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Which weather event usually includes heavy precipitation, strong winds, and surface air temperatures below 0°C? Answer: blizzard The Albinas married when Mr. Albina was 30, and they spent the early marriage in Argentina. Then they decided to move to Chile, which meant they had to cross the Andes Mountains. They and their 20s sons made the difficult two-week journey on horses. One night there was a terrible snow storm in the mountains, during which Mrs Albina gave birth to triplets , a boy and two girls. Mrs Albina now has 30 more girls, including the twins who are 15 months old. The oldest Albina children are in their 30s and 40s. They are on their own now, but 18 of the kids still live with their parents in a two-room house. The house has electricity but no toilet or running water. Clearly, the Albinas don't have enough money and food for the big family. Why, then, do they continue to have children? The Albinas do not use birth control because it is against their religion. They can let other people take care of their kids, but Mrs Albina doesn't allow it. "When we were babies," she said, "our mother left us at an orphanage and never returned. Then a couple adopted my brothers, and I was left behind. I was heartbroken. I promised that when I became a mother I would never give my children away." So the Albina family continues to grow. They have so many kids that they run out of names and have to give some children the same name. There are three Susannas, three Miriams, two Estrellas, and two Soledades. Will the family stop at 53 kids? Mr Albina is 77, and Mrs Albina is 59. "I am getting old," she said with a smile, "and I would like God to think of me and consider my age. But if God sends more children to me, yes, there will be more." What is said about the children in the Albinas in the passage? Answer: Most of the children are independent now. which pairs would likely be consumed by squirrel families? Answer: peanuts and crackers Which activity is an example of a chemical change? Answer: burning wood to produce ashes Nick is a 14yearold school boy.His life is full of exams and studies on weekdays.He has little free time.He thinks playing computer games is the best way to make him relax.When he has free time,he sits in front of the computer.Just like that way,he neither eats nor drinks for several hours. Last weekend,he played games on the computer again.He was too excited and didn't want to move.He didn't have anything for six hours.When he had to go to the bathroom,he found he could not move.He was taken to the hospital.The doctor told him he should do some more different kinds of activities.In other words,he needs more exercise and outdoor activities to make him have a healthy body. After coming back from the hospital,Nick follows the doctor's advice.He often plays soccer with his friends.Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends,but he never does it for long.Now,he lives a happy and healthy life. .Why was Nick taken to the hospital? Answer: Because he couldn't move after playing computer games so long.
What kind of organisms decay? A harvested turnips B alive humans C sleeping dogs D hibernating bears Answer: A Buying books on the internet is a great way to save time and money. Online bookstores offer new books and used books that can save you lots of money. They are far better compared to traditional bookstores as they offer much broader kinds of books. Another advantage of shopping online is that you can also read the book reviews as well as readers' reviews to get an idea whether the book is worth buying. Online bookstores offer great discounts to regular customers which is a big attraction for book lovers. For book lovers, the most important thing is to get books on time. Therefore, you need to find a reliable online bookstore that will be able to provide fast deliveries . Here are some tips to use when choosing an online bookstore. Some online bookstores are popular for fiction books; some are for non-fiction books or novels, etc. Understanding their specialization will help you get the right kind of books in time. Check whether you will be buying the books from a third-party seller or directly from the website. Although the website could be reputable ,third-party sellers advertised on their site may not have a good reputation. Never jump at stores that offer super cheap prices, as books sold at such low prices could be in very bad condition. Most of the popular online bookstores offer useful tools. One tool is a wish list tool on its website. You can update the list of books you wish to buy in the future. The bookstore will know what you want and will e-mail you immediately when the book of your choice is available. Why do you think online bookstores are much better than traditional ones? A Because online bookstores offer readers the latest books. B Because online bookstores offer readers more kinds of books to choose from. C Because online bookstores offer readers the lowest prices. D Because online bookstores offer readers more about their favorite authors. Answer: B Do successful businessmen need an office? Increasingly the answer seems to be no. Chris Ward, author of the book Out of Office explains how President Barack Obama's first inauguration speech was written by 27-year-old Jon Favreau sitting in Starbucks ; how Richard Tait, creator of Cranium, started the board game in a coffee shop; how Michael Acton Smith invented the children's virtual world Moshi Monsters in his local cafe Nero; and how JK Rowling, the novelist behind Harry Potter, believes a cafe is the best place to write. It is a convincing view, and for basic start-ups it makes much more sense to work from home and public spaces such as cafes than renting an expensive office. Offices are hard to find, costly to decorate and involve much tiring administration. Moreover, by staying independent you avoid the misery of a daily commute , which for many is the worst part of a job. Thanks to mobile communications, WiFi and cloud storage, together with the increasing heavy-duty equipment such as photocopiers, fax machines and desktop PCs, the traditional office is becoming redundant for many sorts of organizations and workers. Of course, factory managers, surgeons, chefs and industrial chemists are still tied to specialist locations. But many of us---from software engineers and copywriters to architects and fashion designers---can operate almost anywhere. That freedom, and a willingness to adapt, can make one's career more enjoyable and, sometimes, more efficient. What can we infer from the text? A Many people hate commuting daily. B The tradition office will no longer exist. C Working in public places will reduce efficiency. D Chefs can work anywhere. Answer: A Mark, Matthew, Zach and John love to play Football. They did not really care for baseball, basketball or soccer much. They enjoy it so much that they like to draw silly pictures on to their arms and notebooks showing footballs. Then when the teacher sees them they have to use the pink erasers to erase the drawings. One day Mark was out playing football when he tripped and hurt his knee, the next day Matthew was also playing football when he fell and hurt his arm. Both boys could not play their favorite games now. So to cheer them up, Matthew's parents bought them a new football game they could play at home. When Mark showed up to play, they had also made chocolate chip pancakes as a present to both of them, even if both of their favorite food was bacon, waffles and hamburgers. After some time both boys got bored with the game and thought to build their own. So they got some cardboard and tape and built a small table top football game. After that they were busy enough to forget their own hurt parts and had a lot of fun that day. Which of the boys hurt his arm, and from what? A Zach, soccer B Mark, football C Matthew, football D John, basketball Answer: C These days we hear a lot about how air pollution is changing temperatures on the earth. New evidence from a mountaintop in China now suggests that pollution can also change the amount of rain and snow that falls in some places. Usually, more rain falls in mountainous places than in flat areas upwind from the mountains. That's because air can hold a lot of water. When wind blows wet air up a mountainside, the air gets colder. This temperature change often forces water to fall as rain or snow. In recent years, however, many mountainous areas in the western United States have been getting less rain than normal. Mountains that are downwind from cities have experienced the biggest drops. Some scientists have theorized that pollution drifts from the cities into the mountains, affecting rainfall, but proving this link has been difficult. Searching for answers, a team led by a scientist from the Hebrew University went to s mountain in China called Mount Hua, which is 2,060 meters tall and lies about 120 kilometers east of the Chinese city Xi'an. Since 1954, scientists have been collecting details about rainfall, humidity , and visibility in the area. Using this data, the scientists compared rainfall on Mount Hua to rainfall in the nearest city, Huayin, on days with different levels of visibility. When the air was clear and people could see as far as 20 km, the scientists found that 65% more rain fell on the mountain than in the city. But when the air was smoggy, allowing only 8 km of visibility through the mist, the mountain received just 20% more rain than the city. The new data supports the theory that pollution affects rainfall. Some scientists believe that there are other explanations for the numbers. It's possible, for example, that natural particles in the air, rather than particles produced by pollution, are affecting visibility. You can most probably read the passage in _ . A a travel guide B a telephone book C a cartoon book D a science book Answer: D
The Universal Autograph Collectors Club(UACC) has been serving the collector for over 25 years. Founded in 1965, the UACC began as a small group of Long Island. New York autograph collectors and has grown to be the largest collector's organization of its kind. The UACC by its purpose is primarily an educational fellowship where knowledge and resources are shared with not only the membership, but also the public at large. By joining the UACC, you will be introduced to the fastest growing hobby in the world today. Autographs have been called "frozen moment in time" by some people. Probably the most personal thing that one person can give is his or her signature. In 1843, former President James Madison sent an autograph for a collection which the Princess Victoria was making. The future British Queen was only 15 years old at the time. Financier J.P. Morgan, Sr. began collecting when he was 16, and his son continued adding to the father's collection. As the daughter of the Mayor of Boston, Rose Fitzgerald collected autographs, as did her son, John F. Kennedy. Franklin Roosevelt, Malcolm Forbes and Glenn Ford are a few more well-known autograph collectors. By collecting autographs, you become a curator of history. Here are some of the best reasons to join the UACC. The UACC publishes The Pen and Quill, the highly regarded 64-page bimonthly journal with articles and news in all fields of autograph collecting. UACC members may place free ads in The Pen and Quill to express their wants or just _ with other members. Writing for autographs to famous living people can also be interesting. The more interesting the letter, the better chance for an interesting reply. The UACC also offers its members the opportunity to buy uncommon autographic materials at low prices. Meanwhile, it publishes low-cost reference works for its members. Once you join the UACC, you will be added to our mailing list and will receive catalogs of autographs for sale by dealer members. The UACC has nearly 200 of the world's most professional dealers as members. Each member provides contact information on our website, including mailing address, telephone numbers, e-mail-addresses, website address, etc. We always try to promote our dealer program and encourage collectors to always buy from these dealers. This passage is mainly _ to encourage you to join the UACC The change in fur color of the Arctic hare from brown in the summer to white in the winter is an example of camouflage. There are different ways to store fish. One way to keep fish for future use is canning it. We'll have this article describing, step by step, how to prepare dried fish. Begin with fish that are out of the water. If the fish are small, leave their heads on. Cut off the heads if the fish are longer than twenty centimeters or weigh more than one hundred fifteen grams. Now clean the freshly caught fish. Cut off the scales and cut open the stomach. Remove everything inside. Then wash the fish in clean water and fill salt into them. Next, put the fish in a container with a solution of three hundred grams of salt and one liter of water. This will remove the blood from the meat. Keep the fish in the saltwater for about thirty minutes. After that , wash them again in clean water. Next, put the fish in a solution that has more salt in the water. The water should be salty enough so that the fish can float to the top. If the fish sink to the bottom of the container, add more salt to the water. Cover the container with a clean piece of wood. Place a heavy stone on the wood to hold it down. Leave the fish there for about six hours. After that, remove them from the saltwater and place them on a clean surface. Cover the fish with a clean piece of white cloth and let them dry. ,. What is the solution of salt and water for? To remove the blood from the fish. Like any good mother,when Karen found out that another baby was on the way,she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son,Michael,prepare for a new baby.They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl,and day after day,night after night,Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's stomach. Finally,Michael's little sister is born.But she is in serious condition.With alarm in the night,the ambulance rushes _ to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital,Knoxville,Tennessee.The days go by.The little girl gets worse.The pediatric specialist tells the parents,"There is very little hope.Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot.They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby,but now they plan a funeral.Michael,keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister,"I want to sing to her,"he says. Karen makes up her mind.She will take Michael whether they like it or not.If he doesn't see his sister now,he may never see her alive. She dresses him in an oversized suit and marches him into ICU.He looks like a walking laundry basket,but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and shouts,"Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed.Never disturb patients here."The mother rises up strongly and said,"He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen leads Michael to his sister's bedside.He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.And he begins to sing.In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old,Michael sings:"You are my sunshine,my only sunshine,you make me happy when skies are gray..."Instantly the baby girl responds.The pulse rate becomes calm and steady. The next day,the very next day,the little girl is well enough to go home! Woman's Day magazine called it"the miracle of a brother's song."The medical staff just called it a miracle.Karen called it a miracle of God's love! Never give up on the people you love. Why did Karen firmly let little Michael see his sister in ICU? Because his sister was going to die soon. Many people go to school for a good education. They learn languages ,history, maths and other subjects. School education is very important and useful, yet no one can learn everything from school. No matter how much a teacher knows, he can't teach his students everything they want to know. His work is to show his students how to learn.He teaches them how to read and how to think. So, much more is to be learned outside school by the students themselves. It is always more important to know how to study by oneself. It is quite easy to learn something in language or formula ( )in maths, but it is difficult to use a formula to find the answer to a maths problem. Great inventors do not get everything from school, but they can invent many things and change the world a lot. Though Thomas Edison invented many things, he didn't have much school education. How do they do all this ? A lot of things are not taught in the classroom. They get knowledge( ) from books outside school. They work hard all their lives, and the most important thing is that they know how to use their heads. Which of the following is TRUE? _ A student should learn how to study
In tough economic times, school counselors don't just wait for students to come to their offices in search of college brochures, health pamphlets or other help. These days, they are looking for at-risk kids to prevent personal or academic troubles before they arise. Nowadays, students and families need the guidance more than ever. Counselors play a steadying role in schools as the economy weighs on families, college admission becomes even more competitive, immigration continues to reshape the population and state-testing pressures many students. They use computers to search through attendance data, grades and standardized test scores for kids who might need extra help. Schlatter, director of guidance and counseling at Prince William County's Woodbridge Senior High School, has checked attendance records against grades and test results to start peer groups for students who are failing classes but not skipping them. She said group counseling is another way to reach more students though it can be difficult. "Kids really do start helping and sharing with each other." At Fairfax High School, counselors found through surveys that students who transferred to the school after ninth grade enjoyed school significantly less than those who had been there all four years. The counseling staff set up a special program and group for new arrivals in response, said Marcy Miller, the school's director of student services. Counseling staff members also have started small study groups for students to prepare for state Standards of Learning exams, which Miller said have helped raise test scores. She said that some of the newest counselors have had some of the freshest ideas. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: Which activity is directly regulated by neurons? Answer: An burrowing frog breaks through the mud after it's done Answer: A researcher determines a cell has a flexible cell wall composed of peptidoglycan. This observation narrows possible classifications of the cell to which taxonomic group? Answer: Most of the guests who come on our trips have never been to Egypt before .We want to make everyone comfortable and at ease, but we do always get the same questions in advance of trip. So here I will give you some travel tips. What should I wear? If you're lucky enough to visit Egypt between November and February, pack a sweater. You'll need it----the desert gets rather cold at night. During the day, the temperature will be agreeable and comfortable. Any other time, pack as if you're going to Phoenix of Vegas in August. For the ladies, bathing suits are normal if there's a pool where you are going, but leave the string bikini at home -it is a Muslim country, after all. Last, if you are planning on visiting any mosques or certain parts of upper Egypt, ladies will need to plan on bringing something that comes at least to the elbow , and no shorts for men or women in those areas. What special things do I need to pack? One of my favorite things in the world to bring to Egypt is an Evian Mister, a sprayer with a fine mist of Evian water. You may be able to find it in your local drug store. Spray a little on your face or head , and your body temperature will feel like it's dropped 10 or 15 degrees. Other items include your camera, sun block and extra batteries. How do I communicate with home? Internet cafes are plentiful everywhere, especially in Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria. If you have international calling on you phone, you should be able to use it-AT&T and Sprint both work internationally for sure, but make sure you have the international coverage. A satellite phone is best if you are certain to need coverage in the middle of the country, like while sailing up the Nile , but for most people these days a cell phone is fine. What medical preparation do I need? In a word: none! The one thing you may come down with in Egypt is politely called "Pharoah 's Revenge. " The thing that gets rid of pharoah's Revenge is a regionally produced medicine, and is available at every drugstore for $1 a box . DON'T drink local water. DO drink bottled water, avoid the skins of fresh vegetables, and you'll be fine. What clothing is proper for ladies visiting a mosque? Answer:
It doesn't matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That's what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin. Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves. Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw Herpin sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one. The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were _ by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94. The main idea of this passage is that _ . Answer: a person was found who actually didn't need any sleep Visit the Forest Zoo. Come and see the Indian elephants and the new tigers from Northeast of China. The beautiful birds from England are ready to sing songs for you, and the monkeys from Mount Emei will be happy to talk to you. The lovely dogs from Australia want to laugh at you. Sichuan pandas will play balls for you. The giraffes from Africa are waiting to look down on you. Tickets Opening time Grown-ups: Y=3 9:00a.m.--4:00p.m. Children: Over 1.4m: Y=2 except Friday Under 1.4m: Free 10:00a.m.--3:00p.m. Keep the zoo clean! Do not touch, give food or go near to the animals. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: We should keep the zoo clean. Ella has several wooden blocks. When Ella holds the blocks in her hand, she feels that they are rough. Which term best describes what Ella feels? Answer: an observation Buying books on the internet is a great way to save time and money. Online bookstores offer new books and used books that can save you lots of money. They are far better compared to traditional bookstores as they offer much broader kinds of books. Another advantage of shopping online is that you can also read the book reviews as well as readers' reviews to get an idea whether the book is worth buying. Online bookstores offer great discounts to regular customers which is a big attraction for book lovers. For book lovers, the most important thing is to get books on time. Therefore, you need to find a reliable online bookstore that will be able to provide fast deliveries . Here are some tips to use when choosing an online bookstore. Some online bookstores are popular for fiction books; some are for non-fiction books or novels, etc. Understanding their specialization will help you get the right kind of books in time. Check whether you will be buying the books from a third-party seller or directly from the website. Although the website could be reputable ,third-party sellers advertised on their site may not have a good reputation. Never jump at stores that offer super cheap prices, as books sold at such low prices could be in very bad condition. Most of the popular online bookstores offer useful tools. One tool is a wish list tool on its website. You can update the list of books you wish to buy in the future. The bookstore will know what you want and will e-mail you immediately when the book of your choice is available. How can a reader buy a worthy book when shopping online? Answer: By reading online reviews Which would likely spread the fastest? Answer: exhaust from a car
