable to react to the changed circumstances of their human owners. It wanted to see if dogs had a "flexible understanding" that could show they understood the viewpoint of a human. It found that when the lights were turned off, dogs in a room with their human owners were much more likely to disobey and steal forbidden food. The study says it is "unlikely that the dogs simply forgot that the human was in the room" when there was no light. Instead it seems as though the dogs were able to differentiate between when the human was unable or able to see them. Juliane Kaminski carried out the research into how dogs are influenced by human circumstances. Dr Juliane Kaminski, from the University of Portsmouth's psychology department, said the study was "incredible because it implies dogs understand the human can't see them, meaning they might understand the human perspective". Previous studies have suggested that although humans might think that they can recognize different expressions on their dogs' faces, this is often inaccurate and a projection of human emotions. "Humans constantly attribute certain qualities and emotions to other living things. We know that our own dog is clever or sensitive, but that's us thinking, not them," said Dr Kaminski. "These results suggest humans might be right, where dogs are concerned, but we still can't be completely sure if the results mean dogs have a truly flexible understanding of the mind and others' minds. It has always been assumed only humans had this ability. Where can we probably read this kind of articles? A Textbooks. B Advertisements. C Instructions. D Magazines. Answer: D. Magazines.
Daniel: Hi, Simon. How are you these days? Simon: Not bad. But I just feel a little sad. Daniel: What's wrong? Simon: You see, I bought some goldfish last week. But now they all die. Daniel: I'm afraid you forgot to change water for them. Simon: No. I just gave them a lot to eat. I think they like eating. Daniel: Oh,I see. It's the food that killed your goldfish. You know goldfish can only remember things for 3 seconds. Simon: So what? Daniel: So they always forget they have already eaten food. They just keep eating if you feed them. Simon: You mean my goldfish die of eating too much? Daniel: That's right. Simon: Oh,my poor goldfish. Daniel: Don't be sad. Why not have a cat or a dog as your pet? Simon: Oh, no. I don't like them. Cats and dogs always make much noise and they will make my room dirty. Besides that I should take good care of them. Daniel: Well,why don't you try an e-pet? It's modern and cute. And it's easy to look after because they don't need food and water. The most important thing is that you can control it freely. Simon: That's good! I want to have an e-pet. Daniel: That will cost you a lot of money. Simon: Oh, my God! I think I will just have it in my dream. Why did the goldfish die? Answer: Because they ate too much. Body language is one of the most powerful means of communication, often even more powerful than spoken language. It is said that our body movements communicate about 50 percent of what we really mean while words only express 7 percent. So, while your mouth is closed, your body is just saying. Arms. How you hold your arms shows how open and receptive you are to people you meet. If you keep your arms to the sides of your body or behind your back, this suggests you are not afraid of taking on whatever comes your way. Outgoing people generally use their arms with big movements, while quieter people keep them close to their bodies. If someone upsets you, just cross your arms to show you're unhappy! Head. When you want to appear confident, keep your head level. If you are a monitor in class, you can also take on this position when you want your words to be taken seriously. However, to be friendly in listening or speaking, you must move your head a little. Legs. Your legs tend to move around a lot more than normal when you are nervous or telling lies. If you are at interviews, try to keep them still! Posture . A good posture makes you feel better about yourself. If you are feeling down, you normally don't sit straight, with your shoulders inwards. This makes breathing more difficult, which can make you feel nervous or uncomfortable. Mouth. When you are thinking, you often purse your lips. You might also use this position to hold back an angry comment you don't wish to show. However, it will probably still be noticed, and people will know you're not pleased. Face. When you lie, you might put on a false face. But that expression would crack briefly, allowing displays of true emotions such as happiness, sadness, disgust and fear to come through. Which of the following movements shows someone is nervous? Answer: Moving around a lot more than normal. There are only 24 hours in a day,but people can use the time wisely. In other words,effective time management is important if you want to succeed. Knowing the importance of daily matters is the first step towards good time management. Write down the things that you want to do and organize them according to their level of importance. The important thing should be done first. If there are too many things that have to be done in one day, then you have to give up doing something that is less important on your list. Besides this,you need to spend a specific amount of time doing all the activities you have written down and make sure you finish them on time. People often slow down in their work even though they know that time will never wait for them. Make sure you keep to your plan and finish the tasks one by one. Do not try to do too many things at once. Also,you can group similar activities together and do them one by one. For example, you can group all the tasks you need to do in the office together and do them while you're in office. Do all the tasks that have to be done in one place first, and then move to the next place to do the other tasks. "The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you're the pilot, "said Michael Althsuler. Your future is in your hands,so remember to invest your time wisely from today on. Which of the steps below is NOT important for effective time management? Answer: Do as many tasks as you can at the same time Stems are to flowers as Answer: silos are to grains The day before yesterday, when Peter's family were having dinner, Father raised an interesting question, "Was there anything in our past that we feel ashamed of, guilty about, or regretted? Maybe we can find ways to say sorry, or take some action to right any wrong doing." This seemed like a very private matter, but Peter thought about it carefully the whole night. Peter remembered an incident from middle school. In his school, there was a worker, Neil Stone, who none of the kids liked. One night, Peter and two of his classmates decided to play a trick on him. They found a can of red paint, and wrote on the school main road in bright red: Neil Stone is a fool! The next day, the whole school saw these words. Within two hours, Neil had Peter and his two classmates in his office. His classmates said that they had done it but Peter lied, denying the truth. No one ever talked about it. This morning, Peter went back to his middle school. Neil Stone is still working there. "Sorry, Neil. Do you still remember what happened ten years ago? I want you to know that I did it." "I knew it!' Neil laughed. They had a good laugh and a lively discussion. Neil's closing words were: "Peter, I always felt bad for you because your classmates got it off their mind, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years. I want to thank you for visiting me... for your sake." Peter knows that no matter how difficult the situation is, it is never too late to clear up the past and make a fresh start. When did Neil know who wrote the words on the school main road? Answer: Ten years ago.
Which is likely made of molecules? Answer: I was eight when my neighbors got a TV. It was small and expensive, but that didn't matter. IT WAS WONDERFUL. Everyone in the building came up to the fifth floor to see this latest wonder of the modern world. That was in 1948. Soon, a lot of people got a TV, but not us. My parents didn't think it was good for children. Being a good son, I didn't argue with them. But I secretly watch TV--at my friends' homes. By 1955, televisions weren't so expensive and were much larger. My parents still thought they were not good for us, but my sisters insisted, saying they were the only people in the neighborhood who didn't have one. All their friends talked about certain programs and actors, but they couldn't. Their friends laughed at them, which made them feel very unhappy. My youngest sister cried, saying she was never going back to school and that life without a TV wasn't worth living. Nothing my parents said made her feel better. The next morning, without telling us, they went out and got a new TV. When we were young our parents allowed us to watch TV for two hours a night. And we couldn't watch until our homework was finished. But after a year or two, TV wasn't exciting or new anymore. It became just another part of our lives like shoes or soap. My parents still had fears about TV. We were going to forget how to read, and TV was going to fill our minds with violence, they said. Today people still argue about the value of TV. Nobody can deny the power of TV, which has a powerful influence on our lives. On average, Americans spend 30 hours a week watching TV. Is this influence good or bad? This is an unanswerable question indeed: It is hard enough to measure influence; and it is even harder to decide what is good and what isn't. What is good, I suppose, is that many people are concerned about TV's influence and that we have the power to change what we don't like. The people of Monhegan Island, 18 kilometers away off the coast of Maine, don't have electricity, and they decided; once again, that they liked that way. Electricity, they think, would make life too easy and spoil their way of life. Maybe the young people wouldn't want to go to town dances anymore. Maybe they would be more interested in staying at home and watching TV. The author thinks "to judge whether a TV's influence is good or bad" is _ . Answer: Restaurants in the USA _ So many pizza chains compete for the attention of tourists in South Beach, but ask a Miami Beach local where to get the best pizza and they'll tell you about Steve's. This is New York-style pizza, handmade with care and good ingredients . New branches of Steve's are opening elsewhere in Miami, all in non-tourist areas. Opening hours: 11am-3am _ This place is 20 miles east of the city, but local folks would probably drive 200 miles to eat here. The food is good, and the scenery is even better. Come early and wander around the grounds of Indian Cliffs Ranch, where you'll see everything from rabbits to buffalo , then catch the sunset either before or after your meal. Opening hours: 5pm-10pm _ The screen door is always swinging open at this town hot spot with giant breakfasts. Try the green chili on eggs - it's made from scratch, as are the organic breads. Lunch includes salads, big sandwiches and local grass-fed beef burgers. Don't miss a square of soft, fresh carrot cake. Opening hours: 7am-2pm _ Everybody's favorite for fresh fish (some drive in from LA), Walt's packs them in on weekends. You can't make reservations for dinner (though they're accepted for lunch), but it's worth the wait for the tree fire-grilled seafood and steaks in the many-windowed ground floor or upstairs in captain's chairs. Opening hours: 11am-3:30pm Which restaurant serves both breakfast and lunch? Answer: Friends around the word The sun shines on new friends in new places. Some of the places are similar to the places where you live and some are not. But all of these friends love to sing and play. A Friend in Korea Hi, I'm Chang--Yong, and I'm 15 year old. My family lives in an apartment in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The spring here is warm and beautiful. On special days, I dress in a silk jacket called Hanbok. A Friend in Australia Hi, John is my name. I'm an Aboriginal Australian, Aborigines have lived in Australia for many years. I live with our mother in the country. My favorite season is autumn. It's cool. We often wear T--shirts. A Friend in Tanzania Hello, my name is Manka, and I live in Tanzania. It's always hot here. Most of us live in wooden huts with grass roofs. My father takes care of the cattle. Cattle are very important for us. A Friend in Canada Hi, I am called Kipanik . We live in northern Canada .near the North Pole. It is snowy and cold most of the time here. So I often wear a heavy coat. My family often uses a dog sled to travel through areas covered with snow. The weather in northern Canada is _ . Answer: Britain is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have pros and cons. Good news Free museums. No charge for outstanding collections of art and antiquities. Pop music. Britain is the only country to match the US on this score. Black cabs. London taxi drivers know where they are going even if there are never enough of them at weekends or night. Choice of food. Visitors can find everything from Ethiopian to Swedish restaurants. Bad news Poor service. "It's part of the image of the place. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced," says Professor Tony Seaton, of London University's International Tourism Research Center. Poor public transport: Trains and buses are promised to defeat the keenest tourists, although the over-crowded London tube is inexplicably popular Lack of languages. Speaking slowly and clearly may not get many foreign visitors very far, even in the tourist traps . Rain. Still in the number one complaint . No air-conditioning. So that even splendidly hot summers become as unbearable as the downpours. Overpriced hotels. The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer:
Giant sunflowers? Maybe you like potatoes, tomatoes, or carrots.Or maybe you prefer green leafy house plants, tiny plants in a container, wildflowers that you can dry to save, or a butterfly garden. Whatever you hope to grow, knowing some gardening basics will give you a much better chance of success. First you will need to choose a good location for your garden.A sunny location usually works best, since all plants need some sunlight and most plants like lots of it.However, there are some plants that need only indirect sunlight, and these plants will do best in shady spots. Check soil too.The best kind of plant soil is called loam ; it is loose soil that crumbles easily.Water drains through it well, and it has lots of nutrients to feed your plants.Soil that sticks together might have too much clay in it.Very loose, dry soil might have too much sand.You can improve the soil in your garden by adding organic materials such as compost, or leaves.ks5u Climate--Check a map of planting zones to choose plants that are right for your area. Mulch --After you have planted your plants, add a layer of mulch on top of the soil.Mulch keeps the soil damp, keeps out pests, and adds more nutrients to the soil. Water - Water your plants early in the day.Plants need about 1 inch of water each week on average. Fertilizer - If you are planting a big garden, use about 1/2 pounds per 100 square feet.If you are just planting a few plants, get a little container of plant food and follow the directions on the label.Plant fertilizer contains the chemicals that make up a plant's diet. What is the text mainly about? A. Plants you prefer B. A garden with plants C. Some gardening basics D. Giant sunflowers Answer: C. Some gardening basics We find that bright children are rarely held back by mix-ability teaching. On the contrary, both their knowledge and experience are enriched. We feel that there are many disadvantages in streaming pupils. It does not take into account the fact that children develop at different rates. It can have a bad effect on both the bright and the not-so-bright child. After all, it can be quite discouraging to be at the bottom of the top grade! Besides, it is rather unusual to grade pupils just according to their intellectual ability. This is only one aspect of their total personality. We are concerned to develop the abilities of all our pupils to the full, not just their learning ability. We also value personal qualities and social skills, and we find that mixed ability teaching contributes to all these aspects of learning. In our classrooms, we work in various ways. The pupils often work in groups: this gives them the opportunity to learn to co-operate, to share, and to develop leadership skills. They also learn how to deal with personal problems as well as learning how to think, to make decisions, to analyze and assess, and to communicate effectively. The pupils learn from each other as well as from the teacher. Sometimes the pupils work in pairs; sometimes they work on individual tasks and assignments, and they can do this at their own speed. They also have some formal class teaching when this is proper. We encourage our pupils to use the library, and we teach them the skills they need in order to do this efficiently. And advanced pupil can do advanced work. It doesn't matter what age the child is. We expect our pupils to do their best, not their least, and we give them every encouragement to achieve this goal. The author argues that a teacher's chief concern should be the development of the pupil's _ . A. total personality B. intellectual ability C. personal qualities D. communicative skills Answer: A. total personality A science book gives facts. Some science books tell us about animals. Some tell us about plants. Some tell us about outer space. This page tells us about animals. Do you know that not only the fish but also some animals live in the sea? For example, the whale is not a fish. It can't breathe in the water. It swims in the water. But it comes up for air. The blue whale is the world's biggest animal. There are other sea animals, too. One is called the dolphin. Dolphins need air to live. They breathe air, as whales do. Dolphins are very clever. They sometimes seem to speak to each other. Many other animals live near the sea. Seals and otters love the sea. They swim and play there. They eat fish and sea plants. Seals and otters have thick fur. The fur keeps them warm. The blue whales live in the sea. They breathe air as _ do. A. dolphins B. fish C. crocodiles D. sea plants Answer: A. dolphins Philo Farnsworth is not a name most people know. But his work changed the way we learn, the way we live, and even the way we think. Philo Farnsworth is responsible for one of the 20thcentury: television. Philo Farnsworth was born in America in 1906. He was interested in science and technology at an early age. When he was twelve years old, he built an electric motor for his family's washing machine. When he was fourteen, he was already giving a lot of thought to electrons . As he was driving the family's horse-drawn plowing machine, he noticed the evenly spaced rows of the potato fields. This sight gave him the idea that electrons could scan an image one row at a time--an idea that was the key to electronic television. By the time he was twenty-one years old, Farnsworth had started his own company and had managed to build the world's first electronic television. It was a very simple device . But after years of hard work, Farnsworth was able to introduce the kind of television we now use. Farnsworth was a great inventor, but lived an unhappy life. He had a legal battle with the company, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) over who the real inventor of the TV was. _ , but the government stopped companies from making TVs during the war, so Farnsworth didn't make much money from the invention. When Farnsworth was young, he imagined television as a convenient way for distant audiences to enjoy lectures by famous professors, or entertainment by the best symphonies and ballets. When he was older, television became much more popular, but he was very disappointed in the silly programs on TV. He even told his own son, "There's nothing on it worthwhile, and we're not going to watch it in this household." What can we learn about Philo Farnsworth? A. He had a strong physical advantage. B. He had strong powers of observation. C. He had a strong interest in journalism. D. He had a strong sense of responsibility. Answer: B. He had strong powers of observation. Basketball is still a young game. It's over a hundred years old . In the winter of 1891, a certain college was having some trouble with its boy students. The weather was bad and the students had to stay indoors . As they couldn't play outdoors , they were unhappy ,and some even got into fights from time to time . Some of the teachers at the college asked Dr Naismith to invent a game so that the students might have something to play with. It was ont easy to invent such a game, because it had to played indoors , and the court was not very large. Dr.Naismith thought for a few days and invented a kind of ball game .It is a wonderful game with much moving and passing of the ball .It was played between two teams .To make a score, the ball had to be thrown into the basket ten feet above the floor on the wall. At each end of the court there was such a basket .At first, Dr.Naismith wanted to throw the ball into a box, As he could not find boxes of the right size, he had to use fruit baskets instead. That is how the game got its name . Who asked Dr.Naismith to invent a game ? A. Some students B. Some teachers C. Some students' parents D. Some of his friends Answer: B. Some teachers
