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Zach has a stepson, Bradley. One day, Zach drove over to meet Bradley. Bradley was a student in a high school. He neither liked nor disliked Zach, even though he had known Zach for three years. Zach was still trying to get along with Bradley. He told Bradley that he was coming over. Bradley said OK. When Zach got there, he asked if Bradley wanted to drive his car. Bradley had a driver's _ . Bradley said all right. Zach told him not to drive too fast, but he could drive anywhere he wanted. Bradley got on the 210 Road and headed northwest. Zach gave Bradley a few driving tips: Don't drive next to big cars; don't drive behind trucks with goods... On their way back, Zach suggested that they stop at the golf course . He wanted to show Bradley how to play golf. But Bradley didn't like it; he liked his video games. However, Bradley soon found that playing golf was fun and he did very well. The next day, Bradley, for the first time, called Zach. Bradley asked if Zach would come the next Saturday, so they could take a drive and go to the golf course again. Zach said yes, with a happy feeling in his heart. The reason why Zach tried to get along with Bradley is that _ . A he didn't know how to spend his time B he wanted to improve his relationship with Bradley C he wanted to show what he could do well in D he wanted to teach Bradley as a father Answer: B Papa's jaw dropped when Mama told him that Sister had cheated on her final exams--not to succeed but to fail. "It's unbelievable!" he said. "Sister has always been so proud of her good grades!" "Yes, she has," said Mama. "But it's not unbelievable. It just shows how badly she wanted off the swimming team." "Wanted off the swimming team?" said Papa. "She never said anything about that to me." "Of course she didn't," said Mama. "She was afraid you'd _ . You already had her getting a swimming scholarship to college and winning gold medals at the Olympics. Can you imagine how much pressure she must have felt? For her, being on the team couldn't have been much fun." "Oh, my gosh!" Papa said, clapping a hand to his forehead. "I've been so stupid! I just thought she'd want to be a champion swimmer because she's so good at it." "It's like anything else, dear," said Mama. "No matter how good at it you are, if it stops being fun, you won't want to do it anymore." Papa put his head in his hands. "She must be really mad at me," he mumbled. "Maybe I should say sorry to her." Sister's footsteps could be heard on the stairs. She came into the kitchen and looked hopefully up at her parents. "Honey," said Mama with a smile, "your papa and I have decided that there's no reason for you to be on the swimming team if you don't want to." Sister's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Yippee!" she cried. "And," added Papa, "there's no need for any more drills. I'm sure you'll bring your grades back up all by yourself." Sister ran to Papa and jumped into his arms. She gave him a big hug. "I'm going to go play cards with Lizzy!" she said. "See you later!" From the kitchen window, Mama and Papa watched their daughter run down the sunny road toward Lizzy's house. "It's good to see her happy again," said Mama. "It sure is," Papa agreed. "As for the swimming team, there's always next year." "If?" Mama prompted him. "Oh, right," said Papa. "If she wants to." Mama smiled. "At least you're learning, dear," she said. She kissed him. "Well, you know what they say," Papa said. "Better late than never." Which might be the proper title for the passage? A Easier Said Than Done B Health Is Better Than Wealth C Better Late Than Never D Something Is Better Than Nothing Answer: C Long queues at cinemas buying hot tickets for blockbusters will become rare as Beijing residents will be able to order film tickets via cell phone networks in a month. Film ticket circulation service on cell phone, also called the "Green channel of film tickets ordering", is aiming at lowing the cost of ticket circulation and easing the ticket distribution pressure on such popular film-watching days as summer and winter vacations or Valentine's Day. "People log onto the net through cell phones, then choose cinema seats, _ , browse information for new films and read cinema introductions," said Guan Zheng, the publicity chief of Xingmei Digital Media Company Ltd., the service provider. "Film fans can enjoy various discount prices if they order tickets via cell phones," Guan said. Meanwhile, the cell phone ticket circulation platform provides subscribers general mobile phone services like jokes, videos, flashes, phone ring downloads and games. The service is about to be put into trial at the Beijing-based Xingmei International Cinema for a month before being putting into use at other cinema chains both in and outside Beijing, as the service is going to be improved through gradual expansion, said Guan. China's film industry that is being restored has seen more and more enthusiastic moviegoers. Up to the end of 2009, China has had more than 5,000 specialized cinemas, among which there are 2,243 modern cinemas with 3, 668 silver screens and 56 cinema chains. Currently, many people buy film tickets on the Internet or by phoning the cinema's ticket office or simply queuing at the cinema gate. More people want to buy tickets on popular days like May Day holiday, National Day holiday or Valentine's Day. Yet the inefficient ticket circulation system contributes the most to the failure. What does the passage imply? A The service is only intended to put into use at the cinema in Beijing for a month. B China's film industry saw the decreasing number of moviegoers by the end of 2009.[ C The traditional ticket selling system makes it hard to get film tickets on popular days. D The green channel of tickets ordering is aiming at provides general mobile phone services.. Answer: C Of the examples listed, which event is thought by scientists to have led to the greatest extinction? A a volcano in Hawaii erupting B the construction of the Hoover Dam C whalers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries D the Mississippi River flooding its banks each summer Answer: C A child who has once been pleased with a tale likes, as a rule, to have it retold in almost the same words, but this should not lead parents to treat printed fairy stories as formal texts. It is always much better to tell a story than read it out of a book, and, if a parent can produce what , in the actual situation of the time and the child, is an improvement on the printed text, so much the better. A change made against fairy tales is that they harm the child by frightening him or making him sad thinking. To prove the latter, one would have to show in a controlled experiment that children who have read fairy stories were more often sorry for cruelty than those who had not. As to fears, there are, I think, some cases of children being dangerously terrified by some fairy story. Often, however, this arises from the child having heard the story once. Familiarity with the story by repetition turns the pain of fear into the pleasure of a fear faced and mastered. There also people who object to fairy stories on the grounds that they are not objectively true, that giants, witches, two-headed dragons, magic carpets, etc. do not exist; and that, instead of being fond of the strange side in fairy tales, the child should be taught to learn the reality by studying history. I find such people, I must say so peculiar that I don't know how to argue with them. If their case were sound, the world should be full of mad men attempting to fly from New York to Philadelphia on a stick or covering a telephone with kisses in the belief that it was their beloved girl-friend. No fairy story ever declared to be a description of the real world and no clever child has ever believed that it was. One of the reasons why some people are not in favor of fairy tales is that _ . A they are full of imagination B they are not interesting C they just make up the stories which are far from the truth D they make teachers of history difficult to teach Answer: C
When your pet meets your infant, it might not be love at first sniff. Baby's Best Friend When Jennifer Merritt brought her baby, Arielle, home from the hospital, her cherished dogs had very different reactions. Her boxer, Sonya, was immediately gentle and protective. But Tiger, the Pomeranian, was less welcoming: "If any diapers or toys were on the floor, he peed on them!"says the Greenbrier, prefix = st1 /Arkansas, mom. Tiger isn't the first dog to feel jealous of a baby. In the eyes of a pet's, there's a new star in town who's stealing his spotlight. Even the most gentle animal will probably act up if he doesn't get his usual attention. These simple steps will help your pet adjust -- and keep your baby safe. u Introduce Them with Care Your newborn and pet's first encounter can set the tone for their relationship. To make it as smooth as possible, try this trick from Caryn Ruiz, of Raleigh, North Carolina: "Before we left the hospital, my husband took blankets home to our dog, Daisy, so she'd know our newborn Devon's smell." When you get home, have your husband carry the baby so you can greet your pet without worrying about her jumping on you. A cat will likely walk away at first, while a dog will probably want to investigate right away. To introduce your baby, get down on your pet's level and let her have a hello sniff. Don't panic and pull your newborn away unless your pet is barking or hissing, because it'll send the message that the baby is a threat. u Learn the Safety Basics No matter how smoothly the introduction goes, there are certain safety rules you should follow, says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Number one: Never leave your baby alone with the pet. Even the gentlest animal can react unpredictably. Your baby's crying could frighten your cat, or your dog could suddenly become territorial. Consider setting up baby gates to limit your pet's access. To keep your cat from jumping into the bassinet , try putting mosquito netting over the top. Cats hate sticky paws, so keep the crib and changing table off-limits by lining the edges with sticky strips made for furniture (available in most pet stores). You can also train your dog to sleep in a crate. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Which interaction benefits both organisms? Answer: I'm Larry. I'm really good at selling things. I also love helping people. But I'm not so good at solving problems. I think I'd like to be a salesman or detective . I'm Anita. I really like doing things with my hands. I also enjoy working with wood. I don't enjoy working in the same place every day, and I hate being in noisy places. I think I'd like to be a factory worker or a carpenter . I'm Jill. I'm good at explaining things and I really like children. I can't stand working long hours. I think I'd like to be a doctor or a teacher. I'm Maria. I'm really interested in meeting people, and I enjoy wearing different clothes every day. I'm not so good at organizing my time and I can't stand computers. I am going to be a model. I'm Jim. I enjoy helping people, but I can't stand working nights and weekends. I want to be a nurse or a social worker. _ wants to be a teacher or a doctor. Answer: In 1985, a lionfish was caught off the coast of Florida. Now they can be found not only in the Atlantic Ocean but also in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. And they are continuing to move south. Lionfish are native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. So how did they end up in the Atlantic? Scientists believe some pet owners abandoned their unwanted lionfish and poured them into the sea. Little did they know the trouble their actions would cause. The Atlantic Ocean turned out to be a comfortable home for lionfish. Their venomous spines protect them from sharks and other fish. Female lionfish can spawn every few days, producing as many as 2 million eggs per year. Other big fish would have competed with lionfish for food. Bet overfishing has removed many of these large fish. As a result, the fish have eaten so much that they have grown to be more then three times the size of their cousins in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. "They eat mostly fish," says Stephanie Green, a scientist at Oregon State University. All that eating has caused great changes. Scientists have found that when lionfish are present somewhere, many other fish, which are small enough for them to eat, disappear. Some of the fish they eat are greatly missed in their habitats. For example, parrotfish eat certain plants off corals , which allows corals to grow better. But they are now disappearing due to lionfish. Scientists say lionfish are here to stay. But there are ways to deal with the problem. The key, says Green, is to keep lionfish numbers in check. In Florida, drivers can now go though a special training program and get certified to catch lionfish in areas where fishing is not usually allowed. And a number of restaurants have added the fish to the menu. "It's going to be a long-term battle, but the missing sea species will come back someday," says Green. Parrotfish were mentioned to show lionfish's _ . Answer: If I wanted to transfer warmth another being I might Answer:
For thousands of years humans have used herbs , roots, and other things from nature to cure disease. Scientists looking for new cures often visit traditional healers. They find out what plants are used in healing. Then they look at what the plant contains. They find the active ingredient , which is the chemical in the plant that works to heal. Many of the drugs we use, including aspirin, have come from these natural medicines. In recent years, many people in the US have taking what are legally known as dietary supplements . They may be vitamins or minerals. They may be herbs that help with health problems, such as depression. Some of them are teas. Others are capsules or tablets. They are sold in natural food stores, drug stores, and groceries. Most people think that because these products are natural they are also safe. This is not always true. There are many plants that are poisonous. There are others that have bad side effects. The New England Journal of Medicine publishes medical research. A recent edition called for the government to _ dietary supplements. Several doctors wrote to the Journal and told of bad experiences people have had with dietary supplements. Dietary supplements aren't tested in the same way as drugs. There is not always proof that the supplement really does what it is supposed to do. There is also a problem with purity of the supplements. Supplements have been found to contain things that are bad for the body. For example, the California Department of Health found that of 260 herbs grown in China, one third contained heavy metals. These are minerals such as lead and mercury . They are very poisonous, even in tiny amounts. Which one of the following is NOT right according to this passage? Molly likes animals. She has a cat. She has a dog. She has a bird. She has a hamster. She has a bunny. Her cat's name is Kitty. Her dog's name is Spike. Her bird's name is Polly. Her hamster's name is Barry. Her bunny's name is Snowball. Kitty plays with yarn. Spike plays with a ball. Polly plays in her cage. Barry runs on his wheel. Snowball eats carrots. What does Molly like? WASHINGTON--Tofu and Soyaburgers may be coming to American school lunch menus.What will the kids say? "Terrible," said Greg Dudzinski,17,of Ripon High School in Wisconsin,as he toured the US capital. "The regular hamburgers are bad enough,so soyaburgers would be a lot worse," offered Zach Richey,13,of Scottsboro Junior High in Alabama,another tourist. But the United States government--hoping to reduce the amount of fat that children are eating--has approved the use of soy as a meat substitute in meals for schools and day-care centers. Not all kids dislike the change Mariel Spano,17,of Sandy Creek High School in New York,also visiting the capital,said she likes soyaburgers:"There's less fat,and they're better for you.They taste the same,and they're just as good." The government tried to make soy a meat substitute nearly 20 years ago-but later dropped the idea.At the time,the plan was intended as a cost-cutting move .US Agriculture Department officials say their purpose now is only to make meals healthier. Schools are likely to increase the amount of soy that is mixed with hamburgers and other foods already on their menus,and they will also be looking to food companies to develop new soy products that children will like "I can't see putting tofu on a student's plate as being acceptable.I can see taking a product that's familiar to the students and adding a large amount of soy to it and having it be acceptable," said Jill Benza,director of food services for the Mesa,Arizona schools. What is the newspaper report mainly about? Large areas of the Amazon rainforest were grassland until just 2,000 years ago when it has been found. Researchers say the find gives new light on the Amazon's history - and show it was a savannah rather than the high forest it is today. They believe much of the area was grassland until a natural shift to a wetter climate about 2,000 years ago let the rainforests form, according to a study that challenges common belief that the world's biggest tropical forest is far older. The arrival of European diseases after Columbus crossed the Atlantic in 1492 may also have sped up the growth of forests by killing the local people farming the region, the scientists wrote in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). "The dominant ecosystem was more like a savannah than the rainforest we see today," John Carson, lead author at the University of Reading in England, said of the findings about the southern Amazon. The scientists said that a shift toward wetter conditions, perhaps caused by natural shifts in the Earth's orbit around the sun, led to growth of more trees starting about 2,000 years ago. The "findings suggest that rather than being rainforest hunter-gatherers, or large-scale forest clearers, the people of the Amazon from 2,500 to 500 years ago were farmers," the University of Reading said in a statement. Carson said that perhaps a fifth of the Amazon basin, in the south, may have been savannah until the shift, with forests covering the rest. In one lake, Laguna Granja, rainforest plants only took over from grass as the main sources of sediments about 500 years old, suggesting a link to the arrival of Europeans. And understanding the forest could help solve puzzles about climate change. The Amazon rainforest affects climate change because trees soak up heat-trapping carbon dioxide as they grow and release it when they rot or are burnt. Brazil has sharply slowed deforestation rates in recent years. Brazil slows deforestation rate because Brazil . 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 020-732440813. Find out who our winners will be for 2016. If you suggest someone for the awards, you should _ .
In 1955, a man named Raymond Kroc together with two brothers named McDonald opened a popular restaurant in California which sold food that was easy to prepare and serve quickly. Hamburgers, French fries, and cold drinks were the main food there. Kroc opened similar eating places under the same name, "McDonald's", and they were an instant success. He later took over the company, and today it is one of the most famous and successful "fast-food" in America and around the world. Why was his idea successful? Probably the most important reason was that his timing was right. In the 1950s, most married women stayed home to keep house and take care of their children. In the 1960s, many women returned to the workplace. This meant that they had less time or energy to prepare meals, so they spent more on " TV dinners " and fast-food restaurants. Single parents also have little time to spend in the kitchen. People living alone also depend on this type of food, since _ Fast-food is not part of the diet of all Americans. Another trend of the 1960s, sometimes called the back-to-nature movement influenced many people to avoid food that was packaged or processed . This preference for natural food continued to this day. From the success of Raymond Kroc's fast-food business, we can say that social economic trends influence where and what we eat. Para 3&4 seem to imply that _ . A. many married women began to work in the 1960s B. natural foods are still popular today C. fast food is not part of the diet of all Americans D. divorce causes people to change their eating habits Answer: B The Piano Lesson Jenny wasn't interested in playing the piano. She liked writing stories and acting them out with her friends. But Mrs. Windsor gave her piano lessons for free, so she felt she should have a try. Every Sunday she had her piano lessons in Mrs. Windsor's house. One Sunday morning, Jenny walked into Mrs. Windsor's music room and sat down on the piano bench as usual. "Hello," Jenny heard a voice behind her. She turned around and saw a young girl. "What's your name?" The girl asked. Before Jenny could answer, Mrs. Windsor walked in and said, "Jenny, this is my niece , Pasha. Pasha, this is Jenny. I need to go to hospital, so Pasha will give you your lesson today." Pasha sat beside Jenny on the piano bench and asked, "What piece do you like best?" "I don't know." Jenny said. "They're all the same to me." "You mean you don't have a favorite?" Pasha was surprised. "No, not really." Jenny said. Pasha opened Jenny's music book and asked Jenny to play. After about a page or two, Pasha gently put her hand on top of Jenny's. Jenny stopped. Then Pasha said, "Jenny, what are you hearing in the music?" Jenny looked at Pasha strangely. "I don't know." Jenny said. "Let me try and you listen," Pasha said. "All you have to do is learn to hear the stories in the music." "I've never thought of it that way." Jenny said. "Let's try together, shall we?" Pasha smiled. Together they played that afternoon and tried to find the story in the music. That day Jenny found playing the piano was not that difficult. With Pasha's help, Jenny would probably _ . A. write more stories B. like playing the piano better C. make more friends D. know Mrs. Windsor better Answer: B On the whole, it's not something we parents shout about, but one in four of us does it.Hiring private tutors for our children is now widespread.And this year, as always,the Easter holidays will be peak time for tutor demand. "My husband and I tried to tutor her at home,but we found all our knowledge was out of date and we were only confusing Zarreen.We also tried a group revision course but all the children were sitting exams for different boards . On the whole we think one-two-one tuition works best and it is worth the money.In our case,Preeta is a bit like an elder sister to Zarreen and that's the most important,"says Ashan Sabri from London, whose daughter Zarreen,18,is having tuition in biology and chemistry in preparation for A-levels this summer. In fact,Preeta Datta is only six years older than her pupil and she is happy to provide extra tuition through mobile phone."Maybe Zarreen will call me two or three times a week with a question about biology or chemistry, and that's fine to me,"says Datta. The real question is:does tutoring do any good? "It's not the magic bullet,"says Professor Judith Ireson.'It's still up to the child to do the learning.If he or she isn't interested,then sending them to a private tutor won't do any good." In which case,surely it's time to break open the Champagne ?Not necessarily, says Elaine Tyrrell,head of the Rowans School. "While we recommend private tutoring for a few children whose first language isn't English,we don't encourage it for the others,"says Tyrrell."With the level of education they get here,children really ought to be able to pass the entrance exams without any extra teaching. Besides, our biggest worry is that they might just get in with the help of last-minute tutoring,but,once they actually get to that school,they won't be able to manage." It's a point worth considering.After all,who would want their child to stay at the bottom of the class? From the passage we know that_. A. Preeta Datta is only twenty four years old. B. Preeta Datta is head of the Rowans school C. Judith Ireson is a teacher of the prefix = st1 /RowansSchool D. A shan Sabri has a daughter named Zarreen,who is over 18 Answer: A My name is Paul Miller. Sometimes I am too fat, but lately I do not have this problem. My doctor tells me to jog. So early every morning I run for two miles. I do not run fast, but I do not stop to rest. I jog before breakfast. People call me a jogger. There are many joggers on my street. We often run together in the park or along the road. Jogging helps to keep us strong and healthy. Jogging is very popular in the United States. People like to feel well and look nice. When my neighbors and I jog, we help to keep our hearts and legs strong. Many people do not jog, but they do not get fat. They work hard on their jobs and they do not need to run before they go to work. Diets are also popular. People on diets do not eat many foods that will make them fat. They learn to eat fruits and vegetables instead of candy or cakes. My doctor tells me to eat only three meals a day. A diet is not necessary if I do not eat between meals. Some people like to eat many times a day. This is called snacking. I feel healthy and my doctor is happy because I jog every day and I do not snack in the evening or after breakfast. What's the result after Paul Miller has jogged? A. He seems to be very thin. B. He can eat much. C. He doesn't look fat D. He can eat much Answer: C News Review APEC Blue People in Beijing got the saying after the APEC meeting in Beijing. It refers to the clear blue sky during the meeting. To get such a blue sky, many factories in Beijing and nearby cities stopped work, and the number of cars on the road was cut. A Warning Ticket A 24-year-old woman in Nanjing was given a warning ticket for eating food on the subway. Eating is not allowed on Nanjing subway. Up to now, 2,698 people have been punished because of their eating, smoking or selling goods on the subway. A Teacher-free Exam Recently, students at Ningbo Huamao Foreign Language School in Zhejiang took their mid-term exam -a teacher-free exam. After handing out the exam papers, the teachers left the classroom, leaving the students to take the exam without being watched. They only came back to collect the papers at the end. A Tomato Fight Do you want a tomato shower? Come to the "tomato fight" in Spain! Once every year, people in the town of Bunol throw tomatoes at each other. Don't worry. It's not a real fight. People do this only for fun. APEC Blue refers to _ in Beijing during the APEC meeting. A. the factories B. the clear blue sky C. the people D. the cars on the road Answer: B
With the average home in the capital selling for 19,548 yuan a square meter in November, a tiny mobile home built by a 24-year-old office worker is creating a stir online. Dai Haifei built the 6-square-meter pad because he could not afford to buy or rent in the capital. Dai's new home costs him 6,400 yuan and he has been living in it for nearly two months in a courtyard at Chengfu Road, Haidian district. Dai, who is one of the millions of migrants who moved to the capital from other parts of China seeking a better life and better job, said he realized his financial burden had become too great. The Hunan native said he simply could not make ends meet when he became an intern at a Beijing-based construction design company in 2009. "I rented a home at the very beginning--a small room in an apartment that cost me about 900 yuan per month," said Dai in an interview with local media. "It was too expensive for me." Dai's father works on a construction site in his hometown and his mother is a cleaner. Dai, who ended up becoming a formal employee of the company, figured out his own way to solve the problem---with inspiration from a housing design project at his company's exhibition early this year. The project, named "An egg given birth to by the city", included a series of egg-like movable houses, with a karaoke house, chair house and trader's house in it. Dai, who borrowed 6,400 yuan from an older cousin and who got additional help from several friends, decided to make one of his own. He spent nearly two months building his "egg house" in his hometown, a village in southeast Hunan that is around 1, 700 kilometers from Beijing. Where is this passage probably taken from? Answer: A news report. It was a late Wednesday night when the dreading phone call reached our home. I sat up, so I could hear the phone call better. To my surprise. I heard my mom burst into tears. "Get the car . Dean! Andrea has been in a car accident. " We ran every sign on the way to the hospital and our tires screeched around every corner. We got to the hospital. but were not allowed to see Andrea. The next morning. after wearing masks, we were allowed to go to the ICU to see Andrea. Well. the least I could say was that everything was injured in her body and she lost all of her memories. It was a fatal accident. Over the next two months. I lived more at the hospital than I did at my house. I watched as Andrea worked so hard to gain back everyday motor skills. She never once complained or pitied herself, her determined spirit was shining through. After two weeks in the ICU and two months of the regular hospital treatment, Andrea was able to come home. She missed several months of school. so it was hard for her to catch up. Andrea had tasks to accomplish, and no matter how hard it was. she stuck with them until t he job was done. ThOU9h busy with dealing with pain and therapy. she always found time to love and play with me. I' ll never forget the impact that this incident made on my life. I admire her strong-willed personality and her determined spirit. Today she is perfectly normal. despite the scars and the pins holding her leg in place. I couldn't ask for a better sister. hero. or best friend. During the treatment. Andrea Answer: showed unbelievable strength. Do's and Don'ts in Whale Watching The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait,where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer. It is strongly recommended that vessel operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales. * Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the back. * Approach no closer than 100 metres, then stop the boat but keep the engine on. * Keep noise levels down-no horns, whistles or racing of engines. * Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel. * Leave the area slowly, gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 metres from the whales. * Approach and leave slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction. * Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales. * Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if travelling side by side with whales. * When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore. * Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales. * If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales. * Work together by communicating with other vessels, and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines. When leaving the observation areas, the vessel should _ . Answer: increase speed gradually Four friends live in a small town. Their names are Cook, Miller, Smith, and Carter. They have different jobs. One is a policeman, one is a carpenter , one is a farmer, and one is a doctor. One day Cook's son broke his right leg, and Cook took him to the doctor. The doctor's sister is Smith's wife. The farmer isn't married . He has a lot of good hens. Miller always buys eggs from the farmer. The policeman sees Smith every day because they are neighbors . If you need, you can get _ to repair your desk. Answer: Smith What two gases make up most of the Earth's atmosphere? Answer: Oxygen and nitrogen
INTEX Giant Dolphin Inflatable Swimming Pool Ride-On Raft Price:$88 Great design is as impressive as it is comfortable ! Handles are great for maintain control Dimensions:79" x 30" Product Description Great for pools and the beach, the INTEX Dolphin Ride - On Raft is sure to catch some eyes! This impressive raft features heavy duty handles and a uniquely large design. Get out there and enjoy the water this summer on the INTEX Dolphin Ride-On Raft. Enjoy a restful day on the water, lying in the comfort of this soft, durable , colorful inflatable ( ) raft from water product maker Intex. Made of special material, its as durable as it is soft and comfortable, and has two handles for easy on-and-off. It will bring a lot of fun to both adults and children. About Intex Recreation: Intex Recreation makes above-ground swimming pools, air beds, inflatable toys, pool and lake boats. The company has been in business for over 40 years, and is a global leader in designing and producing innovative products for indoor and outdoor recreation. Intex products meet the most strict safety standards, taking testing to ensure years of safety and satisfaction. Most Helpful Customer Reviews Hello, my name is Mike Smith. I bought the raft for my family. It worked perfectly. It is a great size for the three of us. We hit many rocks and low tree branches drifting down a river, but the raft came out safety. This is an excellent raft. It's durable and floats like it should. Great for kids or adults. And great for family use. Contact Information of intex Recreation: Tel:800-876-0987 E-mail: In texrecreation@hotmail.com Where do you probably read the article? A In a science fiction. B In a newspaper C In a medical magazine D In a guidebook. Answer: B. In a newspaper Computer people talk a lot about the need for other people to become "computer-literate." But not all experts agree that this is a good idea. One pioneer, in particular, who disagrees is David Tebbutt, the founder of Computertown UK. Although many people see this as a successful attempt to bring people closer to the computer. David does not see _ that way. He says that Computertown UK was formed for just the opposite reason, to bring computers to people and make them "people-literate." David Tebbutt thinks Computertowns are most successful when tied to a computer club but he insists there is an important difference between the two. The clubs are for people who have some computer knowledge already. This frightens away non-experts, who are happier going to Computertowns where there are computers for them to experiment on, with experts to encourage them and answer any questions they have. They are not told what to do, they find out.The computer experts have to learn not to tell people about computers, but have to be able to answer all questions people ask. People don't have to learn computer terms , but the experts have to explain in plain language. The computers are becoming "people-literate." We can infer from the text that "computer-lilerate" means _ . A being able to afford a computer B being able to write computer programs C working with the computer and finding out its value D understanding the computer and knowing how to use it Answer: D. understanding the computer and knowing how to use it At what temperature does pure water boil? A 0°C B 32°C C 100°C D 212°C Answer: C. 100°C The trouble with school is that you can't choose the people you get to see every day. If you're unlucky enough to be stuck with classmates who don't really "get" you, you've just got to try to make the best of it. But that doesn't mean you need to "fit in", or at least in the way that people think. If you try to transform yourself into a clone of everyone else, it won't help you make friends. It'll just make you feel like a fake. You also shouldn't shut down or refuse to be friends with everyone who doesn't like you. If you do that, you'll just make yourself miserable. Instead, you've got to work on being comfortable and confident with whom you are while ignoring all the haters. Keep on speaking up, asking questions and getting to know people better. If you send out positive energy, then people will generally send some back to you. A couple of them will stay the same, and you're allowed to forget about them. If you feel like you're doing all that but still not getting anywhere, then don't give up. Just expand your circle. Get a part-time job at a cool-looking place, join an after-school art class or youth group--do whatever it takes to find a couple of like-minded people to connect with. Even if you don't find anyone right away, you'll still be getting some more social experiences under your belt, and that's always a good thing. A fun book called Uncool, by Erin Elisabeth Conley, has some tips for folks like you who want to stay positive at school while being true to your personality: Throw caution to the wind. Don't tolerate others' mistakes. Have patience with people who are different from you. Don't change just because someone else thinks you should. Know that even though you may be a misfit, there's always some place where you will be welcomed in the world. In the book Uncool, Erin Elisabeth Conley thinks you should _ . A always be kind to your friends B keep your own personality C tolerate others' mistakes D help improve characters of others Answer: B. keep your own personality Long long ago, a king had a big rock placed in the middle of a very busy road. Then he hid nearby to see if anyone would move the rock out of the way to make it convenient for others. Some of the king's wealthiest supporters came past and simply walked around it. Many others complained about the rock and some blamed the king for the problem. To the king's surprise, no one did anything about moving it out of the way. Finally, a poor farmer came along, carrying a load of old vegetables. When he saw the rock, he put down his load, and tried to move the heavy rock to the side of the road. No one stopped to help him. Many laughed at him and made jokes as they walked past. Finally, after much pushing and straining, and with no help , the farmer managed to get the rock to the side of the road. As he bent down to pick up his vegetables, he noticed a small bag lying in the road, exactly where the rock had been. There was a lot of money and a note in the bag. The note was from the king saying that the money was for the person who moved the rock out of the way. Taking responsibility is about solving hard problems. The farmer takes responsibility when no one else is prepared to. It does not always mean that you will get an instant reward, but it is a value that builds up a community, and makes life better for all of us. The story mainly tells us that _ . A everyone should learn to take responsibility B nobody likes to solve hard problems C taking responsibility always means getting a reward D the poor always take more responsibility than the rich Answer: A. everyone should learn to take responsibility
Question: Just two weeks ago, I was about to cross a busy road when I noticed an old grandpa with a heavy load on his head just a few meters from me. He looked very weak. A few minutes later, I realized I'd forgotten to cross the road. And he'd seen me looking at him. I love my grandparents so much that whenever I see any old people I won't forget to smile at them. I couldn't let go of this grandpa, either. He came near me and handed me a note on which there was an address. I showed him the directions and said he would need a taxi as it was 3 pm on a hot summer's day. Anybody would faint dead in this weather and I didn't want him to walk all the way. But he looked disappointed. I asked where he had come from. He replied weakly that he was from Chidambaram, about 240 kilometers from where we were. I was shocked because he looked like he could not even take 2 steps without falling. I called a taxi immediately and asked the driver to drop him at his place. The grandpa wasn't ready because he had no money. I paid for his journey and asked the driver to drop him off safely. When I turned to look at the grandpa, who was leaving, tears filled my eyes and I didn't want to leave. Memories of my grandparents flashed in my mind, making me feel like crying. I said goodbye to the grandpa, and some happy tears dropped from his eyes. Which of the following sentences can be the main idea of the passage? A. A friend in need is a friend indeed. B. Where there is a will, there is a way. C. Expend the respect of the aged in one's family to that of other families. D. A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. Answer: C. Expend the respect of the aged in one's family to that of other families. Question: In multicellular organisms, different structures have different functions. Which function is carried out in the leaves of a plant? A. absorbing food B. producing flowers C. absorbing light D. making seeds Answer: C. absorbing light Question: "Any time! Any where! Decades ago there was no such thing" - "Communication". Then, September 7th 1987, the global system for mobile communication or GSM was born. And international agreements that laid out the standards, regulations and practices gave rise to a global mobile phone industry. To be honest, the world's first mobiles were not so attractive and the range of effectiveness wasn't very good. But they became a must-have among those wealthy people who could afford that. However, by advantage of GSM which has many different elements to it, we can all enjoy the ability to go around the world in 217 countries, land in that country and know that a phone would work. There are other cell phone systems using different technology in the world. The majority of the United States and parts of South America have been using something called CDMA which is very rare in Europe. In some Asian countries like China, GSM and CDMA both exist at the same time. But the GSM Association claims 85% of the global mobile phone market. They estimated there are now about 2.5 billion different users who make more than 7 trillion minutes of calls everyday, and that's not all. 20 years later, the mobile phone is so much more than just a phone. You can use it to send text messages, take pictures, show video, even surf the internet. "The phone itself is involved from just being a communication tool, to be a tool for round-the-clock connectivity, you can not live without it even in a minute." Mobile consultant Nick Lane also points out with so many customized styles and features, your mobile phone will become a symbol of you. Where will the global mobile phone industry be in another 20 years? Certainly, there will be more connections than better coverage. As for where else technology will take us, one can only imagine. It's most difficult to find a CDMA mobile phone in _ . A. the United States B. South America C. Europe D. China Answer: C. Europe Question: A man made a nice talking machine. It could weigh people. The man wanted to try the machine before he could make a lot of these kinds of machines. He put the machine into the waiting room of a station . There were always lots of people in and out there. The first one began to use the machine. It was an Indian woman. When she stand on the machine, the machine thought for a few minutes to decide which language it should speak. "Good morning, madam," it said in Indian. "Your weight is 72 kilos. That's three kilos more. If you eat more fruit and vegetables, you will be soon all right. Wish you a nice day." The second one who used the machine was a nice Chinese girl. She stood on the machine and waited to hear her weight. "Good morning , Miss ,"the machine said in Chinese. "Your weight is 45 kilos. It's all right for your age and height. Go on to eat what you eat every day. Wish you a nice day." The third one to use the machine was a very fat American woman. She thought for a long time before standing on the machine. But as soon as she stood on the machine, the machine spoke quickly in English , "Good morning . Will one of you get off?" Which of the following is RIGHT? A. The machine tested only two people. B. The Chinese girl was too thin. C. The Indian woman was in fact heavier than the American woman.. D. Of the three the Chinese girl was the lightest. Answer: D. Of the three the Chinese girl was the lightest. Question: A new school term begins, Is anything new at your school? Sichuan students are getting an extra hour to sleep in the morning. This year, Sichuan schools decided that students should start classes later. This should help them feel less tired, For Junior high schools, the first classes will begin no earlier than 8:30 am. The changes have made students happy. Liu Xian, 15, said his class was excited by the news on the first day of school. "It's so good we can get up later!" said Liu. Liu studies in Chengdu No.4 Middle School. He used to get up at 6:40 am. Now he can get up at 7:40 am because class doesn't start until 8:40 am. Wu Hongli, 15, said the new timetable is good for her health. "I used to drink coffee every night or I would feel to sleepy to finish my homework, "said Wu. "Now I can finish it without coffee."She used to get up at 6:30 am. Now she can get up at 7:30 am. Wu Hongli's mother was happy, too. She thought more sleep would help her daughter grow taller. But some parents worried that more sleep would mean less learning. There used to be five classes in the morning. Now there are only four. Many teachers, though, say the changes will help students learn better. "Students used to doze for the first two classes in the morning,"said Wu Zongping, an English teacher at Chendu No.12 Middle School. "But now they look fine and they learn much better than before." What did the teachers think of the changes of the school timetable? A. They didn't like the changes. B. They could use the timetable more easily. C. They spoke highly of the changes. D. They looked fine when they taught. Answer: C. They spoke highly of the changes.
"What's the name of our neighbor? I can't remember right now. " Have you ever heard your grandparents ask questions like this sometimes? Usually, we think that older people's memory becomes bad because their brains get weak. But now a team of scientists at the University of Tubingen in Germany has a new idea.[ "The human brain works slower in old age," says Michael Ramscar, the lead scientist. "But only because they have stored more information overtime. " The findings are based on a series of computer simulations of learning and memory. Scientists let the computers read a certain amount of words and learn new things each day. When the computer "reads" only so much, its performance on cognitive tests is similar of a young adult. But if the computer learns the experiences we might encounter over a lifetime, its performance is similar to that of an older adult. Often it is slower, but not because its processing capacity has declined. Rather, increased "experience" has caused the computer's database to grow, giving it more data to process-which takes time. This is similar to old people. Imagine a person knows two people's birthdays. Another person knows the birthdays of 2000 people, but can only match the right person to the right birthday nine times out of 10. Can you say the first person has a better memory than the second person? The writer uses a question at the beginning of the passage to _ . A. invite the readers to answer the question B. attract the readers' attention to the topic C. show how weak older people's brains are D. tell the readers the latest findings about brains Answer: B Kim's birthday was the next day. Every year on her birthday, her mother would make her favorite meal, and they would give Kim her birthday presents. Kim wanted spaghetti for dinner, and a special dollhouse as her present. On the morning of her birthday, Kim's brother Jamie woke her up by pretending to be a monster and making her scream. She was tired for the rest of the day because she could not go back to sleep. Her father thought it was funny and didn't yell at Jamie for teasing his sister. Kim's other brother, Danny, came back home for her birthday, and was helping Jamie tease her. They hid behind the soda and made funny noises. They hid her shoes. They switched where her toys were and made her think she had lost them. By the time dinner was ready, Kim was upset. Then it appeared that her mother had not made the meal she had hoped to have after all. Just as Kim was about to start crying and leave the table, her brothers surprised her with a huge box. Excited, Kim tore open the box to see that it was the dollhouse she wanted. Her mother showed her she had made spaghetti like Kim wanted. Jamie said he was sorry for scaring her, and she, Jamie, and Danny hugged. What are the names of Kim's brothers? A. Danny and Jamie B. Danny and Jimmy C. David and Jamie D. David and Jimmy Answer: A Which animal is likely hotter than it should be if its tongue is sticking out? A. a lizard B. a golden retriever C. a rabbit D. a human Answer: B Whole Wheat Apple Pancake INGREDIENTS: 2 cups of whole wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon of salt 2 eggs 1/4 cup of vegetable oil 2 large apples 1 cup of butter DIRECTIONS: Stir the flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour eggs and oil in. Mix the apples in. Heat a large pan over a medium heat. Put a large teaspoon of batter onto the pan and cook until the batter is dry. Then flip the pancake and cook until it is brown on the other side. When both sides have a light brown color, the pancake is ready. Heat the butter over a medium heat and add it to the pancake. It makes the pancake taste more delicious. The passage tells us how to make _ . A. bread B. dumplings C. pancakes D. hamburgers Answer: C Scientists are learning new things about Antarctica, the coldest place on Earth. For example, the Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking. A new study found that summer ice loss in parts of Antarctica was at its highest level in 1,000 years. The study showed that Antarctic ice was melting mostly from below ice shelves, where the water is warmer than the ice. Eric Rignot is an earth system expert at the University of California, Irvine. He also works for the American space agency, NASA. There he serves as senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also in California. He says ice melting from below is responsible for 55 percent of the shelf loss from 2003 to 2008. That is a much higher rate than scientists thought earlier. Professor Rignot and his team used satellite observations, radar and computer models to measure features above the ice to learn what was going on below. The measurements show differences from one area to the next around the continent. The major ice shelves are called Ross, Filchner and Ronne. They make up two-thirds of Antarctica's ice shelves. But they are responsible for only 15 percent of the melting ice. The professor says even small changes, like changes in ocean flow driven by wind, can make a huge difference in the melting of the ice shelf. Sixty percent of the Earth's fresh water is held in the huge Antarctic ice sheet. Professor Rignot says the study will help experts predict how the continent reacts to warmer ocean waters and helps to cause rising sea levels around the world. The study was published in the journal Science. Which is true of the following statements? A. Ice melting from below is responsible for 35 percent of the shelf loss from 2003 to 2008. B. The major ice shelves are called Ross, Filchner and Ronne, which make up one-third of Antarctica's ice shelves. C. Sixty percent of the Earth's fresh water is contained in the huge Antarctic ice sheet. D. Summer ice loss in Antarctica was at its highest level in 1,000 years. Answer: C
Question: "Hi Dave,how are you today?Just thought I'd let you know what I'm doing,"they would read.Or "Sorry you're going.I've had a good time and that would probably have had something to do with you,so thanks." In some ways,the relaxed attitude was shocking,says Melville.But it was a sign of how students' understanding of their role has changed. "They have a more independent view of the university,and they feel free to comment,"said Melville. A committee,led by Melville,was set up earlier this year to explore the change in students' attitudes towards teachers. "This is something being driven by young people,"said Melville. "They live surrounded by different kinds of electronic resources.They use social networking tools and things like Wikipedia.The first group of these students is now at university." Students don't regard teaching staff in the same way as previous students did. "Because Web2.0, Google,Wikipedia are all about being able to change things yourself,students expect to be able to do this as well,"said Melville. There have been other changes in the student--teacher relationship.If students choose to study through a social networking group,they are in control.They don't always make staff welcome,and they are free to decide which staff members they allow in. "Almost everybody who gets into using these kinds of technologies,it appears,becomes much shallower in their research,"said Melville. We can find the following changes in the student-teacher relationship EXCEPT _ . A. it becomes much more relaxed than before B. students are more at ease to comment C. students have the say in choosing teachers to welcome into their social group D. teachers are no longer regarded as knowledgeable and necessary Answer: D. teachers are no longer regarded as knowledgeable and necessary Question: Humans have long been interested greatly in the idea of being able to walk on water. Sadly, biological facts prevent us ever realizing this dream without artificial aid--we simply weigh too much, and all our weight pushes down through our relatively small feet, resulting in a lot of pressure that makes us sink. However, several types of animals can walk on water. One of the most interesting is the common basilisk Basilicus basilicus, a lizard native to Central and South America. It can run across water for a distance of several meters, avoiding getting wet by rapidly hitting the water's surface with its feet. The lizard will reach a speed of 20 steps per second to keep moving forward. For humans, we would need huge feet that we could bring up to our ears in order to create enough "hitting". But fortunately there is an alternative: cornflour . By adding enough of this common thickening agent to water (and it does take a lot), you can create a special mixture that doesn't behave like normal water. Now, if the surface of the water is hit hard enough, particles in the water get together for a moment to make the surface hard. Move quickly enough and put enough force into each step, and you really can walk across the surface of this adequately thick liquid of cornflour. Fun though all this may sound, it's still rather messy and better read about in theory than carried out in practice. If you must do it, then keep the water wings ready in case you start to sink--and take a bath afterward! What is the author's attitude toward the idea of humans' walking on water? A. It is risky but beneficial. B. It is impractical though possible in thoery. C. It is crazy and cannot become a reality. D. It is interesting and worth trying. Answer: B. It is impractical though possible in thoery. Question: Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent. They will help shoppers find cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill. The touch-screen devices are on show at the Food Marketing Institute's exhibition here this week. "These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker," said Michael Alexander, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc. which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge. Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July. A similar device, IBM's "shopping buddy," has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts. Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf. "The whole model is driven by advertisers' need to get in front of shoppers," said Alexander." They're not watching 30-second TV ads any more." People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system that will organize the trip around the store. If you're looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them. The devices also keep a record of what you buy. When you're finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay. The new computerized shopping assistants don't come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about$160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device. What might be the most suitable title for the passage? A. Touch-screen in Supermarkets B. The New Age for Supermarkets C. New Computers Make Shipping Carts Smarter D. Concierge and Shopping Buddy Make Shopping Tough Answer: C. New Computers Make Shipping Carts Smarter Question: Bicycle Safety Operation Always ride your bike in a safe, controlled manner on campus. Obey rules and regulations. Watch out for walkers and other bicyclists, and always use your lights in dark conditions. Theft Prevention Always securely lock your bicycle to a bicycle rack ---even if you are only away for a minute. Register your bike with the University Department of Public Safety. It's fast, easy, and free. Registration permanently records your serial number, which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen. Equipment Brakes Make sure that they are in good working order and adjusted properly. Helmet A necessity, make sure your helmet meets current safety standards and fit properly. Lights Always have a front headlight---visible at least 500 feet in front of the bike. A taillight is a good idea. Rules of the Road Riding on Campus As a bicycle rider, you have a responsibility to ride only on streets and posted bicycle paths. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine. The speed limit for bicycles on campus is 15mph, unless otherwise posted. Always give the right of ways to walkers. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to offer appropriate aid, call the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the officer lets you go. Bicycle Parking Only park in areas reserved for bikes. Trees, handrails, hallways, and sign posts are not for bicycle parking, and parking in such posts can result in a fine. If Things Go Wrong If you break the rules, you will be fined. Besides violating rules while riding bicycles on campus, you could be fined for: No bicycle registration-----------------------------------------------------$25 Bicycle parking banned---------------------------------------------------$30 Blocking path with bicycle ----------------------------------------------$40 Violation of bicycle equipment requirement -------------------------$35 Registration of your bicycle may help you _ . A. find your stolen bicycle B. get your serial number C. receive free repair services D. settle conflicts with walkers Answer: A. find your stolen bicycle Question: "We're going to move," Jimmy said to Mr. James,her teacher, with tears in her eyes. "Dad lost his job and now we don't have enough money to live in our house." Pam was walking by and just heard Jimmy's talk with Mr.James. In the lunchroom Pam met Carol and said, "I've got something to tell you about Jimmy." As she started to tell Carol about Jimmy's dad, several other classmates stopped to listen. Pam felt bad telling what she had heard but she went on anyway. After school, Pam saw some of her classmates talking to Jimmy. "Where does your dad work?" one of the boys asked. Jimmy's face turned red. She left without answering. Pam felt terrible, because she didn't mean to hurt Jimmy. And she hadn't thought that some of the classmates would make jokes and laugh at Jimmy about her father's losing the job. Pam didn't know what she could do to help Jimmy. The whole story happened _ . A. in class B. during and after school C. at Mr.James's office D. in the lunchroom Answer: B. during and after school
I fell in love with the minister's son the winter I turned fourteen. He was not Chinese. For Christmas I prayed for the boy, Robert. When I found out that my parents had invited the minister's family over for Christmas Eve dinner, I cried in panic. What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas? What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners? On Christmas Eve, my mother created abundant Chinese food. And then they arrived--the minister's family and all my relatives. Robert greeted hello, and I pretended he was not worthy of existence. Dinner threw me deeper into disappointment. My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table. Robert and his family waited patiently for a large plate to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Robert made a face. Then my father reached his chopsticks just below the fish eye and picked out the soft meat. "Amy, your favorite," he said, offering me the tender fish cheek. I wanted to disappear. At the end of the meal, my father leaned back and burped loudly, thanking my mother for her fine cooking. "It's a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied," explained my father to our astonished guests. Robert was looking down at his plate with a reddish face. The minister managed to bring up a quiet burp. I was shocked into silence for the rest of the night. After everyone had gone, my mother said to me, "You want to be the same as American girls on the outside." She handed me an early gift. It was a miniskirt. "But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud that you are different. Your only shame is to have shame." It was not until years later that I was able to fully appreciate her lesson and the purpose behind her particular menu. For Christmas Eve that year, she had chosen excellent Chinese food. When the writer found out the minister's family would come for Christmas Eve dinner, she cried mainly because _ . Answer: Spring is a good season to fly kites. You can fly your kites in the park, in the field or on the play ground. There are many different kinds of kites. Some look like birds; Some look like planes and some look like butterflies. People often fly kites on a sunny and windy day. And the best month for flying kites is March. How can we fly our kites in the sky. First, we run with our kites _ the wind. Then when the kite can fly in the sky, you can just stay there with your string reel in your hand. When the kite doesn't fly in the sky, just adjust the string reel. The string on the reel must be very strong. If you want to fly kites very well, you should practice it more with your friends. Maybe you feel a little difficult at first, but if you fly kites often you will find it very easy and interesting. Flying kites is a very good activity in spring, and a lot of people like it. Flying kites is a good sports in _ . Answer: You can tell a lot about a person from the clothes they wear, but you can also tell a lot about a person simply from the handbags they carry. It's hard to believe, but you can find out a number of things about a woman's personality just by looking at the type of handbag she carries. Below you will find a number of handbag styles and colors as well as what each specific type of handbag says about the owner. Styles: Under-the Shoulder - handbags which are smaller and fit tightly underneath the shoulder indicate class and sophistication. A women working in an upscale office or someone of high status would choose this form of handbag. Big and Bulky - Big, bulky and oversized bags are casual and are often associated with younger individuals. These are used for individuals who carry a number of things (binders, books etc) and require a lot of space. Down-to-earth, lower-maintenance women would carry this type of handbag. Designer - Designer handbags often cost an arm and a leg and therefore are usually associated with high-maintenance females. Females who are confident and require top of the line accessories will settle for nothing less than a name-brand designer purse. Guys watch out for these girls, they tend to be a handful. Cigar Box Purses - A women who carries a cigar box purse likes to be unique and stand out from the crowd. These women have minds of their own and cannot be told what to do. They are comfortable in their own skin and tend to be very independent. Leather with Buckles and Zippers - women who choose leather purses with lots of buckles and zippers are leashing out their wild sides. These women tend to act before they think and are always ready for a good time. The extra buckles and zippers tend to signify a "bad girl" image. Colors: Bright Colors - Bright colored handbags like pink, purple, bright blue and green indicate that the woman is fun, friendly and approachable. Women who are out-going and sociable will tend to choose these colors. This is the type of woman who will strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. Black and Brown - women who choose black or brown handbags tend to be more formal in manners and are often mistaken as being snobby or restricted. These types of handbags are often associated with down-to-earth women, who are shy at first, but open up after a while. They tend to exude a shy confidence, which is sometimes mistaken as someone who thinks she's better than others. The style and color of your handbag says a lot about you. Choose your handbag very carefully and remember you can choose more than one style. You may feel like being reserved one day and the center of attention another...it's natural to want different things in life. Women who choose leather purses with lots of buckles and zippers probably _ . Answer: How "Kangaroo" Became an Animal's Name Early in the 18th century, Captain Cook, a famous explorer of Australia, unexpectedly saw an unusual animal during his first visit to Australia. The animal had a large mouth-like head and jumped along on its large legs. To his surprise, the unusual animal carried its baby in a special pocket of flesh. Captain Cook pointed to the animal which was eating grass in the distance and asked his local guide what that animal was. The guide seemed not to know what he was pointing at and finally said Kang-a-roo. Cook carefully wrote down Kang-a-roo as the animal's name in his word book. The Europeans who later got to Australia were anxious to see the unusual animal "Kang-a-roo", but their requests met with puzzled looks of the local people. Before long they got to discover that the local guide who made the answer to Cook's question really meant, "I don't know what you are pointing at." Funny enough, the name "Kang-a-roo" stuck and it is still in use today. The main use for the animal's flesh pocket is to _ . Answer: YUZHOU, HENAN -An accident in a central China coal mine killed 21 miners Saturday and left another 16 trapped underground , the government said. The death rose to 26 Sunday morning as rescuers were battling to reach the 11 miners who were still trapped underground, rescue headquarters said. Rescuers were battling to reach the 11 miners still trapped underground, but chances for them to survive were very slim, said Du Bo, deputy chief of the rescue headquarters. "Based upon past experience, the remaining 11 miners could be buried in coal dust, so the survival chances are frail," Du said. More than 2,500 tons of coal dust smothered the pit after the gas leak , which hampered the rescue, said Du. The gas outburst happened at 6:03 a.m. Saturday when 276 miners were working underground in the mine in Yuzhou City. A total of 239 workers escaped but 21 were found dead and 16 trapped. An initial investigation showed that 173,500 cubic meters of gas leaked out in the accident. Liu Wenbin, a deputy chief engineer of the company that owns the mine, was in the pit when the accident happened. He organized the escape. "At around 6 a.m., I felt there was something wrong with the airflow in the shaft, and one of the team captains told me he also felt it and had already reported the problem," said Liu The mine is owned by Pingyu Coal & Electric Co. Ltd., a company jointly established by four investors, including Zhong Ping Energy Chemical Group and China Power Investment Corp. From this passage we know that _ . Answer:
Many everyday American expressions are based on colors. Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. They may say they are red hot about something unfair. When they are red hot they are very angry about something. The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their color and their fiery taste. Pink is a lighter kind of color. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health. Blue is a cool color. The traditional blues music in the United States is the opposite of red hot music. Blues is slow, sad and soulful. Someone who is blue is very sad. The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green. If a person is green at his job, he may be a newcomer and inexperienced. Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a new sports car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because their friend has more dollars. The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day. What's the main idea of the passage? A. Different colors have different meanings. B. What different colors stand for. C. The story about different colors. D. Colors used in American expressions. Answer: D. Colors used in American expressions. Whether you were the shy one at high school or the most popular person on campus, starting university is a clean paper for everyone. It's the best time to develop your skills with different people, such as teachers, classmates, and roommates. Your social skills and relationships with people in college will have an influence long after you graduate. Here are some tips on developing your people skills at college. Put yourself out there and meet new people You're very likely to make some lifelong friendships at college. But before you get there you have to start by making friends. Upperclassmen and the college itself will organize events to introduce you and your peers to each other and the new college environment. For the purpose of improving your social skills early on, attend every single one. Join clubs that fit your interests. You can meet many people there and it's a safe bet that you will have something in common. Being active on social networks, such as Renren and micro blogs, is also a good way to meet people, especially if you're not so good at face-to-face conversation. Always open yourself to conversation Your chances of making new friends depends on your ability to get a friendly atmosphere across. Simple gestures, such as moving your things from a chair when someone is looking for a place in the canteen, can make you seem more open to conversation. You can also take out your earphones when someone asks to share a table with you in the common room while you're studying. Try to get along with roommates Getting along with roommates is a challenge you'd be wise to overcome. You live together, so you will often spend time together without even trying to. It's important to make sure that dorm life doesn't make you unhappy. You should be cautious about facing your roommates over any problems, especially if you have only just met. Remember, be polite but firm. The key is to set expectations and clear boundaries from the beginning. Let your roommates know your life habits, but also observe and respect theirs. Sleeping times and studying schedules, visiting friends and cleaning duties are just some of the topics you should discuss. Avoid drama and gossip As you already know from high school, your social life will be much more pleasant if you avoid causing and getting caught up in drama, no matter whether in class, dorm, or elsewhere. When it comes to gossip, learn to keep your mouth shut and you'll avoid trouble. This is especially important if you live in a dorm, where staying away from someone you've offended is difficult. What's the best title of this passage? A. Tips on spending your college life B. What is college life like? C. A new world is waiting for you D. Prepare your social skills for college life Answer: D. Prepare your social skills for college life My name is Mike. I have a big family. It's Saturday morning. My grandfather is sitting on the sofa near the window. He is reading the newspaper. My grandmother is taking photos of some flowers in the garden near the house. My father is watching sports games on TV in his bedroom. Basketball games are his favorite but he can't play basketball. Where are my two sisters? Oh, look! Lily is over there. She is listening to music. She likes music very much. Lucy is in her room. There is a computer in her room. She is surfing the Internet . She is writing an e-mail to her friend. What am I doing? I am doing my homework. Do you know who is cooking? How many people are there in Mike's family? A. 5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8 Answer: C. 7 Long March exhibition The Shanghai History Museum is putting on an exhibition to mark the 80th anniversary of the Long March.On show are more than 220 photos and 40 items that explain with pictures how the communist Red Army drew back from its besieged bases in Jiangxi Province and fought its way to northern Shanxi Province in the mid-1930s.Explanations are all in Chinese.The show will end on November 20. Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm Address: 1286 Hongqiao Road Admission: 8 yuan for Chinese /15 yuan for foreigners Thai elephants Eight elephants from Thailand are entertaining visitors at Changfeng Park by riding bikes, playing basketball, balancing on a pole, dancing and blowing a mouthorgan .People are encouraged to have a tug-of-war with the animals or lie on the ground and have the elephants walk over them.The elephants give three shows a day at 9:30 am, 3:30 pm and 8:00 pm and there is an additional show at l:30 pm at weekends.The show will end on November 15. Address: 189 Daduhe Road Admission: 30-40 yuan Dancing dolphins Dolphins jumping from the water to touch a ball, swaying their bodies to music, kissing people and doing math by tapping their tails have made the dolphinarium in Peace Park an attraction for children.Seals and sea lions also perform. Hours: 10:30 am, 4:00 pm, and 7:30 pm Admission: 20 yuan for adults and 10 yuan for children. (252 words) If you go to visit the Long March exhibition with an Australian, how much will you pay altogether for the admission? A. 16 yuan. B. 30 yuan. C. 23 yuan. D. 20 yuan. Answer: C. 23 yuan. Visitors to Britain are sometimes surprised to learn that newspapers there have such a large circulation . For example, national newspapers, the "Daily Mirror " and the "Daily express" both sell about four million copies everyday. Most of British families buy a newspaper every morning and two or three on Sundays. Besides the national papers, there is, however, another branch of the British newspapers, local newspapers. Local newspapers have a weekly circulation of 13 million. Almost every town and county area has one. Nearly all them hold their own and many of them are very profitable . These papers are written almost entirely for readers interested in local events-births, weddings, deaths, council meetings and sports. Editors prefer to believe people who know the district well. A great deal of local news is regularly supplied by clubs and churches in the neighborhood. The editors must never forget that the success of any newspaper depends on advertising. But if the newspaper is well written and the news items have been carefully chosen to draw local readers, the business men will thank for the chance to keep their products in the public eyes. Which of the following is true? A. All the local newspapers are very profitable B. Local newspapers have a weekly circulation of 14 million C. Local readers are much interested in local news D. Each British family buys three newspapers on Sundays Answer: C. Local readers are much interested in local news
Question: According to a recent report, kids in primary school spend about six hours every week doing their homework.. So kids hate homework. However, their parents hate homework, too. Is it good for kids to do homework? Of course, a great number of researches do show that kids can remember what they have learnt in class better by finishing their homework on time and homework itself plays an important role in developing their learning shills, such as independent thinking and creativity. But for parents, the result is not the same. After a day of hard work, most of them feel like they're going through school a second time when they sit down with their children each night to help with their homework. And a recent survey found that 46 percent of parents feel like they don't spend enough quality time with their children, because they spend too much time doing the housework or helping with homework. And another 29 percent of parents have arguments with their kids often when they have different answers to the same question. Now several education scientists strongly advise parents to stop helping. They say it will give their kids more independence and give parents back their free time. At the same time, the number of homework - connected arguments will be less at home. Katy Smith, an education scientist, says, " You don't have to know everything. Children need to put their hands up for help and so do parents. Use your resources - online teachers, or even your neighborhood - just ask." How long do the kids spend doing homework? A. About six hours a day. B. About six hours a week. C. About six hours a month D. About six hours a year Answer: B Question: Joe, 75, lived very happily and had a beautiful family. He had four grandchildren, and they all visited him during their holidays. But while he was working, he lost his favorite watch. Before they came to visit, Joe was preparing his home for the kids: cleaning the house and buying their favorite foods. The watch was a gift from his deceased wife when their first child was born, Joe loved the watch very much. He was very upset . When his grandchildren came, they promised him they would find the watch. One granddaughter asked: "Grandpa, do you remember when you saw the watch last before it went missing?" Joe answered: "I guess when I was cleaning the barn ! " The children looked for more than two hours but could not find it. One grandson went to search the barn again, and he asked the others not to follow him and to keep silent . He was there for about 15 minutes and then rushed to his grandfather. He found the watch! Joe was surprised and asked how he was able to find it. The little boy said: ;'I sat there without making a noise, and the barn was so silent. After a few minutes, I heard the 'tick, tick' sound and found the watch." Joe hugged him and thanked the little boy. This shows the power of silence. If we stay calm, we are better able to find a solution ! Joe felt upset when he found the watch was lost because _ . A. it was beautiful B. it was a gift from his wife C. it was very expensive D. it was a gift from his first child Answer: B Question: Tom walked into a shop. It had a sign outside:" Second-hand clothes bought and sold. " He was carrying an old pair of trousers and asked the owner of the shop." How much will you give me for these?" The man looked at them and then said, "Two dollars ." "What!" said Tom. "I had guessed they were worth(...) at least five." "No," said the man, "they aren't worth a cent more than two dollars." "Well," said Tom. Taking two dollars out of his pocket, "Here's your money. These trousers were hanging outside your shop. The list price of them was six dollars and a half. But I thought that was too much money, so I wanted to find out how much they were really worth. " Before the shop owner could think of anything, Tom walked out of the shop with the pair of trousers. In fact, the trousers _ . A. were hanging inside the shop B. were stolen by Tom from the shop C. had been the shop owner's D. had been Tom's Answer: C Question: Visitors to London often eat in restaurants. The owners and workers in them are all from other countries. The visitors say in these restaurants they don't feel they are in England. Most of English people eat at home as much as they can. Sometimes they themselves will think they are in another country when they are in restaurants. When an Englishman goes out of a restaurant, he may find that he doesn't understand why everything is written in French and Italian. Most of English people think it is better to eat at home, because it is cheaper. They don't want to spend much money on food and they like cooking at home. They like fast food. But for Christmas, they will spend two or three weeks getting ready for it, because they want to have good food. Visitors to London often eat in restaurants because _ . A. they don't like the food at home B. their homes are not in London C. it's cheaper D. restaurants are beautiful places Answer: B Question: There is an old Chinese proverb that states "One Generation plants the trees; another gets the shade," and this is how it should be with mothers and daughters. The relationship between a mother and daughter is sometimes confusing. If close, the relationship can be similar to friendship. However, the mother and daughter relationship has unique characteristics that distinguish it from a friendship. These characteristics include a hierarchy of responsibility and unconditional love, which _ mothers and daughters from being best friends. Marina, 27 years old, says, "I love spending time with my mom, but I wouldn't consider her my best friend. Best friends don't pay for your wedding. Best friends don't remind you how they carried you in their body and gave you life! Best friends don't tell you how wise they are because they have been alive at least 20 years longer than you." This doesn't mean that the mother and daughter relationship can't be very close and satisfying. While some adult relationships are still troubled, many find them to be extremely rewarding. This generation of mothers and adult daughters has a lot in common which increases the likelihood of shared companionship. Mothers and daughters have always shared the common experience of being homemakers, responsible for maintaining and passing on family values and traditions. Today contemporary mothers and daughters also share the experience of the workforce and technology, which may bring them even closer together. Best friends may or may not continue to be best friends, but for better or worse, the mother and daughter relationship is permanent, even if for some unfortunate reason they aren't speaking. The mother and child relationship is closer than any other. There is not an equal relationship. Daughters should not feel responsible for their mother's emotional well-being. It isn't that they don't care deeply about their mothers. It's just that they shouldn't be burdened with their mother's well being. The mother and daughter relationship is a relationship that is not replaceable by any other. Mothers never stop being mothers, which includes frequently wanting to protect their daughters and often feeling responsible for their happiness. Mother always "trumps" friend. The author proves his statements mainly by _ . A. listing data B. giving explanations C. quoting sayings D. making examples Answer: B
Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames . Some people called him Bagamo. They said his mouth looked like a large bag. Musicians often called him Pops, as a sign of respect for his influence on the world of music . Born in 1901 in New Orleans, he grew up poor, but lived among great musicians. Jazz was invented in the city a few years before his birth. Armstrong often said," Jazz and I grew up together." Armstrong showed a great talent for music when he was taught to play the cornet at a boy's home. In his late teens, Armstrong began to live the life of a musician. He played in parades, clubs, and on the steamboats that traveled on the Mississippi River. At that time, New Orleans was famous for the new music of jazz and was home to many great musicians. Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal. In 1922 he went to Chicago. There, the tale of Louis Armstrong began. From then until the end of his life, Armstrong was celebrated and loved wherever he went. Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song. His cornet playing had a deep humanity and warmth that caused many listeners to say, "Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over." He was the father of the jazz style and also one of the best-known and most admired people in the world. His death, on July 6, 1971, was headline news around the world. Armstrong was called Pops because he _ . Answer: It seems that politicians around the world are thinking about the health of their countries. While in China, Chen Zhu has announced his plans for a universal health service and reform across health services. Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister, has also announced he is planning to make some changes in our health service. The crux of Mr. Brown's proposals are related to giving the NHS (National Health Service) a greater focus on prevention, rather than just curing patients. He is planning to introduce increased screening for common diseases such as heart disease, strokes, and cancer, for example, breast cancer. In Britain there are 200,000 deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes, many of which might have been avoided if the condition had been known about. Initially, the diagnostic tests will be available for those who are vulnerable, or most likely to have the disease. One example is a plan to offer all men over 65 an ultrasound test to check for problems with the main artery , a condition which kills 3,000 men a year. The opposition have criticized Mr. Brown's proposals, saying that they are just a trick, and claiming that there is no proper timetable for the changes. They also say that Mr. Brown is reducing the money available for the treatment of certain conditions while putting more money towards testing for them. The NHS was founded in 1948, and is paid for by taxation. The idea is that the rich pay more towards the health service than the poor. However in recent years there has been a great increase in the use of private healthcare, because it's much quicker. NHS waiting lists for operations can be very long, so many people who can afford it choose to pay for medical care themselves. All the following statements are true except that _ . Answer: My first visit to London was one and a half years ago. It was a wonderful trip. I stayed in the city for three weeks, and I had many impressions. I visited all the famous places. I'd like to tell you about some of the places I visited in this beautiful city. First, I went to the Tower of London, and I want to say that it is a very interesting historical place. I found out that a long time ago, it was a prison. Later it became a castle for the royal family. Or maybe it is the reverse; I'm not sure, but later they left this place and lived in Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. I also enjoyed visiting the House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, two very popular places for tourists. They are very old and beautiful. The Abbey is built in a kind of Gothic style; it is fantastic. In London, you can also enjoy nature. There are many parks such as Hyde Park, Green Park, and Holland Park. These parks are wonderful green, quiet places where you can relax and escape the noise of the city. Trafalgar Square is a popular place for students and other young people. You will find lots of pigeons there. If you have time, you can feed them and they will be very happy. You can buy special food for them, but be careful! Tons of birds are going to surround you if you feed them. Another very special place in London that I like is St. Paul's Cathedral which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. I also was impressed with the museums in London. They're very popular. I found them interesting because you can learn about the history of England. I had a wonderful time in London. I really liked it because it is a city that is rich in history. During traveling in London, the writer was _ . Answer: We call the Chinese New Year the Spring Festival. There is a name for each Chinese year. We may call it the year of the sheep, the monkey, the snake, the tiger, the rabbit, the horse or the year of the pig. And this year is the year of the Sheep. Before New Year's Day, people are busy shopping and cleaning their houses. They are busy buying new clothes, new shoes, and candies. On New Year's Eve, there is a big family dinner. After the dinner, all the family members stay up late to welcome the New Year. On the first day of the New Year, people put on their new clothes and go to visit their friends. They say "Happy New Year" and some other greetings to each other. And on that day, children can get money in red packets. Besides, children have a lot of candies to eat. People wear new clothes and shoes. People usually have a very good time during the Festival. On New Year's Day, people say " _ " to each other when they meet. Answer: Online Voting --The Most Beautiful Places in China What are the most beautiful places in China in your eyes? Please take part in our activity and vote online. We are looking forward to your choice and voice! Everyone is welcome! Rules: 1) Voting period: October 1 to November 30. 2) The results and the winners list will be released in December. 3) 10 votes are allowed. 4) Please leave your contact information when sending your votes. CRIENGLISH takes no responsibility if a winner fails to receive the award because of incorrect contact information. 5) Your comments will be important in choosing the winners. 6) CRIENGLISH reserves the right to decide the final winners. 7) CRIENGLISH reserves the right for final explanation of the rules. Awards: The three top winners will each receive an award worth 300 Yuan (about 48 US dollars); The five second place winners will each receive an award worth 200 Yuan (about 32 US dollars); The ten third place winners will each receive an award worth 100 Yuan (about 16 US dollars). The text invites people to _ . Answer:
If you want to get rich, leave New York City, Washington D.C. or Los Angeles and head to Plano, Texas;Aurora, Colorado or Omaha, Nebraska, where wages are high and life is good, a new survey showed. A poll that ranked 69 US cities with populations of more than 250,000 people showed the best places to build personal wealth and raise a family were in cities where some of the nation's largest companies are headquartered. The No.1 city, Plano, is the ninth largest city in Texas and home to company's headquarters including soft drink company Dr Pepper Snapple Group, PepsiCo's snack foods company FritoLay and movie theater company Cinemark. "The city has a reputation as one of the best places in the country for employers to do business and for families to live and work. Plano has a nationally acclaimed public education system and well-educated, diverse residents." Aurora, the third most popular city in Colorado, came in second, according to the survey which said its economy is booming and it is a business leader in key growth industries such as biotechnology, aerospace and high technology. Nebraska's largest city Omaha, home to famous US investor Warren Buffett, nabbed third place. Buffett, who is the richest man in the world according to Forbes magazine, is often called the "Sage of Omaha" for his successful investments . New York City came in last, behind Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. "These cities do have some of the highest average wages in the country, but when it comes to increasing your dollar for the future, it is difficult to do in these cities," salary.com said. Which of the following statements is RIGHT according to this passage? Answer: Plano has a public education system and well educated diverse citizens. He met her at a party. She was outstanding while he was so normal. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised but being polite, she agreed. As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything and she felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, he asked the waiter, "Could you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee. " Everyone stared at him. He turned red, but when the salt came, he put it in his coffee and drank. Curious, she asked, "Why salt with coffee? " He explained, " When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing on the sea. I could feel the taste of sea, just like this salty coffee. " That was a really nice talk, also a good beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who met all her demands. Then the story was just like every beautiful love story: they got married and lived a happy life. After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said: My dearest, please forgive my life-long lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous that I asked for salt instead of sugar. It was hard for me to ask for a change, so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our conversation. I tried to tell you the truth, but I was afraid that it would ruin everything. I don't like the salty coffee. But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life just because I love you! Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her, "What's the taste of salty coffee?" She replied, "It's sweet." The best title for this passage is _ . Answer: The Salty Coffee Dear Sir or Madam. Last Thursday. I traveled on the 8:00 a.m. train from Glasgow to London King's Cross and I was quite angry with the service of your company. The train didn't come on time and it was forty minutes late when it left Glasgow. A man at the station said sorry to us, but he didn't give us any reasons for the delay . We then had further delays on the way and had to wait another thirty minutes. As a result, I missed my plane from London to Frankfurt and had to wait for several hours. What's more, the service on the train was also very poor. The trip took more than five hours. Unluckily. we could buy nothing but some soft drinks on the train. Worst of all, something was wrong with the air conditioning and it got hotter and hotter in the train. Before we reached King's Cross, the temperature was over 40degC. Because of your poor service. I feel you should pay me compensation . I am looking forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, David Roberson When did the train leave Glasgow? Answer: At 8:40 a.m. In our life, there are always some days that will never be forgotten. This was one of those days, a day when we were on a hike, I became my children's hero. This event happened the first summer after we moved to the mountains of Colorado. Wanting to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, my wife and I planned a day hike to the Brown's Creek waterfall. The kids were excited--a day hike, a chance to experience a waterfall, and a day spent with Dad and Mom. Our hike would take us up the Brown's Creek trail and after about 3 miles the waterfall would be on our left. After slowly climbing the first mile, the trail took us through a beautiful grassland and across the creek a couple of times. We decided to turn back before reaching the waterfall, mostly because we were tired and still didn't know how much farther _ was. While crossing the creek by walking on a downed tree trunk, our little Izzie fell into the creek and immediately started moving up and down in the current . Immediately, I jumped into the creek after her. I managed to grab her and push her to the bank. But now, I was the one in need of being rescued. I thought this might be the end and I wasn't sure if I could hold on. Then, I heard the voice of the love of my life, my wife's voice. She shouted loudly--Stand up! Stand up! With the last bit of strength I had, I stood, and walked out of the creek. The kids showed little concern for my health; they were looking after Izzie, now safe in their arms. But I did hear one of the kids say: Thanks Dad, for saving Izzie. You're our HERO! As we walked back down the trail, I enjoyed a rare, but one of those sweet moments in life, that I wouldn't trade for anything on earth. I didn't care about my wet clothes, the squish of water in my boots, or the embarrassment of nearly drowning in water; none of that mattered. I just walked along following my family, with my head held up, my shoulders back and my chest pushed out proudly enjoying the fact that, at that moment in time, on that particular day in life, I was my children's hero. The kid's words suggest that the author _ . Answer: is great in their eyes. Sports City Bar Every Tuesday and Thursday evening in Sports City Bar everyone can enjoy a "Buy one, get one free"Tex-Mex &seafood Buffet* for 118 yuan. At our Sunday Family Buffet, we have exciting games for children. The buffet lasts from 11:00am to 2:00 pm. And costs 98 yuan per adult. Children aged 12 to 16 eat for half price, and children under 12(limited* to two) eat for free. Happy hours at Sports City Bar lasts from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. But one soft drink, get one free. Tel:65118976-4228 Location: The fourth floor, Blue Sky shopping centre. Who have free lunch at the Sunday Family Buffet? Answer: Children under 12
A source of pollution might be I'm a blind teenager girl, but I am ashamed of it if it is known. I refuse to use a white stick and hate asking for help, and I couldn't bear people to look at me and think I am not like them. I must be a terrible danger on the roads. Coming across me wandering through the traffic, motorists probably would have to step rapidly on their brakes. Apart from that, there are all sorts of disasters that used to occur on the way to and from work. One evening, I got off the bus about halfway home where I had to change buses, and as usual I ran into something. "I'm awfully sorry," I said and stepped forward only to run into it again. When it happened a third time, I realized I had been apologizing to a lamppost. This was just one of the stupid things that constantly happened to me. So I carried on and found the bus stop, which was a request stop, where the bus wouldn't stop unless passengers wanted to get on or off. No one else was there and I had to try to guess if the bus had arrived. Generally in this situation, because I hated showing I was blind by asking for help, I tried to guess at the sound. Sometimes I would stop a big lorry and stand there feeling stupid as it drew away. In the end, I usually managed to swallow my pride and ask someone at the stop for help. But on this particular evening no one joined me at the stop; it seemed that everyone had suddenly decided not to travel by bus. Of course I heard plenty of buses pass, or I thought I did. But because I had given up stopping them for fear of making a fool of myself, I let them all go by. I stood there alone for half an hour without stopping one. Then I gave up. I decided to walk on to the next stop. According to the passage, after the girl got off the bus that evening, she _ . BUNOL, Spain (AFP) -- Tens of thousands of people from around the world threw tons of ripe tomatoes at each other in an annual food fight that painted the eastern Spanish town of Bunol red. More than 40,000 people, including many visitors from Australia, Britain and the United States, took part in the food fight known as the "Tomatina", now in its 64th year, a spokeswoman for Bunol's town hall said. They were provided with over 100 tons of tomatoes by the town council for the battle which lasted about one hour and left participants covered in red. Many men were shirtless while others wore old clothes, hardhats, goggles or protective plastic sheets. Shopkeepers put up huge plastic covers on their store fronts or boarded them up to protect their properties from the sea of red mush . After the battle, governmental workers and local residents used "giant hoses" to clear the walls and streets of the tomato pulp in just half an hour while the participants headed to a nearby river where temporary showers were set up. The event cost the town of some l0, 000 residents 40,000 dollars, and Spanish media reported. The "Tomatina" is held each year in Bunol, located in a fertile region about 40 kilometers north of the coastal city of Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, on the last Wednesday in August. The origins of the event are unclear although it is thought to have its roots in a food fight between childhood friends in the mid-1940s in the city. It has grown in size as international press coverage brought more and more people to the festival. What would be the best title for the passage? Swim Birthday Parties Ages 3 and up. Pool parties are during recreation swim in the 25-yard pool. Each party consists of an hour of celebration in a private room. Parties are for 1--5 children. All non-swimmers or children requiring floatation must _ from the pool and accompanied by an adult or guardian. Please contact Sarah Hagan 762--8384x210. Fee: Members $ 175/Non-members $225 Youth Fitness Birthday Parties Leave the party activities to us! Your party package includes:1/2 hour set-up,1 hour program time including equipment,props,etc.1 hour party time for cake,presents,etc.,1/2 hour clean-up time and 1 or 2 hours specialists. Parents supply decorations, food and paper goods. To schedule a Youth Fitness Birthday Party, call Mary Ann Genuario (x282). Fee:$295 for up to 10 children,$10 each additional child--16 children maximum. Non-member price available upon request. The Art Spot Birthday Parties The Art Spot offers a variety of creative fine art parties for Ages 4--Adult! We supply the invitations, a balloon bouquet , paper goods, project materials and a party host; all you need to bring is the cake! Parties are one and a half hours, the first hour the group create their art project, and last 1/2 hour is for cake and presents! Parties are usually held on Friday nights and weekends but weekday parties are available. Cost: $21 per child. Rain or shine there's no better place than the Art Spot for your child's next party! Nursery School Birthday Parties If planning a party is not your thing, let us do the work for you! We offer a variety of pre-planned parties to choose from. You may also do a combination of 2 parties for boy/ girl parties. All parties are on Saturday afternoons between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and are one and a half hours in length. Parties include a craft or activity and paper goods. You may arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time to set-up. To schedule a party please contact Kim Murphy(x214). Fee(Up to 15 children):$200 Members/ $250 Non-member,$15 each additional child. If 12 children take part in Youth Fitness Birthday Parties, they will pay _ . In our town, there is a big zoo with a lot of animals in it. There are some beautiful tigers and two old lions. They eat a lot of meat every day. There are also two big elephants and one baby elephant. The elephants are kind animals. They eat a lot every day. They like children. Children often give them bread and bananas. Elephants like bananas best. In our zoo there are also brown bears , black bears and white bears. They stand on their hind legs,hold up their fore legs and ask for food. They like cakes very much. There's also a children's corner in our zoo. Children ride horses and donkeys and watch the monkeys there. The monkeys are very funny. They climb up ropes and jump down again and play with each other(,) like small children. ,. Which animal plays like small children?