Herds of zebra, impala and giraffe from South Africa's Kruger Park found a new home as part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) wildlife relocation project. About 1,000 animals, from the large blue wildebeest to the stocky warthog, have been relocated to the park straddling South African, Mozambican and Zimbabwean territory. The game from South Africa arrived in the Massingir area of Mozambique's southern Maputo province after a one-and-a-half-hour trip by truck. South African National Parks chief executive Mavuso Msimang and the Peace Parks Foundation officially handed over the animals to Mozambican representatives. "This project is not only about the management of an ecosystem, but also about community empowerment and tourism," Msimang said. Border fences are coming down with the establishment of the park, which will be the world's biggest game reserve, to allow elephants and other herds to follow ancient migration routes. The park, due to be officially opened next year, will be bigger than the Netherlands, covering some 38,600 square kilometers (15,440 square miles). Under a three-year plan, about 6,000 animals are to be moved into the area, where wildlife was decimated during Mozambique's 25-year civil war. African Wildlife Foundation community development officer Jeremiah Machavi said 62 communities living in the area would be affected by the establishment of Transfrontier Park. Tourists will be able to travel across international boundaries in the park without having to show their passports. The relocation process started in October last year when about 30 elephants were released into the park. What will not be affected by the establishment of GLTP? international boundaries In the United States 84 colleges now accept just women. Most of them were established in the 19th century; they were designed to offer women the education they could not receive anywhere else. At that time major universities and colleges accepted only men. In the past 20 years many young women have chosen to study at colleges that accept both men and women. As a result some women's colleges decided to accept men students too. Others, however, refused to change. Now these schools are popular again The president of Trinity College in Washington, D. C. said that by the end of the 1980s women began to recognize that studying at the same school with men did not mean women were having an equal chance to learn. The president of Smith College in Massachusetts says a women's college permits women to choose classes and activities freely. For example, she says that in a women's college a higher percentage of students studies mathematics than in a college with both men and women. Educational experts say men students in the United States usually speak in class more than women students do. In a women's college, women feel free to say what they think. Women's schools also bring out leadership capabilities in many women. Women are represented everywhere. For example, at a women's college every governing office is held by a woman. Recent studies reportedly show this leadership continues after college. The studies show that American women who went to women's colleges are more likely to hold successful jobs later in life. Some women's colleges decided to accept men students because _ . many young women chose to study at colleges with both men and women American nutrition expert Professor Barry Popkin says that the number of overweight people in the world is now bigger than the number of people who don't have enough to eat. A billion people worldwide now weigh too much and the number of obese people is now more than 300 million. "Obese" means at least 15 kilos heavier than you should be. However, there are also 800 million people in the world who don't have enough to eat. Professor Popkin says that the number of hungry people is falling slowly but the number of overweight people is rising fast. The main reasons for this are: * People are doing less hard physical work * More people worldwide now eat too much fatty food * Too many people are driving cars instead of walking * People spend too much time in front of a television The United States has the highest rate of obesity in the developed world and Japan has the lowest. Professor Benjamin Senauer is absolutely certain of the reasons for this. "Japanese people are fit. They use public transport and walk," he said. "The average American drives to work and drives to supermarket. When he gets home, he sits on a couch in front of the TV and eats junk food." In Britain and many other European countries, there are three times as many obese people as there were 20 years ago. About two thirds of British adults are overweight or obese. "The effects of this are clear," said London doctor Elena Power. "We have more illnesses related to weight and fewer fit people. China used to be one of the slimmest nations in the world. However, Professor Wu Yangfeng from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing recently estimated that 20 percent of the world's overweight people live in China. The Chinese government is especially worried about the increase in obesity among schoolchildren. "We have a serious problem," said Professor Wu. "It requires an improvement from everyone, or it will get worse. Which of the following is Not True according to the passage ? More and more schoolchildren are overweight in China. Read the following advertisements: AD1 The Michael Jackson "Michael09" T-shirt is a great way to remember an American music legend! We also sell Jackson's Thriller album. Why not turn up the volume on your CD player or iPod and dance around the house in this original Michael Jackson T-shirt? Michael Jackson Tee is available in sizes S-XL, in White, Red or Pink. 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So if you can type, or are willing to learn, we can train you to work at home doing medical transcriptions from tapes dictated by doctors. Get free information! At-Home Profession Corp. Call Toll Free 1-800-475-0100 or visit www. athome. com The best title of the 3rd advertisement would be _ . Working at Home Qixi Festival, the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day that fell yesterday, was not only a disappointment for forgotten lovers, but also for businessmen left with empty pockets. The cold reception has prompted cultural experts to seriously worry that the lovers' festival, marked for generations since the Han Dynasty(206 BC-AD 220),is dying out. Some have even called for legislation to make the festival a legal --Chinese Lovers' Day, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar year. But the effectiveness of such a measure is in doubt, although efforts to preserve traditional festivals deserve highly praise. A growing number of traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, share the same fate of the Qixi Festival. Young people are showing less interest in traditional culture as symbolized by these festivals.Even if all traditional festivals are finally made legal, the risk of them becoming purely formalized celebrations with little meaning is not removed.If the younger generation fails to identify with the cultural significance of these holidays, there is little that can be done. While complaining about traditional festivals' fading appeal, decision-makers should reflect on cultural protection. Undeniably, our country has done a bad job of preserving culture and traditional festivals, compared to neighbouring Japan and the Republic of Korea(ROK). The 2,500-year-old Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The traditional customs and ceremonies of the occasion, which originated in China, have been better preserved in the ROK. Only a few years ago did China begin to realize the significance of preserving intangible cultural heritage when the ROK planned to apply to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to list its version of the Dragon Boat Festival as an important example of intangible culture. Concern about the traditional holidays also reminds people of the growing influence of foreign cultures as the country opens wider to the outside world. With traditional festivals becoming less important and imports such as Christmas and Valentine's Day gaining widespread popularity, the public including cultural professionals have tended to measure traditional Chinese festivals in economic terms. Business rather than culture has begun to play a dominant role. More and more people are preoccupied with how much money can be made during the holidays. In fact what makes traditional festivals unique and what keeps them alive is their cultural elements. After all, it is unique culture that contributes to the world's diversity with globalization. The writer's purpose for writing this article is to _ . remind us that the cultural elements make traditional festivals live on
If you had a hammer, you would find ____ nails made of ____ Answer: iron; iron Here are some tips that may help you live a beautiful life. When you wake up in the morning, think about what you are going to do. No matter how you feel, get up and dress up. Take a thirty-minute walk every day. And when you walk, smile. Spend more time with old people over the age of seventy and young kids under the age of six. Smile and laugh more. And try to make at least three people smile each day. Life is very short, so don't wastetime hating others. Time _ almost everything. Give time time. Call your family and friends often. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what they are going through. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. Each night before you go to bed, say to yourself, "Today, I did ... I feel great." Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Try to "pass all your tests". The lessons you learn will last a lifetime . How many tips does the writer mention? Answer: Eleven. Young people can have problems with their minds.Some students become worried because they have to study very hard.Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates. Liu Wei,a junior 2 student from Hefei,could not understand his teacher and was doing badly in his lessons.He became so worried about it that he started to cut his finger with a knife. Another student,14-year-old Yan Fang from Guangzhou,was afraid of exams.She got very worried when she looked at the exam paper.She couldn't think of anything to write. A recent report from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of Shanghai teenagers have mental problems.Their troubles include being worried and very unhappy.And they have problems in learning and getting on with people.Many students who have problems won't ask others for advice or help.Some think they will look stupid if they go to see a doctor.Others don't want to talk about their secret. Liang Yuezhu,an expert on teenagers from Beijing Anding Hospital has the following advice for teenagers: * Talk to your parents or teachers often * Take part in group activities and play sports * Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell Students who have problems won't ask others for help because _ . Answer: both A and C I was twenty-two, and in Bolivia. I'd been to every other country in South America, and now I was set on getting into Chile, the last on the list. After several days, I reached the hills. It was cold, and even the distant mountains were clear. The days were lonely, but one evening I met Filomeno and his fellow teachers. They tried to persuade me not to go to Chile, saying it was a bad place, and that I would be killed. I didn't believe them. I knew nothing of the current politics; I just wanted to go there. So I walked into the mountains, feeling excited, and came to a sign with the word "Chile" on it. A frightening soldier appeared, stuck a gun in my back, and pushed me down a slope to the police station. The police chief then told me, "There's nothing for you here." I explained that I had come to see this beautiful country. But he was annoyed. In the evening they filled me with food. There was laughter, and I was less tense. Then the police chief took me to a tiny cell. I lay down on the mattress . Even though I had no light and none of my possessions, I felt _ . At least I had arrived! And what a story I'd have to tell! The next morning I was released, and I was told that Chile didn't want me. Throwing my belongings into my backpack, I shouted and screamed at the soldiers. After all this effort I was being sent home! I stomped towards Bolivia expecting to feel a bullet. But I'd be back! I told myself. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: An adventure in Chile. Whether you are fitness fan or plan to go eco-friendly, you have a countless number of bikes to choose from. Here are some tips on how to choose bikes for women. Firstly, if you have decided to buy a bike, let me congratulate you! This is because you are kind to the environment. Before you go to a store to buy a bicycle, first know your need. Once the basic need is determined, then go into the small details like the frame size (Too small frames can increase the risk of the knee injuries while too large ones can be uncomfortable, so it has to be just right to suit your body frame.),brakes, chains, its efficiency and the technology employed. Don't forget the budget ! Experts say that you should be ready to spend at least 500 dollars, because anything less than that would not probably be the best. ks5u There are a range of bikes to choose from. However, it's important to choose the correct one that fits a woman perfectly. This is because women usually tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men of the same height and so does the arm size vary. Moreover, the strength of the back needs to be considered too. Therefore, you have to find the best that suits your body type and gives you a comfortable ride. The frame size of a bike is important because _ . Answer: it is likely to cause injuries if it is not the right size
Question: The Great Gatsby was not well received when it was published in 1926. F. Scott Fitzgerald appeared to destroy the American Dream, where in anyone, with enough hard work, could get rich and have whatever they wanted from life. He exposed the truth about such myths in this classic book. Basically, the plot could be described as follows: Poor boy goes East in search of wealth, bored and dissatisfied with inactive Mid West country life. He meets the super-rich there, attends parties and makes friends with one man in particular, a lonely millionaire of uncertain origins, Jay Gatsby. He becomes involved with these rich but immoral people, the worst of whom are his own cousin Daisy Buchanan, and her husband Tom. He observes, with dawning recognition, the corruption in their lives, how lacking in human values or ethical beliefs they seem to be. He watches tragedy unfold, brought about by the handlings of the wealthy, and visited on the poorer characters. He remains the only friend of Gatsby, arranging his funeral and mourning his death, and possibly the death of his own American Dream. He wakes up to the reality of what is important in life, and decides to choose what is of value to him. He returns to his origins, having recognized the worth of his up-bringing and the moral values it instilled. He sees that money is not everything. But let us look at this in a little more depth, because the novel is much more complicated than those simple outlines above suggest. The young man, Nick Caraway, aged 29, lived in a cottage on Long Island. He was an apprentice Wall Street trader, and in 1920s, when the novel is set, this job represented a way to get rich, the core value of the American Dream. Gatsby was a millionaire, who chased a dream too, one of rekindling love with Daisy, Nick's cousin, a bored, rich, totally unfeeling and spoilt woman. Her rich husband, Tom Buchanan, a businessman, was also less than moral, flattering his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, the wife of a garage owner. It was George Wilson's love for Myrtle that brought about the tragedy contained in the Gatsby plot. Gatsby wanted to recapture his dream of love. So he began an affair with Daisy; she was flattered and bored. This action helped to erode Nick's illusions, and show what wealth can do to people. Gatsby suffered from the realization that Daisy was not the wonderful person he dreamed of, but a shallow and materialistic person. Eventually, Tom Buchanan suspected what was happening between Gatsby and Daisy, and confronted Gatsby. It was soon after this that Daisy ran Myrtle Wilson down, while driving Gatsby's yellow automobile. The tragedy was begun, when Tom Buchanan put the idea into head of George Wilson, that Gatsby had killed Myrtle. In fact, Daisy was secure in the belief that superior status and wealth made her immune, and also, her character was such that she cared little for another human being. Tom Buchanan was the catalyst that sent the emotionally disturbed George to shoot Gatsby for killing Myrtle, then committing suicide. Two dreams turned to dust:George's of love and the chance to pursue the dream of capitalist endeavor and success, Gatsby's of recapturing romantic love and the more innocent past, when, in his mind, Daisy was golden and true. The complete destruction was symbolically expressed when none of Gatsby's rich "friends" were touched by his death. It was left to Nick, a relative stranger, to make the funeral arrangements. This highlighted the total shallowness of that wealthy, corrupt society, and showed what a worthless person Daisy herself was. At the end, Nick returned to the beliefs of his Mid Western upbringing. After one last meeting with Tom Buchanan, one last look at Gatsby's mansion, having buried his friend, he left for home. As Gatsby lost his dream and his life, Fitzgerald drew a portrait of the death of the American Dream. We can infer from the passage that _ . A. Gatsby was wrongly killed for Daisy setting him a trap B. it was actually Tom Buchanon that killed Myrtle Wilson C. George Wilson's love for Daisy was sure to turn to dust at last D. Gatsby died because of his appetite for unrealistic romantic love Answer: D Question: During an experiment, a student reports that a liquid turned green when mixed with another liquid. This is an example of A. a measurement B. a prediction C. an explanation D. an observation Answer: D Question: It is a familiar scene these days: employees taking newly laidoff coworkers out for a drink for comfort. But which side deserves sympathy more, the jobless or the still employed? On March 6, researchers at a conference at the University of Cambridge heard data suggesting it's the latter. Brendan Burchell, a Cambridge sociologist, presented his analysis based on various surveys conducted across Europe. The data suggest that employed people who feel insecure in their jobs show similar levels of anxiety and depression as those who are unemployed. Although a newly jobless person's mental health may "bottom out" after about six months, and then even begin to improve,the mental state of people who are continuously worried about losing their job "just continues to get worse and worse," Burchell says. Evolutionary psychologists support this theory by arguing that human beings feel more stress during times of insecurity because they sense an immediate but invisible threat. Patients have been known to experience higher levels of anxiety, for example, while waiting for examination results than knowing what they are suffering from -- even if the result is cancer. It's better to get the bad news and start doing something about it rather than wait with anxiety. When the uncertainty continues, people stay in a nonstop "fight or flight" response, which leads to damaging stress. But not every employee in insecure industries has such a discouraging view, Burchell says. In general, women get on better. While reporting higher levels of anxiety than men when directly questioned, women scored lower in stress on the GHQ 12, even when they had a job they felt insecure about losing. As Burchell explains, "For women, most studies show that any job -- it doesn't matter whether it is secure or insecure -- gives psychological improvement over unemployment." Burchell supposes that the difference in men is that they tend to feel pressure not only to be employed, but also to be the primary breadwinner, and that more of a man's selfworth depends on his job. What could be the best title for the text? A. Is It Less Stressful to Get Laid Off Than Stay On? B. Should Greater Sympathy Be Given to the Jobless? C. Do Employees Bear More Stress Than Ever Before? D. Do Men or Women Show Higher Levels of Anxiety? Answer: A Question: My day began on a definitely sour note when I saw my six-year-old wrestling with a limb of my azalea bush. By the time I got outside, he'd broken it. "Can I take this to school today?" he asked. With a wave of my hand, I sent him off. I turned my back so he wouldn't see the tears gathering in my eyes. The washing machine had leaked on my brand-new linoleum. If only my husband had just taken the time to fix it the night before when I asked him instead of playing checkers with Jonathan. It was days like this that made me want to quit. I just wanted to drive up to the mountains, hide in a cave, and never come out. Somehow I spent most of the day washing and drying clothes and thinking how love had disappeared from my life. As I finished hanging up the last of my husband's shirts, I looked at the clock. 2:30. I was late. Jonathan's class let out at 2:15 and I hurriedly drove to the school. I was out of breath by the time I knocked on the teacher's door and peered through the glass. She rustled through the door and took me aside. "I want to talk to you about Jonathan," she said. I prepared myself for the worst. Nothing would have surprised me. "Did you know Jonathan brought flowers to school today?" she asked. I nodded, thinking about my favorite bush and trying to hide the hurt in my eyes. "Let me tell you about yesterday," the teacher insisted. "See that little girl?" I watched the bright-eyed child laugh and point to a colorful picture taped to the wall. I nodded. "Well, yesterday she was almost hysterical. Her mother and father are going through a nasty divorce. She told me she didn't want to live, she wished she could die. I watched that little girl bury her face in her hands and say loud enough for the class to hear, 'Nobody loves me.' I did all I could to comfort her, but it only seemed to make matters worse." "I thought you wanted to talk to me about Jonathan," I said. "I do," she said, touching the sleeve of my blouse. "Today your son walked straight over to that child. I watched him hand her some pretty pink flowers and whisper, 'I love you.'" I felt my heart swell with pride for what my son had done. I smiled at the teacher. "Thank you," I said, reaching for Jonathan's hand, "you've made my day." Later that evening, I began pulling weeds from around my azalea bush. As my mind wandered back to the love Jonathan showed the little girl, a biblical verse came to me: "...these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." While my son had put love into practice, I had only felt anger. I heard the familiar squeak of my husband's brakes as he pulled into the drive. I snapped a small limb bristling with hot pink azaleas off the bush. I felt the seed of love that God planted in my family beginning to bloom once again in me. My husband's eyes widened in surprise as I handed him the flowers. "I love you," I said. The writer wanted to hide in the mountain cave probably for the reason of _ . A. feeling fed up with her endless daily housework B. her husband's failing to fix the machine in time C. boring daily routine with a feeling of lack of love D. her hoping to seek happiness in a brand new place Answer: C Question: How to be Prepared Electricity, water, gas and telephone may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire department are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to take care of yourself for at least three days, preferably for a week. This list can also be applied to other disasters, such as floods or wildfires. 1. food and water (a gallon a day per person) 2. a first aid kit 3. a fire extinguisher suitable for all types of fires 4. flashlights, a portable radio extra batteries 5. blankets, clothes, shoes and money (ATMs may not work) 6. baby and pet food It's also a good idea to decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills. During an Earthquake If you are indoors, stay there. Get under and hold onto a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay away from exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, and stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator. If you are outside, get into the open, stay into the open, stay away from buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you. If you are driving, move the car out of traffic and stop, avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses, Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines. If you are in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. After an Earthquake If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency. Likewise, avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles. Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with touch. Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home. Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that _ , sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes. If you leave home, leave a message telling friends and family your location. Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage? A. You'dbettermakeitclearhowandwhereyourfamilywillreuniteifseparatedduringaquakeafterthequakehappens. B. Ifyouareindoors,getintotheopen. C. Ifyouareinacrowdedpublicplace,avoidpanickinganddorushfortheexit. D. Ifthephonestillworks,onlyuseitwhennecessary. Answer: D
Alex looked at an electric toothbrush that had a plug with three metal prongs. Why are these prongs made out of metal? A Metal doesn't get hot and melt when you plug it into the outlet. B Metal is strong and is less likely to break when you plug it into the outlet. C Metal is an insulator and prevents shocks when you plug it into the outlet. D Metal is a conductor and completes a circuit when you plug it into the outlet. Answer: D. Metal is a conductor and completes a circuit when you plug it into the outlet. A good reason for humans to feel little fear for wild wolves is that A wolves are human B wolves elude humanity C wolves eat corn D wolves are domesticated Answer: B. wolves elude humanity Rachael lives in Wisconsin and has lived there all her life. She is just an average girl; at first when you are around her, she seems to be very shy. If you get to know her, she'll start to open up but always keep things to herself. Sports are something that keeps her going, a way to release stress. Usually, you will see Rachael out with friends or just sitting down reading a good book. She takes pride in the fact that she can read a whole book in one day, and that she still doesn't consider herself a bookworm. Some people call Rachael strange because of things she does. She's learned to _ what other people think because she just doesn't care any more. She likes to surround herself with people like her so it makes he feel like she is the less strange one in most situations. Rachael wants to be two completely different people in her life. A communication journalist for one, she has always wanted to be that person. The second possible career would be lawyer. It's a huge goal, and one day you'll see her doing something she loves. Influenced by her parents, Rachael enjoys listening to all kinds of music. Rarely, if ever, do you see her without some sort of music. Every morning you can see Rachael in her bathroom getting ready for school with her player at maximum volume .Her parents always get mad at her about that, but she can't hear them anyway over the music. They don't know that she uses their surround sound stereo when they aren't at home! Rachael's parents don't like their children to _ . A be late for school B use their surround sound stereo C listen to the music in the bathroom D play music to loudly Answer: D. play music to loudly "Extra? Extra! Gasoline hits four dollars a gallon!" No one will really be shocked -- except, perhaps, the old-timers who tell about the good old days when gas was three gallons for a dollar, and people drove around "just for the fun of it". As a matter of fact, the price of gas has been rising fast and steadily for several years, and many adjustments have already been made. There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However, the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished , and many people have found employment there. Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars. In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving. Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums. People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather. These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we were -- on wheels. Shall we wish them success or not? Which of the following is NOT a result of the gas price rising? A More people prefer to travel on public transportation which costs less than driving cars. B People shop in nearby stores without having to drive, so small businesses are declining. C People return to the traditional exercise of walking, which helps them to look healthier. D The auto industry has been forced to develop new models which are more economical. Answer: B. People shop in nearby stores without having to drive, so small businesses are declining. Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina, is a popular vacation spot on the East Coast of the US. There are 250 restaurants on the island. You can try the following excellent restaurants. Skull Creek Boathouse 397 Squire Pope Road 843-681-3663 It's a good place for seafood lovers. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and weekend lunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu is mostly seafood. Quarterdeck 32 Greenwood Road 1-866-561-8802 The view from this restaurant is wonderful. You have many choices, such as beef, burgers and soups. Open for lunch and dinner, the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for lunch, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner. Frankie Bones 1301 Main Street 843-842-4033 They are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For lunch you can enjoy sandwiches, salads, rice, and pasta dishes. The entree is served with soup or salad. The salad also has cheese, pine nuts and dried berries. Mellow Mushroom 33 Office Park Road 843-686-2474 If you want something different, stop in at the Mellow Mushroom. They have specialty pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. If you enjoy wines, you'll surely find something you like. It is open 7 days a week -- Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. If you want a restaurant that has a good view, you'd better phone _ . A 843-681-3663 B 1-866-561-8802 C 843-842-4033 D 843-686-2474 Answer: B. 1-866-561-8802