Question: Do you know a child who has used first aid to save a life or help an injured person? St. John Ambulance is seeking young people who have acted quickly, calmly and effectively at a real emergency for its annual Young First Aider of the Year awards. The awards are open to all those under 18, and the closing date for nomination is April 30, 2016. The winners will be invited to attend a special ceremony in June, 2016. "St. John Ambulance believes it is essential for young people to learn first aid so that they can help anyone who is injured," said Sandra Stocker, director of St. John Ambulance Awards Committee. "The Young First Aider of the Year is a wonderful way to celebrate their bravery and quick-thinking." Nomination for the Young First Aider of the Year is now open. Please complete and return the nomination forms as soon as possible and certainly no later than April 30, 2016. The committee will decide which of the nominees will receive the Young First Aider of the Year awards by considering the actions of the nominees along with their ages and other factors. You should send any evidence you have with the nomination form, showing the nominees' actions. Examples of evidence could include: * Newspaper clippings of the incident. * Police incident record numbers. Once a nomination form is received, the nominee or nominator may be approached for further details of the incident. For further information please get in touch with Sandra Stocker by email or on 020-73244082 or 020-73244083. Find out who our winners will be for 2016. Who might win the Young First Aider of the Year awards? A. A child using first aid to save his father. B. A child witnessing a girl save the injured. C. An adult working in the emergency room. D. An adult helping the injured with first aid. Answer: A. A child using first aid to save his father. Question: O. Henry, born in Greensboro, North Carolina, was the pen name of William Sydney Porter. His father, Algernon Sydney Porter, was a physician. When William was three years old, his mother died, and he was raised by his grandmother and aunt. William was a good reader, but at the age of fifteen he left school, and worked in a drug store and later on a Texas farm. After that, he moved to Houston, where he had a number of jobs, including that of bank clerk. After moving to Austin, Texas, in 1882, he married. In 1884 he started a humorous weekly The Rolling Stone. When the weekly failed, he joined The Houston Post as a reporter and columnist . In 1897 he was put into prison over some financial dealings. While in prison, William started to write short stories to earn money to support his daughter Margaret. His first work, Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking(1899), appeared in McClure's Magazine. After serving three years of the five years' sentence,he changed his name to O. Henry, hoping to forget his bitter past. O. Henry moved to New York City in 1902 and from December 1903 to January 1906 he wrote a story a week for the New York World, and also published the stories in other magazines. His first collection, Cabbages and Kings, appeared in 1904. Many other works quickly followed, such as The Gift of the Magi and The Furnished Room. O. Henry's best- known work is The Ransom of Red Chief. His stories always have surprising endings. He published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime. O. Henry's last years were shadowed by drinking, ill health, and financial problems. In 1907, he experienced a failed marriage. In 1910, O. Henry died after an illness. It can be inferred from the passage that O. Henry _ . A. didn't like to study during his childhood B. had little parental love as a child C. was very interested in medicine and farming D. took up only one job after he moved to Houston Answer: B. had little parental love as a child Question: Every day on the road, accidents are caused. They do not only happen. The reason may be easy to see: an overloaded tray, a shelf out of reach, a patch of ice on the road. But more often than not there is a chain of events leading up to the misfortune-frustration, tiredness or just bad temper-that show what the accident really is, a sort of attack on oneself. Road accidents, for example, happen frequently after a family quarrel, and we all know people who are _ , so often at odds with themselves and the world that they seem to cause accidents for themselves and others. By definition, an accident is something you cannot predict or avoid, and the idea which used to be current, that the majority of road accidents are caused by a minority of criminally careless drivers, is not supported by insurance statistics. These show that most accidents involve ordinary motorists in a moment of carelessness or thoughtlessness. It is not always clear, either, what sort of conditions make people more likely to have an accident. For instance, the law requires all factories to take safety actions and most companies have safety committees to make sure the regulations are observed, but still, every day in Britain, some fifty thousand men and women are absent from work due to an accident. These accidents are largely the result of human error or misjudgment-noise and fatigue, boredom or worry are possible factors which contribute to this. Doctors who work in factories have found that those who drink too much, usually people who have a high anxiety level, run three times the normal risk of accidents at work. The passage suggests that _ . A. accidents mostly result from slippery roads B. accidents are usually caused by psychological factors C. doctors run three times the normal risk of accidents in factories D. about 50,000 people lost their lives at work in Britain every day Answer: B. accidents are usually caused by psychological factors Question: During the summer holidays there will be a revised schedule of services for the students. Changes for dining-room and library service hours and for bus schedules will be posted on the wall outside of the dining-hall. Weekly film and concert schedules, which are being arranged, will be posted each Wednesday outside of the student club. In the summer holidays, buses going to the town center will leave the main hall every hour on the half hour during the day. The dining-room will serve three meals a day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm during the week and two meals from noon to 7:00 pm on weekends. The library will continue its usual hours during the week, but have shorter hours on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend hours are from noon to 5:00 pm. All students who want to use the library borrowing services must have a new summer card. This announcement will also appear in the next week's student newspaper. The main purpose of this announcement is to _ . A. tell students of important schedule changes B. show the excellent services for students C. tell students of new bus and library services D. ask students to renew their library cards Answer: A. tell students of important schedule changes Question: Beijing plans to build huge free or low-cost parking lots beyond the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads to encourage more car owners to take buses or subways to the downtown area. The plan is just one of the many measures the city plans to take to reduce its traffic jams. Low or no parking fees would be used as economic leverage to reduce growing parking demands from urban areas. Car owners living in the suburbs will be encouraged to park their cars beyond the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads and take buses or subways to the downtown area. Statistics show that nearly one quarter of the city's traffic flow is concentrated in the 62-square-kilometre downtown area within the Second Ring Road, which makes up only 12 percent of the city's total area. The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau receives between 400 and 500 calls reporting traffic jams every day and more than 90 percent of the roads are filled to capacity during rush hour every morning and evening. Part of the problem is the lack of easy links between bus routes, subways and cars. According to the communication commission, half of the city's investment in transportation will go towards public transit construction in the next few years, making a jump from the current only 20 percent. Moreover, Beijing plans to change its layout by building new city centers, such as at Yizhuang, Tongzhou, Shunyi and Changping, in a bid to reduce the traffic flow to the downtown. The current layout of Beijing-expanded ring roads around the same center of the Forbidden City, is seen as the root cause of the endless traffic jams. The downtown area is crowded with three business centers and one financial centre, as well as nearly 400 government organs and institutions. Traffic experts say building more urban centers around Beijing may reduce the number of residents living in the suburbs and traveling long distances to work downtown every day, thus reducing traffic flow. In the coming years, if a man beyond the Fourth Ring Road goes to work in the downtown of Beijing, he is encouraged to _ . A. take buses or subways B. take a taxi C. drive the car quickly D. park his car in a place which asks for no fees Answer: A. take buses or subways
Question: If the world is shaking it will likely last for A. under five full seconds B. an hour and a half C. more than a day D. less than a minute Answer: D Question: Which is the best example of evaporation? A. raindrops freezing B. an ice cube melting C. a puddle drying in the sun D. a sponge soaking up water Answer: C Question: She may have lacked a home, but now this teen has top honors. A 17-year old student who spent much of high school living around homeless shelters and sometimes sleeping in her car-today graduated and spoke on behalf of her class at Charles Drew High School in Clayton County, Ga.,just outside of Atlanta. Chelsea Fearce, who held a 4.466 GPA and scored 1,900 on her SATs despite having to use her cellphone to study after the shelter lights were turned off at night. "I know I have been made stronger. I was homeless. My family slept on cushions on the floor and we were lucky if we got more than one full meal a day. Getting a shower, food and clean clothes was an everyday struggle," Fearce said in a speech she gave at her graduation ceremony. Fearce overcame her day-to-day struggles by focusing on a better day. "I just told myself to keep working, because the future will not be like this anymore, she told WSBTV. Fearce,one of five children, grew up in a family that sometimes had an apartment to live in, but at other times had to live in homeless shelters or even out of their car, if they had one. "You're worried about your home life and then worried at school. Worry about being a little hungry sometimes and go hungry sometimes. You just have to deal with it, You eat what you can, when you can." To our surprise, Fearce overcame the difficulties and even tested high enough to be ad- mitted into college halfway through her high school career. She starts college next year at Spelman College as a junior where she is planning to study biology, pre-"med ,"Don't give up. Do what you have to do right now so that you can have the future that you want,"Fearce said. How did Fearce go on with her study without access to lights? A. By the car light. B. By her cellphone. C. By lights out of shelters. D. By moonlight. Answer: B Question: Granite is an igneous rock. Which of these describes what usually happens to granite after it is weathered, broken into small particles, buried deep underground, and compacted? A. The granite becomes a new rock type. B. The granite forms an active volcano. C. The granite becomes part of a deep fault. D. The granite forms a tall mountain. Answer: A Question: Henry is a little fatter than he wants to be.He wants to lose some weight .He tries not to eat too much and he eats very little sugar because it will make him fat.He also does exercise every day.He swims,and he runs about two miles a day.Now he is stronger than before.Henry's sister,Susan, is healthier than Henry.She is also younger and thinner than he is.She does exercise every day.She doesn't eat much meat.She eats a lot of fruit and vegetables, because she thinks they are better for her health. Susan is _ than Henry. A. younger but fatter B. older and healthier C. thinner but not stronger D. thinner and healthier. Answer: D
Not long ago, few little girls imagined they could grow up to become astronauts. For years in the United States, on1y men had that opportunity . In 1983, that changed. Sally Ride made history by becoming the first American woman to travel to space. On Monday, Ride died at the age of 61, ''Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model,"President Barack Obama said in a statement. "She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars." Ride became interested in space when she was a kid. "If you asked me when I was 12 whether I wanted to be an astronaut ,I'm sure I wou1d have said yes," she said in a 2010 interview . " But I didn't even think about that as a possible career." After studying physics in college and graduate school, Ride got her chance. She was accepted into NASA's astronaut training program in 1978, and then chosen to be the first American female in space. In 1983, she blasted into space aboard the Challenger shuttle." _ ," she said. Ride returned to space on the Challenger a second time in1984 . Between the two missions, she spent a total of 343 hours in orbit. After that, she remained involved with the space program and also worked to share her passion for science with kids. She co-authored six science books for children , and started her own science education company. Ride knew that she he1d a unique place in history . " I realized how important it was for a woman to break that barrier and open the door for other women to be able to do the same exciting things that the men had been doing," she said. Since Ride's historic trip, more than 40 other American women have traveled to space. They all had Ride to thank for opening the door to the final frontier. The passage is most probably taken out of _ . Buckingham Palace is where the Queen lives. It is the Queen's official and main royal London home.Buckingham Palace was originally a splendid house built by the Duke of Buckingham for his wife. George IV began changing it into a palace in 1826. It has been the official London home of Britain's royal family since 1837. Buckingham Palace is also an office and used for the administrative work of the royal family. When the Queen is at home you can see her royal flag (the Royal Standard) flying from the flag pole on top of Buckingham Palace. The flag is divided into four equal parts. The first and fourth parts represent England and contain three gold lions waking on a red field; the second part represents Scotland and contains a red lion standing on a gold field; the third part represents Ireland and contains the gold coat of arms of Ireland on a blue field. In flag protocol , the Royal Standard which must only be flown from buildings where the Queen is present is supreme . It flies above the British Union Flag (the Union Jack ), and other British flags. It never flies at half mast. The guards of the Palace wear red jackets and tall, furry hats. When the first guards come on duty, there is a ceremony called the Changing of the Guard. A familiar sight at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard ceremony that takes place in the open space in front of it each morning. The Palace has around 750 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, 92 offices, a cinema and a swimming pool. It also has its own post office and police station. About 400 people work at the Palace, including servants, chefs, footmen, cleaners, gardeners, electricians, and so on. More than 50,000 people come to the Palace each year as guests to dinners, receptions and Royal Garden Parties. For whom was the original Buckingham Palace built? Well-known lines by Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu describe a sad scene in early April: "The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day. So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.(,)". In China, Qingming Day, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls every April. People visit their ancestors' graves to clean away the dirt. Schools sometimes organize a trip to a local martyr's park where students show their respect for those who lost their lives in revolutionary wars. In most Western countries there is no equivalent of tomb-sweeping day, but people still value the opportunity to remember loved ones. On the anniversary of a death, s visit the cemetery. Often they will leave flowers. In the US, the last Monday of May is Memorial Day. It is a holiday to show respect for those who died defending the country. The most common way to recognize the day is to wear a small piece of yellow ribbon on the chest. People also fly their own American flags. Sometimes they put a small flag on their car, tied to the antenna .Flags are also flown in yards. In the morning, all flags should be flown at half-mast in honor of fallen soldiers. In Britain, people wear red paper replica poppies in November in remembrance of those who died or were injured in all fighting, but most particularly in World War I. Why the poppy? It goes back to a poem written by John McCrae in 1915. He saw the fragile flowers growing on the graves of soldiers. McCrae wrote: "In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row." The poppies make people think of fields of blood. The flowers also live only briefly, like the soldiers who fell in the war. When do people visit the cemetery in most Western countries? where do arctic animals reside? Pure Yoga is devoted to serving the yoga community in Asia and beyond,offering a wide variety of classes such as Hatha Yoga,Hot Yoga,Yin Yoga Vinyasa,etc. Our yoga classes are offered and taught by nearly 200 professional yoga teachers. Private Yoga is also available for learners of all levels. Pure Yoga constantly invites world-known teachers to lead guest teacher workshops. Class Booking Class bookings can be made 2 days in advance of the class. It is important that you book your class in advance since some classes are more heavily attended than others. We also limit our class sizes so that they are not overcrowded. If a class you wish to take is full, we will place you on the wait list and inform you of an opening as soon as possible. To create the best experience for yourself and others,please follow these guidelines: No talking The yoga studio is a silent room. Please do not talk while in the studio and studio corridors . No eating Do not eat in the studio. No shoes Remove your shoes before entering the practice rooms. Keep your shoes in your locker .Shoe lockers are also available for rental. No mobile phones Turn your mobile phones off or to "vibrate" mode. Do not take phones into the practice rooms. Personal Belongings Daily lockers are not for overnight use. Locks from any daily lockers that are kept overnight will be cut. When should you book your class?