My husband is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same items in different shops. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several different shops. On the other hand, I'm not a shopper. I think shopping is boring and unpleasant. If I like something and I have enough money to take it, I buy it at once. I never look around for a good price or a better deal. Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us. When it comes to shopping, we go our different ways. Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absent-minded. This was his story. One day I said to him, " I hope you won't forget what I have told you to buy." " No," said Jimmy. "I won't forget. You want three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat." He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran, he said to himself over and over again, "three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat." In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs. As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, "I'm sorry, Mum. I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat. I only remembered to buy six eggs, but I've dropped three of them." Jimmy can't do the shopping well because _ . Answer: he is absent-minded When people imagine a classroom, they usually think of older people teaching younger ones. But when it comes to learning about high-technology devices, the opposite can often be true. A training program called the 50 Plus Center in the eastern American city of Columbia, Maryland offers free technology classes to adults over 50. The training program also offers many other kinds of lectures from Qigong and Tai Chi to yoga and Latin jam dance. There are a lot of exercise programs including playing cards and physical exercises where many people just relax and spend some time together. Myra Stafford is 73 years old. She signed up for the class to learn how to use her iPad. She is learning quickly with the help of the young and she enjoys learning from them. She says she is more confident today than she was before. Working with young people makes her feel wonderful because they don't make her feel that she is old or dumb. Eleven-year-old Zhion Perekins is a teacher of the technology class. He says some of the older adults know nothing about high-technology devices and they are very anxious, so patience is very important when working with them. He gains more than just social skills from teaching older residents. He has learned a lot on how to communicate with people. He used to be a shy person, but now he has become outgoing. There is a huge growing population over 60. The training program offers an opportunity for the old people to buy products online using high-technology devices. As senior citizens get more excited about what they want to buy, it is likely that they will go into the market and buy it, so that could lead to an increase in economy. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? Answer: The training program may do good to economy. Our culture is the system we use to build our identity. All living creatures are part of a culture. Even animals have a culture! So what is culture? It's the way we behave in a group. It begins with each individual family. Within our families we do things to build relationships with each other. This can include routines for doing things. It also includes traditions. Traditions are activities that are repeated on a regular basis. Culture is not limited to individual family groups. The real strength of culture is in larger community groups. These larger groups are called societies. Every society makes rules for itself. It decides how people should act in different situations. Some of these rules are written down. Some are just things that are automatically expected of all members of that society. Often, cultures can be identified by what the people believe. Cultures are also known by what they choose to include in their art. Sometimes a society forms around people who speak the same language. Cultures may also be known for their customs, including the foods they make and the things they do. Our cultures help us understand who we are and what we believe. There are very strong emotions connecting us to our own society. Two different cultures may disagree on something, especially if they both feel strongly about it. When that happens, war is a common result. People are learning better ways to communicate with each other. The more we learn, the more we appreciate the differences in cultures. Which of the following is not true? Answer: Every one with an identity card has his own culture. This is Jim's room.It's a nice room.There are some pictures on the wall .There's a desk and a chair in his room.There is a sofa and a bookcase,too.The desk is between(......)the bed and the bookcase.His schoolbag and pencil box are on the desk.There are some pencils,a pen and a ruler in the pencil box.Jim's sofa is near the bookcase.His baseball is under the bed. The desk is between the _ and the _ . Answer: bed;bookcase The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said humorously, "England and America are two nations divided by a common language. If he were writing today, he might add 'divided by a common technology--- e-mail'". Two completely different styles of e-mail have formed on either side of the Atlantic-Euromail and Amerimail. Americail is informal and chatty. It's likely to begin with a "Hi" and end with a "Bye". The chances of Amerimail containing a smiley face or an "xoxo" are disturbingly high. We Americans are unwilling to dive into the meat of an e-mail. We feel we have to first inform recipients about our vacation on the island which was really excellent except the jellyfish were biting and the kids caught a cold, so we had to skip the whale watching trip, then about that investors ' meeting in New York. Amerimail is a bundle of contradictions, casual and yet direct, respectful yet over proud. In other words, Amerimail is America. Euromail is stiff and cold often beginning with a formal "Dear Mr. X" and ending with a simple "Sincerely". You won't find any mention of kids or the weather or jellyfish in Euromail. It's all business. It's also slow. Your correspondent might take days even weeks to answer a message. Euromail is exactly like the Europeans themselves. Recently about 100 managers were asked on both sides of the Atlantic whether they noticed differences in e-mail styles. Most said yes. Here are a few of their observations: "Americans tend to write (e-mail) exactly as they speak." "Why don't you just call me instead of writing five e-mails back and forth?" "Europeans are less interested in checking e-mail". "In general, Americans are much more responsive to e-mail--they respond faster and provide more information." So which is better, Euromail or Amerimail? I realized it's not popular these days to suggest we have anything to learn from Europeans, but I'm fed up with an inbox filled with casual, barely meaningful e-mails from friends and colleagues. If the alternative is a few earnestly written, carefully worded bits of Euromail, then I say, "Bring it on." What are characteristics of Amerimail? Answer: Informal and chatty
Question: Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday.The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its III-year history.Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was "overjoyed and scared". Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan-a pen name for Guan Moye,grew up in Gaomi in Shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory. In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing. He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the same year, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country's unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a prolific writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, he is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages. The awarding ceremony will be held on December 10.The winner will win a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $l million. One of Mo Yan's characteristics of writing is that he A. writes about topics he is familiar with B. focuses on social problems in the country C. describes his characters in a unique way D. explains difficult matters in simple words Answer: A Question: There are 115 distinct species of pine trees with 35 native to North America. Pines are defined as evergreens with long, needle-like leaves and are only native to the northern hemisphere. Pine trees are an adaptable and tough species that can survive in many conditions where other plants cannot. The average pine is 45 to 60 feet tall, but some are nearly twice as high. Western White Pine The western white pine grows the tallest of any pine tree, reaching up to 110 feet in height. They have blue-green needles arranged in bundles of five and produce a long cone . Bristlecone Pine The bristlecone pine grows slowly, reading about 20 feet tall. It is one of the oldest species of pine. Mexican Pine The Mexican pine can grow to 50 feet tall, with long, slender needles that drape off it like a weeping willow . Often nicknamed the "willow pine", it is native to Mexico. Its leaves can droop up to 12 inches long. Sugar Pine The sugar pine is another of the large pine species, such as the bull pine, but it also has the largest cones of any pine species, at 10 to 20 inches long. It grows from Oregon to California and is often used for construction. Jack Pine The jack pine is one of the smallest species of pine with rare leaves. Compared with the pines mentioned above, it doesn't seem to belong to the family. It is considered a member of the scrub-pine family; it prefers sandy soil. Which of the following pines is often used as a building material? A. The Mexican pine. B. The bristlecone pine. C. The sugar pine. D. The jack pine. Answer: C Question: Are you still doing the V for victory sign? It's out. The latest popular hand gesture is to curl both of your hands and put them together to make a heart shape. Known as "Hand heart", many young stars in the US including Justin Bieber, Blake Lively and Taylor Swift have done the gesture in recent photos. "The heart hand gesture means something between I love you and thank you." said the country singer Taylor Swift. It's a sweet, easy message which you can send without saying a word." Taylor Swift often puts her hands above her head in the heart shape at her concerts. And she is believed to be the first to make the gesture popular. Last month during a charity show, Justin Bieber and his superstar friends did the hand heart and put the photo online. They did it to help three kids whose parents were killed in a car accident. The gesture became more popular after that. "It used to take longer for nonverbal culture to move. But now, with smart phones and the Internet, it's much faster," said Patti Wood, an American language expert . In our neighbor country--South Korea, the hand heart has been popular for a long time. In a different way, people there like making a "bigger heart" by putting their hands above their heads and making a heart shape with their arms. It means "I love you." What is the meaning of doing the V gesture? A. We have won. B. Good luck C. Best wishes. D. That is OK. Answer: A Question: Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger. Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports to keep prices down at home and protect supplies. Thailand's agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export. Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton. Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation will be severely punished. Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. "We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone." Achim Steiner told the Associated Press. Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn't accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Vietnam has banned rice exports to other countries. B. Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world. C. Some families are too poor to afford enough food. D. Rising prices of food have led to the world food crisis. Answer: D Question: English Students' Education English 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 term is from February to June. Most English children begin to go to school when they are five years old. When they finish high school, they are seventeen or eighteen years old. High school students take only five or six subjects each term. They usually go the the same class every day, and they have homework for every class. After class, they do a lot of interesting things. After high school, many students go to college1. They usually have to pay a lot of money. So they have to work after class to get money for their studies. Notes:1. go to college Many English college students work after class for _ . A. helping their parents B. getting money for their studies C. helping others D. learning some useful things Answer: B
The world itself is becoming much smaller by using modern traffic and modern communication means. Life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago; but it has brought new problems. One of the biggest is pollution. To pollute mean to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even hear _ . Man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution. Many years ago, the problem was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in a place, men moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world. Air pollution is still the most serious. It's bad to all living things in the world, but it is not only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us become angry more easily. Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. They stop the people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from blowing dirty smoke into the air. The pollution of SO2 is now the most dangerous problem of air pollution. It is caused by heavy traffic. It is sure that if there are fewer people driving, there will be less air pollution. The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must keep careful of the rise in pollution at the same time. Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution because _ . Answer: it's bad to all living things in the world. Feathers, wings, and the hollow bones of birds are examples of Answer: adaptations for flight Phloem Answer: acts as a delivery person for a plant It's hard to avoid looking like a fool on April Fool's Day. On April 1 each year, people play tricks on each other. These tricks are usually silly rather than mean. Classmates sometimes tie each other's shoelaces to their chairs.Teachers might hand out an impossibly difficult surprise test that scares students before they realize it's only a joke. Newspapers announce fake contests (such as "Win an elephant!") and report on fake stories (like "UFO" lands in New York City). Forget gifts, songs and special foods--those are for the other holidays of the year. On April Fool's Day, the only tradition is to laugh (and maybe to cause a little bit of trouble). One April Fool's Day, when I was in high school, a group of students in my class played a very clever and funny trick on the teachers. They bought some chickens and set them free in our school cafeteria. The chickens ran all round the school, in and out of classrooms and under our feet. Feathers were flying everywhere. Teachers began running after the chickens, trying to catch them. Finally, they caught four of them. But the chickens were wearing numbered tags around their necks, and the teachers discovered that they had only caught chickens No.1, 2, 3, and 5.Where was chicken No.4? The teachers looked and looked. They couldn't find another chicken. After a few hours, they realized that the students had played another joke on them: There were only four chickens in the first place! They've been tricked by the numbers on the chickens. It's been a long time since I was in high school, but that April Fool's Day remains one of my favorite memories from those years. What's the title of the passage? Answer: An unforgettable April Fool's Day London, May 5, 2003 Emma Richards of Britain has become the first woman and the youngest person to finish the Around Alone, which is a round-the-world sailing race. The journey started in New York last September and went east around South Africa to New Zealand. It crossed the Pacific Ocean and went around South America, ending up yesterday in Rhode Island, the smallest state in America. In the end, the trip covered over 46,000 kilometres. The same sea route was taken in the past by many famous travelers who wanted to learn about the world. Emma, a 1996 graduate of the University of Glasgow, finished the race at the age of twenty-eight. The race requires competitors to sail alone. Emma said that actually it was very difficult to be all by herself for such a long time even though she's really into sailing. Her worst moment was when she had to climb the high mast in a bad storm to fix some broken parts. She sailed hundreds of kilometres away from land and the wind was blowing very hard. Only her strong willpower kept her going to make it all the way. These days, Emma is happy to be home with her parents and sleep in a bed that stays still. Which one is NOT true? Answer: Emma made a new route for the sea travel.
Have you ever thought of taking a train and having an adventure ?Riding the train can be a real adventure. That is how I feel every time I take Amtrak. I often take a four-hour trip to visit my children. Every time I take this trip I never know what will happen. Last week when I was on the train and over an hour into the train ride,there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation-in another language. It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train. I think it was annoying. Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two-day trip by train. She said her two daughters were distraught at the thought of her driving for three days to reach her home,although she had no trouble driving. The train ride was the only choice for her. She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train. She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents. That is a very good question. Both of us are old and have children. She asked that same question from time to time. There are always many people on the train from all walks of life,different countries,and many languages. Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and take in all kinds of cultures. If you get hungry,you can buy food in the food car at any time. If you need to use the restroom there is always one available. It sure beats driving the car,which has to stop for food and restrooms. And it is better than taking the bus. What is the best title for this passage? A Train ride-a cultural experience B A painful experience on the train C The history of Amtrak D A wonderful lady Answer: A Today,we are told,children don't spend enough time in the fresh air.Many of them are addicted to a screen either on a computer or a TV--they seem to be living in a virtual world.They have lost touch with nature. But now 400 organizations in the UK,from playgroups to the National Health Service,are encouraging children to have some"wild time".They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside.Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide and seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city,they can go on adventures in the garden or the park. Children often need a helping hand from mum and dad.They need to be shown what to do and where to go.Andy Simpson from National Health Service says,"We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids' development,independence and creativity,by giving wild time a go". So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now,it seems that going back to basics and experiencing"nature's playground"is what modern children need.David Bond from Project Wild Thing says,"We need to make more space for wild time in children's daily routine,freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted". This might sound a bit old fashioned to you or maybe,like me,it's made you think about sticking on your boots,getting outdoors and reliving your childhood.There's no age limit on enjoying yourself! Children are encouraged to do the following activities except A building dens B climbing trees C playing hide and seek D watching TV Answer: D When Boris left school,he could not find a job.He tried hard and pestered his relatives,but they had problems of their Own. He answered advertisements until he could not afford to buy any more stamps. Boris grew annoyed,then depressed,then a little hardened.Still he went on trying and still he failed.He began to think that he had no future at all. "Why don't you start your own business?" one of his uncles told him."The world is a money-locker. You'd better find a way of opening it." "But what can I do?" "Get out and have a look round," advised his uncle in a vague sort of way."See what people want;then give it to them,and they will pay for it." Boris began to cycle around the town and found a suitable piece of a waste ground in the end. Then he set up his business as a cycle repairer.He worked hard,made friends with his customers and gradually managed to build up his goodwill and profit.A few months later, he found that he had more work than he could deal with by himself.He found a number of empty shops but they were all no good:in the wrong position,too expensive or with some other snag . But at long last,he managed to find an empty shop on a new estate where there were plenty of customers but no competition. Boris and his assistant taught themselves how to repair scooters and motor-cycles.Slowly but surely the profits increased and the business developed. At last,Boris had managed to open the money-locker and found bank notes and gold Coins inside. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage ? A Goodwill is the key to success. B The world is a money-locker C No education, no future D Difficulty of starting a small business Answer: B "Mobile phone killed my man," screamed one headline last year. Also came claims that an unpublished study had found that mobile phones could cause memory loss. And a British newspaper devoted its front page to a picture supposedly showing how mobile phones could heat the brain. For anyone who uses a mobile phone, these are worrying times. But speak to the scientists whose work is the focus of these scares and you hear a different story. One of the oddest effects comes from the now famous"memory loss" study. Alan Preece and his colleagues at the University of Bristol placed a device that imitated the microwave radiation of mobile phones to the left ear of volunteers. The volunteers were good at recalling words and pictures they had been shown on a computer screen. Preece says he still can't comment on the effects of using a mobile phone for years on end. But he rules out the suggestion that mobile phones have an immediate effect on our cognitive abilities. "I'm pretty sure there is no effect on short-term memory," he says. Another expert, Tattersall, remarked that his latest findings have removed fears about memory loss. One result, for instance, suggests that nerve cell synapses exposed to microwaves become more -- rather than less -- receptive to undergoing changes linked to memory formation. An even happier outcome would be that microwaves turned out to be good for you. It sounds crazy, but a couple of years ago a team led by William Adey at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California found that mice exposed to microwaves for two hours a day were less likely to develop brain tumours when given a cancer-causing chemical. "If _ doesn't certainly cause cancer in animals and cells, then it probably isn't going to cause cancer in humans," says William. And while there's still no absolute evidence that mobile phone use does damage your memories or give you cancer, the conclusion is: don't be afraid. What would be the best title for this passage? A New Mobile Phones. B Special Mobile Phones. C New Special Investigation: Mobile Phones. D New Investigation. Answer: C When you go to the doctor, you like to come away with a prescription.It makes you feel better to know you will get some medicine.But the doctor knows that medicine is not always needed.Sometimes all a sick person needs is some reassurance that all will be well.In such cases the doctor may prescribe a placebo. A placebo is a sugar pill,a harmless shot,or ail empty capsule.Even though they have no medicine in them , these things seem to make people well.The patient thinks it is medicine and begins to get better.How does this happen? The study of the placebo opens up new knowledge about the way the human body can heal itself.It is as if there was a doctor in each of us.The doctor will heal the body for us if we let it.But it is not yet known just how the placebo works to heal the body.Some people say it works because the human mind fools itself.These people say that if the mind is fooled into thinking it got medicine,then it will act as if it did,and the body will feel better. Placebos do not always work.The success of this treatment seems to rest a lot with the relationship between the patient and the doctor.If the patient has a lot of trust in the doctor and if the doctor really wants to help the patient,then the placebo is more likely to work.So in a way, the doctor is the most powerful placebo of all. A placebo can also have bad effects.If patients expect a bad reaction to medicine,then they will also show a bad reaction to the placebo.This would seem to show that a lot of how you react to medicine is in your mind rather than in your body.Some doctors still think that if the placebo can have bad effects it should never be used.They think there is still not enough known about _ . The strange power of the placebo does seem to suggest that the human mind is stronger than we think it is.There are people who say you can heal your body by using your mind.And the interesting thing is that even people who swear this is not possible have been healed by a placebo. Why is the doctor sometimes the most powerful placebo? A The patient needs help badly. B The patient believes in the doctor. C The doctor knows better about your body. D The doctor has carefully studied medicine. Answer: B
Question: Opposition is growing to the Berlin Zoo's plans to find a new home for Knut, the moneymaking celebrity polar bear whose popularity has been exploited by environmentalists and even Canadian tourism promoters. No longer cute, and just days before his second birthday, Knut will be given a new home that is expected to include a potential mating partner. The Berlin Zoo, facing the global economic crisis, can't afford the estimated $ 13 million it would take to acquire a female and a new home for them to share. "It's time for him to go--the sooner he gets a new home the better," said senior bear keeper Heiner Kloes. But some Berliners are beginning a campaign, collecting petition signatures and arguing that he's a tourist draw and a symbol as important as the Brandenburg Gate. "He means a lot to many people. When you're with him you forget your problems," Hartmut Wiedenroth, co-founder of the campaign, told Spiegel Online. Knut became an international celebrity in 2007, drawing huge crowds to his cage and _ sales of thousands of Knut toys and Knut-shaped candies. The Vancouver-based Canadian Tourism Commission made Knut a major part of its "Canada--Keep Exploring" campaign to draw tourists to the country-- and especially to polar bear country in northern Manitoba to see them in their natural habitat. Environmentalists also used the bear to promote the fight against global warming. But Knut's popularity diminished as his size increased to 210 kilograms, He was photographed at one point snapping at a child near his cage. In September his keeper, Thomas Doerflein, died of a heart attack. Doerflein, who became a celebrity himself after nursing the tiny ball of white fur when Knut's mother rejected him, had been re-assigned shortly after Knut's first birthday. Some animal rights critics said Knut has been showing unusually aggressive behavior because of his unnatural upbringing. A campaign is being launched in Berlin _ . A. in order to keep Knut in the zoo B. by selling Knut-shaped candies C. to draw tourists to northern Manitoba D. to warn people of global warming Answer: A. in order to keep Knut in the zoo Question: The below surface pebbles of the columbia river are of non rough edges because of? A. rough rocks B. river movement C. smoothness D. fish movement Answer: B. river movement Question: migration is when what move to different locations in an annual cycle? A. animal figurines B. sedentary animals C. habitual creatures D. currents Answer: C. habitual creatures Question: Thousands of years ago, people only ate food that was grown near their homes. Some kinds of food were only grown in one place, so people from other places didn't know about them. When Europeans first traveled to Central and South America in the 1500s, they discovered strange kinds of food that they had never seen before. Today, these are grown in a lot of different countries and they're sold in supermarkets all over the world. They don't seem strange any more! Potatoes were first grown in the Andes in South America. In 1586, they were taken to Europe by explorers . In 1719, they were taken to North America. Before 1719, nobody in North America had ever seen or eaten a potato. Today each American eats more than 60 kilos of potatoes a year. Tomatoes were also first grown by native Americans. When European explorers visited the south of America in 1500, they took tomato seeds back to Europe. Soon, tomatoes were grown in Europe, but people in England didn't eat them. At that time, a lot of English people thought that tomatoes were _ ! Chilies have been eaten in Central and South America for more than 8,000 years! In the 1500s, chilies were taken to Europe by explorers. Today, they are grown in hot countries all over the world. According to the passage, we know that _ . A. people only ate food grown near their homes after 1719. B. people in Europe were the first to plant potatoes. C. Chilies have been eaten in Europe for more than 1000 years. D. the European explorers took chilies to Europe in the 1500s. Answer: D. the European explorers took chilies to Europe in the 1500s. Question: Early one morning, more than a hundred years ago, an American inventor called Elias Howe finally fell asleep. He had been working all night on the design of a sewing machine but he had run into a very difficult problem. It seemed impossible to get the thread to run smoothly around the needle. Despite his exhaustion, Howe slept badly. He tossed and turned. Then he had a nightmare He dreamt that he had been caught by terrible savages whose king wanted to kill him and eat him unless he could build a perfect sewing machine. When he tried to do so, Howe ran into the same problem as before. The thread kept getting caught around the needle. The king flew into the cage and ordered his soldiers to kill Howe. They came up towards him with their spears raised. But suddenly the inventor noticed something. There was a hole in the tip of each spear. The inventor awoke from the dream, realizing that he had just found the answer to the problem. Instead of trying to get the thread to run around the needle, he should make a small hole in the center of the needle and have the thread run through it. This was the simple idea that finally made Howe design and build the first really practical sewing machine. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light, said his best ideas came into him in dreams. So did the great physicist Albert Einstein. To appreciate the value of dreams, you have to understand what happens when you are asleep. Even then, a part of your mind is still working. This unconscious , but still active part digests your experiences and goes to work on the problems you have had during the day. However, the unconscious part expresses itself through its own logic and its own language.. It uses strange images which the conscious part may not understand at first. This is why dreams are sometimes called "secret messages to ourselves". Which of the following is Howe's final solution to his problem? A. Making a small hole in the needle. B. Tossing and turning the needle. C. Finding out a better kind of thread. D. Having the thread running around the needle. Answer: A. Making a small hole in the needle.
Spring is a wonderful season to celebrate rebirth and new life. The long, cold winter is over. The weather is warmer and sunnier. The trees again have leaves and the flowers are blooming. The season represents hope, joy and beauty. At this time, many people think of this classical music piece -- Spring, which shows happiness. Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote it in the seventeen hundred. However, not all songs about spring are happy. This song written and sung by K.D. Lang is about dreaming of spring in cold dark places. She recorded I Dream of Spring in 2008. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote It Might as Well Be Spring for the movie State Fair in 1945. Frank Sinatra sings it. It is a feeling of restlessness or excitement brought on by the coming of spring. Richard Rodgers also wrote Spring Is Here, this time with Lorenz Hart. Ella Fitzgerald sings this song about feeling lonely during this season. Frank Loesser wrote the sad song, Spring Will be a Little Late This Year. Why has the season been delayed? Because the singer's lover has left her. Sarah Vaughn released her version of the song in 1953. By now you may be thinking, "Enough with the sad songs, already!" Ok, then how about a cowboy song? Gene Autry was one of America's most famous singing cowboys. He recorded When It's Springtime in the Rockies in 1937. And finally, we'll leave you with a sunny song called Up Jumped Spring. Freddie Hubbard wrote this jazz song in 1977 and Billy Taylor Trio performs it. It Might as Well Be Spring is a song that _ . A. is also called State Fair B. is sung by Ella Fitzgerald C. has a lonely feeling D. was written by two people Answer: D Which is an example of a chemical reaction? A. The melting of ice B. The grinding of salt crystals to powder C. The burning of wood D. The evaporation of water from a puddle Answer: C Editor's notes: AWL is well known for its dictionaries and English language teaching materials. Some readers have written in to ask us for the latest information on high quality books on English, so here we introduce two texts that aim to improve spoken English fluency. Let's speak (Beginner) By Bev Dusuya, Naoko Ozeki and Kevin Bergman ISBN: 962001359X Speak Up(Pre-Intermediate) By Bev Kusuya, Nako Zeki ISBN: 0583338050 "Teach the students about your culture and help them talk about their own." How often are these worthy goals kept from being achieved by the limitations of your beginner level learners? Students at all levels want to talk about culture. Topics include food, shopping, sports, fashion, the roles of men and women, health, music, and many more. These are all chosen from surveys of over 15,000 students about their own interests in cross-cultural communication. "Let's Speak" and "Speak Up" share a special but excellent way that allows all students to take part in. The series has questions which start thinking and then help collect opinions about personal topics. Conversation practice is provided by ready to use models of basic exchanges on the topic. Also, the cultural information presented in the series comes in the form of interesting, relevant facts and ideas from other countries through listening tasks and Culture Quiz exercises. Team activities in books provide lively problem solving games to enable sharing and comparison of cultural values. "Let's Speak" is fit for entry level students of all ages. "Speak Up" provides for the needs of higher level beginners, offering the same careful listening and speaking help, but with slightly more open ended discussion. For any information about AWL's books, please get in touch with the following addresses: prefix = st1 /Beijing AddisonWesleyLongmanInformationCenter Room 2306, FLTRP Beijing 19 Xi San Huan Beilu, Beijing100081 Tel: (010)68917488 (010) 68917788 Fax: (010) 68917499 E-mail: zrh@public.bat.net.cn The two books have in common everything EXCEPT_. A. the same interesting topics B. the same level of learners C. proper ways to excite the learners to talk D. right kinds of activities for cultural communication Answer: B In her new book, "The Smartest Kids in the World," Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, tells the story of Tom, a high-school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who decides to spend his senior year in Warsaw, Poland. Poland is a surprising educational success story: in the past decade, the country raised students' test scores from significantly below average to well above it. Polish kids have now outscored(......) American kids in math and science, even though Poland spends, on average, less than half as much per student as the United States does. One of the most striking differences between the high school Tom attended in Gettysburg and the one he ends up at in Warsaw is that the latter has no football team, or, for that matter, teams of any kind. That American high schools lavish more time and money on sports than on math is an old complaint. This is not a matter of how any given student who plays sports does in school, but of the culture and its priorities. This December, when the latest Program for International Student Assessment(PISA) results are announced, it's safe to predict that American high-school students will once again display their limited skills in math and reading, outscored not just by students in Poland but also by students in places like South Korea, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. Meanwhile, they will have played some very exciting football games, which will have been breathlessly written up in their hometown papers. Why does this situation continue? Well, for one thing, kids like it. And for another, according to Ripley, parents seem to like the arrangement, too. She describes a tour she took of a school in Washington D.C., which costs thirty thousand dollars a year. The tour leader--a mother with three children in the school--was asked about the school's flaws . When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, the parents suddenly became concerned. "Really?" one of them asked worriedly, "What do you mean?" One of the ironies of the situation is that sports reveal what is possible. According to Paragraph 2, we know that _ . A. too much importance is placed on sports in America B. little time is spent on sports in Japanese schools C. American high schools complain about sports time D. PISA plays a very important role in America Answer: A You may have heard of the American Dream, an ideal that has powered the hopes of Americans for generations. It began as a belief that the US was a land of opportunity, and that anyone could achieve success through hard work. At times, the dream has referred to home ownership, a good job, retirement security or each generation doing better than the last. Yet today, this concept seems to have greatly changed. As Time magazine pointed out, quite different from the older generation, many Millennials (the generation born after 1980) redefine the American Dream as "day-to-day control of your life". They "prize job mobility, flexible schedules, any work that is more interesting than typing, and the ability to travel", said the magazine. Home ownership, once the _ of the American Dream, is becoming a smaller priority for this generation. Meanwhile, nearly 40% of them choose travel as part of their dream. And entrepreneurship is a rising favorite, as nearly 26% of Millennials consider self-employment as part of their dream. So what has led to this huge change? Many point fingers at the poor economy. "Modern young Americans seem bound to face a world stamped by ever narrowing opportunity and social stagnation ,"noted The Daily Beast. "The rate of 16-to 24-year-olds out of school and out of work is unusually high at 15%. Many college graduates have taken jobs that don't require a degree," Time reported. The magazine worries that these difficulties may lead to a lost generation who are "unable to ever truly find their feet on the corporation's ladder". Dan Kadlec, a reporter of Time, sees Millennials as resetting their expectations."This situation is different for young adults today," he wrote. "A true American dream has to feel attainable, and many Millennias are feeling they can only attain a day-today lifestyle that suits them." What can be the best title for this passage? A. Redefinition of American Dream B. Meaning of American Dream C. Value of Achieving American Dream D. History of Changing American Dream Answer: A
One way to retain your own thermal energy is to Answer: wear fluffy socks I was born in Ireland and lived there until I was nineteen years old. I came to New York in 1956. At first, I held several jobs to earn a few dollars. Later, to live a better life, I bought my own taxi car. Till now, I've been in the taxi car business for thirty-five years. I know there is a lot about taxi drivers that is not so good. Because of this, people get the wrong impression that they are bad. In fact, taxi drivers are just like other honest people. You can read in the papers almost every week where a taxi driver turns in money or jewels people leave in their cars. One time in Brooklyn, I found a ring in my car. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of bags that day, so I went back to the store where I had dropped her off. It took me almost two days to look for her in order to return the ring. I didn't get as much as "Thank you." Still, I felt good because I had done what was right. In all my years of driving a taxi car, I have never had any trouble with the public because I always try to be nice to everyone. I try to be honest toward others. I have been trying this for a long time, and the longer I try, the easier it gets. I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts there is. It's something that makes a man a good guy. This is also my way to live by. The writer found _ in his car in Brooklyn. Answer: a ring Many people write to newspaper and magazines to express their opinions. Letters to the editor must carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number, although the information is not necessary for publication. This requirement to provide personal particulars is a clear indication that writers are held responsible for what they say. When a writer wants his voice heard, he needs to claim ownership of his voice. Responsibility is the name of the game. "People today prefer living together to putting their signatures on a marriage certificate because they refuse to accept responsibility for the relationship," said social worker Ken Yip, "and this is what is causing a lot of family problems." When we sign a paper, for example, a business contract or a bank document, the signature is a seal of consent, an agreement to take the matter seriously. Most governments and many organizations will not process written complaints if they do not bear the writer's signature. The absence of a signature, they explain, tells us that the writer cannot be too serious and therefore does not deserve a reply. There are people who wish to remain anonymous for various reasons. Multi-billionaire Mr. King donates generously to charity several times a year. He gives simply because he wants to help but not for the publicity his donations may bring, and he does not want his good deeds to make news. In other cases, people insist on anonymity because they are afraid of the consequences of revealing their identity. Crime witnesses may be willing to assist the police, but most are unwilling to give their names when reporting a crime. Name or no name? The answer is very personal and lies in how much we want to get involved. We all have a name. It is a matter if responsibility to use it when we make a statement, a claim or an accusation. We all want to honor our own name, and it is only by stamping our expression of an opinion with our own name that we honor what we say. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: signature and responsibility New Way to Experience Dentistry Have you ever had your hand held during a dental procedure you feel uneasy about? What about a dental office that mimics the spirit of Disneyland? If you're looking for a dental office that provides the best care and the best environment, you're looking for Dr.Licking's office in Sunnyvale. Officer manager Judy, who has worked with Dr.Licking for 38 years, speaks highly of his kindness.She believes that the office is "the Disneyland of dentistry".Everyone from children to their grandparents loves the environment and care they receive from this welcoming office. Dr.Licking is known as the best dental care provider for anyone who fears facing appointments with the dental office.The staff goes out of their way to make patients feel comfortable and at ease.Dr.Licking and Judy set the standard with their saying, "when someone comes to your home, you stand up and welcome them, like an old family friend." Dr.Licking's office has all.They recently relocated to put the new equipment into their practice.The office is equipped with an intra-oral video camera, and as a patient you can get pictures of your teeth as you're walking out the door. Setting himself apart from other dentists, Dr.Licking continues his education beyond what is required.For this reason, he is one of few dentists in the country who offers ozone treatment.Ozone can naturally stop decay in its tracks.For more information on this new technology, visit their website at www.drjohnlicking.com. Dr.Licking's office is Diamond Certified, an honor given only to companies with the higher quality after extensive and continual research.Dr.Licking's office extends an invitation to you to meet their gentle staff and offers you a free office visit, including x-rays and an exam. The office holds extended hours ranging from 7 a.m.to 8 p, m., Monday through Thursday.Don't worry if you have an emergency.Dr.Licking's office responds to all emergencies and urgent calls. JOHN LICKING, D.D.S. Cosmetic & Family Dentistry since 1970 408--736--6235 drjohnlicking.com 877 W.Fremont Ave.Suite C3, Sunnyvale What is special about the dental office? Answer: It has a caring environment. Wisdom teeth are normally the last teeth to appear.This usually happens when people are in their late teen years or early twenties,in other words,when they are older and wiser. Wisdom teeth can grow into place normally and never cause a problem.But often there is not enough room for them in the mouth;they might crowd other teeth.Sometimes they even push sideways through the gums . An impacted wisdom tooth is one that fails to completely rise through the gums.Wisdom teeth that only partly break through can leave space for bacteria to enter around the teeth.Infection is a risk in these cases. Wisdom teeth that are not well lined and become impacted are often removed.The American Dental Association says removal is generally advised when wisdom teeth only partly break through the gums.Removal is also advised if there is a chance that wisdom teeth ate poorly lined.The best time to remove is before the teeth cause any problems or pain.Young adults are the best candidates for wisdom teeth removal. But why do we have wisdom teeth if we often need to get them removed?One theory has to do with our diets.Scientists say the diet of ancient humans probably required more chewing teeth.Life was probably a little rougher on the teeth back then,too.So it was good to have extras. Wisdom teeth should be removed _ . Answer: if they are not well lined or get impacted
For Chinese, it's a time for dragon boat racing and Zongzi . But across the Yellow Sea, South Korea, wrestling and swing play are the _ .However, both events go by the same name-the Dragon Boat Festival-which falls on May 5 of the lunar calendar. One festival, two cultures: does one nation have the right to call its own? It has been reported that South Korea will apply to the UNESCO to make the celebration its cultural heritage .If successful, people from other countries may see the Dragon Festival as a Korean creation. As the birthplace of the yearly event more than 2,000 years ago, China is not happy with the situation."It would be a shame if another country successfully made a traditional Chinese festival part of its own cultural heritage ahead of China," said Zhou Heping, deputy culture minister.The Ministry of Culture is even thinking of making its own application to UNESCO, covering all traditional Chinese festivals, including the Dragon Boat event. Over the years, the Dragon Boat Festival has spread throughout the world.In Japan and Viet Nam, as well as South Korea, the festival has mixed with and become part of local culture. With this in mind, some experts say that it is meaningless to argue about which country the festival belongs to."No one can deny that it came from China," said Long Haiqing, an expert from Hunan Province."But if all the countries involved can protect culture heritage together, they will all benefit." China is not happy with the situation because _ . it created the festival The smell of fresh air is becoming something of a distant memory, thanks to our increasing use of fragrance . From air fresheners to scented candles, we live in a world of scent. Recent figures show seven in ten people use air fresheners or scented candles to keep our homes smelling sweet. Yet recent records suggest that perfumed products could affect our health, causing problems including allergies , headaches and asthma . One leading expert believes nearly a third of people suffer health effects from being exposed to scents. A major problem is so-called "contact" allergy--where perfumes and scented products cause eczema when they come into contact with the skin. About one in 20 is thought to be affected by fragrance allergy. "Often it may not be immediately obvious that you have developed a fragrance allergy," says Dr. Baron. "You don't react immediately. Gradually, as you are exposed more and more, the body increases its reaction, until it becomes noticeable to you." People with pre-existing eczema are particularly vulnerable . "The eczema worsens in areas in contact with perfumes," says Dr. Baron. "But even those without allergies can be at risk of fragrance allergy." You can become suddenly allergic to perfumes and personal care products that you have been using for years. "Even if you know which fragrance causes a problem, it can be difficult to avoid, as most personal care products -soap, shampoo, sun cream and washing powder--contain fragrances," says Dr. Baron. And strong scents can also cause headaches. Fragrances activate the nose's nerve cells, stimulating the nerve system associated with head pain. To minimize risk, sufferers are advised to minimize the contact. "Fragrance suggest cleanliness - yet people are smelling a potentially dangerous chemical mixture," says Anne Steinemann, professor of the University of Washington. "We often use them to mask one problem - as with air fresheners - but create a greater one - adding poisonous chemicals to the air." What is the text mainly about? The health problems caused by fragrance There exist cruel wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, so it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a good sense of humor just to help us go through difficult times in our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling depressed, as the saying goes, makes me feel good and warms my heart. How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co-worker neighbor, close friend, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is a common manner to speak to others that are around you. I know of a few people that don't have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say. Everyone around them could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the slightest smile on their face. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke? Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find a way to avoid the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. Therefore, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together. What is the author's attitude towards the present world? Critical Do you want to know how and why a fall leaf changes color? We first have to understand what leaves are and what they do. Leaves are the world's food factories. Plants take water from the ground through their roots and take CO2from the air. Plants use sunlight to turn water and CO2into glucose , a kind of sugar. Plants use it as food for energy and growing. A chemical called _ in the leaves gives plants their green colour. As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter, and trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter. During winter, there is not enough sunlight or water. Trees rest during this time and live on the food they store during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. As the green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves, we begin to see yellow and orange leaves. The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in autumn. In some trees, like maples , sunlight and the cool nights of autumn turn the glucose in the leaves into a red colour. And we can enjoy the beautiful red leaves during autumn. This passage tells us _ . not all the colors of the leaves are from chlorophyll A paper bag is ripped into pieces. Which of these BEST describes the pieces of the bag? Smaller than the whole bag
One day a rich man meets Tom. The rich man asks, "People say you are very clever and nothing is difficult for you. Can you tell my why you are so clever? " Tom answers with a smile, "Oh, I'm not clever. Instead , you are too _ ." The rich man becomes very very angry. Tom says, "Sir, please don't be angry. If you don't believe me, now let me ask you a very easy question: If you have a group of sheep , I send you another group. Then, you say, how many groups of sheep do you have?" "Why! That's the easiest question in the world. One and one is two. Anybody knows _ . I have two groups of sheep , of course." Tom laughs and says, "You are wrong , Sir. Two groups of sheep put together is still one group. That's the easiest question in the world , isn't it?" From the story we know that _ . Answer: Experience whale watching unlike anywhere else on the planet! This trip explores the west coast of southern Baja and the renowned whale breeding lagoons of Magdalena Bay, Visitors enjoy opportunities for up close and personal encounters with gray whales,great sea kayaking ,excellent bird viewing,beautiful sunsets,and delicious food at our remote base on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, LA PAZ All trips begin and end in La Paz.It lies 800 miles south of the USA/Mexico border,on the Sea of Cortez. La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur,and the largest city in southern Baja. It is located on a large,natural bay, and some of Baja's most beautiful islands are just a short distance offshore. Maleeon,the waterfront area of La Paz is particularly beautiful,and the sunsets across the bay are usually quite spectacular! Local families and tourists often gather along Malecon to enjoy this nightly show.It's the perfect place to walk before and after a meal at one of the many restaurants or sidewalk cafes. MAGDALENA BAY Magdalena Bay is a series of lagoons from the Pacific Ocean,which are shielded by low barrier islands .It is also the winter breeding grounds of the California Gray Whale.It is one of the three largest bays on Baja's Pacific coast where the whales go to mate and give birth from late December through March each year. Protected mangrove estuaries provide an exciting exploration via sea kayak. Every trip that we lead draws on the experience of countless tours and trips across the world.Our kayak guides hold certifications from both the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union. Our guides are all skilled naturalists and will share their knowledge of the area's natural history,marine biology,birds and local flora .Through their humor and skill,they will give you a rich and deep experience of this place.Great Mexican cuisine and the culinary skills of our staff make for tasty meals in this remote setting on the Pacific coast. ITINERARY Our itinerary is designed to give our guests the best opportunities to view whales up close and experience the natural beauty of this area.It includes 2 nights in La Paz, and 3 nights camping in our remote ocean side location.There is enough opportunity for kayaking,hiking,relaxation,in addition to the incredible whale watching expedences. Day l:Arrival in La Paz airport.You'll be greeted by our friendly staff and transported to the hotel.Pre-trip meeting with guides at the hotel in the evening.(B,D) Day 2:In the morning you'll ride in our van for 3.5 hours to the launch site on the west side of the peninsula .We'll board the ships for a two-hour journey of whale watching in the heart of whale activity (this is truly the best way to get up close to these gentle giants)and settle into camp & dinner. (L, D) Days 3-4:Our days are filled with watching dolphins,whales and birds,exploring the forest,hiking along the sand dunes , kayaking the warm inland waters, swimming or star-gazing. (B,L,D) Day 5:After some more whale watching in the the morning, we'll depart for La Paz and spend the night in the hotel.(B,L) Day 6:Fly home from La Paz. INCLUDED Professional American guides,2 nights hotel accommodations and meals in La Paz,all sea kayak equipment,camping group gear ,and other equipment,meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch,D=Dinner),airport transfers on Days l and 6,motorboat transfer and support. NOT INCLUDED Airfare to La Paz,alcoholic beverages in town,and personal items. All the meals are provided for the visitors on 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 is important for young people to decide on their lives by themselves. Parents ask children to do some work around their house.And in many families, parents pay their children for doing some housework so that hey learn how to make money for their own use. The size of most American families is _ that of other countries'. Answer: Enjoying a better life at school, with shorter class hours, greater privacy and more rights is all you dream of, right? For students in Shanghai, they are no longer just dreams. This week experts and law-makers in Shanghai had a meeting to talk about a new law . It is called the "Shanghai Underage Protection Law ". The law says students' diaries and letters are their secrets and "Nobody can read them if they don't agree." Do your teachers sometimes say something bad to you? Maybe they send you out of the classroom because you fail to finish doing your homework. If this happens in Shanghai, you can stand up and say "No". Shanghai students may have less homework because of the law. Class hours may become shorter for juniors next year, down from 45 minutes to 40 minutes in some schools. The law also talks about students' health. According to the rules,"Smoking in these places full of kids is not allowed."That means you can ask your teacher to stop if he smokes in a classroom. The law makes schools safer for students. "No dancing halls, Internet bars or computer game bars are allowed within(......)200 meters of a school gate." the law says. The law is great, right? Many students like it. "My mom reads my diaries sometimes. I think she will be afraid if I tell her she is doing something against the law." said Luo Jia, 13, at Shanghai Fuxing Junior School. If you want to know more about the law, go to "www.spcsc.sh.cn". ,. The students' diaries and letters are their secrets and _ . Answer: Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore, died on Monday, March 23, 2015, at the age of 91, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. Lee, a Cambridge-educated lawyer, is widely credited with building Singapore into one of the world's wealthiest nations. He co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore since 1959 and led the newly born country when it was separated from Malaysia in 1965. In Beijing's eyes, Lee Kuan Yew, the late founding father and leader of Singapore, was not only "an old friend of the Chinese people", but also "the founder of China-Singapore relations", according to China's previous official news releases about his visits. Chinese media estimated that he had been to China more than 20 times, and he was known for his good personal relations with China's top figures, especially former leader Deng Xiaoping. Zhang Jiuhuan, the Chinese ambassador to Singapore from 2000 to 2004, noted that "it was a _ case" at the time that a foreign prime minister would visit China, as Lee did in 1976, in the absence of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Deng then paid back the visit, going to Singapore in 1978, in what Zhang described as a sensational trip. Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing, noted that Lee's No 1 contribution to China was his efforts in "sharing Singapore's successful experience in governance", adding that "China has benefited a lot" from this. The China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, inaugurated in February 1994 in Jiangsu province in East China, was proposed by Lee, who even went to the city in 1992 to inspect the site for the park. Now, with the park serving as a role model for China's economic cooperation with foreign countries, more such industrial parks hosted or co-hosted by China have been established domestically and abroad. According to the passage, which of the following is FALSE? Answer:
Question: There are plenty of different parks to visit in the UK. All theme parks in Britain have cafes, restaurants, picnic areas and gift shops, so you'll still have plenty to see and do when you and the kids have been on enough rides. There are usually smaller "funfair" rides and games as well, so younger children won't get bored. Several theme parks also have other attractions next to them, e.g. water parks often open all year round, unlike the theme parks. Wherever you are in Britain, there's likely to be a theme park within one or two hours' drive, bus ride or train journey. Several theme parks even have accommodation so you can stay for a day or two if you want to make a trip into a short holiday. Prices for UK theme parks vary considerably; some have an entrance price which allows you to go on all the rides, while in others you have to pay for every ride individually. It can also make a difference whether you go during peak time or not. For example, tickets always cost more during school holidays and weekends than they do during the weekdays. Theme parks always get very busy during the summer months, so if you don't like crowds, it's usually a good idea to go earlier or later in the year! If you're thinking of visiting a UK theme park, it's worth having a look for special offers on tickets. Products such as chocolate bars and cereals sometimes have "buy one get one free" offers on theme park tickets, so keep a look out in shops and supermarkets. If you go to the theme park during the weekdays, you'll probably _ . A. have to spend more B. save some money C. get something free D. have a good time Answer: B Question: If you thought taking vitamins would reduce the risk of lung cancer, think again. Researchers who studied 77,721 people said on Friday that people who took too much vitamin E,especially smokers,had a small but higher risk of developing lung cancer. They tracked the subjects'use of multi-vitamins,vitamin C and vitamin E to see if it offered protection from lung cancer.But they found that none of the vitamins was tied to a reduced risk. "If you could find some sort of magic pill--a pill you could take once a day to decrease your risk--that would be wonderful.But unfortunately.we didn't find that in our study,"lead researcher Christopher Slatore,of the University of Washington Seattle,said. The subjects of the study were followed for four years,and 521 developed lung cancer,the majority of them smokers or former smokers,Slatore's team reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Among those in the study who developed lung cancer, the researchers saw a small increased risk related with vitamin E supplements in addition to the expected connections to smoking,family history and age. This added up to a 28 percent increased risk of developing lung cancer for those taking 400 mg of vitamin E supplements daily for 10 years,the researchers said. "For people--especially smokers--I suggest that they not take vitamin E(as a supplement) unless they have a very strong reason to take it." Slatore said. The idea that vitamin supplements are healthful,or at least not harmful.comes from the desire of many people to match the benefits of a healthful diet with a convenient pill,Tim Byers of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.wrote in an essay. According to the passage,many people take vitamin supplements to A. cure lung cancer caused by family history B. prevent diseases like cancer and heart attack C. save the trouble of making a healthful diet D. reduce the pain caused by lung cancer Answer: C Question: BEIJING, (Xinhua) --China's capital city launched its first underground library, "M Subway Library" on Jan. 12,2015. The theme of its first activity is "Our Characters". Citizens riding the special train on subway Line 4 now can read e-books provided by the National Library by scanning the QR code in the carriage. "M Subway Library" is a public welfare program initiated by the Beijing MTR and the National Library to provide qualified book resources to the public through the platform of public transportation. The library will organize different themed activities regularly and recommend a dozen free books to the public each year in the long term. XINING, (Xinhua) --A bullet train made its maiden trip from Xining city to Lanzhou city in Northwest China on Dec. 26, 2014, marking the start of the full operations of the Lanxin high-speed railway. The Lanxin high-speed railway links Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, slashing the total travel time from more than 23 hours to 11 hours and 50 minutes. The 1,776-kilometer high-speed rail line, with a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour, is China's first high-speed railway built in a high-altitude region. NINGBO, (Xinhua) --Ningbo Subway Line 1 started running special trains with 3D paintings featuring the city's culture starting on Dec. 20, 2014.Through the paintings, the city in East China's Zhejiang province seeks to share its culture and attract more outside visitors. The paintings focus on four themes: rice cake, fishing festival, books and Buddhism. What can you enjoy when you ride the special train on subway Line 1 in Ningbo? A. Chinese classical music. B. 3D paintings about Ningbo's culture. C. Traditional Chinese paintings. D. 3D films which were shot in Ningbo. Answer: B Question: Forget famous goal celebration such as "The Robot" by Peter Crouch and "The Dive" by Juergen Klinsmann, here comes the South African "Diski dance". The Diski dance, which is performed through heading and kicking an imaginary ball, may be a goal celebration to watch in the following matches. South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala and his teammates performed this different dance when they celebrated his goal against Mexico in the opening World Cup game on Friday. The dance is already popular on YouTube and many soccer fans may want to learn the moves. Even South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has learnt the Diski dance which could be better than Cameroon Roger Milla's corner flag dance celebration in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. US actor John Travolta performed the dance shortly after landing his Boeing 707 at Lanseria airport, north of Johannesburg, on Wednesday morning. Goal celebrations are now part of the biggest sporting event and players plan them in advance just in case they find the back of the net. In football, a goal celebration is the practice of celebrating the scoring of a goal. The celebration may be performed by the goal-scorer, his or her teammates, the manager or coaches and the supporters of the team. The Robot goal celebration was so popular that England fans were surprised when Crouch, an English international footballer, said that he wouldn't be doing it any more unless England won the World Cup. The word Diski is the word used by the local people for soccer and may also describe the local style of football which focuses on dribbling and other tricks. Besides "Diski dance", how many types of goal celebrations are mentioned in the passage? A. 2. B. 3. C. 4. D. 5. Answer: B Question: Peter is a sixth-grader at Woodland Primary School. He is only 12 years old but has been smoking for three years. John, 15, is a Junior 2 student at Woodland Secondary School. He began smoking four years ago. "Smoking is part of my life," John said. Peter and John are not those boys' real names. But their problem, smoking, is a very real problem. In many countries, smoking is becoming a bigger problem for young people. Most smokers start in their teens or earlier. A study of 8,000 London students shows that smoking is a problem for many British kids. More than 21% of middle school students and 6% of primary school pupils said they smoked. "If young people start smoking early, it will be very hard for them to give up later on," said a professor. Every year, about four million people die because of smoking. And if people keep smoking that number will go up to about ten million a year by 2030 the World Health Organization (WTO) says. So we have to learn and tell others about dangers of smoking. ,. What will probably happen if a person starts smoking early? A. He will surely die early. B. He cannot stop smoking. C. It will be difficult for him to give up smoking. D. He will become lazy soon. Answer: C
Molly and her friend Jessica liked to play hide and go seek in the woods. They would almost always play in the woods behind Molly's house. They liked to play there because of the giant trees, which were more fun to play in at nighttime. One evening, after a big meal of chicken and potatoes at Molly's house the girls went outside to play hide and go seek. They almost turned back because they thought they saw a wolf. Luckily, it ended up being a shadow from an old boot. Jessica counted to fifty to give Molly time to hide. In the middle of counting, Jessica heard a sound! Jessica opened up her eyes to see Molly had found a puppy! The puppy had a bell on its collar, so the girls knew it must belong to someone. They carried the puppy back to Molly's house instead of playing hide and go seek. As soon as they got to Molly's front door, Molly's neighbor saw them and screamed with joy. The puppy ran over to Molly's neighbor and licked her face. The neighbor thanked the two girls by giving them each a folded five dollar bill. The girls were very excited that they helped save the day! What reward did Molly and Jessica get from the neighbor? A. Each girl got one dollar B. Each girl got five dollars C. They got no money D. They had to split five dollars between them Answer: B Men who wear pink shirts to work earn more and are easier to get a higher position than those who prefer traditional shirt colors, such as white and blue, according to a recent survey. Researchers also found that men who wore pink were more likely to get praise from female co-workers and were more confident in the office. A classical pink shirt wearer earns PS1,000 more a year than those who choose other colors, researchers surveyed among 1,500 male office workers. Men who wear pink are also twice as likely to have the Master's degree as those who prefer white shirts, with one in ten pink shirt wearers having a PHD. Stephanie Thiers-Ratcliffe, International Marketing Manager for Cotton USA, who took charge of the study, said, "You can tell a lot about someone by the color he wears. Pink is a color that more and more men have been embracing recently, and it is encouraging that they are not afraid to experiment with that bright color. They spend most of their days at work and their own confidence needs to remain smart. It is good for company standards, but that doesn't mean that they have to wear boring clothes." Pink shirt wearers on the other hand are more likely to have a low-carbon life for half of them prefer to choose public means of transportation to go to work. The report also found men who preferred green shirts were the most likely to be late for work, while white shirt fans were the most punctual . If you want to get a higher place in your company, you'd better wear _ . A. purple B. pink C. green D. white Answer: B Everyone has heard of the San Andreas fault , which constantly threatens California and the West Coast with earthquakes. But how many people know about the equally serious New Madrid fault in Missouri? Between December of 1811 and February of 1812, three major earthquakes occurred, all centered around the town of New Madrid, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. Property damage was severe. Buildings in the area were almost destroyed. Whole forests fell at once, and huge cracks opened in the ground, releasing some strong smell chemicals. The Mississippi River itself completely changed character, developing sudden rapids and whirlpools . Several times it changed its course, and once, according to some observers, it actually appeared to run backwards. Few people were killed in the New Marid earthquakes, probably simply because few people lived in the area in 1811; but the severity of the earthquakes are shown by the fact that the shock waves rang bells in church towers in Charleston, South Carolina, on the coast. Buildings shook in New York City, and clocks were stopped in Washington, D.C. Scientists now know that America's two major faults are essentially different. The San Andreas is a horizontal boundary between two major land masses that are slowly moving in opposite directions. California earthquakes result when the two masses make a sudden move. The New Madrid fault, on the other hand, is a vertical fault; at some points, possibly hundreds of millions of years ago, rock was pushed up toward the surface, probably by volcanoes under the surface. Suddenly, the volcanoes cooled and the rock collapsed, leaving huge cracks. Even now, the rock continues to settle downwards, and sudden sinking motions cause earthquakes in the region. The fault itself, a large crack in this layer of rock, with dozens of other cracks that split off from it, extends from northeast Arkansas through Missouri and into southern Illinois. Scientists who have studied the New Madrid fault say there have been numerous smaller quakes in the area since 1811; these smaller quakes indicate that larger ones are probably coming, but the scientists say they have no method of predicting when a large earthquake will occur. This passage is mainly about _ . A. current scientific knowledge about faults B. the San Andreas and the New Madrid faults C. the causes of faults D. the New Madrid fault in Missouri Answer: D Hi guys! I'm Lucy the ladybird and while I'm very much of a lady, I'm not actually a bird but a glowing red bettle with decorative black spots. I'm a friendly little bug, to be honest, and simply like to be close with my pals as long as they handle me very gently. I don't bite humans but I do sink my teeth into aphids which, unlike me, are very harmful to all the plants. I milk the aphids just like people do with cows and I milk them dry of all the sap they have got from your poor plants. I'm a real gardeners' friend and love helping out around the place by pollinating flowers, tidying up plants' fallen leaves and helping to turn them into nice rich fertilizer to feed everything both above and below the soil, and naturally, being so attractive to look at, we are perfect living garden decorations. One thing I can not tolerate is all that poisonous pollution from vehicles, garbage burning and other environmentally unfriendly acts that occur in the cities every single minute of the day and night. Pollution of any kind really chokes me to death, so these days, I only live in clean countryside areas, particularly cool ones where it rains and everything grows fresh and green from spring right through to autumn. In winter, when the weather is too cold for me to bear, then I find a nice place to sleep until the snow has gone and I can come back out to play. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you that although I am not a bird I do have wings and can fly for short distances. So if you pick me up and let me run up and down your hands and arms, then please don't frighten me by screaming if I suddenly decide to take off! This passage is probably _ . A. a self -introduction by a lady named Lucy B. description of a ladybird'life C. letter of praise for a gardener D. a speech made by a woman on ladybirds Answer: B British author JK Rowling was at the release of her latest Harry Potter book called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at the Natural History Museum in London, Friday July 20, 2007. J.K. Rowling has been spotted at cafes in Scotland working on a detective novel, a British newspaper reported Saturday. The Sunday Times newspaper quoted Ian Rankin, a fellow author and neighbor of Rowling's, as saying the creator of the "Harry Potter" books is turning to crime fiction. "My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel," the newspaper quoted Rankin as telling a reporter at an Edinburgh literary festival. "It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes," said Rankin, who is known for his own police novels set in the historic Scottish city. Rowling famously wrote initial drafts of the Potter story in the Scottish city's cafes. Back then, she was a struggling single mother who wrote in cafes to save on the heating bill at home. Now she's Britain's richest woman - worth $1 billion, according to Forbes magazine - and her seven Potter books have sold more than 335 million copies worldwide. In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Rowling said she believed she was unlikely to repeat the success of the Potter series, but confirmed she had plans to work on new books. "I'll do exactly what I did with Harry - I'll write what I really want to write," Rowling said. What is the best title for the passage? A. Harry Potter and JK Rowing B. Ian Rankin, A Neighbour of JK Rowling C. A Successful Woman JK Rowling D. JK Rowling writing Detective Novels Answer: D
Question: Mike McClure walked into Sarasota Bay for a little fishing on a beautiful day last April. This afternoon, the water was shallow enough at low tide that McClure could easily walk 100 yards offshore and cast his line in any direction. Near sunset, still without a fish, he decided to turn back. Rather than turn to his earlier course, he chose a more direct path toward shore, thinking the bay wouldn't get deeper along the way. Instead, he was trapped. He tried to walk in different directions, but shallower water eluded him. Finally, he decided his safest choice was to head straight for land. "Within about five steps, the water was coming in through the top of the waders ," says McClure. He felt the deadweight of the flooding waders pulling him down and knew that if he didn't get out of them, he would drown. But he failed to kick his way out of the waders. Instead, they pulled him completely below the surface. Back onshore, Eliza Cameron, 19, Loren Niurka Mora, 20, and Caitlin Petro, 20, had been watching McClure fish as they rested on the grass after a long week of classes. They saw McClure go under and then heard him cry, "Help!" The three friends kicked off their shoes and ran into the bay. They were all good swimmers, but all hid a fear that he might pull them down too because they'd have to dive to save him. When they reached him, he'd managed to kick himself out of the waders, but his eyes had partly rolled back. Cameron and Mora each hooked an arm under his shoulders, while Petro supported his back and held his hand. Then the three friends tried their best to tug him towards shore. Finally, they all returned to the shore safely. During the rescue,_. A. the three women were afraid of being trapped in the water B. Cameron and Petro helped catch Mike McClure's arms C. the three women removed Mike McClure's waders D. Mike McClure still wore his flooding waders Answer: A Question: There are 67 counties in the state of Alabama.Each county is rich with history and its own unique stories.Colbert County, located in the northwest corner of the state, has its share of exciting stories and claims to statewide fame.The county was created on February 6, 1867, and Tuscumbia became the county seat (the town in which the offices of the county government are located). One of the most famous residents of Tuscumbia was Helen Keller.Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880.Her home was a white frame cottage built by her grandparents.Since ivy grew everywhere, the house was called Ivy Green.It was here, at the water pump in the backyard, that Keller learned the word "w-a-t-e-r" with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan.Visitors to Ivy Green can walk under boxwood trees that are 150 years old.The home has furniture that the Keller family used.It also has Keller's Braille books and her original Braille typewriter. Spring Park is Tuscumbia's most popular park and favorite tourist attraction.This park has the world's largest manufactured waterfall called Coldwater Falls.The Spring Park Light and Water Show is an amazing sight to see.It takes place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at sundown.The water appears to dance to music and colored lights.The music played during the show is recorded by singers and musicians from Alabama. Fame Recording Studios is in the city of Muscle Shoals in Colbert County.The studio is the first successful recording studio in Alabama.It is best known for creating "Southern rock," "Southern soul," and "county soul." Well-known performers like Aretha Franklin and musical groups such as Alabama and Lynyrd have made recordings at this studio. Visitors can continue to explore music in Alabama by visiting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia.Built in 1990, this site recognizes the musical talents of more than 500 Alabama residents in a wide variety of musical styles, including country and rhythm and blues. Truly, Colbert County has a lot of wonderful locations to visit.Guests will not be disappointed in a visit to this delightful place. How many locations related to music in Colbert County are mentioned in the text? A. 1. B. 2. C. 3. D. 4. Answer: C Question: In December, someone in England probably wants to A. Wear shorts and enjoy the warmth B. Wear heavy clothing when outdoors C. Go down to the beach in swimwear D. Start planting seeds in their garden Answer: B Question: (Reuters) --- A stampede killed at least 36 people during New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai, authorities said, but the police denied reports that it was caused by people rushing to pick up fake money thrown from a building overlooking the city's famous waterfront. It was the worst disaster in the modern city since 58 died in an apartment building fire in 2010. The cause of the crush has still to be confirmed, though state media and some witnesses have said it was at least partly aroused when people rushed to pick up coupons that looked like bank notes. A man named Wu said the fake money had been thrown down from a bar above the street as part of the celebrations. "This incident happened after the stampede," police said in a brief statement, without saying what the real cause was. Another witness said there had been a problem away from the area where the fake bills were thrown, with people trying to get on to a raised platform overlooking the river. Xinhua news agency said that people had been trampled on after falling down on the steps up to the platform. Authorities had shown some concern about crowd control in the days leading up to New Year's Eve. They recently canceled an annual 3D laser show on the Bund, which last year attracted as many as 300,000 people. On New Year's Eve, Beijing also canceled a countdown event in the central business district, Chinese media said, due to police fears about overcrowding. The Shanghai government said on its official microblog that an inquiry had begun, and that all other New Year events had been canceled. In 2004, 37 people died in a stampede in northern Beijing, on a bridge at a scenic spot, during the Lunar New Year holiday. What's the passage about? A. A countdown event in Beijing. B. A laser show on the Bund. C. An apartment fire in Shanghai. D. A stampede on New Year's Eve in Shanghai. Answer: D Question: A study found that young people have a stronger and more unpleasant scent than the elderly,while elderly people's smell was the most distinctive,less intense and unpleasant. Researchers said the change in our smell is driven by the chemicals we release through our glands and the bacteria on our skin. To test whether or not it really exists,scientists collected a series of samples from three groups of 12 to 16 donors,aged 20 to 30,45 to 55 and 75 to 95.Volunteers wore special T-shirts fitted with underarm pads as they slept for five nights,after which the pads were cut up and put in glass jars. A separate group of 41 people aged 20 to 30 was then asked to smell two jars at a time and asked which group of the donors was older,as well as rating how strong and unpleasant each smell was. When asked to specify whether a particular sample was from a young,middle aged or old person,they were much more successful at identifying older people. Despite being the most distinctive,the older people's smell was also rated as being obviously less intense and less unpleasant than those from the other groups. Researchers said their findings appeared to contradict people's negative ideas about the old person's smell but admitted other factors,like smelly breath or skin,could be to blame for its bad reputation. "Similar to other animals,humans can give off body scents that allow us to identify biological age,avoid sick individuals and pick a suitable partner. Elderly people have a distinctive scent that younger people consider to be not very unpleasant. This was surprising given the popular conception of old age scent as smelly. However,it's possible that other sources of body scents,such as skin or breath,may have different qualities," said Dr Johan Lundstrom,who led the study. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage? A. To tell old people how to remove their terrible scent. B. To prove that people often hold wrong ideas. C. To show how researchers carried out their study about the scent. D. To report the findings of a study about people's scent. Answer: D
It is in autumn . A young man comes to a forest . He's walking beside the forest. On his right is a river. On his left is the forest. Suddenly he sees two green eyes looking at him from the trees. A tiger is getting ready to jump on him. What does he do? He must jump into the river. But in the river there is a big crocodile . Its mouth is very big. The young man closes his eyes. The tiger jumps over him. And the young man opens his eyes. The tiger jumps over him. And the young man opens his eyes. The tiger is now in the mouth of the crocodile. What does he see looking at him? _ . Answer: A tiger We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. Then, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop . She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors." "Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?" Mum just pushed harder, each swipe of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book. After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you." Outside, Mum told me "Grandma is fine. No fever ." "You saw her, Mum?" "Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It's a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is not good. You need a brush." When the nurse talked to Mum she thought Mum was a _ . Answer: cleaner American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird's eye view! No matter what activity you're enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun's powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block! 15thStreet Boat Company Monday-Saturday 15thStreet Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They're sure to have what you are looking for, whether it's a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they've got it. It's fun for everyone! Coconut's Watersports 9am-5pm Monday through Sunday Coconut's Watersports is open 7 days a week for your convenience and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended. Jet Ski Tours of Miami Thursday-Sunday 10am-7pm Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins or a manatee resting in these fabulous Florida waters. Which of the following can help you enjoy sailing a boat? Answer: Visit 15 thStreet Boat Company. For anyone still doubting the belief that our emotions influence our physical health, a new study from New Zealand should be able to settle the matter. It reports that the physical wounds of healthy seniors healed more quickly if they wrote about their most upsetting experiences. This confirms the results of a 2010 study, and extends those findings to cover older adults--a group that is likely to suffer wounds (as from surgery), and one with less access to other ways of lowering tension (such as exercise). Reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, a research team led by the University of Auckland's Elizabeth Broadbent made a study featuring 50 healthy adults ranging in age from 64 to 97. They were asked to write for 20 minutes per day for three consecutive days. Half were asked to write about the most upsetting experience in their life, describing their deepest thoughts, feelings, and emotions about the events, ideally not previously shared with others. The others were asked to write about their daily activities without mentioning emotions, opinions or beliefs. Two weeks after the third day of writing, all participants received a standard 4mm skin biopsy on their inner arm. The very tiny wounds caused by the biopsy were photographed regularly over the following days to determine the rate at which they healed. On the 11th day after the biopsy, the wounds completely healed on 76.2 percent of those who had done the expressive writing. That was true of only 42.1 percent of those who had written about everyday activities. "The biological and psychological mechanisms behind this effect remain unclear," the researchers wrote, noting that those who had done the expressive writing did not report lower stress levels or fewer depressive symptoms than the others in the control group. Even if they weren't consciously aware of feeling more relaxed or positive, the expressive writing appeared to have caused some sort of bodily reaction--probably involving their immune systems--that _ their recovery. What was the difference between the two groups of participants in the study? Answer: What they wrote. Mom: Daniel, I need to talk to you about your behavior. Dad and I realize there is probably an explanation for why the house is so dirty, but you shouldn't have run out of the room and closed the door so hard like that. Daniel: Mom, I'm sorry, but I was so angry! You want me to act like an adult but you and dad treat me like a child. Why didn't you just ask me what had happened? Mom: Well, I know that grown-ups are supposed to make good decisions but sometimes we make mistakes. We were angry too. None of us stopped to think and we should have. Can you explain to me now why the house was a mess and what you did with the money we left? Daniel: Spot was sick, Mom. Eric and I didn't want to call you and dad on your vacation, so I used the money you left and some of my own to take him to the vet. We stayed there and waited for him all day. That is why we didn't have time to clean the house. Why did Daniel's mother talk with him? Answer: Because she wanted to give Daniel a chance to explain.