The chipmunks were busy getting ready for the winter. Little Chip had never seen everyone so busy. Chipmunks were running this way and that way. Even his Granddaddy was helping out, stuffing melons up into the holes in the tree. Aunt Chippa was clapping at everyone to hurry them up. Little Chip wasn't sure what they were all doing. His mom had told him, "Getting ready for winter" but Little Chip didn't know what that meant. He sat on the seesaw trying to guess. He knew that people were gathering things. Now that he thought about it, they were gathering food! Little Chip thought for a second...could they be gathering food for a party? That couldn't be it, everyone was gathering so much food that not every chipmunk in the town could come close to eating all the food for a single party. Little Chip looked at his big toe and thought. He saw another chipmunk digging in the ground and stuffing more food there. Was the guy trying to plant seeds to grow? Seeds wouldn't grow in the winter, it's too cold! Little Chip sat up and knew why everyone was so busy! Winter is coming! Why did Chip know they weren't getting ready for a party? Answer: There was too much food for one party As a society we might want to rethink the time and money spent on education,so that these resources can benefit a greater percentage of the population.Ideally,both high schools and colleges can prepare individuals for the ever-changing roles. High school degrees offer far less in the way of preparation for work than they might,or than many other nations currently offer,creating a growing skills gap in our economy.We encourage students to go on to college whether they are prepared or not,or have a clear sense of purpose or interest,and now have the highest college dropout rate in the world. We might look to other countries for models of how high schools can offer better training,as well as the development of a work ethic and the intellectual skills needed for continued learning and development. Meanwhile,the liberal arts become more important than ever.In a knowledge economy where professional roles change rapidly and many college students are preparing for positions that may not even exist yet,the skillneeded is one that prepares them for change and continued learning. Learning to express ideas well in both writing and speech,knowing how to find information,and knowing how to do research are all solid background skills for a wide variety of roles,and such training is more important than any particular major in a liberal arts college.We need to continue to value broad preparation in thinking skills that will serve for a lifetime. Students also need to learn to work independently and to make responsible decisions.The lengthening path to adulthood appears exacerbated by parental involvement in the college years.Given the rising investment in college education,parental concern is not surprising,but learning where and when to intervene willhelp students take more ownership of the outcomes of these increasingly costly educations. According to the author,a liberal arts college should focus on _ ? Answer: basic skills needed for change and lifelong learning Mark felt that it was time for him, to take part in his community, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The area' s city councilwoman was leading a discussion about how the quality of life was decreasing. The neighborhood faced many problems. Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There are charts for parking problems, crime, and for problems in vacant buildings. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilwoman. It was too much for Mark. "The problems are too big," he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, "I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here." Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop. "People should just take care of themselves, "he decided. "That' s enough to do. I can' t take on all the problems of the world." As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn't have a free hand. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly _ into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and the groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy's arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. "Thanks! "she said. "You've got great timing!" "Just being neighborly," Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was "Small acts of kindness add up. "Mark smiled and thought, "Maybe that's a good place to start." In Mark's opinion, _ . Answer: he was not in the position to solve such problems Listen carefully, working people, we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free! It's "no". What do you ask? We'll say it again: "No". Sweet and simple "no". Say "no" at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears. "Saying 'no' to others means you are saying 'yes' to yourself, " said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan. "Time is precious. People are spending money buying time. And yet we are willing to give up our time because we can't say 'no'." Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say "yes" need to say "no" without guilt or fear of punishment. "I would rather have someone give me a loving 'no' than an obligated 'yes', " she said. Susie Watson says she feels "no" obligation to give an explanation when she says "no" either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? "Not at all, " said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middlebury, Conneticut. "Most people are afraid of saying 'no'... My advice is to say 'yes' only if you don't mean 'no'." Watson said "no" is the most effective weapon against wasting time. "Every year there are more demands on your time... Other people are happy to use up your time, " Watson said. Time saving appears to be "no's" greatest friend. "No" can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. "No" may even take you further in the business world than "yes". "No" is power and strength. "No" now seems completely correct. "Saying 'no' isn't easy. But finally it's greatly liberating," Charles said. But, he added, a "no" project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit. But, he also warns: "Don't go to extremes. Don't find yourself saying 'no' to everything. In return you should learn to hear 'no'." If a person says "no" to everything, the result he or she receive may be that he or she _ . Answer: faces difficulty in life Picking tomatoes For as long as I can remember,Grandma's plentiful tomato garden has been a sign of summer's end.Each September,just as the decreased heat of the sun suggests cooler days,Grandma requests my help in her tomato garden.She convinces me she cannot pick tomatoes without my youthful eyes and quick mind.She says we need to examine each tomato and agree on its readiness for picking.While Grandma's request for my help in the tomato garden is always the same,her desire for my help seems to increase each year. Grandma has eyes for finding even the tomatoes hidden by undergrowth and other tomatoes.I,however,just turn circles looking for the ones I think Grandma will like.I spot what looks like a ripe tomato,head in its direction,and then get sidetracked by another that appears to be equally ripe.I usually end up watching Grandma and trying to stay out of her way,which seems the only way my eyes and mind are useful. There we are,lost in the tomato vines .Grandma's eyes are always knowing,and they are no different in the vegetable garden.From afar she spots what looks like a ripe tomato.As she walks toward the garden,she evaluates the tomato for a second time,but from a different angle.I already know it will end up in the basket with the pile of others Grandma has carefully chosen.However,Grandma acts as if she needs final look to be sure.She calls me to her side,kneels beside the vine while enjoying the warmth of the fading sunlight on her face,and grasps the tomato in her hand.She turns each round,red ball toward the sunlight before disconnecting it from the vine with a halfhearted smile. She then looks at me.I nod my head and smile.Grandma assumes I smile in agreement with her tomato selection.I know I smile,instead,at her. Why does Grandma ask the author to go to the tomato garden with her? Answer: She enjoys staying with him while working.
Question: Many of the people who appear most often and most gloriously in history books are great conquerors and generals and soldiers, whereas the people who really helped civilization forward are often never mentioned at all. We do not know who first set a broken leg, or launched a seaworthy boat, or calculated the length of the year; but we know all about the killers and destroyers. People think a great deal of them, so much so that on all the highest pillars in the great cities of the world you will find the figure of a conqueror or a general or a soldier. And I think most people believe that the greatest countries are those that have beaten in battle the greatest number of other countries and ruled over them as conquerors. It is just possible they are, but they are not the most civilized. Animals fight; so do savages; hence to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good, but it is not to be civilized. Even being good at getting other people to fight for you and telling them how to do it most efficiently--this, after all, is what conquerors and generals have done--is not being civilized. People fight to settle quarrels. Fighting means killing, and civilized people ought to be able to find some way of setting their disputes other than by seeing which side can kill off the greater number of the other side, and then saying that that side which has killed most has won. And not only has it won, but because it has won, it had been in the right. For that is what going to war means; it means saying that might is right. The author says that civilized people _ . A. should not have any quarrels to settle B. should not fight when there are no quarrels to settle C. should settle their quarrels without fighting D. should settle their quarrels by killing the other side Answer: C Question: For most teenagers, swapping an old mobile phone with a friend for the latest album or movie ticket might be considered a good trade.But 17-year-old Steven Ortiz set his sights a little higher, and -- after a series of swaps -- is now driving himself to school in a Porsche.The youngster started exchanging items two years ago after a schoolmate gave him an unwanted phone.Through a series of online swaps, Steven worked his way up through newer phones, laptop computers, and street bikes before landing the prized Porsche. Steven developed a love for online trading long before taking up the swaps that led to the Porsche.As a young teenager, he would buy his friends' unwanted mobile phones for around PS20, clean them up and sell them over the Internet for three times that amount. His father, Esteban Ortiz, said Steven was also useful to have around when the family needed something like a new washing machine, as he would use his nose for a bargain to pick up somebody's discarded appliance for next to nothing and fix it up cheaply."I think this is teaching him something.I want him to go to college, and make something of his life.He is learning the value of things, responsibility and negotiation skills." Steven got his first car at 15, but he was too young to drive, so he traded for a golf cart before moving back into cars when he got his license a year ago.Steven said swapping the Bronco, worth about PS10,000 at the time, for the Porsche was actually a trade down because the car was valued at PS6,000.Another downside is the running costs.He must pay PS100 every time the Porsche needs an oil change, and $1,000 for a routine service. Steven, however, still has some way to go before matching the achievement of Canadian Kyle MacDonald, who became famous four years ago for turning a single red paperclip into a two-storey farmhouse through a series of trade. What can be inferred from the passage? _ . A. A schoolmate encouraged Steven to trade online. B. Steven learned a lot from his father's negotiation skills. C. Steven got his driving license before trading his first car. D. Kyle MacDonald was more successful than Steven in terms of swapping. Answer: D Question: The president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is asking for foreign help to fight forest and agricultural fires in his country. According to Mr Widodo, Indonesian helicopters are only able to carry a small amount of the water needed to put out the fires. " _ " the Associated Press reported his comment. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space says more than 1,300 fires are burning across the country. The government has sent about 25,000 soldiers, police and firefighters in six provinces to battle the fires. Indonesian farmers and some businesses often burn rainforest to clear land at this time of year. The burning usually takes place during the country's dry season. But a large rise in palm oil production on peat lands is blamed for the many fires this year. Peat is made partly of dead plants, which burns easily and is often used as cooking fuel. The resulting thick, black smoke has polluted skies over Indonesia and four other countries. The burning has worsened air quality, closed schools and caused any outdoor activities to stop. The smoke is not only affecting people; it is affecting wildlife. In Indonesian Borneo, an animal rescue center says some of its animals have developed breathing problems. If the fires continue, a lot more could become sick and some could die. Scientists have warned that the fires this year could be worst ever because of a weather system called El Nino. They say the weather system has created extremely dry conditions in Indonesia. This passage might be found in _ . A. a government report B. a news report C. a firefighting guide D. an agricultural book Answer: B Question: Celebrity endorsements Despite the fact that companies believe celebrities had a lot of pull with regard to the buying trends of consumers, researchers have discovered that this does not seem to be the case. British and Swiss researchers carried out a study showing that advertisements made by celebrities like David Beckham and Scarlett Johansson are not as effective as those by ordinary people. In a sample of 298 students, researchers presented a magazine advertisement for a digital camera that was endorsed (...) by a fictional student claiming the camera was "hot" and his "preferred choice". The same advertisement was shown to other students, but with a difference: The camera was endorsed by a famous person in Germany. While the students said that both advertisements were beneficial, the one made by the student topped the celebrity one if students aimed to impress others with their purchases . More than half of the students, who admitted purchasing products that would impress others, said they were influenced by the student's advertisement. Only 20% said the celebrity one would affect their buying decision. Professor Brett Martin of the University of Bath's School of Management, explained that the findings could be used not only in Germany, but in other countries as well. " Our research questions whether celebrities are the best ways to sell products," said Prof Martin."Celebrities can be effective but we found that many people were more convinced by an endorsement from a fictional fellow student. This is because many people feel a need to keep up with _ when they buy." We can infer from the passage that _ . A. celebrities cheat consumers in advertisement B. the researchers here are against celebrity endorsement C. the student's ads are more reliable than those made by celebrities D. companies needn't spend so much money on celebrity endorsement Answer: D Question: Promised yourself to quit smoking in the new year, but just can't stop lighting up? You're not alone, with an Australian survey showing that only 3 percent of smokers who made such resolutions stuck with them. An online poll of just over 1,000 people, conducted ahead of the launch of a video game designed to help smokers quit, showed one in four Australians made New Year's resolutions to quit ---- but more than half went back on their word within a week.Some 15 percent lit up within hours of making the pledge, the survey showed, The research revealed that seven out of ten smokers have tried to kick the habit at some point. "Our research shows that the majority of smokers in Australia want to quit but are struggling to stick to their resolution.For most people, the desire to stop smoking is not enough, "Edward Fong, general manager of Ubisoft, the videogame manufacturer selling the anti-- smoking software, said in a statement. According to the survey, Australian smokers light up an average of 13.8 cigarettes every day or 5,037 cigarettes a year.There are currently 2.63 million smokers in Australia, which equates to 16 percent of the population over the age of 18, with women on average making more attempts to quit than men.The World Health Organization says smoking kills about 4 million people each year, causing a quarter of deaths related to heart disease.The organization estimates that by 2030, more than 8 million people will die from tobacco - related causes each year, mainly in developing countries. According to the passage, _ succeeded in giving up smoking. A. most of the smokers B. None of the smokers C. a few of the smokers D. a quarter of the smokers Answer: C
A new study has found some secrets of people's understanding of large numbers. Researchers studied a group of people who were born deaf and never learned any spoken language or a formal sign language, but they have developed a gesture system to communicate with people around them. The gestures let them express approximate amounts, but not exact numbers. "Up to three, they're fine," says Elizabet Spaepen, a researcher at the University of Chicago and an author of the study. "But past three, they start to fall apart." In one test, Spaepen would knock her fist against a study participant's fist a certain number of times and then ask them to respond with the same number of knocks. "If I were to knock four times on their fist, they might knock on my fist five times," she says. The finding offers a clue to just how much language affects our understanding of numbers. That has been a big question since 2004, when other researchers published data on two tribes in the Amazon whose members also lack words for big numbers. "What they have are words that mean one and two," Spaepen says, "and then they have a word to mean many." Members of the Amazonian tribes also had trouble matching numbers larger than three or four. But some scholars felt that these earlier studies failed to prove that language was the reason. They pointed out that the tribes lived in groups that didn't use money and had no need for exact numbers. The new research appears to answer that criticism. "It proves that the kinds of problems in understanding numbers that we found in the Amazonian tribes are not due to just the cultural or environmental circumstances," says Peter Gordon of Columbia University, one of the researchers involved in the earlier studies. The participants of the new study _ . Answer: The 115-year-old prestigious Oxford Dictionary will now include popular new Chinese terms like "shanzhai" "youtiao" and "fangnu", as part of the modern Chinese language. As China plays a more and more important role in the world economy, the Chinese language is forever evolving, attracting more attention from people who want to understand this ancient yet vibrant language. For instance, the word "shanzhai" is used to describe the countless knockoffs of iPhones or designer bags imprinted with Louis Vuitton logos. Another new term in the new edition is the word "fangnu", or a "mortgage slave" --a term used to describe the phenomenon in large cities whereby well-educated youth complain of a miserable existence due to the heavy burden of a home mortgage. All these new or often fashionable terms can be found in the new Oxford English-Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary that was unveiled in the recently concluded Beijing International Book Fair last week. The dictionary now is available for retail sales since the beginning of this month. This dictionary is the largest single volume English-Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary and contains 670,000 words and phrases after five years of preparation.Sixty editors from the Oxford University Press and its partner in China--the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press--worked together on the project.According to Julie Kleeman, the dictionary's chief editor, most of the firm's editors were Chinese, while about one fourth were native-English speakers. "We don't want to make it florid(, we want it to be modern and conversational...many of the words in the present dictionary are no longer in use," said Kleeman. "The need for studying Chinese by foreigners today is totally different from decades ago...Precise, native and practical--that is our core advantage," she said. Kleeman said newer publications updates will be available only for the online version as language often changes too quickly for book versions to keep pace. The online version will also offer a Chinese phonetic pronunciation guide. The online version, allowing access via different platforms from the PC to the iPad, will be ready "as soon as possible", Kleeman said. The possible reason why newer publications updates are not available for book versions is that _ . Answer: When you think of your hair, you probably think of the hair on your head. But there's hair on almost every part of your body. (some places that don't have hair include the lips, the palms of the hands ,and the soles of the feet.) Some of the hair on your body is easy to see, like your eyebrows and the hair on your head, arms, and legs. But other hair ,like that on your cheek, is almost invisible. Depending on where it is, hair has different jobs. The hair on your head keeps your head warm and provided a little cushioning for your skull. _ protect your eyes by decreasing the amount of light and dust that go into them, and eyebrows protect your eyes from sweat dripping down from your forehead. Where can hair be seen? Answer: Shirley Temple Black, who lifted America's spirit as a bright-eyed child movie star during the Great Depression, peacefully passed away at her California home on Monday evening at 85, surrounded by her family and caregivers. Temple, born on April 23, 1928, started her entertainment career in the early 1930s and was famous by age 6. Temple was 3 when her mother put her in dance school, where a talent scout spotted her and got her in Baby Burlesks, a series of short movies with child actors playing in adult movies. Movie studio directors took notice of her and in 1934 she appeared in the film Stand Up and Cheer! and her song and dance caught people's attention. Movies such as Little Miss Marker and Bright Eyes featured her signature song. In 1935, she received a special Oscar for her "outstanding contribution to screen entertainment" in the movie Stand Up and Cheer! She made some 40 feature movies, including The Little Colonel, Poor Little Rich Girl, Heidi and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, in 10 years, starring with big-name actors like Randolph Scott, Lionel Barrymore and Jimmy Durante. Temple was a superstar before the term was invented. She said she was about 8 when crowds shouting their love for her made her realize she was famous. "I wondered why," she recalled. "I asked my mother and she said, 'Because your films make them happy.' " Her child career came to an end at 12. She tried a few roles as a teenager--including opposite future president Ronald Reagan in That Hagen Girl - but retired from the screen in 1949 at 21. Temple was only 17 when she married for the first time to John Agar, who would eventually appear with her in two movies. Their five-year marriage produced a daughter. In 1950 she wed Charles Black in a marriage that lasted until his death in 2005. She and Black had two children. Temple's interest in politics was sparked in the early 1950s when her husband was called back into the Navy to work in Washington. When Temple first caught the audience's eyes, _ . Answer: As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is a unique and historic institution. There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. From 1878, academic halls were established for women and they were admitted to full membership of the University in 1920. Five all-male colleges first admitted women in 1974. St Hilda's College, which was originally for women only, was the last of Oxford's single sex colleges. It has admitted both men and women since 2008. By 1200, the town of Cambridge had at least one school of some distinction. Then, in 1209, some scholars settled there. By 1226 the scholars were numerous enough to have set up an organisation, and seem to have arranged regular courses of study, taught by their own members. From the start there was conflict between the town and the students. Students, usually aged about fourteen or fifteen, often caused disturbances; citizens of the town, on the other hand, were known to overcharge for rooms and food. King Henry III took the scholars under his protection as early as 1231 and arranged for them to be sheltered from exploitation by their landlords. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, MIT adopted a European university model and stressed laboratory instruction in applied science and engineering. The current 168-acre campus opened in 1916 and extends over 1 mile (1.6 km) along the northern bank of the Charles River basin. On April 29, 1911, Tsinghua Xuetang began its first term of study, and from that year on, the Tsinghua's anniversary has fallen on the last Sunday of April. Following the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan in 1937, Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nankai University combined to form the National Southwest Associated University in Kunming. After the war, Tsinghua University moved back to its original Beijing campus. The University of Oxford did not take in female students until _ . Answer:
I have never heard about a "Fashion Week" outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I'm ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in "stan." For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, "Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment." What he says is right. If you just give it aglimpse , you'll find out that theflavor of the Silk Road is still there. As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through itsepic history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai's birthplace. Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape. Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The "White House," the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists. One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat. Which of the statements is NOT ture according to the passage? Answer: Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges. One of the easiest ways to keep healthy is to do jogging. Jogging is the name for a very gentle running--it is just a little faster than walking. Start slow jog 20 meters, then walk 20 meters. Little by little, if you are not feeling very tired, you may do more jogging and less walking. Finally, jog the whole way. It will be easy for you to start jogging for 15 minutes twice a week, slowly, increase this to 20~30minutes every day. The longer you join in jogging, the more you enjoy it and the healthier you will become. Some people like jogging alone, and others enjoy doing it with friends. Jogging in groups makes more people keener , because you just can not stay in bed while there is a group of friends waiting outside. If you want to start jogging, prepare a pair of comfortable shoes and _ mind. Jogging means _ . Answer: slow running Another common type of reasoning is the search for causes and results.We want to know whether cigarettes really do cause lung cancer, what causes malnutrition, the decay of cities, or the decay of teeth.We are equally interested in effects: what is the effect of sulphur or lead in the atmosphere, of oil spills and raw sewage in rivers and the sea, of staying up late on the night before an examination? Causal reasoning may go from cause to effect or from effect to cause.Either way, we reason from what we know to what we want to find out.Sometimes we reason from an effect to a cause and then on to another effect.Thus, if we reason that because the lights have gone out, the refrigerator won't work, we first relate the effect (lights out) to the cause (power off) and then relate that cause to another effect (refrigerator not working).This kind of reasoning is called, for short, effect to effect.It is quite common to reason through an extensive chain of causal relations.When the lights go out we might reason in the following causal chain: lights out--power off--refrigerator not working--temperature will rise--milk will sour.In other words, we diagnose a succession of effects from the power failure, each becoming the cause of the next. Causes are classified as necessary, sufficient, or contributory.A necessary cause is one which must be present for the effect to occur, as combustion is necessary to drive a gasoline engine.A sufficient cause is one which can produce an effect unaided, though there may be more than one sufficient cause; a dead battery is enough to keep a car from starting, but faulty spark plugs or an empty gas tank will have the same effect.A contributory cause is one which helps to produce an effect but cannot do so by itself, as running through a red light may help cause an accident, though other factors -- pedestrians or other cars at the crossroads -- must also be present. In establishing or refuting a causal relation it is usually necessary to show the process by which the alleged cause produces the effect.Such an explanation is called a causal process. According to the passage, to do the "effect to effect" reasoning is to reason _ . Answer: from effect to cause and on to another effect There are four people in Simon's family. They have different habits. * Simon's father is a doctor. He works in a hospital. He likes reading books very much. There are many books in his bedroom. He doesn't like going to the cinema. * Simon's mother is a music teacher. She likes listening to music, but she has no time to go to concerts. * Simon's brother is seven years old. He likes watching cartoons. He usually watches cartoons when his parents aren't at home. * Simon is a middle school student. He likes playing football. He often plays football with his friends after school. He likes playing computer games at home. But he doesn't like watching TV. Simon's mother doesn't have time to _ . Answer: go to concerts The last school bell rings and your kids are off for the summer.For most kids, those thoughts of schoolwork and lessons are a distant memory that they won't be thinking about again until fall.So it's important for them to continue some learning. Have Your Kids Hit the Library Encourage your kids to read by taking them to the library during the summer.If they don't have a library card, get them one.Many local libraries sponsor summer reading clubs that keep your kids wanting to read.Be sure to let your kids pick their own books out; summer is for fun reading. Have Your Kids Read Every Day Ask your kids to read outside in the sun.join in with them, and read aloud their favorite books, no matter how many times you have read them.Pick a time every day when you all stop and read as a family together.Nothing will stimulate a child to read than to have adults reading with them. Find Other Ways to Encourage the Kids If you are planning a family trip, have them check out the map.Let your kids go online and research where you are going.Have your kids check the weather report in the newspaper or what big event is happening and then have them report back on them at dinnertime.Have your kids check out magazines or websites for recipes that can be prepared. Learning to express your thoughts in writing in a logical manner is a skill that is often lost.To help your kids, have them write about things during the summer.If your kids love something such as animals, have them write a short report about them to share with the family.If you are going on a trip, have your kids keep a travel journal The writer wrote this passage to tell parents _ . Answer: how to keep their kids learning during the summer
When people search online, they leave a trail that remains stored on the central computers of firms such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. Analyzing what we're looking for on the Web can offer a remarkable understanding of our anxieties and enthusiasms. UK writer John Battelle wrote on his blog, "This can tell us extraordinary things about who we are and what we want as a culture." Google's experimental service Google Trends, for example, compares the numbers of people searching for different words and phrases from 2004 to the present. According to these graphs, sometimes people's interests are driven obviously by the latest news: when the Spice Girls, a pop group, announce a reunion, there's an immediate rush to find out more about them. Other results are strikingly seasonal: people go shopping online for coats in winter and sandals in summer. The most fascinating possibility is that search data might help predict behavior. Perhaps we search for a political candidate's name when we are thinking about voting for him or her. This information could clearly be useful to a marketer - it's already how Google decides which ads to show on its search results pages - or to a political campaign manager. Marissa Mayer, a Google vice-president, argues that Google Trends correctly "predicted" George Bush's victory over John Kerry in the 2004 election. The graph clearly shows that Bush continued his lead over Kerry, in terms of search volumes, even when polls suggested _ . However, that's not always the case. For instance, the same approach predicted Hillary Clinton would beat Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 turned out to be wrong in the end. According to the passage, Google are able to see the trails of the people when they are _ . A. using their computers B. installing the Internet C. using its search engine D. connecting their computer to another one Answer: C Beijing Opera is also called Peking Opera.. It came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupe came to Beijing. Its music and singing came from Xipi and Er-huang in Anhui and Hubei. Its costtumes are all fascinating and artistic.It is the highest expression of the Chinese culture. It's full of famous stories , beautiful facial paintings, and wonderful gestures and fighting. This kind of opera is very popular with Chinese people. There are four main roles in Beijing Opera: Sheng ,Dan, Jing and Chou. Sheng is the leading male actor. For example , a Wusheng is a soldier or fighter .A Xiaosheng is a young man . A Laosheng is the comedy actor or clown.Dan is the female role . Jing,mostly male , is the face-painted role and Chou is the comedy actor or clown. Stories in Beijing Opera are very intetesting . Some of them are from the history book ,but most of them are from the literature , especially famous novels . The people in the story usually have some disagreements. They become angry and uhappy . They are sad and lonely . Sometimes they are nervous and worried. Then they find a way to make peace . The stories usually end with happiness and lunghter and people are all happy in the end. What role is Sheng ? A. the eading male actor B. the female role C. the comedy actor or clown. D. the face-painted role Answer: A Walter Wetzel had met Ryan Lamantia nearly eight years ago in a hospital waiting room. Both were very sick----Ryan with brain cancer, Walter with leukemia . Ryan, who was 3 at the time, began making silly faces at Walter and chatted about going home to change into his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume. Several days later, Ryan moved to another hospital. Though they saw each other only a handful of times after that, Walter never forgot Ryan. "He inspired me to fight against my cancer," said Walter, now 17, a football player. Then one day, Walter saw a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt at a mall, which made him decide to search out Ryan. Back home, Walter typed in "Ryan Lake in the Hills brain cancer" on his computer, and a link to a Facebook page for Ryan came up. But, the news was shocking. Ryan had died on Sept. 8, 2005. He was 6. The Facebook page was for the Ryan Lamantia Foundation, a non-profit organization that Ryan's family formed after his death to raise money for brain cancer research. Walter left this message right away: ."Ryan is my hero. My trips to the hospital were always horrible, until the day I met Ryan." Ryan's mom's eyes were filled with tears as she read Waiter's message. "We always knew Ryan was special, but to hear it from somebody else, it really means the world to us," Lamantia said. Walter wasn't the only person who was greatly impressed with Ryan. "He was a little superhero," said Wendy Stellpflug, a nurse at Children' s Memorial Hospital. "Ryan always kept his spirits high, even after he suffered hearing loss and experienced 14 operations." "Ryan didn' t let his illness stop him. He always had a smile on his face," said Dr. Stewart Goldman, the doctor who treated Ryan. Walter and his family have been in touch with the Lamantias for the past few weeks. And last week, they met for the first time since Ryan's death. The families told stories of being affected by cancer so young and Walter expressed his hope to volunteer with Ryan' s foundation. Walter and Ryan _ . A. first met in 2005 B. suffered severe illnesses C. were in the same hospital for a long time D. both liked the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume Answer: B W Taipei The W Hotel is among the city's big-name luxury hotels. Futuristic and fancy, the W Taipei's setting is reminding you of a Lady Gaga video; perhaps that explains why the singer insisted on staying here on a recent visit. There are eight room types to choose from, with names such as Fabulous and Extreme Wow. They vary wildly in style. 10 Zhongxiao E. Road, Sect. 5, Xin Yi Area Taipei City Hall MRT; +886 2 7703 8888; from NT$8,900 (US$299); www.wtaipei.com Grand Hotel If sleeping in landmarks is your thing, the Taipei Grand Hotel is a must. The Grand is an expression of classical Chinese art mixed with Western construction principles. The Grand Hotel is attractive and full of history, but rooms are aging, so don't expect the inside to be as "grand" as the outside. You can enjoy yourself at a driving range of golf, year-round pools and no fewer than eight restaurants. No. 1, Lane 1, Zhongshan N. Road, Section 4 shuttle from Yuan Shan MRT; +886 2 2886 8888; from NT$4,800 (US$165); www.grand-hotel.org Dandy Hotel From free drinks and snacks in the lobby to seasonally themed decorations, this hotel takes care of the small _ . But what places the Dandy Hotel above others in the same price category are views over Da-An Park; they're reminders of those of New York's Central Park. Rooms with views are worth the extra money paid, but book early -- there are only two on each floor. No. 33, Xin Yi Road, Sect. 3, Dongmen MRT; +886 2 2707 6899; from NT$2,340 (US$80); www.dandyhotel.com.tw Homey Hostel Taiwanese brother and sister Josh and Kelly make guests feel right at home at this bargain Hostel. According to them, their motive in starting the hostel was to make friends, which is why they can often be found in the public area chatting with guests. There's a small kitchen, public computer, free coffee and tea, and luggage storage. 1/F, No. 7, Lane 180, Tonghua Street,) Liuzhangli MRT; +886 91900 2116; dorms from NT$500 (US$17); www.homeyhostel.com Which of the following statements is TRUE according the passage? A. Rooms in the W Hotel are of the similar style but with different fancy names. B. The Taipei Grand Hotel is an excellent mixture of classic and modern construction. C. It is the park-view rooms in the Dandy Hotel that make it quite unique. D. The desire of helping strangers drives Josh and Kelly to open the Homey Hostel. Answer: C Consumers everywhere are faced with the same dilemma: given limited resources, what sorts of purchases are most likely to produce lasting happiness and satisfaction? Recent research has confirmed that experiential purchases tend to produce greater hedonic gains than material purchases. The reason why experiences improve with time may be because it is possible to think about experiences in a more abstract manner than possessions. For example, if you think back to a fantastic summer from your youth, you might easily remember an abstract sense of warm sunshine and youthful exuberant , but you're less likely to remember exactly what you did day-by-day. Material possessions are harder to think about in an abstract sense. The car you bought is still a car, that great new jacket you picked up cheap is still just a jacket. It's more likely the experience of that summer has taken on a symbolic meaning that can live longer in your memory than a possession. Purchasing may have a negative impact on happiness because consumers often buy "joyless" material possessions, resulting in comfort but not pleasure. In general, people adapt to experiences more slowly than to material purchase. This can be seen in both negative and positive purchases: hedonic adaptation would result in a positive experience causing more happiness but a negative experience causing less happiness than the comparable material purchase with the same initial happiness level. Experience, however, seems to be more resistant to these sorts of unfavourable comparisons. It is because of the unique nature of experience. It's more difficult to make an unfavourable comparison when there is nothing directly comparable. After all, each of our youthful summers is different. It's well established that social comparisons can have a huge effect on how we view what might seem like positive events. One striking example is the finding that people prefer to earn $50,000 a year while everyone else earns $25,000, instead of earning $100,000 themselves and having other people earn $200,000. A similar effect is seen for possessions. When there are so many flat-screen HD TVs to choose from, it's easy to make unfavourable comparisons between our choice and the others available. It is implied in the passage that, after their material purchases, people might _ . A. enjoy their ownership of what they have bought B. pick every fault in the products they have got C. regret making a wrong decision to buy the items D. leave what they've purchased untouched at home Answer: C
When Abraham Lincoln was invited to give a speech in Brooklyn, New York, in February 1860, he was already famous throughout Illinois, but almost no one in the East knew what he looked like. The presidential election of 1860 was coming, and Lincoln, as a possible Republican candidate , wanted to increase his popularity. Hoping to introduce himself to hundreds of new voters , Lincoln eagerly accepted the invitation to the East. He wrote a powerful speech opposing slavery . Then he went to Springfield, Illinois by train. When Lincoln arrived in New York, he was surprised to learn that so many people had bought tickets for his speech that it had been moved from a small Brooklyn church to a New York City college. Lincoln got to town exhausted. His suit was badly wrinkled , and his one piece of luggage was old and covered with dust. Worst of all, his plain face, uncombed hair shocked those who greeted him. However, his admirers decided to have Lincoln photographed . If the cameraman could make Lincoln a little handsome, perhaps he could win more votes. They found the city's most famous photographer Brady. Brady and his assistants looked through the camera and surprised by what they saw. So they decided to make an adjustment before they took the picture. Brady walked over to Lincoln and pulled up Lincoln's shirt collar as high as it would go. As a result, the picture successfully covered up his long, ugly neck, which made Lincoln appear quite handsome. Lincoln's speech that day proved to be a triumph. So did the photograph. The photo inspired thousands of copies; so many that Brady insisted that this picture became the means to Lincoln's election to the Presidency nine months later. If that's true it might be said that Lincoln won the election by a neck--a neck that had been shortened in New York. What surprised Brady when he looked through the camera? A Lincoln's plain face. B Lincoln's uncombed hair. C Lincoln's bad manner D Lincoln's ugly neck Answer: D. Lincoln's ugly neck We've considered several ways of paying to cut in line: hiring line standers, buying tickets from scalpers , or purchasing line-cutting privileges directly from, say, an airline or an amusement park. Each of these deals replaces the morals of the queue (waiting your turn) with the morals of the market (paying a price for faster service). Markets and queues--paying and waiting--are two different ways of allocating things, and each is appropriate to different activities. The morals of the queue, "First come, first served, have an egalitarian appeal. They tell us to ignore privilege, power, and deep pockets. The principle seems right on playgrounds and at bus stops. But the morals of the queue do not govern all occasions. If I put my house up for sale, I have no duty to accept the first offer that comes along, simply because it's the first. Selling my house and waiting for a bus are different activities, properly governed by different standards. Sometimes standards change, and it is unclear which principle should apply. Think of the recorded message you hear, played over and over, as you wait on hold when calling your bank: "Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received." This is essential for the morals of the queue. It's as if the company is trying to ease our impatience with fairness. But don't take the recorded message too seriously. Today, some people's calls are answered faster than others. Call center technology enables companies to "score" incoming calls and to give faster service to those that come from rich places. You might call this telephonic queue jumping. Of course, markets and queues are not the only ways of allocating things. Some goods we distribute by merit, others by need, still others by chance. However, the tendency of markets to replace queues, and other non-market ways of allocating goods is so common in modern life that we scarcely notice it anymore. It is striking that most of the paid queue-jumping schemes we've considered--at airports and amusement parks, in call centers, doctors' offices, and national parks--are recent developments, scarcely imaginable three decades ago. The disappearance of the queues in these places may seem an unusual concern, but these are not the only places that markets have entered. According to the author, which of the following seems governed by the principle "First come, first served"? A Taking buses. B Buying houses. C Flying with an airline. D Visiting amusement parks. Answer: A. Taking buses. Edward Snowden's removal of thousands of highly classified documents from the National Security Agency and his decision to turn them over to journalists for publication started a fierce debate about who and what he is. On one side are those who consider Snowden a whistleblower, someone who has done his country a great service. Others regard him as a criminal. Snowden, meanwhile, says that his "task's already accomplished," that he has given Americans a "say in how they are governed" and that he has succeeded in exposing the workings of what he has called the uncontrolled "surveillance state." But one must ask: Are Snowden's actions in consistent with his words? Snowden has taken sanctuary in Russia, a country that, under the guidance of President Vladimir Putin, a former Soviet KGB officer, has been sliding ever deeper back into dictatorship . The Federal Security Service (FSB) has invested in technology that allows it to monitor telephone and Internet communications and to collect and store not just metadata -- information about call destinations and lengths -- but also the content of communications. The Russian state uses that technology to engage in essentially unchecked surveillance of telephone calls, e-mail traffic, blogs, and Web sites. Over the past two years "the Kremlin has transformed Russia into a surveillance state -- at a level that would have made the KGB envious." If Snowden's objective is to give people a voice in how they are governed, and to expose massive uncontrolled surveillance, he could speak out about practices of the Russian government that go far beyond anything ever undertaken by the U.S. government. For better or for worse, Snowden has a large number of supporters around the world. His words are listened to by millions -- so he could make a difference where it counts. Yet he has been silent about the surveillance surrounding him. Why? Is he being polite to his hosts? Does he have concerns about what the FSB might do in response to what he might say? Whatever the answer, Snowden's silence about the dictatorship where he has taken sanctuary is telling. It is yet more evidence, if evidence were needed, that he is not a whistleblower at all. It suggests that, instead of being a brave speaker of truths, he is a hypocrite , with principles that he applies selectively against the justice he has betrayed . According to the author, Snowden is not a brave speaker of truth because he has _ . A applied the wrong principles. B kept silent about Russia's dictatorship. C taken sanctuary in Russia. D not responded to millions of his supporters. Answer: B. kept silent about Russia's dictatorship. 12-year-old Romina Mohaqqeq, believed to be Iran's youngest filmmaker, is dreaming of winning an Oscar someday. "I will not regard myself a filmmaker until I win an Oscar," she remarks. Born in 1998, she has so far directed several documentaries and short films and has received several awards at national and international festivals. "I made my first documentary when I was eight years old. The idea came to my mind when I saw an Afghan boy who was collecting paper in a dustbin near our house. I thought it might be a good topic for a documentary," she said. "I asked my dad to make a movie about this boy but he said that it would not be an interesting topic. He told me to work on the topic myself if I liked it, so I made my first documentary and named it Long Way". Romina's "Long Way" took the best film award at Roshd International Film Festival in 2007, encouraging her to continue filmmaking. "Next, I adapted a story published in a magazine and made the short film A Box Full of Affection". She is now working on Thought, a new documentary about positive thinking. Romina admits that her dad has been her only advisor all these years. "When Romina decided to work on a topic herself at the age of 8, I taught her the whole process of filmmaking within 6 to 7 months. I even worked as a cameraman in some of her productions." her father said. "We also reviewed the book Film Directing Shot by Shot. We read all the sections together where she learned the entire process from pre-production to post-production." Romina also played in one of her dad's productions when she was 6, and acted in the movie The Earrings. She was among the judges of 39th edition of the Roshd International film Festival. We know from the passage that _ . A Romina has won an Oscar Award B Romina's first movie was a short film C Romina once worked as a cameraman D Romina's father was her first guide to filmmaking Answer: D. Romina's father was her first guide to filmmaking The interview had been going on for about 20 minutes and everything seems to be going well.Then, suddenly, the interviewer asks an unexpected question, "Which is more important, law or love?" Job applicants in the west increasingly find themselves asked strange questions like this.And the signs are that this is beginning to happen in China. Employers want people skilled, enthusiastic and devoted.So these are the qualities that any reasonably intelligent job applicants will try to show no matter what his or her actual feelings are.In response, employers are increasingly using questions which try and show the applicant's true personality. The question in the first paragraph comes from a test called Kiersey Personality Sorter.It is an attempt to discover how people solve problems, rather than what they know.This is often called aptitude testing. According to Mark Baldwin of Alliance many job applicants in China are finding this type of questions difficult. When a Chinese person fills out an aptitude test he or she will think there is a right answer and they may fail because they try to guess what the examiner wants to see. This is sometimes called the prisoner's dilemma .Applicants are trying to act cleverly in their own interest.But they fail because they don't understand what the interviewer is looking for.Remember that in an aptitude test, the correct answer is always the honest answer. From the passage we know that _ . A job applicants are always asked such questions B more Chinese applicants fail to find a job C applicants should not act as reasonably as a prisoner D aptitude testing is becoming popular worldwide Answer: D. aptitude testing is becoming popular worldwide