Audrey is a Chinese-American student. She has found many value differences between Chinese and Americans. About money Americans would like to spend more than they have, so many of them are always in debt . Chinese usually spend less than they have, so many of them have money left in the bank. American kids love to make money by themselves. Chinese kids always ask their parents for money. American parents think it is not useful to send their children to an expensive university. Chinese parents would do anything to send their children to a good university and that might make them very poor sometimes. About school Many American girls take part in sports, dancing and singing groups while Chinese girls take part in _ groups. Some American students think that "B" is a gift while Chinese students think that "B" is terrible. American parents and Chinese parents American parents allow their daughters or sons to go out to have some part-time jobs in their free time or at the weekends. Chinese parents usually don't allow their children to do so in middle or high schools. Some Chinese people have money left in the bank because _ . they usually spend less than they have At the middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which students can participate.Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest. Mathcounts Club Mathcounts tries to increase excitement towards mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students with the foundation for success in science, technology; engineering and mathematics careers. Schools select individuals and teams to participate in competitions. Local competitions are held in February with winners progressing to state competitions and then on to the national level. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements. Envirothon. The Envrothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, and ecosystems .The ecology field competition for five-member middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics. Students Work and learn in middle school clubs and can compete at the local and state level. Future Problem Solvers Future Problem Salvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problemsthat may happen in the future. Students who are in the talented and gifted program, who like to "think out of the box," or who enjoy thinking about futuristic problems max like this club. Teams,comprised of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in: a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the .state competition and,then to the international competition. Builders Club Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. Each Builders Club is co-sponsored by a Kiwanis club. and the middle school. The members learn by doing, and they learn organization; teamwork,and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a "Teacher of the year" program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing drives to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home; adopt a highway; tutor, etc. Middle school academic clubs offer students a place to explore interests or talents: The clubs they join in middle school can help guide choices in high school and beyond. The students who are not interested in competitions would like to choose _ . Builders Club Mr. Johns and Mr. Brown worked in the same office. One day Mr. Johns said to Mr. Brown, "I'm going to have a small party at my house next Wednesday evening. Would you and your wife like to join us?" Mr. Brown said, "Thank you very much. That is very kind of you. We are free that evening, I think. But I will telephone my wife and ask her. Maybe she wants to go somewhere else that evening." So Mr. Brown went to the other room and telephoned. When he came back, he looked very sorry. " What's the matter?" said Mr. Johns, "Did you speak to your wife?" "No," answered Mr. Brown, "She wasn't there. My small son answered the telephone. I said to him, 'Is your mother there, David?' and he answered, 'No, she is not in the house.' 'Where is she then?' I asked. 'She is somewhere outside.' 'What is she doing?' 'She is looking for me.'" Mr. Johns asked _ to the party. Mr. and Mrs. Brown Online clothes shoppers will be told exactly what size is best. for them using new software which combines with their web camera or smart phone to form a"3D tape measure". Scientists from Surrey University and design experts from the London College of Fashion are developing a program which can take precise waist, hip, chest and other measurements from camera images. Using the person's height as a starting point,the software will be able to build up a 3D image and estimate their size at various different points on the body, based on their overall proportions. The result will be a more accurate sizing guide than previous systems based on waist size or a "small/medium/large"scale, which rely on limited measurements and the buyer's perception of their own body size. Shoppers and retailers who choose to sign up for the project could save millions of pounds a year in postage costs by removing the need to order multiple sizes of the same garment and send back ill-fitting clothes, researchers claimed. The project, sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC), is expected to be brought to market within two years. After choosing an item, the shopper will activate the software, enter their height, stand in front of their webcam or smart phone in their underwear and take a photograph. The software will not store or transmit the image to the internet, but will use it to judge the person's dimensions at various points on their body. Philip Delamore of the London College of Fashion said:"The potential benefits for the fashion industry and for shoppers are huge. Currently, it's common for online shoppers to order two or three different sizes of the same item of clothing at the same time, as they're unsure which one will fit best." What can we learn about the 3D tape measure? It will be a co-working production. A little boy called Dhon lived in a small village in India. One afternoon Dhon's mother told Dhon, "I am going to bring firewood, Son. Do not go out. Play near the hut ." "Mama, may I go a little way in the woods to pick blackberries ?" he asked one day. "All right," his mother said, "but do not go very far." So Dhon went to the woods. He was happy to hear the birds singing in the trees. He _ some blackberries in his pockets. Then Dhon tried to catch some beautiful butterflies. He chased them far into the woods. He ran and he jumped. He forget he had to go back home. By that time the sun had set. Dhon was frightened. He thought of his mother and he cried. Suddenly, he saw a speck of light flying then he heard a voice. "I am a firefly . Why are you crying, little boy?" "I have lost my way. I want to go home to my mother," replied Dhon. "Don't cry, little boy, I will take you home. Follow me. But you must promise never to catch me." Dhon promised and followed the firefly through the trees. Soon he reached home and was safe in his mother's arms. That is why there are so many fireflies twinkling like little stars near the village huts in India. What's the best title for this passage? Firefly
My friend Jim was a well-known radio host, who worked at a radio station all his life. All his colleagues knew him about one characteristic: If he's on-air, he is always wearing a suit and a tie. They laughed at him, saying, "No one ever sees you. Why do you dress like that?" But he always turned that into a joke. One day Jim was invited to appear on the TV. There was a show for the oldest radio employees. For the first time his fans, who only knew Jim by his voice, would see him. Before the recording of the show, the director came to Jim and asked, "Usually you arrive on time, but today you are 10 minutes late. It's not terrible, but I still want to know why." "You see," Jim answered, "at the last moment when I was already dressed up, I noticed that I didn't have new socks. For the first time I was invited to the television, and I thought that simply wearing clean socks was not enough. So I needed to go to the store for new socks." The director was surprised. He asked, "Why do you need new socks? You could have come without the socks because we will be filming you only over the waist." " You see, to be perfect, I need to feel myself perfect in everything, starting with the shirt and finishing with the pen in my pocket," Jim said. "And if my socks have holes in them or my shoes are dirty, I'm not spotless anymore. And it may make me less confident." From Para. 1 we can learn that when Jim is on-air, he _ . Answer: is careful about his dress Can you understand the following words? "Long time no see." "Good good study, day day up." "I like your smile, but unlike you put your shoes on my face." Yes, we call these examples Chinglish, like "people mountain, people sea". Chinglish usually means English vocabulary with Chinese grammar on street signs or products. However, many English speaking tourists love them. Tom has been living in Beijing for years. "I think many Chinese people dislike Chinglish. But I love it. It's quite interesting. I think if the translations of English in China are all perfect, something will be lost from Chinese culture." However, Chinglish will probably become a part of history in future. Beijing has made a plan to correct Chinglish within five years. "It is so funny to see Chinglish on the signs. And they are a kind of trouble for communication between the Chinese and foreigners," a Beijinger said. However, some people in China like Chinglish. They think that English has "borrowed" a lot from other languages such as German, French and Spanish in the past, and now as Chinese's turn. What is Chinglish according to the passage? Answer: The English words with Chinese grammar. Education is another area where the presence of arts and crafts is more than welcome. If children realize the importance of art and creativity from a young age, they can grow up to be more confident, more creative, and definitely more mature. Schools are the breeding grounds for future painters and movie makers, and these arts should be encouraged wholesomely in such an environment. Sadly, many parents do not understand why art is important for children, and subconsciously force them to follow career paths that are common and conformist in nature. This is fair enough in its own way, because the world does need some standard blue collar and white collar jobs to continue its existence; but this is a choice that children should be allowed to make for themselves. The doors to creativity and expression must not be shut in their faces, even if it comes at a cost of making more money. To put it more scientifically, here are some benefits of kids' art activities that give a suitable answer to the question "Why is art important in schools?" 1.Exposure to art, music and drawings at an early age improves the amount of brain activity in children. 2.It increases the span of knowledge in the minds of children, thus making them sharper and more educated. 3.It builds up the levels of self-confidence, self-esteem , motivation, cooperation and communication in children. 4.It helps children understand other people's opinions and points of view as well. 5.It helps them sharpen their problem-solving skills, decision-making and gives them the possibility of really exploring their imaginations. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Importance of Art in Schools. Scientists in Argentina have created the world's first cow to own two human genes that will enable it to produce human-like milk, which is matchless up to now. It is a breakthrough in the area of clone. Genetic engineering was used to introduce the "mothers' milk" genes into the animal before birth, according to the National Institute of Agribusiness Technology in Buenos Aires. As an adult, the cloned cow "will produce milk that is similar to humans" in what will prove "a development of great importance for the nutrition of infants", it said in a statement. "The cloned cow, named Rosita ISA, is the first one born in the world that owns two human genes that contain the proteins present in human milk," the statement said. In April, scientists in China published details of research showing that they had created GM Holstein dairy cows which produced milk containing proteins found in human breast milk. But the Argentine team says the Chinese only introduced one human gene, whereas their research involved two genes meaning the milk will more closely resemble that of humans. Rosita ISA was born on April 6 and was delivered by Caesarean section because she weighed around 100 pounds, roughly twice the normal weight of Jersey cows. Adrian Mutto, from the National University of San Martin said "Our goal was to raise nutritional value of cows' milk by adding two human genes, the protein lactoferrin and lysozyme, which can provide newly-born babies with anti-bacterial and anti-viral protection." Cristina Kirchner, President of Argentina, said that the scientific institute "makes all proud." She also revealed that she had rejected the "honor" of having the cow named after her. "They came to tell me that the name is Cristina, but what woman would like to have a cow named after her? It appeared to me to be more appropriate to call it Rosita." What can we know about Rosita ISA according to the passage? Answer: Its milk has larger nutritional value than others'. Not long ago, many people believed that babies only wanted food and to be kept warm and dry. Some people thought babies were not able to learn things until they were five or six months old. Yet doctors in the United States say babies begin learning on their first day of life. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is a federal government agency. Its goal is to determine which experiences can influence healthy development in people. Researchers at the institute note that babies are strongly influenced by their environment. They say a baby will smile if her mother does something the baby likes. A baby learns to get the best care possible by smiling to please her mother or other caregiver. This is how babies learn to connect and communicate with other people. The researchers say this ability to learn exists in a baby even before birth. They say newborn babies can recognize and understand sounds they heard while they were still developing inside their mothers. Another study has suggested that low birth weight babies with no evidence of disability may be more likely than other children to have physical and mental problems. American researchers studied almost five hundred boys and girls. They were born in, or admitted to, one of three hospitals in New Jersey between 1984 and 1987. At birth, each child weighed fewer than two thousand grams. The boys and girls had an average age of sixteen at the time of the study. They were asked to complete intelligence and motor skill tests in their homes. Their test results were compared with those of other children their age. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development tries to find out _ . Answer: what affects people's healthy development
Let's say you took violin lessons all through elementary school, but you haven't got the instrument out of its case for years. Were all those lessons a waste of your parents' money because you didn't become a violinist? Even though it has been a long time since you played the violin, a new study shows that as little as one year of music training can have a positive impact on your brain that will last the rest of your life. In an experiment, researchers compared children who had taken music lessons to those who hadn't. Laurel Trainor, who studies music and the mind, discovered that the musically-trained children had better brain responses in certain sound recognition exams. Trainor's findings show the possibility that musical education can actually improve the brain's hearing cortex . "The study's results show that music training affects attention and memory, and helps children develop learning skills. In this way music training might lead to better learning across a number of fields," Trainor said in a statement. The effects of music education are even more obvious on children with difficulty in reading and writing and other language-related disabilities. So, whether you can play a good piece of music or not, it's likely that your years of music lessons have prepared your brain for all the speeches, emails, and adult conversations that are part of your life today. We should help make sure that children today have the same opportunities for music, and help out by volunteering with or donating instruments to your school's music education department. Compared with children who haven't taken music lessons, musically-trained children _ . recognize sounds better The research carried out by the University of Bari in Italy could help clarify hospitals who are charged with wasting money on art and decoration as it suggests a pleasant environment helps patients overcome discomfort and pain. A team headed by Professor Marina de Tommaso at the Neurophysiopathology Pain Unit asked a group of men and women to pick the 20 paintings they considered most ugly and most beautiful from a selection of 300 works by artists such as Lenoardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli. They were then asked to watch either the beautiful paintings, or the ugly paintings, or a blank panel while the team struck a short laser pulse at their hand, creating a sensation as if they had been hurt by a pin. The subjects rated the pain as being a third less intense while they were viewing the beautiful paintings, compared with when considering the ugly paintings or the blank panel. Electrodes measuring the brain's electrical activity also confirmed a reduced response to the pain when the subject looked at beautiful paintings. While distractions , such as music, are known to reduce pain in hospital, Prof de Tommaso says this is the first result to show that beauty plays a part. The findings, reported in New Scientist, also go a long way to show that beautiful surroundings could aid the healing process. "Hospitals have been designed to be functional, but we think that their aesthetic aspects should be taken into account too," said the neurologist. "Beauty obviously offers a distraction that ugly paintings do not. But