"Can I get a light?" This question is among the most common between smokers. What if this question was to come from an unusual source? In April 2014, the National Health Promotion Foundation uploaded an anti-smoking advertisement onto YouTube. The anti-smoking ad has quickly been known as the "most powerful anti-smoking ad." The anti-smoking video, called the "Smoking Kid," features children walking up to adult smokers asking for a light. The children in the ad are actors but the adults smoking are _ participants in the project. The video begins with the statement "adults know that smoking is harmful, but don't remind themselves of this fact " Once a "smoking kid" approaches the adults, every adult asked is shocked that a child with a cigarette in hand is asking for a light. The first adult starts by saying, "I'm not giving it to you," and the video goes on to state "every adult filmed said no and reminded the children that smoking is bad." Before going away, the kid hands each adult a booklet after being turned down for a light. The booklet says, "You worry about me, but why not about yourself?" Each adult looks around for the child as their faces are filled with confusion and discomfort. The video shows that a few of the smokers quickly threw away their cigarettes or put their cigarettes away, showing that this experiment was affective at that moment. The most influential element in the ad isn't the use of children or the responses from the smoking adults. It comes down to something much simpler than that. Why is it that we worry about other people, forgetting to worry about ourselves? According to the text, the anti-smoking ad is _ . Answer: influential Recently a friend of mine wrote to me about her experience in Holland: A very old man asked me to come to his apartment, and he would donate a bike to the project. I went over to get it, and it was half a bike, which was locked to a pole and had obviously been there for years. The temperature was well below zero. It became clear that he was in fact super-lonely, and torn between usual Dutch distrust of strangers and desperation for human contact. He finally begged me to come up to his apartment (where he obviously lived alone). You may know that Dutch people are the tallest in the world, reflecting a very high standard of living. But -- if this old man is not unusual -- reducing the loneliness of old people isn't part of the Dutch social contact, admirable as _ may be. I recently watched the Frontline program Sick Around the World. It suggested that the old man isn't unusual. In England, where doctor visits are free, a doctor said he has several patients who come weekly, purely because they're lonely. In Japan, some patients have their blood pressure measured very often -- most probably for the same reason. In Taiwan, if you see a doctor 20 times in one month, someone from the government will come to talk to you. Not about loneliness -- about overuse of medical care. The Frontline program made nothing of any of these facts, which were included to show that access was easy. Really the idea that everyone needs human contact isn't mysterious or controversial. My explanation is there's a double blow: Not only do lonely old people have little power, it's also clear that their problem (loneliness) isn't caused by a "chemical imbalance". So no drugs can be sold to treat it. And there's no diagnostic category. When these lonely old people use what little power they have by visiting their doctor, the doctor -- I'm assuming -- doesn't do anything to get rid of the loneliness. Even if you visit 20 times in a month. The tone of the author is _ . Answer: concerned Johnny the Explorer Johnny was three when he ran away from home for the first time.Somebody left the garden gate open.Johnny wandered out,crossed some fields and,two hours later,arrived in the next village.He was just able to give his name and address. By the time be was seven,Johnny used to disappear from home two to three times a year.Sometimes he covered quite long distances on foot.Sometimes he got on a bus or even a train,and simply sat there until someone asked for his ticket.Generally the police brought him home."Why do you do it?"they used to ask."I just like seeing places,"Johnny told them. Johnny continued to "see places"although everyone tried to stop him.His parents used to watch him closely,and so did his teachers;but sooner or later Johnny managed to slip away.As he grew older,his favorite trick was to hide on a long distance truck.Sometimes he trayelled hundreds of miles before anyone discovered him. It is hardly surprising that eventually Johnny managed to board a plane.He was twelve at the time.It was a cargo plane and a few hours later,Johnny found himself in Cairo.How did he get on board? No one knows! According to Johnny himself,it was easy:he just went into the airport,walked along some passages and got on board the nearest plane. In spite of all this,Johnny did well at school.He enjoyed mathematics and languages and,perhaps not surprisingly,he was especially good at geography."What do you want to be when you grow up?" his teachers asked him."An explorer!" he answered."But it,s difficult to become an explorer in this modern age,"they tried to tell him.But it was no use:Johnny knew what he wanted! Just before he left school,Johnny saw a notice in a daily paper.A long journey was about to go to Brazil to travel up the Amazon River.There were jobs for three young people"willing to work hard and with a sense of adventure".Johnny applied,and two months later,he was on his way to Brazil. From the passage,we can learn that Answer: Johnny went exploring along the Amazon River World's Wonderful Libraries How cool can libraries be in an era of iPads and Kindles More than you think.Only if you know where to go. Central Library The Central Library in Seattle,United States is modern and sophisticated. The building is an impressive work of art, which has has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. The library offers free self-guided cell phone tours, along with group tours. The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events throughout the year. Open: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m-8 p.m, Friday-Saturday 10 a.m-6 p.m, Sunday noon-6 p.m Trinity College Library The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books. Various exhibitions and tour are available; admission 9(US 12) Open: Monday-Wednesday 9:30 a.m -5 p.m, Tuesday 9:30 a.m -9 p.m, Saturday 9:30 a.m -1 p.m, Sunday closed. Bibliotheca Alexamdrina The Bibliotheca Alexamdrina is the revival of the ancient Royal Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some 2, 300 years ago. The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction. Along with the standard libraries, there are four museums covering science, Arabic Calligraphy, the history of printing and the Greek art. Open: Saturday-Thursday 9 a.m- 4 p.m. Stuttgart City Library The Stuttgart City Library is controversial. Some say it's innovative, while others say it doesn't match its environment. Nevertheless, the library is one of the most interesting buildings in Germany. The design of the cubic facility was influenced by the ancient Pantheon in Rome. It serves as a multi-story meeting space that draws natural sunlight through the roof. Open: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m--9 p.m Which of the following libraries are open on Friday? Answer: Stuttgart City Library and Central Library Getting kids to share their toys is a never-ending battle, and forcing them to do so never seems to help. New research suggests that allowing children to make a choice to sacrifice their own toys in order to share with someone else makes them share more in the future. The new findings are published inPsychological Science. These experiments were conducted by psychological scientists, Nadia Chernyak and Tamar Kushnir of Cornell University. They found that sharing things with others when they are given a difficult choice leads children to think of themselves as people who like to share. It also makes them more likely to act in a pro-social manner in the future. Previous research has explained why rewarding children for sharing can _ . Children come to think of themselves as people who don't like to share since they had to be rewarded for doing so. Because they don't view themselves as "sharers", they are less likely to share in the future. Chernyak and Kushnir were interested in finding out whether freely chosen sacrifice might have the opposite effect on kids' willingness to share. To test this, the researchers introduced five-year-old children to Doggie, a sad puppet. Some of the children were given a difficult choice: Share a precious sticker with Doggie, or keep it for themselves. Other children were given an easy choice between sharing and putting the sticker away, while children in a third group were required by the researcher to share. Later on, all the children were introduced to Ellie, another sad puppet. They were given the option of how many stickers to share (up to three). The kids who earlier made the difficult choice to help Doggie shared more stickers with Ellie. The children who were initially faced with an easy choice or who were required to give their sticker to Doggie, on the other hand, shared fewer stickers with Ellie. Therefore, children did not benefit from simply giving something up, but rather from willingly choosing to give something up of value. "You might imagine that making difficult, costly choices is demanding for young children or even that once children share, they don't feel the need to do so again," Chernyak says. "But this wasn't the case: once children made a difficult decision to give up something for someone else, they were more generous, not less, later on." Chernyak concludes. Those who were required to share give fewer stickers to Ellie because _ . Answer: it's not their own choice
WASHINGTON(Reuters)--Federal Government Agencies in the capital region will remain closed for a second day on Tuesday as residents trying to clean up the weekend storm that shocked the area with two feet of snow. Another big winter storm was expected to hit the U.S. mid--Atlantic on Tuesday and last through Wednesday, the National Weather Service forecast on Monday. _ snowfall is ranged from 10 to 20 inches, it said. The new storm was expected to hit other big cities along the East Coast, including Baltimore and Philadelphia, which is still extending into New Jersey and New York. It would pile on to the 32 inches of snow that fell in suburban Washington in the biggest snowfall to hit the city in decades. The Office of Personnel Management announced on Monday evening that Federal Government Offices in the Washington area would be closed on Tuesday. Emergency employees were expected to report for work in time, but non--emergency employees were excused. The Federal Government was closed on Monday, though President Barack Obama still held meetings at the White House. Schools and most businesses in the region also were shut. In the county, about 80,000 people lost power on Saturday, and some customers still had no electricity or heat on Monday. Many schools said classes would be canceled through Tuesday, even before the latest storm warning. On Monday, winter sunshine bathed the nation's capital and the surrounding region, where people dug out their driveways and sidewalks to finally start to clear streets in some residential neighborhoods. Bus service on Monday was limited to just a small number of routes in the Washington, D.C. Cold and snow blanketed much of the central United States this winter, slowing weight gain in cattle and pigs, delaying livestock sales, and increasing feed costs for producers. The new storm might also hit the Northeast, the nation's largest market for heating fuel. The weekend blast largely bypassed that region. According to the National Weather Service forecast, _ . Answer: Many women write to me perplexed about why they can't form close friendships. They try new approaches, put themselves in all the right places, see therapists, and read relevant self-help books. They consider themselves interesting, loyal, kind and friend-worthy people. But for reasons unknown to them, they have a tough time forming intimate relationships. Many admit to not having even one close friend. A recent study published in the offers some clues as to how both nature (personality) and nurture (experience) impact our friendships. Researchers at the University of Virginia and University of Toronto, Mississauga studied more than 7,000 American adults between the ages of 20 and 75 over a period of ten years, looking at the number of times these adults moved during childhood. Their study, like prior ones, showed a link between residential mobility and adult well-being: The more times participants moved as children , the poorer the quality of their adult social relationships. But digging deeper, the researchers found that personality--specifically being introverted or extroverted -- could either intensify of buffer the effect of moving to a new town or neighborhood during childhood. The negative impact of more moves during childhood was far greater for introverts compared to extroverts. "Moving a lot makes it difficult for people to maintain long-term close relationships," stated Dr. Shigehiro Oishi, the first author of the study, in a press release from the American Psychological Association, "This might not be a serious problem for outgoing people who can make friends quickly and easily. Less outgoing people have a harder time making new friends." Families often have to relocate -- across town, across the country, or across the globe. Yet, in many cases, their kids and young adolescents haven't yet built up a bank of friendships. So the conventional wisdom is to try to minimize moves for the sake of your child, whenever possible , and to move at the end of the academic year. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: Which sentence about the periodic table of elements is true? Answer: Today's story is about Zhang Qian,a student from Beijing. He's now studying in the United States. He's living with an American family in New York. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. It's 9: 00 a.m. and Zhang Qian's family are at home. His mom and aunt are making zongzi. His dad and uncle are watching the boat races on TV. Is Zhang Qian also watching the races and eating zongzi? It's 9: 00 p. m. in New York,and it's the night before the festival. But there isn't a Dragon Boat Festival in the US, so it's like any other night for Zhang Qian and his host family . The mother is reading a story to her young children. The father is watching a football game on TV. Zhang Qian is talking on the phone to his cousin in Beijing. Zhang Qian misses his family and wants to have his mom's delicious zongzi. Zhang Qian likes New York and his host family a lot, but there's still 'no place like home'. Where is Zhang Qian now? Answer: "It was all his own idea, " says Pat Peters, the 38-year-old wife of Palo Alto, California high school . Bob had just drawn up a "motherhood contract" ----- a document stating that for 70 days this summer he would take over the care and feeding of the couple's four children, plus all household chores . Although he didn't even know how to make coffee when he signed, he was quite confident.(He thought the experience would make a nice book.) After 40 of the 70 days, he was ready to give up. "I was beaten down, completely humbled, " admits Peters. Three weeks later he spoke to the local press (also part of the bargain), stating, "Not only is motherhood a difficult task, not only is it never-ending, it is an impossible job for any normal human being." Bob and Pat were high school sweethearts. After they were married in 1960, she worked as a secretary to help put him through university. Since then Bob has been the football and wrestling coach at Palo Alto's Cubberley High while Pat raised the kids. Then two years ago Pat went back to work as a secretary at Cubberley. "I had been around children so much," she sighs , "I couldn't talk to a grown-up." She continued to run the household, however----- until Bob signed the contract, whereupon she decided to relax and enjoy it. Although Peters had consulted with his school's home economics teachers and the head of the cafeteria , his meals were sometimes a disaster. "I tried to slip the butter I'd forgotten under the eggs after they were frying, " he says. For the last three weeks, the family ate out a lot--sometimes having Macdonald's hamburgers for lunch and dinner. As for housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean if the bed is made. "I found an easier way-----I shut the doors, " he says. Soon the kids were wearing the same clothes for a week. "I made them wear their shirts inside out, and when we went to pick up Pat at work they turned them right side out so they would look clean." Now that Bob has publicly admitted he was wrong, he is routinely sharing the child-raising and household tasks with Pat. The tentative title of his book about the summer is taken from something he shouted at the kids one day. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer:
Question: MELBOURNE, Australia - A kangaroo frightened by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, throwing the pet underwater and hitting the owner in the stomach with its back legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old struck the kangaroo in the throat. Rickard said he was walking his blue dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, when the kangaroo turned and knocked the pet underwater. When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its back legs and tearing a deep cut into his stomach and across his face. "I thought I might take action to drag the dog out from under his grasp, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Rickard, 49, told The Herald Sun newspaper. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people." "I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just attacked me." He added, "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I struck him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit. "I don't think I'll ever be able to watch kangaroo programs quite the same as I used to -- it might bring back a couple of bad memories." Kangaroos rarely attack people but will fight if they feel threatened. Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and defend themselves there. Rickard said he ended the attack by hitting the kangaroo in the throat adding Rocky was "half-drowned" when he pulled him from the water. Rickard and his pet dog were attacked when _ . A. he was teasing a kangaroo B. he was walking his dog C. swimming in the pond D. dragging his dog out from water Answer: B. he was walking his dog Question: Until I was twelve years old, I thought everyone in the world knew about the grinnies, if I thought about the term at all -- which is unlikely. After all, everyone in my family used the word quite naturally, and we understood each other. So far as I knew, it was a word like any other word -- like bath, orchocolate, orhomework. But it was my homework which led to my discovery thatgrinnieswas a word not known outside my family. My last report card had said that I was a "C" student in English, and my parents, both teachers, decided that no child of theirs would be just an average student of anything. So nightly I spelled words aloud and answered questions about the fine points of grammar. I wrote and rewrote and rewrote every composition until I convinced my mother that I could make no more improvements. And the hard work paid off. One day the teacher returned compositions, and there it was -- a big fat, bright red "A" on the top of my paper. Naturally, I was delighted, but I didn't know I was attracting attention until the teacher spoke sharply, "Helen, what are you doing?" Called suddenly out of my happy thoughts, I said "Oh, I've got the grinnies!" The teacher and my classmates burst into laughter, and then I understood that grinnies were used inside my family. Other people were not so lucky. And it is really lucky to have the grinnies, an uncontrollable, natural state of great pleasure. Grinnies are shown on the outside by sparkling eyes and a wide, wide smile -- not just any smile, but one that shows the teeth and stretches the mouth to its limits. A person experiencing the grinnies appears to be all mouth. On the inside grinnies are characterized by a feeling of joyful anxiety. Grinnies usually last just a few seconds, but they can come and go. Sometimes, when life seems just perfect, I have occasional attacks of the grinnies for a whole day. The term originated in my mother's family. Her younger sister, Rose, who had deep dimples , often expressed her pleasure with such a grin that the dimples appeared to become permanent. When Rose was about four, she started explaining her funny look by saying, "I have the grinnies". The term caught on, and it has been an important word in our family now for two generations. The occasion doesn't matter. Anything can bring on the grinnies -- just so long as one feels great delight. When my brother finally rode his bicycle -- without training wheels -- from our house to the corner and back, he came home with the grinnies. When I was little, my mother's announcement that we would have homemade ice cream for dessert always gave me the grinnies. My father had the grinnies when I was chosen to make a speech at the end-of-school-year ceremony. Grinnies can be brought on by a good meal, a sense of pride, a new friend, a telephone call from someone special, an achievement. Or sometimes one gets the grinnies for no reason at all: just a sudden sense of happiness can bring on a case. Whatever brings them on, an attack of the grinnies is among life's greatest pleasures. In fact, now that I look back on the experience, I feel sorry for my seventh-grade teacher. I think it's a pity that she didn't know the word grinnies. It's such a useful term for saying, "I'm really, really pleased!" The writer feels sorry for her seventh-grade teacher because the teacher _ . A. has no pity on her students B. should not have laughed at her C. doesn't have any luck to meet her parent D. has no idea of what "grinnies" is Answer: D. has no idea of what "grinnies" is Question: In today's world of modern science and medicine, a more traditional treatment is once again becoming popular-animal friendship. It is now well-known that people with problems such as heart disease or cancer live longer and get better more quickly if they have pets. Keeping pets lowers blood pressure and makes people less worried. Animals are increasingly important in treating older people who have memory loss and other brain problems. These people often feel nervous and upset. Activities with animals help them improve their physical condition and also give them joy, entertainment and loving friendship. Here is a case that shows the benefits of animals. John was a six-year-old _ . He had no physical problems. He just refused to talk. His older cousin, Ned, had a parrot called Sally, and John used to visit it. When he arrived, Net used to say, "Hi, John!" We all know parrots copy what they hear. After a few visits, Sally began saying "Hi, John!" when John came into the room. Then, one day, John turned to the parrot and replied "Hi, Sally!" Staying with the parrot encouraged John to begin talking. Another use of animal helpers is in schools. In some cases, animals are used to help children with physical or personal problems. In other cases, they are used to teach children to get on and share with others, and even to teach them about animals. If you want to know more about animal helper programs, you can get in touch with organizations like Riding for the Disabled or do a search under "animal therapy" on the Internet. You don't have to be an animal trainer or a doctor to join in. How can animals help school children according to the passage? A. They can improve children's memory. B. They can make children more popular. C. They can increase children's blood pressure. D. They can teach children to share with each other. Answer: D. They can teach children to share with each other. Question: Lemuel Gulliver enjoyed travelling. He was a ship's doctor. On May 4, 1699, they were going to the Far East in the ship called the Antelope. One night, his ship crashed against the rocks, Gulliver was washed to the land. He found himself a prisoner of tiny people. They were less than 6 inches tall and lived in the island country of Lilliput. After he promised to behave well, they set him free and he could visit the city. The people of Blefuscu wanted to attack Lilliput. The king of Lilliput turned to Gulliver. He stopped Blefuscu attacking Lilliput by pulling its ships to Lilliput. The king was happy. _ wanted to make the people of Blefuscu his slaves , so he asked Gulliver to bring some more ships. Gulliver did not like this plan. The king got angry. Some bad men in Lilliput wanted to kill Gulliver. Gulliver had to run away from Lilliput to Blefuscu. He was welcomed by the king of Blefuscu. They soon became good friends. Three days after that , he asked king to send him twenty of his largest ships and two thousand men to pull the boat to the shore. In this boat, he set sail for England. On the third day he saw a big ship to the southeast. He called out to the ship. The ship was moving very slowly. They raised a flag .His heart was full of happiness when he saw the English flag . Why did Gulliver come to Lilliput? A. Because he enjoyed traveling in Lilliput. B. Because his ship brought him to Lilliput. C. Because the tiny people brought him to Lilliput. D. Because he was washed to Lilliput after a ship crash. Answer: D. Because he was washed to Lilliput after a ship crash. Question: The reason why women love to spend hours in shops while men prefer to be in and out of the high street in minutes can trace back to their hunter-gathering past, find scientists. While women spent their days gathering food, often with children, men were hunters who made plans about how to catch and kill their prey . These two ways of getting food in the past show how we shop in modern times, the study believes. Women would spend hours trying to find the right things, because they had in the past spent ages trying to find the best quality and health-giving food. Men, on the other hand, decided in advance what animal they wanted to kill and then went looking for it. Once it was found and killed, they returned home. Daniel Kruger, professor of the University of Michigan, said the study could be the answer to why there are a lot of _ when couples go shopping together. He said it could also help couples to avoid fights in the shops if they understood the reasons why each sex had different ways of deciding on the perfect present. "In modern times, women are much more likely than men to know when a specific type of item will go on sale. Women also spend much more time choosing the perfect color and texture." Professor Kruger said his study was important because if men and women understood each other's shopping habits they could avoid arguments while shopping. What has decided the different shopping habits of men and women? A. Different ways of keeping food in the past. B. Different ways of eating in the past. C. Different ways of buying food in the past. D. Different ways of gathering food in the past. Answer: D. Different ways of gathering food in the past.
I was a medical student. To gather data for my paper, I started visiting patients at Dr Sardjito Hospital, where I would review the medical records of patients and then interview them. One evening, I was in a ward , desperately "hunting" for the final three patients I needed to complete my study. Holding a patient questionnaire, I walked towards a room. A patient called Ms A was lying in bed, clearly still weak. There were no relatives or friends with her. Even the bed beside her was empty. I sat down on a chair next to her bed, and in a low voice I introduced myself and asked if I could gather some additional information from her. She agreed. After I finished, I prepared to leave. Before I could stand up, Ms A said, "I haven't seen you here before, doctor. Are you new?" "Not really, Madam. It's just that I don't come here every day," I replied. Ms A started talking about herself. She shared her difficulties and sufferings, talked about her husband, who was killed in a car accident, and that she struggled to earn money. All I did was nod my head as a way of showing my sympathy. Without realizing it, I had begun holding Ms A's hand. Finally, Ms A stopped talking. "I'm very sorry for keeping you here to listen to my problem, but I feel relieved now. I had no one to pour out my problems to." Tears fell from the corner of her eyes. Finally, I knew what to say. "It's OK, Madam. It's part of my duty." I stood up and waved goodbye. A few days later, when I returned to the ward, I discovered Ms A had left the hospital as her condition had improved. Ms A taught me the most important lessons a doctor can learn. Sometimes patients do not need expensive medicine. They just need someone with the patience and willingness to lend an ear and spare a little of their time. Why did the author interview the patients at Dr Sardjito Hospital? Answer: Because she needed medical information for her paper. Good morning. I'm Chen Hua. Here's my culture report for today, Monday. A new film starts tonight at the student cinema at eight o'clock. The film is Pirates of the Carribean.It's a fantastic adventure film. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are the stars. They are both very popular and famous, and they both act well in this film, and make their characters believable. The story is about an old ship. It sails around the Carribean islands. Depp and Bloom try to find some lost gold. Then they come face to face with some terrible men, and have to fight them. There's lots of action, and the fighting looks really dangerous. They also saves Keira Knightly. She plays Elisabeth, the daughter of a rich man. The scenes with Knightly and Bloom are beautiful and romantic. The film isn't true to life, but it' s very exciting, and some of it is very funny. It' s an enjoyable film, although in my opinion there's too much fighting. But except for that, it's an excellent film. You didn't see it when it first came out, I advise you to go and see it now. I' m sure you' 11 enjoy it. It' s showing all week. They meet _ . Answer: some terrible men One winter evening, a storekeeper was going to close up his shop. Suddenly he saw Seth, a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow grab a pound of fresh butter and concealed it in his hat. No sooner had the storekeeper seen the act than he hit upon exactly the right revenge. He would punish the thief, and satisfy his own appetite for fun. Seth had his hat on his head, and the butter in his hat. He was anxious to leave. However, the rightful owner of the butter offered him a cup of hot drink, took him by the shoulders and planted him in a seat close to the stove. The grocer stuffed in the stove as many sticks of wood as he could possibly fit inside. Seth already could feel the butter settling down closer to his hair, so he jumped up, declaring that he must go. "Sit down; don' t be in such a hurry," replied the grocer, pushing him back into the chair again. Streak after streak of the butter came pouring from under the poor man's hat. The fun-loving grocer kept on stuffing wood into the stove. Then, as if surprised, he remarked, "You seem to be perspiring as if you were warm! Let me put your hat away for you." "No!" exclaimed poor Seth at last, unable to stand it a moment longer. "No, I must go; let me out." A greasy waterfall of butter was now pouring down the poor man's face and neck, soaking into his clothes, and trickling down his body into his boots. He was bathed in oil from head to toe. Just as his victim darted out the door, the grocer said, "I reckon the fun I've had out of you is worth the money, so I shan't charge you for that pound of butter in your hat." What is the best title of the passage? Answer: The right revenge The sharp drop in world oil prices has led oil companies in the United States to dismiss thousands of workers. Some companies have also delay new oil drilling and exploration projects. The drop in oil prices has also affected small service companies and even stores that do business with oil companies in big producer states like Texas. But the drop in oil prices has not been bad for everyone. Oil platform workers are often called roughnecks. In Texas, many roughnecks have lost their jobs because of the drop in oil prices. The effect of falling prices has been worse in states like Alaska and North Dakota. That is because production costs are higher there than they are in the Eagle Ford area of south-central Texas. Adam Perdue is an economist at the University of Houston's Institute for Regional Forecasting. He has been studying the effect of falling oil prices in Texas. He says oil company exploration and production budgets are being cut between 10 and 50 percent, with most of them being cut by a third. He thinks the lower spending will affect the local economy. The economic slowdown will affect companies that manufacture pipes and other equipment for oil exploration and production. It will also have an effect on trucking companies that supply sand and chemicals, and other small businesses that serve the energy industry. But low oil prices are good for chemical companies. They use hydrocarbons found in oil to make fertilizer, plastic and other products. Adam Perdue says a new chemical plant project near Houston will provide jobs for many skilled workers "A lot of these roughnecks that are gonna lose their jobs out there in the field are gonna be able to come home and, and, and get a welding job or a construction job." he says. But some oil industry experts believe prices will rise again in about six months when the oversupply of oil is reduced. What does Adam Perdue's study show? Answer: Cut of oil cost will influence the local economy. Accidents often happen. It's necessary for us to remember these tips. On your way home or to school: Wait for the green traffic light, and look left and right before you cross the road. If you see a car coming, don't cross until it really stops. At school: Never run around too fast at school. When students around you begin to push, try to hold something. If you fall down in a crowed place, cover your head with both hands. When there's a fire: Keep quiet and leave quickly. Use a piece of wet cloth to cover your mouth and nose so that you don't breathe in smoke. If your clothes catch fire, drop to the ground and roll from side to side to put out the fire. For eating: Wash fruit like apples or pears carefully before you eat it. And if your food looks or smells bad, don't eat it. About strange invitations: If an Internet friend asks to meet you, tell your parents about it. Don't go alone. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: If there is something wrong with food or fruit, stop eating it.
I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice."Mom,come here!There's this lady here my size!" The mother rushed to her son;then she turned to me to say sorry to me. I smiled and told her,"It's OK."Then I talked to the boy,"Hi,I'm Dory Kramer. How are you?" He studied me from head to toe,and asked,"Are you a little mommy?" "Yes,I have a son," I answered. "Why are you so little?"he asked. "It's the way I was born," I said."Some people are little. Some are tall. I'm just not going to grow any bigger."After I answered his other questions,I shook the boy's hand and left. My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents. It takes only one glance( ) to see I'm different. I stand three feet nine inches tall(="1.14" metres).I was born adwarf.In spite of this,I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up. I didn't realize how short I was until I started school. Some kids called me names .Then I knew. I began to hate the first day of school each year. But I learned to smile and face the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life.What I lacked in height,I made up for in personality.When people are rude,I remind myself,"Look what else I have-a great family,nice friends." Why did the mother say sorry to Dory Kramer? A. Because the boy ran into the author. B. Because the boy hit the author. C. Because the boy said the author was fatter than him. D. Because the mother thought the boy's words had hurt the author. Answer: D When in 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States, there was no permanent capital in which to house the government. During the Revolutionary War several different cities had served as the national capital. In addition, members of congress could not agree as to where this permanent capital should be located. Some officials wanted it in the north, others wanted it in the south. Each of the states hoped that the capital might lie within its own state lines. At last it was decided that the capital should occupy a section by itself, separate from any of the states. The place chosen was situated on the Potomac River. The land belonged originally to the state of Maryland, but Maryland agreed to the national government. The section was named the Washington. Work was begun on the new capital in 1791. in the year 1899 Congress occupied the new capital building at the same time the White House was opened as the home of all future presidents. The capital was named after _ . A. an explorer, who first found the place B. the place where it occupied C. the first president of the United States of America D. a famous general who fought in the war Answer: C Jesse Owens is recognized as a hero not just because he is fast. Some people might say that they know him for just that reason. However, there are lots of fast people who are not known. Jesse Owens is known because Chancellor Adolf Hitler did not shake the hand of Jesse Owens or even recognize his feat of winning four gold medals, because Owens was an African American. Jesse Owens owed much of his success to his coach Charles Riley, who probably was the most important one making him have the career that he did. Owens came from a background that required him to work after school in a shoe shop. He couldn't attend the regularly scheduled track practices organized by his school. However, Charles Riley saw the boy had both a passion and a talent for running, and so arranged for him to be able to practice before school instead. Jesse Owens achieved this success despite his racial background, which at the time was a huge limitation to him. He could only eat in certain restaurants and sleep in certain hotels, as could all African Americans of the time. He was also never offered a scholarship for school despite setting records for NCAA championships. The Berlin Olympics in 1936 is where his star rose as high as it would ever be able to. These Olympics were during the height of Hitler's rule. It took courage to race in front of Hitler and many other racist . It took time, determination, and perseverance to race like him. He won four gold medals at those Olympics. It would take almost fifty years for someone else to walk away from the Olympics with four gold medals. He passed away at the age of 66 from lung cancer. According to the passage, which of the following about Jesse Owens is true? A. Hitler recognized his feat of winning four gold medals. B. He was offered a scholarship for setting records for NCAA championships. C. He could only eat in certain restaurants like many other African Americans. D. It took him almost fifty years to walk away from the Olympics with four gold medals. Answer: C The Hampton Inn Boone hotel is in the attractive Blue Ridge Mountains, just minutes from four ski areas. Our hotel is less than three miles from Appalachian State University, Boone Mall, and Boone Golf Club. Within those same three miles, you can eat at the historic Dan'l Boone Inn, Makoto's Japanese Steakhouse and many others. Guest Accommodations Hampton Inn is a value-priced hotel. Here you'll find clean, fresh, comfortable rooms standard with a coffee maker, iron and ironing board, and wonderful in-room movie channel. Enjoy good local calls and no surcharge for using a calling card. Guests also enjoy the following items: high speed internet access in every room, wireless internet access in the lobby and public areas, coffee and tea in the lobby 24 hours a day, and USA Today(R) copies (available from Monday to Friday). prefix = st1 /Hamptonalso offers a 24-hour front desk, message and fax service. If you're not 100% satisfied, we don't expect you to pay. That's our promise.Directions & Transportation From Hwy 221 S. - Follow 221 S. to Newland and make a left on to Hwy 105 at entrance to GrandfatherMountain. The hotel is 15 miles on the right. From Hwy 321N --Follow 321 N. into Boone. Turn left onto Hwy 105 at the Wendy's. The hotel is one block down on the left. From Hwy 321S - Turn right onto Hwy 105. The hotel is one block on left. Hotel Policies: Check-In: 3:00PM / heck-Out: 11:00AM Pets: No Pets Allowed If staying in the Hampton Inn Boone hotel, one CAN'T _ conveniently. A. go skiing B. play golf C. go shopping D. raise pets Answer: D Alibaba started taking the lead in China, simply enough, by connecting big Chinese manufacturers with big buyers across the world. Its business-to-business site, Alibaba.com allowed business to buy almost everything. Alibaba's advantage wasn't hard to identify: size. Alibaba is just big, even by Chinese standards. Its marketplaces attract 231 million active buyers, 8 million sellers, 11.3 billion orders a year--and _ It encourages people to use its markets--not charging small sellers a percentage of the sale. If you want a quick look into the influence of Alibaba on daily Chinese life, take my experience. I moved to Beijing almost a year ago and quickly got tired of visiting small stores across the crowded, polluted city of 20 million people in search of new electronics, bathroom furnishings, and anything else my wife wanted. "You're looking for what exactly? Why not try _ ? " my Chinese teacher asked me one day. With that, my wonderful new relationship with Alibaba began. Alibaba's original business-to-business model now is secondary to consumer buying. Chinese retail buying makes up 80% of Alibaba's profit, and leading that group is Taobao, with 800 million items for sale and the most unbelievable selection of things you'll ever find. TMall.com is Alibaba's other big site, where you can find brand name goods from Nike and Unilever near the lowest prices. What I have a hard time explaining to friends and family back in the U.S. is how China has gone beyond traditional shopping--big-box retailers especially --in favor of online purchases on Taobao and a few other sites. In smaller towns than Beijing, where big retailers have not yet traveled, shopping online is shopping, and shopping is Taobao. I have a list of some of my recent purchases on Taobao for a sense of how extensive the marketplace is. Almost everything arrived a day or two after ordering with free shipping. I'm not even a big buyer, because I need friends to help me search the Chinese-language site. When I was searching my purchase history on my Chinese teacher's iPad, which helps me buy goods, I looked through with great difficulty about 10 of her purchases for every one of mine. What can be inferred from the passage? A. The author's Chinese teacher is also an online purchase lover. B. Taobao has no obvious advantage over other similar online sites. C. Alibaba's business-to-business service earns more money than retail now. D. TMall.com provides more profit than Taobao. Answer: A
Successful people in international business understand the cultures of other countries and learn to change their practices in different cultures. They understand the importance of avoiding business decisions based on misconceptions--mistaken ideas. One cause of misconceptions is ethnocentrism, the belief that one's own culture's way of doing things is better than the way of other cultures. It's ethnocentrism that leads to failure in international business. To avoid ethnocentrism, it's necessary to study the different elements of culture: language, values and attitudes, and customs and manners. Language A. knowledge of the local language can help international business people in four ways. First, people can communicate directly. Second, people are usually more open in their communication with someone who speaks their language. Third, an understanding of the language allows people to infer meanings that are not said directly. Finally, knowing the language helps people to understand the culture better. Values are people's basic beliefs about the difference between right and wrong, good and bad . An attitude is a way of thinking or acting. Values and attitudes influence international business. For example, many people in the United States believe that chocolate from Switzerland is better than chocolate from other countries, and they buy a lot of it. Customs and manners Customs are common social practices. Manners are ways of acting that the society believes are polite. For example, in the United States, it is the custom to have salad before the main course at dinner, not after. It's not acceptable to talk with food in mouth at table. Failure to understand the customs and manners of other countries will bring difficulty selling their products. Orange juice as a breakfast drink of an American company in France doesn't sell well because the French don't usually drink juice with breakfast. A. knowledge of the local language allows international business people _ . Answer: to communicate without outside help In his employment, Grinder operates a grinding wheel. To protect his eyes, he wears glasses, sold under the trade name "Safety Glasses," manufactured by Glassco. The glasses were sold with a warning label stating that they would protect only against small, flying objects. One day, the grinding wheel Grinder was using disintegrated and fragments of the stone wheel were thrown off with great force. One large fragment hit Grinder, knocking his safety glasses up onto his forehead. Another fragment then hit and injured his eye. Grinder brought an action against Glassco for the injury to his eye. The jurisdiction adheres to the traditional common-law rule pertaining to contributory negligence. In this action, will Grinder prevail? Answer: No, because the glasses were not designed or sold for protection against the kind of hazard Grinder encountered. The doctor examined Nuala's leg. Nuala tried not to cry, but it was a challenge. Her leg really hurt. "How did you hurt yourself?" asked the doctor. "I jumped off a swing ," said Nuala. "Is it broken?" "It sure is," said the doctor, holding out the X ray. "See right here?" Two hours later, Nuala left the hospital on crutches . Her leg was in a cast . "What will I tell Ms. Chang?" she asked her mother in the car. Ms. Chang was Nuala's dance teacher. The spring dance performance was only two weeks away. Nuala's cast would be on for at least six weeks! "She's going to be so mad at me!" cried Nuala. But Ms. Chang wasn't mad. She said, "We'll think of something." Nuala was unwilling to go on stage with her crutches. "I look stupid," she complained. "I can't dance with these." "Have you ever heard the expression 'The show must go on'?"said Ms. Chang. Together, they went through the show. They thought of how Nuala could move to the music. They thought of ways for her to dance on crutches. The night of the performance, Ms. Chang almost had to push Nuala on the stage. Nuala's cast looked big and clumsy , but she went out and danced. In the end, the audience went wild clapping. Lots of roses were thrown to Nuala's feet! The show did go on! What was Ms. Chang's attitude after she learned Nuala's leg was broken? Answer: She kept calm and active. Henry Ford was the first person to build cars which were cheap,strong and fast.He was able to se11 millions of models because he could produce them in large numbers at a time;that is,he made a great many cars of exactly the same kind. Ford's father hoped that his son would become a farmer,but the young man did not like the idea and he went to Detroit where he worked as a mechanic .By the age of 29,in 1892,he had built his first car.However,the car made in this way,the famous "Model T" did not appear until 1908-----five years after Ford had started his great motor car factory.This car showed to be so well-known that it remained unchanged for twenty years.Since Ford's time,this way of producing cars in large numbers has become common in industry and has reduced the price of many goods which would otherwise be very expensive. The "Model T" was very famous _ . Answer: after 1908 Nearly a quarter century after a German boy threw a message in a bottle off a ship in the Baltic Sea, he's received an answer. A 13yearold Russian, Daniil Korotkikh, was walking with his parents on a beach when he saw something lying in the sand. "I saw that bottle and it looked interesting, " Korotkikh told The Associated Press on Tuesday."It looked like a German beer bottle and there was a message inside." It said, "My name is Frank, and I'm five years old.My dad and I are travelling on a ship to Denmark.If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you." The letter, dated 1987, included an address in the town of Coesfeld. The boy in the letter, Frank Uesbeck, is now 29.His parents still live at the letter's address. The Russian boy and the German man met each other earlier this month through an Internet video link.The Russian boy said he did not believe that the bottle actually spent 24 years in the sea.He believed it had been hidden under the sand where he found it for a long time. Uesbeck was especially happy that he was able to have a positive effect on a life of a young person far away from Germany."It's really a wonderful story, " he said."And who knows? Perhaps one day we will actually be able to arrange a meeting in person." What is this passage mainly about? Answer: Message in a bottle.
Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly as they drive on the street. Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, and the life of American people. Most of the radio programmers are music. Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or a tape which radio stations use in many places. Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tape. Some of the money from these tapes goes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star. There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the 1ove between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music. ,. What would be the best title for this passage? A. American Music. B. Fold Music. C. Pop Music. D. Cowboys and their Country Music. Answer: A The class teacher thought that hobbies were very important for every child.She encouraged all her pupils to have one, and sometimes arranged for their parents to come and see the work they had done as a result. One Friday morning the teacher told the class that those of them who had a hobby could have a holiday that afternoon to get the things they had made as parts of their hobbies ready for their parents to see the following afternoon. So on Friday afternoon, while those of the pupils who had nothing to show did their usual lessons, the lucky ones who had made something were allowed to go home, on condition that they returned before five o'clock to bring what they were going to show, and to arrange them. When the afternoon lessons began, the teacher was surprised to see that Tommy was not there.He was the laziest boy in the class, and the teacher found it difficult to believe that he had a hobby.However, at a quarter to five, Tommy arrived with a beautiful collection of butterflies in glass cases.After his teacher had admired them and helped him to arrange them on a table in the classroom, she was surprised to see Tommy pick them up again and begin to leave. "What are you doing, Tommy?" She asked."Those things must remain here until tomorrow afternoon.That's when the parents are coming to see them." "I know they are coming then, " answered Tommy, " and I will bring them back tomorrow, but my big brother doesn't want them to be out of our house at night in case they are stolen." "But what has it got to do with your big brother?" asked the teacher, "Aren't the butterflies yours?" "No, " answered Tommy."They belong to him." "But Tommy, you are supposed to show your own hobby here, not somebody else's ! "said the teacher. "I know that , " answered Tommy, "My hobby is watching my brother collecting butterflies." After reading the passage the readers will laugh. Why? A. Because Tommy was so lazy a boy. B. Because the teacher knew so little about Tommy. C. Because Tommy had made nothing at all. D. Because Tommy had a strange idea about hobby. Answer: D Many people think prefix = st1 /Casablanca is one of the best movies ever made. It was filmed in 1942, during the Second World War, and starred Humphrey Bogart as Rick, and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa. The movie is set in Casablanca, a place the Germans hope to take from the French. Rick owns a bar there. In the movie, the German army is coming towardsCasablanca. People who live there are trying to escape before they arrive. Rick has two tickets for the last plane out ofCasablanca. His former lover Ilsa arrives inCasablancawith her husband Victor Lazlo. Lazlo is a leader in a secret group, and his escape will help win the war againstGermany. Rick decides to give his tickets to Ilsa and Lazlo rather than use them himself. Rick really loves Ilsa, but he knows that it is more important for Lazlo to get out ofCasablanca. Rick is a very tough character but he is not selfish. He is very good to people who need his help. Some famous lines from the movie are, "Here's looking at you, kid." and "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Many people think that the line, "Play it again, Sam." is in the movie. Actually, the line is "Play it, Sam." Both Rick and Ilsa ask the piano player, Sam, to play the song,As Time Goes By. It was originally recorded in 1931 and became very popular because of this movie. The movie was filmed almost entirely in the Warner Brothers film studios in Hollywood, using special effects. It won several Academy awards and is well worth seeing. If you've already seen it, see it again, Sam! What is the best title of the text? A. Review ofCasablanca B. Famous lines inCasablanca C. A moving movie D. A war film Answer: A A couple of years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out of the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shoe. His mother in the house was looking out of the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In great fear, she ran toward the water, shouting to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became worried and made a return to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the bank. the mother caught her little boy by the arms just as the alligator _ his legs. That began a tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too determined to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. After weeks and weeks in hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the attack of the animal and on his arms were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the injury, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pants legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter. "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go. Why did the farmer help the mother? A. He didn't want to see the alligator killing the boy. B. She was much too determined to let go of the boy. C. Her nails dug into the boy's flesh to hang on to the boy. D. The boy lifted his pants legs to show his scars. Answer: A In a recently published book , I came across some exercises with interesting names such as fishbone diagrams , lotus flowers and clustering . As I used these exercises in my classes , I noticed that students were interested . They said more and wrote more . They enjoyed expressing their ideas and sharing them in groups .They were no longer passively _ , but actively took part in the lesson . I find that creativity can act as a way to increase participation and improve fluency . Creativity has become a popular word in recent years . Scholars in the arts ,psychology , business , education , and science are all working to get a deeper understanding of it . Robert J. Sternberg is a creativity specialist and Yale professor of psychology. He defines creativity as "the ability to produce work that is both new (original) and appropriate (applicable to the situation)". This definition is useful, as we want our students to use language in a new way, and to use it correctly and properly. Most scholars say there are two types of creativity: big "C" creativity and small "c" creativity. Big "C" creativity refers to genius level thinking that results in artistic masterpieces and scientific breakthroughs. Small "c" creativity refers to everyday level thinking that can be used in any situation. Our emphasis is on the latter. While it goes without saying that any of our students could go on to be the next Picasso or Edison, our aim is to help students produce more ideas and use language in new ways . It can be inferred from the passage that the author thought the exercises in the book were _ . A. popular B. useful C. scientific D. creative Answer: D
Question: From the beginning of human history, wild animals provided food, clothing and sometimes medicine. We may not depend as much on wild animals now. But we hear about them every day. Americans use the names of animals in many ways. Automobile manufacturers and gasoline companies especially like to use big cats to sell their products. They like lions, tigers and wildcats. When Americans say wildcat, they usually mean _ . All these cats attack quickly and fiercely. So wildcats represent something fast and fierce. An early American use of the word wildcat was quite different. It was used to describe members of Congress who declared war on Britain in 1812. A magazine of that year said the wildcat congressmen went home. It said they were unable to face the responsibility of having involved their country in an unnecessary war. Wildcat also has been used as a name for money in the 1800s. At that time, some states permitted banks to make their own money. One bank in the state of Michigan offered paper money with a picture of a wildcat on it. Some banks, however, did not have enough gold to support all the paper money they offered. So the money had little or no value. It was called a wildcat bill or a wildcat bank note. The banks who offered this money were called wildcat banks. A newspaper of the time said those were the days of wildcat money. It said a man might be rich in the morning and poor by night. Wildcat then was also used for an oil well or gold mine that had almost no oil or gold in it. Dishonest developers would buy such property. Then they would sell it and leave town with the money. The buyers were left with worthless holes in the ground. Today, wildcat oil wells are in areas that are not known to have oil. It can be inferred that during the days of wildcat money _ . A. people couldn't buy anything with the money B. people didn't know how to save money. C. the rich invested too much on oil wells. D. people complained and suffered a lot Answer: D Question: Televisiozn ---- that most widespread and persuasive of modern technologies, marked by rapid change and growth ---- is moving into a new era, an era of extraordinary advancement and diversity, which promises to reshape our lives and our world. It is an electronic revolution, made possible by the marriage of television and computer technologies. The word 'television', coming from its Greek ( tele: distant) and Latin ( vision: sight) roots, can literally be interpreted as sight from a distance. , it works in this way: through an advanced system of electronics, television provides the capability of changing an image ( focused on a special photoconductive plate within a camera ) into electronic impulses, which can be sent through a wire or cable. These impulses, when fed into a receiver (television set), can then be electronically reorganized into that same image. Television is more than just an electronics system, however. It is a means of expression, as well as a tool for communication, and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings. The field of television can be divided into two categories determined by its means of transmission(,). First, there is broadcast television, which reaches the masses through airwave transmission of television signals. Second, there is nonbroadcast television, which provides for the needs of individuals or specific interest groups through controlled transmission techniques. Traditionally, television has been a medium of the masses. We are most familiar with broadcast television because it has been with us for about thirty-seven years in a form similar to that exists today. During those years, it has been controlled, for the most part, by the broadcast networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS, who have been the major providers of news, information, and entertainment. These giants of broadcasting have actually shaped not only television but our understanding of it as well. We have come to look upon the picture tube as a source of entertainment, placing our role in this dynamic medium as the passive viewer. The rapid change and growth of TV is due to the contributions of _ . A. computer technologies B. a new means of transmission C. a powerful vehicle of communication D. TV giants like ABC, NBC and CBS Answer: A Question: Chen Kai is a Chinese boy. He is a student. He is 13 years old. He lives in Guangzhou. Chen Kai likes _ . Now he receives a letter from Sam, his pen pal in America. The letter is in English. Sam is 14 and he is a student, too. He speaks English very well. In the letter, Sam says he wants to visit China and study some Chinese. ,. Sam is Chen Kai's _ . A. classmate B. pen pal C. brother D. teacher Answer: B Question: As a teacher, I always think it right to teach my students to write about their true feelings and real experiences. But once I was puzzled about this. After explaining a text one day, I asked my students to write a passage about their families. All the students wrote quite well but the best of them all was the one written by a small girl. I was deeply touched by it. The girl's father had died years before and her mother had to work hard to support the family. Many times she had seen her mother working deep into the night but never seen tears on her face. Like her mother this girl also works hard at her lessons and she is really good at any of them. I even didn't know anything about her unlucky family. She always appears happy every day so she is really liked by us all, both the students and teachers. In order to make her an example to the class, I read this passage to the class. When I finished reading it I found my throat _ and my students' eyes full of tears. Some of them even wept in a low voice. After the class nearly all my other students wanted to hand in their pocket money for the daily use to help this girl. To tell you the truth, I was really proud of my students. But to my disappointment, this student of mine left the class even without telling me the next day. I don't know the reason why, can you tell me? What do you think is the main reason for the girl to leave the next day? A. She got angry at what the teacher had done. B. She didn't want the others to know her unluckiness. C. She didn't know the teacher's kindness to her. D. She may have found a better school. Answer: B Question: What is a good education? The question is far from being answered. Once more, colleges and universities are changing their programs: they _ "fun courses" and restart some of the traditional subjects neglected since the 1960s. Many great schools are again requiring the students to take a number of classes in English, history, literature, the social sciences, philosophy, the natural sciences, and art if they want to get a degree. Meanwhile, the experts are trying to describe the good education of our time. Obviously the purely vocational training once favored is not enough. But neither is the gentleman's education of the nineteenth century. Educational programs must meet the demands of a modern world where men and women have to work and to deal with big problems. What, then, is a good education of this century? Some educators suggest that it should include foreign languages and the study of foreign cultures; a mastery of English, including the ability to write and speak well, because communications have become all-important in the modern world, and also because "a person who doesn't speak and write clearly doesn't reason clearly either"; some knowledge of the social sciences (sociology, psychology) that deal with human relations and human problems; some basic knowledge of modern science, which would enable future voters to be better informed about current problems like nuclear. Finally, many educators insist that all college graduates should be familiar with computers and modern information system since the educated professionals of tomorrow will have to understand their machines. Is that all? "No, of course not." answer the educators. "We have not mentioned the two great building blocks of education: history and literature!" Some educational experts believe a mastery of English should include the ability _ . A. to read fast B. to write and speak well C. to write clearly and accurately D. to listen and speak skillfully Answer: B
Question: When you have a question about something, where do you go? For many people the answer is simple as they can go online to a search engine like Google or Yahoo. But what about people in rural or underdeveloped areas who may have no way to get on the Internet? A business and international development professor in California, Rose Shuman, found an answer for them: Question Box. Question Box is a service that provides answers---free of charge---for people who cannot search the Internet directly. The users of Questions Box might be those who might not be able to read, or simply have no access to the Internet. Question Box began three years ago in India. People used a metal call box with a push-to-talk button to connect a live operator. Rose Schuman explained," You just need to push a big green button on the box which will connect you directly to our operators who are sitting in front of computers, and speak your language. You can ask them any sort of question you want, and they'll look it up in English or in Hindi, or whatever the main language is, and translate the answer back for you." The service is currently offered in two villages. The latest version of the box uses mobile phone technology, and solar panels in case the electrical power fails. Rose Shuman says the aim was to make the box as easy as possible for users, "It is very efficient . Rather than try to bring a lot of difficulties to them and expect them to spend a lot of time to learn how to use the Internet, the idea was to make a technology that even Grandma could use." In April 2009, Question Box was introduced to Uganda. Forty community workers with mobile phones connected villagers to call center operators in Kampala. The community workers went around telling people about the service. They wore T-shirts that said "Ask me." But Internet service in Uganda proved slow and undependable. So Question Box teamed up with a local technology company to store information on a local server. That way, the researchers in Kampala could quickly search the database for answers. The best title for the passage is _ . A. Question Box --- taking the place of the Internet B. Needing an answer? --- asking Question Box C. Question Box --- a great invention in the world D. Rose Shuman --- a professor helping the poor Answer: B Question: On the third day of November, Ron and Pam went to the store. They wanted to get some food for a new recipe. It was late in the afternoon, but they wanted to eat the food soon at dinner. To save time they split the list in half. Ron was to get the pasta and tomato sauce, and Pam was to get the vegetables and juice. They went their separate ways in the store, and made plans to meet in the checkout line in half an hour. On her way to the fruit and vegetable section, Pam ran into her friend Tom. Tom had bought a pet bunny for his friend and wanted to buy it some food. He asked Pam what he needs to feed the bunny. Pam told him lettuce and carrots, so he put 5 heads of lettuce in his basket along with one bag of carrots. Tom said goodbye to Pam and went to the front of the store to buy his vegetables. Now it was time for Pam to pick out the vegetables she would buy for dinner. She wanted to make a salad, so she bought spinach, 2 big red tomatoes, a box of mushrooms, and 3 cucumbers. Pam then went to where they kept the juice and grabbed a big bottle of lemonade. Pam went to the front of the store and met Ron. They handed their items to the sales clerk so that they could buy them. The total cost of the food was 20 dollars. As a gift to Pam, Ron paid for the food and said happy birthday. As a gift he would be cooking her dinner. Who did Pam see in the fruit and vegetable section? A. Tom B. A bunny. C. Ron D. The sales clerk. Answer: A Question: One day Mrs Black visited her family doctor, Mr Dodd. Mr Dodd was an old funny man with a beard. "What's the problem ?" the doctor asked her. "I am very worried about my son, Jake," Mrs Black said, "I can't stop him from betting. He spends all his money betting on horse races. And even worse he'll bet on everything. It doesn't matter what it is." The doctor said, "I've saved many people from gambling before. Send him to me." The next day Mrs Black sent her son to see the doctor. While they were talking , the boy was looking at the doctor's beard. Suddenly he said, "I bet you $ 50 that your beard is not a real one." "Oh, no, " the doctor said. "Can I pull your beard and find out ?" the boy said. The doctor thought this is a good way to teach him a lesson; so he said, "Ok, if my beard is real , you will have to pay me $ 50." The boy pulled it and soon found out it was real. The doctor laughed. Two days later the doctor telephoned Mrs Black, "I think I've saved your son." He told her the story. But Mrs Black said, "You're wrong. You've made him worse." "How can that be ?" the doctor asked . "Before he went to see you, he bet me $ 100 that you would ask him to pull your beard !" ,. Who got money in the story ? A. The boy and his mother. B. Nobody except the doctor. C. The doctor and Jake. D. Nobody except Jake. Answer: C Question: When does music in public places become noise pollution? You may like at least some kind of music. But the problem is that, in lots of places, you're made to hear somebody else's choice in music. Say you've just landed at an airport. At the airport, the "background" music may be played loudly. When you are on the way to your hotel, there may be another kind of music played by the taxi driver. Then you finally reach your hotel. But when you are taking the elevator ,there is elevator music. You go out to dinner and end up in a place where the owner of the restaurant thinks music will help make you eat more and spend more. Then a person playing the violin comes around. This is called the "music wallpaper". It is to make you buy more and eat a lot. Even the government thinks this is "noise pollution," especially when the music is too loud. Noise pollution may be bad for our hearing. It's also bad for some of our daily activities, such as sleeping, conversations and so on. The fact that you can't see, taste or smell it may help explain why it has not received as much attention as other kinds of pollution, such as air pollution or water pollution. The air around us is always filled with sounds, but most of us would not think we are surrounded by noise. This can be bad for our health. So many people like soft and quiet music in their house. From the passage we know that _ . A. music that is too loud is bad for our health B. people pay as much attention to noise pollution as they do to air pollution C. people like loud music in their house D. most people think that there's lots of noise around us Answer: A Question: A businessman had two sons. While he gave the younger son a lot of love and gifts, he neglected the elder son. It was completely puzzling and no one knew why. When the boys grew up, they were asked to manage the father's business. The elder son was absorbed in the business. From morning till late in the evening, he was busy working. Within a few years, he ran the business very well and even expanded it. What about the younger son? He didn't have much to do except have a good time. But the father believed that his favorite son would be a success. If the elder son could be a successful businessman, surely the younger one, with a higher education, would do much better. A few years later, the results of his decision became clear. Uninterested in business, the younger son continued spending his time enjoying himself. And he went out of business. But the elder son's far smaller share of business had expanded and he had proved himself to be a good decision maker. Ashamed at the turn of events, the father met the elder son and was angry with the younger one. The elder son, who was listening to all this quietly, suddenly said he wanted to set up an independent business and live on his own. "Why?" asked the father. "I blame one person for the way my brother has turned out, and it's not him. You can't blame children for the faults of their parents, can you?" asked the elder son. .Why did the father treat the two sons differently? A. the elder son didn't work hard B. no one knew why he did it C. the younger son was hardworking D. he wanted to do an experiment Answer: B
Question: "Hurry, Mommy! Let's go trick-or-treating!" My daughter waited by the door in her pink princess skirt while I prayed in the living room. Usually I liked taking her out on Halloween, but this year I was sad. I was worried about my mother, who was in China on vacation. I got a call that afternoon that she had slipped and fallen on the hard floor of her hotel and broken her leg. She was taken to a hospital in Beijing. Mom was nervous because she couldn't understand any of the doctors. If only I could do something to help her! I knew I couldn't let my worries spoil my daughter's fun. There was nothing I could do for Mom except pray, I thought. We left the house and went down the block. I was so upset that I hardly took notice of the kids around me. There came the man to whose son I'd once given piano lessons. "Hello there," I said, greeting him and the boy at his side. "Hello," the father answered. "Having fun?""I'm trying," I said. "Why, what's wrong?" he asked. I told him the whole story. "My mother, in China, broke her leg and didn't understand any of the doctors. And I'm too far away to do anything!" I said. He raised his eyebrows. "Beijing, you said?" he asked. I nodded. He smiled. "Believe it or not, my sister is a doctor at an English-speaking hospital there. If you want, I'll make a call right away and we'll try and get your mom transferred ." A few days later I sat in the living room with my daughter as she finished the last of the candy. "Mommy, how far away is China?" she asked. "Not as far as I thought," I said. What was the author's mother worried about most? A. She couldn't get used to the life in Beijing. B. She was hurt in the leg badly while travelling. C. She was too old and weak to pray for her daughter. D. She couldn't make herself understood by the doctor. Answer: D Question: Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England. Her father was a rich sugar businessman at the time. Because her parents thought boys and girls should be equal, Elizabeth received the same education as her brothers. In 1832, her father's business was destroyed by fire, so her family moved to New York City. But her father's business there failed. Then in 1837, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Not long after, her father died. After her father's death, Elizabeth, at the age of 16, had to go to work. When she was 24, she visited her dying friend Mary. Her friend said, "You're young and strong, you should become a doctor." That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. But she knew this was what she was going to do. After several rejections from medical schools, she finally was accepted by Geneva Medical College. By studying hard, she graduated successfully in 1849. After graduating from medical school, she went to Paris to learn more about medicine. She wanted to be a surgeon, but a serious eye problem forced her to give up the idea. When she returned to America in 1851, she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. In 1857, Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children. Besides, she also set up the first medical school for women in 1868, where she taught the women students about disease prevention. It was the first time that the idea of preventing disease was taught in a medical school. Elizabeth Blackwell started the British National Health Society in 1871, which helped people learn how to stay healthy. In 1889, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor in the United States. Most importantly, she fought for the admission of women to medical colleges. Elizabeth Blackwell died on May 3, 1910, when she was 89.She opened a world of chances for women. She always fought for what was right in all her life. In 1949 the Blackwell medal was established. It's given to women who have excellent achievements in the field of medicine. She'll always be remembered as a great woman. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Elizabeth Blackwell? A. She built the first hospital for women and children with others. B. She became the first woman doctor in the U.S. C. She set up the first medical school for women in the world. D. She built a medal for women with excellent achievements in medicine. Answer: D Question: One day a woman spotted a beggar sitting on the corner. The man was elderly, unshaven and ragged. Passers-by wanted nothing to do with him. But the woman smiled. "Are you hungry?" she asked. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly used to the finer things in life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. "No, " he answered sarcastically . "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away. "To his surprise, the woman continued standing. And her smile became even broader. "What are you doing, lady?" he asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone. " Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" He asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" She asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold. " "Are you crazy, lady? I don't want to go in there!" Then the homeless felt strong hands lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack, "the officer answered. "Don't blow it. " Finally, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The woman turned to the officer, "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice. " Then, she sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face. "I think so --I mean you do look familiar. " "I'm Penelope Eddy. I'm a little older perhaps, "she said. "In my younger days when you worked here, I came through that very door, cold and hungry. " "I was just out of college, "the woman continued. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally _ and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked down the streets, saw this place and came in to see if I could get something to eat. " Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. " "You made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen and you paid for it out of your own money. " "I got a job that very afternoon. Eventually I started my own business. "She pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to meet the personnel director of my company. I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office. " There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you, "he said. "Don't thank me. "the woman answered. "Thank the Universe. It led me to you. " ks5u Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer, "she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee. " She frowned. "I forgot to ask you whether you take sugar. That's black. " "Yes. I do. "the officer said. "But I don't need it now. I'm sure the coffee you bought me is going to taste as sweet as sugar. " Why did Jack refuse Eddy's invitation at first? A. Because he thought she was just making fun of him. B. Because he was not hungry and wanted to be left alone. C. Because he thought rich people made him poor and hated them. D. Because he was afraid the policeman would think he was going to hurt her. Answer: A Question: There are forty-seven different kinds of kangaroos . The smallest kangaroos are about a quarter of a meter long; the biggest are taller than a man. Kangaroos have very long strong back legs. These are used for jumping. They also have long strong tails used for resting on. Kangaroos' front legs are much shorter, and are almost like arms. Kangaroos' heads are quite small, but their ears are quite large. Mother kangaroos have a pocket at the front. They have one baby each year. When it is born, the baby kangaroo is straight into its mother's pocket. The baby kangaroos stay there for six months. The biggest kangaroos stand more than 2 meters tall, and their legs are so strong that they can jump more than 9 meters. They are very fast, and can travel at more than 50 kilometers an hour. They are very strong, but only eat fruit, leaves and grass. How long does a baby kangaroo stay in its mother's pocket? A. One month. B. Three months. C. Six months. D. Five months. Answer: C Question: My name is David Green. I am an English boy. My family are in Beijing. My father and mother work there. I have a sister but no brothers. We have a nice house in Beijing. There is a TV, a radios, a telephone, a computer, two small beds, a big bed and a soccer ball in it. The computer is next to the TV. The telephone is in the big bed. The football is under one of the small beds. I like playing football , but my sister likes watching TV. They have a nice house in _ . A. New York B. England C. Jinan D. Beijing Answer: D
A man in a very splendid restaurant started to take off his jacket. Seeing this, the head waiter ran to his table and said, "I'm afraid I must ask you to keep your jacket on, sir, for it is not good manners to do it in such a smart restaurant." "Now listen", said the man, "I'll let you know that the Queen of England gave me permission to remove my jacket here." "The Queen of England?" said the waiter in great surprise. "Sure," replied the man, "When I was in England last month, a friend of mine who had a very important position took me to see the Queen. It was rather hot, so I started taking my coat off. The Queen looked over and said, 'You may do that in the United States, but you may not do it here.' So I got the Queen's permission, right?" It is certain that the story happened _ . Answer: The vast majority of fitness trackers count your steps and are worn around the wrist, but now there's a device that's designed to be worn like a necklace and monitors tiny movements to improve your posture. The Fineck device aims to address neck pain by tracking tiny movement, spotting bad habits and suggesting exercises via an accompanying app. Made from silicone and titanium , Fineck monitors a wearer's movement, balance, posture and movement thanks to sensors inside. The Mountain View California-based firm says that a high percentage of people suffer from neck pain and associated problems, probably caused by more individuals doing office jobs, which generally involve leaning over computer keyboard. The device contains sensors, several different types of instruments to monitor movement, plus a monitor to shake. It connects to an IOS app via Bluetooth so that wearers can see their bad habits and play "neck training" games. The app warns of health risks and records a user's activity to build up a customer personal health description. The necklace shakes to give smart advice, such as reminding wearers to sit up straight. The app also allows users to set goals, like many other wearables do. "Fineck is the first wearable device for your neck that tracks your neck activity and warn you when you are in a bad posture for too long. You can also exercise your neck with Fineck's interactive games." The company writes on Kickstarter. "No matter where you are and what you are doing at office, on the go, or simply just feeling bored, Fineck will bring you enriched exercise experience through motion sensing games and therapies." It also claims that it is "the world's first titanium wearable device". The metal is widely used in fashion stuff that you can wear or carry to match your clothes because it is lightweight, durable and does not tend to cause allergic reactions. It also offers additional features such as shaking to indicate alerts on a user's smartphone, but it is not currently clear whether it can also be used like bands, to count steps, and so on. The Fineck has a battery life of around seven days and takes one hour to charge. It is available to pre-order via Kickstarter from $69(PS44)and is due to ship in March next year. Besides allowing people to set goals, the iOS app also _ . Answer: In tests, it shrank breast tumours by 80 percent and researchers believe it could also treat prostate, pancreatic, bowel and ovarian cancers. Even tumours that resist treatment with the best medicines on the market, including the "wonder drug" Herceptin, may surrender to the vaccine. The experiments so far have been on mice - but researchers hope to pilot the drug on people within two years. If all goes well, the vaccine could be on the market by 2020. Rather than attacking cancer cells, like many drugs, the new treatment arouses the power of the immune system to fight tumours. The search for vaccines has been prevented by fears that healthy tissue would be destroyed along with tumours. Researchers from the University of Georgia and the Mayo Clinic in the US focused on a protein called MUC1 that is made in bigger amounts in cancerous cells than in healthy ones.Not only is there more of it, but a sugar that it is "decorated" with has a distinctive shape. The vaccine trains the immune system to recognise the rogue sugar and turn its weapons against the cancer. "Cancer cells have a special way of thwarting the immune system by putting sugars on the surface of tumour cells so they can travel around the body without being detected," researcher Professor Sandra Gendler said. "To enable the immune system to recognise the sugar it took a special vaccine that had three parts to it. "She said it was this that "turned out to be a winning combination". The passage most probably talk about next _ Answer: Shenzhen's fast development has made it become China's most crowded city! There are about 15 million people living on its 1991square kilometers. On each square kilometer averagely live 7500 people. It is 1080 more than that in Hong Kong, and nearly 800 more than that in Guangzhou. Besides, Shenzhen owns 2 million local vehicles, and about 300000 vehicles from other places also run on the local roads every day. The total length of the city's road is 6041 kilometers. It means each resident only owns 0.58 meters of road! As a result, the city is facing serious environmental and resource problems. One of the problems is water shortage. The amount of fresh water for each person of the city is only 25% of the country's average. What's more, most of the water drunk by Shenzhen people comes from other areas. Which problem in Shenzhen is not mentioned in the passage? Answer: Almost everyone likes dogs, and almost everyone likes to read about dogs. I have friend. He has a big police dog with the name Jack. Police dogs are very clever. Every Sunday afternoon my friend takes jack for along walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much. One Sunday afternoon a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time. He talked and talked. Soon it was time for my friend to take Jack for walk. But the visitor still stayed. Jack became much worried. He walked around the room several times and then sat down in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention to Jack. He went on talking. At last Jack got angry. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down again in front of the visitor, but this time he took the visitor's cap in his mouth. Jack sat down in front of the visitor because he wanted _ . Answer:
One day, my dog woke up early and wouldn't go back to sleep. Why did the dog wake up early? I tried really hard to find out. "Are you sick, dog?" I asked. He didn't say anything, so I took his temperature. It said he wasn't sick! "Are you hungry, dog?" He didn't say anything, so I feed him some dog food. He didn't eat it! "Are you thirsty, dog?" He didn't say anything, so I gave him some water. He didn't drink it! "What's wrong, dog?" He wagged and wagged his tail, and then went over to a bag of balloons that I had. He poked them with his nose. "Oh!" I said. I went over to the balloons and took one out of the bag. I blew it up. He wagged his tail harder. "Is it your birthday, dog?" He wagged and wagged. It must be his birthday! I baked him a bright yellow cake and blew up more balloons. I played his favorite music. We had a party. It was so much fun! Why didn't the dog want to sleep? Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time :if corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language those Around him use. Bit by bit .he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people's. In the same way, children learn to do all the other things: they should learn to do without being taught, such as to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle--compare their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes and correct them for himself. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to .Let him work out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what the answer is to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or not. If it is a matter of right answer, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such routine work? Our job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can't find the way to get the right answer .Let the children learn what all educated persons must some day learn ,how to measure their own understanding, how to know what they know or do not know. According to the writer, teachers in school should _ Happy Children's Palace MONDAY 19:00--20:30 English learning Prof. G. White Would you like to improve your English? This is for middle school students. (2 weeks) TUESDAY 17:30--19:00 Photography Mr. Green Learn to take good pictures. Bring your own camera with you. (4 weeks) WEDNESDAY 18:00--19:00 Office 2000 Prof. Wang Lan Learn how to use the new software. (10 weeks) FRIDAY 19:00--20:30 Painting Miss Yang Jing Would you like to learn painting? It is for beginners only. (16 weeks) SATURDAY 15:00--16:30 Cambridge Young Learner's English Prof. J. Brown This course is for the children at primary school . (20 weeks) SUNDAY 10:00--12:00 Swimming, club Coach: Liu Xin Want to swim as fast as a fish? (9 weeks) If you want to improve your English, you'd better learn it from _ . Owls are some of the world's greatest hunters. From head to feet, owls' bodies are built to hunt. Scientists are studying all the things that make owls such great hunters. Most owls hunt at night. The birds have excellent hearing, which helps them find their next meal in the dark. Owls have one ear that is larger and set higher than the other. When an owl hears a sound, it listens closely. Is the sound lounder in its right ear or left ear? Does the upper or lower ear detect the sound first? The information helps the owl find the location of its prey without ever seeing it. Owls don't depend just on their hearing to hunt. After a sound draws an owl's attention, it zeroes in with sight. Many birds have eyes on either side of their heads. But an owl's eyes face forward, like a person's. Images from each eye combine to form a 3-D picture, similar to how we see. That helps owls better judge a prey's size, distance, and speed. An owl's eyes are so large that they can gather lots of light. That helps the owl see better when hunting at night. An owl's eyes are also fixed in their sockets . It can't roll them like we can. Instead, an owl keeps prey in its sight by turning its head. Owls can move their beads nearly upside down and turn them 270 degrees around. Their necks have 14 vertebrae . That's twice as many neck bones as a person has. The blood vessels thread through holes in an owl's vertebrae. The researchers found that these holes are very large so that the extra space provides an air cushion that protects the vessels. Detecting prey is only the first step for owls. Next they must catch their meals. An owl can fly inches over your head and you can't hear anything. The secret to owls' silent flight is their feathers. Fine "hairs" cover the surface of an owl's wing feathers. And the feathers' edges have soft barbs . Together, they make the sound of air rushing over the owl's wings quieter and less clear. The shortcoming of an owl's fixed eyes can be made up by its _ . The dog, called Prince, was an intelligent animal and a slave to Williams. From morning till night, he had a number of clear duties, for which Williams had patiently trained him and, like a good pupil, Prince lived for the chance to prove his abilities. When Williams wanted to put on his boots, he would murmur. "Boots" and within seconds the dog would drop them at his feet. At nine every morning Prince ran off to the general store in the village, returning shortly not only with Williams' daily paper but with a packet of Williams' favorite tobacco. A trained gun-dog, Prince had a large soft mouth specially evolved (;) for the sake of carrying hunted creatures, so the paper and tobacco came to no harm, never even showing a tooth mark. Williams was an engine driver, and he had to work at irregular times -- "days", "late days", or "nights". Over the years Prince got to know these periods of work and rest, and knew when his master would leave the house and return and _ If Williams overslept, Prince barked at the bedroom door until he woke. On his return, Williams' slippers were brought to him, the paper and tobacco too. A curious thing happened to Williams during the snow and ice of last winter. One evening he slipped and fell on the icy pavement somewhere between the village and his home. He was so badly shaken that he stayed in bed for three days; and not until he got up and dressed again did he discover that he had lost his wallet containing over fifty pounds. The house was turned upside down in the search, but the wallet was not found. However, two days later, Prince dropped the wallet into Williams' hand. Very muddy, and wet through, the wallet still contained fifty-three pounds. Williams did not realize his wallet was lost for several days because_.