My name is Jack.Here are four of my favorite photos.Let me tell you something about them. In the first photo, I'm running.I like sports and I want to be a running star. I like spring and winter best.So I have two photos of them.Look at the second photo.I am flying kites with my friends in the park. There are all kinds of kites there.We are very happy.In the third photo,I'm playing snow fight with my friends.And some friends are making snowmen.We are playing happily. In the last photo.I'm doing my homework. Who's that girl? Oh.she is my sister and she is helping me with my homework.My sister is good at her subjects.In the evening,we usually do our homework and watch TV. ,. The _ photo is about winter. Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guestroom. Instead the angels were given some space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,"Things aren't always what they seem." The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer. After sharing a little food they had, the farmer and his wife let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, "How could this happen?" "Why didn't you watch out for the cow? The first family had everything, yet you watched over his house," she accused . "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, you didn't help." "Things aren't always what they seem," the angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. So things aren't always what they seem." The younger angel was very angry because _ . American's genius with high technology may have put men on the moon, but there is growing doubt about its ability to solve human problems closer to home. In fact, a slight but significant change from purely technological solutions is already under way as scientists insist that answers to the world's problems will not come from an attractive exhibition of electronics and machines. Instead, as they see it, solutions must develop from a better understanding of the humans that drive the system and from a fuller appreciation of the limits and potential of the earth's resources. What this means is an increased emphasis on the life and earth sciences, on sociology, psychology, economics and even philosophy. More and more of the best minds in science, particularly young researchers, are being drawn into these developing fields. All this is not to say that technological creativity will not play a critical role in solving energy and food shortages, or that answers to environmental difficulties will not come from further advances in the same technologies that may have helped cause the problems. Where the real challenge lies, in the view of the new generation of scientists, is in finding ways to produce goods and meet the world's needs, using less of the raw materials that are becoming short. The author states all the following CXCEPT that _ . "Does my smile look big in this?" Future fitting-room mirrors in clothing stores could subtly adjust your reflection to make you look - and hence feel - happier, encouraging you to like what you see. That's the idea behind the Emotion Evoking System developed by Shigeo Yoshida and colleagues at the University of Tokyo in Japan. The system can manipulate, or in other word, control your emotions and personal preferences by presenting you with an image of your own smiling or frowning face. The principle that physiological changes can drive emotional ones - that laughter comes before happiness, rather than the other way around - is a well-established idea. The researchers wanted to see if this idea could be used to build a computer system that manipulates how you feel. The system works by presenting the user with a web-camera image of his or her face - as if they were looking in a mirror. The image is then subtly altered with software, turning the corners of the mouth up or down and changing the area around the eyes, so that the person appears to smile or frown . Without telling them the aim of the study, the team recruited 21 volunteers and asked them to sit in front of the screen while performing an unrelated task. When the task was complete the participants rated how they felt. When the faces on screen appeared to smile, people reported that they felt happier. On the other hand, when the image was given a sad expression, they reported feeling less happy. Yoshida and his colleagues tested whether manipulating the volunteers' emotional state would influence their preferences. Each person was given a scarf to wear and again presented with the altered webcam image. The volunteers that saw themselves smiling while wearing the scarf were more likely to report that they liked it, and those that saw themselves not smiling were less likely. The system could be used to manipulate consumers' impressions of products, say the researchers. For example, mirrors in clothing-store fitting rooms could be replaced with screens showing altered reflections. They also suggest people may be more likely to find clothes attractive if they see themselves looking happy while trying them on. "It's certainly an interesting area," says Chris Creed at the University of Birmingham, UK. But he notes that using such technology in a shop would be harder than in the lab, because people will use a wide range of expressions. "Attempting to make slight differences to these and ensuring that the reflected image looks believable would be much more challenging," he says. Of course, there are also important moral questions surrounding such subtly manipulative technology. "You could argue that if it makes people happy what harm is it doing?" says Creed. "But I can imagine that many people may feel manipulated, uncomfortable and cheated if they found out." What's the main purpose of the Emotion Evoking System? (PARIS) ----An English tourist who was highly praised for rescuing a three-year-old boy in Paris said he didn't think twice before diving into the freezing river. Tuesday's news said 25-year-old John Smith from England was the man who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday. He lifted the little boy out of the water after he fell off the bank. He handed the child to his father, David Anderson, who had dived in after him. "I didn't think at all," John told the News. "It happened very fast. I reacted very fast." John, an engineer on vacation, was walking with his girlfriend along the pier when he saw something falling into the water. He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. Immediately, he took off his coat and jumped into the water. When he reached the child, he appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when he was out of the water, he opened his eyes. Anderson said his son slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for him, said John, who was handed dry clothes from onlookers. John caught a taxi with his girlfriend shortly after. The rescue happened on the day before he left for England. John said he didn't realize his story had greatly moved Paris until he was leaving the city the next morning. "I don't really think I'm a hero," said John. "Anyone would do the same thing." Who dived after John into the river to save the little girl?
The campaign is over. The celebrations have ended. And the work for US president-elect Barack Obama has begun. The 47-year-old politician rose to the highest post because of his stand against the war in Iraq and his plans to fix a weak economy. But what will the first 47-year-old African-American president do for race relations? Obama's victory appears to have given blacks and other minorities a true national role model. For years, many looked to athletes and musicians for inspiration. As Darius Turner, an African-American high school student in Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times, "Kobe doesn't have to be everybody's role model anymore." Recent polls also suggest that Obama's victory has given Americans new optimism about race relations. For example, a USA Today poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe relations between blacks and whites "will finally be worked out". This is the most hopeful response since the question was first asked during the civil rights revolution in 1963. However, it's still too early to tell whether Obama's presidency will begin to solve many of the social problems facing low-income black communities. Although blacks make up only 13 percent of the US population, 55 percent of all prisoners are African-American. Such numbers can be blamed on any number of factors on America's racist past, a failure of government policy and the collapse of the family unit in black communities. It is unlikely that Obama will be able to reverse such trends overnight. However, Bill Bank, an expert of African-American Studies, says that eventually young blacks need to find role models in their own communities. "That's not Martin Luther King, and not Barack Obama," he told the Los Angeles Times. "It's actually the people closest to them. Barack only has so much influence." In the opinion of black British politician Trevor Phillips, Obama's rise will contribute more to multiculturalism than to race relations in the US. "When the G8 meets, the four most important people in the room will be the president of China, the prime minister of India, the prime minister of Japan and Barak Obama," he told London's The Times newspaper. "It will be the first time we've seen that on our television screens. That will be a huge psychological shift for both the white people and the color1ed ones in the world." For years, before Obama was elected president of the US, _ . Answer: Kobe was the only role model for all the blacks It was a bad time for me . I was low emotionally and tired physically. Probably because of this I hadn't shaved for a few days. Also, because I had been doing some repairs at my daughter's house, I was dressed quite scruffily. Boarding the bus to go home I saw it was almost full so I found a rail to lean against. That was when a young woman, sitting with her child, stood up and offered me her seat. "Wow !" I thought. Out loud I said, "Do I look that old and tired?" She replied," You look like you've had a tough day." I thanked her sincerely and stayed standing. A moment later a man rose from his seat at the back of the bus and made his way towards me, squeezing past several people on the way. Then he told me about his addiction problems, asked for my advice, and just chatted about life for a few minutes. Then he went back to his seat. Very random! Watching him go, I also looked at the bus-load of people between me and his seat. He hadn't chosen to talk to those strangers. He chose to talk to _ for whatever it meant to him and whatever comfort it brought him. Why? That's when it occurred to me. I must have looked like I had been where he was. I probably looked like a man who would understand a difficult life. I was humbled and uplifted at the same time by the realization that even when we are at our lowest we can still help others--if we look like we might be able to meet them where they live or walk a while in their world. Why did the young woman offer her seat to the writer? Answer: Because the writer looked exhausted. After spending years searching for a planet with life, scientists may have found one. In September 2010, a team of US scientists discovered a planet called Gliese 581g. It has a surface temperature neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water. Scientists think there is a chance that the planet could have life. The planet Gliese 581g goes around a star called Gliese 581, which is about 20 light-years from Earth. That is about 194 trillion kilometres -500 million times farther away from us than the moon. A spacecraft traveling at a one-tenth of the speed of light would reach Gliese 581g within about 220 years. A human can't live that long, but robotic explorers could make the job easier. However, our fastest spacec raft don't come anywhere near that one-tenth light-speed mark. At present, scientists don't know what the surface might be like on Gliese 581g. What they know is that the planet is at the right distance from its star to have liquid water. It's also at the right distance to have an atmosphere that could protect the water if it is on the surface. Although spacecraft won't be getting there anytime soon, one way to look for life on Gliese 581g is to turn our radio telescopes towards the planet and search for radiation . By studying the radiation, scientists would find out about the chemicals around the planet and discover if Gliese 581g has an atmosphere. If it has one, studying the atmosphere would give us a good idea whether the planet has life or not. But it'll probably be many years before we can do this properly. People have been arguing about whether there is alien life on Gliese 581g. Any discussion about alien life is just guessing at this point, according to its discoverers. What did scientists find in September 2010? Answer: A planet with water. Mr Black goes into his usual teashop one morning, and sits in one of the seats at the counter . Many other people also come in, but none of them stays long. About fifteen minutes later, a young man and a young woman come in. There are only two empty seats at the counter, one on Mr Black's left, and the other on his right. The woman sits on one seat, and the young man sits on the other, but Mr Black immediately asks to change seats with the young man so that he and the young woman can be together. "Oh, that isn't necessary," the young man says, but Mr Black insists . When the young man and the young woman are side by side, he says to her, "Well, this old man is very kind. He wants us to sit together. May I introduce myself? My name is John. What's your name?" The young man and the young woman are _ . Answer: strangers His eyes nearly in tears from the crush of fellow travelers at Guangzhou's train station, Hong Tao said things were much better on Sunday, after days of waiting for a train to his home in Hubei province. "I think it's fine today, and everything is going smoothly," the 28-year-old said. "I thought it would be really crowded but it has turned out to be OK." Chinese authorities say they expect 1.3 million people to travel out of Guangzhou's train station over the next few days, as they rush to get home by Wednesday, the eve of Lunar New Year. Hong's optimism may have been helped by the blue skies that emerged over Guangzhou on Sunday for the first time in a week. Last week, a rare winter storm paralyzed China's transportation system as millions tried to get home to celebrate the holiday -- the only chance for many migrant workers to see their families all year. China's state-run Xinhua news agency said Friday that 95 percent of rail traffic had "returned to normal." But Guangzhou's train station remained packed with a backlog of hundreds of thousands of travelers hoping to get home for the holiday. A young woman was stepped on in a stampede at the train station Friday, and later died of her injuries, according to Xinhua. Video of the situation on Friday showed crowds of people screaming, elbowing each other, in some cases sobbing and collapsing in the rush to get a slot (,) on a train. China Sunday announced it has organized over 300,000 People's Liberation Army forces to southern China in what it described as a "war on winter weather". The government also announced a $700 million plan to help farmers whose crops have been destroyed. Where is Hong Tao from? Answer: Hubei province.
Forget Cyclists, Pedestrians are Real Danger We are having a debate about this topic. Here are some letters from our readers. #Yes, many cyclists behave dangerously. Many drivers are disrespectful of cyclists. But pedestrians are probably the worse offenders. People of all ages happily walk along the pavement with eyes and hands glued to the mobile phone, quite unaware of what is going on around them. They may even do the same thing whileN crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing or elsewhere. The rest of us have to evade them or just stand still to wait for the unavoidable collision. The real problem is that some pedestrians seem to be, at least for the moment, in worlds of their own that are, to them, much more important than the welfare of others. ----Michael Horan #I loved the letter from Bob Brooks about cyclists (Viewpoints, May 29). I am afraid they seem to think they own the roads. I was walking across Altrincham Road one morning when a cyclist went round me and on being asked what he was doing he shouted at me. The government built a cycle lane on the road but it is hardly used. The police do nothing. What a laugh they are! The cyclists should all have to be made to use the cycle lanes and wear helmets, fluorescent jackets and lights at night and in the morning. They should pay some sort of tax and be fined for not wearing them. ----Carol Harvey #Cyclists jump on and off pavements (which are meant for pedestrians), ride at speed along the pavements, and think they have a special right to go through traffic lights when they are on red. I was almost knocked down recently by a cyclist riding on the pavement when there was a cycle lane right next to him. Other road users, including horse riders, manage to obey the rules so why not cyclists? It's about time they had to be registered and insured, so when they do hit a pedestrian or a vehicle, or cause an accident, at least they can be treated and there might be an opportunity to claim. ----JML Write to Viewpoints of the newspaper. Michael Horan wrote the letter mainly to show that_. A drivers should be polite to cyclists B road accidents can actually be avoided C some pedestrians are a threat to road safety D walking while using phones hurts one's eyes Answer: C Agatha Christie went out at night.She never forgot the night when she met a robber many years ago. That evening, she was invited to a birthday party which lasted until 2 o'clock in the morning.Agatha walked in the quiet street alone. Suddenly from the shadow of a dark building a tall man with a sharp knife in his right hand ran out at her. "Good morning, lady," the man said in a low voice, "I don't think you wish to die here!" "What do you want?" Agatha asked. "Your earrings . Take them off!" Agatha suddenly had a bright idea. She tried to cover her necklace with the collar ( ) of her overcoat while she used the other hand to take off both of her earrings and then she quickly threw them on the ground. "Take them and let me go," she said. The robber saw that the girl didn't care for the earrings at all, only trying to protect the necklace. He thought the necklace would cost more, so he said, "Give me your necklace." "Oh, sir. It's not worth much. Please let me keep it." "Stopping rubbish . Quick!" With shaky hands, Agatha took off her necklace. As soon as the robber disappeared, she picked up her earrings and ran as fast as she could to one of her friends. The earrings cost 480 pounds and the necklace the robber had taken away cost only six pounds. Which of the following is not true? _ . A Agatha pretended not to care for her earrings B Agatha pretended to care for her necklace C Agatha really cared for her earrings D Agatha didn't care for her earrings at all because they were not too expensive Answer: D In my mind, there is a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys,he got ly nowhere. Despite his hard training at all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the relationship between the two of them was very special. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him. The young man loved football and was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a benchwarmer. Besides, his faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a"walk-on". Everyone firmly believed that he could never make the cut, but he did. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, butactually he never got the real chance to play in a game. It was at the end of his senior football season that the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became totally silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach,"My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?"The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said,"Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday." Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines , the coach and his players were surprised to see their faithful teammate back so soon."Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today,"said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close play-off game. But the young man insisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in."All right,"he said."You can go in."Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before, was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to succeed. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid got a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. Finally, after the stands had emptied, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said,"Kid, you were unbelievably fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, tears in his eyes, and said,"Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?"The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile,"Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could make it!" Who felt very pleased when the young man was chosen to be a member of his college team? A His teachers and classmates. B His coach and teammates. C His parents and s. D He himself and his father. Answer: D If you put all the books you own on the street outside your house, you might expect them to disappear immediately. But one man, Hernando Guanlao in Manila, tried it and found that his collections grew. He's a lovely man in his early 60s, with one ever-lasting love--books. They're his pride and joy, because, whether he likes it or not, they seem to be taking over his house. Guanlao has set up a "library" outside his home in central Manila. Readers can take as many books as they want, for as long as they want. As Guanlao says, "The only rule is that there are no rules." You might consider it would end very quickly. But in fact, in the 12 years he's been running his library. He's found that his collection has grown rather than become smaller, as more and more people help the activity. "It seems to me that the books are speaking to me," he says with a smile, "The books are telling me they want to be read." Guanlao started his library in 2000, shortly after the death of his parents. He was looking for something to honor their memory, and that was when he hit upon the idea of promoting the reading habit passed on to him from his parents. So he put the books outside the door of his house to see if anyone wanted to borrow them. They did, and they brought the books back with others to add to the collection. The library was born. The library is not advertised, but somehow, every day, a steady stream of people find their way there. To help the poorest communities in Manila, Guanlao doesn't wait for them to find him on his "book bike". He wants to set up a "book boat", traveling around the islands of Sulu and Basilan. As we sat outside Hernando Guanlao's house in the midday sun, watching people look through his collection, he thought it was worth spending all his time. According to the passage, readers in Guanlao's library _ . A can't keep books very long B need to have a library card C can be free to read there D must help increase the collection Answer: C Most people buy a lot of gifts just before Christmas. But some people think we buy too much. They have started a special day called Buy Nothing Day. They don t want anyone to go shopping on that day. Buy Nothing Day is on November 29th. It is 25 days before Christmas. At that time, we see ads in newspapers and on TV telling us to "buy,buy, buy!" The idea for Buy Nothing Day started in Vancouver, British Columbia. Now people all over the world celebrate Buy Nothing Day. In California, USA, parents and children get together to read stories, sing songs and paint pictures. The children talk about why they don t need many toys. Last year, in Manchester, England, people dressed up in costumes to tell people that we buy too much. In Albuquerque, New Mexico,high school students wanted to tell other students about Buy Nothing Day. They organized a dinner to give people information about Buy Nothing Day. They asked restaurants in the neighbours to donate the food. They put up posters and talked to other students about it. The dinner was a big success, many students liked the idea of this new tradition. This year, they want to have another dinner to tell more people about Buy Nothing Day. Buy Nothing Day started in _ . A Vancouver B Albuquerque C California D Manchester Answer: A
It is often said that politeness costs nothing. In fact, it seems that a little more could save businesses PS5 billion every year. Frequently hearing the phrase "thank you" or "well done" means the same to staff as a modest pay rise, researchers say. Praise and encouragement also makes employees more likely to work hard and stay in their jobs, saving on the cost of finding replacements. A third of 1,000 workers surveyed by the famous firm White Water Strategies said they did not get thanked at all when they did well----and a further third said they were not thanked enough, meaning they were less likely to put themselves into work and were more likely to look for employment elsewhere. The final result is around PS5.2 billion in lost productivity from employees who would raise their interests in work if they felt more appreciated, White Water claimed. According to the company, praising staff has the same motivational kick as a 1 per cent pay rise - and works out much cheaper for bosses. Three out of four employees said that regular acknowledgement by their bosses was important to them, but only a quarter said they were actually given as much praise as they felt they needed. The survey found that those blue-collar and manual workers were less likely to be given any recognition for doing well. In regional terms, Scottish staff felt most undervalued. Four out of ten workers said they were never thanked and eight out of ten said they would like more praise. However, workers in the North-East are less impressed by being praised by the boss, as only 69 per cent said they felt the need to be told "well done" regularly. Older employees and women need the most praise, according to psychologist Averill Lemmon. The survey done by White Water Strategies shows that _ . A. giving workers a pay rise can't make them work hard B. most workers not praised have no interest in their work C. workers who got few praise are more likely to change their jobs D. sometimes politeness and encouragement cost nothing Answer: C In order for crops to grow food safely pesticides are used on them. When it floods, this can cause what to be poisonous? A. Corn B. air C. Runoff D. farmers Answer: C The church seems cold this morning, even after all the people, friends and family, fill the benches. I sit here in silence, in shock and denial. This was not supposed to happen. What about our dreams, or our plans? We were going to raise our children, travel the world, and grow old together. I'm only 37, a typical housewife. I don't know if I can do all this alone--two children, no father. What do I do or say? The faces of so many people confuse me as they come to pay their last respects. Some have real sorrow; I can see it in their eyes. The others seem to just say, "I told you so." Those famous last words: I-told-you-so. How I can't stand them. And the pointing fingers as so-called family and so-called friends pick me out of the crowd for others to see. I want to scream and wake up but I can't do anything but sit there. How can they be so blind? I fell in love with a man. Love knows no boundaries . He was a good man, hardworking, caring and kind. He was retired from the Navy and a gentleman. He was sensitive to others' needs, the kind of man that knew what to do or say, how to humor any situation and calm everyone's fears. I remember our first child was a big surprise to both of us. I remember when I told him the news. He fell off his chair, saying over and over in disbelief, "But I'm almost sixty." After a few months he started planning our next and even doing his famous little dance whenever he discussed the idea. A man, thirty years older than I, lies in a coffin. Flowers, the American flag and his VFW comrades surround him, paying tribute to him as the man he really was. And I sit alone here, with our two children, in silence, praying that this cold morning at church is only a nightmare and I will awake to his loving arms again. What can we know from the passage about the writer? A. She married a man much older than she. B. She is going to give birth to their second child. C. She lost her husband, who was as old as she. D. She lost her father, whom she loved deeply. Answer: A The booking notes of the play "the Age of Innocence": Price: $10 BOOKING There are four easy ways to book seats for performance: ------ in person The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a. m. -8 p. m. ------ by telephone Ring 01324976 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card(Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted) ------ by post Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office. ------ on line Complete the on-line booking form at www. Satanfiedtheatre. com DISCOUNTS: Saver: $2 off any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday. Savers are available for children up to 16 years old, over 60s and full-time students. Supersaver: half-price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion . It is advisable to book in advance. There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show. Standby: best available seats are on sale for $6 from one hour before the performance for people eligible(suitable)for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers. Group Bookings: there is a ten percent discount for parties of twelve or more. School: school parties of ten or more can book $6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free. ks5u Please note: we are unable to exchange tickets or refund money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen cases. According to the notes, who can get $2 off? A. A 55-year-old woman. B. An 18-year-old teenager. C. A 20-year-old full-time college student. D. The people who book the tickets on Fridays. Answer: C Tomorrow evening I will be interviewed on stage by a museum official. I will be an interpreter, talking from experience as a disability rights lawyer and activist. In "special" schools and camps for children with physical and mental disabilities, I grew up knowing we were a category of person that the world did not want. Most of us had a story of some doctor advising our parents to put up away or to let us die. We owed our survival to parents who had irrationally bonded with us. We knew we were lucky and hoped our luck would hold. To increase the chance of surviving, we tended to be charming. We developed By the time I roll onto the stage the next night, I've thought a lot about there and here, then and now. When the first question comes, I tell them about my fascination with the wheelchair, and somehow it sounds funny, and laughter fills the room. We talk from the horror of Nazis killing (Nazis once killed the disabled patients as useless) to a funny confession that I, too, tend to stare at disabled people on the street. What has come over me? In this room, people with disabilities in thrilling variety make me feel at home. Here people, disabled and not, are gathered by choice. I haven't forgotten that 2 million people remain in US disability institutions, that some disabled children still cannot attend mainstream schools, that too many of us live in poverty. But I can't hold onto anger and sorrow for I feel a shared sense of possibility, a drive for a world that will embrace both the fit and the unfit and hold them so dear that the division dies. It can be sensed but not clearly stated that the author _ . A. likes to be interviewed in a museum B. can tell funny stories C. has charming personality D. is humorous and optimistic Answer: D