at least there is no suggestion that ugly surroundings make the pain worse. I think these results show that more research is needed into how a beautiful environment can reduce suffering." Pictures they liked included Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and Botticellis' Birth of Venus. Pictures they found ugly included works by Pablo Picasso, the Italian 20th century artist Anonino Bueno and Columbian Fernando Botero. "these people were not art experts so some of the pictures they found ugly would be considered masterpieces by the art world," said Prof de Tommaso. How did the researchers make the research? By aching the subjects' hands while they are watching paintings. Mr. Jenkins is fifty years old. He has taught math in a middle school for twenty-six years. He works hard and always come to his office on time. He hopes his students can be honest and is strict with them. Some of his students become famous persons,but they still remember him and often write to him. Of course the old man is proud of it. This term he began to teach Grade One. Some of the new students were told about him, but the others didn't know him well. He told them how to be an honest person. He gave them several examples and said,"I hate telling a lie most." Before class was over,he told all his students to finish Exercise 8 in Unit 1.The next morning,as soon as he came in the classroom,he asked,"Who's finished Exercise 8? " A few students put up their hands. He shook his head and said. "Open your workbooks and see if there's Exercise 8 in Unit 1 or not." The students had a look at their books and their faces turned red at once. The students' faces turned red because _ . they told a lie in class Imagine being a crew member, hundreds of years ago, sailing in southern waters. Your captain is searching for food while exploring unfamiliar waters. Your job is to watch the sea off the ship's side for ice. The wind is cold on your face. Alongside the ship, a fish darts past. Another slows to a stop and raises its head above the water to look at you. How could a fish do that? Did the sailors see fish with feathers or swimming birds? Today, we know that the sailors saw birds that developed the ability to swim. Their wings became flippers, and they could "fly" through the water with amazing speed. There are many types of penguins. Only two kinds raise their young on the continent of Antarctic. Adelie penguins grow up to 29 inches tall and have a white ring around each eye. Emperor penguins have yellow orange color near their necks. Standing about 35 inches tall, they are the tallest penguins living today. Emperor penguins have nests on top of their feet. Father Emperor penguins keep the egg on top of their feet for more than two months, until the egg is ready to hatch. The mother penguin goes out for food during that time. Imagine holding an egg on your feet for two months until someone returns with food! Male and female penguins are both good parents. Once the chicks hatch, both parents travel long distances to find food for them in the sea. It may be days before the parents return and the chicks eat again. When they return with food, the fun really begins. Chicks chase their parents, begging for food. Penguin chicks eat huge amounts at one time. Eventually, the adult penguins stop feeding the chicks. This is nature's way of forcing children to grow up. When the penguin chicks are hungry enough, they find their way to the sea. Without any swimming lessons, they make their way into the icy waters and swim as only penguins do. Why does the author say "the fun really begins" when the parents return with food? The chicks run after the parents while trying to get food. Many expensive nutrition additives advertised on TV say they can improve your memory. But only ordinary food and healthy habits have been shown to work. A research team from UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) has designed a four-step plan to improve your memory in just 14 days. "It sounds like another advertisement, but it really works," says UCLA psychiatry professor Gary Small. The team found the four-step plan improved memory function in teenagers under stress and older people. After a two-week study that included brain-teasers , exercise and diet changes, test subjects' memories worked more efficiently. Here's the programme: Memory training: Train yourself with brain-teasers, crossword puzzles and memory exercises that train verbal skills throughout the day. Healthy diet: Eat five rather than three meals a day. The food should be rich in omega-3 fats (omega-3), such as whole grains and vegetables that contain antioxidants . Having frequent meals helps increase blood glucose , the primary energy source for the brain. Physical fitness: Have regular physical exercise such as walking, basketball or running, every day. Stress reduction : Perform stretching and relaxation exercises. Stress causes the body to release a chemical that can shrink the memory centres in the brain. Before-and-after brain scans showed that test subjects experienced on average a 5 per cent increase in working memory. This suggests they were using their brains more efficiently. They also performed better on a cognitive test. A control group that didn't follow the plan showed no big changes. "We've known for years that diet and exercise can help people keep their physical health, which is a key part of healthy aging," said Small. "But keeping mental health is just as important. Now we have evidence that people can improve their memories through a programme of memory exercises and stress reduction." Which of the following is Small's conclusion from the program? People's memories can be improved through memory exercises.
Will it matter if you don't take your breakfast? Recently a test was given in the United States. Those tested included people of different ages, from 12 to 83. During the experiment, these people were given all kinds of breakfasts and sometimes they got no breakfast at all. Special tests were set up to see how well their bodies worked when they had eaten a certain kind of breakfast. The results show that if a person eats a proper breakfast, he or she will work with better effect than if he or she has no breakfast. This fact appears to be especially true if a person works with his brains. If a student eats fruit, eggs, bread and milk before going to school, he will learn more quickly and listen with more attention in class. Contrary to (......) what many people believe, if you don't eat breakfast, you will not lose weight. This is because people become so hungry at noon that they eat too much for lunch, and end up gaining weight instead of losing. You will probably lose more weight if you reduce your other meals. The passage mentions that many people believe that if you don't eat breakfast, you will_. A lose weight B not lose weight C be healthier D gain a lot of weight Answer: A Last summer vacation, I volunteered to work at a vet's . There I saw a lot of dogs. Minnie was the funniest-looking dog I'd ever seen. _ She was brought to the vet because her owners didn't want her any more. I thought Minnie had a sweet personality, though."No one should judge her by her looks,"I thought. Finally, I advertised Minnie in the local paper."Funny-looking dog, well-behaved, needs a loving family." When a boy called, I warned him that Minnie was strange-looking. The boy on the phone told me that his grandfather's sixteen-year-old dog had just died. They wanted Minnie no matter what. I gave Minnie a good bath. Then we waited for them to arrive. At last, an old car pulled up in front of the vet's. Two kids raced to the door. They picked Minnie up and rushed her out to their grandfather, who was waiting in the car. I hurried behind them to see his reaction to Minnie. Inside the car, the grandfather held Minnie in his arms and _ her soft hair. She licked his face. Her tail wagged around so quickly that it looked like it might fly off her body. "She's perfect!"the old man said happily. I was thankful that Minnie had found a good home. Suddenly, I saw that the grandfather's eyes were a milky white colour--he was blind. Why did the writer advertise Minnie in the local newspaper? A Because he wanted to sell her at a good price. B Because he didn't want her any more, either. C Because he wanted to find a family for her. D Because he wanted to have another dog. Answer: C In today's fast-paced society, few people take time to enjoy the midday meal.Most of us just rush right through it. We grab a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers, Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just _ The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either.We are constantly distracted by e-mail, social media, and 24 - hour news.Even when we do sit down for lunch, we are more connected to our hand - held electronic devices. Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems, and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break.These laws give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift, but it's up to them whether they do so or not. Frank Partnoy, a former Wall Street trader, says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch.This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society. Writing in The Guardian, Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective . A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box.It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context . What we eat at lunch is also important.In Partnoy' s opinion, a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all. And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food.Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think. However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down, something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over -- packed fast food chain. Despite these benefits, some employees might still be unwilling to take time off for lunch.Partnoy's suggestion? Make skipping lunch difficult: Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal. In Partnoy's opinion, a fast food lunch _ . A saves a lot of time for a rest B affects people's way of thinking C is better than having no lunch D makes workers sit down and think Answer: B Food sometimes gets poisoned with harmful things. A person who eats such food can get an illness called food poisoning . Food poisoning is usually not serious, but some types are deadly. The symptoms of food poisoning usually begin within hours of eating the poisoned food. Fever is one of the most common symptoms. Certain microorganisms cause most types of food poisoning. Bacteria and other microorganisms can poison eggs, meat, vegetables, and many other foods. After entering the body, these tiny living things release poisons that make people sick. Some chemicals can also cause food poisoning. They are often added to food while it is being grown, processed, or prepared. For example, many farmers spray chemicals on crops to kill weeds and insects. Some people may have a bad reaction to those chemicals when they eat the crops. Some plants and animals contain natural poisons that are harmful to people. These include certain kinds of seafood, grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and mushrooms. When people handle food properly, the risk of food poisoning is very small. Microorganisms multiply rapidly in dirty places and in warm temperatures. This means that people should never touch food with dirty hands or put food on unwashed surfaces. Food should be kept in a refrigerator to stop microorganisms from growing. Meat needs to be cooked thoroughly to kill any dangerous microorganisms. People should also wash food covered with chemicals before eating it. Finally, people should not eat wild mushrooms or other foods that grow in the wild. Some of these foods may contain natural materials that are poisonous to humans. In addition, some types of fish can be poisonous. Most people recover from food poisoning after a few days of resting and drinking extra water. If people eat natural poisons, they must go to the hospital right away to have their stomachs emptied. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A natural materials are safe in food processing B chemicals are needed in food processing C food poisoning can be kept under control D food poisoning is out of control Answer: C One evening in November, Berlin received a telephone call from Mrs. Green. "Please, Dr Berlin, come to my house. I had 50,000 dollars on my desk and now it is gone." Dr Berlin arrived at Mrs. Green's house at eight o'clock. First he asked Mrs. Green, "When did you see the money last?" "At seven o'clock. I put it on my desk in my living room. Then I went to wash my hair. I came back at seven thirty and the money was gone." "I see." Dr Berlin said. "Were you alone in the house?" "No. My sister's son Jack is here, too." Then Dr Berlin and Mrs. Green went to Jack's room. "Please, sit down," Jack said. Dr Berlin sat on the only chair in the room, and the chair was cold. He also saw some books on the ground near his feet. "What have you been doing this evening?" Dr Berlin asked. "I came home at six-thirty, and went right to my room. I've been sitting in that chair and reading all the evening. I never got up and I never left the room. Maybe somebody came into the house and took my aunt's money." After hearing that, Dr Berlin was clear about who had taken the money. When did Dr Berlin answer the phone from Mrs. Green? A At 6:30 B At 7:00 C After 7:30 D At 8:00 Answer: C
Question: Mass transportation revised the social and economic fabric of the American city in three fundamental ways.It catalyzed physical expansion, it sorted out people and land uses, and it accelerated the inherent instability of urban life.By opening vast areas of unoccupied land for residential expansion, the omnibuses, horse railways, commuter trains, and electric trolleys pulled settled regions outward two to four times more distant form city centers than they were in the premodern era.In 1850, for example, the borders of Boston lay scarcely two miles from the old business district; by the turn of the century the radius extended ten miles.Now those who could afford it could live far removed from the old city center and still commute there for work, shopping, and entertainment.The new accessibility of land around the periphery of almost every major city sparked an explosion of real estate development and fueled what we now know as urban sprawl.Between 1890 and 1920, for example, some 250,000 new residential lots were recorded within the borders of Chicago, most of them located in outlying areas.Over the same period, another 550,000 were plotted outside the city limits but within the metropolitan area.Anxious to take advantage of the possibilities of commuting, real estate developers added 800,000 potential building sites to the Chicago region in just thirty years - lots that could have housed five to six million people. Of course, many were never occupied; there was always a huge surplus of subdivided, but vacant, land around Chicago and other cities.These excesses underscore a feature of residential expansion related to the growth of mass transportation: urban sprawl was essentially unplanned.It was carried out by thousands of small investors who paid little heed to coordinated land use or to future land users.Those who purchased and prepared land for residential purposes, particularly land near or outside city borders where transit lines and middle-class inhabitants were anticipated, did so to create demand as much as to respond to it.Chicago is a prime example of this process.Real estate subdivision there proceeded much faster than population growth. With which of the following subjects is the passage mainly concerned? A. Types of mass transportation. B. Instability of urban life. C. How supply and demand determine land use. D. The effect of mass transportation on urban expansion. Answer: D. The effect of mass transportation on urban expansion. Question: Phillida Eves and her husband Tedd Hamilton weren't unhappy living in the Galway countryside with their sons, Cian and Oisin, and their daughter, Soracha. "We had a lovely home , a car, lots of friends, and weekends sailing our boat", says Phillida. "But there's a line from a poem that goes: 'Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?' That says it all for me. We felt that there was more to life." So they quit their jobs, took their sons, then aged six and nine, out of school and went to southern Spain where they bought a 15-meter yacht and headed up the coast to Barcelona. Soracah was not even three. And they brought along Poppy, the family dog. Now, two and a half years and 10,000 km later, they don't intend to stop. Tedd is a yacht engineer and can find work in ports. But, says Phillida, a supply teacher , "Any family could do this". The children are home-schooled using a correspondence course . My son had a recent project on the weather. The weather is vital to us. My son knows more than most adults about weather systems, compasses, maps and directions. The weather, for him, means life or death. Other subjects have become equally vivid. "They're living geography and history all the time. We've sailed round Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, and seen tiny islands we didn't know. The kids learned about ancient Romans by visiting Rome. One summer off the Italian coast we sailed past a volcano at 2am. We woke the kids. There it was, under the moon, with fire coming out the top--you don't get that in a textbook." But what about social development? Again, Phillida is _ . "The children have become much more socially confident since we set out. They play with tones of families of all nationalities on other boats we meet." Living for the moment, they believe, is a huge life lesson. "Our children never say they're bored." The other day they stopped mid-ocean and the kids swam, 110km from land. "That's the kind of freedom we want for them," says Phillida. "That's the kind of freedom they've got." The couple quit their jobs and took their children traveling because _ . A. their children wanted to make friends of all nationalities. B. they wanted to experience more in their lives. C. their children wanted completed freedom. D. they were unhappy with their lives. Answer: B. they wanted to