When a customer came into a Mexican restaurant in Georgia with an unusual request, a selfless waiter didn't hesitate to help him out. A disabled man with no hands who ordered a meal at Cinco cle Mayo Mexican Grill in Douglasville on Sunday afternoon hoped someone might be able to help him eat his lunch. Server Alex Ruiz, 22, was more than happy to help as he sat opposite from the man and helped him enjoy his meal. The heartwarming moment was captured in a photo by one of Ruiz's workmates, Crystal Figueroa. She posted it on the restaurant's Facebook page. "He's a great person," Figuero, 24, whose father manages the restaurant, said. "He's always so nice, and the fact that he just came out of nowhere and helped a man he doesn't even know have a meal says everything. That just shows the person that he is. One of Figueroa's friends, Reginald Widener, also witnessed the moment and posted the photo on his Facebook page. "This seriously hit me right in the soul," Widener wrote. The waiters did not get the name of the man. He had never eaten in the restaurant before, according to Figueroa. But Ruiz jumped at the chance to help. "I just feel like people should see that there're still good people out there," Figueroa said. "It was just a happy moment." Why did Alex Ruiz help the man eat his lunch? A. The man was rich. B. The man had no hands. C. They knew each other. D. He is Alex Ruiz's father. Answer: B To most of us,school means classes,teachers,schedules,grades,and tests.But for the children at Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts,school is very different. Firstly,there are no lessons.All the children,aged between 4 and 19,do whatever they want.There are no teachers--only "staff members".The idea behind this is that you do not need to make children learn,because children want to learn anyway."You do not need to say to a three yearold,'Go explore your environment.'You can't stop them!" says Daniel Greenberg,a founder of the school."But if you make children do what you want all day,they will lose all taste for learning." At Sudbury Valley School,you will permit children to talk,read,paint,cook,work on computers,study French,play the piano,climb trees or just run around.Two boys spent three years just fishing! The other way that Sudbury Valley School is different is that the children can decide the rules.Every week,there is a school meeting where both children and staff have one vote each--even the fouryearolds.They decide the school rules,how to spend the school budget,and even which staff they want and do not want any more. When the school first opened in 1968,people said it would never work.But today,the school has 200 students,and 80%of its students go on to college. Even the two boys who went fishing all the time have successful careers today.One of them is a musician and the other is a computer scientist. What does Daniel Greenberg say about threeyearolds? A. They love learning. B. They are very naughty. C. They want to be outside all the time. D. They are too young to learn anything. Answer: A A moment later I heard my uncle calling me, and found the two men on the road together. The captain then addressed me as if I was his equal, which was very pleasing to a young fellow like me. "Sir," said he, "Mr. Balfour tells me great things of you, and I like your looks. I wish I was staying here longer so that we might become friends. But we'll make the most of the short time that we have. You must come on board my brig for half an hour and have a drink with me." Now, I cannot describe how eager I was to see the inside of a ship. But I was not going to put myself in danger, and I told him my uncle and I had an appointment with a lawyer. "Yes," said he, "he told me of that. But, you see, the boat will set you on shore farther along, near Rankeillor's house." And here he suddenly leaned down and whispered in my ear: "Take care; the old devil has evil plans. Come on board till I can have a word with you." Then, passing his arm through mine, he continued aloud, as he set off towards his boat: "Now what can I bring you from Carolina? Any friend of Mr. Balfour can ask for what he likes. A roll of tobacco? Indian feather work? A wild beast's skin? A stone pipe? A mocking-bird that cries just like a cat? Make your choice and give your order." By this time we were beside his boat and he was helping me in. I did not dream of refusing. I thought (like a fool) that I had found a friend and helper, and I was looking forward to seeing the ship. As soon as we were all in our places the boat was pushed off and began to move over the water. I was so delighted with this new experience that I hardly understood what the captain said, and must have answered him without thinking. As soon as we were alongside, Hoseason ordered a rope and chair to be sent down, declaring that he and I must be the first to go on board. I was lifted into the air and set down again on the deck , where the captain stood waiting for me and immediately slipped his arm under mine. I stood there, rather confused and perhaps a little afraid, but delighted with the strange things all around me, while the captain pointed out some of the strangest and told me their names and uses. And then I saw that my uncle was not with us. I felt I was lost. With all my strength, I tore myself out of the captain's grasp and ran to the side of the ship. Yes, there was the boat being rowed back to the shore, with my uncle sitting in it. I gave a wild cry-so loud that it rang out over the harbor, and my uncle turned around and showed me a face full of cruelty and terror. That was the last thing I saw. Already strong hands had been pulling me back from the ship's side, and now lightning seemed to strike me. I saw a great flash of fire, and fell unconscious. This passage might be taken from _ . A. a fashion magazine B. a literature novel C. a science fiction D. a newspaper report Answer: B Lady Bird Johnson was born Claudia Alta Taylor in nineteen twelve. The Taylor family lived in the small town of Karnack, Texas. Claudia's father, Thomas Jefferson Taylor, owned two stores as well as thousands of hectares for cotton production. Her mother, Minnie Taylor, died when Claudia was only five years old. A woman who worked for the Taylor family gave Claudia her nickname. Alice Tittle said the small child was "as purty as a lady bird." As first lady, Missus Johnson became an energetic activist for educational and environmental issues. She helped support Head Start, a public program aimed at giving educational and health services to young children from poor families. She started the Society for a More Beautiful National Capitol. Its aim was to improve the beauty of Washington by planting trees and flowers in public areas and parks. Missus Johnson understood that these improvements were also linked to important issues such as pollution, public transportation, mental health, and crime rates. Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson had a difficult four-year term. The president faced strong opposition about the United States involvement in the war in Vietnam. In nineteen sixty-eight, President Johnson surprised the nation by announcing that he would not seek reelection as president. The Johnsons left politics and returned home to Texas. Mister Johnson died of a heart attack in nineteen seventy-three. Lady Bird Johnson continued her tireless work to improve the country's natural environment. She created the National Wildflower Research Center in nineteen eighty-two. The center helps to educate people about the environmental importance and value of native plants. Missus Johnson died in two thousand seven at the age of ninety-four. Her memory lives in the many fields of wildflowers that color the roads of America. Which of the following statements is true according to the article? A. Lady Bird Johnson had an unhappy childhood B. Lady Bird Johnson was brough up by Alice Tittle C. Mrs. Johnson was devoted to education and environment D. Mrs. Johnson did not support her husband during hiw four-year term Answer: C Most good interviewers will make an effort to establish and keep eye contact. Make sure that you do not find yourself looking down or away. If you wear glasses, be sure to buy the non-glare lenses. Do not stare. Rapidly nodding your head can leave the impression that you are impatient and too eager to add something to the conversation -- if only the interviewer would let you. Slower nodding, on the other hand, emphasizes interest, shows that you are validating the comments of your interviewer, and encourages him to continue. Tilting the head slightly, when combined with eye contact and a natural smile, shows friendliness and approachability . Your smile is one of the most powerful positive body signals. Everybody looks better when they smile. Offer an unforced, confident smile. Avoid at all costs the technique that some applicants use: grinning idiotically for the length of the interview, no matter what. This will only communicate that you are insincere . It's worth remembering that the mouth provides a seemingly limitless supply of opportunities to convey weakness. This may be done by touching the mouth frequently; "faking" a cough when confused with a difficult question; and /or gnawing on one's lips absentmindedly . Employing any of these "insincerity signs" when you are asked about say, why you lost your last job, will confirm or instill _ about your honesty. The main purpose of this text is to _ . A. tell you how to communicate with others effectively. B. show you how to make yourself more understandable C. remind you of respecting the interviewer. D. give you some advice on facial signals for job interviews Answer: A
It was in the Victorian Era that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters and others. Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes. The Bronte sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year. An interest in rural matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas Hardy and a number of others. Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children's books, which featured (......) animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902. What can we know about Charles Dickens from the text? Answer: He wrote about the struggles of the poor in London? Dolphin show Do you want to see the dolphins from Singapore? Please come to Huayang Zoo. There is a great dolphin show here from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday. You need 5 dollars for the show. If you take your school ID card, you need only 2.5 dollars. If you want to book the ticket, please call Mrs. Jones at 657-0870. News Attention , please. Here is the news. There is a basketball game between Apple School and Park School on the playground at Green School from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm this afternoon. Please come and watch it. Green School is on Long Street. It's across from Center Park. If Helen wants to watch the basketball game, she should get there _ . Answer: before 4:00 pm Jimmy is at school now. He is in the classroom, but he can't find his schoolbag. Where is it? Is it lost? Oh, no! It is in his room. He doesn't take it to the school. He calls his sister Sally and asks her to take his school things to the school. Here are his school things. His schoolbag is on the chair. Under the chair is his pencil box. His notebook is on the desk. His dictionary is on the bed. His pencils aren't in the pencil box. They're on the sofa. Oh, Sally, don't forget to take his baseball. Jimmy always plays baseball after school. But where is his baseball? Oh, it's under the table. What does Jimmy do after school? Answer: He plays baseball. Deep in the Amazon forest, thousands of people still live in from the rest of the world. In a recent press release, the Brazilian government confirmed the existence of another isolated tribe of about 200 people living in the Vale do Javari reservation. The 200 people living in the Vale do Javari reservation. The reservation, located near the Peruvian border, is about the size of Portugal. At least another 14 isolated tribes, with a total population of about 2000, call the area home. The newly observed group lives on four large straw-roofed buildings and grows corn, peanut and other crops. Brazil's National Indian Foundation (BNTF) first noticed the reservation in the forest using satellite maps, but it wasn't until April that an airplane expedition was able to confirm the tribe's existence. "The work of finding and protecting isolated groups is part of Brazilian public policy," said the BNIF officer for Vale do Javari, Fabricio Amorim. "To confirm something like this takes years of hard work." BNIF estimates there are 68 isolated tribes living in the Amazon. The organization uses airplanes to avoid disturbing the tribes through personal contact, but that doesn't mean others are so respectful of their right to privacy. Illegal fishing, woodcutting and hunting bring people into the protected area. Oil exploration on the Peruvian side of the border is another threat. All kinds of criminals also invade the lands of the local groups, said Amorim. The outsiders can damage the land and influence the cultures of indigenous peoples. They can also bring diseases which can wipe out the whole population that still lack even basic antibiotics . Brazil's indigenous peoples won the legal right to their traditional lands in Brazil's 1988 Constitution, which stated that all indigenous lands shall be divided and turned over to tribes within five years. Indigenous groups now control 11 percent of Brazil's territory, including 22 percent of the Amazon. Allowing indigenous groups the right homelands is not just a matter of human rights. The rest of the world can benefit from their knowledge. Mark Plotkin has spent years living with the people of the Amazon and learning from their traditional healers. In his lecture, he pointed out that many useful materials and knowledge, including numerous drugs, can be gained from listening to the indigenous groups of the Amazon. Besides this, they are also more effective at protecting the land, and less expensive, than hired rangers . From the passage we can learn that the tribes in the Amazon forest _ . Answer: have the legal right to the land they live on Diving or Drowning A rich young man decided that he would like to do some diving in the sea, so he bought a rubber suit and all the other things that he needed, and took some lessons at a diving school. Then one day he walked into the water by himself and began to explore the bottom of the sea. He saw a lot of beautiful fish and other things, and then, after half an hour, he suddenly saw a man waving his arms and legs around wildly near the bottom of the sea. He was wearing only a bathing suit. The rich young man was very surprised to see him, so he took out a plastic notebook and a special pencil, which could write under water, and wrote, "What are you doing here?" He showed the notebook to the other man, who then took the pencil and wrote, "Drowning!" What was the man doing? Answer: drowning
Every time you go shopping, the vegetables and fruit look so tempting that you wish you could buy all of them. Some people are lucky and can grow the fruit and vegetables in the gardens that they have. While getting fresh vegetables, they can also achieve great cost cutting. Mushrooms are expensive and can also go bad very quickly. Mushrooms can also be grown easily in a dark environment. In fact it's better than growing other vegetables since you really don't need an outdoor space. A special type of soil that is good for growing mushrooms is easily available. Actually mushrooms aren't even vegetables; they are fungi and for this reason, you don't even require sunlight to grow them. Well how does one go about growing mushrooms? You could always Google "growing mushrooms" and you will find a number of mushroom growing kits available online that area effective and not very expensive either. Mushrooms can be added to any dish that you cook. Simply use them in pizzas, salads and anything that you pretty much fancy. Grow mushrooms in your own house and use them whenever you want. Fresh mushrooms are tastier than the ones that are stored in your refrigerator. If you have had a really good crop of mushrooms, then you can even store them. Ideally you should use the white variety of the mushrooms. Simply pick them, slice them and put them on a cookie sheet in a freezer. When they area frozen, just put them in a zip lock and you can use them when you want to. They give a really great taste to the dish that you are making. Thaw them before you use them. You should try growing mushrooms, since it's cost-effective. Furthermore, you can eat the fresh mushrooms any time that you want. Mushrooms are different from other vegetables in that _ . A. they can be grown where there is no light B. they can grow well in an outdoor space C. it is easy for them to go bad in a few days D. they can grow without soil Answer: A The year of 2014 saw smart people always busy inventing useful things, which have hepled to make the world better, smarter and a little for fun. Now, let's take a look at some of the inventions. Super banana Australian biogeneticist James Dale visited Uganda, a poor African country, in the early 2000s, where he found that 15-30 percent of children under 5 were at risk of going blind because they did not get enough Vitamin A. Dale also learned that people there love bananas. They eat three to 11 bananas a day. So he came up with the idea to plant bananas containing added nutrition in order to improve Ugandans' health. With the help of Bill Gates' foundation, Dale developed the "super banana". He added a gene to the fruit, making it rich in Vitamin A. Coaching basketball Basketball is popular worldwide, partly because you only need a hoop and a ball to play the game. But this simple game has experienced a technology makeover this year with the development of a smart-sensor basketball. The ball, called the 94Fifty Basketball, has nine sensors inside. They can tell you anything from how fast you are going to how accurate your shot angles are. With a Bluetooth chip inside, the basketball can connect to your smartphone and tell you in the voice of a coach to "snap your wrist ", or"go faster", depending on the data. The Hovercraft Thanks to the California-based company Hendo, flying past your friends on a floating board could soon become a reality. The Hovercraft has four small engines. These create a special magnetic field which produce enough force to lift the board off the ground. At the moment, the hoverboard can only float an inch off the ground for 15 minutes and must fly over a metal material. It's expensive too, at $10,000 (61,810 yuan), but the company hopes that one day the technology could be used. Wireless electricity Most of us could not bear to live without wireless Internet. We use it every day for everything from our phones to our cars. But one company wants to go a step further, by combining wireless technology with electricity. That's right, no more tangled wires and no more having to sit and hold your cell phone near a power socket in the corner of the room. WiTricity, a US company, has invented technology that can power objects up to 2.4 meters away. It uses a special plug-in coil that creates a magnetic field! What do the hovercraft and wireless electricity have in common according to the text?. A. They create magnetic fields to produce power. B. They apply technologies to many things in life. C. They apply technologies which can produce electricity. D. They use wireless technology to improve their products. Answer: A Freezing point is best represented by A. ice sculpture B. glass of water C. flowing rivers D. water falls Answer: A Millions of sports lovers are still thinking about one thing----the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia. Close to 2900 men and women competed in the 2014 Winter Games about a month ago. The Olympics brought a lot of attention to Sochi, a city on the Black Sea, which is a popular area for vacation travelers. The area is known for its mild winters. At least $50 billion was spent on the 2014 Winter Games, making it the costliest Olympics in history. Seven billion dollars was spent on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Olympic officials chose Sochi to host the 2014 games almost seven years ago. At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the games would cost about $13 billion. Yet the actual expenses exceeded his estimate. So where did all the money go? Some observers say the high cost is partly the result of security measures. Brian Jenkins, a terrorism expert from the RAND Corporation, gave the following explanation. There were anywhere between 70,000 and 100, 000 policemen and military troops deployed around the city. The main threat came from separatist and Islamist groups from the North Caucasus, especially from Chechnya and Dagestan. One group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Volgograd last December. The attacks killed more than 30 people. The city is only about 600 kilometers away from Sochi. Bruce Hoffman is a terrorism expert from Georgetown University in Washington DC. He says the increased security made Sochi a difficult target for terrorists. It is thought that the terrorists' intention was to make life difficult for the Russians and to create some sort of incident that would take away the enjoyment. The last Olympians from around the world on Russian soil were in 1980. That was a year after Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. More than sixty countries didn't take part in the Moscow Summer Games to show their anger. Which of the following is false? A. Sochi Olympics cost about 4 times as estimated. B. Next winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver. C. Many countries refused to attend the 1980 Olympics. D. Security is often a problem in international sport games. Answer: B There once was a big black and white dog named Forrest. His owner's name was Jeff. Jeff thought he was the best dog in the whole world. One night, when Forrest and Jeff were taking a walk in the park, they saw two men walking down the path. Both men were dressed in very nice suits. Jeff waved at the men. "Good evening," he said. "How are you tonight?" "Hello," one of the men said. "It is such a great night for walking." Jeff and Forrest kept walking down the path. It was a very dark night, but the moon was shining bright. When Jeff turned around to look for the two men, he could not see them at all. They were nowhere to be seen. Later that night, when their walk was over, Jeff and Forrest were lying on the bed. They were watching a television show about ghosts. "Do you think maybe those two men were ghosts?" Jeff said out loud. "They did not leave a trace." Forrest was a dog, but he acted like he understood. He barked. Jeff smiled. He liked that his dog always saw things the same way he did. How many men did Jeff and Forrest see? A. two B. four C. three D. one Answer: A
They survive in some of the coldest environments in the world--but even penguins appreciate a warm woolly jumper once in a while. The mini knitted garments have helped save hundreds of flightless birds caught in oil spills, providing protection from the elements and stopping them from eating poisonous pollution. Knits tor Nature,a program run by The Penguin Foundation,which protects the little penguin population of Phillip Island,140km south-east of Melbourne,has created up to 300 different designs over the years--and it's all thanks to talented volunteers. "There's a lot of hidden creativity out there,"said Lyn Blom,of the Phillip Island Nature Park."People love to know that they're helping the penguins because they're so cute and small and they waddle up the beach and they're so strong and determined.But they need to be,they 1ive in a pretty tough sort of environment.'' A thumbnail--sized patch of oil can kill a little penguin,the smallest of the species,measuring just l3 inches and weighing l kg.The oil separates and mats their feathers,breaking natural waterproofing and heating functions. Ms Blom estimates she has knitted between 200 and 300 penguin jumpers over the years. A staff member read an article in an English women's magazine about knitting for guillemot birds and decided to adapt the designs. "There's a lot of ladies out there who used to knit for their children and grandchildren.These ladies have spare wool and idle hands,and they love to feel loved and needed and we love and need them,"said Ms Blom. The Pengu in Foundation recently staged a competition for the most creative jumper,which received an enthusiastic response. The Penguin Foundation rescues approximately 20 birds a year.They even have a stockpile of jumpers in case of emergency-such as the large oil spill Phillip Island in 2001. In that instance,453 little penguins were affected,96 percent of which were saved-most thanks to the jumpers. Knits for Nature_. Answer: If you think you're too shy and want to be a little bit brave, try the following: You can make it. Tell people you're shy. There's no need to hide it. When they get to know you're a shy kid, they'll understand you better. This also helps you feel more relaxed in talks. Try to smile more. When you smile, people think you're friendly and easy to talk to. Remember that other people have feelings too and most people will stay away from an angry-looking face. Learn to be a good talker. If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person? Get your attention elsewhere . Think more about ways to enjoy parties or games. Don't waste time worrying about your look or whether people like you or not. Take one small step at a time. Each time when you say "Hi" or smile at someone, say to yourself "You did it". Keep trying and one day you'll never feel shy when you talk about yourself. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: When would the mail least likely arrive? Answer: Which evaporates from its container when used? Answer: The Global Heritage Fund organization recently released a list of cultural treasures in the developing world that are in danger of disappearing. These"On the Verge" places face many threats. They included war, development pressures, stealing and misuse by visitors. The Global Heritage Fund says these places are important because they are records of our human civilization. And the group says countries can learn to use these treasures to help support responsible development in the future. One such place is the town of Lamu. Lamu was once a very important trading center in East Africa. This ancient city became part of the United Nations Heritage list in 2001. But it still faces threats. For example, a modern port might be built nearby. Other endangered places include Ani, a city in Turkey, the town of Maluti in India, the ancient city of Ninevah in northern Iraq, the Sans-Souci palace in Haiti, and the former capital of Ayutthaya in Thailand. The Global Heritage Fund is nonprofit organization based in California. The group says it only focuses on developing countries which often have few resources to protect places of cultural importance. And, other major cultural organizations often pay more attention to protecting places in the developed world. For example, the fund points out the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has forty-five World Heritage places in Italy. UNESCO has forty-two in Spain. But Peru, famous for its ancient Incan buildings, has only nine World Heritage places. Guatemala has only three. The Global Heritage Fund says its new report tries to place a value on cultural places so that they can also be considered as economic resources. It estimates that by 2025 these places of cultural importance could produce one hundred billion dollars a year in income for developing countries. The town of Lamu faces danger from _ . Answer:
Crystal Ear One day a friend asked my wife Jill if I wanted a hearing aid. "He certainly does,"replied Jill. After hearing about a remarkable new product, Jill finally got up the nerve to ask me if I'd ever thought about getting a hearing aid. "No way,"I said. "It would make me look 20 years older.""No, no"she replied. "This is entirely different. It's Crystal Ear!" Jill was right. Crystal Ear is different ---- not the old-styled body worn or over-the-ear aid, but an advanced personal sound system so small it's like contacts for your ears. And Crystal Ear is super-sensitive and powerful, too. You will hear sounds your ears have been missing for years. Crystal Ear will make speech louder, and the sound is pure and natural. I couldn't believe how tiny it is. It is smaller than the tip of my little finger and it's almost invisible when worn. There are no wires, no behind-the-ear device. Put it in your ear and its-ready-to-wear mold fits comfortable. Since it's not too loud or too light, you may even forget that you're wearing it! Use it at work or at play. And if your hearing problem is worse in certain situation, use Crystal Ear only when you need it. Hearing loss, which is typically prior to teenage years, progresses throughout one's lifetime. Although hearing loss is now the world's number-one health problem, nearly 90 percent of people suffering hearing loss choose to leave the problem untreated. For many millions, treating hearing loss in a conventional way can involve numerous office visits, expensive testing and adjustments to fit your ear. Thanks to Crystal Ear, the "sound solution"is now convenient. Almost 90 percent of people with mild hearing loss, and millions more with just a little hearing dropoff, can be dramatically helped with Crystal Ear. Moreover, its superior design is energy-efficient, so batteries can last months. Crystal Ear is now available to help these people treat their hearing loss with a small hearing amplifier . What does the writer say about hearing loss? A. About 10 percent of people wear hearing aids B. About 90percent of people suffer hearing loss C. It is one of the most painful diseases in the world D. Hearing loss is the world's most frequent health problem Answer: D There once was a boy named Kevin. He met Jessica one afternoon at a park on a hot summer day. They both started talking and became great friends. They spent the whole day together and ate their lunches together next to the pond. Kevin sure enjoyed the park more than he liked going to the beach or store. There were many ducks, frogs, birds and chipmunks playing around the pond. In fact, one of the chipmunks even came up and stole Kevin's car keys when he was eating! Kevin knew that he needed to go have his keys, but the chipmunk ran with an evil smile on its face. Eventually, the chipmunk ran into its hole that he called home. Kevin tried everything he could to have the chipmunk come out with his keys, but he couldn't find out how to make the little guy give up. Finally, Jessica came over and placed a potato chip at the opening to the hole. In seconds, the chipmunk came out with the keys and dropped them in front of Kevin right before grabbing the chip and running back into the hole. The chipmunk then went in to have his snack and left Kevin and Jessica alone. Kevin thought that maybe next time he could go to the park in the early spring or winter so that the chipmunks would be busy sleeping during the cold weather months. Kevin then said goodbye to Jessica and went home. Where were Kevin and Jessica? A. Store B. Farm C. Beach D. Park Answer: D Some good news for online holiday shoppers: bargain-hunting binges will drive prices down as web-based retailers compete to offer bigger discounts, marketing researchers predict. A recent survey by Shopzilla found that nearly 84 percent of online retailers would offer Cyber Monday discounts, up 12 percent from last year. Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, is the online response to Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when stores are traditionally flooded with customers, some of whom camp at the entrances overnight to take advantage of discounts. However, in the current economic climate, online retailers have felt pressure to offer sales and discounts even before Black Friday. But how online retailers decide to offer those big savings isn't a simple matter of trying to attract the consumers who are watching their wallets, Bohlmann of Sabanci University in Istanbul says. Online stores will also pay attention to the deals their competitors are offering, potentially leading to price wars between certain retailers to attract all those potential bargain-hunting customers. Online shoppers can be divided into two types, Bohlmann said, --switchers and --loyals. Switchers compare prices between retailers and go for the cheapest one, while loyals stick to one brand or store. It almost doesn't matter what price you charge. Online retailers will look at the percentage of switchers and loyals they have in order to decide whether to offer discounts. The more switchers they have, the more likely they will offer discounts. But retailers don't just look at the percentage of their own customers; they also look at the competition. If one online store has a higher percentage of loyals than the competitor, it can afford to keep prices higher. On the contrary, if it has a higher percentage of switchers than the competitor, it might want to lower prices. According to the text, on Cyber Monday, customers often _ A. feel tired because of Thanksgiving B. prepare for the coming Black Friday C. spend their holidays in the stores D. wait for online retailers' discounts Answer: D An herbivore will A. eat a little meat daily B. never eat any plants C. eat meat now and then D. only eat things that grow out of the ground Answer: D To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law to check all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and checked. Your bag was among those selected for check. During the check, your bag and its contents may have been searched for items forbidden by law such as fireworks, fuels, gunpowder, etc. At the completion of the check, the contents were returned to your bag, which was resealed with a "special" lock. If the TSA screener was unable to open your bag for check because it was locked, the screener may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, and has taken care to reseal your bag upon completion of check. However, TSA is not _ for damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution . For packing tips and other suggestions that may assist you during your next trip, visit: WWW.TSATravelTips.us. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact the Transportation Security Administration Consumer Response Center: Phone: toll-free at (866) 289-9673 Email: TellTSA@tas.dot.gov The passage is trying to _ . A. introduce one of the security acts B. tell people about baggage check C. warn against the damage of locking the baggage D. persuade people to contact TSA Answer: B
The students were having their chemistry class. Miss Li was telling the children what water was like. After that, she asked her students, "What's water?" No one spoke for a few minutes.Miss Li asked again,"Why don't you answer my question?Didn't I tell you what water is like?" Just then a boy put up his hand and said,"Miss Li,you told us that water has no color and no smell.But where to find such kind of water?The water in the river behind my house is always black and it has a bad smell."Most of the children agreed With him. "I'm sorry,children."said the teacher,"Our water is getting dirtier and dirtier.That's a problem". The students were having their _ class. A. English B. Chinese C. chemistry D. math Answer: C. chemistry Most people think the first pies were made by early Romans. They may have learned about pie making from the Greeks. These pies were sometimes made in"reeds ", which were used for the purpose of holding the filling ( ), and were not eaten. The Romans spread the word about pies around Europe and the word"pie"became a popular word in the 14th century. The first pie recipe was also published by the Romans. Pies first appeared in England as early as the twelfth century. The early pies were mostly meat pies. There was actually more crust than filling. Often these pies were made from fowl ( ) and the fowl's legs were left to hang over the side of the dish and used as handles. Fruit pies were probably first made in the 1500s. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I made the first cherry pie. Pie came to America with the first English settlers. The early settlers cooked their pies in long narrow pans. As in the Roman times, the early American pie crusts were often not eaten, but simply used to hold the filling during baking(@&*). Over the years, pie has become what it is today --- "the most traditional American dessert". Pie has become so much a part of American culture that we now often use the phrase "as American as apple pie". Which people might probably first grasp the skill to make pies? A. The Romans. B. The Greeks. C. The Englishmen. D. The Americans. Answer: B. The Greeks. At school many things happen to us. We may feel excited when we have success in a school play. We may feel sorry if we lose an important game. We want to keep the memory for the rest of our lives. How to keep the memory? Our English teacher, Miss Wang, has taught us a good way of remembering things to make our own yearbook. What is a yearbook? A yearbook is a kind of book which is used to keep the memory of exciting moments. It's usually made at the end of the year. Last December, we began to make our yearbook. First we chose the persons who had done something special, then some students interviewed them, some wrote down their stories, others took photos of them. Everyone in our class had something to do. Finally our teacher helped us to put the things together. We had our first yearbook. All of us put a lot of love into making the yearbook. It is so wonderful that not only the students but also our parents and teachers will remember the special time for ever. Usually a yearbook is made in _ . A. January B. February C. October D. December Answer: D. December Mr. and Mrs. Jackson worked in the same workplace. The man was skillful and could make all kinds of parts and repair the machines. The boss liked him and paid him more than his workmates. But he had to give all his money to his wife and she bought the food, clothes and drinks for him. He was angry with her but couldn't say anything. All the men in the workplace were afraid of their wives and they felt sorry for each other. It was March 8 and all the women had a day off. The men could say all they wanted. They said they had to do all the housework at home but the women always spent much money on their clothes. And they didn't think it was fair that women had their own festival but they didn't. The more they said, the angrier they became. They decided to write a letter to the UN and advised them to rescind the" Women's Day". And they asked Mr. Jackson to do it. The man agreed and began to write it at a table. Just at that moment when Mr. Jackson finished it, his wife came in. She had left her key in the workplace and came to look for it. The man hurried to hide the letter. But it was too late. She made him hand it to her. Having read it, the woman returned the letter to him and said with a smile, "How can you post it to the UN if I don't supply you the money for buying a stamp?" Mr. Jackson had to give all his money to his wife because _ . A. he was afraid of her B. she bought all for him C. she needed much money D. he loved her very much Answer: A. he was afraid of her In a New York street, a small truck hit a big tree. The truck was full of glasses and they were all broken now. The driver came out of the truck and looked at the broken glasses. He was very sad and people in the street felt sorry for him. Then an old man walked over to the driver. He looked at him for a few minutes and said, "My poor boy, I think you must pay a lot for it." "Yes," was the sad answer. "Well, well," said the old man, "hold out your hat-- here's some money for you, and I can say that some of these people will give you a helping hand, too." With these words, he walked away. The driver held out his hat and over a hundred people came and put their money in it. At last the driver took a bag and put all the money in it. Then he looked at the people and said, "Well, thank you very much. But you didn't know that the old man is the owner of the truck. I'm driving and making money for him." What do you think of the old man? A. generous B. humorous C. clever D. Helpful Answer: C. clever
Question: An 18-year-old girl Anna Meier from Austria is taking her parents to court for posting over 500 photos of her on Facebook since 2009,without her permission. Anna has apparently become fed up with her parents' refusal to take down the embarrassing photos of her at an early age,and is now seeking justice in court.She told the magazine that even though she was 11 years old when her parents started sharing her photos with several hundreds of Facebook friends,they went as far as to post pictures of her as a baby,without ever asking if it was alright with her."They knew no shame and no limit--and didn't care whether it was a picture of me sitting on the toilet or lying naked in my bed--every stage was photographed and then made public,"the girl said. The girl added that she was only able to see the photos posted on Facebook by her parents when she was 14,after setting up her own account on it.Again and again,Anna asked her parents to remove the photos of her immediately,but they refused.Angry and upset,she felt that she had no other way but to take them to court,which she did as soon as she turned 18 this year."I'm tired of not being taken seriously by my parents,"she said. Anna's lawyer claims they have a good chance of winning the case in court,if it can be proven that the images have violated her rights to a personal life.But,based on similar cases and according to Austrian privacy laws,if the parents lose,they may be forced to pay their daughter a fine of EUR 3,000 to EUR10,000. But Anna's parents,however,see nothing wrong with posting baby photos of her."I consider it my right to publish these photos,"her father said. "We have posted no more photos of our daughter since she stopped allowing us to photograph her.We also have baby photos of her that can only be seen by a limited group of 700 Facebook friends." It's reported that Anna has moved out of her parents' home and is living with some girls in a rented apartment. What made Anna decide to take her parents to court? A. Her parents' attitude towards her request. B. The pictures of her sitting on the toilet. C. The hate for her parents since early childhood. D. The commentsofher parents' Facebook friends. Answer: B. The pictures of her sitting on the toilet. Question: Psychologists have discovered that even the most independent-minded of us will conform to social pressure when we are with a group of people. In one classie experiment, people were showna vertical line and asked to find a line of identical length from a selection of three. You might think that this is an absurdly easy task, and when people perform it by themselves they do it very well. However, psychologists have discovered that we are very easily swayed by the opinions of other people when we do this task in a group. In one study, a group of three people was set up,where two of the people were confederates of the experimenter.When the confederates deliberately gave wrong answers,people were often swayed to give the wrong answer also. In fact, 75% of people gave at least one wrong answer, with some people conforming to peer pressure on every occasion. But why do people conform in this way? In an easy task like this, it seems that people do not want to step out of line with the prevailing opinion of the group. On more difficult tasks, people also conform because they lose onfidence in their own ability to make decisions and prefer to trust the majority opinion instead. A typical example of this kind of conformity arises when we come across people in distress. Would you help a woman who has been attacked in the street?It turns out that you are much more likely to go to her assistance if you are alone.When other people are also around,a diffusion of responsibility occurs. People are paralysed into inaction, because everyone assumes that someone else will go to the woman' s assistance. What method does the author mainly use to develop the text? A. Giving examples. B. Cause-effect analysis. C. Comparative analysis. D. Process analysis. Answer: A. Giving examples. Question: Do you know that colorful fruits and vegetables are good for your health? Their natural colors help protect your body from disease. Think about the colors of the food: the red of tomatoes, the orange of carrots, the green of kiwi fruit , and the purple of grapes. You can enjoy eating fruits and vegetables of all colors: green, yellow, orange, red, blue, purple and white. Each color has something unique and important for good health. They work together to protect your body. Scientists have surprisingly discovered the _ of colorful fruits and vegetables. The list below shows the benefits of some colors in fruits and vegetables. Red gives you a healthy heart. It can reduce the risk of heart disease. Red helps prevent cancer. It helps improve your memory, too. Yellow and orange give you a healthy immune system . They are also good for your eyes. They help prevent blindness in the old. White can keep cholesterol at a lower level. Green helps prevent cancer. It is good for your eyes. It also gives you strong bones and teeth. Blue and purple help protect your memory as you grow old. They also help fight cancer and heart disease. So when you buy or eat fruits and vegetables, remember: the more colors, the better! Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Keeping cholesterol at a lower level is good for your health. B. The more colorful fruit and vegetables you eat, the better it will be for your health. C. Red fruits and vegetables will cause heart diseases. D. Blue, purple and red fruits and vegetables are good for your memory. Answer: C. Red fruits and vegetables will cause heart diseases. Question: Attention STARBUCKS Owners of Stainless Steel Travel Mug Mug lid Recall---16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug We've recognized a fault at the cup. The fault might cause some lids to lift slightly from the body of the mug, and could possibly result in injury from hot liquid leaking. So, we have given a lid recall notice immediately. The notice is only related to STARBUCKS 16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mugs which were sold between November 2012 and February 2013. The bottom of the mug is stamped with "ThermoSServ", the distributor's name. There is not any printing on the mug handle. At STARBUCKS, customers' safety is valued above anything else. Therefore, no matter whether your lid is leaking , in the interest of your safety, we request you bring your mug to your nearest STARBUCKS (excluding Esso STARBUCKS), where they are sure exchange the lid for a new lid that fits well and safely. The new lids are going to be available March 1, 2013. Don't use your mug until you exchange the lid, please. Here's what you do: * Please do not use your mug until you have exchanged the lid for a new one. * New lids will be available March 1, 2013. * Return your travel mug to a STARBUCKS store. * Your lid will be exchanged for a new lid. If you'd like to return the entire mug, bring it back at any time for a full repayment. If you have any questions regarding this recall, please don't hesitate to us at: Toll Free Number: 1-999-701-1717 9:30 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time STARBUCKS The advertisement is mainly aimed at those who _ . A. have 16 oz Stainless mugs B. often travel around C. want to buy 16 oz stainless mugs D. are selling the mugs Answer: A. have 16 oz Stainless mugs Question: Heat causes you to sweat, so at which time of day will you sweat most? A. high noon B. night time C. early morning D. during a snowstorm Answer: A. high noon
Mr. and Mrs. Su don't often go out in the evening, but today they go out for a walk after supper. They go to the park and have a good time there. On their way home, Mr. Su says to Mr. Su, "Look! A woman is running in the street and a man is running after her." Mr. Su says, "What's the matter? Let's go and help her." Now the woman gets near them. Mr. Su asks, "Shall we help you?" "No, thank you," the woman says, "My husband and I are running home, and the slower one does the housework." They see _ are running in the street. A. a woman B. a man C. a man and a woman D. many people Answer: C. a man and a woman If I wanted to prevent a blister when running I can A. wear layers B. Run barefoot C. Walk instead D. Wear sandals Answer: A. wear layers Mr. Lee was in bed and was trying to go to sleep when he heard the bell ring. He turned on the light and looked at his clock. It was twelve o'clock. "Who can it be at this time of night?" He thought. He decided to go and find out. So he got of bed, put on his dressing gown and went to the door. When he opened the door, there was nobody there. "That is very strange." Then he went back to his bedroom, took off his dressing gown, got back into bed, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep. A few minutes later he heard the bell again. Mr. Lee jumped out of bed very quickly and rushed to the door. He opened it, but again he found no one there. He closed the door and tried not to feel angry. Then he saw a piece of paper on the floor. He picked it up. There were some words on it: "It is now after midnight, so it is April Fool's Day. April Fool to you!" "Oh, it was the English boy next door!" Mr. Lee exclaimed and almost smiled. He went back to bed and felt asleep at once. The bell did not ring again. Mr. Lee thought the English boy _ . A. was a bad boy B. was friendly with him C. shouldn't ring the bell at midnight D. did a dangerous thing Answer: B. was friendly with him The World's Largest Insect .This giant insect can be used as a toy. A child ties one end of a string to a stick and the other end around the "neck" of an insect. Holding the stick, the child lets the insect go. With a loud whirring sound, the insect takes off, pulling the string in a large curve over the child's head. The child laughs as the stick jumps around. The child is African, and the toy is the African Goliath beetle, the largest insect in the world. The Goliath is a true insect because it has six legs and a body that is divided into three parts. Like all beetles, it has two pairs of wings. The front pair are thick and stiff and protect the back pair, which are soft. It is these soft back wings that make the beetle fly forward. They also cause the loud whirring sound the beetle makes when it flies. To steer, the beetle twists and turns its legs the same way you steer a bike by turning its front wheel. African children often use the Goliath beetle as a toy. Although it is over 15 centimeters long, it is quite harmless. When flying, the Goliath steers by _ . A. turning its soft back wings B. twisting and turning its hard front wings C. twisting and turning its legs D. twisting and turning its whole body Answer: C. twisting and turning its legs Money Matters for Students GETTING A GRANT Who pays? The Local Education Authority (LEA) for the area in which the student is living. Who can get this money? Anyone who gets a place on a first degree course, although a student who has already attended a course of advanced further education may not. Students must also have been resident in the UK for at least three years, which can exclude some students from overseas. SPECIAL CASES If a student has worked before going to college: A student who is 26 or more before the course starts and who has worked for at least three of the previous six years will get extra money--PS155 a year if 26, increasing to a maximum of PS615 at 29 or more. If a student is handicapped : LEAs will give up to PS500 to help meet extra expenses--such as buying a tape recorder for a blind student, extra heating or special food. Banking: Most of the big banks offer special services to students who open accounts (in the hope that they will stay with the bank when they become rich officials). A student won't usually have to pay bank charges as long as the account stays in credit. Some banks allow students to overdraw by PS100 or so, and still don't make charges (though they do charge interest). A student from Japan who has been staying in England for a year and intends to go to college in a few months will _ . A. get money if he is taking a first degree course B. be unable to get money from any LEA C. get money from any LEA when he has finished his course D. have to open a bank account before he gets any money Answer: B. be unable to get money from any LEA
I was not quite seventeen when I decided to join the US Marine Corps.My mother tried her best to talk me out of my dream, and then finally signed the papers that would permit me to enter the service. One day, nearly two years after the Philippines became my home, I was summoned to the office of Lieutenant Colonel Boyd.He seemed to be a kind man, but I was pretty sure that he hadn't called me in to pass the time of day. Standing before his desk, I waited nervously as he read through some paperwork.Then he looked up."Why, Private, haven't you written to your mother for more than six months?" I felt weak in my knees.Has it been that long? I thought. "I didn't have anything to say, Sir." Lieutenant Colonel Boyd told me that my mother had contacted the American Red Cross, which in turn communicated with my commanding officer about my failure to write. Then he asked, "Do you see that desk, Private?" "Yes, Sir." "Open the top drawer and you'll find some paper and a pen.Sit down right this minute and find something to say to your mother." "Yes, Sir." When I finished a brief letter, I stood before him again. "Private, I'm ordering you to find something to say to your mother at least once a week.Do you understand?" I did. Some 35 years later, my aged mother's mental condition was deteriorating, and I was forced to place her in a convalescent home .As I went through her belongings, I began inspecting the contents of an old cedar chest.At the bottom, tied with a bright red ribbon, I found a bundle of letters. They were the letters I had been ordered to write from the Philippines.I sat on the floor of her apartment that afternoon reading each one, tears streaming down my cheeks.I now realized how deeply, as a young man, had upset her by my lack of consideration. The lesson I learned may have been too late to help my mother, but it's still done me good.These days I don't need a commanding officer standing over me to write to my loved ones on a regular basis. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? Answer: How old the mother was when she was placed in a convalescent home. Albert Hofmann was a Swiss Scientist who was fascinated by nature. This led him to a career in chemistry in which he sought answers to his uncertainties. He worked at Sandoz Laboratories where he nurtured his research work, and there he made a lot of success by working with various plants and changing them into something useful. He became famous when he became the first person to produce lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) . In addition, he was also the first person to taste it and learn about its hallucinogenic effects. He was deeply connected to the nature and argued that LSD, besides being useful for psychiatry , could also be used to promote awareness of mankind's place in nature. However, he was disappointed that his discovery was being carelessly used as a drug for entertainment. Because of his discovery, LSD fans have fondly called him "The father of LSD". Besides carrying out his scientific experiments, he also authored numerous books and more than 100 scientific articles. In 2007, he featured in a list of the 100 greatest living geniuses , published by The Telegraph Newspaper. Childhood & Early Life Albert Hofmann was born in Baden, Switzerland, on January 11, 1906. He was the eldest of four children. His father was a poor toolmaker in a factory and they lived in a rented apartment. He spent much of his childhood outdoors, and grew up with a very deep connection with nature. He had mind-blowing experiences in childhood, wherein nature was changed in magical ways that he didn't understand. These experiences caused questions in his mind, and chemistry was the scientific field which allowed him to understand them. He studied chemistry at Zurich University, and his main interest is the chemistry of plants and animals. At 23, he earned his Ph. D with honors. Which can be inferred about Albert from the passage? Answer: He lived up to more than 100 years. Weekend Miracles Weekend Miracles give children aged 9 and older in the Children's Center the opportunity to visit a host family who partners the child to find the child a permanent family. The host family arranges activities that the child will enjoy and introduces the child to their circle of friends--in order to develop a lasting connection with someone. Organization: Kidsave International Location: the United States Duration: 2 days to 6 weeks Web Designer Needed We need the skills of a Web designer to help us redesign our website. The project will be fun and fulfilling, and give much needed visibility to our grass-roots projects that are serving children and mothers in every corner of the world. Organization: Children's Fund Location: the United States Duration: 3 weeks to 2 months Living Miracles Doctors and dentists are needed as volunteers at Shechen Medical Clinic in Nepal for two months or longer. In Tibet, we need doctors for only 1-2 months. Dentists can come for one month or longer. Please understand that modern conveniences are not available here. Organization: Dilgo Khyentse Fellowship Location: Nepal Duration: 21 days to 6 years Teaching English to Children in India The Salus Foundation, Inc. needs help from volunteers, teachers, college students or recent college graduates trained in ESL, or who are willing to be trained in ESL to teach English to the students at the Sulaxim School. Organization: The Salus Foundation, Inc. Location: India Duration: 6 weeks to 9 months Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Cameroon In Defense of Animals in Africa needs help from highly motivated, mature volunteers who care about the conservation of great apes and are willing to live in an isolated, challenging, French-speaking environment for six months to benefit our future generation. Organization: In Defense of Animals in Africa Location: Cameroon Duration: 6 months Which of the following is suitable for John, an American college student, who wants to learn about the lives of children in other countries? Answer: Teaching English to Children in India A poor man has an orange tree in his garden. There are many fine oranges on it. He finds one of the oranges much bigger than the others. It is as big as a ball. the poor man takes the orange to the king. The king is very happy. He gives him a lot of money. A rich man hears of this. He takes his gold cup to the king. He hopes to get much more money from the kind. The king likes the cup very much. He says, "This cup is very nice. I'm going to show you something nicer. Please take this orange." The rich man is very angry and throws the orange away. The rich man wants _ form the king. Answer: more money When a handheld video game runs out of power, all you have to do is plug it in and charge it up. Within a few years, some of you might do the same thing with mom's car. Automobile companies are developing vehiclesthat will plug into electricsockets , just like many laptops, digitalcameras, cell phones and small video game players do. Called "plug-inhybrids ," these cars will get most of their power from electricity. Their drivers will rarely haveto stop at gas stations. The technology is more than just cool. In our automobile-filled world, plug-in vehicles could reduce the amount of gasoline we use. That gas is made from crude oil, which has been kept rising in cost. Plus, driving around in these hybrids may even help the environment. Gas-burning cars produce a lot of carbon dioxide, a type of greenhouse gas. These gases stay in the atmosphere, where theytrapheat and cause global warming. The first company-produced plug-in hybrids could hitthe roads by 20l0. But engineers still have a lot of work to do to make the technology practical and inexpensive. Batteries are the biggest challenge. In the plug-in-hybrid world, Li-ion batteries are getting the most attention. These batteries can store a large amount of energy in a small package, and they last a ly long time between charges. Li-ion batteries are standard in laptops, cell phones, heart devicesand similarportabledevices. But because cars are so big and heavy, it would still require a suitcase-sized Li-ion battery to power about l2km of driving. What's more, the batteries are extremely expensive. "A car filled with batteries could go a long distance," says Ted Bohn, an electrical engineer in prefix = st1 /Chicago. "But it couldn'thaul any people, and it would cost $l00,000." So researchers need to figure out how to make batteries smaller and cheaper, among other questions. "The answers don't exist yet," Bohn says. "As a kid I thought someone someplace knows the answer to everything. All of these questions haven't been decided. That's what engineering is about -- making a guess, running tests and fine-tuningresults." From the passage, we can learn _ . Answer: some problems about "plug-in hybrids" remain to be done
Ben lived in the same house as I did, on the same floor, his door facing mine; we often saw each other, and I knew how he lived when he was at home. And at home it was the same story: dressing-gown, nightcap, closed windows, locked doors, and -'Oh, I hope nothing bad will happen!' Vegetarian food is not good for him, yet he could not eat meat, so he ate freshwater fish with butter--not a vegetarian dish, yet one could not say that it was meat. He did not keep a female servant for fear people might think evil of him, but had as cook an old man of sixty, called Alan, who had once been an officer's servant and could cook after a fashion. This Alan was usually standing at the door with his arms folded; with a deep sigh, he would _ always the same thing: "there are plenty of them about nowadays!" Why didn't Ben keep a female servant? Answer: Because he was afraid of other people's opinion about him. Which statement is true about the particles of a liquid compared to the particles of a gas? Answer: Particles of a liquid are slower and closer together. An echo is produced by what type of reflection of sound source? Answer: Single Dear Volunteers, The service you will provide to elderly individuals in Abilene as a Meals on Wheels volunteer is deeply appreciated. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the many miles you will travel and all of the hours you will contribute to help make this one of the best programs in the entire state. We have our staff members make a home visit before adding each person to the program and try to visit everyone at least once every year. That is hardly enough, and we depend on your contact a great deal! It is important that you report back when you do not get an answer to your knock on the door. The person inside may be hurt or ill. They may be in hospital or out of town and fail to inform us. If they are frequently absent, we may need to determine if they still need meals. If you find someone with a medical emergency, please call 911 to request medical assistance, and then call the Meals on Wheels office. If you find someone who needs assistance other than for a medical emergency, please call the Meals on Wheels office at 6725050, and we will try to find the appropriate agency or individual to call. Let us know when a certain person needs extra food. We have a food preparation room of shelf stable items to share with them. Please feel free to take a few magazines when you deliver meals. Many of those we serve cannot afford magazines and enjoy reading. If someone is interested in getting books from the Abilene Public Library, let us know. We can sign them up for the Books on Wheels program. Call if you smell gas strongly when you deliver meals, or if someone needs a space heater, a blanket, or an electric fan. Please convey all needs to us, and we will try to see that they are met. Some of the elderly people who we offer our service may have cancers, liver diseases, AIDS, etc. If you do not want to deliver meals to the people with certain types of health problems, such as these, please let us know. Sincerely, Betty L. Bradley, LBSW, Executive Director Why does the author write this letter? Answer: To tell volunteers what they are tasked with. Spiderman is one of the most famous comic book heroes of all time. He was created by Stan Lee in 1963 and was first introduced to the world in the pages of Marvel Comic Books. Spiderman's story is the story of Peter Parker, a child who lost his parents and lives with his aunt and uncle. Peter is a shy, quiet boy wearing glasses and has few friends. One day, on a high school class trip to a science lab, he gets bitten by a special spider. Soon Peter realizes he has amazing powers: he is as strong and quick as a spider and also has a type of sixth sense. He no longer needs his glasses and he can use his super power to fly through the city streets! Remembering something his Uncle Ben has told him _ ,Peter decides to use his powers to fight against enemies who do cruel things to people. And so, Spiderman is born. Life is not easy for Peter even though he is a superhero. He is in love with Mary Jane but he can't tell her about his amazing powers. Besides, his best friend Harry hates Spiderman! Peter is also short of money and time. He has to sell photos of Spiderman (himself!) to a newspaper and he keeps losing his other jobs because he's so busy saving people! Yet he has to fight against different kinds of cruel enemies. Who created spiderman ? Answer: Stan Lee.