When Callie Rogers won almost 1.9 million pounds on the lottery at 16, she hoped it would help her put her troubles behind her. The teenager came from a broken home, had dropped out of school and was living in local authority care. Rogers, from Cumbria, England, won the National Lottery in 2003. Then she began spending her money wildly, buying four homes for her family, flash cars and designer clothes, partying and having some cosmetic surgery. Two weeks after her win, she married and had two children. But then she spent 250 000 pounds on cocaine and suffered depression. Earlier this year she lost the right to take care of her children because of her mental state. She became addicted to drugs and attempted suicide three times as her life unraveled. She says the money brought her only misery. Now she is down to her last 100,000 pounds, she has never been happier. Now 22, she said: "Just a few months ago I was taking too many drugs and hated myself. I simply did not want to live any more. But now I have a new man and am finally becoming the woman I want to be. And it's only after I've spent most of my fortune that this has finally happened." "I need to get my act together and make my kids proud, and for the first time I really do think that's possible." She credits her new boyfriend with giving her the stable home life she has always longed for and she now hopes to go to college and eventually become a counselor. "After all I've experienced, I think I have a lot of advice to offer," she said. What caused Rogers to change and start a new life? A The loss of money B Her bitter past C Her husband and children D Her new boyfriend Answer: D. Her new boyfriend Edward Snowden--the fugitive former U.S.intelligence employee --appears to be stuck in Moscow, unable to leave without a valid American passport, according to interviews Sunday with two men who had sought to aid him: WikiLeaks' Julian Assange and Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa. Snowden, 30, arrived at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport last weekend, after previously taking refuge in Hong Kong. Moscow was only supposed to be a stopover.WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy organization, had said Snowden was headed on to Ecuador--whose president has been critical of the United States -- and that he would seek _ there. Now, however, both men said Snowden is unable to leave. "The United States, by canceling his passport, has left him for the moment trapped in Russia," said Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, on ABC ' s " This Week With George Stephanopoulos". The United States canceled Snowden' s passport last weekend. Assange criticized the United States, saying: " To take a passport from a young man in a difficult situation like that is a disgusting action." President Correa spoke to the Associated Press in Puerto Viejo, Ecuador. For now, he told the AP, Snowden was "under the care of the Russian authorities. " "This is the decision of Russian authorities. He doesn't have a passport. I don't know the Russian laws, I don' t know if he can leave the airport, but I understand that he can' t," Correa said. He said that the case was now out of Ecuador' s hands. "If Snowden arrives at an Ecuadoran Embassy, we' 11 analyze his request for asylum." Snowden traveled from Hong Kong to Moscow on his U.S.passport. Although the U.S.had already revoked it, Hong Kong authorities said they hadn't received the official request to cancel the passport before Snowden left. An official at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London had also issued a letter of safe passage for Snowden. But Snowden apparently did not use it for his trip to Moscow. And it doesn't appear that the Ecuadoran government would make a similar gesture again. On Sunday, Correa told the AP that an Ecuadoran official at that embassy had committed "a serious error" by issuing the first letter without consulting officials back home. Correa said the consul would be punished, although he didn't specify how. Correa' s tone seemed to have shifted after a conversation with Vice President Biden on Friday.Where Correa had earlier been aggressive and determined, he now voiced respect for U.S.legal procedures. By what means did Edward Snowden leave Hong Kong for Moscow' s Sheremetyevo International Airport? A A letter of safe passage from the Ecuadoran Embassy. B Permission from Chinese government C Invitation of the Russian authorities. D An American passport. Answer: D. An American passport. The constitution of State X authorizes a fivemember state reapportionment board to redraw state legislative districts every ten years. In the last state legislative reapportionment, the board, by a unanimous vote, divided the greater Green metropolitan area, composed of Green City and several contiguous townships, into three equally populated state legislative districts. The result of that districting was that 40% of the area's total black population resided in one of those districts, 45% of the area's total black population resided in the second of those districts, and 15% resided in the third district. Jones is black, is a registered voter, and is a resident of Green City. Jones brings suit in an appropriate court against the members of the state reapportionment board, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief that would require the boundary lines of the state legislative districts in the greater Green metropolitan area to be redrawn. His only claim is that the current apportionment violates the Fifteenth Amendment and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it improperly dilutes the voting power of the blacks who reside in that area. If no federal statute is applicable, which of the following facts, if proven, would most strongly support the validity of the action of the state reapportionment board? A In drawing the current district lines, the reapportionment board precisely complied with state constitutional requirements that state legislative districts be compact and follow political subdivision boundaries to the maximum extent feasible. B The reapportionment board was composed of three white members and two black members and both of the board's black members were satisfied that its plan did not improperly dilute the voting power of the blacks who reside in that area. C Although the rate of voter registration among blacks is below that of voter registration among whites in the greater Green metropolitan area, two black legislators have been elected from that area during the last 15 years. D The total black population of the greater Green metropolitan area amounts to only 15% of the population that is required to comprise a single legislative district. Answer: A. In drawing the current district lines, the reapportionment board precisely complied with state constitutional requirements that state legislative districts be compact and follow political subdivision boundaries to the maximum extent feasible. One of the main decisions you must make when traveling is deciding where to stay. A good place to stay can often make a holiday. Whether you are looking for a classy hotel or a night under the stars, we can guide you through your different options. Bed and Breakfast An English invention, bed and breakfasts offer exactly what they suggest, a bed for the night and breakfast in the morning. People who hate the anonymity of hotels but want more luxury than a hostel often choose to stay at bed and breakfasts. "B&B's", usually someone's private home, are often found in the countryside. Hostels For those traveling on a tight budget, hostels are the best accommodation option. Informal places usually with a friendly youthful vibe , they offer dormitory beds for rent. Bathrooms are usually down the hall. Remember to check reviews by previous guests online before you book your hostel. Couch Surfing An unusual but interesting option, couch surfing is a growing trend among young internationals. The idea is that you become a member of the online couch-surfing community (www. couchsurfing. com) and then when you travel, look up other members in that country and ask to stay on their couch . Most hosts will suggest sightseeing trips and take you out in the evening, making it a great way to see things that aren't in your guidebook. And remember, it may be free but don't forget to offer to buy your host a drink or dinner. Camping Sleeping under the stars! For budget travelers staying at camping grounds is the cheapest way to travel. The drawback is that you have to carry a tent with you. Camping grounds can be found across Europe, America and Australia. However, if you intend on camping in busy cities, check first where the nearest campsite is. More often than not, they are on the outskirts, which can mean lengthy bus rides into town when you want to eat or see the sights. Hostels are popular among budget travelers because they provide _ . A a friendly atmosphere B dormitory beds for sale C reviews by previous guests D beds and bathrooms as well Answer: A. a friendly atmosphere The personal computer has overtaken the family dog as man's best friend.according to a study. Researchers found that just 6 per cent of us believe that" most people rely more on their dog than they do on their PC",while 67 per cent think the opposite to be true. Even 38 per cent of dog owners admitted to relying more on their PC than on their dog, although 36 per cent disagreed. And 71 per cent of 18 to 24-year-old dog owners said they relied more on their computer. Paul Allen,editor of Computeractive magazine said:"These days you can even you're your PC for fl walk,provided you have a laptop or tablet." "It's only a matter of time until the first PC that fetches your slippers." Researchers questioned 2,000 British adults to find out the change modern technology has brought to their home life. They found that male dog owners are almost twice as likely as female owners to rely on their computer than a _ companion. Mr.Allen said:"With broadband bringing them global news and newspaper sales falling,the family dog even misses out on the pleasure of taking the paper to his owner." But it's not all bad news for obedient dogs. "The family PC has given dog owners access to a wealth of resources and information that can help with the long-term care that a dog needs,"Mr.Allen said. The advantage of dogs as pets over the personal computer now is that A the dog can go out for a walk with people B the dog can help people fetch something C the dog can bring people more pleasure D the dog is more likely to follow its owner's orders Answer: B. the dog can help people fetch something
Ever since Canadian psychiatrist Michael R. Phillips, who works in China, released his report saying China's suicide rate from 1995 to 1999 reached 0.023 percent, the country has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world. But Jing Jun, a professor of sociology in Tsinghua University, challenges that view and presents the true picture through his nationwide research. Jing and his students took one year to set up the first national database on suicide rate to grasp the overall trend of suicides in China. They collected data from the Health Statistics Annuals of the World Health Organization (sample size 10 million), and the country's Health Statistics Annuals (which cover 100 million people). The database covers 23 years, from 1987 to 2009. Jing calculates the suicide rate in China based on these data. Though the suicide rate was comparatively high in the early years, his study shows it has dropped in recent years, as opposed to the ascending trend in the rest of the world. According to Jing's calculation, China's suicide rate had dropped to about 0.01 percent in 2004. In 2009, the figure dropped further to 0.007 percent, which is rather low compared with the global rate of 0.016 percent. Even if the "missing" suicides were added, China's suicide rate in 2009 would still be below 0.008 percent.[:Zxxk.Com] Jing has found that one of the main reasons why the suicide rate has dropped was the steady and big decline in the number of suicides committed by rural women. In the early years, researchers generally agreed that the suicide rate among Chinese women was higher than among men, which is pretty rare in the rest the world. But the suicide rate among Chinese women, especially in rural areas, has declined remarkably in recent years. In fact, it is almost equal to that of Chinese men. As a sociologist, Jing regards suicide as a social issue, and believes improvement of social policies will reduce the suicide rate even further. More people's lives can be saved if the authorities adjust to social environment for the better, he concludes. In Jing's opinion, what should be done to reduce the suicide? Continue to improve social environment. Every evening at six o'clock an old man goes to a restaurant near his house. He eats dinner. After dinner, he drinks coffee and talks to the people at the restaurant. The old man's name is Bill. Bill eats at the restaurant every evening because he is lonely. His wife died and he has no children. Every evening the same waitress brings Bill to his dinner. Her name is Cara. She is 17 years old. Cara is kind to Bill. She knows he is lonely, so she talks to him. If Bill is late for dinner, she calls him on the telephone. "Are you OK?" she asks him. One evening Bill doesn't come to the restaurant. Cara calls him, but he doesn't answer the phone. Cara calls the police. "Please go to Bill's house." Cara tells the police. Later the police call Cara at the restaurant. "Bill died in his sleep," the police tell her. Bill was 82 years old. A week later, a man comes to the restaurant. "I have something for Cara," the man says. The man gives Cara a check for $500000. The money is from Bill. "This money is for me? From Bill?" Cara asks the man. "Yes," the man answers. "But...why?" Cara asks the man. "Bill liked you," the man says. "You were kind to him" ---What does Cara do if Bill is late for dinner? --- _ . She calls him on the telephone If you are into camping, then Camping World is a store that you would be familiar with. People from all over the US have reported that once they have been to one of the Camping World stores. They usually do not have to go anywhere else as the store meets all their shopping requirements for camping. Camping World opened for business in 1966 and it was an instant success. Today the store has a huge presence both online and offline and has also become one of America's biggest supplier of camping equipment. If you would like to make your purchase online, take a quick cyber visit to their website. You will find every product related to camping each listed under their respective category. Everybody that loves camping has his or her own individual story to tell. Choosing camping equipment is also a somewhat personal exercise and no matter what you have planned, you can probably do with all the suggestions and help from the friendly staff at Camping World to make your camping experience even more special. Even if you were planning your very first camping trip, the wealth of camping knowledge from everyone at Camping World would surely be of great help to any novice . If any item is camping based or to be used outdoors, then Camping World will have it. If you are planning to build a campfire, then Camping World has got the items to make that happen for you. If you were worried that you will be bitten by insects, then you would be able to choose from a wide range of insect repellents . You name it, and they stock it. It also goes without saying that you will find your multitude of tents to choose from, countless shades of all shapes and sizes, first aid kits and even wireless weather stations. All you need to do is find a perfect camping spot and pay a visit to Camping World and let one of their friendly staff assist you. Why is Camping World so popular in the US? People can buy all kinds of camping things there. We've all heard about the power of positive thinking, but a recent study found that people who think they're getting fit actually get more positive benefits from activity, according to a Reuters Health article. The study examined hotel housekeepers over a period of four weeks. Some of the housekeepers were told that their work duties gave them enough activity to meet the Surgeon General's health guidelines . Another group of housekeepers were told nothing. After four weeks, the housekeepers who believed their work activity counted as exercise lost weight and body fat, and their blood pressure went down. The results of this study suggest that it's important to understand and believe in the positive benefits of your activity. So here are a few things to think about the next time you exercise: Just thirty minutes of quick walking each day can greatly reduce your risk of a heart attack. Even your housework -- like yard work and house cleaning -- can help you burn calories and increase your fitness levels. Weight bearing activity just a few times a week can build bone density and reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis . Three 10-minute workouts throughout the day are just as good to your health as one long workout. Moderate amounts of exercise have been linked to lower rates of heart disease, stroke and even cancer. Strength training can help make daily activities like carrying bags or laundry feel easier. Regular exercise will reduce stress, keep you in a good mood and improve the quality of your sleep. The main purpose of this passage is to _ . encourage people to think they will get fit in different activities Enough sleep is important to health. The amount of sleep needed depends on the age of the person and the conditions in which sleep takes place. The young may need more sleep than the old, but usually eight hours are enough for the health of grown-ups. Some can do with less than this amount, but others may need more. Every person knows his own need. It is then a matter of good judgment to satisfy his need. Sleep should always be enough to make one bring back his strength and get ready for a day's work. Fresh air is necessary to sound sleep. It is not without reason for some people to think that it is practicable to sleep in the open air. When one can keep himself warm, out-of-door sleeping probably gives the body its most complete relaxation . Ability to sleep is largely a habit. The conditions referred to only lead to sleep. Out-of-door exercises, a good habit of regular hours and the avoidance of late eating and worry, which are largely within the control of any person, are all helpful to sound sleep. A bath at bedtime, neither hot nor cool but of body temperature, may be helpful to sleep. Sleep-producing drug should never be taken except when suggested by a doctor. The amount of sleep a person probably needs has something to do with _ . his age
Decision-thinking is not unlike poker --it often matters not only what you think, but also what others think you think and what you think they think you think.The mental process is similar.Naturally,this card game has often been of considerable interest to people who are,by any standards,good thinkers. The great mathematician John von Neumann was one of the founders of game theory.In particular,he showed that all games fall into two classes:there are what he called games of 'perfect information', games like chess where the players can't hide anything or play tricks:they don't win by chance,but by means of logic and skills.Then there are games of 'imperfect information', 1ike poker,in which it is impossible to know in advance that one course of action is better than another. One mistaken idea about business is that it can be treated as a game of perfect information.Quite the reverse.Business,politics,life itself are games which we must normally play with very imperfect information.Business decisions are often made with many unknown and unknowable factors which would even puzzle best poker players.But few business people find it comfortable to admit that they are taking a chance,and many still prefer to believe that they are playing chess,not poker. Which of the following can be used in place of "Quite the reverse"? Many students ask for advice about improving their English. There are three basic questions. The first question is about real English. Li Hao from Hubei wrote, "I enjoy watching English films and listening to real English songs. But it takes a long time. What do you think?" This is a great way to learn English! Talk about the film or song with your friends, and guess the meaning of the new words. Just enjoy yourself! The second question is about speaking. Sam, from Suzhou wrote. "Our school has a foreign teacher. But I'm shy and can't speak to her. What should I do?" When I visit China, lots of people in the street say, "Hello! How are you? Where are you from? Do you like China?" These are good questions to start a talk. Many people are shy when they speak English, so before you begin, take a deep breath and smile! Smiling always helps. The third question is about vocabulary. Oliver, from Anhui wrote, "I want to remember all the new words. I write them down, but I forget them quickly. What should I do?" Try to remember eight or ten words a day. Write them on pieces of paper and place them in your bedroom. Say the words when you see them, and change them every day. And when you're shopping, how about counting the English words, or saying the English names for everything you see? What is Oliver's problem? Vacation spots in Ohio The Boon shoft Museum of Discovery The museum is based on the understanding that science is the process through which we come to understand our world, and that play is the way children do science. Visitors of all ages can explore the wonders of the world. The museum includes many places for adventure such as the Discovery Center and the Hall of the Universe. What make adventures more exciting are real speciments from the museum's collection of 1.4 million items. African Wildlife Park This wildlife park is spread across a large area of about 100 acres and you can see different species of animals moving freely as if in their natural habitat. On entering the park, you are given a basket of food for free. You are able to feed the animals out of the comfort of your own car. Any additional basket of food needs to be paid for. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was opened some where in 1995, with a purpose of celebrating the spirit of rock and roll music and also studying it! It is among the top 10 vacation spots in Ohio. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame offers exhibitions, music events and also training programs on the subject. This is a perfect stop for everything on rock and roll music! The Armstrong Museum The Armstrong Museum, located in Neil Armstrong's hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio, celebrates the life and the mission of the first man to walk on the moon. You can see one of the planes that Armstrong tested and enjoy a film about the development of the US space program. If a student is interested in the history of the US space program, he will probably visit _ . DALLAS - A suburban Dallas woman accused of killing her two young children told a 911 operator that she first tried to poison them because they were autistic and she wanted "normal kids," then choked them with a wire until they stopped moving, according to the recorded call. Irving police on Wednesday released recordings of the 911 call after Saiqa Akhter was charged with capital murder in the death of her 5-year-old son, Zain Akhter and her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal Akhter. Police said the children were attacked at the family's apartment Monday night. In the recording released Wednesday, the woman identified herself as Saiqa Akhter and repeatedly told the operator she killed her two children. At one point, the woman hung up and the dispatcher called her back. "I killed both of them. I told you," she told the operator. Later, she explained that both children were lying motionless on the bed in the master bedroom. "They are not doing anything. They are just blue and they are not taking any breaths and ... their heart is not beating," she said. She told the operator she initially tried to poison the children with bathroom cleaner but they refused to drink it. When that didn't work, "I used a wire on their necks," she said. When the operator asked the woman why she attacked her children, she said, "They're both not normal, not normal. They're autistic. Both are autistic." Pressed further, she said, "I don't want my children to be like that. ... I want normal kids." Later, the dispatcher asked the woman what she was feeling. "Nothing," she responded. At one point, water could be heard running in the background and the dispatcher asked what the woman what she was doing. She told the operator she was trying to wash the smell of cleaner off of her hands. The dispatcher then told the woman to go sit on a couch in the living room and wait for police. At the end of the recording, police can be heard arriving at the home. According to this passage, the killing happened _ . Which movement of carbon between reservoirs takes the longest to achieve?