experience more in their lives. Question: Surface Exploration. Robots make great explorers on planets,moons,and other landing areas. Aside from earth,just about every surface in the solar system is unsafe for humans to explore. The air on most other planets is insufficient for humans to breathe,making it necessary to wear a space suit and oxygen equipment. The temperatures on these surfaces are much too hot or much too cold for any humans to withstand .Plus there would be complications with radiation,weather,and a lack of gravity. Robots have much less limitation in these areas and can survive much longer under these conditions. Data Collection. Robots are designed for collecting scientific data. Robots are also able to perform many tasks at a time and can process information much quicker and more efficiently. Important scientific projects from detecting minerals,analyzing ground samples,and finding water are all performed much quicker and more accurately by robots. Cost Effective. The use of robots has made the cost of space exploration much less expensive than it would cost for humans to do the work. In order to successfully send humans into space we would need to build a vehicle that can not only carry humans,but also enough food and water to keep them alive for the duration of the trip. Moreover,robots have no problems working for hours on end. Robots never complain,they don't require food or water,and they never need a bathroom break. Space Travel. Over the past 30 years or so there have been many different types of robots used successfully in the exploration of space. Perhaps the most famous and successful robots are the Spirit and Opportunity who have both been exploring the surface of Mars. They have both been very successful with experiments on soil and rocks and have even found evidence of water in Mars' history. What is the writer's attitude in this passage? A. Negative. B. Persuasive. C. Subjective. D. Objective. Answer: D. Objective. Question: Many students are under great pressure this term. There is some advice on studying and preparing for exams. Sciences Ask students what is the most difficult course, and most of them will give you the same answer: mathematics. This is also true for Dai Shuang, a 14-year-old student at No.1 Middle School. He says, "It's so difficult that I get a headache whenever I think about the math exam." According to Dai, studying this course is not easy. He usually studies math by himself and spends most of his free time reading math books and doing exercises. _ Qin Xia, a math teacher, offers some advice. "Most students fear mathematics because they think the class is too difficult or boring." he says, "These students don't listen carefully in classes or even sleep." In Qin's opinion, they can try to take notes. And they'd better ask teachers for help. It's difficult for students to teach themselves math, which will waste a lot of time. Besides, doing a lot of exercises is also important. Arts Zhu Tianjiao, a 13-year-old student at Megan Middle School, is very nervous because she doesn't know how to improve her English. _ Xia Bingcong, a top student at Tsinghua University shares some of her learning experiences. According to Xia, memorizing, listening and reading are important in language learning. "Studying on a daily basis is the best choice." Xia says. The passage tells us that _ can help us make progress with English. A. exercising, listening, and reading B. memorizing, listing and reading C. memorizing, listening, and reading D. memorizing, listening and relaxing Answer: C. memorizing, listening, and reading Question: Part-time Front Desk Position Kirchoff, Inc. , a book development company, is looking for a part-time front desk office worker. This position is perfect for a person who is cheerful, dependable,and pleasant to work with. Also, you should be able to welcome guests, redirect phone calls, and take messages. More importantly, you can stay cool under pressure. You are expected to work 5:00 -- 6:00 pm weekdays. You need to fill in some forms if you are interested. Forms can be collected at Kirchoff, Inc. 866 United Nations Plaza, # 525 New York,NY 10017 Important Points to Remember When Swimming * Wait at least an hour after meals. * Follow the advice of lifeguards. * Don't dive into unknown waters. Always swim in line with the shore. * Find out at the seaside when and where it is safe to swim. * Don't use floating toys on the water. Wind can easily sweep them out to sea. * Get out of the water if you feel tired or cold. Cold can kill even strong swimmers. Help Telephone: 2125435902 Atlantic City Beach Office Arrive on time. Introduce yourself in a polite manner. Read company materials while you wait. Have a firm handshake. Listen. Use body language to show interest. Smile and nod to the interviewer. Ask about the next thing you should do. Thank the interviewer. Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to. For more information, please visit jobweb.com 368 Cooper Square,New York. NY 10008 According to the above information, what is the right thing to do when you swim? A. To keep close to the beach. B. To dive into unknown waters. C. To use floating toys on the water. D. To swim soon after lunch. Answer: A. To keep close to the beach.
Question: 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. Why does the author say "we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret"? A. Modern society has finally developed into an open society. B. People leave traces around when using modern technology. C. There are always people who are curious about others' affairs. D. Many search engines profit by revealing people's identities. Answer: B Question: Italians were reminded to slow down and relax on World Slow Day, an annual event celebrating life's simple pleasures. "Let's take this day to stop and think about all the things we miss while we're rushing through our lives," said Bruno Contigiani, the President of the Art of Living Slowly Association. Contigiani, 62, a one-time high-powered manager, is now an ambassador for the slow life movement around the world. He started the first World Slow Day in 2007 to encourage the values of living and working at a more natural pace, and to make people rethink their daily lifestyle. Contigiani's association suggests "14 commandments " for living better, such as waking up five minutes earlier to enjoy breakfast without rushing. Others include walking whenever possible, and reading in the evenings instead of watching television. This year, Contigiani left Italy where the event has spread around the country for Shanghai, one of the fastest moving cities in the world. The slow-living supporter said he wandered around the busiest streets of the commercial center for an entire afternoon, inviting people to "slow down". "Among the '14 commandments', the one about waking up five minutes earlier was the most popular by far, " Contigiani said. Back in Italy, the now well-known event hosts a lot of activities, such as reminding people to stop and smell the roses. In central Milan you would probably be fined if you walk too fast. In parks and public spaces, free yoga and Tai Chi lessons are important parts of the events. Italian farmers' union noted that Italians spent less and less time preparing meals, a habit connected to rising levels of obesity . Therefore, the group said World Slow Day was a good opportunity to remind Italians to take extra time at meals in particular. World Slow Day is by now an international event. A total of 90 "Slow Cities" in 11 countries inspired by the "live well" philosophy are supporting the day. What's the best title of the text? A. Slow Life Supporters B. Lifestyle of Italy C. World Slow Day D. Living Well Answer: C Question: "Global warming could make humans shorter," warn scientists who claim to have found evidence that it caused the world's first horses to shrink nearly 50 million years ago. In fact, a team from the universities of Florida and Nebraska says it has found a link between the Earth heating up and the size of mammals - horses, in this case. The scientists used fossils to follow the evolution of horses from their earliest appearance 56 million years ago. As temperature went up,their size went down, and vice versa ;" At one point they were as small as a house cat," said Dr Jonathan Bloch, curator of the Florida Museum of Natural History, which was quoted by the "Daily Mail" as saying. The scientists say that the current warming could have the same effect on mammals and could even make humans smaller."Horses started out small, about the size of a small dog . What's surprising is that after they first appeared, they then became even smaller and then dramatically increased in size, and that exactly _ the global warming event, followed by cooling" "It had been known that mammals were small during that time and that it was warm, but we hadn't realized that temperature specifically was driving the evolution of body size," Dr Bloch said in the "Science" journal. What is the best title of the passage? A. Global warming is to disappear B. The temperature on earth is to decrease C. Global warming makes human shorter D. Mammals are dying out. Answer: C Question: United States and Canada are multicultural countries with many national, religious and cultural differences, where people attach great importance to individualism--the uniqueness among people. Teachers value the qualities that make each student special and different. You can see such values through their educational systems. For example, students needn't memorize lots of information. Instead, they work independently and find answers on their own. There are discussions for children to show their own ideas and opinions. By contrast, people have the same language, history, and culture in most Asian societies. As a result, Asia's educational system reflects society's belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea learn to work together and help one another in assignments. And the teaching methods are often very formal and serious. In class, teachers give lectures while students listen and take notes. Discussion is replaced by reciting rules of information that have been memorized. These two systems both have advantages and disadvantages. One advantage in Japan is that there is much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. In addition, students study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The difficult system also prepares students for a society that place emphasis on discipline and self-control. However, while memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students admit forgetting much of the information that they have memorized after exams. On the other hand, the educational system in North American has an advantage that students learn to think for themselves, which prepares them for a society that values creativity. The disadvantage is that when they graduate from high school, they haven't recited as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have. What is the advantage of the educational system in North America? A. There is not much discussion. B. Learning to think for themselves C. Learning much less math and science D. They haven't memorized basic rules and facts. Answer: B Question: American Schools American schools begin in September after a long summer holiday. There are two terms in a school year. The first term is from September to January, and the second is from February to June. Most American children begin to go to school when they are five years old. Most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they finish high school. High school students take only four or five subjects each term. They usually go to the same classes every day, and they have homework for every class. After class they do many interesting things. After high school, many students go to college . They can go to a small one or a large one. They usually have to give a lot of money. So many college students work after class to get the money for their studies. How old are the students when they graduate from high school? A. Five years old B. Seven or eight years old. C. Seventeen or eighteen years old. D. Twenty years old. Answer: C
Mr Brown is one of my friend . He can run very fast and likes to show people how fast he can run . One day , a thief got into his house , took some of his things and ran out of the house fast . Mr. Brown found it and ran after him , and shouted ,"Hey ! Don't you know you can't get away from me ?" But the thief ran much faster . Mr. Brown got angry and ran faster , too . He was soon a few kilometers away from his house . He was running hard when he met me. " Why are you running so fast ?" I asked , " I want to catch a thief ." said Mr. Brown "But where is the thief ?" I asked . " Kilometers and kilometers behind ." Said Mr. Brown proudly . " He thought he could run faster than me , but you see he is wrong ." Did Mr. Brown catch the thief? Answer: No, he didn't . Halloween is a festival on October 31st.The name of the holiday means --"hallowed" because it comes the day before All Saints Day. Before the festival, people paint homes, shops and classrooms in the traditional Halloween colours, orange and black. Some people make costumes at home. Some people buy them in shops. People also make decorations for the festival. These decorations look like witches, black cats, ghosts, skeletons and jack-o-lanterns. Jack-o- lanterns are pumpkins that are cut to look like faces. People think that Halloween is the children's New Year's Eve. On that day children dress up in special costumes and masks. They eat too much, and go to bed very late after celebrating. They go from one door to another saying "trick or treat". People give them candies,cookies,fruit or money. Adults and older children also celebrate Halloween with parades ,festivals and costumes parties. One kind of the parties welcomed by children is dunking for apples. Apples are put in tubs full of water. People try to get the apples using only their mouths; they cannot use their hands. Which is NOT right about common costumes according to the passage? Answer: All of the costumes are bought in shops. When I set out to drop my dad of fat the airport,it was dark and dreary .It started to rain on the way.When I left the airport,the visibility wasn't clear because of the drops of rain.It was before 6 am. Even though the road conditions were poor,I drove at my normal speed.I was angry with the more cautious drivers ahead of me that were delaying my drive.The exit ramp to the highway was a tight spiral .It is a dangerous spot in good weather and totally scary when the weather is miserable or it is dark.But I didn't want to slow down and arrive home any later than necessary.I drove down the ramp too fast.The road was wet and my car slid,landing face down on the passenger side. I didn't like to drive by myself at the time and had debated taking my husband and son with me on the trip.Thankfully,I was alone in the car.My accident was slight.In fact, I was lucky enough not to have a single scratch.I _ to think the injuries my son would have suffered had he been in the backseat of that car with no seatbelt when it rolled.After the ear rolled three times,I found my mobile phone was lost in a pile of small things that were all lying in the bottom of the car.A lady was kind enough to let me borrow her mobile phone,but with-out the numbers preprogrammed who could I call? I was lucky enough to remember my father's mobile phone number,and fortunate that he hadn't yet got on his plane. You never know when an accident will happen.As a driver,I will keep safety in mind by obeying all traffic laws and have safe-driving habits,especially in bad weather.Insist your children always wear their seatbehs.Life is a journey and everyone should value it and enjoy the ride. We can learn from this passage that the author _ . Answer: called her father for help Hello! My name is Becky Sharp. I'm eleven years old. I've got one brother--his name's Jonson and he's fourteen. I haven't got any sisters. I live with my mum , dad and grandma in a small house in Chesterfield,in the north of England. There are lots of things to do here. My friends and I go to the cinema on Saturdays. Do you like games? I like football. My favorite team is Manchester United. I sometimes play football with my brother. I'm good at it but he isn't very good. I've got seven pets--a tortoise and six goldfish. I want a dog or a cat,but my mother doesn't like them. There are _ people in Becky's family. Answer: five We live in central Phoenix, near the canal . Every day I used to see a homeless old man and his scruffy little dog hanging out down there. I would tell my husband we should give him food for the little dog. It wouldn't have been a problem; we have our own "mini farm" of animals! But he would say "OK!" and then blow the idea off because of our business. Being in Phoenix, Arizona, you can just imagine how hot it gets here, but his winter was really chilly! I had just come from KFC with take-out food for dinner. As I was turning by the canal, the man and his dog were sitting right there all bundled up. Even the doggy had a coat on! Not even thinking about it, I pulled into the parking lot along the canal and piled up a plate of chicken with all the fixings for the man and his little buddy . I gave it to him with a soda and a bottle of water for the little dog. He said, "Thank you, sweetie. You are an angel." And there were tears welling up in his eyes! I told him he was so welcome, and then went home. When my husband dug into the KFC bag he asked, "Were you hungry, or what?" I told him what I did and he said, "Only you!" Then he told me I had done a good thing. A few weeks later, we were walking along the canal and found the man walking to me, with his little dog. He asked whether I would mind adopting the dog. With tears in eyes, he said it had gotten too hard for him to care for the dog. He added that he was planning on heading to Washington State but his dog wouldn't have been up to it, so he hoped to give it to me. "Only you! In this city, you are the only person I can believe in!" Now, every time I watch and pat the dog lying near the fireplace, I will remember the old man's words and wish him good luck. Why did the old man hope to give the dog to the author? Answer: Because the author was the person he could trust.