I recently read about a wonderful act of kindness. It is about the country singer, Jan Howard, and it happened in the mid 1950s. You can read about it in her autobiography , Sunshine and Shadow. She suffered a lot with her three children, two of whom were babies. She was forced to leave her husband because he didn't care about the family. At one point she suffered a nervous breakdown due to his cruel and uncaring behavior. She took her children with her and decided to leave their home, but didn't know her destination. This all took place in a small town in Kansas, called Frontenac. She had very little gas in the tank and no money at all and she didn't even manage to make it out of Frontenac. As she used up the gas she got into a panic . She then went to a house, not knowing the owner. She "put her pride in her pocket" and went to the door. After she explained her situation to an old lady who answered the door, the lady asked her husband to help Jan carry the children into the house. These kind people allowed her to stay for two weeks until she received some money in the mail from a . They fed and cared for Jan and her children. This is one of the most exciting acts of kindness I have ever come across in my fifty years. These angels were named Henry and Sarah and they would always be warmly remembered by me for what they did for Jan and her children. What happened to Jan Howard in Frontenac? A. She found a friendly couple as she had expected. B. She didn't have enough money to go on with her journey. C. She couldn't live with her children. D. She suffered a lot because her husband left her. Answer: B. She didn't have enough money to go on with her journey. Warm water freezes more quickly than cold water. Sir Francis Bacon said that almost four hundred years ago. But few people believed him until 1970. In that year Canadian scientist Geoge Kell proved the English physicist was right. Dr Kell filled one open bowl with cold water. He filled another with warm water. He put both bowls to the same low temperature. The warm water froze first. The lack of covers on the bowls was the secret . Some of the warm water changed into vapor. It evaporated into the air. This meant that less of the warm water was left to freeze. And so the warm water froze faster than the cold water. Most people didn't believe Bacon because warm water is _ . A. further from freezing temperature than cold water B. quicker to evaporate than cold water C. able to flow faster than cold water D. a little harder than colder water Answer: A. further from freezing temperature than cold water Here are some news from China Daily in February, 2016. 1. Air quality in 271 out of 338 prefecture-level or above cities failed to meet national standards on the Chinese New Year Eve to 6 am the next morning on Feb 8, primarily because of pollution caused by firecrackers . 2. According to data released by CCTV, the Spring Festival Gala was watched on TV domestically by 690 million views while 138 million people watched it online. 3. Kung Fu Panda 3 and The Mermaid<<>> were very popular movies during the Spring Festival. But The Mermaid has earned more than 2 billion yuan after nine days in Chinese mainland theaters. It is expected to break the box office records Fast & Furious 7<<7>> and Monster Hunt<<>> set on the Chinese mainland to become the highest earning film in China's film history. 4. After the universal two-child policy, China will have a baby boom. Especially Chinese people have traditionally believed babies born in the Year of the Monkey to be smart and confident, due to their love of the animal because it is cute and resembles humans in many ways. Which movie can become the highest earning film in China's film history? A. Kung Fu Panda 3. B. The Mermaid. C. Fast & Furious 7. D. Monster Hunt. Answer: B. The Mermaid. When next year's crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, they'll be joined by a new face: Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost of Yale, who'll become Oxford's vice-chancellor----a position equal to university president in America. Hamilton isn't the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc. have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Higher education has become a big and competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it's gone global. Yet the talent flow isn't universal. High-level personnel tend to head in only one direction: outward from America. The chief reason is that American schools don't tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university's budget. "We didn't do any global consideration," says Patricia Hayes, the board's chair. The board finally picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a particularlly American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity. Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student numbers. The decline in government support has made fund-raising an increasingly necessary ability among administrators , and has hiring committees hungry for Americans. In the past few years, well-known schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen "a major strengthening of Yale's financial position." Of course, fund-raising isn't the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind to promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices. What is the chief consideration of American universities when hiring top-level administrators? A. The political correctness. B. Their ability to raise funds. C. Their fame in academic circles. D. Their administrative experience. Answer: B. Their ability to raise funds. In 1991, Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that it was officially changing its name to "KFC" as well as updating its packaging and logo with a more modern look. The public relations reason was that health-conscious consumers associated the word "fried" with "unhealthy", causing some of them to completely avoid the wide variety of "healthy" menu items. The new title and image were designed to attract customers to a restaurant now offering foods branded as "better for you". It sounded good, but the real reason behind the shift to KFC had nothing to do with critical consumers. In 1990, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, trapped in debt, took the unusual step of trade marking its name. Therefore, anyone using the word "Kentucky" for business reasons would have to obtain permission and pay licensing fees to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was an unusual and brilliant scheme to lighten government debt, but it was also one that alienated one of the most famous companies ever associated with Kentucky. The Kentucky Fried Chicken chain refused as a matter of principle to pay royalties on a name they had been using for four decades. After a year of fruitless talks, Kentucky Fried Chicken changed their name instead, introducing new packaging and products to hide the real reasons behind the change of the name. Kentucky fried Chicken was not the only one who bravely refused to give in. The name of the most famous horse race in North America, held every year at Churchill Downs, was changed to "The Run for the Roses" for similar reasons. In November 2006, KFC and the State of Kentucky finally reached a settlement over the use of the trademarked word "Kentucky", and the restaurant chain announced it would be reusing its former name of "Kentucky Fried Chicken". The Commonwealth of Kentucky trademarked its name to _ . A. develop American culture B. be alienated from the famous companies C. raise money to pay the government debt D. make Kentucky known throughout the world Answer: C. raise money to pay the government debt
Question: The Hunan Satellite TV (HNTV) show "Where are we going, Dad?" is a big hit. Many famous stars brought their children to a strange village alone, and they had to spend 72 hours with their children there. The program fully showed us a modern version of the "how to be a good father". As the young parents today are too busy to take care of their children, this new form of"Lost on the way"played by nanny daddy and cute kids triggered a lot of people's emotional resonance . Both the kids and their parents will find that their hearts are being drawn closer. But this kind of feeling has just proved that there is a big spiritual barrier between the modern parents and children. The TV shows like "Children are hard to support!", "Where are we going, Dad?", "hot mom" and "cute kids" are becoming more and more popular. All of these show the new parents' confusion in children's education and the appeal for the balance between career and family. In real life, on the one hand, the young parents feel helpless because they are too busy to accompany their children under the pressures of work and life; on the other hand, they continue to do so. The data collected by HNTV show that nearly two-thirds of their audience are female, among whom 36% are aged from 25 to 34. We can imagine such a scene that one evening a young mother is watching the show with her young children, while her husband is still at work or trapped in socializing, or maybe is just playing computer games in the bedroom. The story of a child without the company of father is still going on. In fact, it is sometimes the same to mothers. In a modern family, it is often the old who take the responsibility for raising a child. The participation of mother in the children's education is also very low. It is just this kind of confusion where the parents have gone in the modern family education, and where the parents will guide their children to go that "Where are we going, Dad?" shows us. If a child wants to grow up healthily and safely into a modern citizen with independent personality and free spirit, it is very important for him or her to follow the parents who serve as their first teacher. Maybe this is the real reason why such kind of TV programs could get hot. The truth is that children will go where their parents go, and society will go where the children go. Which of the following can be inferred in the passage? A. Parents shouldn't entirely leave the education of children to the old. B. 36% of the audience of the program are female aged from 25-34. C. The program shows us the confusion where the parents and children will go to play. D. In a modern family it is often mothers who are responsible for raising a child. Answer: A Question: Two of the most dangerous storms which hit America are hurricanes and tornadoes. They are very much feared by anyone who may live in the path of their destruction and cause millions of dollars of damage to life and property every year. If one should travel inland across the Great Plains and the Prairie states of America, one will mostly not experience a hurricane, but there is another kind of storm in the Midwest which is equally feared. It is called a tornado. Tornados are violent low-pressured storms with an intense updraft near their center which is capable of lifting quite heavy objects from the ground. A tornado,therefore, is a dark, funnel-shaped cloud containing violently rotating air. It can pick up trees and cars right into the air and even uplift heavier objects such as homes and railway cars. Like a vacuum cleaner across a rug, it sucks up into anything which may lie in its path. These storms occur most often during the summer months and are noticeable by their strong wind and lack of rain. The sky turns black as dust is sucked up into the air. Tornadoes travel normally around 60 kilometers per hour and the winds can reach 800 kilometers per hour in the most violent storms. Tornados are most frequent in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and especially in the central plains area of the Mississippi basin where about 150 occur each year. Tornados may also strike the southern states in winter and have even seen known to develop in the northeast. Both hurricanes and tornados cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year. Today they can be predicted more easily than in the past, but they cannot be stopped or ignored. When they come, they must be endured with the hope that one survives their fury and wraths. A tornado can be compared to _ . A. a washing machine B. a jet plane C. a fire fighting truck D. a vacuum cleaner Answer: D Question: My name is Zhang Lin. Today is my birthday. I am nine years old. Mom and Dad get a big cake for me. I like it very much. It is on the table now. There are some other things on the table, too. Such as apples, oranges, juice, chicken and some fish. I'm thirsty now. I want a bottle of orange juice. My friends Li Fan and Bing Jie are coming. They are knocking at the door. I have no time to drink. I must open the door now. Lin Fan and Bing Jie are Zhang Lin's _ . A. sisters B. cousins C. classmates D. friends Answer: D Question: Ransom Myers of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia warned, using solid science and careful analysis, of the dangers of overfishing. _ and he wasn't afraid to report bad news. As the Guelph Mercury reported, the 54-year-old biologist, originally from Mississippi, was known for his research and warnings about the extinction of marine life around the world. He developed a passion for marine protection during his days in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, where he worked for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans at a time when the industry was watching the collapse of the cod fishery. He became, says the Guelph Mercury, a lone, unpopular voice in the discussion about the cause of the collapse, insisting overfishing was the main factor. The world was spending its energy fighting over the few fish left instead of cutting catch limits before it was too late. He warned governments, the fishing industry and consumers, that unless commercial fishing was reduced, many large marine species would become extinct, leading to economic disruptions, food shortages, and lasting damage to marine ecosystems. He said his conclusions were shocking because people had lost sight of the true effect of the declines and they did not look back far enough in history. In other words, he said, "We've forgotten how big fish used to be and how many of them once lived in the sea." Ransom Myers was known for his scientific work in _ . A. physics B. chemistry C. biology D. economics Answer: C Question: Mr Brown was going away for a week. Before he left, he said to his son, "if anyone asks for me, you can tell him that your father has been out for doing something, and will be back in a week, then be sure to ask him to sit down for a cup of tea." "OK, Dad," said his son. But he was afraid his son couldn't remember this, he wrote these words down on a piece of paper and gave it to him. His son put it into his small pocket, took it out and looked at it every now and then. Four days passed, but no one came to see his father. The boy thought that there was no man to come and that the piece of paper was of no more use for him, so he burnt it that evening The next afternoon, someone knocked at the door. The boy opened it. A man was standing at the door and said, "Where is your father?" The boy put his hand into his pocket at once and looked for the piece of paper. He could not find it. He suddenly remembered he had burnt it, so he shouted, "No more." The man was very surprised. He asked, "No more? I met your father last week. When did it happen?" "Burnt yesterday evening." What was burnt? _ . A. The piece of paper B. Mr Smith C. The visitor D. The boy Answer: A
What makes sure that the tips of your toes have enough of the gas that plants put off? A your circulatory system B your pancreas C warm socks D your nervous system Answer: A. your circulatory system Many young people want to become pop-stars. It is their great ambition in life. They think pop-stars earn a lot of money, they lead interesting and exciting lives, thousands of fans love them, and they become famous! Yes, but first they must become stars. Most performers star life with a group. This is the pattern nowadays. But there are many groups and competitions are hard. Groups appear and disappear almost overnight. Only a small number survive. Almost without exception they have to work very hard before they reach the top. And very few reach the top and stay there. In England there are perhaps thirty or so groups at the top. Most of these do not earn so much money, perhaps 500 pounds each time they perform. What's more, they have quite a lot of expenses . They have to pay a manager, for example. He is the key person in their lives and takes about 20% of their earnings-perhaps more. Then there are their clothes, their instruments and their van. Sometimes they are still playing for the last two items. And don't forget, they have to travel a great deal-sometimes 2,000 miles in one week. At times they even sleep in their van instead of a hotel, just to save money. So now, what do you think? Are pop-stars so rich? And do they have such exciting lives? The writer makes us believe _ . A it is pleasant to become a pop-star B if you work very hard in pop groups, you will reach the top C pop-stars are neither too rich nor too happy D general persons had better not dream of pop-stars Answer: C. pop-stars are neither too rich nor too happy One of the strongest arguments for the raising of the school leaving age(ROSLA)has been that it will bring us some way nearer to "equality of opportunity". Many people like to think of our present system of schooling as providing plenty of steps up the ladder of success for clever children. It would be good to think that no one who is really bright can be missed out when the state system is obviously so complete. It is obvious, for instance, that many children from less wealthy homes reach university or do well in other ways. Unfortunately we now have plenty of proofs that many children of every level of ability do much less well than they could. For instance, during the years of national military service it was possible to test the intelligence of all males 18 to 20 year old. Half of those soldiers who were placed in the two highest ability groups had left school at 15. It has also been shown that the percentage of working class children going to university is almost the same now as it was in 1939. One study of 5,000 children from birth to 21 years old shows that up to half the bright pupils from working class homes left school when they reached 16 years old. Moreover, there is no difference in intelligence between the sexes, but far more boys than girls stay in education after 16. It is clear from this and many other proofs that many children are still leaving school too early to benefit from the prizes--money, social respectability, and interesting jobs--which higher education gives. It is clear too that the reasons why such children leave have much to do with their social background. Their parents often need the extra money another money-earner would bring in; they don't value education for itself because their own was probably dull and unhappy. It is not so much that they force their sons and daughters to leave school, rather that they tend to say, "it's up to you". People would like to think that A equal numbers of poor and wealthy children reach university B those with the least money get the best education C intelligent children are always selected by the system D only really clever children do well Answer: C. intelligent children are always selected by the system Puddles on a sidewalk are evaporating quickly. What most likely causes the puddles to evaporate? A heat B clouds C air D water Answer: A. heat The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light, I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome stuff they call "books". I was going to have my examination the next day. "When can I go to bed?" I asked myself. I didn't answer. In fact I dared not. The clock struck twelve. "Oh, dear!" I cried. "Ten more books to read before I can go to bed!" We pupils are the most _ creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy. The clock struck one. I was quite desperate now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, "Oh God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen." My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep. Reviewing his lessons that night didn't help him because _ . A it was too late at night B he was very tired C his eyelids were so heavy that he couldn't keep them open D he hadn't studied hard before the examination Answer: D. he hadn't studied hard before the examination
ON a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain? Baymax, the plus-sized white robot, asks the question each time he detects his patient's pain. Considering that he is hardly like a typical Marvel superhero, how could this robotic caregiver from Big Hero 6 have stolen viewers' hearts and taken home this year's best animation Oscar? Set in fictional San Fransokyo, the film follows Hiro, a 14-year-old robotics genius . After his brother dies, he goes on a journey to save his city from an evil masked man with his brother's invention, Baymax. Baymax was named "Disney's most straightforwardly adorable character" in years by The Telegraph. He has a pure white pear-shaped body and stumpy elephant legs. And his eyes -just two black dots with a line through them - can blink quickly or slowly. Baymax's physical appearance "works with his personality because he's purely good and naive ," co-director Don Hall told The Hollywood Reporter. Sometimes Baymax is awkward. Moving in tight spaces gets challenging with his potbelly . And when his batteries run low, he behaves like an amusing drunk. "This means that he is not at all intimidating and is easy to like," commented The Straits Times in Singapore. Baymax is a comforting friend, the kind that perhaps everyone needs. After he diagnoses Hiro with feeling sorrow, he says: "Physical comfort helps too," and pulls Hiro into a hug. He pats his head, saying: "There, there." The team's car crashes into the water at one point, and they have to walk shivering back home. Baymax notices that everyone's body temperatures are low, so he turns on his internal heaters. Everyone cuddles up with him. "This is like spooning with a warm marshmallow ," says Fred, one of the characters. One minute, he is used as a bouncy castle , and the next he transforms into a superhero. To fight against the villain, Hiro upgrades Baymax so that the robot can attack and fly. The robot has a hard time figuring out these new skills, but after he realizes that Hiro is happy with his improvement, he immediately becomes an expert. "The treatment is working,"he says. Tencent Entertainment calls the amazing Baymax a "perfect companion"."He is quiet, clumsy, and adorable. But at important times, he steps up and stops at nothing to protect his friends from harm, even if it means that he has to sacrifice his life. This is an idealized relationship in harsh reality," the site commented. What does Baymax do when he discovers Hiro is sad? A. He tries to amuse him by behaving awkwardly. B. He leaves him alone. C. He comforts him with a hug. D. He advises him to go for a walk. Answer: C. He comforts him with a hug. Hello! My name is Emma. My favorite day is Friday. Do you know why? We have four classes in the morning. We have a music lesson on Friday morning. It is my favorite subject. I also like other three lessons in the morning. They are English, Chinese and math. In the afternoon we usually have three classes, but on Friday afternoon we only have two classes P.E. and oral English. P.E. teacher is my favorite teacher because her lessons are very interesting. Emma's favorite day is _ . A. Sunday B. Saturday C. Friday D. Thursday Answer: C. Friday Huaihua Foreign Language School Lin Nan, Teacher of English Yingfeng Street, Huaihua, China Tel:0745-2709348 Fax:0745-2709756 E-mail: Linan@21cn.com Bp:1240822018Zip code:418000 Daqing Children's Hospital Liu Hong, Doctor 12 Xingling Road, Changchun, Jilin 130027 Tel:0431-5645972 13704358529(mobile) Fax:0431-5768904 E-mail:cclh@163.com Red Star Farm Zhang Hui, Farmer Shangping Village, Zhejiang, 419100 Tel: 0745-6826194 13973098479(mobile) Bp:1270803706 Tiantai Taxi Company Yang Jun, Driver 235St. Tongzhi, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 31007 Tel:0571-7038385 Fax:0571-7065834 E-mail:hzyi@163.com Bp:1992301636 If you have some questions about your health, please send an E-mail to _ . A. Linan@21cn.com B. cclh@163.com C. hzyi@163.com D. hhmx@163.com Answer: B. cclh@163.com He was 11 years old and went fishing every chance he got from the dock at his family's cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. On the day before the bass season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, catching sunfish and perch with worms. Then he tied on a small silver lure and practiced casting. The lure struck the water and caused colored ripples in the sunset, then silver ripples as the moon rose over the lake. When his pole doubled over, he knew something huge was on the other end. Finally, he very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a perch . The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish. Then the father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 P.M.--- two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy. "You'll have to put it back, son," he said. "Dad!" cried the boy. "There will be other fish," said his father. "Not as big as this one," cried the boy. He looked around the lake. No other fishermen or boats were anywhere around in the moonlight. He looked again at his father. Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could know everything by his father's clear voice that the decision could not be changed. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass and lowered it into the black water. The creature swished its powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected that he would never again see such a great fish. That was 34 years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect in New York City. His father's cabin is still there on the island in the middle of the lake. He takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock. He was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he landed that night long ago. But he does see that same fish---again and again---every time he comes up against a question of ethics . Why did the father ask his son to put the perch back? A. Because the father disliked the perch. B. Because the father was afraid of being fined. C. Because the ethics must be observed. D. Because the son was more experience in fishing than his father. Answer: C. Because the ethics must be observed. When 18th-century scientists first came across Australia's platypus , they thought it was a trick. It is not surprising that the platypus made people confused. This funny-looking animal has feet and is a kind of warm-blooded mammal. While other mammals usually keep their blood at around 37 degrees, the platypus has a lower body temperature of 32 degrees. As to its appearance, the platypus'mouth is not really like ducks'at all; its mouth actually looks a bit soft. The platypus closes its eyes when swimming. It uses its mouth to pick up outside information made by the creatures underwater. Strangest of all, the platypus is a mammal that can lay eggs. And there is only one other kind of mammal that can lay eggs, the echidna of Australia. Both the platy-pus and the echidna lay soft-shelled eggs, and both feed their young with their own milk that comes out of their skin. These animals also walk in a way that is similar to crocodiles , with legs on the sides of their bodies rather than under them. Though pretty, in a special way, the platypus is actually one of the few mammals that are poisonous. A male platypus has knife-like bones on its back legs which have enough poison to kill a dog. The platypus has the honor of being one of the oldest mammals in the world. Until the early 20th century, it was hunted for its fur, but the situation has changed. Although the platypus is easily affected by pollution, it is not under any immediate threat. Which of the following is NOT used as a comparison with the platypus in the text? A. The crocodile. B. The echidna. C. The duck. D. The dog. Answer: D. The dog.
An African farmer had heard tales about other farmers who had made millions of dollars by discovering diamond mines. These tales so excited the farmer that he could hardly wait to sell his farm and go prospecting for diamonds himself. So he sold the farm and spent the rest of his life wandering the African continent, searching unsuccessfully for the shining stone that brought such high prices on the markets of the world. Finally, broke and worn out, he threw himself into a river and drowned. Meanwhile, back at the farm, the man who had bought his farm happened to be crossing a small river on the property one day when he saw something shining at the bottom of the river. He picked it up. It was a sparkling stone - a good size stone - and, admiring it, he later put it on his fireplace mantel as an interesting curiosity. Several weeks later, a visitor admired the stone, looked closely at it, lifted it in his hand and nearly fainted. He asked the farmer if he knew what he'd found. When the farmer said no, that he thought it was just a piece of crystal, the visitor told him he had found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered. The farmer was astonished. He told the man that his small river was full of these brilliant stones, and his farmland was covered with them. Not all were as large, perhaps, as the one on his mantel, but they were sprinkled generously throughout his property. Needless to say, the farm the first farmer had sold, so that he could search for a diamond mine, turned out to be the most productive diamond mine on the entire African continent. Why did the first farmer sell his farm? A. He had made a fortune by selling diamonds. B. He was tired of his life as a farmer. C. He wanted to make more money elsewhere. D. He was told that there was no diamonds on his farm. Answer: C Science Daily--Kids may roll their eyes when their mothers asks them about their school day, but answering her may actually help them learn. New research from Vanderbilt University reveals that children learn the solution to a problem best when they explain it to their mom. "We knew that children learn well with their moms or with a peer, but we did not know if that was because they were getting feedback and help," Bethany Rittle-Johnson, the study's lead author and assistant professor of psychology at Vanderbilt's Peabody College of education and human development, said. "In this study, we just had the children's mothers listen, without providing any assistance. We've found that by simply listening, a mother helps her child learn." Rittle-Johnson believes the new finding can help parents better assist their children with their schoolwork, even when they are not sure of the answer themselves. Although the researchers used children and their mothers in the study, they believe the same results will hold true whether the person is the child's father, grandparent, or other familiar persons. "The basic idea is that it is really effective to try to get kids to explain things themselves instead of just telling them the answer," she said. "Explaining their reasoning, to a parent or perhaps to other people they know, will help them understand the problem and apply what they have learned to other situations. We saw that this simple act of listening by mom made a difference in the quality of the child's explanations and how well they could solve more difficult problems later on. According to the passage, a mom had better _ . A. give a kid some help when he is explaining his problem B. just listen while a kid is explaining his problem C. work together with a kid toward the solution to a problem D. leave a kid alone when he meets a problem at school Answer: B Currently, Antarctica is the coldest and driest place on Earth. Paleontologists have found dinosaur fossils in rock layers below the ice. Based on this evidence, which is a reasonable conclusion about the climate of Antarctica in the past? A. Antarctica has always had the same climate as at present. B. At some time in the past, Antarctica was a hot, dry desert. C. At some time in the past, Antarctica was much warmer and wetter. D. At some time in the past, Antarctica was colder and wetter than it is now. Answer: C The Oxford English Dictionary (OED, ) is thinking of adding the Chinese word tuhao to its 2014 edition . The word has become popular in China during the past few months to describe newly rich people who spend money in extravagant(,)ways. Tuhao has in Western countries, too, to describe similar people in their countries. The adoption of the word by foreign countries is an example of China's spreading influence in the world not just economically, but also socially and culturally. People are paying attention to what is happening in China and are picking up some Chinese words in the process, especially those words that express unique Chinese ideas that cannot be easily translated into English. The OED is also thinking of adding hukou and dama to the already 120 Chinese words in its dictionary. Hukou refers to China's system of residency permits and dama refers to middle-aged Chinese women whose gold buying habits influence the global gold markets. The news that the OED was adding these words has met with some criticism . Some people say the words embarrass China, but others insist that in a globalized society it's natural for words to spread and be adopted elsewhere. In fact, a word like tuhao expresses the humor of China. It's easy to pronounce and very accurate at poking fun at rich people who have more money than taste. _ may be adopted in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014 according to the passage. A. Tuhao B. Hukou C. Dama D. All above Answer: D Compulsive shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping. Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the "shop-till-you-drop" habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating. Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress . "It becomes a problem when you are out of control," psychology lecturer Neville Blampied said. "When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? Some people eat chocolate cake and ice cream. Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop." Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money. Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as monomania. Few studies have been done on the problem. An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson, attracted 10 replies. But the problem, said Mr. Wilson, is "clearly not rare". He thinks that compulsive shopping should be treated with drugs. "As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties," Mr. Wilson said. Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit. "Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better," he said. "You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problems and are very sensitive to short-term benefits," he said. The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions. The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management. "You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions. Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what's making you feel that way," Mr. Wilson said. Which of the following is considered important in treating compulsive shoppers? A. Teaching them to manage their money better. B. Teaching them to understand their emotions. C. Persuading them not to draw money from the bank. D. Treating them with right drugs. Answer: B
One of the worst feelings you have as a professional athlete is the feeling after losing a game to a team that you should have beaten. That happened last night against the lowly Boston Celtics. They had only won 13 games the whole year and were really struggling. We had just come off a very good win against the Orlando Magic on the road and were feeling good about ourselves. The day did not start out good for us when we learned that T-Mac was going to miss the game with the flu. When you lose your best players (Yao, T-Mac) everyone must play a little harder and do a little bit more on the floor. We inserted Bonzi Wells into the lineup (he was the only one to have a good game for us), in place of T-Mac. It was a nasty game. We are usually one of the best three point shooting teams in the NBA and we only made 1 of 22 three point shots! I have never seen that happen. Never! Rafer Alston, Luther Head, and me combined to shoot 5 of 33 from the field. Ouch! You aren't going to win too many games like that. Even as poorly as we shot the ball, we STILL had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter but failed to make the winning plays that you must make to leave the floor victorious. In the locker room after the game, everybody felt terrible. When we play a bad game, we feel that we let our teammates down. There is a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach when you leave the gym and you just want to go home and not talk to anyone. It is a terrible feeling, but it is a feeling that makes you want to try harder and do better the next time. I'll talk to you guys later. Shane What is the passage mainly about? A. To blame the team for losing the game. B. To tell the readers about the feeling after losing the game C. To explain why they played poorly in the game. D. To blame Yao Ming and T--Mac for being absent from the game. Answer: B. To tell the readers about the feeling after losing the game Opposition is growing to the Berlin Zoo's plans to find a new home for Knut, the moneymaking celebrity polar bear whose popularity has been exploited by environmentalists and even Canadian tourism promoters. No longer cute, and just days before his second birthday, Knut will be given a new home that is expected to include a potential mating partner. The Berlin Zoo, facing the global economic crisis, can't afford the estimated $ 13 million it would take to acquire a female and a new home for them to share. "It's time for him to go--the sooner he gets a new home the better," said senior bear keeper Heiner Kloes. But some Berliners are beginning a campaign, collecting petition signatures and arguing that he's a tourist draw and a symbol as important as the Brandenburg Gate. "He means a lot to many people. When you're with him you forget your problems," Hartmut Wiedenroth, co-founder of the campaign, told Spiegel Online. Knut became an international celebrity in 2007, drawing huge crowds to his cage and _ sales of thousands of Knut toys and Knut-shaped candies. The Vancouver-based Canadian Tourism Commission made Knut a major part of its "Canada--Keep Exploring" campaign to draw tourists to the country-- and especially to polar bear country in northern Manitoba to see them in their natural habitat. Environmentalists also used the bear to promote the fight against global warming. But Knut's popularity diminished as his size increased to 210 kilograms, He was photographed at one point snapping at a child near his cage. In September his keeper, Thomas Doerflein, died of a heart attack. Doerflein, who became a celebrity himself after nursing the tiny ball of white fur when Knut's mother rejected him, had been re-assigned shortly after Knut's first birthday. Some animal rights critics said Knut has been showing unusually aggressive behavior because of his unnatural upbringing. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Doerflein, a celebrity of Germany B. Zoo says Knut must go C. The polar bear capital of the world D. Polar bears in Canada Answer: B. Zoo says Knut must go Sixteen-year-old Maria was waiting in line at the airport in Santo Domingo. She was leaving her native country to join her sister in the United States. She spoke English very well. Though she was very happy she could go abroad, she was feeling sad at leaving her family and friends. As she was thinking all about this, she suddenly heard the airline employee asking her to pick up her luggage and put it on the scales . Maria pulled and pulled. The bag was too heavy and she just couldn't lift it up. The man behind her got very impatient. He, too, was waiting to check in his luggage. "What's wrong with this girl?" He said, "Why doesn't she hurry up?" He moved forward and placed his bag on the counter, hoping to check in first. He was in a hurry to get a good seat. Maria was very angry, but she was very polite. And in her best English she said, "Why are you so upset? There are enough seats for everyone on the plane. If you are in such a hurry, why can't you give me a hand with my luggage?" The man was surprised to hear Maria speak English. He quickly picked up her luggage and stepped back. Everyone was looking at him with disapproval. Maria's story happened _ . A. when she was leaving America B. on her way back to Santo Domingo C. before she left the USA D. when she arrived at the airport Answer: D. when she arrived at the airport BEIJING--Apple Inc is one step closer to beginning sales of iPad2 tablet computers with cellular network compatibility for the first time in the Chinese mainland, where the consumer-electronics giant is _ an aggressive expansion. According to China's Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center, a device by Apple with third-generation high-speed wireless data capabilities was issued the network access license needed for the company to begin official sales in China.The device, listed under model number "A1396", is compatible with the 3G standard WCDMA, and would work with the cellular network operated by Apple's local iPhone partner, China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. China Unicom declined to comment. Apple already offers the 3G iPad2 in Hong Kong through its partners, but currently only offers Wi-Fi versions of the device in the Chinese mainland.Still, consumers in China, which according to research firm IDC surpassed the US as the world's largest PC market in the second quarter, have been purchasing 3G tablets through unofficial channels. Separately, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said Sept 6 that the company's first Hong Kong store, set to open this quarter, will be located in the city's central shopping and business district in the International Finance Center's upscale IFC mall, a commercial center and sightseeing spot along the city's waterfront.Wu also said that Apple is planning a new store in Shanghai later this quarter, which will be its biggest store in China.She declined to give more details or to comment on the 3G iPad2. Apple currently has four full-service Apple stores in the mainland, which receive the most traffic of any Apple stores in the world.The company otherwise relies on resellers to get its products into the market. The new stores reflect Apple's confidence in rising demand for its products such as smart phones and tablet computers.Sales in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan helped boost the company's third-quarter results, newly appointed Chief Executive Tim Cook said in July.China revenue surged six-fold to about $3.8 billion during the three months ended June 25. "This has been a substantial opportunity for Apple and I firmly believe that we're just scratching the surface right now," Cook said at the time, referring to strong sales in China."I see an incredible opportunity for Apple there." From China Daily 2011-09-08 According to the news, which of the following statements is true? A. WCDMA is not the only 3G standard in the world. B. Apple Inc sells its products in the market of the Chinese mainland all by its own stores. C. The consumers in China can only get iPad2 of Wi-Fi versions. D. Chinese mainland is the second largest PC market in this year's second quarter. Answer: A. WCDMA is not the only 3G standard in the world. It was a rainy day and James wanted to play. If he went outside to play, he would get wet. James' mother told him not to get wet because he might catch a cold. James went out to play, anyway. Outside, the cool rain kept falling. There were no other children for James to play with. The other children were all playing inside, where it was warm and dry. James found a puddle that had appeared in the mud. He found a piece of wood and pretended it was a turtle. He put the wooden turtle in the puddle and watched it float in a circle. This was not very fun. After one hour, James went back inside. When James went inside, he found his mother waiting. She had her hands on her hips and a serious look on her face. James was soaking wet! His mother made him change into dry clothes, and he was not to leave the house for the rest of the day. The next morning, the sun shone warm and bright, and the birds sang their morning songs. It was a beautiful day. When James woke up, he coughed. Then he sneezed. His body ached all over. James had a cold! James looked out the window and saw the neighbor children playing in their yards. They were having a lot of fun. James wanted to join them, but he was too sick. His mother was right. Who did James play with outside? A. A turtle B. Nobody C. The other children D. A piece of wood Answer: B. Nobody
Question: One day Mrs Black visited her family doctor, Mr Dodd. Mr Dodd was an old funny man with a beard. "What's the problem ?" the doctor asked her. "I am very worried about my son, Jake," Mrs Black said, "I can't stop him from betting. He spends all his money betting on horse races. And even worse he'll bet on everything. It doesn't matter what it is." The doctor said, "I've saved many people from gambling before. Send him to me." The next day Mrs Black sent her son to see the doctor. While they were talking , the boy was looking at the doctor's beard. Suddenly he said, "I bet you $ 50 that your beard is not a real one." "Oh, no, " the doctor said. "Can I pull your beard and find out ?" the boy said. The doctor thought this is a good way to teach him a lesson; so he said, "Ok, if my beard is real , you will have to pay me $ 50." The boy pulled it and soon found out it was real. The doctor laughed. Two days later the doctor telephoned Mrs Black, "I think I've saved your son." He told her the story. But Mrs Black said, "You're wrong. You've made him worse." "How can that be ?" the doctor asked . "Before he went to see you, he bet me $ 100 that you would ask him to pull your beard !" ,. Which of the following sentences isTRUE? A. Jake was badly ill and had to see the doctor. B. The writer tells us that children mustn't bet on horse races. C. Jake's problem was that he liked betting too much. D. The doctor himself liked gambling, too. Answer: C. Jake's problem was that he liked betting too much. Question: What is an example that ecosystems are an interconnected world? A. animals' numbers decreasing when food decreases B. animals' numbers increasing when predator numbers increase C. animals' numbers increasing when plants decrease D. animals' numbers decreasing when food increases Answer: A. animals' numbers decreasing when food decreases Question: First Man-Bear-Pig, and now global warming; it seems Al Gore never stops to surprise the world. Recently Al Gore produced the movie An Inconvenient Truthwhich explained the threats and told us how to control global warming. What it left out is that there is no proof that human activity is even causing global warming, let alone if global warming is even taking place. Global warming is the idea that greenhouse gases that shut in infra-red radiation in the earth' s atmosphere are becoming more powerful and heating our planet up. The theory is that if the planet continues to heat up the polar ice caps could melt and cover the earth in water. Over the last 100 years the Earth has increased one degree in temperature, and sea level has risen millimeters. Even though this "eye-opening" news is taking place, there is no clear proof saying that it is due to global warming. It could be just a regular weather pattern the earth is circulating. The polar ice caps have not grown or reduced in size since man began tracking them. Also the ground-based temperature has remained the same besides growing cities. In fact most clues support the idea that global warming is not taking place and human activity isn't causing any earth to melt down. Although Al Gore insists the world is on its way to certain destruction, the facts say otherwise. It seems that driving to work won' t lead to the doom ( ) of mankind, and the movie Water World won' t be happening any time soon. It is likely that Al Gore _ . A. is concerned about the threat of global warming B. holds that human doesn't cause global warming C. knows how to stop global warming successfully D. doesn't believe global warming is taking place Answer: A. is concerned about the threat of global warming Question: Students want to find out at which temperature bean plants grow tallest. Which science process skill would be used to find this temperature? A. inferring B. predicting C. measuring D. classifying Answer: C. measuring Question: One of my longest-running battles with my kids is about manners specifically,about whether it's necessary to send hand-written thank-you notes for gifts.I say yes,and my children have continued throughout their teens to write the notes.But they grumble that I'm out of step with the times. If a new BabyCenter poll is any guide, _ .A surprisingly large number of parents still insist that their children practice such old-fashioned manners as putting pen-to-paper to say thank you,treating adults with respect and addressing adults as "Mr., Mrs.or Miss."A majority of the 1,000 parents surveyed also said they insist at dinner that children keep napkins in their laps,ask to be excused from the table and refrain from talking with a full mouth. Among the reasons cited most often by parents,BabyCenter says,is that "the world is a more free-wheeling place,and they want to give their kids a stronger moral compass to guide them."This thinking was affirmed by 64%of those surveyed.And 58%say they see so many badly behaved kids around them that they're determined to raise their children differently. This poses a particular challenge for parents who work outside the home and must find a sitter, nanny or other child-care provider who will insist on the manners they consider most important. Pediatrician Perri Klass wrote recently in the New York Times about her annoyance at a rude,demanding child who was among her longtime patients.Although she veiled her injunctions to the mother in euphemisms ,talking to her about "setting limits,"Dr.Klass wrote,"I do pass judgment on kids with bad manners and so does every pediatrician I know."Rude kids make her wonder whether there is something wrong with the family,among other things,she says."The whole 'manners' concept might seem a bit odd,"she says,"until you recast it as 'social skills' a hot-button child-development issue,as I wrote in a recent column." Readers,what manners do you insist upon for your children? Has other kids' bad behavior led you to toughen your standards? Do the strict rules embraced by parents in the BabyCenter survey seem right,or too formal? According to Perri Klass,it can be inferred that_. A. it is hard to help the rude children to get rid of the bad manners B. parents ought to set up a good example for their children in good manners C. it is the society that should take on the responsibility to educate children D. parents and society don't have any influence over the rude children Answer: B. parents ought to set up a good example for their children in good manners
Genzeb Tibeb is very bright. At only 11 years old, her future is looking promising. She is ranked 2nd Out of 56 students at her govemment school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she has been seleeted for a special program because of her talent. She knows she is special and proudly shows off her certificate and book signifying her accomplishments in this special program. But her future hasn't always looked so bright. While her mother, Bekelech, sacrificed immensely for Genzeb, she would not have been able to continue sending her to school. When her husband died, Bekelech was the sole provider for their five children. In order for them to survive, she began the daily routine of walking approximately 8-10 miles a day collecting sticks to sell near her 8' x 10' home in Kichene. It wouldn't have been long before Genzeb would have been, forced to quit school in order to help her mom. But Bright Future changed all that. Genzeb has been at Bright Future for 3 years. Since Ethiopian schools let out early, Genzeb walks to the facility right after lunch. Because of her high ability, she even helps teach the younger children there, building confidence and locking in important foundational academic skills. There's also other meaningful opportunities Genzeb experiences which allow her eyes to be opened to the different opportunities that are available to her if she completes her studies. Field trips are one of her most favorite activities of all. She especially loved the one to Addis Ababa University. She knows it goes beyond fun trips, though. "I am happy because I get extra help for school from Bright Future," Genzeb shares. At so many levels, her involvement with Bright Future allows her to receive a better education, which she values. For one day she wants to help people in need by becoming a doctor. And now she knows, that with a lot of hard work, that dream might just become a reality. Which of the following things didn't Genzeb Tibeb clo on Bright Future ? Answer: Collecting and selling sticks. For the people living in the Nile Basin,the river is their life. This 6,825 km waterway,whose watershed covers three million square kilometers,flows through mountains,woodlands,lakes and deserts. Its potential for fishing,tourism and shipping is great-but so are its challenges. Water shortage,already serious in Egypt and Sudan,will soon influence several other countries in the watershed as well. Today,about 160 million people depend on the Nile River for their living. Within the next 25 years,the district's population is expected to double,adding to the demand brought about by growth in industry and agriculture. The frequent drought adds to the urgency. Water quality is also a problem. Precious soil is washed out to sea. Wastes from industry and agriculture create pollution. Higher concentrations of salt influence irrigated soils. Water-borne diseases remain unchecked. In areas where it's hot and damp, _ grow so fast that they choke off lakes,dams and other sections of the river,making it difficult for fishing and other businesses to move forward. Native people along the narrow area of farmland have watched the sand move closer day by day. They've seen the river change course,and their only source of water thickened with mud. They're very poor and have few choices. But a new program,the Nile Basin Initiative(NBI),is offering very practical assistance. The program is more than just a water-management project. It's a plan for the social and economic development of a vast district: it concentrates on the needs of the poorest of the poor and the environment that supports them. These are whole ecosystem problems,calling for united solutions .Half the Nile Basin's countries are among the world's poorest nations; yet,somehow,they must find the resources,skills and political will to overcome these challenges. What are the great challenges the Nile Basin faces? Answer: Water shortage and water quality. From a college designed specifically for high school students to one that doesn't provide students with grades, here are some of the country's most unique institutions. Berea College, Berea, Kentucky The first interracial, co-educational college in the South, Berea specializes in attracting students who may be otherwise unable to afford a college education. Berea students come from families with an average household income of $30,000, which is why the school's financial aid program is so important. Deep Springs College, Deep Springs, California Deep Springs, formerly an all-male school, has one of the smallest student bodies in the country at 26. The college accepts only 10% of its applicants, and maintains its own cattle herd. Students enjoy the school's isolated location -- 45 miles away from the nearest established town. Electricity is produced mainly through solar power, and the college sometimes even sells electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric. The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington At Evergreen, students don't receive traditional letter grades. Instead, professors issue narrative evaluations of students' work at the end of each term. The curriculum is structured around the "Coordinated Studies Program", which focuses on providing students with a well-rounded education across a number of different areas. The college sits on 1,000 breathtaking acres, a portion of it on Puget Sound. Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts Considered an "experimenting" college because of its constantly changing curriculum, Hampshire College doesn't feature a traditional grading system. Instead, the school requires students to complete three different divisions, which feature different classes. Once the project is completed, it's not given a grade, but a written evaluation, as other projects students complete throughout their time at Hampshire are. How are the students judged in Hampshire College? Answer: By evaluating their performance of three divisions. As a first -year teacher at a Christian school ,I was expecting my fifth grade students to be prefect , perfect in behavior , in attitude , and I even expected the home-life of each student to be nearly perfect . I found , of course , that these students were not different from the children I taught in public school .These kids had behavior problems , bad attitudes ,and some even had strikingly difficult family lives . One of my students in particular stands out in my mind .I'll call him Timothy for safety's sake. During the first day of class , I noticed that Timothy was different .Not only in physical appearance , but he also spoke strangely , as though a 35-year-old man were trapped inside his tiny , weak body .On many occasions , I heard Timothy speak of hate, how he hated his family . I observed Timohy for several months and read up on his background and searched for any clue that would lead me closer to understanding this child's strange behavior .Finally I was directed to Timothy's older brother's cheating in an exam and had taken his anger out on Timothy at home .Timothy's parents , in turn , had contacted the school, blaming them for Timothy's problems. I had written a letter to the administration asking that Timothy see a counselor . The school was in the process of contacting a counselor when Timothy was transferred to another school. His father hurried around my room collecting Timothy's things and left. That is the last we have seen or heard from Timothy. I was left with an empty desk and a broken heart. I cried for days afterwards. I felt as though I had done Timothy a _ ...I did not help him when he needed me. I still think about Timothy every day, and pray for him every morning. . From the passage we know that _ . Answer: The author felt guilty for not helping Timothy in time. In the summer of 1885, nine-year-old Joseph Meister was very ill. He had been wounded by a sick dog that had rabies , a very dangerous disease. His parents were told that there was probably only one man who could save Joseph's life----Louis Pasteur. When Pasteur was a young boy in France, he spent many hours every day with the chemist who lived in his small town. At that time, the chemist had to make all the medicines himself. Young Louis enjoyed watching the chemist as he worked and helped those people who came to him each day. As a school boy, Pasteur worked slowly and carefully. At first, his teachers thought that young Louis might be a slow learner. Through elementary school, high school, and college, Pasteur worked in the same thoughtful way. Then he became a college professor and a scientist , and he continued to work very carefully. Pasteur was studying about the germs that cause rabies when Joseph Meister became ill.In fact, Pasteur believed he had a medical treatment for rabies, but he had never given it to a person before. At first, Pasteur was afraid to treat Joseph, but the poor child was dying. Pasteur gave Joseph an inoculation every day for ten days. Slowly, the child became better. During his lifetime, Pasteur studied germs and learned how they cause diseases in animals and people. He developed vaccinations that prevent many of these diseases. On September 28,1895, Louis Pasteur passed away, at the age of 72. The work of this great man has been of great help to modern medicine. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: Louis Pasteur: a great scientist
Question: The Guidance Department at Burrville High School has a staff of eleven. Most of their work is done with the students. But the staff sees a lot of parents, too. "Parent meetings form a clear monthly pattern," says Mildred Foreman, Guidance Director. "This pattern stays much the same from year to year. The busy months are October, March and May." September starts rather slowly. Few parents come in. Most of them want to discuss the schedules. October brings many behaviour problems. Some parents are called in. Others come by themselves. Things quiet down in November. December is a quiet month. "It's the holiday," Ms. Foreman says. "People want to come in, I know, but they decide to wait until after New Year's Day." Report cards go home just before Christmas holidays. Bad marks bring parents in as school reopens. This happens again in March, another report card month. May is always the year's busiest month. That's when parents realize that their children might be held back . They come in to see if anything can be done before things are decided in June. In the sentence "The staff sees a lot of parents too." the word "see" can be replaced with " _ ". A. notice B. understand C. arrange D. meet Answer: D Question: Divorces in Japan have more than doubled, according to health ministry statistics. One in three Japanese marriages now ends in divorce. Atsuko Okano was in one of those failed marriages. Three years ago, she found herself alone in her 30s, with children to raise and a future full of question marks and social shame. But she also saw an opening, and became an advisor helping people like herself. "My husband was cheating on me," she recalled. 'I did everything to bring him back to me but it didn't work, so I _ him." Such frankness is a major characteristic of Japan's recently divorced. Divorced people - particularly woman - have long been looked down upon in Japan, where self-sacrifice and family stability are regarded as ideals. In the past, bored housewives remained bored. The security of the family unit was the most important thing. Now, young Japanese are increasingly choosing satisfaction in life over the demands of tradition, and more woman are financially independent. As a result, Japanese divorce rates are flying. Experts attribute this to the erosion of a long-standing double standard that granted divorced men respectability, but branded(gave somebody a bad name) divorced women as damaged goods. Over the past decade, growing numbers of highly educated and successful professional women have challenged that assumption(something taken for granted) by turning their backs on unhappy marriages and paying no attention to the taboo of divorce. The majority of divorce behavior now is started by women. This passage mainly talks about the fact that nowadays Japanese women _ . A. are granted respectability after they get divorced B. are becoming brave enough to challenge the taboo of divorce C. still consider the security of the family unit to be very important D. are becoming more financially independent Answer: B Question: Kate lives in London with her parents. She is a schoolgirl. Today is Kate's birthday and she's fifteen years old. Her father's name is Smith. He works in a hospital. People think he is a good doctor. Kate's mother is a nurse. She is a very good nurse. Kate has two brothers and a sister, and they study in China. Her elder brother speaks Chinese very well and has many friends there. He is a college student. But her younger brother and sister are middle-school students. Both of them are studying Chinese very hard and want to be teachers of Chinese in their country . What do her younger brother and sister want to be? A. Teachers of English B. Teachers of Chinese C. Teachers of maths D. Teachers of art Answer: B Question: Lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A couple of stone lions, a male and a female , can often be seen in front of the gates of old buildings. The male lion is on the left with his right paw on a ball, and the female on the right. And her left paw is touching a baby animal. The lion is the king in the animal world because he is powerful. The ball shows the country or the family will be together forever, and the baby animal with the female shows that you will have many children. The stone lions were also used to show the families were powerful. If you had no money or power, you couldn't put the stone lions in front of your houses. It was also popular to make bridges with stone lions. The best known of this is the Lugou Bridge (also as Marco Polo Bridge), built from 1189 to 1192. The stone lions on the bridge are most famous. Maybe there are 485 lions in all, maybe there are 498 or 501. A famous saying is that "the lions on the Lugou Bridge are uncountable ." Where do we often see stone lions besides in front of some gates? A. On bridges. B. In Hebei. C. On towers. D. By a river. Answer: A Question: The police do many things for us. They help keep our things and us safe. They help keep cars moving safely. They take care of people who are hurt. Then they see these people get to a doctor. The police go around town to see that everything is all right. They get around town in many ways. Some of them walk or go by car. In some big cities,some of the police ride on horses. It is strange to see these animals in the street. As they go around town,the police help people. Sometimes they find lost children. They take the children home. If the police see a fight,they put an end to it right away. Sometimes people will ask the police how to get to a place in town. The police can always tell the people which way to go. They know all the streets and roads well. Some police stand at crossings. They tell the cars when to go and when to stop. They make sure that the cars do not go too fast. They help children cross the street. They also help people who can't walk too well. Without the police,our streets would not be safe. Cars might go too fast and hurt people. Lost people might never be found. The police do a good job. We need them. And we should thank them for a job well done. In the text,"put an end to" means " _ ". A. stop B. cut C. kill D. fly Answer: A
James lives in Hawaii and his mother lives in Korea. James speaks English (he never learned Korean), and his mom only speaks Korean. They communicate perfectly. Eric is from Honduras, but he lives in the U.S. Eric just started learning English and speaks very little. But, everyday Eric reads the latest local US news on the Web, with no problem. What these people (and close to 60 million others around the world) share is a remarkable, free software program called Babylon. Babylon may well be the most advanced translation software in the world, and it's a must-have for anyone whose life goes beyond the borders of their own language or those who want it to. Once you download it, you can simply highlight the part in practically any format, and it's instantly translated into the language of your choice. You can use it to translate a website, email, word doc, pdf, and actually any document in any format you can think of. You can write a document in your native language, and Babylon will instantly translate it into another before you send it. The program translates 75 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Indian, and Russian. It also includes up-to-date encyclopedias , dictionaries, and spell checkers. Babylon is a long way from early translation software that would, more often than not, make an unreadable text with grammar errors that was better suited for making laughs than comprehension. Babylon's ability to understand and translate is perfect. In fact, businesses are adopting Babylon as the standard when it comes to translating commercial communications and other important documents. Babylon is also a great tool for people who are learning another language. Use it anytime you come across a word or passage you don't understand. What users enjoy most is the program's ability to open up a different world to them. Whether it's surfing a news site in a different country, or being able to properly communicate with a family member or friend overseas, Babylon can make it happen. Best of all, Babylon is free! To get your free copy, visit Babylon.com. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Spider-Man 3 (<<3>> )got $29.15 million on the very first day in 16 overseas markets and beat the first two Spider-Man movies. "The movie had the best opening day ever in some countries on Tuesday, including France, Italy and South Korea." a man from Sony Pictures said. "Spider-Man 3 will open during the next few days in many other countries, including the United States on Friday. We certainly hope the same thing will happen in North America," said Jeff Blake, Sony vice chairman, on Wednesday. 2002's Spider-Man opened with $114.8 million in its first weekend, a debut record that stood until Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest broke it last year with $135.6 million a weekend. Spider-Man 2 opened on a Wednesday before the fourth weekend of July in 2004, and set a record of $180.1 million in its first six days. In France, Spider-Man 3 took in $6.8 million on the opening day, more than the first days for Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 combined. It earned $4.6 million in Germany, $4 million in Italy, $3.7 million in Japan, $3.4 million in South Korea, $1.1 million in the Philippines and $1 million each in Hong Kong and Thailand. You would probably read this passage from _ . Answer: Today it is found that school students hardly pay much attention to sports.It is because they have no interest in sports? It may not be the fact.They often say they have other more important things to do. What are these important things? Examination! They have to spend much time on all kinds of examinations and tests at school,so many of them almost become bookworm .In the summer holidays of the last year,they had to put all the time to their study.So books stopped them from enjoying sports. Because of the pressure from their parents and teachers,they have to work harder and spend most of their time on books.As for the students themselves,they want to get good results so that they can go to famous high schools.So it seems necessary to stop their school sports for saving more time to study. In fact,education cannot go without physical exercise,because a quick mind hardly goes along with a weak body.If you don't have a strong body, you can never achieve anything,let alone a great success in your life. Because a quick mind hardly goes along with a weak body. means _ . Answer: An example of seed dispersal is animals eating what? Answer: I still remember my college days after I was initiallygiven my assignments of writing different papers. I enjoyed my first week with new friends and teachers as they were quite friendly and sociable. But I didn't realize that there was a dark era in my life, which was the horrifying day after I found that my term papers with empty pages. I had no way out. I was not alone. All the new students were feeling exactly the same way. I gathered some courage and started thinking to find methods to help me write my term papers. I went to my history teacher. She was very kind and always prepared to help new students. She told me that I should act like a professional student and not take my work lightly. She also provided some encouraging tips which really improved my confidence. I was instructed to go to the library and gather books that have relevant material or topics about the term papers. The next step was to find related chapters in those books. I did as I was ordered. Throughout the whole process of term papers there was something quite interesting and pleasing. She didn't assist me in doing any practical thing, but gave instructions one by one. With a large pile of reference books, we left the library and she told me to review those chapters. I got a lot of information and data. I had been feeling proud and happy as I got a good idea about the topics. She told me to create a 2000-word essay in my own words. I had been happy that it took only two days to finish my task. She did further editing and told me to make a bibliography , which was not a hard task. I felt quite lucky to see the term papers had a professional appearance. I also felt lucky to have such a good teacher as her. What did the author's history teacher do for him? Answer:
In this age of cell phones, text messages and computer keyboards, one Scottish school has returned to basics.It's teaching youngsters the ignored art of writing with a fountain pen.There is no clicking of keyboards in most classrooms at the Mary Erskine and Stewart's Melville Junior School, although there is a full range of facilities for computer lessons and technology isn't being ignored.The private school's headmaster believes the old-fashioned pens have helped strengthen the academic performance and self-esteem of his 1,200 pupils. "The pens improve the quality of work because they force the children to take care, and better work improves self-esteem", headmaster Bryan Lewis said."Proper handwriting is as relevant today as it ever has been." Students as young as 7 have been instructed to give up their ball point pens and begin to deal with its more artful _ .By the time they reach grade five, at age 9, they are expected to write mainly with fountain pens.Lewis said the school's 7- and 8-year-olds use fountain pens for 80 percent to 90 percent of their work, returning to pencils for such subjects as math."I don't see fountain pens as old-fashioned or out of date.Modern fountain pens are beautiful to use? it's not like in the old days of broken metal points and dirtying writing paper," Lewis said."We have a particular writing style and we have developed it very carefully and found a way that allows left-and right-handed people to write without dirtying paper." Some people in wealthy nations argue that handwriting is becoming less important because of the growing use of cell phone text messaging and typing on computers,but the school disagrees."We talk of the paperless office and the paperless world, but this is not true," Lewis said."You still need to have proper handwriting skills." The Scottish school in the passage _ . Answer: pays special attention to the use of fountain pens ks5*u Fifty has never looked better. It's been 50 years since the first James Bond film, Dr. No, premiered in cinemas. As first embodied by Scottish actor Sean Connery, Agent 007 was a fearless, cool-as-ice spy who excelled at sleuthing , fighting and saving the world. Since then, more than 20 films featuring the iconic spy have been released-making it one of the longest-running franchises in the history of cinema. On Nov 9, the 23rd Bond movie, Skyfall, celebrated the legend's 50th birthday. Over the years, audiences have changed. It doesn't matter. Six different actors have acted 007 and it doesn't matter. Even shocking technological and cultural changes can't bend Bond. Why? Is it the action, the sexy women, the cars, the gadgets and the exotic locations? Yes, but the most important reason is still the man himself. Bond can challenge his boss and shoot a bad guy in mere minutes. He is an expert in literature, languages, art and fine wines. He has a sharp tongue besides his wits. In the first film Dr. No, as Connery lit a cigarette, we heard James Bond's voice and saw his cafe for the first time. The simple scene and short phrase have defined the character for half a century. "Next to the Beatles and Stones, James Bond was the greatest British import of the 1960s," David Kamp, a US contributing editor for Vanity Fair, wrote in a recent article about the birth of Bond and its influence on the US. The Bond phenomenon has clearly affected movie culture, pop culture and spy culture. But perhaps the most amazing thing is that 007 has survived in the age of feminism . "Talking of objectifying women, Bond is essential Huge Henfner (founder of Playboy magazine) with a gun," movie critic Xan Brooks told The Guardian. "But women liked Bond, too. He couldn't have run for 50 years with male fans alone." We love Bond for many reasons--after all 50 years, Bond is still breathtaking. thrilling ride into the very heart of an icon like no other. But most of all, we may love him for one reason: "he always gets away with it." one said. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? Answer: The James Bond film was popular in the age of feminism. Our travel experts are eager to assist you with your cheap flight tickets and package deal bookings. Call us for cheap air ticket deals on flights from all UK airports. 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This "City by the Bay,,has a gorgeous ocean setting, wonderful architecture, and the Golden Gate Bridge that dominates the landscape. There's so much to see and do. You can enjoy a ride in a cable car, visit fashionable Nob Hill and Union Square. And the city's long-established Chinatown are essential. There's no shortage of amazing nightlife with restaurants, night clubs, and bars of every description. Book your cheap flight to San Francisco from PS564 only. Hurry! Call us now to get this cheap flight deal. Call Southall Travel 24/7 to book cheap flights. What is the main purpose of the passage? Answer: To attract tourists to book flights. Everyone needs friends. Friends bring us happiness and hope in our lives. But the ability to make friends changes from person to person. To some people, making friends is easy, and to others it's very difficult. Making friends is a skill, and the first thing is to know how to get along with others. If you have trouble in making friends, maybe I can tell you how to do it. Realize your own good points. You have skills and talents that others will like. Believe that you are a good person and have something nice to share with others. Be humorous. Learn to laugh at yourself and your weakness. Remember to smile to others. Respect others. Everyone has his own idea. Learn how to listen to others' ideas without trying to make them accept yours. Be kind. If you are kind to others, they will usually be kind to you. There are hundreds of little things you can do to show kindness. Open the door for someone. Wave to a friend and so on. Don't complain. Learn to accept what you can't change, and work hard to change what you can. No one is willing to hear your complaining all the time. Never give up. Even if you are faced with some closed-minded people, never give up. And try to find someone who will understand you. Which is the best title? Answer: How to make friends. Sally Donovan is cooking when a paper plane flies across the kitchen and lands at her feet. She picks it up, unfolds it and finds a child's sketch of a tear-stained face with a speech bubble saying: "I'm sorry I was naughty--I'm a bad person." Sally, 42, draws a big smiley face on the back of the paper with "I love you, Rose, and we're always going to look after you." Then she folds it up and launches the plane back into the living room where her nine-year-old daughter is watching TV with brother Jamie, 13 and dad Rod, 40. Jamie often makes pictures for his parents too--like the one showing a swift river with them on one side and him trapped on the other side. It's one of the many unusual ways that Sally and Rob have learned to communicate emotionally with their abused children in an astonishing eight-year journey of hope, healing and love. Jamie was just four and half--sister Rose one when they were adopted by the Donovans in 2005. The youngsters had been taken from their natural mother and placed in foster care after a series of cruelty and neglect. They were left alone, hungry, and witnessed home violence on a regular basis. Sally and Rob spent three years trying for a baby before deciding to adopt, and were well aware of the youngsters' poor background. But they were still unprepared for raising a child permanently scared by abuse or the lack of support on offer. But now Sally has written a brilliant and heart-touching account of their family struggle in a book called "No Matter What". Sally said: "These kids come to you with a story that what happened to them was their fault--because they are bad and unlovable. To show them they are loveable and none of it was their fault takes a lot of time. They both still say "I'm bad". Jamie is less stuck on it now but whenever life deals him a knock, he will fall back into 'that happened because I am stupid, I'm rubbish, I'm bad'." Sally's book is humorous, heart-touching and so wildly honest that academics, charity bosses, parents and adoptees are praising it as a major contribution to child welfare work. Why did the two adopted children still say "I'm bad" ? Answer: What they suffered rooted deep in their minds.
LONDON: The Edinburgh Festival, the biggest arts festival of its kind in the world, got under way in the Scotland capital on Sunday with a concert that included Hector Berlionz'sTo Deum, under the direction of Christoph von Dohnanyi. The festival, which runs until August 31 this year, includes as its high points Peter Stein's staging of Wagner'sParsifal, with Claudio Abbado directing the Gustav Mahler youth orchestra. The concert programme includes American pianist Richard Goode, bass baritone Thomas Quasthoff and violinist Christian Tetzlaff. New to the programmes this year will be 25 late evening classical music concerts. Earlier this month, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest show-case in the world for performance art, officially got under way with theatre, dance, poetry and music presentations. Many of the fringe artists, who can enter the fringe festival upon payment of a small fee, were inspired this year by the event of September 11. Thousands of people flock to Edinburgh from around the world during the festival, which is over 50 years old. It aims to promote and encourage arts and to reflect international culture. It consists of various dance, music, opera, and theatre presentation taking place across the city during the three-week run. Who will perform in the concert on Sunday? Hector Berlionz 8.1-Magnitude Quake Hits Central Nepal Nepal is suffering from the disaster brought by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that struck on Saturday. Nepal's Interior Ministry has said that the death toll from the quake has climbed to 1,931 . And more than 4,700 people are injured. Nepal's military predicts the death toll may climb to as high as 5,000. The Chinese embassy in Nepal has said that four Chinese were killed, with five severely injured. The initial magnitude-eight-point-one quake struck 80 kilometers east of Pokhara on Saturday afternoon. It was followed by a huge aftershock, measuring seven-point-zero. As for Sunday, two big aftershocks have been recorded in the morning, with the latest in the afternoon with a magnitude of 7.1. This is the most powerful earthquake to have hit Nepal in over 80 years. The tremor was felt by more than 4.6 million people across South and East Asia. Search and rescue efforts are underway for survivors buried under the rubble and flattened buildings, but efforts are influenced by rain and aftershocks. Nepal national television is reporting that 90 percent of historical structures in Kathmandu Valley were destroyed in the earthquake. Where may the passage come from? newspaper Best High School Band Plays Turner Field The North Cobb High School Band routinely takes the field every Friday night during football season. The band plays at North Cobb football games. This week, the band had to get ready a little earlier in the week. That's because they played before the Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field. North Cobb won wsbtv.com's Best High School Band Tournament last season. The prize for winning was a chance to play on the field at Turner Field before a Major League Baseball game. Tuesday night, the band collected the prize. "We were excited," North Cobb High School Band drum major Madison Hall said. "Growing up in Atlanta, the Braves have always been such a famous figure in Atlanta, so we were really exited to have the opportunity to perform in front of a lot of people and in front of our community." The tournament featured 64 high school bands from across Georgia. Wsbtv.com users determined the top four bands through voting with the Atlanta Braves entertainment staff selecting the winner from the final four. They selected North Cobb. "We have a number of great students at North Cobb," director Greg Williams said. "We've got the best parents in the world," he said. "The kids are so amazing, they are really bright, talented, and they work hard. They do anything we ask them to do and I really think that's a lot of keys to our success." Under the leadership of Williams and assistant band director Scott Pannell, the band made its way onto the outfield grass just as Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann was warming up. "It was amazing," said Pannell. "Just going out in the tunnel and going into the stadium. And just looking at the Braves players on the left and seeing them over by our kids, it's just unbelievable." The Atlanta Braves have once again partnered with wsbtv.com to reward this year's winner of the Best High School Band Tournament a chance to play at Turner Field. What did the band do on Tuesday night? They played before a baseball game. Living abroad to study can certainly be an interesting experience but is that alone a good enough reason for spending years far away from home? To make the experience truly worthwhile, there has to be a goal behind the decision to study abroad. This may be a wish to perfect language skills in a foreign language environment, or a clever move in your career development. You must also consider the costs, not just of living and studying abroad, but of applying. Most universities now charge application fees for international students. If after considering these points you are sure that you want to apply to study abroad, your next step is to choose the right programme of studies. Research your choices and select carefully. You must do your homework well. Most universities have information online but you can also email and ask them to send you more details. You can find a lot of information on school ranking from education websites. But read carefully. Different universities emphasize different strengths. Don't just think about the university's reputation ; look for the most suitable for your goals. Next, you must deal with a large pile of paperwork. This involves filling in application form, preparing your school records, and getting reference letters. Reading the instructions and requirements of the universities carefully is of great importance. Sadly, many fine applicants get kicked out in the first round, simply because they don't follow the application procedure properly. Money is another important consideration. Some scholarships are provided by governments, others by schools and colleges. This information, again, can be found on the Internet. If you find a scholarship that is suitable for you, follow the application procedure carefully; the earlier you apply, the better your chance of getting it. A school ranking list tells you _ . how good the school is compared to others An allowance is an important tool for teaching kids how to make plans for the use of money, save and make their own decisions. Children remember and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly. How large an allowance is suitable? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to region, and from family to family. To set an suitable allowance for your child, work up a weekly plan. Allow for entertainment costs such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these bills'," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to plan for necessary costs." Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can keep your child's allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose buying power falls away below his peers' can feel left out. It can be tough, but don't excuse your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Stephens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke's mother told her, "you walk home." One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brooklyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. " Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied directly to a child's daily housework at home. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her early habits. Why does the writer mention Brooke Stephens? To explain that parents should be strict when children are developing good habits about money.