When most people think of the Olympics, they don't think of science. But in the USA, each year, students take part in a kind of competition called the Science Olympiad. It has a lot of different events. Students go there to show how much they know about the science of music, biology, chemistry and others. My best event is forestry . This time, I went to the Olympiad with my school's team. We had worked hard, but this was the state competition. It would be hard to win. The Olympiad was out of town, so we got to ride on a bus and stay in a hotel for a night. The Olympiad was in three big rooms. When we got there, we set up our team's "camp" off to one side. The big day had come at last! First, I went to watch the tower building competition. That's when students build small towers and put heavy things on top of it. They hope they can hold them up. One of my schoolmates was putting things on her tower. She was nervous, and in the end it was too heavy for her tower to hold it--it broke! I felt bad for her. After lunch, I helped some teammates with their events. One was geography, and the other was history. I don't know much about those things, so I just watched my teammates do most of the work. At last, it was time for my favorite event--forestry. Another student was also in the forestry event. The rules were easy. We had to look at more than 40 different kinds of leaves and find out which plants they were from. We also had to answer some questions about the uses of each leaf. I knew almost all of the leaves and could answer most of the questions. I had spent more than a month studying on the Internet to get ready. At the end, it was time for the awards , I was nervous, because the forestry awards were last. We won second place in the whole state! A nice man gave me a medal and smiled at me. I had a great time at the Science Olympiad. I can't wait for next year! Choose the best answer according to the passage. The writer felt _ about the competition. A. nervous B. excited C. sad D. bad Answer: A. nervous In order to increase their job chances after college, Chinese students are turning to a special practice--Eiffel Tower nose jobs . The latest trend in plastic surgery promises to create a nose that is similar to the curve of the Eiffel Tower. Surgeon Wang Xuming said: "We are influenced by the beauty of the Eiffel Tower. We are not content to just add something to the nose; we reconstruct it." The surgery costs about US$ 10,000 and involves the enlarging of the nose using tissue from the forehead. Hundreds of posters advertising the procedure are put up all over Chongqing city, where surgeon Xuming runs his private practice. They show a western-looking woman with an almost-too-perfect nose, against an outline of the Eiffel Tower. Interestingly, many young women in China are eager to achieve a western appearance, as they believe it will give them an advantage in the highly competitive job market. "Some students face a lot of employment pressure after graduation. If their facial features are good, they'll have more chances of finding a job," said surgeon Xuming. "We've had students getting the Eiffel Tower nose; it's helped them a lot." Apparently, Chinese employers are quite particular about appearances and prefer attractive candidates. Some of them even go as far as putting height and weight requirements in their employment ads. Plastic surgeons across the country are reporting an increase in the number of students choosing beauty "improvement". According to a Mr. Li, hospital manager at surgeon Xuming's clinic, most of their customers are female and the bill is taken care of by the family. "They usually come in with their mothers, and tend to be from well-off backgrounds." he said. Personally, I don't think it so important to "improve" our appearance as long as we are skilled at our jobs. We can't decide how we look, but we can decide how well we live and work. What can we learn from Mr. Li's words? A. Most families can't afford the expensive operation. B. Their customers are usually from wealthy families. C. Patients can be well looked after at the clinic. D. The number of plastic surgeons is increasing. Answer: B. Their customers are usually from wealthy families. Which of these characteristics best helps scientists classify organisms? A. size B. color C. gender D. structure Answer: D. structure Recently we asked for people's opinions about paying students to encourage them to come to class and get higher scores on tests. Some American schools are doing this. More of the people were against the idea than were for it. Some people said paying students sends a message that money is the only reason they should study for. Steven from prefix = st1 /Chinasays students should study for knowledge. Money may make a difference in the short term, he says, but we should think about the long term. Zhao Jing Tao, a college student in China, thought of an old saying. Paying students is like "drinking poison to end thirst"-- trying to solve a problem without thinking of the bad effects. Dinh Minh Tuan from Vietnamsays rewards are important because they prepare students for the future life. But young children should get things they value more than money, like funny books, pens and film tickets. There was a suggestion from South Korea that if rewards are necessary for learning,they could be gathered like a charity fund. This money could be used for a project designed by the students. Francisco Mora from Colombiasays the city ofBogotapays parents, so children do not have to work until they finish their basic education. This, he says, has increased the number of students who come to public schools. Teresa Finamore wrote: "I am an Italian teacher of math and science for students from eleven to fourteen. I think that it is wrong to pay students. Each student has to understand that going to school, he gets a wonderful chance to live better in the future and also at present." Nelly Constant in France wonders, if young people get paid for studying, what will they expect from a job --a rocket to the moon? Sergio Fernandes from Brazilsays paying students is not realistic. But Camillus Chiemela, a Nigerian living inGermany, feels it will help to make the education system better. Students' expectations will be much higher. Naval from Russiaalso says yes to the idea: "We should at least get something for our time wasted. Because in my country students pay money to go to school or get good grades from teachers." And Lucy Ding from Chinasays most Chinese students work hard for two reasons: their parents' expectations and pressure from teachers. She says getting rewards will become a good thing that will get students to work hard for themselves, for the things they hope to get. Zhao Jing Tao thought paying students_. A. is like drinking water to end thirst B. couldn't make a difference in the short term C. is good for the students' future life D. couldn't help the students with their study Answer: D. couldn't help the students with their study The UN Environment Programme says that rising temperatures could mean the end for some migrating animals. Migrating or mobile animals move through several environments as they travel away from the cold of winter to warmer areas. Birds may fly from one part of the world to another, perhaps stopping at feeding grounds on the way. Whales and turtles cover vast areas of ocean. The report says that changes in any one of the places which these animals use can cause serious harm. "Obviously these animals have developed their travelling patterns over thousands of years. But climate change is almost certain to be extreme over the next 25 to 50 years and it is extremely unlikely that these animals can change their habits fast enough," said the report author Dr Robert Hepworth. Hardest hit by rising temperatures are turtles. Scientists have found that at higher temperatures, turtles produce far more female eggs than male ones. In parts of Malaysia, turtle birthing sites are producing only females, the report says. It also provides evidence that some turtles are more likely to develop cancer as the waters get warmer. With birds, the main problem is climate-related damage to important areas at either end of the travels or at resting places along the way. About one-fifth of migrating birds are now in danger because of climate-related changes including rising sea levels, land loss and more violent storms, the report concludes. Other animals picked out as particularly in danger include: * the North Atlantic Right Whale, whose main food (tiny shrimp) is disturbed by the change in ocean flows and * the White-Nose Dolphin, which is out-competed by other kinds of dolphins in warmer waters. The report is not all bad news. Even with major climatic changes, protecting the environment can still help mobile animals to recover. "We need governments to start taking action at the national and international lever. "The clock is running." said Dr Hepworth. And some animals are already adapting, with the report mentioning whales that are changing their feeding behaviour, finding new feeding grounds and new foods to eat. Which of the following is mentioned as a consequence of rising temperatures? A. More storms will affect the ability of whales to find their feeding grounds. B. 20 percent of all birds are likely to die out because of land loss. C. Migrating animals are likely to start adapting to the changes more quickly. D. Warmer oceans will increase the competition between different kinds of dolphins. Answer: D. Warmer oceans will increase the competition between different kinds of dolphins.
Question: FOR most people, life without plants is unimaginable. They feed us, clean up our air and brighten up our gardens. But what if someone told you that even our smartphones can benefit from plants? Meet the scientists from the Freiburg University of Mining and Technology in Germany. According to reports from Reuters, they have come up with a way to take the important element germanium from plants. The element was first discovered in Germany (hence the name) and was used to develop the first transistor because it can transport electricity very quickly. Nowadays, silicon-germanium alloy plays an important role in making computers, smartphones and fiber-optic cables . Although germanium can be found in soil around the world, it is difficult to extract . In the traditional process, people take the material after zinc mining or burning coal. But the Freiburg scientists decided to fall back on the natural world. Biology professor Hermann Heilmeier is one of the scientists who are using common plants for this uncommon process. "Different energy crops are being planted, for example, sunflowers, corn ... we want to use them for phytomining. In German we call it 'mining with plants'." Others have used this method in the past with metals like gold and copper . But in their study, the Freiburg scientists brought germanium from the soil into the roots and shoots of the plants, harvested them and then took the element from the plants. The process did not cost too much because germanium can be taken after plants are processed for use as biogas . So many of the costs are already covered in existing biogas plants. However, there is still a lot of work to do before we can all experience the benefits. At the moment germanium can only be harvested in very small amounts, just a few milligrams per liter. Now scientists are working on different plants to improve this. "As is so often the case, industry is still waiting because they want to see everything already working. Then they say, 'We'll have it.' But of course we have to complete the step in between first," said Professor Martin Bertau, head of industrial chemistry at Freiburg University. We can learn from the article that germanium _ . A. is mostly produced in Germany B. can effectively transfer electricity C. exists mostly in soil and water D. is very easy to get from nature Answer: B. can effectively transfer electricity Question: In 1909 an English newspaper offered PS 1,000 to the first man to fly across the English Channel in an aeroplane. Today, modern jets cross it in minutes. But at that time it still seemed a good distance. The race to win the money soon became a race between two men. Both were very colourful. One was Louis Bleriot. He owned a factory in France that made motor car lamps. He was already well known as a pilot because he had had accidents several times. Some people laughed at him. One man said, "He may not be the first to fly across the Channel but he will certainly be the first to die in an accident!" But Bleriot was really a good and brave pilot. He also had many good ideas about aeroplane design. The other man was Hubert Latham. He was half French and half English. He took up flying when his doctors told him he had only a year to live. "Oh, well," he said, "if I' m going to die soon, I think I shall have a dangerous and interesting life now." Latham was the first to try the flight across the Channel. Ten kilometres from the French coast, his plane had some trouble. It fell down into the water and began to sink under the water. A boat reached Latham just in time. He was sitting calmly on the wing and was coolly lighting a cigarette. Bleriot took off six days later. He flew into some very bad weather and very low cloud. He somehow got to the English side and landed in a farmer's field. When he did so, a customs officer rushed up to his plane. Planes have changed since then, but customs officers have not. "Have you anything to declare ?" The officer demanded. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Latham became a pilot on the doctor's advice. B. He was told he could live another year. C. His plane had some trouble. D. He was saved by a boat when his plane was sinking. Answer: A. Latham became a pilot on the doctor's advice. Question: Pat O'Burke was a poor Irishman with a large family, and one morning, waking up very early from cold and hunger, he decided to go shooting in a wood near his cottage. The wood belonged to Lord Northwood, a rich gentleman, Pat had no _ to go there, but in it there were swarms of rabbits and flocks of birds that were good to eat, and Pat determined to take the risk. Suddenly he saw the owner, with a group of friends, coming towards him in the wood. There was a look of anger on Lord Northwood's face as he caught sight of the gun in Pat's hands. Pat's heart sank with fear, but he saw there was no hope of escape, so he walked boldly up to the group and said to Lord Northwood, "Good morning, sir, and what has brought you out so early this morning?" Lord Northwood, rather surprised, said he and his friends were taking a little exercise to get an appetite for their breakfast. Then, looking at Pat with suspicion , he said, "but why are you out so early in the morning?" "Well, sir" said Pat, "I just came out to see if I could get a breakfast for my appetite." The whole crowed burst into laughter at Pat's ready wit(,), and with a smile Lord Northwood walked on, leaving Pat to try his luck with the rabbits. What made the whole crowd burst into laughter? A. Pat's funny looks B. Pat's interesting remarks C. Pat's quick and humorous response D. Pat's promise to leave fight away Answer: C. Pat's quick and humorous response Question: Do you want to go by ship to Australia or anywhere? A big ship may help you. It looks like a big house. There are rooms for everyone. In the day you can swim in the pool or play games on the ship. You can even see a film on the ship. Sometimes you can see birds flying around you. They are flying here and there. Look at the picture of the ship. Does it look like a house? It's very large. And it's the most luxury passenger liner in the world, called 'Freedom of the Seas' . The ship is 339 meters long and 38.6 meters wide, with a golf field on it. It's so cool to take a trip on a ship! You can swim _ . A. in the day B. in the evening C. in the afternoon D. in the sea Answer: A. in the day Question: Do you like shopping? Or does the thought of wandering round the shops fill you with terror? For some of us,shopping is an enjoyable way of spending our spare time and our money. For me.it's something I would rather avoid.Thank goodness for the Internet! It's more convenient to buy CDs,electrical items,even food,from the comfort of your sofa.But that's not the only reason:price is an important factor.We can buy goods and services cheaper online. But sometimes the problem is knowing what to buy.This has led to a type of shopping called "show rooming". Show rooming is something I've done.I will go to a shop to see,touch and try out products but then go home and buy them online at a knock--down price.I'm not alone in doing this.Research by a company called Foolproof,found 24%of people show roomed while Christmas shopping in 2013. Amy Cashman,Head of Technology at TNS UK,says the reasons for this new shopping habit are that"people are lacking time,lacking money and they want security about the products they are buying."She explains that consumers are not only shopping online at home but they are using the Internet in store or on their smartphones to shop around. But does this mean technology will kill shops? Certainly shops will change.They will have to offer more competitive prices or encourage people to buy more by giving in--store discounts or free girls. We mustn't forget that buying in a shop means you can get expert advice from the sales assistant and you can get good aftercare.It's good to speak to a real human rather than look at a faceless computer screen but at least by show rooming,you get the best of both worlds! According to Amy Cashman,which is not the reason for show rooming? A. The lack of time. B. The comfort of the sofa. C. The shortness of money. D. The security of the product. Answer: B. The comfort of the sofa.