Question: Plant population would fail to maintain it's size if A. fertilizer is applied B. gets more sun C. H2O depletes D. grows Answer: C. H2O depletes Question: To get to the tennis court, Conner Stroud has to push his wheelchair there. The 15-yea-old from North Carolina, US was born without legs. But when he picks up his racquet and begins to hit a ball, you quickly see that the young man just want to win. Stroud began playing tennis at age 5 at the small tennis club his parents own. For years, he played against able-bodied players by putting rubber on the stumps of his legs. Though he was a foot (30.48cm) or two shorter than many of the players he played against, he won a number of matches. He became well-known enough that he got to meet Rafael Nadal, his favorite player at the US Open in 2013. "The most important thing is that he's happy," Nadal told reports about Stroud after that 15-minute meeting. "He's playing tennis... That's a great example of being happy even if life doesn't give you everything." Stroud started playing wheelchair tennis at 13 and now he is No 1 in the US. Earlier this summer, he played for the US in the world's biggest junior wheelchair team tennis event --- the World Team Cup. He played six matches and won five of them as the US won the cup for the first time since 2000. "He is a polite boy , but he will rip your heart out trying to beat you," Jason Harnett, a United States Tennis Association coach, said of Stroud. "You see that attitude in a lot of the best players, whether they are able-bodied or disabled. Teenage players can often get disappointed and angry. Racquets sometimes get thrown. Players shout at themselves after missed shots. Stroud never does that. " I just try to stay positive," Stroud said. "After every point, I try to say I'm going to win the next point, or the next game, or the next game, or the whole match. " There's always room to be positive . You can always win another time." Which of the following words best described Conner Stroud? A. Positive B. Independent C. Humorous D. Considerate Answer: A. Positive Question: Alan is in Class Two,Grade Seven.He is l2.His English teacher is Mr. Smith.He is English.His daughter is Helen.She is l3.Alan and Helen are good friends.They like English.This is Helen's school ID card.Its number is A-270789.Is that Alan's school ID card? No.He can't find his school ID card.If you find it,please call Alan at 346--2828.Thank you! Alan's _ number is 346--2828. A. phone B. ID card C. school ID card D. book Answer: A. phone Question: School and Einstein did not mix well. His teachers thought that he was stupid and that Einstein's thoughts and words were jumbled . His schoolwork was poor. Playing the violin was all he was good at as a child. When he was ten, he met Dr. Max Talmy. Talmy talked with the boy and tried to help him. They discussed books and Einstein showed an interest in maths. He understood difficult problems and ideas. Inside this "stupid" boy was a genius. Schoolwork never became easy for Einstein. He could not learn things by heart. Paying attention was hard for him. He even did not passed his first test to enter college. Because of his learning problems, Einstein made few friends. He was shy in groups of people. Yet he overcame his shortcomings. He became a well-known scientist in the field of physics. He was one of the most important thinkers of the modern age. In this passage the word "genius" means _ . A. a person with special ability B. a person with no learning at all C. a person who can do nothing D. a person who can do everything well Answer: A. a person with special ability Question: Artistic Skates Artistic roller skates are made up of a leather boot, very strong sole plate, and a jump bar that adds extra force. The boot sits a few inches above the ankle, providing more support for the foot. Jam Skates Jam skates are the most different roller skates because of their special low-cut design and lack of toe stop. That's right: there is no brake. But the original jam skate design was different, resembling an artistic skate. Jam skating is more about personal expression rather than speed skating. The free-flowing movements of jam skating have been given many names. But regardless of its name, jam skating has always been about expression and passion. Speed Skates A speed skate resembles a shoe. The cut of the boot is lower. Speed skates typically offer lightweight plates to reduce exhaustion for skating long distances. Jam skates have preferred speed skates because they offer a similar design and freedom of movement. The most obvious difference is that a speed skate features a toe stop, unlike a jam skate that uses a toe plug. Rhythm Skates Rhythm skates are similar to jam skates. The difference between them lies in the boot design. In fact, the boot design looks very similar to an artistic skate, essentially providing you with the ankle support benefits of an artistic skate, but the freedom of movement of a jam skate. If you want a skate that allows you to move to the beat, which added ankle support, the rhythm skate is the ideal choice. Speed skates are popular with jam skates because _ . A. they have a high boot cut B. they allow free-flowing movement. C. they are able to stabilize the foot D. they can help jam skates reduce tiredness. Answer: B. they allow free-flowing movement.
Question: If you have ever been left wondering why your emails are riddled with grammatical errors, or why you can never quite find the right phrase, it may be because you are typing with both hands. Our vocabulary becomes richer and our writing style becomes more fluent when we type using just one hand, scientists have found. "Typing can be too fluent or too fast, and _ can actually weaken the writing process," said Srdan Medimorec, the lead author of the study conducted at the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, Canada. "It seems that what we write is a product of the interaction between our thoughts and the tools we use to express them." Using text-analysis software, researchers asked 103 university students to write essays under different conditions, using one hand to type and using both hands to type. The software was used to analyze elements of the essays, such as range of vocabulary, sentence complexity and the cohesion of the writing. Researchers found that participants' vocabulary became more advanced when they typed with one hand rather than two. The research team said that by slowing our writing down, typing one-handed allows more time for an internal word search, resulting in a larger variety of words. In contrast, fast typists might just write the first word that comes to mind. However, it is important not to slow typing down too much. Those who typed essays one-handed in the current study slowed down to about the speed of handwriting. This is the first study to show that changing people's typing can make their writing get better. The researchers suggested that the speed of writing could affect writing quality regardless of the tools used, whether they are computers, or pen and paper, although further research would be required to prove that idea. Which is the best title of the passage? A. How to become a good writer? B. Typing with both hands could make you a worse writer. C. Slower typing, fewer mistakes. D. Elements weakening the writing process Answer: B Question: A producer makes its own what? A. air B. grass C. body D. sustenance Answer: D Question: Some animals are housed A. in public exhibitions for viewing B. in boxes for storage C. in barrels for travel D. in tents for sleeping Answer: A Question: We all want to live comfortably and safely here, so here are some rules. we hope that all residents can follow. Cleaning The main stairs are cleaned twice a week by the Association, so please try to keep them tidy and clean and do not leave furniture or bags on the stairs or in the hallways. Rubbish Rubbish collection is on Tuesdays. Please do not leave rubbish bags out before Tuesday. Noise Try to make less noise. Loud music can disturb others and we will get in touch with you if you make too much noise. Safety Make sure the main outside door is always locked and do not let anyone get into the main building unless you know who they are. Problems . If you have any problems or questions, please call Mr. Wu at 13662687439. You can also chat with him by QQ 34567890 What's the purpose of the notice? A. To attract more new residents. B. To make friends with the residents. C. To ask the residents to follow the rules. D. To make an advertisement for the apartment. Answer: C Question: Many people take it for granted that black is a color of bad things while white should always mean something good. This may be because, in their opinion, black is related to darkness and white to purity. However, that is not always the case. Did you know that the same one color may mean something differently in different places of the world? In the English-speaking world, black is the color of mourning--people wear black at the funeral. Red is concerned with danger or bloodshed . Yellow is the word for fear. If you are afraid, you are yellow. Yet none of these sayings is true outside the English-speaking world. In China and Korea white is the color of mourning. In Russia, China and some other countries, red stands for beauty, life and excellence. In Italy and Germany, you are yellow with anger, not with fear. Even within the English-speaking area, it is not difficult to find color contradictions .A redcap in the United States is a porter in a railway station. In Britain, however, a redcap is a military policeman. Both names are logical, because both men wear red caps. Similarly, the British term for an American white-collar worker is sometimes called a black-coated worker. One does not have to cross an area to find color differences. Would you rather be red-blooded or a blue-blooded? If we go back to the origin, we find that both terms are logical as both names suggest. The expression "blueblood" comes from Spain, where some noble families proudly told the world that they had "blue blood". Actually they meant that they had no Moorish or Jewish blood. But then why "blue" blood? Because they were fair-skinned, and it is only natural that their blood vessels stood out appearing blue. Both Britain and America would probably agree that _ . A. a redcap is a porter in a station B. black is the color of mourning C. red stands for beauty and excellence D. a black-coated worker is employed in an office Answer: B
There was once a professor of medicine, who was very strict with the students. Whenever he took the chair on the exam committee, the students would be in fear, because he was seldom pleased with the answers they gave. A student would be lucky enough if he or she could receive a good mark from him. At the end of the term, the students of medicine would take their exam again. Now a student was a little nervous as he knew it would not be so easy to get through the exam at all. The professor began to ask. The student was required to describe a certain illness, his description of which turned out to be OK. Then the professor asked about the cure for illness, and the student, too, answered just as right. "Good," said the professor, "and how much will you give the patient?" "A full spoon," answered the student. "Now you may go out and wait for what you can get," said the professor. At the same time the committee discussed carefully the answers the student had given. Suddenly the student noticed that there was something wrong with his last answer. "A full spoon is too much," he thought to himself. Anxiously he opened the door of the room and cried, "Mr Professor, I've made a mistake! A full spoon is too much for the patient. He can take only five drops." "I'm sorry, sir," said the professor coldly, "But it is too late. Your patient has died." Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Since one spoon is less than five drops, the patient will be all right soon if he takes only one full spoon at a time. Mnrk Zuckerberg, born on May 14. 1984, is an American computer programmer and businessman. As a Harvard student. He created the online social website Facebook, a site popular among students worldwide, with fellow computer science major students and his roommates Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. He serves as Facebook's CEO. He has been the subject of argument for the origins of his business and his wealth. Time Magazine added Zuckerherg as one of The World's Most Influential people 2008. Zuckerberg grew up in prefix = st1 /Dobbs Ferry,New York. Early on. Zuckerlrg enjoyed making computer programs, especially communication tools and games. He started programming when he was in middle school. While attending Phillips Exeter Academy in high school, he built a program to help the workers in his dad's office communicate and a version of the game Risk. He also built a music player named Synapse that can learn the user's listening habits. Microsoft and AOL tried to purchase Synapse and employ Zuckerberg, but instead he decided to attend HarvardUniversity. Zuckerberg started Facebook from his Harvard dorm room on February 4, 2004. it quickly became a success at Harvard and more than two-thirds of the school's studetts signed up in the first two weeks. It started off as just a "Havard-Thing," until Zuckerberg then decided to spread Facebook to other schools and enlisted the help of roommate Dustin Moskovitz. They first spread it to Stanford, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell and Yale, and then to other schools with social contacts with Harvard. By the beginning of the summer, Zuckerberg and Moskovitz had made Facebook available at almost forty-five schools and hundreds of thousands of people were using it. Which of the following is the right order of the events related to Zuckerberg? Answer: He started making computer programs, communication tools and games. Henry: I find the Internet is very good for shopping. I use more and more for buying books and CDs, and I even bought some clothes over the Internet. The other thing I can do is to book travels over the Internet. I booked a cheap flight once. It was very easy, and it was really good. David: I use the Internet for games. I play chess with people all around the world. Last night I had a game with someone from Japan. I also download games from the Internet, so I can have any game I want. Peter: I use the Internet for anything I need to help me with my schoolwork. I use the online dictionaries, encyclopedias and magazines. It's great because I can download pictures or articles and use them to help my homework. It's very easy to use and it's free, so I like it. Tony: Well, the main thing I use the Internet for is to e-mail. I usually write to my customers by e-mail, and my customers answer me by e-mail, too. We probably send and receive four or five hundred e-mails a month. But of course, I also use e-mails to keep in touch with friends and family. My daughter is in Australia and we send e-mails to each other every day. David's hobby is to _ on the Internet. Answer: play games Have you got a Facebook account? Are you thinking of getting one? Jamie Simmonds has just signed up. Let's see how she's getting along. My Diary MONDAY: I'm officially a Facebooker. I find a few people I used to know and I've soon got seven friends. I've never felt so popular! I wonder if my old university flatmate Steve is on here...What do you know! He is! Maybe Facebook has its uses. TUESDAY: I've received lots of nice welcoming messages on my wall. Later, I meet up with Steve for a drink after not seeing him for five years. We get on really well! Then, he uses his Facebook app for iPhone to suggest me as a friend to some other former classmates. Some of them even come to the pub and it's just like old times - possibly a bit too much like old times. During the night, photos are uploaded to Facebook. WEDNESDAY: Disaster! My mum's on Facebook! Has she seen the photos of me dancing on the table from last night? Has she shown them to dad? Oh. And I have a friend request - mum again! THURSDAY: There's a message from my boyfriend, "so, it's over then, ;is it?" Evidently I haven't changed my settings to show I'm "in a relationship", and I haven't even added him as a friend. Ah, well, I wonder what my ex-boyfriend is doing... Whoops! I accidentally type his name into my status box instead of the search ' and now every one can see it on their news feed.' FRIDAY: Time to update my status:"Work is boring. Can't wait for the weekend!" Yeah, that about sums it up. Oh, look, I've received a comment! Someone must feel the same way. Lots of my friends now"like" this status. SATURDAY: Good news! I've got 100 friends But wait! _ I look through my "friend list" to try to work out who it was. Why did they do that? Am I really such a terrible person? I never knew Facebook could be this cruel. SUNDAY: Wake up. Check my Facebook page. Make coffee. Check my Facebook page again. Get ready to leave. Change my mind and check my Facebook page ... again. I am becoming addicted to it! I think it's time to end it all before it takes over my life. I delete my account. Back to good, old, simple e-mails. Oh, look, I've got a message: A friend invited you to join Twitter. . . In July 2010, Facebook had more than 500 million active users. The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Facebook is translated into more than 70 different languages. The world spends 700 billion minutes a month on Facebook. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook page says he's a Harvard graduate, even though he actually dropped out to focus on Facebook. The site is valued at between $7.9 and $11 billion. What does the word"un-friend" mean in"Someone's 'un-friended' me!"? Answer: Removing a name from the friend list. Washington D.C.is the capital of the United States. It's the center of the national government. It's a busy,working city with a large population. But what is more,Washington is also a city of history and culture. Washington was created in 1790,when Congress decided to place the nation's new capital in the east of the country. It was built halfway between the northern and the southern states of the America. And of course it was named after George Washington,the first President of the United States. There are many tourist sights in Washington. One of them is the White House. This is the home and office of the President of the United States. Most visitors are,however,surprised by how small the White House actually is. Washington is also a great culture city. The Library of Congress contains one of the largest library collections in the world. The Smithsonian Museum holds the nation's largest collection of cultural materials. And John F.Kennedy Center is a famous center of art and culture. It has many great musical and theatre performances throughout the year. The writer introduces Washington in the order of _ . Answer: general introduction,history,sights and culture
Even if you're not an astronomy fan, chances are that you can easily recognize certain constellations and stars such as the Big Dipper and the North Star. The North Star is the brightest star in the constellation known as the Little Dipper. It is so-called because of the special position. If you were to stay up all night looking at the stars, you'd slowly see them move around a point in the sky known as the North Celestial Pole. You would notice, however, that one star remains still. This is the North Star, so named for its location almost directly in line with the North Celestial Pole. Due to its position in the sky, at one time sailors used the North Star as a navigational tool. By measuring the angle between the northern horizon and the North Star, a navigator could accurately determine the ship's latitude.[:ZXXK] But latitude, or the imaginary lines stretching across the globe parallel to the equator, was not enough to plot a ship's location. Knowing latitude only allowed navigators to locate themselves on a particular latitude line at a particular distance from the equator. It was only with the invention of a way to accurately measure longitude that precise navigation became possible. Although the North Star is no longer used by navigators, it remains a heavenly symbol of human curiosity and exploration. Which is probably the best title of the passage? A What is a navigational tool? B What can be called the earliest GPS? C What makes the North Star so special? D What is the symbol of human exploration? Answer: C. What makes the North Star so special? Do you love the holidays, but hate the pounds that follow? You are not alone. Holidays are times for feasting and celebrating. Many people are worried about their weight. With proper planning, though, it is possible to keep normal weight during the holidays. Whether it is celebrating at the office party or sitting down for the traditional family dinner, regard eating as a time for tasting a variety of the foods. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. Here are some tips for preventing weight gain and keeping physical fitness: Don't skip meals. Before you leave home, have a small, low-fat meal or snack. This may help to avoid getting too excited before delicious foods. Control portions. Use a small plate (about 10 inches) and put aside the large ones that may encourage you to "load up." You should be most comfortable eating an amount of food about the size of your fist. Once you have your "tasting" serving, move away from the buffet. Doing so will make it less tempting to be eating constantly as your appetite is inspired by the sight of food. Begin with soup and fruit or vegetables. Fill up beforehand on water-based soup and raw fruit or vegetables. Or drink a large glass of water before you eat to help you feel full. Stick to physical activity. Don't let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20-minute walk after a meal can help burn off extra calories. Avoid high-fat foods. Dishes that look oily or creamy may have a large amount of fat. Choose lean meats. Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables. Use lemon juice instead of dressing or butter. The best title for the passage would probably be _ . A How to avoid holiday feasting and celebrating B Dos and Don'ts for keeping slim and fit C How to avoid weight gain over holidays D Wonderful holiday, Boring weight Answer: C. How to avoid weight gain over holidays It's difficult not to become involved in gossip at work. After all, people like gossip and interesting bits of information: you only have to look at the number of celebrity-focused publications to realize that we have a huge appetite for discussing other people's lives. At work, however, this type of interaction is harmful and costly. It wastes time, damages reputations, promotes divisiveness , creates anxiety. Rumors often grow because people like to be "in the know." Knowledge is power, and that's why the people with the least amount of power in an organization can often be the ones to start and spread rumors. It can make them feel important if they're seen to know things that others don't. This knowledge is at the center of why and how rumors start and spread. Insufficient knowledge or incomplete information are often to blame. Consider these examples: People don't know why a colleague was fired, so they make up a reason based on some limited knowledge or insignificant fact. "I saw John override the cash register the other day without a supervisor present. Maybe he stole some money and that's why he went." People see a pattern of behavior between two individuals and they add their own explanation. "Joseph and Samantha spend a lot of time together after hours 'catching up on paperwork.' And just yesterday, they were sitting awfully close to each other in the meeting. I bet paperwork isn't all that's getting done after work!" These rumors are typical of the things you'll face at work, and they spread because of a lack of accurate information. So, the best way to fight rumors is with good communication. When you communicate well, your team knows what's happening, and they trust that you'll keep them informed. Good communication within your team also means that you will become aware of any rumors that are starting, and you'll be able to address them quickly and effectively. The huge number of celebrity-focused publications reveals that _ . A celebrities depend on publications to achieve fame B people like discussing other people's lives C the publishing industry is booming D celebrities are rather disturbed by rumors. Answer: B. people like discussing other people's lives Sometimes the best advice doesn't come from a book, a microphone, from behind a desk in Washington or even from the people who are the leaders in their fields. Sometimes the best life lessons are found deep in the roots of where we came from. My father passed away years ago, but I always remember the lessons he taught me. Three of them particularly shape my perspective day after day. The first one is that little things make big things happen. To the best of my memory, when I was young, we needed to build a new shed. Those were the days when stores like Home Depot and Lowes didn't exist. Brand-new timber was expensive, so folks often reused the materials that others in the community didn't need. That summer, Dad and I used the boards from an old abandoned barn. We pulled them down one by one, drew the nails out and took off the tin and straightened it in order to reuse it. We got our supplies back to our yard and got to work. I don't know how much of a help I really was, but I chose to stay beside Dad the entire period, working along with him. The sun was hot that day, and sweat formed and ran down our faces. I stood there and handed him the nails one by one, which were hammered into that shed. Dad made me feel proud of my work. Even though I just handed him the nails, he repeatedly emphasized how we built the new shed "together". He taught me that when you're willing to do hard work, even in little things, big things come together. The second one is that we should honor our promises. As a young man, my father always carried a pocket-sized Bible in his chest pocket. Shortly before the invasion of Normandy in 1944, he prayed for God's protection and promised God that if he made it home, he would make sure his family attended church every Sunday. Well, he made it home and he kept that promise. I cannot remember a Sunday when Dad did not take my mother, my siblings and me to church -- even when we were away on vacation. I now have my Dad's pocket Bible. It is one of my most treasured possessions, and it serves as a constant reminder of my dad's service to his country. However, it also serves as a visual representation of my dad's firm determination to keep his promises. Today, I place great value on my family and my faith, undoubtedly because of my dad's example. This lesson of promise has been introduced into all areas of my life. The third one is that listening is a way to acquire wisdom. My dad and I kept ourselves busy doing a lot of things together. During the nights of late summer, after dinner, the whole family would gather on our small porch to talk as the sun went down. Sometimes an aunt or uncle would drop by, and at other times my grandparents would be there. They would talk about the neighborhood news, the goings-on in modern Western society and politics -- mostly ordinary things, but it was good to sit there listening and to be together. Moreover, sitting there on the porch as dusk faded into night, I learned the value of listening and observing. Sometimes taking a moment to pause gives us the best perspective and sometimes we find the best answers simply by listening. Life in America becomes more complex. However, I like to think back to the simple lessons I learned from my father. They were the building blocks of my character and the values that still guide me today. Perhaps someone who has influence on your life taught you life lessons that helped form your character. I'm convinced that our nation could gain a lot by applying these lessons today. If we did, I think we would be reminded that the reason why our nation has become great is not merely that we have had wise leaders or well-spoken elected officials. Our nation has become great because of those ordinary Americans like my father, who have pride in their work, place great value on honesty, character and commitments, and pass those lessons on to their children and grandchildren. And that is the reason why we are still great today. By "This lesson of promise has been introduced into all areas of my life", the author means_. A he often misses his father when making a promise B he holds himself to his promises in his whole life C his father has influenced every aspect of his life D he dare not forget the lessons of promise Answer: B. he holds himself to his promises in his whole life My neighbor Mrs. Gargan first told me about it. "Have you seen the tree?" She asked as I was sitting in the backyard enjoying the autumn twilight . "The one down at the corner," she explained. "It's a beautiful tree--all kinds of colors. All the passers-by stop to have a look. You ought to see it." I told her I would, but I soon forgot about the tree. Three days later, I was jogging down the street when a splash of bright orange caught my eyes. For an instant, I thought someone's house had caught fire. Then I remembered the tree. I approached the tree to look at it closely. There was nothing remarkable about the shape of the tree. It was a medium-sized maple. But Mrs. Gargan had been right about its colors. Like the mess of an artist's palette , the tree blazed a bright crimson on its lower branches and burned with vivid yellows and oranges in its center, and deep red at its top. Through these colors were light green leaves as yet untouched by autumn. Walking closer I noticed several bare branches near the top, their small black branches scratching the air like claws. The fallen leaves lay like a red carpet around the trunk. As I was amazed at this beauty, I thought of Ralph Waldo Emerson's comments about the stars. "If the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they're up there every night, we barely give them a look," he made a remark in Nature. I felt the same way about the tree. Because its beauty will last only a week, it should be especially precious to us. And I had almost missed it. Once in the 19th century when a man noticed a brilliant display of northern lights in the sky over Massachusetts, he rang a church bell to alert the whole town's people. That's what I felt like doing about the tree. I wanted to awake the countryside to its wonder. I didn't have a church bell, but as I walked home, I did ask each neighbor I passed the same simple but important question Mrs. Gargan had asked me: "Have you seen the tree?". How did the author call on people to enjoy the wonder? A He rang the church bell. B He passed on the same question. C He awakened all neighbors up. D He required people to the corner. Answer: B. He passed on the same question.