Tom arrived at the bus station quite early for Paris bus. The bus for Paris would not leave until five to twelve. He saw a lot of people waiting in the station. Some were standing in line , others were walking around. There was a group of schoolgirls. Their teacher was trying to keep them in line. Tom looked around but there was no place for him to sit. He walked into the station cafe . he looked up at the clock there. It was only twenty to twelve. He found a seat and sat down before a large mirror on the wall. Just then, Mike, one of Tom's workmates came in and sat with Tom. "What time is your bus?" asked Mike. "There's plenty of time yet," answered Tom. "Well, I'll get you some more tea then," said Mike. They talked while drinking. Then Tom looked at the clock again. "Oh! It's going backward !" he cried. "A few minutes ago it was twenty to twelve and now it's half past eleven." "You're looking at the clock in the mirror." said Mike. Tom was so sad . The next bus was not to leave for another hour. Since then Tom has never liked mirrors. ,. What time was it in fact when Tom looked at the clock in the mirror? Answer: Half past twelve. In a grassland ecosystem, if the population of eagles suddenly decreased, what will most likely be the effect on the rest of the ecosystem? Answer: The ecosystem will become overpopulated with snakes. Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case---we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time---but how often do they come from a 10-year-old? Sewing a Friendship, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti, is such a book. Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids take a step toward friendship. Tinti's characters in Sewing a Friendship have colorful and creative personalities. Jonsy Jipsy loves singing and belly dance. Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her. All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad to live in a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friend and didn't know how to make them. When four girls invites her into the circle of their friendship, it's no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and uneasy. The story continues as the four girls invite and accept a " not so likeable" girl into their circle to win a fashion show. The girls feel a strong bond of friendship after the show. Kiki then understands that taking a step towards friendship is better than being alone. All the girls learn that by having the courage to include others, you can " sew a friendship". Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child's suicide---or murder---because of being bullied ,not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self -respect. What's causing these senseless terrible events? If more kids would invite the outcasts into their circle of friends, lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction. Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship ---and shows a talent that's rare for such a young girl. Recommended reading for all young adult fans. The general tone of the passage is one of _ . Answer: praise Can plants eat people? Probably not,but there are many plants that eat meat.Some of them are big.And they can eat small animals.One famous meat-eating plant is the Venus flytrap . The Venus flytrap is a very strange plant.It grows in dry parts of the United States.Its leaves are like the pages of a book.They can open and close very quickly.Inside the leaves,there are three small hairs.If a fly touches one of the hairs,the leaf closes quickly.The fly cannot get out.In about half an hour,the leaf _ the fly until it is dead.Then,the plant covers the fly.Slowly,the plant eats the fly. Why do plants do it? Most plants get what they need from the sun,the air,and the ground.In some places,the ground is very poor.It doesn't have all these important things, especially nitrogen .Animal meat has a lot of nitrogen, so some plants eat meat to get what they need.Let's hope that some of the bigger plants don't get the same idea ! --Why do some plants eat animal meat? --Because _ . Answer: plants want to get what they need from animal me When a rare disease ALD threatened to kill the four-year-old boy Lorenzo, his parents refused to give up hope. Doctors explained that there was no cure for ALD, and that he would probably die within three years. But Lorenzo's parents set out to prove the doctors wrong. The parents devoted themselves to keeping their son alive and searching for a cure. But doctors and the families of other ALD patients often refused to take them seriously. They thought the efforts to find a cure were a waste of time, and drug companies weren't interested in supporting research into such a rare disease. However, the parents still refused to give up and spent every available hour in medical libraries and talking to anyone who would help. Through trial and error, they finally created a cure from ingredients commonly found in the kitchen. The cure, named "Lorenzo's Oil", saved the boy's life. Despite the good results, scientists and doctors remained unconvinced. They said there was no real evidence that the oil worked and that the treatment was just a theory. As a result, some families with ALD children were reluctant to try it. Finally, the boy's father organized an international study to test the oil. After ten years of trials, the answer is: the oil keeps ALD children healthy. Doctors said that Lorenzo might die within three years because _ . Answer: no cure had been found for ALD
WHEN a woman took the seat beside me on a plane, I felt uncomfortable. She had to lower herself slowly, squeezing her body into the small space. "My name is Kelly. I'm from Canada. Where are you from?" She waved a hand in front of my face. "China," I said as I shook her hand unhappily. Kelly kept talking to me. She was very thoughtful. When we were served drinks and meals, she made sure that I had enough room in my seat. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable with my elephant size!" she said sincerely. I couldn't help but let down my guard. As we talked, I was surprised by her wise words. She had read many books and was very smart. I asked her if she ever thought about losing some weight. "Aren't you worried about the diseases that come with being overweight?" "Not at all. I eat healthy and walk regularly," she said. "I believe in my heart, the people who get diseases are the ones who worry. You see advertisements from exercise centers that read, 'Free yourself from your extra baggage, so you are free to be yourself.' You're free only if you're comfortable with who you are!" I suddenly realized that Kelly was the most beautiful and clever woman I had ever met in my life. The writer changed her attitude because _ . "It's over!Thank goodness!" School was over and I was tired.I sat at the front of the school bus. Janie,the driver,tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of talks.I try to listen politely,but usually I am too busy thinking about my day.On this day,however,her talk was worth listening to. "My father is ill,:she said to no one in particular.I could see worry in her eyes.I had never seen her like this before.She always meets students with a smile. With a sudden change of interest,I asked,"What's wrong with him?" With her eyes wet and her voice unusual,she answered,"Heart trouble."Her eyes lowered as she continued,"I have already lost my mum,so I don't think I can stand losing him."I couldn't answer.My heart ached for her. I sat on the seat thinking of great pain my own mother was thrown into when her father died.I saw how hard it was,and still is,for her.I wouldn't want anyone to go through that. Suddenly I realised Janie was not only a bus driver,that was just for her job.She had a whole world of family and cares too. I suddenly felt very selfish.I paid no attention to Janie because she was a bus driver,I had judged her by her joband brushed her off as unimportant.I shouldn't have been so selfish and self-centered. Why did the writer feel selfish?Because _ . On the old-time farm in America, there were chickens, cows, pigs and horses. But there were very few machines. Most of the work was done by the farm family. Sometimes more workmen were needed in busy seasons. Work done by horses took up 79 percent; by men, 15 percent; and machine work only took up 6 percent. Today all that has changed. On many modern farms machines now will do 96 percent of the work, while man does 3 percent. As for horses, they do 1 percent of the whole work. The children go to school by bus every morning; the parents work on the farm or in the house and other people's help is hardly needed. Their work has been replaced by a whole army of farm machines. How many things are compared in the passage? 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 If you want to do self-builds, the first step to follow is to _ . Basic Study Manual: $30 Future success depends on the ability to learn. Here are the answers to the questions most often asked by parents, teachers, business trainers and by students themselves. Read this book and learn: What the three barriers to study are and what to do about them. What to do if you get tired of a subject you are studying. Twenty-six simple drills to help you learn how to study easily, rapidly and with full understanding. Buy and read the Basic Study Manual and use it to dramatically improve your ability to study. Study Skills for Life: $20 L. Ron Hubbard's study technology for teenagers opens the door to their future success by giving them the ability to study and learn. Fully illustrated for easy understanding. Learning How to Learn: $40 The basics of effe www.ks5u.comctive study for 8 to 12-year-olds, fully illustrated. Children who read and apply the materials in this book regain their liking for study and their ability to apply this knowledge in life. Get this book for a child you want to see win at his studies! Buy it before May 1, 2005, and you'll just pay half less. How to Use a Dictionary Picture Book for Children: $40 In spite of billions of dollars spent on "educational research", children are not taught the most basic skills of learning, even the most basic of these: how to use a dictionary. Written for children from 8 to 12-year-olds, this fully illustrated book will teach your child: How to find words in a dictionary The different ways that words are used What the different marks and symbols that are used in a dictionary mean How to use a dictionary to correctly pronounce words It includes a section for parents and teachers showing you how to use this book with children. Buy this book and give it to your children to unlock their education. What's more, you'll just pay 50% for it before May 1, 2005. Some of the four books were illustrated in order to _ .
Reading is a good habit, but the problem is, there's too much to read these days, and too little time to read every word of it. There are hundreds of skills to help you read more in less time. Here are two skills that I think are very good. Preview -- if it's long and hard. Previewing is very useful for getting a general idea of heavy reading like long magazine articles and science reports. Here is how to preview. Read the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs carefully. Then read only the first sentence of the other paragraphs. Previewing doesn't give you all the details. It tells you not to spend time on things you don't really want or need to read. Skim -- if it's short and simple. Skimming is a good way to get a general idea of light reading, like popular magazines or the sports of your daily paper. Here's how to skim. Get your eyes to move fast. Sweep them across each line. Pick up only a few key words in each line. Everybody skims differently. You and I may not pick up the same words when we skim the same piece, but perhaps we'll get the same idea of what it's all about. What should we NOT do when we read the news about sports events in a daily paper according to the passage? A student climbs up a rocky mountain trail in Maine. She sees many small pieces of rock on the path. Which action most likely made the small pieces of rock? Mr. White is an American. He is 38. He teaches science in a school now. He is always busy. Every day he gets up early and gets home late. He is strict in his work. His favorite sport is soccer. He often plays soccer with his students on Fridays. He wants to be a newspaper reporter because he likes writing stories. He hopes he can come to China next year. ,(10) What is his favorite sport? A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty jar and started to fill it with rocks. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of _ and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with "Yes." "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter - like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, and give a dinner party. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities . The rest is just sand." The professor filled an empty jar with rocks to _ . The run-up to the launch of China's first lunar orbiter at the end of this month has caught the country's imagination, with more than two thirds of the nation hoping to see the launch live on TV, according to a survey. According to the survey by China Youth Daily and www.qq.com, almost the entire nation hopes to catch images of the event at some point, with 99 percent of the 10358 respondents saying they expected to witness the satellite launch and 68.9 percent said they were certain to watch the live broadcast of the launch. On www.qq.com and www.sina.com, two popular web portals in the country, internet users have contributed some 2,000 poems and 5000 drawings on the theme of Chang'e I. "The satellite launch means much more than just saying 'hello' to the moon. Maybe in the future we could also send some people to accompany sister 'Chang'e'," said a college student in the survey. Remarkably, many people expect to visit the moon one day, with 93.4 percent of respondents saying they expected to do so. Chang'e I is named after Chang'e, a famous character from Chinese mythology. She ascended from earth to live on the moon as a celestial being after drinking an elixir. There is also another connection between the moon and China. In the 1970s, a crater on the moon was named after a Chinese stargazer, Wan Hu, who is said to be the first astronaut in human history. Legend says about 600 years ago, around the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Wan Hu, a local government official, tried to fly into space with the help of a chair, two big kites and 47 self-made gunpowder-filled rockets. According to the legend after the rockets were lit there was a huge bang and lots of smoke. When the smoke cleared Wan was nowhere to be found. China's first astronaut flew into space in 2003 with the launch of the Chinese-made spaceship Shenzhou V. China became the third country, after the Soviet Union and the United States, to carry out manned space missions. Why was Wan Hu said to be the first astronaut in human history?
You've probably seen it before-two elderly people walking hand in hand down the street and looking very much like each other. They look so much alike that they could be brother and sister. Do you believe that people who live together for many years would look alike? It's strange. but scientists say it's true. How scientists proved it? In a study, scientists found young couples only showed similarity by chance. However, elder couples were very likely to look like each other. The similarity could be very subtle and could be found in wrinkles or furrows, etc. Besides, some couples look far more alike than other couples. The scientists thought of several possible reasons: 1. Diet. "We are what we eat." As couples usually share the same diet, will they probably look alike? For example, if both partners eat a high fat diet, their faces will tend to look fat. However, the scientists ruled this out using another small study. 2. Environment. Will elderly couples show similarity because they live together in the same area for a long time? The environmental factors such as sunshine and wind affect the skin in similar ways. The scientists ruled this possibility out as well. 3. Empathy . This is the theory the scientists believe in. Couples grow to look similar because they are empathizing with each other. They copy each other's facial expressions. For example, if one partner often smiles in a certain way, the other is likely to copy it. In this way, their faces share similar wrinkles and furrows. Which of the following is NOT true? You will look slim if you eat a high fat diet. For 75 years, three words have influenced the lives of many young Brits.They are:mirror, signal,manoeuvre . These are the processes all drivers should perform.Learners hoping to pass their driving test need to prove that they understand the importance of these actions before they can throw out their L-plates and head for the highway.In Britain,L-plates ale signs with a red "L" on them which you attach to a car to warm other drivers that you are a learner. This summer the British driving test celebrates its seventy-fifth birthday.It's often described as one of the most frightening tests we face. It is a painful experience that doesn't come very cheap nowadays.Taking the test in 1935 cost just 37. 5 pence;now candidates can expect to pay PS93. The test is also harder than ever.In 1935,the pass rate was 63%; now it's 43%.In recent years,the DSA--the organization that oversees the driving test -- has looked for ways to assess different aspects of what makes a good driver Now the DSA has announced that candidates will drive for ten minutes without detailed instructions from the examiner.DSA'S chief driving examiner Trevor Wedge said the aim was to measure a candidate's ability to drive safely while making decisions independently. However,drivers will not be punished for getting lost. "Candidates won't be failed for going off route," Mr. Wedge said. No doubt there will still be complaints. The BBC has learnt that in 2009 there were l,889 complaints about examiners,of which just 51 were supported. Complaints that were rejected included ''Candidate crashed during test--claims examiner distracted " and "Candidate says examiner took her on busy roads during rush hour,which was unfair". Someone else seemingly failed to understand the nature of an emergency stop when the complaint was filed that an emergency stop was conducted without warning. According to the passage,the staff members of the DSA _ . assess the performance of candidates Bamboo is one of nature's most surprising plants.Many people call this plant a tree,but it is a kind of grass. Like other kinds of grass,a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground,but it will grow back very quickly.A Japanese scientist reported one bamboo plant which grew 1.5 meters in 24 hours ! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe.There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo. Not all bamboo looks the same.Some bamboo plants are very thin.They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 3 0 centimeters across.This plant also comes in different colors,from yellow to black to green. Bamboo has been used to make things such as hats and kitchen tools.Because it is strong, bamboo is also used to build buildings. Many Asian countries have used bamboo for hundreds of years.They often use bamboo for buildings and supporting new buildings and bridges while they are being built. In Africa ,poor farmers are taught how to find water using bamboo.These African countries need cheap way to find water because they have no money ,and their fields often die from no rain and no water.Bamboo pipes help poor farmers bring water to their fields without spending a lot of money. How is bamboo like grass? It grows quickly. Taiwan island, the biggest island of China, is between the South and East China Seas. Almost two-thirds of the island is covered by mountains. Traveling in Taiwan, you can do lots of things. In Taipei, you can taste all kinds of delicious food . Standing at the top of Taipei 101, the world's tallest building until now, you can get a view of the whole city. Taiwan has nice natural _ as well. Sun and Moon Lake is a beautiful lake. On one side of the island it looks like the sun, on the other side it looks like the moon. That is why people call the lake the Sun and Moon Lake. Ali Mountain is the nearest mountain around Sun and Moon Lake. You can enjoy a nice experience with Gaoshan people. It's a wonderful place to see a very beautiful sunrise. If you enjoy swimming, fishing, boating and eating delicious fruit and fresh fish, Peng Lake must be a good place to visit. Everywehere in Taiwan, you can see mountains, valleys , and hot springs, together with fields of rice, oranges and tea. Where can you enjoy a nice experience with Gaoshan people? On Ali Mountain. Cars are big polluters because they release toxins from the gas into the air making it unhealthy to breathe
Louie was _ chocolate. He loved having chocolate biscuits for breakfast. He asked his dad to buy all kinds of chocolate cookies for him. One morning, Louie's big brother, Ben, said to Louie, "You can't live without chocolate, can you?" "Of course I can," said Louie. "But I don't want to." "I bet you anything that you can't live without chocolate for one whole week," said Ben. Louie stopped eating his chocolate cookies and looked at Ben, "You bet anything? Even your new skateboard?" "Why not?" said Ben. "I'm sure you can't last seven whole days." "That's what you think," said Louie. And then he put his chocolate cookies into a box. Monday was easy for Louie. He had porridge for breakfast. On Tuesday he didn't exchange his yogurt for Anna's chocolate pudding at lunch. On Wednesday he went to Franco's birthday party and didn't eat the chocolate cake. On Thursday, Aunt Irene came to visit with chocolate-chip cookies. "I'm not really hungry," said Louie. On Friday and Saturday Louie didn't exchange his apple juice for Josh's chocolate milk. Then came Sunday. Louie woke up and found a glass of milk and a pile of chocolate cookies beside his bed. "Go ahead. Enjoy yourself," said Ben. Louie picked up a piece of chocolate cookie, but then he stopped, "I'm thinking how delicious it will taste tomorrow after I ride my new skateboard," said Louie. "Oh, no!" cried Ben. "I was so close!" ,. What will Louie get if he lives without chocolate for a week? A. A new bike. B. A new skateboard. C. More chocolate biscuits. D. Some chocolate-chip cookies. Answer: B Mr Green works in an office . Every morning he has breakfast with his wife at 7:30, watches TV, drinks tea and then leaves his home at 8:00 to take a bus to his office. Now he still sits comfortably at the breakfast table and watches his news on TV at 8:05. He doesn't hurry and asks his wife for another cup of tea. "Another cup?"she says in surprise ."Don't you need to go to the office today?""The office?" he says. "I think I'm at the office!" Mr Green works in a(an) _ . A. school B. hotel C. office D. hospital Answer: C At 21,Ricardo Semler became boss of his father's business in Brazil,Semco,which sold parts for ships. Semler Junior worked like a mad man,from 7:30 am,until midnight every day. One afternoon,while touring a factory in New York,he broke down. The doctor who treated him said,"There's nothing wrong with you. But if you continue like this, you'll find a new home in our hospital. "Semler got the message. He changed the way he worked. In fact,he changed the ways his employees worked too. He let his workers take more responsibility so that they would be the ones worrying when things went wrong. He allowed them to set their own salaries,and he cut all the jobs he thought were unnecessary,like receptionists and secretaries. This saved money and brought more equality to the company. "Everyone at Semco,even top managers,meets guests in reception,does the photocopying,sends faxes,types letters and dials the phone." He completely reorganized the office:instead of walls,they have plants at Semco,so bosses can't shut themselves away from everyone else. And the workers are free to decorate their workspace as they want. As for uniforms,some people wear suits and others wear T-shirts. Semco has flexible working hours:the employees decide when they need to arrive at work. Also,Semco lets its workers use the company's machines for their own projects,and makes them take holidays for at least thirty days a year. It sounds perfect,but does it work? The answer is in the numbers:in the last six years,Semco's revenues have gone from $35 million to $212 million. The company has grown from eight hundred employees to 3,000. Why? Semler says it's because of "peer pressure". Peer pressure makes employees work hard for everyone else. If someone isn't doing his job well,the other workers will not allow the situation to continue. In other words,Ricardo Semler treats his workers like adults rather than children, and expects them to act like responsible adults. And they do. Semler made a variety of changes in his company Except that _ . A. the number of the employees is reduced to save money B. the employees can take only 30 days off for holiday every year. C. flexible working hours were introduced D. the employees enjoyed a lot of freedom Answer: B Metro Pocket Guide _ Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out . Up to two children under age five may travel free with a paying customer . Farecard machines are in every station. Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the stations and farecard machines only provide up to $5 in change. Get one ticket of unlimited Metrorall rides with a One Day Pass. Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations. Use it after 9:30 a,m. until closing on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays . _ Open: 5 a.m. Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. Sat.-Sun. Close : midnight Sun .-Thurs. 3 a.m.Fri.-Sat. nights Last train times vary. To avoid missing the last train, please check the last train times posted in stations. _ When paying with exact charge , the fare is $1.35. When paying with a SmarTripRcard , the fare is 1.25. _ Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare. On Metrorail and Metrobus, use a senior/disabled farecard or SmarTrip Rcard . For more information about buying senior/disabled farecard, SmarTripRcards and passes, please visit MetroOpensDoors .com or call 202-637-7000 and 202-637-8000. Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorail services by calling 202-062-1100. Travel tips . Avoid riding during weekday rush periods -before 9:30 a.m. and between 4 and 6p.m. . If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost &Found at 202-962-1195 . At what time does Metroarll stop service on Saturday ? A. At midnight. B. At 3 a.m. C. At 5 a.m. D. At 7a.m. Answer: B On Children's Day 2004,Hong Kong held an interesting activity.In this activity,children and their parents played the rich and the poor.In the dinner,the rich could have delicious food,but the poor could only have bread with porridge. Parents all hoped to have the dinner for the poor with their children.They hoped that their children could be taught a lesson from the dinner. Now many people on earth don't have enough food or clothing.Every day only half of the world could enjoy enough food. The activity was held to make the families understand the differences between the poor and the rich and also make parents know that too much material life won't always do good to the children. Today only half the people in the world _ . A. enjoy material life B. have enough to eat C. live in the West of the earth D. can go to Hong Kong Answer: B
Every year in late April, students at Renmin University of China become the subjects of admiration and jealousy of their peers on other campuses in Beijing. Why? Because they get a week off in the middle of term, the so-called spring break. " _ 's been a unique tradition of our school for a decade," said Wang Yueran, 20, a journalism major at Renmin University, who organized a weeklong trip to Sichuan with 12 classmates last year. But having fun is just one dimension of the spring break. Field trips, voluntary work, and social projects are all on students' to-do lists. Experts say the spring break is not just for students to enjoy a few days off, but for them to gain new experiences beyond the campus walls. Push them out The traditional Chinese belief of the exploration of knowledge and truth emphasizes "reading 10,000 books and traveling 10,000 miles", which indicates the importance of experience as much as theory. But while Chinese universities have the tradition of spring outings, what's the benefit of making spring break an institution? Qin Jianguo, of the student affairs office at Shenzhen University, thinks the idea of the spring break in some universities in China comes from the intention of pushing students out of the ivory tower to experience more diversity in their lives. "Take traveling for example. A week traveling is a very different experience to a one- or two-day outing," said Qin. "Students are expected to acquire the spirit of teamwork and compromise, and learn survival and communication skills when put out there in an unfamiliar context." Diverse approaches Many countries have similar vacations in the middle of the semester for students to do things out of their own interest. Taking Japan as an example, instead of partying like their US counterparts, many Japanese students choose to work as interns or engage in study-related projects. "The spring break is an opportunity for many of our students to put their learning to use," said Hiroshi Kanno, dean of the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy at Hitotsubashi University, in the school's description of a recent spring break project. As for Chinese students who take a week off around the Labor Day holiday, many tend to do volunteer work. Duan Zhipeng, a 22-year-old economics major at Renmin University, applied for a project to go back to his hometown in Jiangxi province to introduce his university's enrollment policies and campus culture to local high school students. Not a trend yet Apart from Renmin University, only a few other universities, such as Yantai University, have a spring break for their students. The concept in China is still far from the culture and norms built around it in the US. Wei Xiang, a professor specializing in holiday economics at Beijing International Studies University, said that the spring break is a good experiment for universities to make study schedules smoother in order to give students more options to arrange their own leisure and study activities. According to the passage,why do the students in the other universities admire the students at Renmin University? Answer: Bicycles, a long-forgotten vehicle that seems to belong to the last century, are returning to the streets of Guangzhou, as the city starts to ban the running of motorcycle in urban Guangzhou. "Business has never been so good for my shop," said Chen Yongwu, a bicycle shop owner at the city's Donghua West Road, "I have to work 12 hours a day to meet the demand of my customers. " "Even my wife and brother-in-law have to give me a hand lately. " Chen originally ran a motorcycle repair shop. He grasped the opportunity of the motorcycle ban, and started his bicycle business soon after hearing about the banning. "I sold 23 bicycles on January 2 alone. " Said Chen. Bicycle is more convenient and healthier "My home is one kilometer from the metro station," said a middle-aged man who is waiting for his bicycle at Chen's shop, "it is too tiresome to walk to the station, but taking a bus for such a short distance is a waste of money. " "So I decided to buy a bicycle. " The bicycle costs around 600 yuan, which is equal to the bus fare of half a year. "Besides, riding a bicycle to work is much healthier than riding a bus. " The bicycle buyers can be categorized into two groups. One group of buyers buy the bicycles for the transportation of small commodities; the other ride the bicycles to work. Arising problems Riding a bicycle to work may be healthy, but it is not without problems. The lack of bicycle lanes has posed a big threat to the safety of the bicycle riders in Guangzhou. "I was riding my bicycle on Huifu West Road on day," said Mr. Zhang, "then suddenly the bus pulled over besides me near the bus station. " "I was so frightened at the time, because the bus nearly hit me. " The sideways in Guangzhou are usually crowded with foot passengers, so citizens also could not use the sideways. "It is worse than walking. " Besides, finding a place a park the bicycles could be very difficult, much more difficult then finding a place to park your car. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: John sent for a doctor because his wife was ill. He called the doctor and made sure they would meet at five. He arrived at the doctor's at twenty to five. He thought, "It's a little bit earlier. I'll wait for a moment. It's good to keep the time." Then he stopped his car in front of the doctor's. He looked around and saw a noisy square not far from here. He went there and sat down on a chair to enjoy the last light of afternoon sun and make himself quiet. He saw some children playing and some women talking to each other happily. Suddenly he heard a girl crying. He came up to her and asked some questions. Then he knew she got lost. John tried to find out her address and took her home. The girl's parents were very thankful. Then John hurried to the doctor's. The doctor said angrily when he saw him, "You're late. Why did you keep me waiting for twenty minutes? " John said nothing but one word--"Sorry! " The girl cried because _ . Answer: Ames had painted Bell's house under a contract which called for payment of $2,000. Bell, contending in good faith that the porch had not been painted properly, refused to pay anything. On June 15, Ames mailed a letter to Bell stating, "I am in serious need of money. Please send the $2,000 to me before July 1." On June 18, Bell replied, "I will settle for $1,800 provided that you agree to repaint the porch." Ames did not reply to this letter. Thereafter Bell mailed a check for $1,800 marked "Payment in full on the Ames-Bell painting contract as per letter dated June 18." Ames received the check on June 30. Because he was badly in need of money, check on June 30. Because he was badly in need of money, Questions Ames cashed the check without objection and spent the proceeds but has refused to repaint the porch.After cashing the check Ames sued Bell for $200. Ames probably will Answer: Analysis of the composition of quicksand shows that there are four key ingredients--sand, obviously water, clay and salt. Together these materials form a structure resembling a house of cards, with large water-filled gaps between the sand particles, which are loosely glued in place by the clay. As long as it's left alone, the structure remains stable. But as soon as it's disturbed, by stepping on it, the clay changes from a jelly-like consistency to a runny liquid. The effect is the same as stirring a pot of yoghurt. Liquefying the clay makes the quicksand about one million times runnier, and the whole house of cards comes tumbling down, with you inside it. Very quickly, the sand sinks to the bottom and the water floats to the top. This is where the salt comes in. When there's enough salt present, as soon as the clay particles liquefy, electrical charges make them begin to stick together to form bigger particles and these also settle with the sand. Quicksand is a mixture which looks like solid, but behaves more like a liquid. Despite its murderous reputation, quicksand does not such people under and swallow them, although it can hold a person in firm grip. The human body is more buoyant in quicksand than in water, and sooner or later anyone trapped in it will float. Unlike most liquids, quicksand's viscosity, or "runniness" can suddenly change if it comes under pressure, for example under a human foot. The surface gives way and the victim quickly sinks in up to the knees, surrounded by an area of dirty things that turns semi-solid around its victim. Escaping from the quicksand's grip requires a large amount of force. Without something solid to pull at, people often find they are stuck fast. Pulling at one leg simply makes the other one sink further. So how do you escape from quicksand's control? Stay still and call for help. Staying still stops you sinking any further, until--with luck--help arrives on the scene. If no one appears and you need to draw yourself out, gently lie down on your back until your body is floating on the sand. Next, roll over onto your stomach and pull yourself forwards with your hands, so that you gradually "swim" towards firmer ground. It is a slow and dirty business, but it works. This technique has one barrier: it goes against a very powerful human nature. Faced with danger in the open, nine out of ten stay on their feet so that they can run away, in which case it can worsen the situation. From the passage we can learn that _ Answer:
Do you know Australia ? Australia is the largest island in the world . It is a little smaller than China . It is in the south of the earth .Australia is big , but its population is not large . The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai . The government has made enough laws to fight pollution . The cities in Australia have got little air or water pollution .The sky is blue and the water is clean . You can clearly see fish swimming in the rivers . Plants grow very well . Last month we visited Perth , the biggest city in Western Australia , and went to a wild flowers' exhibition . There we saw a large number of wild flowers we had never seen before . We had a wonderful time .Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers .In spring every year Perth has the wild flowers' exhibition .After visiting Perth, we spent the day in the countryside . We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill .It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves . Suddenly we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill .What we saw made us pick up all our things and run back to the car as quickly as we could .There were about three hundred sheep coming towards us down the path . Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos . After a short drive from any town , you will find yourself in the middle of white sheep . Sheep , sheep , everywhere are sheep . Which of the following NOT true ? A. Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers . B. Perth is bigger than any other city in Western Australia . C. Perth lies in the west of Australia . D. No other city is larger than Perth in Australia . Answer: D. No other city is larger than Perth in Australia . Edda, a Little Valkyrie's First Day of School Written and illustrated by Adam Auerbach. 32 pp. Christy Ottaviano/Holt. $15.50. Edda's home is in Asgard, "a land full of magic and adventure." But Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, doesn't have quite enough to do, until her father flies her "all the way to Earth for the first day of school." The contrast between home and school is hard to get used to (in one, she can ride reindeer; in the other she gazes guinea pig through glass at the classroom). In his first picture book, Auerbach mixes the two worlds perfectly. Children are likely to appreciate the joke. Planet Kindergarten By Sue Ganz-Schmitt. Illustrated by Shane Prigmore. 32 pp. Chronicle. $14.99. After careful preparations and a successful blastoff, a boy finds himself in a very unfamiliar environment. "We're aliens from many galaxies on Planet Kindergarten," he reflects as he sees his very varied classmates for the first time. Prigmore, who designs for the movie industry, uses black backgrounds and bright colors to give this space adventure visual excitement and humor. The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade By Justin Roberts. Illustrated by Christian Robinson. 42 pp. Putnam. $18.99. It makes sense that the author of the long, rhyming lines in "The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade" is a children's music performer. The story is about the power of one small person to fight prejudice. Sally, whom no one ever seems to notice, is "paying super extra special attention" to the "terrible stuff" happening around her. When she decides to take action, she's not alone for long. And Two Boys Booed By Judith Viorst. 32 pp. Margaret Ferguson/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $16.59. Ever felt quietly confident one minute, and a shaking mess the next? In Viorst's story about determination, a little boy wakes up thinking about singing his song in the class talent show. All of the four books mentioned _ . A. are for children B. have the same number of pages C. have colorful pictures in them D. need reading under parents' guidance Answer: A. are for children Bob Harris was a weatherman at a small television station. He worked for twenty years and during those twenty years, he felt that his life was boring. Every day, he studied the weather and tried to predict the next day's weather. Then, he stood in front of the camera and read his report. Some days it was cloudy, some days it was sunny; sometimes rainy, while sometimes snowy. The weather changed each day, but Bob still felt that his job was always the same. His boss often told him to be happier and smile more in front of the camera, but Bob rarely smiled. He thought that most people did not watch his weather report and his job did not matter much to anyone. One day, he arrived at work and began to study the weather as usual. He noticed that something was different that day. Everything he studied told him that there was going to be a very big storm very soon, though he was not completely sure. Suddenly, Bob felt excited. He ran to his boss's office and asked to do a special weather report. The boss agreed and Bob gave a special report that afternoon, warning people of the coming storm. Because of this report, many people were safe during the storm. Bob realized that his job was actually very important. Why did Bob rarely smile when he was in front of the camera? A. Because he thought that his job did not matter much to anyone. B. Because he only worked for a small televison station. C. Because he did not like his boss. D. Because the weather report was boring. Answer: A. Because he thought that his job did not matter much to anyone. On Sept. 11, an unseen enemy launched an attack on economic, military and governmental Landmarks of the United States. Beyond the tremendous loss of innocent lives and physical property, the attack was clearly aimed at the ideals of America--our values and the economic system that has made the U.S. economy the envy of the world. Those responsible for these acts portray the United States as the embodiment of all that is evil With globalization and the worldwide economy it has spawned. They use the failures of globalization as an excuse to exploit their millions of constituents in the underdeveloped world. Sometime soon, the U.S. military will strike back against those who it is determined have committed these acts. A military response is appropriate - some would say overdue . But even if the military objective is achieved, that alone will not get to the heart of the matter. It is crucial that the U.S. economy return to full speed ahead and continue to be the driving force behind expansion of the global economy. Globalization, or at least the present phase of it, generally is viewed as having started with the end of the Cold War in 1989. And for all its shortcomings, the free flow of goods, services, capital and labor across the borders of the world's trading nations -- the process that has come to be called globalization--still offers the best chance to fulfill the dreams of so many of the world's poor. What benefit will the globalization be of? A. It will bring the expansion of the world's economy. B. The poor will become rich overnight if it is realized. C. Nations will be too friendly to start a war against each other. D. The borders between the nations will be abandoned soon. Answer: A. It will bring the expansion of the world's economy. cooking a meal will lead to a transfer of energy into that meal? A. this is false B. this is provable C. maybe D. all of these Answer: B. this is provable
What's delicious to eat and comes in a variety of color1s? Eggplant! And no, it has nothing to do with chickens! This strangely named vegetable is, however, as versatile as an egg.It can be steamed, fried, and baked.It can be eaten by itself or combined with meats and other vegetables. Eggplant was first grown in India in the 5th century BC. Its popularity soon spread to China and then throughout Asia.Finally, during the Middle Ages the vegetable made its way to Europe. At that time, eggplant was not the shiny purple vegetable most people know today.Instead, it resembled a white egg. Due to this egg-like appearance, eggplant got its name.In its early days, the vegetable was so bitter that people often called it a "mad apple." This nickname started because people believed its bitterness was bad for one' s health. People actually thought eggplant could cause insanity and cancer. Fortunately today people know that eggplant doesn't cause insanity or cancer.In fact eggplant is so healthy that it may prevent cancer.In addition, the brain and the heart benefit from this super vegetable.Since it's high in fiber, eggplant can improve digestion. Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant in the world today.Depending on its location, eggplant may be purple, green, orange or yellow-white.And it can be as small as a tomato or as large as a cucumber.Dish varieties range from simple to complex, with all of them being delicious. Today, thousands of people gather in Loomis, Calif, for the annual Loomis Eggplant Festival.The main activity at the festival is eating delicious eggplant dishes.There is plenty more to do and see, though.Recipe contests, arts and crafts, performers, races and children's activities all "egg-cite" festival-goers.Most people at the festival would agree--eggplant is an "egg-cellent" vegetable. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: Eggplant used to taste bitter. If you watch British television on March 15, you might be surprised to see celebrities wearing funny red noses and joking; around. But don't worry. They're not mad. It's all part of a money raising event called Red Nose Day. Founded in 1985 by two British comedians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa. Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on comic TV shows. For example, UK Prime Minister David Cameron once appeared in a music video by One Direction, which the band produced for the event. Britons don't just raise money for charitable causes on one day a year, but they do it all year round. One way of doing so is by shopping in charity shops. These small shops sell clothes, books and household goods just like any other shop except that it's all secondhand. There are nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK. Their business model is simple: Anybody who has things they don't want anymore can donate them to a charity shop, where they are checked for damage, cleaned and priced. The money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause. The idea of buying used clothes may sound unpleasant, but for shoppers who have less spending money, it has been a welcome option. Now, shopping at charity shops is also becoming popular with young people looking for alternative fashion. "You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price. It doesn't bother me that other people may have worn them. I simply wash them before I wear them." said Anne Marie, a 19-year-old from the US. So next time you spot a charity shop, why not go inside? Who knows, you might find a lovely dress for just a few pounds. Even better, you can enjoy wearing it in the knowledge tha t your money helped a good cause. Where are the goods of charity shops from? Answer: People's donation. In Canada you can find dogs, cats, horses, etc. in almost every family. These are their pets. People love these pets and have them as their good friends. Before they keep them in their houses, they take them to animal hospitals to give them injections so that they won't carry disease. They have special animal food stores, though they can get animal food in almost every kind of store. Some people spend around two hundred Canadian dollars a month on animal food. When you visit people's houses, they would be very glad to show you their pets and they are very proud of them. You will also find that almost every family has a bird feeder( ) in their garden. All kinds of birds are welcomed to come and go and nobody animal in Canada. They have a law against an animal happened to get run over by a car, people would be very sad about it. This passage shows that Canadians _ . Answer: love animals Many people have described television as a passive activity that is harmful to children's education. However, there are good and bad ways to watch television. Parents who are interested in exploiting television as a learning tool can actually turn time in front of TV into an educational chance. Probably the most familiar educational way to use television is to simply watch educational programs. In particular, this means selecting channels and programs specially designed for educational purposes. Along with traditional educational shows for children on public broadcasting channels, cable television now offers kids and adults a wide variety of educational programs, with everything from nature shows to historical events in different countries. Captioning ,such as "closed captioning" for hearing disabled viewers provides another way for parents to exploit the educational possibilities of television.One study showed that children who watched captioned TV got great improvement in their vocabulary and oral reading ability. In addition, parents can make any show a learning class by watching television together with children. By actively joining children in the programs that they are watching, parents can help with the development of such skills as predicting and summarizing. In order to develop predicting skills, parents and children could first refer to a program's description in a viewing guide.After reading the program description and guessing what might happen in the program, parents and children could watch together to see which predictions were correct. And to practice summarizing, after watching a program, parents can turn off the TV and ask what the story was about. This kind of activity helps children develop thinking skills such as arranging events in an order and memorizing information. Although there will still be plenty of times when children watch TV simply for passive enjoyment, parents can help make at least part of their children's viewing time a more productive activity.Used intelligently by exploiting the learning chances available through various programs, television can play an instructive role in children's education. Which activity is NOT suggested in the passage? Answer: Watching shows for homework. Larry was on another of his underwater adventures but this time, it was different. He decided to take his daughter along with him. She was only ten years old. This would be her first trip with her father on what he had always been famous for. Larry first began diving when he was his daughter's age. Similarly, his father had taken him along on one of his adventures. Since then, he had never looked back. Larry started out by renting diving suits from the small diving shop just along the shore. He had hated them. They were either too big or too small. Then, there was the instructor. He gave him a short lesson before allowing him into the water with his father. He had made an exception. Larry would never have been able to go down without at least five hours of theory and another similar number of hours on practical lessons with a guide. Children his age were not even allowed to dive. After the first adventure, Larry's later diving adventures only got better and better. There was never a dull moment. In his black and blue suit and with an oxygen tank fastened on his back, Larry dived from boats into the middle of the ocean. Dangerous areas did not prevent him from continuing his search. Sometimes, his was limited to a cage underwater but that did not bother him. At least, he was still able to take photographs of the underwater creatures. Larry's first adventure without his father was in the Cayman Islands. There were numerous diving spots in the area and Larry was determined to visit all of them .Fortunately for him, a man offered to take him around the different spots for free. _ The diving spots afforded such a wide array of fish and sea creatures that Larry saw more than thirty varieties of creatures. Larry looked at his daughter. She looked as excited as he had been when he was her age. He hoped she would be able to continue the family tradition. Already, she looked like she was much braver than had been then. This was the key to a successful underwater adventure. Why did Larry have to stay in a cage underwater sometimes? Answer: To protect himself from danger.
Question: Chilean rescued miner Edison Pena ran the New York City Marathon on November 7th , less than a month after he was rescued from a collapsed mine that trapped him and the other 32 miners for 69 days. Pena ran 10 km daily through the mine's tunnels to beat the anxiety, wearing cut-down boots until rescuers sent him a pair of sports shoes through a narrow hole that served as the miners' "lifeline" to the surface. "When I ran in the darkness, I was running for life," Pena told a news conference in New York. "I was running to show that I wasn't just waiting around. I also wanted God to see that I really wanted to live." The miners were discovered alive on August 22---17 days after the mine collapsed, but it took many more days for rescuers to dig a hole big enough to bring them out. The New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, had invited Edison Pena to the event after hearing his story. They thought he could ride in the lead vehicle or hold the finish line tape, but Pena said last week he did not want to watch, he wanted to run. "I was very eager to take on this big challenge," he said. "I wanted to show the world I could run." He hoped to run the 26.2-mile race in about six hours. "I have a knee injury, but I am eager to cross the finish line," he said. An Elvis Presley fan who asked rescuers to send the singer's music down into the mine, Pena broke into song at the news conference with the Presley hit Return to Sender. On the morning of November 7th, Pena, known as "the runner" by fellow miners trapped with him, set out to cover the course along with thousands of other runners and completed the race in five hours and 40 minutes. Pena can be best described as _ . A. smart-minded B. strong-willed C. hard-working D. warm-hearted Answer: B Question: Washoe, a female chimpanzee believed to be the first non-human to acquire human language, has died of natural causes at the research institute where she was kept.The chimp died on Tuesday night, according to Roger and Deborah Fouts, co-founders of The Chimpanzee and Human Communications Institute in Washington, where she lived. Washoe was born in 1965 in Africa, where she was captured by the Air Force and taken to the US for research use in the space program. In 1966, she left the program and began living with two scientists, Allen and Beatrix Gardner, who led a project to teach the chimp American Sign Language (ASL) in Washoe, Nevada, for which it was named. Washoe had been living on Central Washington University's Ellensburg Campus since 1980. She had a vocabulary of about 250 words. Also, Washoe taught sign language to three younger chimps: Tatu, 31, Loulis, 29, and Dar, 31 Primate researcher Jane Goodall, in Fouts' book Next of Kin, noted the importance of the work with Washoe. "Roger, through his ongoing conversations with Washoe and her extended family, has opened a window into a chimpanzee's mind," Goodall said. Though previous efforts to teach chimps spoken languages had failed, the researchers believed there was a better chance using signs. But Washoe's language skills were disputed by scientists who believed that language is unique to humans. Among those who doubted that chimps could use language were linguist Noam Chomsky and Harvard scientist Steven Pinker. They believed primates simply learn to perform certain acts in order to receive rewards, and do not acquire true language. What can be inferred from the passage? A. The ASL project was first set up in Africa for the study on Washoe. B. Washoe may communicate with other chimps by signing. C. Washoe must have been able to speak 250 words or so. D. The researchers will prove that most chimps could use language. Answer: B Question: We continue our Foreign Student Series on higher education in the United States. Now we move on to college life once you are admitted to a school. The first thing you need to value is a place to live. Housing policies differ from school to school. Students might have to live in a dormitory, at least for the first year there. Dorms come in all sizes. Some have suites. Six or more students may line in one suite. Other dorms have many rooms along a common hallway, usually with two students in each room . Many students say dormitories provide the best chance to get to know other students. Also, dorms generally cost less than apartments or other housing not owned by the school. Most colleges and universities offer singe-sex dorms, but usually males and females live in the same building. They might live on the same floors and share the same common bathrooms. They may live in the same room only if they are married. Edward Spencer is the associate vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. He says it is important to understand the rules of the building in which you will live. He advises students to ask questions before they decide about their housing. For example, if a student requires a special diet, will the school provide it ?How much privacy can a student expect ? Will the school provide a single room if a student requests one ? And what about any other special needs that a student might have? Virginia Tech, for example, had a ban against candles in dorms . But it changed that policy to let students light up candles for religious purposes. The university also has several dorms open all year so foreign students have a place to stay during vacation time. What is the passage mainly about ? A. Places to live in U.S. colleges B. housing polices in the U.S. C. Advantages of dormitories D. Rules of single-sex dorms Answer: B Question: A way to reproduce is to A. plant dishes B. produce ovum C. make money D. litter carpet Answer: B Question: It seems that there's a good reason why dogs are always seen as man's best friend. Scientists have found that dogs are the only animals that can read emotion in faces much like humans. The finding suggests that like an understanding friend, dogs can see if we are happy, sad, pleased or angry. When humans look at a new face, their eyes usually look across the left, falling on the right hand side of the person's face first. A possible reason for this is that the right side of the human face is better at expressing emotions. Scientists have now shown that pet dogs also have "left gaze bias ", but only when looking at human faces. No other animal has been known to do like this before. Dr. Kun Guo showed 17 dogs pictures of human, dog and monkey faces as well as something else with his team. The dogs' eyes and heads show a strong left gaze bias when the animals see human faces. But this did not happen when they were shown other pictures, including those of dogs. Guo suggests that over thousands of years living with humans, dogs may have developed the left gaze bias as a way to guess our emotions. "Recent studies show that the right side of our faces can express emotions better than the left. If true, then it makes sense for dogs and humans to see the right hand side of a face first." Why are dogs seen as man's best friend according to the passage? A. Because dogs are the closest animals to humans. B. Because dogs can read the emotions in humans' faces easily. C. Because dogs can understand us better when we feel sad. D. Because dogs are good at expressing emotions. Answer: B
As one comes to some crossroads, he or she sees a sign which says that drivers have to stop when they come to the main road ahead. At other crossroads, drivers have to go slow, but they do not actually have to stop unless, of course, there is something coming along the main road; and at still others, they do not have either to stop or to go slow, because they are themselves on the main road. Mr. Williams, who was always a very careful driver, was driving home from work one evening when he came to a crossroad. It had a "SLOW" sign. He slowed down when he came to the main road, looked both ways to see that nothing was coming, and then drove across without stopping completely. At once he heard a police whistle , so he pulled into the side of the road and stopped. A policeman walked over to him with a notebook and a pen in his hand and said, "You didn't stop at that crossing." "But the sign there doesn't say 'STOP'." answered Mr. Williams, "It just says 'SLOW', and I did go slow." The policeman looked around him, and a look of surprise came over his face. Then he put his notebook and pen away, scratched his head and said, "Well,I'm in the wrong street!" When he was stopped by a policeman, he _ . Answer: An artist went to a beautiful place of the country for a holiday, and stayed with a farmer. Every day he went out and painted from morning to evening. When it got dark, he came back to the farm and had a good dinner before he went to bed. At the end of his holiday he wanted to pay the farmer, but the farmer said, "No, I don't want money but give me one of your pictures. What is money? In a week it will all be finished, but your painting will be here." The artist was very pleased and thanked the farmer for saying such kind words. The farmer smiled and said, "I have a son in London. He wants to become an artist. When he comes here next month, I will show him your picture, and then he will not want to be an artist any more, I believe." The farmer _ . Answer: Betty and Harold have been married for years. But one thing still puzzles old Harold. How is it that he can leave Betty and her friend Joan sitting on the sofa, talking, go out to a ball game, come back three and a half hours later, and they're still sitting on the sofa, talking? What in the world, Harold wonders, do they have to talk about? Betty shrugs . Talk? We're friends. Researching this matter called friendship, psychologist Lilian Rubin spent two hundred women and men. No matter what their age, their jobs, their sex, the results were completely clear: women have more friendships than men, and the difference in the content and the quality of those friendships is "marked and unmistakable". More than two-thirds of the single men Rubin interviewed could not name a best friend. Those who could were likely to name a woman. Yet three-quarters of the single women had no problem naming a best friend, most trusted person, or the one they would turn to in time of emotional distress . "Most women," says Rubin, "identified at least one, usually more, trusted friends to whom they could turn in a troubled moment, and they spoke openly about the importance of these relationships in their lives." "In general," writes Rubin in her new book, "women's friendships with each other rest on shared emotions and support, but men's relationships are marked by shared activities. "For the most part, Rubin says, interactions between men are emotionally controlled - a good fit with the social requirements of "manly behavior". "Even when a man is said to be a best friend," Rubin writes, "the two share little about their innermost feelings. Whereas a woman's closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave a failing marriage, it wasn't unusual to hear a man say he didn't know his friend's marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared on night asking if he could sleep on the sofa." What old Harold cannot understand or explain is the fact that _ . Answer: Which of these would most likely improve the air quality in large Texas cities? Answer: 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." Where do the clothes at Career Closet come from? Answer:
I recall my mother's voice which called me to order, and often ended with some strong proverb to express the gravity of the wrong done. It was common practice for my mother to send me off soul-searching with a proverb. Of the many interactions I had with my mother those many years ago, one stands out with clarity. I remember the occasion when Mother sent me to the main road, about twenty yards away from the farmhouse, to invite a passing group of seasonal work-seekers home for a meal. She instructed me to take a container along and collect dry cow dung for making a fire. I was then to prepare the meal for the group of work-seekers. The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that high heat, was enough to upset even an angel. I did not manage to hide my feelings from my mother, and after serving the group, she called me to the balcony, where she usually sat to attend to her sewing . Looking straight into my eyes, she said, "Tsholofelo, why were you so unhappy when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor people?" Despite my attempt to deny her allegation , and using the heat of the fire and the sun as an excuse for my alleged behavior, Mother, giving me a firm look, said, "A foot has no nose." It means, "You can't detect what trouble may lie ahead of you." Had I denied the group of people a meal, it may have happened that, in my travels some time in the future, I found myself at the mercy of those very individuals. As if that was not enough to shame me, Mother continued, "A person is a person because of another person." What was Tsholofelo's attitude towards the meal? A. Unwilling. B. Interested. C. Critical. D. Unconcerned. Answer: A. Unwilling. "Josie Metz's father won't live long enough to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.But thanks to photographer Lindsey Villatoro,the 11-year-old girl was able to experience what it might be like anyway. Her father, Jim,62,had already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when he and his wife.Grace,hired Villatoro--a photographer.Two years ago,Villatoro began offering photography sessions for people with serious illnesses to document their journeys and was hired by the Metz family."I try to really showcase the person for who they are and not the illness,"she told The Huffington Post during a phone conversation Tuesday afternoon. Villatoro went to Jim and Grace's home for a shoot and offered to do one with their young daughter,Josie.After she left,she posted about the family on her website to get gift donations for the girl to help make her last birthday with her father memorable.But she decided to take a step further as a surprise and dreamed up the idea of a wedding for the girl--complete with,flowers,desserts,a promise ring and a dress from L.A.Fashion Week--so that her father could walk her down the aisle." For today,appreciate those you love.Give them lots of hugs and be grateful they are in your life.You never know what can happen.Say more"I Love Yous"and show more appreciation for all of your friends and family.Appreciate the blessings you have.I'm going to hug my husband Rich more today,call my Dad,call my friend in NC,and give lots of kitty hugs to my pets.Hugs to all of you--I appreciate you all so much and am grateful to have you in my life every single Day! Villatoro was hired by Josie's parents to _ . A. take care of them B. treat Jim's cancer C. take photographs D. fix Josie's wedding Answer: C. take photographs Miss sending letters? Try Lettrs! This new service brings back the art of letter writing by marrying it to the Internet. Lettrs, a new site, is attempting to bring back the old-fashioned idea of letter writing by providing a space that feels a little bit like a writing desk. Of course, there'll be purists who say that to truly enjoy letter writing you must do it on fancy letter paper and envelope in the mail is part of the fun. And if you're into that sort of thing, go for it. But I can't be the only one who is now so much faster at typing that writing by hand is painfully slow. Nor can I be the only one who likes to write on a whim when I'm going to be on a crowded train or airplane, both of which are situations where writing on the computer is far easier. The site tries, pretty seriously, to approximate what it's like to have your very own writing desk and paper to choose from (which comes in various prints and colors) as well as corresponding types of prints and cursive writing that come out on your screen as you write. There's also a "desk drawer" for letters you've already sent, a "fridge" to post letters publicly, a "kitchen counter" for letters you have just received, and "shoebox" to store your letters in. And if you need inspiration there are even old-style letters that are great examples of the kind of correspondence people used to send. Lettrs is such a great idea, because you get the best parts of communicating online (typing rather than writing, the speed, no lost mail, and it's free! ) with the nice parts of a letter-the sense of sitting down to write, quietly, to one person in a meaningful way. Who would you write to? What is the text mainly about? A. An old art of letter writing. B. A new service of letter writing. C. The advantages of letter writing. D. The development of letter writing. Answer: B. A new service of letter writing. Grandpa Nybakken loved life -- especially when he could play a trick on somebody. At those times, his large Norwegian frame shook with laughter while he pretended innocent surprise, exclaiming, "Oh, forevermore!" But on a cold Saturday in downtown Chicago, Grandpa felt that God played a trick on him, and grandpa wasn't laughing. Grandpa worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some boxes for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage abroad. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. He remembered putting them there that morning, so he drove back to the church. His search proved fruitless. Suddenly, he realized what had happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the boxes, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China! The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for those glasses that very morning. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this." Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on vacation in the United States.He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to speak on Sunday night at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. Grandpa and his family sat in their usual seats among the small congregation . "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year." "Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses.Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my co-workers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your boxes arrived.When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on the top." After a long pause, he continued, "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that!" The people listened, happy for the amazing glasses. But the director surely must have confused their church with another, they thought, there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized _ had used him in an extraordinary way. Which can be the best title of the passage? A. Grandfather's life. B. The Helpful Donation. C. The Perfect Mistake. D. An Impressive Speech. Answer: C. The Perfect Mistake. New research finds a link between poverty and poor decision making. The findings may explain why poor people sometimes make bad choices that continue their hardship. Earlier studies have found the poor less likely to escape poverty. But there has been little research on why the poor make decisions that make their lives harder. Until recently, it was economists who studied poverty, not psychologists. Eldar Shafir, a psychologist in Princeton University says now scientists from both fields work together. Mr. Shafir and his team did two experiments. One took place at a shopping center in New Jersey. Another was carried out among sugar cane farmers in rural India. The New Jersey experiment involved individuals with low paying jobs and others belonged to the middle class. All the volunteers were asked what they would do if their cars needed repairs. The volunteers were given two imaginary situations. In the first, the car repairs cost $ 150. In the second, $ 1,500. "And what we found is that the poor and the rich performed equally well on almost all the tests. " Not so when the researchers raised the repair costs to $ 1,500. "Now the poor performed significantly worse. " The poorer lost about 13 IQ points on average. This is about the loss experienced when a person has not slept for one night. The scientists then wondered if the same person reacted differently when he was rich and when he was poor. The Indian sugar cane farmers earn most of their money once a year, when the harvest comes in. But the money often does not last through the year. "So they find themselves basically rich after the harvest when the income comes in and poor just before the harvest. The researchers gave them tests similar to the ones taken by the people in New Jersey. They tested the Indian farmers before the harvest and after. And the results were much the same as with the mall shoppers. "They performed much more slowly and with many more mistakes when they were poorer than when they were richer. " Mr. Shafir says the results support 50 years of research that shows all humans have limited mental power to deal with things in life. "And so the insight here is that, having not enough of something in a way makes it harder to make good decisions for everything else. " What is true about earlier studies? (_) A. They were done by economists and psychologists. B. They found it hard for poor people to become rich. C. They explained why poor people made poor decisions. D. They showed the poor people cared less about their health. Answer: B. They found it hard for poor people to become rich.
The end of my sophomore year was approaching.Mom called me at the dorm one evening during the last week of May.My summer break would be spent with grandma and grandpa, helping out around their farm.The arrangement made good sense to all the family.I wasn't fully convinced of that myself but guessed it was just one summer.Next year would be my little brother's turn. I arrived late that afternoon.Grandma had fixed more food than the three of us could possibly eat.She loved me entirely too much.The next morning, Grandpa fixed breakfast for the two of us. He told me Grandma had tired herself out yesterday and was going to rest in bed a little longer.I made a mental note to myself to not ask her to do things for me while I was there.I was there to help, not be a burden. Weeks passed.I gradually settled into a routine of daily work with Grandpa.In the evenings I usually read or talked with Grandma.She never grew tired of hearing about college or anything I was involved in.She told me stories about her childhood, family and the early years after she and Grandpa had married. The last Saturday in June, Grandpa suggested going fishing.We hadn't expected what we saw when we got to the pond that morning: One of the swans was dead.Grandpa had given the pair of swans to Grandma on their 50th anniversary."Why don't we see about buying another one," I suggested, hoping the situation could somehow be righted.Grandpa thought for a few moments before answering. He finally said, "no...it's not that easy, Bruce.You see, swans mate for life." He raised his finger to point, holding the fishing pole in his other hand."There's nothing we can do for the one that's left.He has to work it out for himself." A few days later, we drove by the pond while doing our morning check on the cows.We found the other swan lying near the same spot we had found the first one.It, too, was dead. The month of July started with me and Grandpa putting up a new stretch of fence.Then July 12 came.That was the day Grandma passed away.Grandma had died suddenly that morning of a stroke.By the afternoon, my parents were there.The old house was soon crowded with s and Grandpa's friends. The funeral was held the next day.Grandpa had insisted on having it as soon as possible.On the second day after the funeral, Grandpa announced at the breakfast table, "This is a working farm. We have a lot of things to do.The rest of you should get back to your own lives." Most of the family had already left, but this was Grandpa's way of telling the rest it was time for them to go home.My parents were the last to leave after lunch. Grandpa was not a man who could outwardly express his grief around others, and we all worried about him.The rest of the summer flowed by.We stayed busy working.I thought there was something different about Grandpa but couldn't quite put my finger on it. September was nearing, and part of me did not want to leave.I thought of skipping the fall semester and staying around a few more months.When I mentioned it, grandpa quickly told me that my place was back at college. The day finally came for me to pack my car and leave. I shock his hand and chanced a hug. As I drove down the driveway, I saw him in the rear view mirror.He waved to me and then walked to the pasture gate to start the morning livestock check. Mom called me at school on a stormy October day to tell me Grandpa had died.A neighbor had stopped by that morning for coffee and found him in the kitchen.He died of a stroke, the same as Grandma.At that moment, I understood what he'd clumsily tried to explain to me about the swan on that morning we fished together by the pond. By "I couldn't put my fingers on it", the writer means that_. A I could do nothing to help him out of grief B I was so busy that I couldn't give a hand to Grandpa C I couldn't tell exactly what was different about my Grandpa D I stayed busy working and couldn't keep Grandpa's company Answer: C. I couldn't tell exactly what was different about my Grandpa Zipped into a bag, it looks like a large umbrella. Unfolded, it goes along the street like any other bicycle. It's the "A-bike", the brainchild of British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, who made history in the 1970s by developing the world's first pocket calculator. He described his new invention as "the world's smallest, lightest foldable bicycle". "My original thought was that if you could have a bicycle that was dramatically lighter and more firm than the ones that exist today, it would change the way in which bicycles are used,"said Sinclair. The mini-bike, showed in Singapore last week and set to go on sale worldwide in 2005 at a price of nearly US$300, is built for riders as heavy as 112 kilograms and is height-adjustable . It takes about 20 seconds to fold or unfold. Its wheels are a quarter the size of those on a regular bicycle, but Sinclair promises a smooth ride for most cyclists. "You require no extra energy to ride the A-bike and it can go up to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour)," he said. Constructed mainly of plastic, the 5.5-kilogram bicycle folds into a package of less than 0.03 cubic meters . Sinclair also invented the first pocket TV in 1984 and the futuristic C5 electric tricycle in 1985. He said he hoped the bicycle would attract common citizens, officials, campers or anyone needing transport for a short trip and he said the next step for the A-bike was to add an electric motor in a few years. This kind of new bike is mainly made of _ . A plastic B packages C bags D metal Answer: A. plastic Alice spends her summer vacations walking back into history. Alice is 15 and she is a guide who shows visitors around the Fort Delaware Museum in New York. "This year, I spun wool on a spinning wheel. Last year, I was a candle maker. My first year, I cared for the garden and looked after the animals. All the jobs I've had at the fort have been really fun." Fort Delaware is a living-history museum that shows how life was in frontier America in the mid-1700s. "Reading about history can't compare to experiencing it for yourself," says Alice. The experience begins as soon as visitors enter the fort. The smell of wood smoke fills the air. Women in petticoats (long skirts) and men in knee breeches(knee-length shorts) are busy with their chores. The guides show visitors how the settles would have carried out everyday work. "Kids are surprised when I tell them that one of their jobs would have been to make candles," says another guide, 16-year-old Jane. "They don't realize that kids back then had to work hard." She also shows visitors how to play with toys and games. They are playing historical parts, so the guides can't wear shorts or T-shirts when the weather is hot. But the clothes of the past can easily change modern kids into people from 18th century. "The clothing felt strange at first, but it does make it easier to get into characters," says Jane. Working at the fort has helped Jane to appreciate her life even more. Alice agrees, "The fort has taught me how hard life was and how much work there was every day. We are so lucky with everything we have now. Life wasn't always this easy." ,. (5,2,10) The main idea of this passage is that _ . A all the jobs Alice has had at the fort have been really fun B how hard life was and how much work there was in the past C reading about history can compare to experiencing it for yourself D we are so lucky with everything we have now, and then we must appreciate them Answer: D. we are so lucky with everything we have now, and then we must appreciate them They will be here in a minute, surely. I'll just stare at my shoes a little while longer to pass the time. Wish I'd brought a book. Hang on, though, what if I've got the wrong day? The wrong place? Have the clocks gone back? No, damn it, I'm off home. Whoever I'm waiting for clearly lives in a different time zone from me. I am always 10 minutes early, so if you're 10 minutes late, I've been foot-tapping for 20 minutes. I know it's not fair to hold the first 10 against you, but I just can't help myself. I never wait more than 20 minutes beyond the meeting time we decided upon, not for anyone, ever. OK, that's not strictly true. I have, on occasion, hung around anxiously and heart-brokenly for up to an hour, but the bitter anger that follows is never a pretty sight. If you've made me wait that long, you will wish you hadn't bothered turning up at all. How come some people are always late and some are always on time? If I can manage to be punctual, why can't you? Because I left a hot cup of coffee at home while you sat down to roll another cigarette. Because I spilled jam on my pants and quickly wiped it off whereas you took time to change your whole outfit. Because I switched off midway through a TV series, but you had to ride out the end, didn't you? And don't even think about blaming the traffic. How do you think I got here? By flying carpet? Only carelessness or arrogance can explain a habit of lateness. Some people are always late because they can't make realistic calculations about how long it takes to do things. There are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour. Just deal with it. Painful as it may be, you have to accept that, as you've agreed to meet at eight and it's now a quarter to, you don't have time to phone your girlfriend. Much worse, though, are those with big egos . Being late is just rude. Being late on purpose really means that you hate the person you are meeting. Of course, there are some perfectly lovely latecomers out there. I just never wait long enough to find out. According to the author, people should _ . A be patient when waiting for a latecomer B keep in mind that being late is rude and selfish C always arrive 10 minutes early for an appointment D ask people around them to remind them about an appointment Answer: B. keep in mind that being late is rude and selfish Finding the Real You Psychometric testing--personality testing--has been very popular nowadays as studies show their results to be three times more accurate in predicting your job performance. These tests are now included in almost all graduate recruitment and are widely used in the selection of managers. The most popular of these personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It is based on the theory that we are born with a tendency to one personality type which stays more or less fixed throughout life. You answer 88 questions and are then given your "type", such as Outgoing or Quiet, Feeling or Thinking. Critics of personality testing raise doubts about "social engineering". Psychologist Dr. Colin Gill warns that the "popular" personality traits have their disadvantages. "People who are extremely open to new experiences can be butterflies, going from one idea to the next without mastering any of them." However, the psychometric test is here to stay, which may be why a whole sub-industry on cheating personality tests has sprung up. "It's possible to cheat," admits Gill, "but having to pretend to be the person you are at work will be tiring and unhappy and probably short-lived." So can we change our personality? "Your basic personality is fixed by the time you're 21,"says Gill," but it can be affected by motivation and intelligence. If you didn't have the personality type to be a doctor but desperately wanted to be one and were intelligent enough to master the skills, you could still go ahead. But trying to go too much against type for too long requires much energy and is actually to be suffered for long. I think it's why we're seeing this trend for downshifting--too many people trying to fit in to a type that they aren't really suited for." Our interest in personality now exists in every part of our lives. If you ask an expert for advice on anything, you'll probably be quizzed about your personality. But if personality tests have any value to us, perhaps it is to free us from the idea that all of us are full of potential, and remind us of what we are. As they say in one test when they ask for your age: pick the one you are, not the one you wish you were. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on the belief that _ . A certain personality traits are common B personality is largely decided from birth C some personality types are better than others D personality traits are various from time to time Answer: B. personality is largely decided from birth
You are probably familiar with the saying:An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A recent research carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong may change the saying: An apple a day may keep aging away. The research chose fruit flies , as they share many genes with humans. The fruit flies were either fed normally or had an apple extract added to their diet. It turned out that those fruit flies that were given apple extract lived about 55 days--five days longer than the flies that were normally fed. The research group also found it easier for the flies to walk,climb and move about as they aged. According to the result, the researchers believed that the antioxidants in the apple extract helped clean up dangerous chemicals that cause illnesses,as well as aging. In another study,researchers examined diets of thousands of women. They discovered that those who regularly ate apples were 20 percent less likely to suffer heart illnesses and stroke. The apples' genetic code was discovered recently. It allows scientists to develop nicer and healthier fruits. Researchers are already using the information to grow a kind of apples full of antioxidants that can keep eyes and joints healthy and protect humans against heart illnesses and cancer. Apples that kill the desire to eat could also be produced, with the first"extra-healthy''apples on supermarket shelves within just four or five years. The team that keeps studying apple DNA includes 100 scientists from five countries. Their research also suggests that around 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs began to die off the plant,which would finally become today's apple tree, experienced a great genetic change. The number of many of its genes doubled. The extra genes allowed the apple to get used to worse conditions and go through a different development from peaches,strawberries and other related fruits. What happened to apples around 65 million years ago according to the research? A. Their genes stopped their development as the environment got worse. B. Their genes became twice in number but they finally died off like dinosaurs. C. They experienced a great genetic change making them get used to worse conditions. D. They went through a similar development to peaches, strawberries and other related fruits. Answer: C. They experienced a great genetic change making them get used to worse conditions. This year, the World Mental Health Day on Oct 10 was marked by the theme: "Depression: A Global Crisis". According to the World Federation for Mental Health and the WHO, depression has moved beyond the medical domain to become a social problem. Statistics from the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center show that of the 287,000 people who commit suicide in China every year, 70 percent are victims of depression. "This equates to one depression victim taking their life every three minutes," cited CCTV recently. According to the Beijing-based Capital Medical University, the number of depression patients has been on the rise in the past years and now accounts for 5 to 10 percent of the population, more than the global average of 5 percent. Wang Shaoli, vice-president of Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, a medical center specializing in mental health, said that what makes depression so widespread is that everybody can get it. "No one is immune to depression," said Wang. "It has become a social problem because depression kills one's social capabilities, such as communication, and leads to a negative social mentality." According to Wang, depression can be treated with medicine and early psychological consultation. The real problem is the lack of awareness surrounding the issue. "People with mental health illnesses are discriminated against," said Wang. "So they are reluctant to go to hospital and often keep the pain to themselves, which only makes matters worse." Only one in 10 depression victims are properly treated in China, according to the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center. "When people get depressed, it becomes part of their thoughts, making them negative, even desperate," said Wang. "And the ideas are difficult to change." That's why Wang suggests early intervention. "Normally it takes about nine months to treat depression," said Wang. "But in most cases, patients drop treatment half way when they feel some progress." In Wang Shaoli's opinion, the better way to deal with mental problem is to _ . A. force the victims to go to hospital B. keep their pain to themselves when it appears C. keep positive and get early psychological consultation D. more medical centers should be set up Answer: C. keep positive and get early psychological consultation Welcome to Adventureland! Everyone loves Adventureland !The Parks and Exhibitions were built for you to explore ,enjoy,and admire their wonders.Every visit will be an unforgettable experience.You will go away enriched,longing to come back.What are you going to do this time? The Travel Pavilion Explore places you have never been to before,and experience different ways of life.Visit the Amazon jungle village,the Turkish market,the Tai floating market,the Berber mountain house and others.Talk to the people there who will tell you about their lives,and things they make.You can try making a carpet,making nets,fishing... The Future Tower This exhibition shows how progress will touch our lives.It allows us to look into the future and explore the cities of the next century and the way we'll be living then.Spend some time in our space station and climb into our simulator for the Journey to Mars! The Nature Park This is not really one park but several.In the Safari Park you can drive among African animals in one of our Range Cruisers:see lions,giraffes,elephants in the wild.Move on to the Ocean Park to watch the dolphins and whales.And then there is still the Aviary to see... The Pyramid This is the center of Adventureland.Run out of film,need some postcards and stamps?For all these things and many more,visit our underground shopping center.Come here for information and ideas too. If you want to get a toy lion to take home,where will you most likely go? A. The Pyramid. B. The Nature Park. C. The Future Tower. D. The Travel Pavilion. Answer: A. The Pyramid. The sun comes up in the east and goes down in the west. When the sun rises, It is morning. When the sun sets, it is evening. When the sun is shining, it is day. Morning is the time between sunrise and twelve o'clock, or between sunrise and lunch. At twelve o'clock, the sun is the highest in the sky over our heads. The sun is overhead at noon. The sun shines during(......)the day. The moon and the stars shine during the night. When the sun rises, it is light. It's light during the day. During the night, if the moon is not shining, it is dark. What are the days and nights like in summer? In summer the days are longer and the nights are shorter. What about in winter? In winter, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. When the moon shines, it is during the _ . A. day B. night C. dark D. evening Answer: B. night 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 . From the passage ,what does the author probably tel l us? A. To be yourself. B. Stop working hard. C. Learn from the older. D. Do what others say. Answer: A. To be yourself.
Mr. and Mrs Black live in a small house near London with their children. Usually Mr Black comes back from work very late. At that time, his wife and the children are sleeping. So he opens the front door of his house with his keys and comes into the house quietly. One night he comes home very late. It is 11:00 p.m. But he can't find his keys. He rings the bell . Nothing happens . He rings it again. Again nothing happens. No one can hear it. Mr. Black knocks on the bedroom window. He calls his wife's name. He shouts but his wife doesn't wake up. At last he stops and thinks for a few minutes. Then he begins to speak like a small child. "Mother," he says. "I want to go to WC." Mrs Black wakes up at once . Then he speaks to her, and she opens the door for him. Mr. Black usually comes back _ . Answer: Joanne wants to investigate factors that affect different patterns of the flight of bees. Which step in the scientific method must she follow before forming a hypothesis? Answer: Men have always believed that they are smarter than women. Now, a study has found that while this is certainly true, men also have to deal with the fact that they are also more stupid than the fairer sex. In the study, scientists measured the IQ of 2500 brothers and sisters and they found an uneven number of men not only in the top two percent, but also in the bottom two percent. The study's participants were tested on science, maths, English and mechanical abilities. Though there were twice as many men as women in the smartest group, there were also twice as many men among the bottom. The aggregate scores of men and women were similar. One of the study's authors, psychology professor Timothy Bates, said that the phenomenon may be because men have always been expected to be high achievers and women have been restricted to spend more time taking care of their homes. "The female developmental program may be tilted more towards ensuring survival and the safety of the middle ground.," the Daily Mail quoted Professor Bates, of Edinburgh University, as saying. The research _ past results that men were more likely than women to receive first class University degrees or thirds and women secured the seconds. It has been said that men are more ready to take risk when it comes to academics. Women have always found to be steadier in their learning. A past study has shown that women are securing more firsts and seconds, while men are continuing to receive more thirds. The argument for the change is that the increase of coursework at the cost of exams favors women's steady approach. Which of the following questions has NOT been discussed in the passage? _ . Answer: Mr. Perkin stands at the bus stop and watches the cars go by. Many of the cars are Beta 400s, and most of them are yellow. Mr. Perkin likes to do what other people do. So the following week he buys a new yellow Beta 400s. He likes it very much and doesn't like the old red one any more. This morning Mr. Perkin parks his car in a big park at half past eight near his office. But when he comes out of his office at five o'clock, there're so many yellow Beta 400s in the park. Mr. Perkin can't find out which car is his because he forgets its number and leaves his licence at home. He tries his key in some of the cars and people looks at him. He has to give up. Poor Mr. Perkin can do nothing. He waits nearly two hours until his car is the only yellow Beta 400s left in the park. He finds his car _ . Answer: prefix = st1 /11 Windrift Circle Methuen, MA 978 - 555 - 4539 JOB OBJECTIVE Seek special education, primary school, or middle school math teaching position. EDUCATION Rivier College, Nashua,NH Bachelor of Arts in Education - May, 2006 Major: Elementary Education Have successfully completed PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II. Meet highly qualified testing requirements for Massachusetts and New Hampshire. TEACHING EXPERIENCE November, 2005 - January, 2006 Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst,NH Student Teacher * Developed and completed student - centered lessons in all subject areas for various groups of fifth grade special and regular education students. Adapted lessons to meet student's needs by reviewing their backgrounds and learning needs through IEPs. Communicated with parents on a regular basis via newsletters, daily or weekly progress reports, phone calls, and email, resulting in increased parental participation at home. August, 2005 - November, 2005 Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, Nashua,NH Student Teacher Taught reading and writing through Language Experience Approach methods. Introduced a Writer's Workshop appropriate for first grade students to help them to develop their writing skills. Developed learning stations in reading and science, enabling students to be more independent learners. Spring, 2005 Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst,NH Designed and taught a unit on Insects and Spiders, based on New Hampshire Standards to 23 self -contained, third and fourth grade students with disabilities. Fall, 2004 Amherst Street Elementary School, Nashua,NH Taught a class of 24 third grade students with a wide range of abilities. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE After-School Aid, Amherst School District, Amherst,NH(2004 - 2005) Summer Camp advisor, YMCA, Nashua,NH(Summers, 2002 and 2003) Big Brother / Big Sister Volunteer, Nashua,NH(2002 - 2005) What kind of job does Linda want to get? Answer:
Youth volunteers from Beijing University visited Song tang Hospital, a care clinic for the aged and dying patients, during the second Global Youth Service Day on April 21. Thirty student volunteers from the university's School of International Studies sat at the beds of the patients in their specially - decorated" care huts". They talked with them and gave massages to patients kept in their beds. I felt sorry that I could not offer more to these people than talking with them and trying to cheer them up. said Deng Yetao, 20, a third - year student. "But it occurred to me that they need more care and love than babies. They are afraid of the coming death. Their loneliness is worse than physical pains." "Even though they are suffering a lot, the majority of the elderly people want to talk to us. Each of them has a lot of life experiences and philosophies to share. _ Said Mao Xiaohua, another third - year student. Mao talked with two elderly patients for a whole afternoon. The fact that most of the patients in the 80 - room clinic are aged people with diseases which will lead to death soon made the volunteers' hearts heavy. Ninety - one percent of the patients will spend the last days of their lives in the clinic, according to a survey by the hospital. Daily visits and services by social workers and youth volunteers are a very important part of their programmer. A total of 330, 000 Beijing students from 119 universities and colleges have visited the hospital. Many continue to offer services in their spare time. Some of them volunteer to hold the hands of dying patients during the last minutes of their lives. Yin Hang, a student from Beijing Medical College, said he felt" the glory of life" as he saw the fading smile on the face of the old man who passed into a deep unconsciousness while he was holding his hands. Youth volunteers from Beijing University went to Songtang Hospital to _ . Teenagers at one German school are learning how to achieve happiness alongside other traditional subjects such as math and languages. The class sit in a circle with their eyes shut and they count from one to ten: someone starts, the next voice comes from the far right, a third from the other side. The aim of the game is to listen for an opportunity to shout out the number without clashing with another voice or leaving a pause. On the first try, most of the young Germans try to be first, while a few are too shy to join in, but by the fifth time round, they develop a rhythm .The message: give other people space but also confidently claim your own. This is a requirement for social well-being. The Willy Hellpach School in Heidelberg is the first in the nation to develop a happiness course. It is intended for students preparing for university entrance exams. "The course isn't there to make you happy," Ernst Fritz-Schubert, the school principal, warned pupils, "but rather to help you discover the ways to become happy." Cooking a meal together is one of the class exercises. Improving body language under the guidance of two professional actresses is another. The course is taught for three periods a week. Although it's the happy subject, the pupils themselves insist it is no laughing matter. "In the first period, we had to each say something positive about another member of the class and about ourselves. No laughing at people," said Fanny, 17. Research by the school shows it is not the first to start happiness classes: they also exist at some US universities, mainly based on positive thinking, using findings from studies of depression. According to the passage, the happiness course is _ . Harry is eighteen now. He studies in a middle school.His parents like him very much and hope he can become a famous man. So they often tell him to study hard and they do almost everything for him. They wakes him up at six in the morning, after breakfast his father takes him to school in a car and in the afternoon, as soon as the young man comes back, the supper is ready. Of course, he never washes his clothes or goes to buy anything in the shops. Once Harry's father was sent to London on business. He would stay there for half a year. Upon leaving, he told his wife to take good care of their son. The woman had to get up eatlier and did all that her husband did before. And two months later she was so tired that she was ill in bed. Now the young man got into trouble. He couldn't do any housework. He had to do as his mother told him. He didn't even know where to get on the bus! One day Harry's mother found his shoes were worn out and told him to buy a pair in the shop. But he didn't know how to choose The woman had a sigh and give him a shoe patten and told him to buy a pair of.shoes himself. With a policeman's help, Harry found a shop. The shopkeeper was friendly to him. The man brought a lot of shoes and asked him to choose. When he was trying on a pair, suddenly he remembered something and took them off. The man was surprised and asked, "What's the matter, young man?" "I'm sorry. I've left the shoe pattern at home!" When his father was in London, _ . Teenagers at one German school are learning how to achieve happiness alongside subjects like maths and languages. The class sit in a circle with their eyes shut and count from one to ten: one begins, the next voice comes from the far right, a third from the other side. The aim is to listen for an opportunity to shout the number without clashing with another voice or leaving a pause. On the first try, most of the young Germans try to be first, while a few are too shy to join in. But by the fifth round, they develop a rhythm. The message: giving other people space but also confidently claiming your own space is a requirement for social well-being. While the game suggests a soft course for the less bright, the school says it is trying to make it affect even clever pupils. The Willy Hellpach School is the first in the nation to develop a happiness course, intended for 17-19-year-olds preparing for university-entrance exams. "The course isn't there to make you happy," Ernst Fritz-Schubert, the school principal, warned the pupils who were taking the course, "but rather to help you discover the ways to become happy." Cooking a meal together will be one of the class exercises, along with improving body language under the guidance of two professional actresses. "In the first period, we had to each say something positive about another member of the class and about ourselves. No laughing at people or teasing," said Fanny, 17. The message: self-esteem improves happiness too. The course is taught for three periods a week and will be graded as a part of overall assessment. Despite the happy subject, the pupils themselves insist it is no laughing matter. Max, 18, says he is happy when he finds people who share his interests. Janina, 18, says she needs to be fit to feel happy. "We want to show how proper food or exercise can help in becoming happy," the principal said. He hopes other schools in Germany will copy the idea. The school has attracted national interest since it announced its new course. Who are expected to take the course at the school? I used to hate my mother because she worked a lot and didn't spend much time with me. Then one Friday morning I took part in a three-day self-help program for teenagers. Whether you believe it or not, that weekend changed my life. About 100 other teenagers were there. During the first two days I met a lot of great people. I was glad because I made so many friends there. On Sunday, the leader did an interesting exercise called "Chocolate or Toys". He asked a girl which she liked better, chocolate or toys. She chose chocolate. Then he asked her to choose again between chocolate and chocolate. Of course, she didn't have a choice. This exercise told us that sometimes we don't have a choice in life, and that sometimes we have to accept something, rather than complaining . A girl stood up and started talking about her mom who was a drug addict and how much she hated her mother. "I want a new mom," she cried. "Unluckily, you can't have one," the leader replied. "You have to accept the mother that you have." This hit me hard. I realized that, for better or worse, my mom was my mom. I couldn't choose another mom, but I could try to make the best of the situation. The self-help program for teenagers lasted _ .
The Internet joins millions of computers all over the world, and it's used by people all over the world. It was invented in the 1960s in the USA. The American government needed a network of computers for its army. Then in the 1970s scientists and businesspeople also wanted to use the Internet to send and receive messages. For some years, they weren't allowed to use US network, and when they were allowed to, the messages were in very simple text without photos. The World Wide Web was invented by a British scientist named Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. He wanted to send documents to other scientists. So he developed the World Wide Web. This allowed him to send and receive scientific documents with text, drawings and photos. In the 1990s, more and more people began to use the Internet and the World Wide Web. So, what's the difference between Internet and the World Wide Web? The Internet is the hardware .It allows us to communicate with other people. The World Wide Web is the software. It allows us to create , see, and read multimedia documents. The web is made up of millions of documents called web pages. These pages are held in computers all over the world. Many people have a favourite website with a number of web pages on the same subject. Email is a way of using your computer to send and receive messages. It's cheaper and quicker to use email than send normal mail. New users call normal mail "snail mail" because it's so slow. It took 50 years for 100 million people to listen to the radio. It took 15 years for 100 million people to watch television. By the year 2000, it had taken only about three years for 100 million people to use the Internet. What will happen next on the Internet? What's the best title of the passage? Answer: The history of the Internet Baymax, a new Disney character, has made everyone like him and want to hug him. The big robot is from the Disney movie--- Big hero 6. He lives with a fourteen-year-old smart boy called Hiro Hamada. Baymax has helped Hiro get through hard times after Hiro's elder brother died in an accident. Soon Hiro finds that some bad people are behind his brother's death and want to take the city. To stop it , he uses his high-tech gadgets and turns Baymax and his four other friends into super heroes. The movie has received very good feedback . In February, the movie won the best animation feature of the 87thOscar Awards. Baymax has become popular thanks to his big soft body and his comforting voice. People say his love can be found on the screen. Mothers in Japan have started to make Baymax-sharped white rice balls for children. In China, fans warmly call him "the big white". The friendship between Baymax and Hiro makes many people cry in the cinema. As a nursing robot, Baymax is never designed to be a super hero. He dares to love you without expecting anything for himself. I think we all love him because of his love. What is Baymax? Answer: A big robot. The poverty line is the minimum income that people need for an acceptable standard of living. People with incomes below the poverty line are considered poor. Economists study the causes of poverty in order to find solutions to the problem. As the general standard of living in the country rises, the poverty line does, too. Therefore, even with today's ly high standard of living, about 10 percent of the people in the United States are below the poverty line. However, if these people had stable jobs, they could have an acceptable standard of living. Economists suggest several reasons why poor people do not have jobs. For one thing, more than half of the poor people in the United States are not qualified to work. Over 40 percent of the poor people are children. By law, children less than 16 years old cannot work in many industries. A large number of poor people are old. Many companies do not hire people over 65 years old the normal retirement age. Some poor adults do not look for jobs for a variety of personal reasons: they are sick, they do not have any motivation, they have family problems, or they do not believe that they can find a job. Other poor people look for a job but cannot find one. Many poor adults never went to high school. Therefore, when they look for jobs, they have few skills that they can offer. At the present time, the government thinks it can reduce poverty in the country in the following ways. First, if the national economy grows, businesses and industries hire more workers. Some of the poor who are qualified to look for jobs may find employment. Then they will no longer be below the poverty line. Second, if society invests in the poor, the poor will become more productive. If the government spends money on social programs, education, and training for poor people, the poor will have the skills to offer. Then it is more likely that they can find jobs. Finally, if the government distributes society's income differently, it raises some poor people above the poverty line. The government collects taxes from the non-poor and gives money to the poor. These payments to the poor are called welfare. Since 1975 over 18 million people in the United States have received welfare per year. Some economists are looking for better solutions to the poverty problem. However, at the present time, many people depend on welfare for a minimally acceptable standard of living. Most of the American poor people are not qualified for employment because _ . Answer: they are too young or too old to work In a few states where racial prejudice is serious, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are states where the white man imposes his rule by force; there are states where the black man protests by setting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides, who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence - as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all. We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more serious. The sheer horror, the bloodshed, the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us. The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and harder to get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the shabby houses at improving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is weakened by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of a stable social programme. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law. Before we can even begin to reflect on peaceful co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other's problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in exchanging information. "Talk, talk, talk," the advocates of violence say, "all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser." It's rather like the story of the famous lawyer who carefully explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he was none the wiser. "Possible, my lord," the lawyer replied, "none the wiser, but surely far better informed." Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite to wisdom: the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve. According the author the best way to solve race prejudice is Answer: law enforcement. Last summer, Cathy's family went to New York City for their summer vacation. They stay there for two weeks. New York City has about seven and a half million people. _ is the largest city in the United States. First they visited the Statue of Liberty. It is one of New York's most well-known historical sites . Millions of people visit it every year. On the second day, they went to the Empire State Building. From the top of the building, they saw most parts of New York. On the third day, they visited the Metropolitan Museum. In this museum, they saw a lot of famous paintings. During the rest time of the week, Cathy went to Bronx Zoo with her younger brother and sister. In the second week, the family visited Long Island. They all had a good time. New York has about _ people. Answer: 7,500,000
Question: Peter was a small boy. He lived with his parents in a small house near some hills .The people there were all poor .One night it was very dry and windy .When everybody was asleep,Peter suddenly heard some noise .It came out from the kitchen . He got up and walked to the kitchen .He found that the wood beside the stove was burning .There was no water tap in the house,so he could not put out the fire .He shouted loudly to wake up everyone in the house .Then he ran out of his house and knocked on the doors of many houses to wake the people up .They all left their houses quickly .At last the fire was put out by the firemen .Many houses were burnt .But nobody was hurt in the fire . One night he found that _ beside the stove was burning. A. the table B. the wood C. the door D. the window Answer: B. the wood Question: On June 1, Seller and Buyer contracted in writing for the sale and purchase of Seller's cattle ranch (a large single tract), and to close the transaction on December 1. Assume the following facts. On October 1, Buyer told Seller, "I'm increasingly unhappy about our June 1 contract because of the current cattle market, and do not intend to buy your ranch unless I'm legally obligated to do so." If Seller sues Buyer on October 15 for breach of contract, Seller will probably A. win, because Buyer committed a total breach by anticipatory repudiation on October 1. B. win, because Buyer's October 1 statement created reasonable grounds for Seller's insecurity with respect to Buyer's performance. C. lose, because the parties contracted for the sale and conveyance of a single tract, and Seller cannot bring suit for breach of such a contract prior to the agreed closing date. D. lose, because Buyer's October 1 statement to Seller was neither a repudiation nor a present breach of the June 1 contract. Answer: D. lose, because Buyer's October 1 statement to Seller was neither a repudiation nor a present breach of the June 1 contract. Question: scientists make observations and cats A. regurgitate their cleanings B. never sleep C. fly D. cook spaghetti Answer: A. regurgitate their cleanings Question: In what way are valleys formed? A. the passage of water in a straight or winding path moving consistently B. pools of water filling until a deep lake forms C. rain water frequently raining down D. high winds blowing rain and hail Answer: A. the passage of water in a straight or winding path moving consistently Question: Old glory waves thanks to a A. pulley B. magic C. guy climbing up D. bird Answer: A. pulley
Most visitors come to the UK expecting the rain and weather for which the country is famous. However, when summer finally arrives, British people like nothing more than heading for the coast. Here are some of more famous places of interest that you could expect to visit on a trip to Britain. Black pool, in the northwest of England, is the most visited place in the UK. Each year around 6.5 to 7 million people come to enjoy the miles of sandy beaches, the 158m Black pool Tower and the 11km-long Golden Mile, where there are entertainments, pubs, ice rinks and even a zoo. On the south coast of the country you can find Brighton. Until 1786, Brighton was a sleepy village. Then the future king, George IV, decided to build a house there, and now it has become a large, international centre. Apart from the beaches, Brighton is famous for its pier . There are theatres, entertainments and restaurants there. Brighton is also fantastic for shopping. If you want to travel a little further, why not go to Corn-wall in the far southwest of the UK? South Cornwall offers miles of sandy beaches and beautiful scenery. The climate there is warmer than the rest of Britain, and you can even find palm trees. For a bit more excitement, go to North Cornwall. The scenery there is nicer, and the beaches are famous for their powerful waves. As a result, North Cornwall has become the home of British surfing. One word of warning though, if you are using the roads in the UK during holidays, you can expect long traffic jams on the motorways. It might be better to take the train. Which is the best title for this passage? A. Let's Go to the Beach! B. How to Enjoy Your Holidays C. Welcome to Britain! D. How to Travel in Britain Answer: A 2.26-meter-tall Yao Ming made his NBA debut on October 23, 2002 and got 6 points for the Houston Rockets in the game. The next day, he got 13 points in another game. Most people think that Yao Ming is a born basketball player. But Yao said, "When you watch it on TV, it looks very easy. But when you are playing in the NBA, it is really not so easy." He said that joining the Houston Rockets was a new start and a new challenge. "I hope that through very hard work I can make everyone happy and help the Rockets win more games," he said.Yao Ming speaks some English. Both he and his teammates can understand each other. They don't think there is a language problem. While Yao Ming faces this new challenge, the people of Houston have shown great interest in him and they hope Yao Ming will bring new energy to the Rockets. The team has started having lessons to learn more about China, and many people who work for the Rockets have learned to speak some Chinese. The passage is probably _ . A. an advertisement B. a notice C. a news report D. an instruction Answer: C Each child has his individual pattern of social, as well as physical, development. Some of it depends on his home life and his relationships with the people who love him. Children in large families learn how to get along with others through normal brother- sister play and tussles . An only child, on the other hand , may have to learn his lessons in social living through hard experiences on the playground or in the classroom. Twins who always have one another to lean on may be slow in responding to others because they do not need anyone else. A child who is constantly scolded and made to feel he does everything wrong may have a difficult time developing socially. He may be so afraid of displeasing the adults around him that he keeps to himself (where he can't get into trouble)or he may take the opposite route and go out of his way to create trouble. Like the deserted child, he too may return to infantile pleasures, developing habits that will satisfy him, but create barriers toward social contact. The passage implies that which of the following may have the earliest time learning to get along with others? A. An only child B. A child from a large family C. Twins D. Children who are continually scolded Answer: B "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 Being a good student means being organized.Victoria Walsh means _ . A. sleeping all the time in your class B. not finishing your homework on time C. writing notes to your best friends in your class D. bringing all your study things to each class,not escaping from class,listening carefully in class Answer: D It is 1965, a 1ittle boy is on the beach with his parents. He is four years old. The boy plays near the water. He walks into the water. His parents aren't watching him. The water is over the boy's head! A woman sees the boy. She _ the boy and carries him to his parents. The woman's name is Mrs. Blaise. It is 1975, ten years 1ater.The boy is on the same beach. He is 14 years old now. He is big and strong. He is a good swimmer. A man is in the water. The man can't swim. "Help! Help!" the[:]man cries.The boy runs into the water. He swims to the man and pulls the man to the beach. "Thank you." says the man. Who is the man? His name is Mr Blaise. He is Mrs Blaise's husband The boy was born in _ . A. 1965 B. 1961 C. 1969 D. 1975 Answer: B
I am a mother of two children. Like many other parents, I worry that my children watch too much TV. Why? First, there are lots of bad programmes on TV. They may learn from them. Second, watching too much TV is bad for their eyes. Many students wear glasses because they watch TV for long hours. Third, watching too much TV makes children think little . I think it is very important for children to read some books. Reading books makes children think more. When I tell this to my children, they just don't listen to me. So I decide to sell the television set. Maybe it is a good idea. Why do many students wear glasses according to the passage ? Answer: The classical Chinese theatre developed during the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368). Plots of Yuan plays came from story cycles made familiar by storytellers. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the drama used the plots of popular novels. Until the 19th century, Chinese drama was not spoken; it was a mixture of music and declamation . Like the Sanskrit drama, Chinese drama avoids tragedy as that term is understood in the West. However, it is frequently filled with a feeling of pity and sympathy, often involving the deaths of women. Chinese drama is more social and less concerned with romantic love than the Sanskrit. One's family and country are frequently regarded as more important than the individual. In contrast to the Sanskrit drama, Chinese drama was written for the popular audience, and dramatic performances took place in every village. There are many Chinese plays in existence. Among the _ of them areThe Injustice Suffered by Dou Eby Guan Hanqing,The Western Chamber by Wang Shifu,The Peony Pavilionby Tang Xianzu, andThe Palace of Eternal Youthby Hong Sheng. In the West, Chinese drama has traditionally been regarded as an entertainment rather than a serious art form. One of the reasons for this judgment is the formlessness of Chinese plays. For example, Hong Sheng's The Palace of Eternal Youth, a play in 49 scenes doesn't have any act divisions. In Chinese drama, no attempt is made at realism. The scenery is symbolic. For instance, a flag represents an army and characters at times directly address the audience. Since the early 19th century, the Beijing opera has been the leading force in the Chinese theatre. After World War I, a realistic, spoken drama, patterned after Western plays, developed. What is the best title for the passage? Answer: Long before the scientific world became concerned about the impacts of introducing nonnative species,a total of l00 starlings were released in New York City's Central Park.Eugene Schieffelin was a Shakespeare lover who wanted to bring to America as manv birds as possible mentioned by the Bard in his poems.He imported 60 starlings and released them on a March day in Central Park.A year later,he introduced an additional 40 birds. Within 50 years,they had spread to every state,and today they number an estimated 200 million.In San Diego County,the starling seems at home in both urban and agricultural environments,frequently feeding on the ground,where it probes lawns and fields for insects,worms and snails. Nesting begins in March and peaks in May when the young birds join large flocks in places like Lake Henshaw,dairy farms or Ramona Grasslands.They frequently take over the nest of other birds,and they don't seem particular,having been observed nesting in many kinds of trees. In addition to competing with native species for food and nesting locations,there have been estimates that starlings cause at least MYM800 million in crop damage annually.Much of the damage they cause is the result of their concentrations.Massive flocks of birds are, though beautiful,can be destructive,even dangerous to aircraft,with more than 800 incidents reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. Despite their bad press,the starling is popular with bird--watchers and also the Shakespeare lovers,who often refer to the starling probably because the bird is quite an imitator.It can imitate the calls of up to 20 other species,including hawks,robins and flickers. Love him or hate him,Schieffelin's release of 100 European starlings had a lasting impact in the United States.He had no idea that he also proved the famous words of Shakespeare."What's done cannot be undone.'' What made Eugene Schieffelin introduce starlings into New York City? Answer: What is the E-mail The e-mail, which is also called email, stands for "electronic mail". You can send messages in only a few seconds by e-mail. On the Internet there are many powerful computers called "servers" to help people send and receive emails. The sending and receiving servers are just like post offices. If you want to use the email service, you have to open at least an email account called a "mailbox", just like we set up a mailbox in a post office. Some mailboxes are provided free of charge by ISPs, which you can get when you open an Internet account. Most widely used mailboxes are provided free by the ISPs, and anyone can apply for one even if he has no ISP account. How to apply for a free mailbox? First you have to connect to the Internet and go to the homepage of the ISP providing free mailboxes. Then you'll find an icon showing "apply for a free mailbox", click the icon, an agreement about the rules for using the free mailbox will appear. If you want to go on, click the icon "I agree". Then you have to fill in a form about your basic personal information, and the name and pin of the mailbox. The pin is the key to the mailbox. After finishing these, you'll get a mailbox like this: your name @ mail server, for example: jack@ 163. com. The mailbox is separated into two parts by a separator "@", which is read as "at". The former part is the name of the mailbox. The latter is the domain name of the mail server. All mails to you will be received by the server and put into your mailbox. You can read this mail on any computer in the world as long as you have the name and pin of the mailbox. The writer mainly wants to tell us how to _ in this passage. Answer: Good afternoon! I'm Alice. My last name is Smith. I'm in a red jacket. I'm in Xingfu Middle School. My phone number is 569-2679. This is Cindy Brown. She is my good friend. She is in a yellow jacket. She is in Xingfu Middle School, too. What's her phone number? It's 865-2397. What's Cindy's phone number? Answer:
Question: My father is tall and has short gray hair. He wears glasses with heavy black frames . Here is a picture of him from 1968. What a surprise! In the picture, he's 15 years old. He's short and he is wearing glasses with small round frames. He has short blond hair and it's really straight. He is wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt with the word "love" on it. I'm 15 years old now. I'm of medium height and I have short hair. My hair isn't blond. It's blue. My father thinks it's strange , but my friends think it's great. I wear glasses, but my glasses have bright red frames. They're so cool! I have an earring in one ear, too. I never wear blue jeans. I' like big baggy pants and long T-shirts. Most of my T-shirts have pictures of my favorite rock bands on them. What does the writer like wearing? A. Blue jeans and a T-shirt. B. Big jeans and a long T-shirt. C. Blue jeans and a long T-shirt. D. Baggy pants and long T-shirts. Answer: D Question: Without any hesitation, he said, "I'd be better off dead." Hearing those words come out of my best friend's mouth tore my heart apart. He has repeated that phrase more than once, and my mind continually plays it over like a voice recording. I met him about three years ago. After knowing me for six months, he told me about his struggles with depression. Sadness was not the only emotion that came over me; I was shocked. He seemed so outgoing and happy all the time. I soon learned that he was physically and emotionally abused as a young child, causing him to have suicidal thoughts. He refuses to talk to others about his depression because he now distrusts adults, especially those in his family. Nevertheless, he feels as if I understand him and that I know the right words to speak. Therefore, when it comes to helping him, _ . It does not matter where I am or what I am doing, for he always comes first. Many students at his school laugh at him when they notice scars on his arms from cutting. As he sees it, other kids have every right to make fun of him. But no one holds such a right, so I encourage him to ignore the heartless kids who treat him badly. When he feels the weight of judging eyes or hateful voices, I always remind him that I care about him unconditionally. Just hearing me say I will always be his best friend seems to give him the security he needs to keep on going. My best friend once told me that if he had not had me, he would not be alive. He said that my encouraging words convinced him not to take his life. Our friendship has taught me that a single kind word can influence someone's life. With the fragility of life as it is, I believe in the necessity of encouragement. By saying "convenience is not in my vocabulary", the author means _ . A. he is always ready to help his friend. B. he hardly spares time to help his friend. C. he has no good excuse for refusing his friend. D. he is not good at communicating with his friend. Answer: A Question: As prices and building costs keep rising, the "do-it-yourself" (DIY) trend in the U.S. continues to grow. "We needed furniture for our living room." Says John Ross, "and we just didn't have enough money to afford it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs." John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $ 280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house. Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $ 420. "I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself." John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourself", you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself. John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to _ A. run a DIY shop B. make or repair things C. save time and money D. improve the quality of life. Answer: B Question: An idea that the universe originated with an explosion is supported by repeated observations of light from distant galaxies traveling away from Earth. An idea that has been tested repeatedly and is supported by repeated results is most likely a A. hypothesis. B. theory. C. law. D. fact. Answer: B Question: When the weather is hot, you go to a lake or an ocean. When you are near a lake or an ocean, you feel cool. Why? The sun makes the earth hot, but it can not make the water hot. Though the air over the earth becomes hot, the air over the water stays cool. The hot air over the earth goes up, then the cool air over the water moves in and takes the place of the hot air. When you are near a lake or an ocean, you feel the cool air when _ moves in. You feel the wind and the wind makes you cool. Of course, scientists cannot answer all of our questions. If we ask "Why is the ocean full of salt?" scientists will say that the salt comes from rocks. When a rock gets very hot or very cool, it cracks , and rain falls into the cracks. The rain then carries the salt into the earth and the rivers. The rivers carry the salt into the ocean. But then we ask "What happens to the salt in the ocean? The ocean does not get saltier every year. " scientists are not sure about the answer to the question. We know a lot about our world. But there are still many answers that we do not have, and we are curious . Which of the following is NOT mentioned in this passage? A. The reason why people feel cool when they are near a lake or an ocean in hot weather. B. The reason why the ocean doesn't get saltier every year. C. The reason why the water in the ocean is salty. D. The reason why rocks crack. Answer: B
As the saying goes, man struggles upwards; water flows downwards. Water runs downhill from mountaintops to streams to rivers to oceans. But downhill isn't the only way that water moves .A new study measures how water travels from country to country for human consumption. This flow isn't the type we usually think about .These scientists looked at the water used to grow and make the products which get shipped from nation to nation as imports or exports. They call this a flow of "virtual water ". We typically think about water as the liquid that flows from a tap. However,92%of the water used by people goes into growing crops,according to water researcher Arjen Hoekstra. He recently studied the hidden travels of virtual water used in products made from things like crops and meats .These products are shipped around the world. For example, consider a sugary soft drink. Hoekstra estimated that to produce one half-liter of the drink requires between 170 and 310liters of the water--about 95%--is used to grow and process the ingredients .Another 4%goes into the packaging and labeling. In Hoekstra's calculation, when one country produces a half-liter of soda and sells it abroad,it exports as much virtual water as would fill a large refrigerator. According to Hoekstra's new report,dry countries like Israel and Kuwait,both in the Middle East,get the majority of their virtual water from other countries,through imported products. More surprisingly, some wetter countries,like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, also get the majority of their virtual water from other places. That means that most of the water used to grow or produce the products and food consumed in those countries came from other countries. In the United States most of the virtual water used comes from American sources .In China even less of the water associated with its products. The passage is most probably a _ . Answer: science news report When it comes to social behaviour,mammals are in a league of their own.Some birds may form pairs,or even cooperate to hunt,but the complexity of their relationships can hardly compare to those within a school of dolphins,a herd of elephants or a group of humans.What makes mammalian social groups different from a flock of starlings or a shoal of fish,is that in many cases the individuals could recognize each other.Although we may think that all elephants look pretty much the same,we can easily tell individuals of our own species apart and it has become clear through studies that the same is true of other species.Dolphins have their own signature whistles that act like "names",and elephants can recognize and greet other individuals they have known but not seen for many years.This is something that only a few species of birds appear to be able to do. Mammals in complex social groups not only recognize each other as individuals,but also they remember a lot of information about that individual.Social groups often rely on this memory--such as knowing who is dominant to whom,who is related to whom,and who has done what to whom in the past.It's like remembering who you have lent money to or done a favour for,and who hasn't repaid that money or has talked about you behind your back.You have to learn who to trust,who your friends are,and who to watch out for. All this remembering goes on in a particular part of the brain called the neocortex .If you compare the size of a mammal's social group with the size of this part of the brain,you will find they are remarkably closely related.This area seems to take a long time to develop fully and animals in which it is very large take a very long time to grow up to adulthood.During this time,the youngster has to learn all the rules of social behaviour in their group and to piece together all the relationships between the group members:Knowledge that will be needed to avoid getting into trouble. Animals whose area of the neocortex is large _ . Answer: will have a long period of time before they become adults Growing up, I knew I was different. My father had left and he never came back. As I later discovered, the abandonment triggered my anxiety attacks. I feared being alone, unwanted, unpopular, and unloved. My first attack came in a ninth-grade class: The teacher asked me to walk in front of the class, but I couldn't do it- I was soaked in sweat, shaking. My symptoms began every morning from the moment when I stepped inside the school building. Throughout my childhood, I was no stranger to the doctor's office. My mother tried everything she could in hope of a breakthrough. There were times I thought suicide could be the only way to make the pain stop. By age 16, I had shut down socially. Most of my peers were going to parties, playing sports, and dating. But I was a prisoner in my own home. Then one Sunday morning, my wake-up call came from a magazine article. Freddie Prinze, Jr. was on the cover. The article detailed the pain of losing his father at a young age. I felt as though I were reading my own life story. The only difference? He was now a success. That article inspired me to explore a new treatment option for myself. I wanted to turn my life around as well. So I hit the library and the Internet, and I began to realize how my negative thoughts controlled my physical well-being. Immediately, I made a plan to take charge of my life. Shortly after following the items I had listed, I was able to stop seeing a therapist. I never returned to high school, but I did go to college. After graduation, I pursued a career in television news. My relationships have changed for the better, too. I've made new friends and reconnected with many from my past The anxiety isn't completely gone, but whenever it returns, I know the feeling will pass, and know I have the power to change my life, only if I will give myself a chance. The writer's anxiety attacks were mainly caused by_. Answer: the father who left in his childhood WENZHOU(Xinhua) -- The train collision in east China's Zhejiang Province has killed 39 people and left 192 others injured as of Sunday night, said a spokesman with the Ministry of Railways. A total of 132 people are still being treated in hospitals, said Wang Yongping, spokesman with the ministry at a press conference. Eleven people remain in critical condition, said Cheng Jinguo, head of the health bureau in the city of Wenzhou, where the collision happened Saturday night. Cheng said at the press conference that 52 people who suffered slight injuries had been discharged from hospital. Wang expressed condolences to the concerning families and sincere apology to all the passengers. The train's "black box" has been discovered and the ministry is investigating the cause of the crash, Wang said. Wang said the ministry will make public the cause of the accident as soon as the investigation is done and publish the names of the killed and injured. He said the crash has caused large number of casualties and great property losses. The ministry will find out the cause through thorough investigation and take effective measures to prevent similar accidents. Despite the accident, the spokesman said the ministry is still confident in the high-speed train. "China's high-speed train is advanced and qualified. We have confidence in it," he said. The damaged rails have been repaired and were ready to restart operation but the reopening was delayed by the stormy weather, according to Wang. Wang did not provide the exact time when the line would start operating again. The accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday on a bridge near Wenzhou when bullet train D301 rear-ended D3115, which reportedly lost power after lightning strike. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Bullet train D3115 was forced to stop as a result of the stormy weather. There are three airports in New York. When you arrive at one of them, you can take a bus or taxi to any place in New York. Public transport . In New York there's a good bus and subway service. If you are planning to use the subway a lot, you should buy a subway ticket for ten journeys because it's cheaper. But you don't have to use public transport, because there are lots of places you can go to on foot, like The Empire State Building , 5thAvenue and Central Park. The New York taxis are a part of the city experience , so you should take at least one taxi during your visit! Hotels. There are lots of good hotels in New York. The best is _ on 5thAvenue but you don't have to pay a lot to stay in the city; there are lots of small hotels. Eating out. There are many kinds of food in New York and you shouldn't eat at McDonalds every day. There are good restaurants in Little Italy and Chinatown, for example. Shopping in New York is fun. There are big shops on 5thAvenue. They are open seven days a week. But be careful when you look at the prices; you have to pay a special 8% tax on everything you buy in New York. Places to see. Finally, there are a lot of places to see in New York -- Times Square, the Statue of Liberty. And you shouldn't go home without climbing the Statue of Liberty. The Plaza here is the name of _ . Answer: a hotel
Foulsham House is a fine, large house of the 1790s.It stands high above the River Byer, in twenty--five hectares of the best farmland in the southwest. The house was built by Smithson, and the story that George, the son of King of Whales, who fell in love with the beautiful Lady Kitty, at one of the first Foulsham's wild woods parties.Many years ago many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham. House, and many fine girls took tea in the Green Room. The house has eight bedrooms, three bathrooms , two living--rooms, and a dining--room with a real Adam fireplace.Its library has a good view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy, with good, high windows, and wood floors. At the back of the house there is room for four cars.The third Foulsham once kept there.In many other ways, this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 1990s. If you wish to know more about Foulsham House, write to: Harvey.Platt, Longford &Son 6, Castle Green, Gilham, Byreside. Foulsham House _ A is an old house that meets many new needs B though seventy-nine years old, meets new needs C is a new house that meets many old needs D is a house of the 1970s as good as new Answer: A My name is Amy. I'm a 25-year-old graduate student who likes yoga, home-decorating shows and eating spoonfuls of peanut butter straight from the jar. Oh yeah, and I'm an iPhone addict. I wasn't always an addict. In fact, for many years I told myself I didn't want a fancy cellphone. They seemed like too much work, always ringing and demanding attention. I was perfectly content with my simple cellphone, and I didn't feel like changing my mind any time. However, about a year ago, I found myself envious of all those proud iPhone owners, holding their shiny new phones and showing them off to all their friends. I started to _ conversations about "iPhone apps", feeling like a tourist listening to a language I couldn't speak. Eventually I couldn't ignore my iPhone instinct any longer, and I welcomed my new iPhone into my life. I instantly fell in love with the little bundle of joy, and could no longer imagine a life without it. To my surprise, I suddenly found myself with a whole new circle of friends--other iPhone owners I could go to for advice and support as I learned the various functions of my new device. They responded to my iPhone-related queries when my other friends couldn't, and didn't roll their eyes when I bragged about all the things little Eloise (yes, I named her) could do. For a couple months I built my new life with Eloise. However, I realized I had a problem when one day I found myself Google-mapping my way to my mailbox, which happens to be right outside my front door. When I reflected upon the past few months, I couldn't believe I didn't see this coming. All the warning signs were there. Eloise slept right beside me and was the first thing I reached for in the morning. I checked my e-mail about 20 times a day. I also experienced attachment anxiety when I left poor Eloise in the changing room at the gym. What if she rang and needed my response? Or, even worse, what if a careless gym-goer knocked her out of my bag and caused her screen to crack? Once I admitted I had a problem, things started to change. What used to feel like friendly messages now felt like constant complaining to respond. I hated that I could no longer leave the house without Eloise in my hand. Eventually, I felt angry with Eloise so much that I wanted to throw her at the wall. I decided something had to be done. But, as I quickly realized, iPhones are like cigarettes and not easy to quit. Then, while taking the bus to work one day, I was unexpectedly forced to quit--at least temporarily. When I reached into my purse to grab Eloise, I found her overcome by fever. My head swam with panic as I attempted to solve the problem, but without result. I couldn't call anyone for advice. I couldn't Google whether this had happened to any fellow iPhone owners. The Apple Store was closed by the time I finished work, so I headed home with fear into an Eloise-less night. But, after a couple hours without any text alerts, push notifications, or even good old-fashioned phone calls, I felt ... calmer. Without my electronic bed partner, I drifted off into the deepest sleep I'd had in months. The next morning, I read the news from the simplicity of the newspaper, instead of from my iPhone. I even noticed the cherry blossoms blooming. My goodness, what had I been missing? The passage is mainly about _ . A how I changed my attitude towards iPhone B why I was content with my iPhone C how my simple cellphone changed my lifestyle D why I preferred to use iPhone eventually Answer: A For years I fought with the bird's nest that sat on top of my head-my Medusa hair.No matter what I did and how hard I tried, in no way could I make my unruly hair to my satisfaction. Growing up in a Russian-Jewish home with parents who thought North American styling products were something illegal such as drugs, I was never allowed to put them in my hair. "Why buy hair gel? Your hair is so beautiful naturally." my mother would say.The teens at school did not agree.From boys' not wanting to kiss me when we played spin the bottle in Grade 7 to being called the mop, I suffered from my hair. When I got to university, I believed my hair was a wall that stood between me and everything---finding a part-time job, getting a boyfriend, etc. If only I could find a way to manage the curls and put it behind bars, I told myself, I would feel secure and sexy.I tried everything: rollers, hairspray, gels and, at one point, an iron.Then, in my second year, a miracle happened.I was asked to be a hair model for Japanese hair straightening, a process by which the molecules of my curls would be broken and reset in a bone-straight position.I was the perfect candidate, the hairdresser told me.Although they said how hair relaxing could damage the scalp , for the next five years I didn't find them to be true. All of the hairdresser's promises were fulfilled: With my hair straight and smooth, I was no longer the " mop". However, there was extreme damage done to my wallet. To keep up the straightening cost $ 700 every six months, and that was considered cheap. While some people thought I was crazy, I was willing to do anything to never again feel like that anxious, curly-headed girl in Grade 7.But when I moved out of my parents' house at age 26 and rented an apartment, the upkeep of my new image became too costly. I couldn't hide from my inner Medusa any longer.It was time to hug her and let her fly.Seeking a choice, I turned to the Internet, Google.After hours of searching, I hit upon a "curly haired" salon, a place designed for girls like me. I doubted these so-called "Curl Ambassadors" could do anything without using machine of some sort, and though I bought the service called the "Curly-Doo", I suspected I'd have the same unruly mop at the end of the appointment. I dragged my feet so hard getting there that I arrived 45 minutes late.I secretly hoped they would turn me away.Instead, my stylist simply said: "You are very late.Let me see your hair". At that moment, my world and beliefs about myself were turned upside down along with my hair. As my head was in a basin full of freezing-cold water, then covered with a jelly-like jam, I wondered what I had got myself into. "Do you really think this will work?" I asked the stylist, Jones." My curls are a disaster." "No curly hair is hopeless," she replied."They just haven't found a way to work with it, that's all." After the hour was over, Jones had completed her work.She had styled my hair using only her hands, water and a mixture of organic jam.I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the mirror: a naturally curly, Medusa-free me.You could argue that hair is just hair. Yet, it is just such physical features that have such a large influence on how we view ourselves. According to Jones,75 percent of the population have a wave or curl in their hair and don't know what to do with it.Men cut theirs short.Women flat-iron theirs to death.When I read through a beauty magazine or take the subway to work, it makes me sad to see so many people repressing their natural beauty. Since then, my world has changed.I have always been outgoing, but these days I seem to be more outspoken and confident than ever.On top of that, friends and co-workers tell me I am looking better than ever, but they don't know the source of the change. I don't need to tell them. My Medusa hair speaks for herself. Japanese hair straightening caused a problem for the writer that_. A her wish to feel secure and sexy didn't come true B her hair was seriously damaged after the straightening C the cost to keep her hair straight was too high for her D she was called "the mop" with her hair straight and smooth Answer: C Coupons to spend "How did you spend your coupons?" On their first day back to school, many students in Hangzhou greeted each other this way. The coupons referred to the 100 yuan coupons each student received form the city government before the Spring Festival holidays. Over 260,000 primary school and middle school students were given coupons. They could use them in local stores and supermarkets, or to see movies and buy books. The same coupons have also been given to low income families in Hangzhou. Other cities, including Chengdu and Nanjing, also gave coupons to their citizens. More cities are expected to follow their lead. Why are local governments doing this? These programmes are all part of a broader effort in China to increase domestic demand in the face of the global financial crisis. The crisis has seriously affected China's exports and investments . Many factories in southern cities have been closed down. Some companies are laying off workers or reducing their pay. The stock market and real estate market have been falling. In a time of financial crisis, people usually respond by saving money. They are uncertain about the future and are afraid that more difficult times may be ahead. Now many people are choosing not to spend money carelessly. Major chain stores have seen a sharp slowdown in sales, analysts say. But spending keeps an economy healthy. If people don't spend, there will be too many products in the market. Then shops will stop buying products from factories. When factories receive no orders, they close down. The workers there accordingly lose their jobs. Also, if people don't spend, the service industry suffers. The total result is that the whole economy breaks down. Issuing coupons is a practical and effective way to increase domestic demand in the current situation, said Jiang Zengwei, vice-minister of China's Ministry of Commerce. Hangzhou reported a rise in customers in local markets during Spring Festival holiday. However, issuing coupons is only a temporary measure. To increase consumers' confidence, the government needs to establish a sound secure social system in the long term. When people don't have to worry about education, health care and their pension, they will be more willing to spend instead of saving. If the government is to print a slogan on the coupons to restore consumers' confidence, what might be used to promote the idea? A Spend now, save later. B Spend money like there's no tomorrow; come on! C Spend money like it's going out of style; let's do it! D Big spender, wise spender. Answer: A Our little boy came up to his mother one evening while she was cooking supper, and handed her a piece of paper with some words written on. And this is what it said: For cutting the grass in the garden $5.00 For cleaning up my bedroom this week $1. 00 For going to the store for you $0. 50 For baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $2. 25 For taking out the rubbish $1. 00 For getting a good report card $5. 00 Total owed : $14.75 After reading, his mother thought for a while. Then she picked up the pen, turned over the paper and wrote: For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me--free For the nights and days I worried about you--free For the toys, clothes, food--free For all the love I've given you--free Then with tears in his eyes, our son looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I love you. " And he took the pen and wrote: "PAID IN FULL". The boy handed the piece of paper to his mother in the _ one evening. A kitchen B store C bedroom D garden Answer: A
Thailand is a country with a long and rich history. It is also one of those countries which have many traditions which modern times fortunately have not affected. Thailand is famous for its unique culture. It is well worth noting that Thai culture handed down from one generation to the next. Thai Classical Dance The inspiring culture includes local music and wonderful Thai dances. The dances of course have something to do with its deep rooted Buddhist religion, fighting arts and beautiful clothing. Thai classical dance performances are generally performed by gracious Thai ladies wearing beautiful Thai local costumes. Most resort areas and many hotels frequently offer these Thai culture dance shows for foreign visitors. Thai Greeting The Thai unique gesture of greeting another person, the wai, is especially one of the great aspects of Thai culture. The wai is when a person joins both hands to either head or chest level while bending their head slightly towards their hands. This way of greeting is especially done when a younger person greets an older person and it indicates a sign of respect to their elders. Employees would also wai their managers even if the manager would be younger than themselves. Bangkok Bangkok is the culture center of Thailand and has been the Thai capital since the end of the eighteenth century. Observing Thai culture in Bangkok can be great experience as the combination of modern times and traditions have created a kind of unique atmosphere. Bangkok offers a package of Thai culture which is shown by numerous beautiful Buddhist temples and many examples of modern Thai architecture. Bangkok National Museum Another location in Bangkok where one can enjoy and see Thai culture is at the famed Bangkok national museum, which offers tourists an opportunity to view national treasures and unique Thai art pieces with its culture feature dating back as early as the late sixteenth century. In Thailand a worker uses the gesture the wai to greet _ . Arabs consider it extremely bad manners to start talking business immediately. Even the busiest government official always takes extra time to be polite and offer refreshments . No matter how busy you are, you should make time for this. The conference visit is a way of doing business throughout the Arab world. Frequently, you will have to discuss your business in the presence of strangers, who may or may not have anything to do with your business. Do not be surprised if your meeting is interrupted several times by people who come into the room unannounced, whisper, or speak softly to the person with whom you are talking, and leave. Act as though you do not hear, and never show displeasure at being interrupted. Making decisions quickly is not an Arab custom. There is a vagueness in doing business in the Middle East which will puzzle a newcomer. Give yourself lots of time and ask lots of questions. When an Arab says "yes", he may mean "maybe". When he says "maybe", he probably means "no". You will seldom get a direct "no" from an Arab because it is considered not polite. Instead of "no", he will say "inshallah", which means "if God is willing". On the other hand, "yes" does not necessarily mean "yes". A smile and a slow nod might be like an agreement but in fact your host is being polite. An Arab considers it rude to disagree with a guest. Which of the following is NOT an Arab custom? You can't remember who sings a certain song from the 90s. You Google it. You're arguing with a friend about who played Mickey in The Goonies. You solve the problem by Googling it. You don't know the way to that new restaurant. You Google Maps it. We hold the answers to about all of life's questions in our hands today. But that means our brains are feeling free to take some rest. According to the Daily Mail, our growing reliance on the Internet for fact checking is making our memories worse. Scientists at Harvard University found people now regard Google and other search engines as an outside part of their own brains, rather than a tool. Writing in the Journal Scientific American, Harvard psychologists Daniel Wegner and Adrian Ward warn that people who believe their memorable facts that are saved online are much worse at remembering them. "The Internet is also unlike a human memory partner; it knows more and can produce the information more quickly, You can find almost all information today easily through a quick Internet search. It may be that the Internet is taking the place of people's memory." In a series of tests, researchers found it was easy for people to remember information well if they believed it would be deleted. Those who thought it was stored on a computer were more forgetful, even if they were asked to keep the information in mind. People are easy to remember things well if they know _ . The bus is a usable form of transportation all over the world because we can easily take it to go everywhere. Also, we do not need to worry about danger on a long-distance trip. Now, we have comfortable buses in London. I would like to describe how comfortable they are. First, the number of seats on a bus has been reduced from 44 to 19. The reason why the number of seats is now 19 is that the seats have been changed to big and comfortable sofas. Originally, they changed the normal seats to airplane seats and took out ten seats from the buses. However, every customer wanted to have a more comfortable seat on the bus when they went on long-distance trips, so they changed them to sofas. Also, the owners of the bus companies wanted to make more money, so they tried to meet the passengers' needs. They changed the airplane seats to sofas, so the number of seats is now 19. As the new buses appear, the prices go up, too. The owners have many ideas, which you have probably never thought about before. Now they have bus attendants who serve water, snacks, newspapers, and towels. Also, you can change the direction and the height of the sofa to make yourself more comfortable, and there is a service bell on each sofa. Moreover, some companies show movies on the buses. In addition, when you go on a long-distance trip, they have luxurious buses that have an LCD screen on each seat. That is not the only surprising thing on the bus. They also have different TV channels, movie channels, and seventy TV games for killing time while you are on the bus. The direction and height of the sofas can be changed so that _ . Hello! I'm Jim Green. Here is a photo of my family. I'm English. This is my mother. Her first name is Mary. This is my father. His first name is Steve. My telephone number is seven-six-o, nine-one-seven-six. My friend is Li Lei. His English name is Paul. He is in China. His telephone number is 281-5248. Who's that in the photo? It's my Chinese teacher. His name is Liu Yong. He is a good teacher. ,. _ is in the photo, too.
One day, an old man went for a walk in a park in Washington, and when he was tired, he sat down in a chair. A young person was standing on the other side of the pool. "Oh!" the old man said to the person sitting be side him on the chair. "Do you see that person with the glasses and long hair? Is it a boy or a girl?" "A girl." said the neighbor . "She is my daughter." "Oh!" the old man said quickly. "Please forgive me, I did not know that you were her mother." "I'm not." Said the other person, "I'm her father." The old man thought his neighbor was _ . When asked to list typical English gentlemen,for many,Colin Firth immediately comes to mind. In his recent film,Kingsman:The Secret Service,the 54-year-old actor appears as elegant and violent super spy Harry Hart.One minute he's calm and polite,and then in the next he's skillfully violent and aggressive.For example,in one scene he says,"Manners maketh a man",before severely beating up a group of villains .Firth brings out the perfect mix of typical British style and humor through this performance. Firth began appearing on English TV in the early 1990s,but it wasn't until he played Mr Darcy,a charming upper class character from Jane Austen's famous novel"Pride and Prejudice",that Firth's career really took off.His portrayal of the perfect fictional gentleman conquered millions of hearts,especially females'. In many fans and critics'eyes,Firth has British good looks,British charm,and a gift for characters with a British sense of being reserved .Movie reviewer Jason O'Bryan described Firth as"always befitting the calm and stiff-upper-lip British gentlemen character". However Firth doesn't consider himself the authority on gentlemen."I don't necessarily approach every challenge like a perfect English gentleman spy.There are many aspects in my personality that are not consistent with someone like Harry Hart,"he said to Dialogue,an English--language show on CCTV News. But let's just take his words as another gentlemanly quality-modesty.After all,who might expect an Oscar-winning actor over 50 years old to learn to fight for his first action movie? To prepare for Kingsman,Firth trained for three hours every day over six months.He broke a tooth and got bruised everywhere,but took the damage as a symbol of his accomplishments. In Dialogue,Firth said he had many other sides-he's passionate about literature and literary research.However,to many of his movie fans, he is indeed a gentleman and excellent actor above a11 else. Which of the following might be the best title for the text? A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men. A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age. Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, 'Love me, love my dog." But there is more wisdom in this:" Love me, love my book." The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them. A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man's life is, for the most part, the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters. Books possess an essence of _ . They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time have been to sift out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good. Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were, in a measure, actors with them in the scenes which they describe. The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens. This passage is mainly developed by _ . Researchers who study relationships have discovered that a big difference between those who make new friends easily, and those who don't, is that socially successful people tend to make eye contact with their conversation partners much more frequently than those who are less successful socially. In fact, you may be able to become much more socially successful by making this one simple change to your behavior. Most Americans prefer to have a lot of eye contact when they are talking with someone. When a person doesn't make eye contact with them, they tend to think that the person is hiding something or the person doesn't believe in himself/herself. When you are having a conversation and you want to leave a friendly impression, be sure to keep looking at that person frequently while you are talking. If it really bothers you to look directly into another person's eyes, you can gaze generally at, not above, the eyebrow area or the bridge of the nose; this is close enough to the eye region that you will appear to be looking at the person's eyes. But neither the hair or the shoulders have the same effect. Don't stare at other people too intensely, otherwise, you will look aggressive . Keep the majority of your focus on the other person. If you glance around the room too much, or look too frequently at other people, your conversation partner may guess that you are looking around for someone else you would rather talk with. You can lighten your nervousness by smiling more often, nodding, and by gazing at the entire face as well as the eyes. In addition, you can frequently look away for very short periods. When people get the sense that you are really paying attention to them, they will be much more likely to want to have conversations with you! From the passage, we can learn that _ . How many hours does it take to be fluent in English? There are plenty of people in the UK for whom even basic English is a problem. According to the survey, 726,000 people in England and Wales said they could not speak English well, and another 138,000 said they did not speak it at all. Ling, 40,who arrived five years ago from China, found it difficult to learn English. " When I came here l was pregnant and so I was at home for the next three years. It took me longer to learn as l was very busy with the children." Eventually she was able to begin taking classes and now speaks good conversational English. But even with classes, it can be a long process to pick up the language. Age is the most important factor in language acquisition, says Mila Vulchanova, professor of linguistics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. "There is a sensitive period in language learning, which is biologically determined, with an onset at birth and a decline around puberty. So the younger the immigrant, the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults." he says. There are a number of systems for grading English. The government expects immigrants to reach "ESOL Entry 3" or "B1 level" in Scotland, before they can be granted citizenship. It's equivalent to being able to hold a confident conversation and-it might take 360 hours of study to achieve. George Osborne said in June following the spending review that welfare claimants who don't speak English will have their benefits cut if they fail to attend language courses. Huan Japes, deputy chief executive of English UK, a trade body for language colleges, says a rule of thumb is 360 hours-120 hours for each of three stages-to get to the standard the government expects benefit claimants to reach. But many of the people who attend courses are visiting students rather than people settling in the UK. Immigrants tend to have very varied levels of education. " Using 120 hours( for each stage of English fluency) is a rather traditional approach to course book learning," says Dr Elaine Boyd, head of English language at Trinity College London. "If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It's common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in about six months. " The example of Ling is given to show that _ .
On Saturday Patrick woke up with a little shock, knowing that this was a special day. For a moment he couldn't think exactly why, and then, with an excited flutter of his stomach, he remembered. At ten o'clock today he was going to find out the final result of the programme called Super Brain. He got dressed more carefully than usual, went downstairs and turned on the TV. Quickly he switched channels. Cartoons, cartoons, advertisements, man talking, snow, snow... and still nothing at all on Channel 8. "Patrick, turn it off, darling, if you're going to watch." Judith walked past with the newspaper under her arm and her eyes half closed. She headed for the kitchen. Patrick turned off the TV and followed. "What's for breakfast, Mum?" "We will see," Judith said in a low voice, turning on the electric kettle . She looked sleepily at him and smiled. "You look nice, darling," She said. "You're all ready. But we can't go till eight-thirty at the earliest, you know. Nothing will be open till then." Patrick's stomach seemed to feel a little sick. "We aren't going out, are we?" He asked. Judith began to make the tea. "Don't say you've forgotten!" she said, "I promised you, last Saturday. Your new trainers, remember?" "Oh--oh, but I can't go out this morning, Mum. There's something I've got to watch on TV. At ten o'clock. I've got to! My trainers will be all right for another week." Patrick said with excitement, looking quite worried. Judith faced him, hands on hips, "Patrick," she said with great dislike, "it's all organized." This Saturday was very special for Patrick because _ . Answer: he would get the result of the programme he was waiting for The most frightening words in the English language are, "Our computer is down." You hear it more and more when you are on business. The other day I was at the airport waiting for a ticket to Washington and the girl in the ticket office said, "I'm sorry, I can't sell you a ticket. Our computer is down." "If your computer is down, just write me out a ticket." "I can't write you, out a ticket. The computer is the only one allowed to do so:" I looked down on the computer and every passenger was just star, ding there, drinking coffee and staring at the black screen. Then I asked her, "What do all you people do?" "We give the computer the information about your trip, and then it tells us whether you can fly with us or not." "How lorig will the computer be down?" I wanted to know. "I have no idea. Sometimes it,s down for 10 minutes, sometimes for two hours. There's no way we can find odt without asking the computer, and since it's down it won't answer, us." After the girl told me they had no backup computer, I said. "Let's forget the computer. What about your planes? They're still flying, aren't they?" I wouldn't know," she said, pointino at the dark screen. "Only 'IT' knows. 'It' can't tell me." By this time there were quite a few people standing in lines. The words soon spread to other travelers that the computer was down. Some people went white; some people started to cry and still others kicked.their luggage. What Could the girl in the ticket office do for the passengers without asking the computer? Answer: She could do nothing. Eric and Doris King Turner are packing their bags for New Zealand.They're busy deciding what to pack and what to leave behind in Britain and are making plans to make their new home in Nelson.Doris is looking forward to getting the garden into shape and Eric has his heart set on a spot of fly fishing.The difference is that Eric is 102 , Doris is 87.Eric thinks he's Britain's oldest _ . In January next year Eric King Turner and his wife will wave goodbye to their neighbors,and set sail from Southampton on the voyage of a lifetime.The ocean liner Saga Rose will take six weeks to get to Auckland and the couple are expecting a redcarpet welcome from family. Doris was born in New Zealand but gave up her homeland when the couple met and married in the 90s.But New Zealand is close to both their hearts and the attraction of family and friends,and the good fishing helped to persuade them to move. Doris,who has five children and nine grandchildren,supported her husband's application to settle in New Zealand . The paperwork took five months.Says Eric,"We not only had to produce a marriage certificate but we had to produce evidence that we were in a long and firm relationship!" Eric says he was not asked about his age but had to show that he could support himself financially in New Zealand. "I like New Zealand.The way of life is very much the same as it is here but it is not so crowded . " His wife has always been "a little bit homesick" but has never complained.Now the couple are in the middle of the task of sorting out possessions and selling their flat . Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: The couple will set up their new home in Nelson. Have you taken inventory of the stress in your life? Stress can come from work. It can come from family. It can come from the places we live and the lifestyles we choose. In a recent survey, 60 percent of respondents said the city in which they live is noisier now than five years ago. The other 40 percent? They didn't hear the question. How much stress do you feel? Though not all stress should be avoided, too much pressure can cause lasting harm in practically every area of your life. The solution is to take control. Robert Reich did just that. As Secretary of Labor in the Clinton cabinet ,Robert B. Reich, told of his decision to resign from the stressful job. He said,"I have the best job I've ever had and probably ever will. No topping it."It was true. He seemed to love his job. But he added, "I also have the best family I'll ever have, and I can't get enough of them."And there was the problem --too much of a good thing. He could not give himself to his family and to this particular career at the same time. So Reich said,"I had to choose, I told the boss I'll be leaving, and explained why." His boss, of course, was the president of the United States. And the country took notice. Some people were surprised. Here was a high government official who made a decision to step out of an important and powerful position in order to spend more time at home. He took control. That is the first step to free ourselves from unnecessary stress: take control. Make the hard decision. It may be a decision for less money, a smaller home, a new location, a different job, less prestige ,or a simpler lifestyle. But one thing I believe: it will be a decision you will never regret. The author's attitude to Robert Reich's resignation is _ . Answer: supportive Nervous suspects locked up in Britain's newest police station may feel relieved by a pleasant yellow Colour on the door. If they are close to confessing a crime, the blue on the wall might tip the balance. Gwent Police have abandoned colours such as greys and browns of the 20th-century police cell and have used colour psychology to decorate them. Ystrad Mynach station, which recently opened at a cost ofPS5 million, has four cells with glass doors for prisoners who suffer from claustrophobia . Designers have painted the frames yellow, which researchers say is a calming colour. Other cells contain a royal blue line because psychologists believe that the colour is likely to encourage truthfulness. The station has 31 cells, including 12 with a "live scan" system for drunken or disturbed prisoners, which detects the rise and fall of their chest. An alarm alerts officers if a prisoner's breathing stops and carries on ringing until the door is opened. Designers and psychologists have worked for years on colour. Blue is said to suggest trust, efficiency, duty, logic, coolness, thinking and calm. It also suggests coldness and unfriendliness. It is thought that strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter, soft colours will calm the mind and aid concentration. Yellow is linked with confidence, self-respect and friendliness. Get the colour wrong and it could cause fear, depression and anxiety, but the right yellow can lift spirits and self-respect. Ingrid Collins, a psychologist who specializes in the effects of colour, said that colour was an "energy force". She said: "Blue does enhance communication but I am not sure it would enhance truthful communication." Yellow, she said, affected the mind. Red, on the other hand, should never be considered because it could increase aggression. Mrs Collins praised the designers for using colours in the cells. Gwent is not the first British force to experiment with colour to calm down or persuade prisoners to co-operate. In the 1990s Strathclyde Police used pink in cells based on research carried out by the US Navy. Which of the following colours should NOT be used in cells according to me passage? Answer: Red.