Artistic Skates Artistic roller skates are made up of a leather boot, very strong sole plate, and a jump bar that adds extra force. The boot sits a few inches above the ankle, providing more support for the foot. Jam Skates Jam skates are the most different roller skates because of their special low-cut design and lack of toe stop. That's right: there is no brake. But the original jam skate design was different, resembling an artistic skate. Jam skating is more about personal expression rather than speed skating. The free-flowing movements of jam skating have been given many names. But regardless of its name, jam skating has always been about expression and passion. Speed Skates A speed skate resembles a shoe. The cut of the boot is lower. Speed skates typically offer lightweight plates to reduce exhaustion for skating long distances. Jam skates have preferred speed skates because they offer a similar design and freedom of movement. The most obvious difference is that a speed skate features a toe stop, unlike a jam skate that uses a toe plug. Rhythm Skates Rhythm skates are similar to jam skates. The difference between them lies in the boot design. In fact, the boot design looks very similar to an artistic skate, essentially providing you with the ankle support benefits of an artistic skate, but the freedom of movement of a jam skate. If you want a skate that allows you to move to the beat, which added ankle support, the rhythm skate is the ideal choice. What is a common feature of rhythm and jam skates? A. They both offer some support for the ankles. B. They both have a similar boot design. C. They are both suitable for free-flowing movement. D. They are both about personal expression and passion. Answer: C The world's earliest known fish hooks show that humans fished in the open sea for much longer than previously thought. Past studies have shown that early humans were able to cross the open ocean as far back as 50,000 years ago, but evidence that they could fish while in the open sea dated back only to 12,000 years ago. "In most areas of the world, evidence for our early ancestors' coastal exploitation was drowned by rising sea level," said researcher Sue O'Connor. Now O'Connor and her colleagues have found evidence of prehistoric fishing tools and the remains of large fish such as tuna at a cave shelter known as Jerimalai, located in the Southeast Asian island nation of East Timor. Their discovery uncovered fishing hooks made from bone that dated back to about 42,000 years ago. "It's possible that people caught the tuna in the deep channel that lies off the coast of the Jerimalai shelter," O'Connor said. The site, first uncovered in 2005, also included bone points, shell beads, the remains of fish, turtles, bats and birds, and nearly 10,000 stone tools. The island of Timor has very few land animals overall and only small birds call the island home, perhaps explaining why the ancient people here went fishing. About half the fish remains at the site came from fish such as tuna. Catching such fast-moving fish requires much planning and complex technology, suggesting that early humans developed these skills earlier than previously thought. Some other scientists might say that most of the fish bones seen are from young fish, and thus might have been caught more easily off the coast as opposed to in open waters. While this may be the case, it's still not easy to catch tuna -- it requires nets set in deep water. Why did the ancient people on the island of Timor go fishing according to the text? A. The island was too small for the large population. B. It was very easy to catch fish around the island. C. People there loved eating fish. D. There were few animals on land for food. Answer: D One afternoon last week, I saw three tearful children from my son's school being comforted by teachers. That morning, my 11-year-old had stomach pains, retching into a bowl. Talking to other mothers later, I heard about other children with stomachache or difficult sleeping the night before. What caused so much pain? Sports day. Sports day might be necessary at a highly-competitive independent school, but not at a village primary school. For the children who can fly like the wind, sports day cause no problem. For those who are overweight or just not good at sport, it is nightmare . Even for those who enjoy running but fall halfway down the track in front of the entire school and their parents, it can prove a disease. Why do we put our children through this annual suffering? Some may say competition is character building; or it's taking part, not winning, that's important; or that's a tradition of school life. I just felt great pity for those children in tears or in pain. Team games at the end of sports day produced some close races, wild enthusiasm, lots of shouting -- and were fun to watch. More importantly, the children who were not so fast or quick at passing the ball were hidden a little from everyone's eyes. Some of them also had the thrill of being on the winning side. I wish that sports day could be abandoned and replaced with some other less competitive event. Perhaps an afternoon of team games, with a few races for those who want them, would be less stressful for the children and a lot more fun to watch. Sports day is still an annul event in this school probably because _ . A. this is an independent school B. it is a tradition of the school C. it helps children lose weight D. children enjoy watching sports Answer: B A few years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders.Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience , while children complained that their parents did not understand them at all.What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually the generation gap has been _ for a long time.Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric of our society. One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life.In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation .In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents. In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do.Often, however, the strong desire that parents have for their children are another cause of the disagreement between them.Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other. Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations.In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight.The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities. No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature of American life for some time to come.Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes. Which cause of the generation gap is not mentioned in the passage? A. Young people like to choose their own life styles. B. American society is changing very fast. C. Parents place high hopes on their children. D. Modern education makes them think differently. Answer: D If you want to live in Hawaii,you need to think about how to save money,because it is one of the most expensive states in the USA. Hawaii buys most of its goods from other countries.This makes the prices very high.Eating out can be expensive.Breakfast is at$5 or$8 and lunch ia around$12,while dinner goes from $15 to$30. What makes living in Hawaii more difficult is that there are few high-paying jobs. For example, it is harder to find engineering jobs than waitressing jobs. Here is some advice on how to get around and enjoy living in Hawaii. Check out online travel websites, magazines and books for information about the islands, from their beaches to their restaurants. Find hotels by reading newspapers. You can also find someone to share your room to save money. Try to find a job. Craigslist is a good website to start your search. Also, check the newspapers. Buy your food and other things at cheap chain stores like Costco and Wal-Mart. Hawaii is an expensive place to live, but there are ways to save your money if you shop properly. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A. Hawaii's cost of living is higher than many other places in the US. B. It is more difficult to find a job as a waitress than an engineer. C. Most of goods in Hawaii are from other countries. D. Things in Wal-Mart are cheaper. Answer: B
Supermarket is in a section of town where there are sometimes street fights and where pedestrians are occasionally the victims of pickpockets and muggers. In recognition of the unusual number of robberies in the area, the unusual number of robberies in the area, the supermarket posted signs in the store and in its parking lot that read: Warning: There are pickpockets and muggers at work in this part of the city. Supermarket is not responsible for the acts of criminals. One evening, Lorner drove to Supermarket to see about a special on turkeys that Supermarket was advertising. She decided that the turkeys were too large and left the store without purchasing anything. In the parking lot, she was attacked by an unknown man who raped her and then ran away. If Lorner sues Supermarket, the result should be for the Answer: The 31st Summer Olympics will be held in Brazil in 2016. Before this global sporting event, we started thinking about sports that didn't exist any more and sports that were maybe a little strange. Read the following ones that have ever been included in the past Olympic Games. Live Pigeon Shooting (1900) This bloody event was only held once, at the 1900 Paris Games. Nearly 300 birds were killed during the competition, leaving a crime scene of feathers and blood. This is the only event in Olympic history that involved killing live animals. Kabaddi (1936) This sport is popular in South Asia. The object is for one member of a team to enter the other side's half of the field, and score points. The attacker then returns to his half of the field. 12 Hour Bicycle Race (1896) Seven riders got on their bikes at 5 a.m. and rode until 5 p.m. Four riders dropped out before noon, but the winner, Adolf Schmal of Austria, managed about 180 miles. Only Schmal and one other finished. Tug of War (1900--1920) This may seem like a basic PE class sport more than an Olympic event, but Tug of War was actually one of the first sports played at the Olympic games in 500 BC. There are two teams of eight; the winning team must pull the other team six feet forward. Swimming Obstacle Race (1900) The athletes had to climb over a pole and a row of boats, and then swim under another row of boats. All of this was done in the Seine River, so they also had to fight against the water. This event was only ever held in 1900, in Paris. What does "drop out" mean in English according to the passage? Answer: One night, as Diaz stepped off the train and onto a nearly empty platform, a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife. "He wanted my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go '" Diaz says. As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm." The robber looked at him puzzled, saying, "Why are you doing this?" Diaz replied, "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me....." Diaz says he and the teen went into a diner and sat in a booth. "The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. The kid said, "You know everybody here. Do you own this place?" "No, I just eat here a lot," Dias said. "But you're even nice to the dishwasher," he said. Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?" "Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said. When the bill arrived, Diaz said, "You're going to have to pay for this bill because you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you." The teen returned it immediately. "I gave him $20.... I figure maybe it'll help him." Diaz says he asked for something in return--- the teen's knife--- "and he gave it to me." Afterwards, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch." "I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world." From the passage we can infer that the boy _ . Answer: Water can be a liquid, a solid or a gas. When it is a solid, it can be as hard as stone. When it is a liquid, it can run through your fingers. When it is a gas, you may not see or feel it. Water can change from a solid to a liquid or to a gas easily. This is why we always have fresh water. Now let us find out how it does. The heat of the sun turns liquid water into gas from the oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. The heat also turns liquid water into gas from the ground, the plants and the animals. Water in the gas rises and turns into clouds in the air. When the clouds come near a mountain, they rise high. As the clouds rise, they get cooler. The higher they rise, the cooler they become. Then more and more water gas turn into water drops. In this way, the drops of water in the clouds get bigger and bigger. Then they fall to the earth as rain. , The higher you go up the mountain, _ you will feel. Answer: When I was growing up,I had an old neighbor named Dr Gibbs.He didn't look like any other doctor I'd ever known.He was a very kind person..After he retired,he began to plant trees in his large garden. He wished to make it a forest. The good doctor had some interesting ideas about planting trees.He never watered his new trees.Once I asked why,he said,"If you water them,each baby tree will grow weaker and weaker. Otherwise,they will have to grow deep roots to look for water under the earth by themselves." He planted some oaks, and instead of watering them every morning,he beat them with a rolled-up newspaper.I asked him why he did that,and he said it was to get the trees' attention. Dr Gibbs died two years after I left home.I always walked by his house and looked at the trees that I'd watched him plant about twenty -five years ago.They're very big and strong now. I also planted two trees several years ago.I carried water to them for a whole summer.I sprayed them.However,after two years of caring too much,whenever a cold wind blows in, they shake a lot. Life is hard,whether we want it to be or not. What we need to do is try our best to make our roots reach deep into the brave heart,so when the rain falls and the wind blows,we could face them strongly and won't be beaten down. What's the main idea of this passage? Answer:
When a frying pan is placed on an electric stove top, heat energy is transferred from the burner to the pan by A convection. B radiation. C conduction. D insulation. Answer: C. conduction. Cars are lots of fun, but they could also be dangerous. We have to be careful when we drive them or ride in them. It's always a good idea to put on your seat belt when you're in a car. Why? Think about this example: You put an egg on a skateboard and give it a push. If the skateboard hits a stone, it will stop, but the egg won't. It will fly through the air, hit the ground and break. Now, think what would happen if you tied the egg to the skateboard. When the skateboard hits a stone, the egg won't go flying; it will stay safely on the skateboard. Volvo, a famous Swedish carmaker, was the first to use seat belts in 1849. Air bags are also very important for car safety, because sometimes a seat belt isn't enough. If the car is going really fast and runs into something, seat belts could even hurt the people who wear them. Most new cars have air bags in front of and next to the seats. When a car hits something, its air bags will come out quickly in less than one second to keep the people inside safe. Seat belts can make us safer because . A we are interested in them B they can stop us from hitting other cars C they can help us stay safely on the seats D they are made of strong materials Answer: C. they can help us stay safely on the seats An organism that has an unusual habitat on it's back is A carrier snails B feelings C magic D love Answer: A. carrier snails Throughout his early years, Obama was known at home and at school as "Barry". Obama's parents met while both were attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. They separated when he was two years old and later divorced . His father received Master's degree in Economics from Harvard University, then returned to Kenya, where he became a finance minister before dying in an automobile accident in 1982. His mother married another foreign student, Lolo Soetoro, and the family moved to Soetoro's home country of Indonesia in 1967. Obama attended local schools in Jakarta, from age 6 to 10, where classes were taught in the Indonesian language. During his time in Indonesia, he first attended St. Francis Assist Catholic school for almost three years. When Obama was in third grade he wrote an essay saying that he wanted to be president. His teacher later said that his reason for becoming president was that he wanted to make everybody happy. Obama returned to Honolulu to live with his materal grandparents while attending Punahou School, a private college elementary school, from the fifth grade until his graduation in 1979. Obama's mother, Ann, died of cancer a few months after the publication of his 1995 memoir , Dreams from My Father. In the memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's middle class family. Of his early childhood, Obama writes, "That my father looked nothing like the people around me---that he was black as pitch , my mother white as milk ." Some of his fellow students at Punahou School later told the Honolulu Star--Bulletin that Obama was mature for his age as a high school student and that he sometimes attended parties and other events in order to connect with African American college students and military service people. Which of the following is TURE about Lolo Soetoro? A He got college education in Indonesia B He is a person from Kenya in Africa C He is Obama's stepfather and is a black D He is a foreign student in America Answer: D. He is a foreign student in America Here begins the story of the life of Tim. Tim's father was Frank. Frank's father was Jim. Jim's father was Greg. And Greg's father was Mark. These 5 men had ruled Markton for the last 100 years. For the last 20 years, Tim had been the ruler. When Frank died, Tim became the ruler. In these last 20 years, Tim brought lots of good luck to his people. They had never eaten so well. Most of his people ate 3 meals a day. Recently, Tim had been having trouble with a band of troublemakers led by Horace. Tim chose to do whatever he could to get rid of Horace. So, he got Assassin to get rid of Horace. One night Assassin sneaked into Horace's bedroom and did away with him. With the bad man gone, all the people had a giant party and sang a song about the greatness of their ruler. Who was Tim's grandfather? A Greg B Jim C Frank D Horace Answer: B. Jim

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