Parents are often amazed at how fast their child grows and develops. New research has determined that the ability to quantify may develop much sooner than most parents realize. Kristy vanMarle, professor of the University of Missouri, has determined that contrary to what previous studies have shown, infants are able to quantify substances --like sand or water--as early as 10 months. As long as the difference between the two substances is large enough, infants will choose the larger amount, especially when it comes to food. With the assistance of her team researchers, vanMarle tested the quantifying skills of babies by presenting them with two cups: one containing a small amount of food, and one containing a larger amount. Consistently, the babies chose the larger amount. "Several studies throughout the last 15 years have shown that infants are very good at telling how many objects they see; however, infants don't seem to count things like water or sand," vanMarle said. "What we're saying is that they can quantify substances; The infants can see how much food goes into each cup and compare that in their memories. They decide which amount is larger, and they almost always select the larger one." This information further refutes the long-held idea that babies "know nothing of the world," vanMarle said. "Since psychologists have begun studying infants with sensitive measures, we've discovered a lot of early abilities. I think for parents, it should be exciting to know that there's somebody there that has some fundamental and basic knowledge of the world, and that knowledge is guiding their development," vanMarle said. In the future, vanMarle says this kind of study could be linked to a child's progress in math-related skills, although programs marketed to increase those abilities, such as "Baby Einstein," still have mixed reviews when it comes to academic study. Babies choose the larger amount of food _ . A student observed a sample of water in three states of matter. The student should describe the liquid water as a state of matter that has "Holding girls back from an education is robbing them of their dignity ," says Mariam, a teacher, in an interview with Action Press. "I feel proud when I tell people that I'm from Swat in Pakistan, with its green and mountainous valley. But I don't feel proud about the number of women and girls where I'm from who are still being unable to enjoy the right for an education. "I have taught many students -- including Malaya, the young education activist who was shot in the head as travelling to school in Pakistan after campaigning for girls' education. Among them I see the dignity that education can offer. This is why I have long been devoted to teaching, and why I am doing what I can to make sure that all girls have the chance to go to school. "At the Khushaal school and college in Mingora, many girls are prevented from going to school because of poverty and fights. However, the most common reasons for girls not attending classes are cultural. People fear that females will become too independent if educated. Instead, parents prefer to marry off girls early. Girls and young women are considered a financial burden if left dependent on their parents." "In the school where I have been teaching for over ten years, I have seen how this discrimination plays out. Parents regard an educated and independent female as being too clever for her own. Even if parents agree to give a girl an education, a limit is set to the number of years for her to attend classes and it is common for girls to make it through only primary school. This is why I have been working tirelessly to change these damaging views and cultural practices. These are crimes against humanity ,which I have no choice but to strongly accuse of." "Malala was right to fight for her education." says Mariam, who will be in New York with UNESCO , delivering a speech calling for world leaders to make sure every child gets a chance to go to school. What is the major reason to prevent girls from going to school? How do you go to school? Do you take a bus or ride a bike? For many students, it is easy to get to school. But for some children in one small village in Hunan, it is very difficult. There is no road between the village and the school. The children have to climb down ladders to get to school. Yu Xinxin is an 8-year-old girl. She climbs the ladders every day. "My parents are good at it and _ tell me how to do it, and now I don't think too much about how _ it is," she says. It is hard for the villagers to get in and out of the village, too. Their dream is to have a road. . For the students in the small village, it is _ to get to school. Right is right. Right? Of course. But is left wrong? Well, the Romans used to think so. They thought left-handed people were mistakes of nature. Latin, the language of the Romans, had many words that expressed this view. Some words we use today still have this meaning. The Latin word "dexter" means "right". The English word "dexterous" comes from this word. It means "handy" (clever with hands). So, right is handy. But the Latin word for left is "sinister". The English word "sinister" comes from this word. Sinister means "evil" (very bad). Is it fair to call right-handed people handy and left-handed people evil? Well, fair or not, many languages have words that express such beliefs. In old English, the word for left means "weak". That isn't much of an improvement over "evil". Not very long ago, children were often forced to write with their right hands. Doctors have since found that this can be very harmful. You should use the hand you were born to use. People who use their left hands are just starting to get better treatment. But why they get all these bad names in the first place? One reason may be that there are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people. There is one left-handed person for every five right-handed ones. People who are different are often thought to be wrong. But attitudes do seem to be changing. Fair-minded right-handed people are finally starting to give left-handed people a hand. What does the passage lead us to believe when one writes?
Question: A baby camel asked his mother, "Why do we have such large hooves on our feet?" She turned him and began her explanation. "The big hooves are to keep us from sinking into the sand." "Oh! So why do we have long eyelashes ?" "It's to protect our eyes from the sand." "Why the big humps ?" "That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the hot desert!" "I see!" The baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother, "Then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?" Like the baby camel, I had asked the same kind of questions. When my blindness set in, I at first locked myself in a cage of self-pity and bitterness. I was tired to waling out of that dark cage. Heavens! What was I thinking? Those _ were self-imposed . Finally, eagerness to leave it inspired me to open my ears to hear a reassuring whisper - I was created for much more. I broke down those bars and stepped out into the desert of life. I walking difficultly through the heat with determination. And the hooves of confidence kept me from sinking into the sand of danger. Each time I reached another point in my journey, my eyes saw a whole new world with opportunities to make a difference. Best of all, I was pleased the I was indeed created for much more! Bars come in all sizes and shapes. But none can hold up the force of determination that breaks them down. Step back and peek at what bars limit you. Take a deep breath, break them down, and come out into the freshness of a new life! What would be the best title for the passage? A. A young camel B. Enjoy the desert of life C. The force of determination D. The importance of freedom Answer: C. The force of determination Question: Welcome to Pocono Whitewater There's something fun here at Pocono Whitewater for every level of adventurer! We have mild to wild whitewater rafting , family trips, and birdwatching boating. Choose one adventure now. It's up to you! We have trips available daily. Give us a call today! Dam Release Whitewater Rafting Experience the best whitewater on the Lehigh River! Surrounded by forests and mountains, you will enjoy 12 miles and 5 hours of Class III whitewater rafting and outstanding scenery. This is a fun and thrilling trip that everyone over the age of 12 can make. While paddling in the swift water, you'll shout and laugh. Dam Release Whitewater Rafting Rates: Individual (over the age of 12) : $61.00 Group (at least 8 persons) : $31.00 Rates Include: all necessary rafting equipment, life jackets, free parking, bus service to/from the river and professional river guides. Family Style Whitewater Rafting Bring along the whole family this summer and enjoy 8 miles and 5 hours of Class I whitewater rafting. Mild water of the Lehigh River is simply perfect for beginners, school groups, and kids aged 4 and older. This is just perfect for enjoying the passing scenery, kicking your feet over the edge of the raft, or taking a swim in the river! One of the most unique things about this trip is a free riverside barbeque ! Our workers will cook and serve you a picnic lunch -- hotdogs, potato salad, fruit, etc. The classic family picnic! Family Style Whitewater Rafting Rates: Adult: $39.00 Child (aged 4--14) : $33.00 Group (at least 8 persons) : $30.00 Rates Include: all necessary rafting equipment, life jackets, free parking, bus service to/from the river, and a barbeque lunch, river guides not included. If ten college students are to participate in the Dam Release Whitewater Rafting, how much money will be paid in total? A. $310. B. $330. C. $390. D. $610. Answer: A. $310. Question: Sometimes you'll hear people say that you can't love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you'll hear people say that you can't expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you've got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we're the apple of our parent's eyes, and that our Grandmas think we're great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics. But sometimes it's a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge. It is time you built a positive self-image and learn to love yourself. Self-image is your own mind's picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world. The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list of you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don't allow doubts to occur in it. It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can't move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you're silly because you aren't good at math, find a tutor. If you think you're weak because you can't run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you're dull because you think it doesn't mean it's true. The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat yourself on the back, you'll know you're well on your way. Good luck! What is the passage mainly about? A. How to prepare for your success. B. How to face challenges in your life. C. How to build a positive self-image. D. How to develop your good qualities. Answer: C. How to build a positive self-image. Question: Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old middle school teacher at the No 19 middle school in the city of Jiamusi in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province was crossing the road just outside the school's gate when a school bus suddenly came rushing toward nearby students at 8:38 pm on May 8, 2012. "There were three buses at the school gate ready to pick up students, but the one in the back suddenly crashed into the second bus and pushed it into the first one. There were several students standing between the first and the second buses and they were about to be crushed," said Liu Ye, a student of No. 19 middle school. "We were waiting to board the bus when suddenly _ began moving toward the teachers and students. Zhang Lili immediately pushed the students out of the way, but unfortunately she didn't escape. The bus crushed her legs. " added Liu. Zhang Lili was sent to hospital at about 9 pm and she was critically injured and her blood pressure was low. The situation was quite serious when rushed to hospital. After consulting specialists, the doctors decided that the only way to save her life was cut off both of her legs. Upon learning about the accident, the deputy mayor of the city, Sun Zhe, asked the hospital to "save the young teacher regardless of the cost" "If necessary, we will invite more specialists from the capital city, even from whole nation," said Sun. Fortunately, after 58 hours of emergency medical attention after being transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Zhang finally regained consciousness on May 15. " _ , and the doctors are still working full out to save the heroic teacher," said Zhao Mingyan, ICU director at the hospital, where Zhang is now receiving treatment. "Her courage moved all of our staff, and we will try our best to help the brave teacher in her future life. " said Wang Jianwei, the director of center. The Ministry of Education has also named her "National Outstanding Teacher" and called on the country's educators to learn from her. Which of the following might be the best title for this passage? A. National Outstanding Teacher B. A Heroic Teacher C. An Example of Top Teachers D. An bus accident Answer: B. A Heroic Teacher Question: A little under one-third of U.S. families have no Internet access and do not plan to get it, with most of the holdouts seeing little use for it in their lives, according to a survey released on Friday. Park Associates, a Dallas-based technology market research firm, said 29 percent of U.S. families, or 31 million homes, do not have Internet access and do not intend to subscribe to an Internet service over the next 12 months. The second annual National Technology Scan conducted by Park found that the main reason why potential customers say they do not subscribe to the Internet is because of the low value to their daily lives rather than concerns over cost. Forty-four percent of these families say they are not interested in anything on the Internet, versus just 22 percent who say they cannot afford a computer or the cost of Internet service, the survey showed. The answer "I'm not sure how to use the Internet" came from 17 percent of participants who do not subscribe. The response "I do all my e-commerce shopping and YouTube-watching at work" was cited by 14 percent of Internet-access refuseniks. Three percent said the Internet doesn't reach their homes. The study found U.S. broadband adoption grew to 52 percent over 2006, up from 42 percent in 2005. Roughly half of new subscribers converted from slower-speed, dial-up Internet access while the other half of families had no prior access. "The industry continues to chip away at the core of non-subscribers, but has a long way to go," said John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. "Entertainment applications will be the key. If anything will pull in the holdouts, it's going to be applications that make the Internet more similar to pay-TV," he predicted. From the passage we can infer that _ . A. It is not an easy job to transform those holdouts into the Internet users B. people will adopt dial-up Internet access no more C. many Americans enjoy doing e-commerce shopping at home D. more than half of the population are using the Internet in 2005 Answer: A. It is not an easy job to transform those holdouts into the Internet users
Many companies use guards and expensive alarm systems to protect their property . Soon a new kind of protection will be used--robots. Engineers have been working on the first mobile robots for businesses. The robots will guard factories, warehouses and museums at night. The mobile robots will move around slowly on wheels. They will be able to detect(,) people through walls and pick up sounds, such as breaking glass. They can be fixed with loud sirens to frighten thieves, or radios to signal police or guards. To protect a building, a robot will have to move around without knocking into the walls. Information about the building will have to be stored in the robot's small, built-in computer. A floor map could be programmed into the computer's memory, for example. A mobile robot will not be able to do everything. Unlike human guards, it will not be able to climb stairs, open doors, or move along rough ground. It won't be able to tell the difference between friends and enemies. Because of that, people will have to be prevented from entering the area it moves. One kind of mobile robot will be able to "sense" whether a chair or a box has been moved and go around it. This robot will also judge size well enough so that it won't send an alarm if a cat crosses the room. And if someone tries to steal this robot, it will sound a loud, painful siren. The three-foot-tall robot is hard to be stolen anyway. It weighs about 200 pounds. U.S. companies pay almost $10 billion a year to protect their property with alarm systems and human guards. Mobile robots may be cheaper. How will a robot get directions for moving around a building? Answer: From a built-in computer. Friends with Kids was put on in American theatres on March 9th, 2012. Its writer and director is Jennifer Westfeldt. It's a _ about some friends at that time in life when children arrive and everything changes. It will make you feel happy and funny and can't help laughing. In the movie, the last two singles Westfeldt and Adam Scott, decided to make a test--to have a kid together and meet other people. Most people will be surprised at what happens in the movie. It can help you think of more about your love for your parther and family. The famous stars in the movie are Adam Scott. Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Fox, and Edward Burns. You can also visit this movie's official website. ,. Which is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: We can watch the movie on March 9th, 2012. Have you seen Jurassic Park? In this film, scientists use DNA kept for tens of millions of years to clone dinosaurs. They find trouble, however, when they realize that the cloned creatures are smarter and more dangerous than expected. That's nothing more than a fiction. But could we really clone endangered animals? To date, the most successful attempt to do so was the cloning of a gaur, a rare ox-like animal from southeast Asia. Scientists used a cow to bring the cloned baby gaur, named Noah. Two days after birth, however, Noah died from a common bacterial infection. Other endangered species that may be cloned include the African bongo antelope , the Sumatran tiger, the cheetah , and the giant panda. Next, could we really clone extinct animals? In theory? Yes. To do this, you need a well-kept source of DNA from the extinct animals such as wool mammoth , Tasmanian tiger, or even dinosaur, and a closely related species, still living, which could serve as a surrogate mother. In reality? Probably not. On the one hand, it's not likely that extinct animals' DNA could survive undamaged for such a long time. Cloning extinct animals as wool mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, or dinosaur is much more difficult due to the lack of properly well-preserved DNA. On the other hand, for example, a gaur can have a cow as _ , definitely not a monkey. But what about an extinct animal as unique as the panda? What species could possibly serve as a surrogate mother? Cloning presents many exciting possibilities. However, even if extinct animals are brought back, they could not survive in today's world. Not only do most extinct animals have no habitat to live in, but the other plants and animals they depended on for food may also be gone as well. In the author's opinion, it is possible that _ . Answer: some extinct species may be cloned, but not survive What kind of energy causes evaporation? Answer: hot Many children act in TV shows. They work several hours every day, so they can not go to regular school. How do they get an education? In Hollywood, many TV shows are made. About forty teachers give lessons to the children in the shows. They teach wherever their pupils are working. The teachers' job is very important. They are responsible for making sure that the children work only the permitted hours each week. They are also responsible for making sure that children learn the required subjects. They make sure, too, that the children get enough rest and play, along with their education. Children actors are required to attend classes twenty hours each week. California law says they must be taught from September to June. If they do not make much progress in school, they are not permitted to continue working in TV shows. TV children are usually good pupils, and most of their teachers like this special kind of work. Their classes are held in some wonderful places. Sometimes the "classroom" is a Mississippi riverboat, and sometimes it is the inside of a spaceship. Often the pupils become famous TV or movie stars. . The children actors do not go to regular school because _ . Answer: they have to act several hours a day
Who is the most powerful woman in the world? According to the US media, it's Janet Yellen, or at least she's about to be. On Oct 9, 2013,US President Barack Obama nominated Yellen to serve as the next US Federal Reserve (the Fed, )chair. If confirmed by the Senate, Yellen will become the first woman to serve in the top spot. Aged 67, silver-haired and tiny, Yellen is said to be the most qualified nominee ever. She chaired President Bill Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers, taught at Harvard and Berkeley, and was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She is currently the Fed's vice chair. Many think Yellen is the right choice to deal with the challenges the Fed now faces:First, to bring interest rates back to more normal levels without triggering a new recession .Second, to reduce the US unemployment rate, which remains at historically high levels. A CNN opinion piece says Yellen is unusual for an economist of her caliber ."She has kept her eyes on what's critical-the people. Her research has centered on unemployment, on the best way to modulate government policies to benefit the people." Past records also show that Yellen is exceptionally good at predicting where the economy is headed. An article in The Washington Post points out that she was one of the few voices at the Fed inDecember 2009 warning about the subprime crisis and the following recession. The reason why Yellen will be the most powerful woman in the world has to do with the unique position of the Federal Reserve, explains an article on Quartz, a US news outlet for business people in the new global economy, First of all, the Fed is independent. Unlike US Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Hilary Clinton, the decisions made by the organization Yellen will lead next year are not subject to approval by anyone in the government. Within the Fed, the chair alone sets the agenda. The Fed chairperson has huge influence on monetary policy and financial regulation. And don't forget how powerful the Fed itself is. It controls the money supply in the world's largest economy. The Fed's interest rate decisions don't just set the course for the US economy, its decisions set the course for the world economy, too. Because of globalization, Yellen's decisions will affect everyone around the world, says an article in The Atlantic, making her even more powerful than some great women rulers in history, including Elizabeth I of England and China's Wu Zetian. For example, the article continues: "If Yellen even just talks about slowing down the Fed's bond-buying, Europe's troubled economies are likely to see their interest rates rise, and emerging markets, some of which, like India and Indonesia, used foreign capital to fund their current account deficits ,are likely to see their currencies collapse." According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the reason for Yellen's nomination? Answer: What is language for? Some people seem to think it's for practicing grammar rules and learning lists of words -- the longer the lists, the better. That's wrong. Language is for the exchange of ideas and information. It's meaningless to know all about a language if you can't use it freely. Many students I have met know hundreds of grammar rules, but they can't speak correctly or fluently . They are afraid of making mistakes. One shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes when speaking a foreign language. Native speakers often make mistakes and break rules, too. Bernard Shaw once wrote, "Foreigners often speak English too correctly." But the mistakes that native speakers make are different from those that Chinese students make. They are English mistakes in the English language. And if enough native speakers break a rule, it is no longer a rule. What used to be wrong becomes right. People not only make history, but they also make language. But people can only make their own language. They can't make another people's language. So Chinese students of English should pay attention to grammar, but they shouldn't overdo it. When they learn a foreign language, they should put communication first. Foreigners often speak English too correctly. The sentence means that _ . Answer: When other nine-year-old kids were playing games , she was working at a petrol station.When other teens were studying or going out , she struggled to find a place to sleep on the street.But she overcame these terrible setbacks to win a highly competitive scholar and gain entry to Harvard University. Her amazing story has inspired a move , " Homeless to Harvard : The Liz Murray Story ", shown in late April. Liz Murray , a year- old American girl , has been writing a real-life story of willpower and determination. Liz grew up in the shadow of two drug-addicted.There was never enough food or warm clothes in the house.Liz was the only member of the family who had a job. Her mother had AIDS and died when Liz was just 15 years old.The effect of that loss became a turning point in her life.Connecting the environment in which she had grown up with how her mother had died , she decided to do something about it. Liz went back to school.She threw herself into her studies , never telling her teachers that she was homeless.At night , she lived on the streets. " What drove me to survive had to do with understanding , by understanding that there was a whole other way of being.I had only experienced a small part of the society , " she wrote in her book " Breaking Night ". She admitted that she used envy to drive herself on.She used the benefits that come easily to others , such as a safe living environment , to encourage herself that " next to nothing could hold me down ". She finished high school in just two years and won a full scholarship to study at Harvard University.But Liz decided to leave her top university for a couple of moths earlier this year in order to take care of her father , who has also developed AIDS." I love my parents so much.They are drug addicts.But I never forget that they love me all the time." Liz wants moviegoers to come away with the idea that changing your life is " as simple a making a decision." What actually drove her on towards her goal ? Answer: Every evening, 15-year-old Rashida returns home from school, changes out of her uniform, and rushes to a neighboring farm to help her mother harvest vegetables. Her father is disabled, so the modest profit the two of them earn must cover food, clothing and other necessities for all seven children and their parents. Despite having precious little time to study, Rashida is one of the top students at her junior secondary school. But with so much responsibility on her small shoulders, she admits that it is sometimes hard for her to imagine a more promising future. Last year, Rashida was invited to join 155 other girls at Camfed Ghana's first Girls' Career Camp, a program designed to inspire girls growing up in the country's Northern Region to dream big, and to support them to pursue those dreams. "We organized this camp because we wanted to let girls know that even if they are struggling with poverty, their lives will not be defined by limitations," says Dolores Dickson, Camfed Ghana's Executive Director. Over the course of five days, the camp led the junior and secondary school students through a range of experiences and career opportunities that were entirely new to them. Dr. Agnes Apusiga, a lecturer from the University of Development Studies, ran the workshop on goal-setting and career choices, describing the universities and training colleges in Ghana that could help them achieve their dreams. Participants then visited the University for Development Studies, where they toured the medical school and science labs. Another highlight was a workshop at the computer lab at Tamale Secondary School. Many of the girls had studied information technology from a book but had never before seen a computer. "When the girls arrived at camp, they were not ambitious, because they didn't have any idea what the world held for them," says Eugenia Ayagiba, Project Officer with Camfed Ghana. "Many had scarcely traveled beyond their own villages." "I think the most important thing that happened at the camp is that we opened a window of hope for a group of girls coming from backgrounds of poverty," says Eugenia. For Rashida, who has been laughed at in the past by her schoolmates because of her father's disability, the experience was important. "She told one of the camp mentors that when she is at school, she often feels like a misfit, and she prefers to keep to herself," says Eugenia. "But at the camp, it was different. She made friends with girls who have similar struggles. She took part in every single activity, every single game. On the last day, she said to her mentor, "The camp has challenged me to study hard. Now I see that there is light at the end of the tunnel." How many members are there in Rashida's family? Answer: There are two types of people in the world. Although they have an equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy, while the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons and events and the resulting effects upon their minds. People who are happy fix their attention on the convenience of things. They enjoy all cheerful things. Those who are unhappy think and speak only of unpleasant things. Through their remarks, they _ , offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind is founded in nature, such unhappy people should be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation . It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it can be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects. Although this attitude is mainly an act of the imagination, it has serious results since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. If such people aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone speak a word in favor of their hopes. If they are criticized, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join in criticizing their wrong doings. So they should change this bad habit and stop worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, they will have a disagreeable time, especially when someone becomes mixed up in their quarrels. If such unhappy people insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should _ . Answer:
Here is an examination notice . Mrs. Dickson gave it to her students last week. To the students of Class 3 * Examinations start on January 22 and end on June 23. * The time for each of the subject is: English June 22 9:30 A.M.- 10:30 A.M. Math June 22 11:00 A.M.- 12:00 A.M. History June 22 2:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M. PE June 23 8:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. Music June 23 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. * For the PE test? go to the playground. For the music test, go to the Piano Room. All else are written tests. They will be held in Classroom 3. * No student can get into the examination room more than 15 minutes after the exam starts. * No food or drink during ANY test. * No dictionaries during the English exam. * Wear pants and sports shoes for the PE exam. * If you have questions, go to the Teacher's Office before the tests. Who could not take the English exam? Answer: Tony. He went to school at 9:50 0n the morning of June 22. IQUIQUE, Chile (Reuters) -- Rescue workers at the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile had reason to sing this week. A small hole drilled into the earth became a passage to freedom for 33 trapped miners, who spent 69 days underground. "Never have people been trapped for so long so deeply," says a doctor at NASA, the American space agency, which helped in the rescue. But the chief medical officer for the miners said most are in good enough health to leave the hospital within a day or so. The first three recovered and went home Thursday night. For much of the day the miners relaxed with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. The 32 Chileans and 1 Bolivian still wore special sunglasses to protect their eyes. A partial mine collapse on 5th August trapped them more than half a kilometer underground. They had to stretch a two-day food supply. For two weeks no one knew if they were alive or dead. Later, they received supplies. The first miner rescued on Wednesday was Florencio Avalos. The second was Mario Sepulveda, who talked about how the experience tested his faith. The last miner up was Luis Urzua, who was the shift leader when his crew became trapped. Rescuers used a metal cage to pull the miners to safety in less than 24 hours -- faster than expected. The rescue capsule was a half-meter wide and known as the Phoenix, an imaginary bird from ancient stories. It bursts into flames but is continually reborn and rises from the ashes. Chile's Navy built the capsule with advice from mining experts and NASA engineers. It worked like an elevator, traveling up and down on a cable through a shaft drilled 622 meters into the rocks. Millions of people around the world watched the rescue. More than one thousand journalists traveled to the mine in the Atacama Desert to report on the rescue. They joined family members of the miners and rescue crews housed in an area of tents known as Camp Hope. The rescue is great for the reason that _ . Answer: it lasted so long and the miners were trapped so deep I often hear some students say English is difficult, and it gives them a headache. But English is very easy for me. I'm good at it. I'm very glad to tell you something about how I study English. First, I think an interest in English is very important. When I learned English first, it was fresh for me. I was interested in it, so I worked hard at it. Soon we had an English exam and I got a very good mark. How happy I was! After that, I learned English harder and harder. Our English teacher often teaches us English songs, and the songs sound nice. I often think how interesting English is! Second, I think English is a foreign language. I should learn it well in the following ways: Listen to the teacher carefully, speak bravely, read aloud and have a good vocabulary. Then practice again and again, never be tired. And I also have a good habit: Asking whenever I have a question. I must make it clear by asking our English teacher. How happy I am when I understand! Besides this, I often read English stories, jokes and easy novels. They help me understand a lot of things. So to do more reading is an important way to learn English well. And I also write English diaries. English has become a close friend of mine. The writer tells us that we should be _ in English if we want to learn it well. Answer: interested Fogged up glass on a store window is a stage in the Answer: water cycle After eleven years of marriage, a couple had a boy. They were a loving couple and the boy was a gem of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work, so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife who was busy in the kitchen forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle, playfully went to it, was fascinated by its color and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine. When the child fell to the ground, the mother took him to the hospital in a hurry, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified at how to face her husband. When the father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and just said, "I'm with you, darling." The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to blame . She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is exactly what he gave her. Who opened the medicine bottle? Answer: The passage doesn't tell us.
We are always attracted by the sea. From it we can get food, minerals and treasures. For thousands of years, we just sailed on it but couldn't go far under its surface. We want to explore deep into the sea. However, we are not fish. We must breathe, so we can't stay underwater for long. To explore deep water, we face even more dangers and problems. A diver trying to stay underwater for a long time must breathe air or a special mixture of gases. He can wear a diving suit and have air pumped to him from above. He can carry a tank of air on his back and breathe through a special pipe. Water weighs 800 times as much as air. Tons of water pushes against a diver deep in the sea, so his body is under great pressure. When a diver is under great pressure, his blood takes in some of the gases he breathes. As he rises to the surface, the water pressure becomes less. If the diver rises too quickly, the gases in his blood form bubbles . The diver is then suffering from a kind of illness. This kind of illness can cause a diver great pains and even kill him. Why does a diver get a kind of illness? Suzy's friends call her Bigfoot, who can she likely blame for this? My name is Laura. At the age of 35, I decided to work on the plane against the will of my children. After my first plane ride at the age of five, I felt so excited that I had a dream of earning my wings on the plane. I didn't earn much, but I loved my job. We were flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C, when I answered a call. Then I went to the cabin , I found a young mother struggling with her baby son. She told me that she had no more diapers . With the saddest eyes I have ever seen, she continued. She said she had two babies, but she could no longer support two of them. She was taking her son to a family in New Hampshire. As she stood in front of me, crying, I could see the hopelessness on her face. I went away and got some diapers from the other mothers, and gave her a sweater of mine. After the woman and her son had changed their clothes, I sat with her, holding her hand, trying to provide some support and comfort. I could feel her pain and her love for her baby son. During that time, I kept thinking of my children who were waiting for me in New York. Once we landed, I walked with them to their next flight, which would take them to their final destination. The woman thanked me a lot, and I replied, "Thank you, too." At this moment, I couldn't wait to return home to see my children. Why did the author thank the young woman? In the UK. Saturday evenings have always been a popular time for families to watch television together. One of the most popular programme _ is the talent show, partly because people of all ages are interested in it. Early shows, like Opportunity Knocks (1965-1978), required people to vote for their favorite acts and performers, although in those days voting was done by postcard instead of by telephone, text, or over the Internet. Today, the success of television talent shows has reached a new level. Here are Ihe UK's top three TV talent shows: The X Factor In this wonderful singing competition, performers have to face a celebrity judge panel before the public vote. Many excellent singers became popular because of it. The show is now made all over the world, from China to Colombia. Strictly Come Dancing--The programme is so fantastic that it attracts many celebrities. They team up with professional dancers and come to the dance floor to win the title of Strictly Come Dancing Champion. Britain's Got Talent -- In this modern-day version of Opportunity Knocks, the public can go and choose from many kinds of acts, from dancing dogs to ice skating. The prize is to perform for the Queen in the Royal Variety of Performance. If a person loves a skating act, he or she may go to _ . Entering Space, astronauts can give us a fascinating account of a shuttle flight, describing the pressure of a countdown and launch, the complexities of living the days in the strange weightless environment, the challenges of working in space, the emotional effect of seeing earth from space, the drama of the meteoric landing. However, there are also plenty of things that astronauts can't do because of their weightless environment, and that's very sad. What's more, they can't even let their sadness show, because it's impossible to cry in zero gravity. Of course, astronauts can still produce tears. But crying is much more difficult in space, reported The Atlantic in January. Without gravity, tears don't flow downward out of the eyes like they do here on Earth. This means that when you cry in space, your tears have nowhere to go - they just stick to your eyes. In May 2011, astronaut Andrew Feustel experienced this during one of his spacewalks. "Tears," he said, "don't fall off of your eye... They just kind of stay there." Besides making your vision unclear, this can also cause physical pain. Back on Earth, tears are supposed to bring comfort to the eyes. But that's not the case in space. The space environment dries out astronauts' eyes, and when tears suddenly wet the eyes, it can cause pain rather than comfort. "My right eye is painful like crazy." Feustel told his teammate during the walk. Since gravity doesn't work in space, astronauts need some extra help to get rid of the tears. Feustel chose to rub his eyes against his helmet to wipe the tears away. Another choice is to just wait - "When the tears get big enough they simply break free of the eye and float around," astronaut Ron Parise told The Atlantic. There are lots of small things - things like crying - that we are so used to on Earth. We usually take them for granted, until they become a problem in a totally different environment, like space. There, astronauts can't talk to each other directly. They also can't eat or drink in normal ways. They can't even burp , because there is no gravity to hold the food down in their stomach. If they do burp, they just end up throwing up everything in their stomach, according to the UK National Space Center. Thus, perhaps it's only space explorers who can honestly say: "Gravity, you're the best." What can be the best title of this passage?
Quartz are in Answer: hollow spaces WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer , an unusual but deadly cancer, researchers reported on Monday. People who drank mostly fruit juice instead of sodas did not have the same risk, the study of 60,000 people in Singapore found. Sugar may be to blame but people who drink sweetened sodas regularly often have other poor health habits, said Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota, who led the study. "The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," Pereira said in a statement. Writing in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Pereira and colleagues said they followed 60,524 men and women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study for 14 years. Over that time, 140 of the volunteers developed pancreatic cancer. Those who drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87 percent higher risk of being among those who got pancreatic cancer. Pereira said he believed the findings would apply elsewhere. "Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent healthcare. Favorite pastimes are eating and shopping, so the findings should apply to other western countries," he said. But Susan Mayne of the Yale Cancer Center at Yale University in Connecticut was cautious. "Although this study found a risk, the finding was based on a ly small number of cases and it remains unclear whether it is a causal connection or not," said Mayne, who serves on the board of the journal, which is published by the American Association for Cancer Research. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with 230,000 cases globally. In the United States, 37,680 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a year and 34,290 die of it. How does Susan seem to feel about the findings of the study? Answer: Satisfied. Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. "No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated ," Edwards points out. "The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution." In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner. "I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice," says a seventy-year-old lady. "When I'm watching TV, he'll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own." The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns. "At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry," Beck says. "But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief." "Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper. They will record their masters' blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds." In the research, the old people are asked to _ . Answer: record their feelings and activities Authorities will continue to take a hard line on Internet-based rumors and punish those creating fake information, a senior official said on Thursday. Authorities have removed more than 210,000 online posts and shut down 42 websites since mid-March in their latest crackdown on online rumors, said Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State Internet Information Office. Fake information or rumors spread through the Internet, especially on micro blogs, have harmed social order and residents' daily lives, he said at a news briefing in Beijing. Before the crackdown, six people who allegedly fabricated rumors about "military vehicles entering Beijing" had been detained and 16 websites closed for fake online information, according to police authorities. "What we've done and will do is to make sure residents can know what they want to know, say what they think and supervise our management in a reliable and useful network environment," Liu said. Liu disagreed that the Internet can police itself against rumors, and told China Daily that some netizens can't distinguish truth from fiction, "requiring government departments and website companies to take measures". On Monday, the Internet Society of China posted a proposal calling on Internet companies and websites to strengthen self-discipline and prevent the spread of online rumors. In response, three main Internet companies in the country - Sina, Baidu and Tencent - said they will target fake information with advanced technology and invest in manpower to supervise online information. Zhao Zhiguo, deputy director of the Telecommunications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said stricter self-management of websites will help banish online rumors. "Internet companies should take legal responsibility when operating their websites. They should not become a hotbed for rumors and provide opportunities for fake information," Zhao said, adding they will launch similar crackdowns to close illegal website companies and punish those responsible. Currently, people who make or spread rumors related to terrorism and securities trading, or information affecting State security and companies' commercial reputations, will face criminal punishment. Liu Honghui, a Beijing lawyer specializing in online cases, said he welcomed the government's action to curb online rumors. "Residents used online banks to shop or book flights, which needs a safe platform without fake information," he said. Yu Guofu, another lawyer from Sheng Feng Law Firm, said the key to reducing rumors is netizens themselves. "If micro-bloggers think twice before forwarding information, rumors will decrease." According to the passage, which of the following is true? Answer: Not all netizens can distinguish truth from fiction on the Internet. 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. Some scientists believe that brain is pre-programmed for language.The word "pre-programmed" means . Answer: programmed before one is born
In 1959, when Jean Harper was in the third grade, her teacher gave the class an assignment to write a report on what they wanted to be when they grew up. She poured her heart into her report and expressed her dream of becoming an airline pilot. Her paper came back with an "F" on it. The teacher told her it was a "fairy tale". Jean was heartbroken and ashamed. As the years went by, Jean was beaten down by the discouragement and negativity she encountered whenever she talked about her dream. "Girls can't become airline pilots; never have, never will. You're crazy. That's impossible. "Finally Jean gave up. In her senior year of high school, her English teacher was a Mrs. Dorothy Slaton, a demanding teacher with high standards. One day Mrs. Slaton asked this question: "If you had unlimited finances, unlimited access to the finest schools, unlimited talents and abilities, what would you do?" Jean felt a rush of the old enthusiasm, and with excitement she wrote down the very old dream. The next thing that Mrs. Slaton said changed the course of Jean's life. The teacher leaned forward over her desk and said, "I have a little secret for you. You do have unlimited abilities and talents. When you leave school, if you don't go for your dreams, no one will do it for you. You can have what you want if you want it enough." The hurt and fear of years of discouragement disappeared all of a sudden. Jean felt thrilled and told her about her dream of becoming a pilot. Mrs. Slaton slapped the desk top. "Then do it!" she said. So Jean did. It didn't happen overnight. In her l0 years of hard work, even facing varieties of laugh, frustration and opposition, she never gave up her dream. Instead, she went on doing everything her third-grade teacher said was fairy-tale. Eventually, Jean Harper became a Boeing 737 captain for the United Airline Company. Which is the best title of the passage? Reach for the Sky It does not matter who wins. We are told that from day one. Usually, that statement is followed by some remark about being a loser. If we do not care who wins, then why do we compete? Fun, experience, the chance to meet new people --- these are the reasons we try to outdo each other. People will compete over anything. Every Christmas, my neighbors and I have a little Christmas light competition. It is heaven for the electric company, but I think we give Will Rogers Airport a scare. It is bright enough to land a plane in our front yards. I admit that last year my neighbors won, but only because they bought every strand of lights Wal-Mart had before I could get there. Personal competitions are great, but we get a little carried away. I cannot stand to see coaches shout at kids playing sports. Who cares if someone messes up and the other team advances? I'm tired of people competing just to win. It happens not only in sports, but in music competitions, too. People auditioning for chair placement in certain bands can get really unfriendly. This year I did not audition for a certain band, but I went to auditions anyway. This was the first time I actually had the opportunity to comprehend the whole picture. Other times I've been the person who was nervous and anxious. This time, I sat back and observed everyone else. I came to the realization that the people who aren't so good are terrified of the good people, and the good people are scared stiff that the bad people have taken lessons and can now show them up. Unless a person is on the outside looking in, I don't think anyone realizes _ . Maybe competing is human nature, but we shouldn't let it influence our judgment. Being disrespectful to opponents , letting competition become our life, and becoming so involved that we close ourselves off from friends and family is not the meaning of competition. A little competition is healthy, so it shouldn't hurt anyone. If it does, someone somewhere needs to back off, find the good thing hidden inside, and try it again. Winning isn't everything, and losing isn't the end of the world. The author mentions his competition with his neighbors to _ . show people really care about the result of competition Two men in Shanghai have been dead from H7N9, while a woman in Anhui province is seriously ill from the virus, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said on Sunday. This is the first time a human from H7N9 has been found. Little research has been done on this unknown bird flu, and three are no vaccines against the virus. The reported deaths were of an 87-year-old man who was found ill on Feb. 19 and died on March 4, and a 27-year-old man who was found ill on Feb. 27 and died on March 10. The third person, a 35-year-old woman from Chuzhou, Anhui province, is in hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. It is still unknown how the three became ill, and experts said there is no evidence that they caught the illness from each other. There is also no evidence of anyone who stay closely with them being ill. To be away from H7N9 and stay healthy, remember the following things. * Go to crowded places as less as possible, especially the elderly and children. Pay attention to personal self-protection. * Keep the air in door fresh. Often wash your hands. Cover the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing . Wash hands after cleaning the nose and mouth. * Eat clean food. Don't put raw and cooked food together. And do not eat raw or _ meat, eggs and other food. * Take more exercise, have enough sleep and rest, so that you can get yourself stronger. How do people know about H7N9? People know little about it. We all know what it is like to be unable to turn your head because of a cold in the muscles of your neck, or because an unexpected twist has made your neck ache. The slightest move makes you jump with pain. Nothing could be worse than a pain in the neck. That is why we use the phrase to describe some people who give you the same feeling. We have all met such people. One is the man who always seems to be clapping his hands--often at the wrong time--during a performance in the theater. He keeps you from hearing the actors. Even worse are those who can never arrive before the curtain goes up and the play begins. They come hurrying down to your row of seats. You are comfortably settled down, with your hat and heavy coat in your lap. You must stand up to let them pass. You are proud of yourself-control after they have settled into their seats...Well, what now...God, one of them is up again. He forgot to go to the men's room, and once more you have to stand up, hanging on to your hat and coat to let him pass. Now, that is " _ ". Another, well--known to us all, is the person sitting behind you in the movies. His mouth is full of popcorn ; he is chewing loudly, or talking between bites to friends next to him. None of them remain still. Up and down, back and forth, they go--for another bag of popcorn, or something to drink. Then, there is the man sitting next to you at lunch, smoking. He wants you to enjoy it too, and blows smoke across your food into your mouth. We must not forget the man who comes into a bus or subway and sits down next to you, just as close as you will let him. You are reading the newspaper and he gets closer so that he can read the paper with you. He may even turn the paper to the next page before you are ready for it. We also call such a person a " _ , always getting close to where it does not belong, like neighbors who watch all your visitors. They enjoy learning about your personal business. People have a strong dislike for "rubber necks". They hate being watched secretly. What is the main purpose of the author? To tell people what might be bad manners in public. When you are talking to somebody at a party, do you focus entirely on the person you are speaking with or does your attention keep jumping around the room to all the other people there? General1y, if the person is someone you really want to talk to, you will focus on him. Most other people will only get about half of your attention. You may think that this is OK, because if you don't really want to talk to him, then what does it matter if you don't give him your full attention? Consider two things. First, you may just not realize the importance of that conversation. If you are at a networking meeting and you hope to meet the CEO of Company X, but you end up talking to someone who has a low-level job at a different company, then you may let your attention wander as you speak to him. But maybe you don't realize that this person has already met the CEO and could introduce you. Do you think he will do that if he feels you don't really care about speaking to him? This doesn't mean you need to spend the whole time talking to him. Five or ten minutes of real attentive conversation can be worth 30 minutes to an hour of partial attention. Second, whether you want to speak to someone is based on the situation. You can love your wife, but if she tries to talk to you while you are watching something you like on TV, where is your attention going? Make your own decision, but if you want her to feel valued, give her your 100% attention. The nice thing is that in many cases you can give her your attention for a few minutes and then return to what you were doing. You miss very little, she feels valued, and all is good. If your wife wants to talk to you when you are busy, you should _ . decide what to do according to the situation
Acting is such an over-crowded profession that the only advice that should be given to a young person thinking of going on the stage is "Don't!". But it is useless to try to discourage someone who feels that he must act, though the chances of his becoming famous are slim. The normal way to begin is to go to a drama school. Usually only students who show promise and talent are accepted, and the course lasts two years. Then the young actor or actress takes up work with a repertory company, usually as an assistant stage manager. This means doing everything that there is to do in the theatre: painting scenery, looking after the furniture, taking care of the costumes, and even acting in very small parts. It is very hard work indeed. The hours are long and the salary is tiny. But young actors with the stage in their blood are happy, waiting for the chances of working with a better company, or perhaps in films or television. Of course, some people have unusual chances which lead to fame and success without this long and dull training. Connie Pratt, for example, was just an ordinary girl working in a bicycle factory. A film producer happened to catch sight of her one morning waiting at a bus stop, as he drove past in his big car. He told the driver to stop, and he got out to speak to the girl. He asked her if she would like to go to the film studio to do a test, and at first she thought he was joking. Then she got angry and said she would call the police. It took the producer twenty minutes to tell Connie that he was serious. Then an appointment was made for her to go to the studio the next day. The test was successful. They gave her some necessary lessons and within a few weeks she was playing the leading part opposite one of the most famous actors of the day. Of Course, she was given a more dramatic name, which is now world-famous. But chances like this happen once in a blue moon! The phrase "once in a blue moon" in last line means _ . Answer: once for a long time After the Summer Olympics are over, when all the athletes have gone home and the television audience has switched off, another group of athletes and fans will arrive at the host city, and another competition will begin. These are the Paralympics, the games for athletes with a disability. But in Beijing in 2008, for the first time, one of the greatest Paralympics athletes did not take part. She is a British athlete by the name of Tanni Grey-Thormpson. Born with spine hifida which left her paralysed from the waist. Tanni used a wheelchair from the age of 7. at first, she did not like sports, apart from horse-riding, which gave her a sense of freedom. But in her teens, she started taking sports more seriously. She tried swimming, basketball and tennis. Eventually she found she began to love athletics, and never looked back. Indeed, Tanni's athletic career took off . In 1984, when she was 15, she pulled off a surprise victory in the 100metres at the Junior National Wheelchair Games. In 1988, Tanni went to her first Paralympic Games in Seoul. She won bronze in the 400 metres. Even greater success followed at the 1992 Barcelonn. Paralympics. Tanni won gold in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 metres relay, setting two world records in the process. In the same year she achieved the first of her six London Wheelchair Marathon victories. Tanni's success had been part motivation , part preparation, "The training I do that enables me to be a good sprinter enables me to be good at a marathon too. I train 50 weeks of the year and that keeps me prepared for whatever distance I want to see.... I am still competing at a very high level, but as I get older, things get harder and I want to retire before I fall apart." Indeed Tanni retired finally after the Visa Paralympic World Cup in 2007. Her wish is to coach young athletes for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In spite of ups and downs, she never takes her fate lying down. In her splendid life, she has won an amazing eleven gold medals, four silvers and one bronze in series of Paralympics- a top level athletic career covering two decades. She has won the London Wheelchair Marathon six times, more than any other competitor, and she has set over thirty world records. What advice does she have for young athletes? "Work hard at your studies, and then train, train and train again." Which of the following sports did Tanni like before thirteen? Answer: Horse-riding. When you practice reading with passages shorter than book length, do not try to take in each word separately, one after the other. It is much more difficult to grasp the broad theme of the passage this way, and you will also get the stuck on individual words which may not be absolutely essential to a general understanding of the passage. It is a good idea to skim through the passage very quickly first to get the general idea of each paragraph. Titles, paragraph headings and emphasized word can be a great help in getting this skeleton outline of the passage. It is surprising how many people do not read titles, introductions or paragraph headings. Can you, without looking back, remember the title of this passage and the heading of this paragraph? Most paragraphs of a passage or chapter have a 'topic sentence' which expresses the central idea. The remaining sentence expand or support that idea. It has been estimated that between 60% and 90% of all expositive paragraphs in English have the topic sentence first. Always pay special attention to the first sentence of a paragraph; it is most likely to give you the main idea. Sometimes , though , the first sentence in the paragraph does not have the feel of 'main idea' sentence. It does not seem to give us enough new information to justify a paragraph. The next most likely place to look for the topic sentence is the last sentence of the paragraph. Remember that the opening and closing paragraphs of a passage or chapter are particularly important . The opening paragraph suggests the general direction and content of the piece, while the closing paragraph often summarizes the very essence . It is a good idea to skim through a passage quickly first _ . Answer: to get the general idea of each paragraph For generations here in the deepest South, there had been a great taboo : publicly crossing the color line for love. Less than 45 years ago, marriage between blacks and whites was illegal, and it has been forbidden for much of the time since. So when a great job about an hour's drive north of the Gulf Coast attracted him, Jeffrey Norwood, a black college basketball coach, had reservations. He was in a _ relationship with a woman who was white and Asian. "You're thinking about a life in South Mississippi?" his father said in a skeptical voice, recalling days when a black man could face mortal danger just being seen with a woman of another race, regardless of intentions. "Are you sure?" But on visits to Hattiesburg, the younger Mr. Norwood said he liked what he saw: growing diversity. So he moved, married, and, with his wife, had a baby girl, who was counted on the last census as black, white and Asian. Taylor Rae Norwood, three, is one of thousands of mixed-race children who have made this state home to one of the nation's most rapidly expanding multiracial populations, up 70 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to new data from the Census Bureau. In the first comprehensive accounting of multiracial Americans since statistics were first collected about them in 2000, reporting from the 2010 census, made public in recent days, shows that the nation's mixed-race population is growing far more quickly than many researchers had estimated, particularly in the South and parts of the Midwest. That conclusion is based on the bureau's analysis of 42 states; the data from the remaining eight states will be released soon. In North Carolina, the mixed-race population doubled. In Georgia, it grew by more than 80 percent, and by nearly as much in Kentucky and Tennessee. In Indiana, Iowa and South Dakota, the multiracial population increased by about 70percent. Census officials estimated the national multiracial growth rate was about 35 percent since2000 according to the known result, when seven million people ----- 2.4 percent of the population chose more than one race. If a black man married a white woman 50years ago, the worst result was that _ . Answer: he was sentenced to death Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class some fun homework---to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. Most of the class drew a turkey or other traditional things. But Douglas drew a different kind of picture. He drew a hand. Just an empty hand. Douglas was a different boy. He was poor and unhappy. As other children played, Douglas was likely to stand close by the teacher's side. His classmates were surprised at his picture. One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers _ turkeys. Others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. The teacher asked him whose hand it was. The little boy said in a low voice, "It's yours." She remembered the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here and there, as she had the other students. How often she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand. Tears came into the teacher's eyes. Douglas drew the picture of a hand because _ . Answer: Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand
In a chatting room on the Internet, some children are talking about what they like to do at school. Flying Fish: I think music is my favourite. I like listening to many beautiful English songs. I need to feel _ after a day's work. So I often listen to my favourite music after supper. Singing Bird: I like music, too. But I only listen to Chinese songs. I also like drawing. Maybe I can be a great painter when I grow up. I also like reading. Reading makes me clever. Jumping Tiger: I don't like music or drawing. They are a waste of time, I think. I am a good basketball player. I can help our school team win. Don't you think it's cool? Running football: I am not a good basketball player. But I play football well. Playing football makes me strong. I feel great when I am on the football field. I spend half an hour a day playing football. Swimming Cat: I am not like many other boys. I don't like sports very much. I just think reading is my favourite. I can learn a lot from books. I spend an hour reading books every day. Who likes reading books? Answer: Canyoning The sports of canyoning explore the high-energy environment where water meets rock on the coast, or in river canyons. Protected by wetsuits and helmets , people jump from cliffs and waterfalls and explore caves and river canyons that would not normally be arrived at. It was pioneered in the U.K. by TYF Adventure (01437 721611, www.tyf.com) and several thousand people leap from the cliffs near St David's each year. A half day canyoning trip costs PS50 (PS30 for children under 16). Scuba diving Diving is not popular with British people. The challenges of wild waters are greater because the water is colder and not clear enough, but the coasts of Cornwall, Wales and Scotland have some of the best wreck diving in the world. The British Sub Aqua Club (0870 112 9133 www.bsac.com) and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (01580 819688 www.padi.com) run courses teaching the important skills right up and to instructor level. Surfing The best surfing places in the UK are on the southwest coast where it is warmer and the surf is relatively steady, particularly in Cornwall. The best time of year to surf in the UK is late summer and autumn when water temperatures are at their mildest. The British Surfing Association (01479 861256 www.britsurf.co.uk) has a list of famous surf schools around the country. Rock climbing The most popular natural rocks in Britain include the Peak District, the Lake District, coastal regions, while vast areas of Scotland are a climber's paradise . Climbing courses and climbing walls can be located on the website of the British Mountaineering Council (0870 010 4878, www.thebmc.co.uk) which offers a series of short films that take the new climber through a step-by-step guide to visiting a climbing wall for the first time. Which of the following is NOT well accepted by British people? Answer: A young man was in love with a beautiful girl .One day the girl said to him ,"It is my birthday tomorrow ". "Oh ",said the young man ,"I'll send you roses, and one rose for each year of your life." The same evening he went to the flower shop . As he knew the girl was twenty-two years old, he paid for twenty-two roses and asked the shop assistant to send them to the girl the next day . The assistant of the flower shop knew the young man very well as he often bought flowers in his shop before . When the young man left the shop , the assistant thought ,"The young man is very kind to me .He often comes to buy my flowers . In return I'll send ten more roses." He did so . The next morning thirty-two roses were sent to the girl . When the young man came to see her , she didn't want to speak to him . And he never knew why she was so angry with him . The assistant wanted to _ . Answer: When I was going home to India last year, I called up my mother to ask if she wanted anything from China. ks5. When India had not opened up its markets to the world, I carried suitcase loads of dark glasses and jeans. Thankfully, we can get all these anywhere in India now. ks5uStill, her answer surprised me:"Green tea!" kAs long as I can remember she didn't even drink Indian tea. ks5u I dutifully bought a big packet of Longjing and headed home to hear the story. My mother and her brother, both regular newspaper readers, believed that Chinese green tea was the wonder drug for all illnesses ks5u At the turn of the century, China was not really familiar to the average Indian. It was a strange country.. How things change! And how soon!s5uNow every town of any size seems to have a "China Market". And everyone is talking about China ks5u The government of India has planned to send a team to China to see how things are done. A minister once said that India must open the doors for more foreign investment and such a step would "work wonders as it did for China". ks5u But it's a two-way street, I just heard about a thousand Shenzhen office workers who have gone to Rangalore to train in software. Meanwhile, all the IT majors are setting up a strong presence in China, ks5u No wonder that trade, which was only in the millions just ten years ago, is expected to his about US $15 billion for last year and US $20 billion by 2008, a goal set by both governments. No wonder, my colleague wrote some weeks ago about this being the Sino-Indian century as the two countries started on January I the Sino-Indian Friendship Year, ks5u But what is still a wonder to me is my mother drinking Chinese tea. ks5u What do we know about the Indian IT industry? ks5u Answer: Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple but powerful spirit--the ant philosophy . I think we should study ants. Ants have an amazing four-part philosophy, and here is the first part:they never give up. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, and they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy to never quit looking for a way to get where they'd like to go. Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important view. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering their winter food in summer. An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in summer." There is some reason in what it says. It is important to think ahead. In summer, you've to think about the storm. You've got to think about rocks when you enjoy the sand and sun. The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long;we'll soon be out of here." And on the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll go back, but then they come out again if it is warm. They can't wait to get out. And here is the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All that he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-that-you-possibly-can" philosophy. What a great philosophy to have the ant philosophy! Never give up, look ahead, stay active and do all you can. Which of the following shows the "all-that-you-possibly can" philosophy? Answer:
Question: Peter is thirteen years old. He is in Grade Two this year. He likes to play football and watch football matches. And he often reads newspapers. He does his best to know when and where there is going to be a football match. Now Peter is having lunch. He is listening to the radio , too. He is very happy because there is going to be a football match this afternoon. But he has to have English and Chinese lessons. He thinks hard and finds a way."Hello, Mrs. Black,"Peter says to his teacher on the telephone. "Peter is ill in bed. He wants to ask for half a day's leave .""Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," says Mrs. Black. "But who is that?""It's my father, Mrs. Black," says Peter. Peter often reads newspapers because _ . A. he likes to read news B. he likes to read stories C. he wants to know when and where a football match will be D. his father wants him to read them Answer: C. he wants to know when and where a football match will be Question: An English traveller found himself in Norway with only enough money to buy the ticket for his journey back home.As he knew that it would take him only two days to get to England,he decided that he could easily spend the time without food. So he bought a ticket and got on the ship. The man closed his ears to the sound of the lunch bell.When dinner time came,he didn't go to dining room,saying that he was not feeling very well. The next morning he still didn't have breakfast and at lunchtime he again stayed in his room. But at dinnertime he was so hungry that he went to the dining room and ate everything the waiter put in front of him. He got ready for the quarrel. "Bring me the bill,"he said."The bill,Sir?" said the waiter in surprise."There isn't any bill.On our ship meals are included in the money for the ticket,"said the waiter. After the traveller finished eating, _ . A. he had a quarrel with the waiter over the bill B. he drank a lot C. he asked the waiter to bring him the change D. he came to know that travellers on the ship had free meals Answer: D. he came to know that travellers on the ship had free meals Question: Read More & Spend Less We have more than 7 million used books for sale, from the earliest board books to the all-time classics. If you like what we have to offer, Tell-a-Friend and we'll give you more reasons to read! Any member of our website who invites friends and family to try our books using the "Tell-a-Friend" program will see a 20% discount when that friend places their first order within 14 days. Start exploring and save big on all your favorites. Here we list some of our books that are heavily discounted. Giraffes Can't Dance By Giles Andreae This book has been pleasing children for over 15 years. Gerald the tall giraffe would love to join in with the other animals at the Jungle Dance, but everyone knows that giraffes can't dance... or can they? 2004, Paperback ISBN:9780439539470 From $0.99 Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids By Rob Elliott With over 700,000 copies sold, this book will have children rolling on the floor with laughter. A great gift idea for any child. 2010, Paperback ISBN: 9780800788032 From $0.89 Love You Forever By Robert Munsch With simple text and pictures,Love You Foreveris a book to be shared--a story about love that children will carry with them throughout their lives. 1995, Hardback ISBN;9780099266891 FromY=1.98 How to Win Friends & Influence People By Dale Carnegie As the most famous confidence-building book ever published , this classic book will turn your relationships around and improve your relationships with everyone in your life. 2013, Paperback ISBN: 9788087888223 From $0.99 Which book has a different kind of paper cover from the others? A. How to Win Friends & Influence People B. Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids C. Giraffes Can't Dance D. Love You Forever Answer: D. Love You Forever Question: Throughout the centuries, various writers have contributed greatly to the literary treasure trove of books lining the shelves of today's libraries. In addition to writing interesting material, many famous writers, such as Edgar Allan Poe, were larger-than-life characters with personal histories that are as interesting to read as the stories they wrote. Poe's rocky life included being driven off from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831 and an ongoing battle with alcohol. Yet, despite heavy gambling debts, poor health, and terrible unemployment, Poe managed to produce a body of popular works, including "The Raven" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, once lived among the man-eaters in the Marquesas Islands and wrote unusual tales inspired by his years of service in the U.S. Navy. Dublin-born Oscar Wilde was noted for his charismatic personality, his outrageous lifestyle, and creating witty catchphrases such as, "Nothing succeeds like excess." D.H. Lawrence wrote shameful novels that were often cut, and Anne Rice led a double life writing bestselling horrible novels under her real name and using "A.N. Roquelaure" for the lowbrow unhealthy novels she penned on the side. Nonconformist author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau once fled to the woods and generated enough interesting material to fill his noted book Walden. Thoreau wrote on the issue of passive resistance protest in his essay "Civil Disobedience" and served time in jail for refusing tax payments in protest of the United States government's policy towards slavery. American short story writer O. Henry's color1ful life was ruined by tragic events, such as being accused and sentenced for stealing money from an Austin, Texas bank. Despite his success selling his short stories, O. Henry struggled financially and was nearly bankrupt when he died. As diverse as these famous authors' backgrounds were, they all led unconventional lives while writing great literary works that will endure throughout the ages. The next time you read an interesting book, consider learning more about the author by reading his or her biography so you can learn about the unique life experiences that shaped his or her writing. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Edgar Allan Poe? A. He had his own interesting personal history as other famous writers. B. He graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831. C. He once had heavy gambling debts and fell down with illness. D. He managed to produce popular works no matter how rocky his life was. Answer: B. He graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831. Question: One sunny day, Martha went on a walk through the park. While walking, she noticed something strange. No one was outside. She was the only person at the park. "How strange, where is everyone?" she thought. Martha looked everywhere. She looked inside the restrooms, under the benches, and even at the top of the slide. She was confused. Usually, she would see her friends playing with each other. She started walking again when one of her friends popped up, surprising her. Her friend asked her, "Why are you outside?" Martha asked what she meant, and explained that she always came out to the park to play. Her friend then looked at her strangely and asked, "Didn't Stephan invite you to his party?" Martha hadn't known that Stephan was holding a party. She was sad that he hadn't invited her. She walked back home, upset. Where did Martha check first at the park? A. Under the benches B. At her house C. Restrooms D. At the top of the slides Answer: C. Restrooms
Cells were discovered in 1665 by Robert Hooke when he took a piece of cork and looked at it under a microscope. Cork is made up of dead cells but you are still able to see the cells which proved to be interesting to him. He described _ as being made of something, just like a wall is made of bricks. He then called those bricks "cells". Due to the size of cells, it is nearly impossible to see them without the aid of a light microscope, but by using an electron microscope you'd be able to see cells in much greater detail. There's a cell theory which is made up of four basic ideas. First, cells are the building blocks of life. Second, cells are derived from other cells by division. Third, cells contain DNA (the blueprint for life). Fourth, the cell is the functioning unit of life, and the chemical reactions of life take place within cells. There are two types of cells, animal cells and plant cells. Plant cells differ from animal cells in many ways. Plant cells have a large central vacuole , with the nucleus nearer to the side of the cell instead of in the middle like in animal cells. Another big difference is that plant cells can produce and store sugar as starch while animal cells contain glycogen . It's noteworthy to mention that a cell cannot survive without the nucleus which acts as a type of control center; it runs the cells. The nucleus contains DNA, which in turn contains the cell's genes. These genes tell the cell how to grow. DNA contains the genetic blueprint that tells if you have blonde hair and blue eyes. Which of the following statement is TRUE? Answer: Animals cells have a nucleus in the center. I love seeing Europeans line up in airports to applaud arriving refugees. But humanitarianism will not guide policy for long. We liberals need to argue from Europe's self-interest: our continent has the need, the space and the ability to accept people. Many European countries are gradually turning into old people's homes. Germany, Italy, Spain and others have some of the lowest birth rates in human history. It is predicted that about one-third of their populations will be aged over 65 in 2050. Germany needs to import at least 350,000 people a year to keep its workforce stable. Suddenly, young ambitious workers are pouring into the country as if called by a genie with a lamp. No wonder Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, has been more welcoming than David Cameron, British Prime Minister. But all over Europe, carers for old people are already in need. Norway found oil under the seabed but it would have been better off if it had discovered 50,000 nurses there instead. Many rightwingers think we have reached our limits. This feeling is widespread. And it's true that Western Europe is one of the most densely populated regions on earth. Indeed, density has long been Europe's unique selling point: with so many people of different nations closely packed together, we have always traded goods and exchanged ideas fast. That's why the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries happened here. But we have plenty more room. Many European cities aren't dense enough. Now east Germany, north-western Spain and gorgeous mountain villages in Italy are losing people. Lots of cities have unused industrial land. Humans inhabit a slice of the EU's territory. Only about 2.5 per cent of the EU's land is used for housing, estimates the European Commission. By contrast, a whopping 43 per cent was used for agriculture in 2009, it says. That's too much. We could turn more land into forest or into green landscapes where people can relax and play. Making that transition is feasible because we now use agricultural land inefficiently. Migrants often spend years locked up together in serious government-funded "migrant centers". However, the way to learn a new country's language, make friends and find work is to live with a local. This crisis has shown that lots of Europeans are willing to take refugees into their homes. After Iceland's government said it could take only 50 Syrian refugees, many Icelanders came forward offering to take a far greater number into their own homes. People aren't just sitting around waiting for government to do something. We need migrants, and we can accommodate them. If opponents just don't like foreigners, they should say so instead of pretending to be hardheaded pragmatists . Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: All European cities are not crowded together in great numbers. Look at this. It's a pencil case. It's orange. It's my pencil case. What's in it? Look, this is a pen. It's black. This is a pencil. It's red. And this is a pencil, too. It's yellow. This is an eraser. It's blue and white. My pencil case is big and nice. I like it. ,. The pen is _ . Answer: black Since two years ago, Where Are We Going, Dad? ( <<?>> ) has become one of the most popular TV shows. On the shows, the five fathers and their children traveled around China, riding camels through the western deserts, fishing on the east coast, and selling vegetables for their bus fare home in southwestern Yunnan Province. One dad doesn't know how to do his daughter's hair, so some people try to help him. Another one must _ with his son for three days in the desert. Because the father can't cook, they only eat instant noodles . Why is Where Are We Going, Dad? so popular? Because it is about how Chinese parents look after their kids. The show makes modern parents think about what they should do with their kids. "In traditional Chinese culture, the father is strict and the mother is kind. But on the show, we see fathers who are much gentler on their kids and more involved in their upbringing " said Li Minyi, a professor of early childhood education. In the past, children were taught to obey their parents' wishes and look after them in their old age. But today Chinese parents increasingly realize that respecting their children's choices may be a better way to prepare them for modern society. As they raise their children, parents are growing up at the same time. ,. From the passage we know that _ . Answer: as they raise their children, parents are growing up at the same time People aren't walking any more---if they can figure out a way to avoid it.. I felt superior about this matter until the other day I took my car to mail a small parcel. The journey is a matter of 281 steps. But I used the car. And I wasn't in any hurry, either. I had merely become one more victim of a national sickness: motorosis. It is an illness to which I had thought myself immune, for I was bred in the tradition of going to places on my own two legs. At that time, we regarded 25 miles as good day's walk and the ability to cover such a distance in ten hours as sign of strength and skill. It did not occur to us that walking was a hardship. And the effect was lasting. When I was 45 years old I raced -and beat--a teenage football player the 168 steps up the Stature of Liberty. Such enterprises today are regarded by many middle-aged persons as bad for the heart. But a well-known British physician, Sir Adolphe Abrahams, pointed out recently that hearts and bodies need proper exercise. A person who avoids exercise is more likely to have illnesses than one who exercises regularly. And walking is an ideal form of exercise--- the most familiar and natural of all. It was Henry Thoreau who showed mankind the richness of going on foot. The man walking can learn the trees, flower, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feel of himself as a living creature in a living world. He cannot learn in a car. The car is a convenient means of transport, but we have made it our way of life. Many people don't dare to approach Nature any more; to them the world they were born to enjoy is all threat. To them security is _ r thundering on a concrete road. And much of their thinking takes place while waiting for the traffic light to turn green. I say that the green of forests is the mind's best light. And none but the man on foot can evaluate what is basic and everlasting. What is the author's intention of writing this passage? Answer: To encourage people to return to walking
It is common for older people to forget things. Now an American study has found that memory starts to fail when we are young adults. People younger than thirty years of age usually do not know that they are starting to forget information. But scientists from the University of Michigan say the loss of memory has usually already started. Researchers say people do not observe this slow reduction in mental ability until the loss affects their everyday activities. Denise Park led the new study. She directs the Centre for Aging and Cognition at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. Her team studied more than 350 men and women between the ages of twenty and ninety years. The study identified people in their middle twenties with memory problems. She says young adults do not know they are forgetting things because their brains have more information than they need. But she says that people in their twenties and thirties are losing memory at the same rate as people in their sixties and seventies. Ms. Park says people between the ages of sixty and seventy may note the decrease in their mental abilities. They begin to observe that they are having more trouble remembering and learning new information. The study found that older adults are more likely to remember false information as being true. For example, they remembered false medical claims as being true. Younger people remembered hearing the information. But they were more likely to remember that it was false. Ms. Park is now using modern imaging equipment to study what happens in the brains of people of different ages. She is studying what parts of the brain older adults use for different activities compared to younger adults. Ms. Park says mental performance is a direct result of brain activity and brain structure. She says keeping the brain active is important. She hopes future studies will identify ways to improve the operation of our aging minds. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE? Answer: Younger people find it easier to remember the information that is proven false. As computers become more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more. Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more wide-spread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer. All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer. It's faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that's why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are _ computers increasingly, problems appear. "When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can't remember how to write a character, though I feel I'm familiar with it." "I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper." Many students don't feel this is something to worry about. Now that it's more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite? Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, "Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer's emotion. Through one's handwriting, people can get to know one's thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them." To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand. The students interviewed prefer to write using a computer mainly because _ . Answer: they can correct the mistakes they make quickly and conveniently You may know the English letters A, B and C, but do you know there are people called "ABC"? You may like eating bananas, but do you know there are people called "banana persons"? If you don't know, I will tell you about it. They are some Chinese people like you and me, but they aren't in China. Why do people call them like that? If we call somebody an ABC person, we mean he or she is a Chinese but was born in America. Sometimes, people also call them "banana persons". A banana is yellow outside and white inside. So if somebody is a "banana person", he or she is "white" inside and "yellow" outside. By saying that, we mean he or she has yellow skin but does things in an American way. "Banana persons" were born in America and they live in America for a long time, so they think like Americans and do things like Americans. However, these people still have Chinese blood . Their parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents are from China. They all have black eyes and black hair, so they look like us, Chinese people. There are many famous "banana persons" in America. They do very well in America and they are really great in their own fields. What is a "banana person" like outside? Answer: A Chinese. Good Genes Mean Long Life Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have. For the lucky carriers of "Methuselah" genes, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern . The "Methuselah" genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death, scientists say. However, the genes are very rare. The genes include ADIPOQ, which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes, which are found in 10 percent of young people, but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old. Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old, and their children. The studies show that tiny mutations in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person's lifespan . Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases, allow people to live longer and stay healthy. David Gems, a researcher at University College London, believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread. "If we know which genes control longevity then we can ... target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing," he told The Times. "Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that, then we are obliged to take it." According to the article, the ApoC3 gene is found in _ of people over 100 years old. Answer: 20% An hunter that wants to be undetected seeking out deer in the forest might Answer: be dressed bushy green and brown attire

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