If you live in America in the 21stcentury you'll probably have to listen to a lot of people tell you how busy they are. It's become the default response when you ask anyone how they are doing:"Busy!""Crazy busy!".It is,pretty obviously,a boast disguised as a complaint. And the common response is a kind of congratulation:"That's a good problem to have,"or"Better than the opposite." Notice it isn't generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the ICU or commuting by bus to three minimum-wage jobs who tell you how busy they are.What those people are is not busy but tired.Exhausted!Dead on their feet.It's almost always people whose busyness is purely self-imposed:work and obligations they've taken on voluntarily,classes and activities they've "encouraged" their kids to participate in.They're busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety,because they're addicted to busyness and dread that they might have to face in _ absence. Almost everyone I know is busy. They feel anxious and guilty when they aren't either working or doing something to promote their work.It's something they have chosen.Busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance ,a measure against emptiness,obviously your life cannot possibly be silly or tiny or meaningless if you are so busy,completely booked,in demand every hour of the day. Idleness is not just a vacation.It is as necessary to the brain as vitamin D is to the body,and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as ugly as rickets.The space and quiet that idleness provides is a necessary condition for standing back from life and seeing it whole,for making unexpected connections and waiting for the wild summer lightning strikes of inspiration."Idle dreaming is often the essence of what we do,"wrote Thomas Pynchon.Archimedes' "Eureka"in the bath, Newton's apple :history is full of stories of inspirations that come in idle moments. The writer mentions Archimedes' "Eureka"and Newton's apple to show that _ . A history is full of interesting stories B Archimedes and Newton were very busy, so they made great discoveries C people may get inspiration when they are idle D inspirations come from hard work Answer: C. people may get inspiration when they are idle Forests have been cut and burned so that the land can be used to raise crops. Which consequence does this activity have on the atmosphere of Earth? A It reduces the amount of carbon dioxide production. B It reduces the production of oxygen. C It decreases the greenhouse effect. D It decreases pollutants in the air. Answer: B. It reduces the production of oxygen. Keeping the kids busy over the school holidays can be discouraging and cost parents a lot. But we've found some cheap and cheerful ways to enjoy family time this Easter from free days out to fun-filled theme parks which won't cost us much. We've done the homework so you can get started on having a great time. Theme Parks Save from 10% to 25% off the price of tickets for Legoland in Windor by booking in advance online. A family of four can save up to L45.90 on a one-day ticket, paying L137.70. Book seven days in advance and save L43 off the price of a family of four tickets for Drayton Manor Theme Park. Call 0844-472-1950 or book online and you'll pay L65 on the day. You can pick up a family of four ticket for a day at Alton Towers in Staffordshire for L43.80 off the day price. Save L16 off the price for a family trip to The Making of Harry Potter by buying a family ticket (two adults and two children) online. Family of four L101, compared to L117. Activities Students looking for a cut-price trip to see the animals can save 15% off the ticket price at Bristol Zoo and pay L12.71 rather than the full adult price L14.53. Teens should show their identity as students. Freebies Let your kids discover what it's like to be an animal on the African Plain in the ocean. Or, they can learn to love leaf beetles or become a scientist for the day at the Natural History Museum in London. Which of the following theme parks can save you most on Easter Day? A Alton Towers. B Legoland in Windsor C Drayton Manor Theme Park. D The Making of Harry Potter. Answer: B. Legoland in Windsor A Tchaikovsky concerto is what made Romel Joseph fall in love with the violin. He learned how to play in Haiti, where he was born, but a Fulbright scholarship brought him to the United States, and he finally earned a master's degree, reports CBS News reporter Katie Couric. Music had changed his life. He wanted to do the same for the children of Haiti. Joseph built a school in Port-au-Prince nearly 20 years ago. He was on the third floor when suddenly "It was like boom boom boom and everything just opened," Joseph said. "And the next thing I knew I was on the ground." Blind since birth, Joseph tried to feel his way out, but was pinned beneath heavy concrete . He remained trapped for 18 hours. He prays that his new wife, seven months pregnant , will be found. He is now being treated at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital for two injured legs and an arm. Joseph wonders if he'll ever play the violin again. He can feel sensation in his fingertips. He said, "If you were to give me a violin and if I didn't have to fold the fingers, I would be able to play." Joseph's daughter Victoria spent three terrifying days unsure of her father's fate. For her, having him home is the sweetest music. "Can you imagine your dad not being able to play the violin?" Couric asked. "No, I can't," Victoria Joseph said. "But I will love him all the same if he can't." Romel doesn't know how many of his 300 students died in the quake. As he waits for news about his wife, Romel Joseph is already planning a return to Haiti to rebuild the school and continue teaching there. "We can save two children, 20, 200, 300, 500 through education and music, and these children will make a difference," Romel Joseph said. Why does Romel want to go back to Haiti? A To save his students from the earthquake. B To change the life of children by teaching music. C To find out how seriously his school was damaged. D To look for his wife who is pregnant. Answer: B. To change the life of children by teaching music. Where Are We Going, Dad? has become one of China's most popular television shows, since its debut in October, averaging more than 600 million viewers each week. Sponsorship rights for the show's second season were sold for 312 million yuan (about $ 50 million), more than ten times higher than the rights to the first season. What accounts for its popularity? The show features a new generation of Chinese fathers, who, as part of the country's new middle class, have faced more problems with modern child-raising techniques such as taking an active role with their children. Part of the appeal of the show is the chance to throw a glance at the lives of Chinese celebrities and their children. Audiences are interested in watching the failed attempts of celebrity dads making dinner, doing hair, and disciplining children -- tasks often left to mothers in a society still influenced by the saying that "men rule outside and women are inside." "In traditional Chinese culture, fathers are strict and mothers are kind. But on the show, we see fathers who are much gentler on their kids and more involved in their upbringing, " said Li Minyi, an associate professor. "This show raises an important question for modern Chinese society -- what is the role of fathers in today's China?" After each episode goes to air, the Chinese internet explodes with comments on each celebrity's parenting style. Actor Guo Tao tries to communicate with his son, Shitou, but is seen as a more traditional Chinese father, and has been criticised online for being too _ . Zhang Liang, a supermodel, is an audience favorite for treating his son, Tiantian, more like a friend. The show's most famous celebrity, Lin Zhiying, a film star, was originally praised as patient with his son Kimi. But as the season progresses, fans begin to criticise him for raising a spoiled, undisciplined boy. Director Wang Yuelun is at a complete loss when it comes to care of his daughter's hair. Even the People's Daily is pleased with the success of the show. According to the passage, the show _ . A gives audiences the chance to raise the star's children themselves B invites some famous film stars to take part in it C lets people think about the role of fathers in modern families D raises people's concern about women's role in the society Answer: C. lets people think about the role of fathers in modern families
Which is likely to boil? Answer: a cup of Earl Grey What I've noticed about some very successful business owners is that they are always learning and growing. For your business to be better you need to be better and, you don't get better by doing nothing! You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around with most. Surround yourself with people whom you want to be like. To do this you may have to get right out of your comfort zone and join in a coaching program, go along to seminars where you can meet other like-minded people or those playing at a higher level of business than you. There's no excuse not to _ and learn your way to success. Regardless of where you are located,events are taking place all around the country regularly as well as online. Saying you have "no money" or "no time" is not a good enough excuse. For many business owners they spend their whole lives using these excuses and going nowhere. Don't focus on where you are now, but where you want to be. You'll find the money and the time if you seriously want to change. Your ongoing learning can take you from struggling along to soaring high in all areas of your life. It's been nearly six months since you made those New Year decisions to make changes in your business and your life. Are you getting the results you wanted? Is your business more profitable? Do you have more free time? Is the quality of your life improving? Is your answer "yes", then take a look at why that is. What have you been doing to get these results? And if you're not moving ahead, seriously look at why that is. When's the last time you read a book, listened to a CD, got coached or attended a seminar to learn how to do things better? The people I know who are getting great results in their business and personal lives are always learning and growing. You are the Secret to Your Success, so do everything within your power to invest in yourself. All the following ways can contribute to your business EXCEPT _ . Answer: not dreaming of living a comfortable life Which group of organisms would all be found living in a tropical rain forest? Answer: Vines, palm trees, tree frogs, monkeys In the near future, daily newspapers and monthly magazines will probably disappear. Electronic media can provide the same information faster and cheaper. The Internet, together with laptops and cellphones, makes it possible that almost everyone can at any time and in almost any place get some news for free or for few fees. You'll browse the computer newspapers or magazines just like switching on TV. An electronic voice will tell you stories about the latest events. You'll even get to choose the kind of voice you want to hear. Want more information on the brief story? A simple touch makes the entire text appear. There are the predictions from the experts working on the newspapers of the future. Pictured as part of home-based media and entertainment systems, computer newspapers and magazines would unite printed and broadcast news, offering information and analyzing video images of news events. The continuing loss of readers will result in a small number of advertisements in newspapers. It makes no sense to spend millions of dollars to print ads. With the development of technology, more and more electronic medium have been created until now, but replacing the traditional newspapers and magazines has a long way to go, because the _ to computer newspapers and magazines from journalism may be much stronger. Since it is such a cultural change, it may be not until the present journalists, who aren't used to it, die off that the newspaper industry is not considered as an industry any longer. Anyway, technology is making the traditional newspapers and magazines disappear gradually. The author writes the article to _ . Answer: let people know the great development of the journalism Yesterday I went to our local grocery store. I often go to their deli counter, and I understand that it can get a little confused for the workers. So normally none of them ever take the time to smile or seem overly friendly. But yesterday it was completely different. I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a very welcoming smile by the young man behind the counter. He never sighed heavily or slumped back and forth like he didn't want to be there. He was all by himself and quite a long line. But not once did he act concerned about it. He just did his job efficiently and acted very kind the entire time. I was so impressed that I approached the manager. I explained to her that I often visit the deli counter and I have never been greeted with such kindness. She agreed with me that he was a wonderful person and she thanked me for sharing my feelings with her. As I was walking away,I could hear her approaching the young man with,"I just got a wonderful compliment(praise) about you." I couldn't hear everything she was saying,but I knew that she did thank him. I couldn't help but smile! Later I had to pass by the deli counter to get onions. There was no one there,except the diligent young man. He didn't say anything,he just smiled at me. I realized that I hadn't done a huge deed that day,but that small deed made a small difference to someone.I love seeing people smile. I just received my smile cards and I wish I had one with me that day. _ It's amazing how good I felt after that. So,friends,the next time you are in a grocery store,retail store,restaurant,or anywhere that someone is working hard,letting them know in some way can mean so much. I hope you get a smile out of it like I did! The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: the power of a simple compliment
What do white blood cells allow to stay in the body? Answer: oxygen 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. The passage mainly tells us that _ . Answer: many famous writers lived nontraditional lives Which of these is likely to get hot Answer: space craft Mr. Smith lives in Toronto. He is a doctor. His wife teaches English in a middle school. They have two children, one is a son called Mike and the other is a daughter. She is only three months. Mike loves the baby very much. He often shows her to the guests. He is young and doesn't go to school. He stays at home to help his mother look after the baby. One day Mike's aunt comes to see the baby. She works in another city and sees the baby foe the first time. Mike shows the baby to his aunt. "Look at the baby, Aunt;" says Mike, "She's beautiful. I think she looks like me." "Does she like playing with you?" asks his aunt. "I don't know," answers the boy, "She can't speak yet." Little Mike thinks _ . Answer: he's beautiful ,too. Good morning. My name is Eric. This is my schoolbag. What color is it? It's blue and white. And what's this in English? It's a pen. It is a black pen. This is a ruler. It's yellow. There are _ colors in the passage . Answer: 4
When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, "Well, it's soandso's fault."or "I know I'm late, but it's not my fault; the car broke down."It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to _ the situation.This is the winner's key to success. Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or,you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well. This is what being a winner is all about--creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So,stop focusing on "whose fault it is."Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stone for success. When your colleague brings about a problem, you should _ . A blame him for his lack of responsibility B tell him to find the cause of the problem C find a better way to handle the problem D ask a more able colleague for help Answer: C Children like to imagine they are someone else in a game. As a parent you might never guess how it can benefit your child. It helps your child: Develop Social Skills As children play pretend games,they explore relationships between family members,friends and coworkers and learn more about how people interact.Playing doctors,they imagine how physicians care for their patients.Imaginative play helps develop empathy with others.If children can imagine how it feels to be left out of a game or to lose a pet,they are better able to help those in need.They become more willing to play fair,to share,and to cooperate. Build Selfconfidence Young children have very little control over their lives.Imagining oneself as a builder of skyscrapers or a super hero defending the planet is inspiring to children.It helps them develop confidence in their abilities and their potential. Promote Intellectual Growth Using imagination is the beginning of abstract thought.Children who can see a king's castle in a mound of sand or a delicious dinner in a mud pie are learning to think symbolically.This skill is important in school where a child will have to learn that numbers symbolize groups of objects,letters symbolize sounds,and so on. Practice Language Skills Kids who pretend with their friends do a lot of talking.This helps increase their vocabulary,improve sentence structure and develop communication skills. Get Rid of Fears Pretending can help children get rid of their fears and worries.When children roleplay the big,bad monster under the bed,they gain a sense of control over him and he doesn't seem quite so big or so bad. Which of the following is NOT true according to the article? A While playing pretend games,children learn to get along with others. B Playing pretend games helps children to do well while they are in school. C Playing pretend games only helps children psychologically. D Playing pretend games is good for children's development. Answer: C Jenny is an English girl. She is a nice girl. and she is my good friend, My name is Amy. My father is John. My mother is Helen. Jack is my brother. I love them. I like singing. Jack likes reading. My favorite color is blue. Jenny is _ . A a English boy B a English girl C an English boy D an English girl Answer: D There was once a young mouse that lived in a hole in a wall. One day, the young mouse woke up from his sleep and looked out of the hole. As he looked out, a fantastic smell came to his nose. "Cheese!" the mouse said happily to himself. "I'll go and get it now and have it for breakfast." But then he remembered his parents' words. His parents were very clever mice and often said to their son, "Always wait before you go for a piece of cheese." So the young mouse waited quietly. Then he heard a quiet "Miaow" and he knew the cat was there. He stayed in the hole and said to himself, "I'm glad I listened to my parents and learned to wait." The next day, he looked out again. He put his nose out of the hole, and the beautiful smell of cheese came to his nose again. He could see the cheese. It was only a few centimetres away. But he sat still and waited quietly. This time he did not hear any cat's noise. Instead he heard a very quiet "Woof, woof." "It's a dog!" he thought. "If the dog is there, the cat won't be there. I expect the dog has chased the cat away, so I'm safe." The mouse ran out of the hole and started eating the cheese. He did not see the cat, which caught him and ate him. When the cat finished her meal, she said to herself, "I'm glad I listened to my parents and learned a second language." Who told the mouse to wait before going for a piece of cheese? A The cat. B The dog. C The cat's parents. D The mouse's parents. Answer: D At noon the rush hour had passed. There were few guests in the snack bar. It was not crowded. When the boss was about to take a break to read a newspaper, in came an old lady and a little boy. "How much money is a bowl of beef soup?" the grandma sat down, counted the money in her purse and ordered a bowl of beef soup. The grandma pushed the bowl to the little boy, who swallowed his saliva , looking at his grandma and saying, "Grandma, did you really have lunch?" "Of course." His grandma chewed a piece of radish slowly. Very quickly, the little boy ate up the meal. Seeing this. the boss went over to them and said, "Old lady, congratulations, you are lucky to have the free food, for you are our 100th guest." Afterwards, over a month or more, one day, the small boy squatted across the snack bar, where he seemed to be counting something, which shocked the boss when he happened to look out office window. When the small boy saw a guest walk into the snack bar, he would put a small stone into the circle he drew, but the lunch time had almost passed, the small stones he put into the circle were hardly 50. The boss was quite worried and called up all his old guests. The guests started coming one after another. "81, 82, 83... " the small boy counted faster and faster. At last, when the 99th small stone was put into the circle, the little boy hurried to pull his grandma's hand and went into the snack bar. "Grandma, this time it's on me," the little boy said proudly. The grandma who had become the real 100th guest was served a bowl of beef soup by her grandson. As his grandma as before, the little boy chewed a piece of radish in his mouth. Which can be the best title of the passage? A The 100th guest B A snack bar C A boy counting stones D A poor grandma Answer: A
Whether it's joining a school club, going to a friend's birthday party, or travelling by train, we can meet new people anywhere and anytime in our lives. However, many of us feel awkward when meeting people for the first time, especially when we aren't quite sure what to say. The situation feels cold, even icy. "Breaking the ice" is a term widely used in the English-speaking countries to describe a small talk technique that can help rescue a conversation from certain failure. So where do you even begin? Well, a good start is to accept that it is perfectly normal to feel a little nervous when talking to someone for the first time. They might look _ or scary, but they could turn out to be the nicest person you've ever met. You might think that breaking the ice is difficult. But sometimes just a simple "hello", followed by a three-second smile, can make all the difference. Complimenting someone on their garment or accessories is also a great, easy way to break the ice. You might say: "I love your jacket. Where did you buy it from?" Being in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation with someone new might feel terrible, but it can actually be one of the best icebreakers. By focusing on the situation, you come together to fight the common enemy: the long bathroom queue, for example, or the overcrowded bus. You can make observations too. "What kind of drink is that?" "That's a lovely name. What does it mean?" "Do you study here too?" There are opportunities all around you to ask questions that don't seem weird, as long as you have some follow-up questions in mind. If you're feeling extra bold, make a joke. Jokes can be difficult to master but if you get them right, they show the likeable, witty side of your character. "What's your name?" "Well, people usually call me Mike, but you can call me tonight." What can we learn from the passage? Answer: When I was nine years old I lived in a small town. I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children's magazine. I thought to myself I could do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit . Two weeks later the kit arrived. The next three hours later, I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting, "Mama, all the people couldn't wait to buy my cards!" A salesperson was born. When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr. Ziegler raise everyone's spirits up to ceiling. I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, "Dad, I want to make people feel like that." My father asked me what I meant. "I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Ziegler," I replied. A dream was born. Recently, I began pursuing my dream of motivating(inspire) others. I realized that everything I had accomplished -- the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking appointments, training and managing for a major fortune 100 company as a senior manager-- had prepared me for this moment. I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career. He told me to proceed and he believed I would succeed. Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage payment and now we were done to no income. I even planned to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of "if onlys" later on. A motivational speaker was born. When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn't miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients . I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my workmates and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she marked, "The world always makes way for the dreamer." Why was the kit sent for? Answer: John was travelling around the country in the town. One evening he was driving along a road and looking for a small hotel. When he saw an old man at the side of the road, he stopped his car and said to the old man, "I want to go to the Sun Hotel, Do you know it?" "Yes," the old man answered, "I'll show you the way." He got into the car, and they drove for about twelve miles. When they came to a small house, the old man said, "stop here. " John stopped and looked at the house and said, "but this isn't a hotel" "No," the old man answered, "this is my house. And now I'll show you the way to the Sun Hotel, Turn around and go back nine miles, then you'll see the Sun Hotel on the left." How far was the hotel from the place the old man got on the car? Answer: Some wonderfully creative uses of X-rays have been in the world of art.But the most impressive one is to uncover what has been covered up.Details unfolded by an X-ray of a painting can ' t be seen any other way.For example, in the past, paintings were often repaired if small pieces of paint fell off the canvas . These repairs cannot be seen just by looking at the painting.It takes an X-ray to discover where the repairs have been made. An X-ray of a painting is one of the best ways to tell if it was created by a famous painter or if it is a forgery .If there is a question as to whether an old master has painted a certain painting or not, X-rays are made and compared to those of paintings that are known to be original.If the brushstrokes , for example, are shown to be totally different than in other work done by a certain artist, then the painting is proved to be a fake copy. Since modern paints are usually made from different materials than paints of hundreds of years ago, the image they leave on an X-ray film looks different.This is another way X-rays can be used to spot a forgery.A modem artist will try to make a forgery look hundreds of years old by painting dirty varnish on it or by using artificial means to get the varnish to look cracked.To the naked eye the forgery may look old, but when a careful study of the X-ray image is made, the _ is obvious. It was common many years ago for an artist to finish a painting, decide it wasn't any good, and paint a completely different picture on top of it.Or artists would paint over others' work --it was their version of recycling.Taking an X-ray is the only way to find out if there is a picture underneath the picture you see with your eyes.Sometimes museums will be more interested in the painting beneath than the one on top, and will restore the older one by having the top layer painstakingly removed. Which is the best title for the passage? Answer: My friend Jack is a taxi driver. He has done this job for ten years. It's a nice job most of the time. He can meet a lot of people every day. He always works late into the night because there are lots of people calling his taxi during the night. He usually goes home after two o'clock in the morning. There are some very strange things, which often happen at night. One day Jack was taking a young lady back home from a party at three o'clock in the morning. She had her little dog with her. When they got to her house, she found that she had lost her key. So Jack waited in the taxi with the dog while she climbed into her house through the window. Jack waited for about half an hour outside, but the young lady didn't show up . So he decided to find out what was going on. He tied the dog to a tree and started to climb in through the window. At that moment some policeman came. They thought Jack was a thief who wanted to get into the house to steal things. Luckily, the young lady came downstairs. She must have gone to sleep and forgotten about my friend and the dog. What can we learn from the passage? Answer:
The next generation of smart phone could combine the date from its gyroscopes with a built-in compass to allow you to track your indoor movements even without GPS. Research described it in the international Journal of Innovative Computing and Applications by Shahid Ayub of Lancaster University, and his colleagues there and at HW Communications, suggests that the embedded inertial sensors in many smart phones have added the facility to be used for localization and tracking applications. The primary benefit of using smart phones is that no additional infrastructure would need to be installed for monitoring personnel movements in a wide variety of situations not least staff, equipment and inventory movements in warehouse facilities, shopping malls and factories. In contrast, other technology being proposed would require new equipment,such as RFID technologies. However, smart phones do not yet have the ability to pinpoint their location without recourse to the GPS system, which is not accessible indoors and has the added disadvantage of using up battery power very quickly even if it could be used. Inertial navigation only provides the necessary information to a specified starting point the team says. This is useful for anyone with a non-GPS smart phone who wishes to track the route they take when walking or jogging if they specify their starting point. The team suggests that pedestrians indoors could be positioned using a combination of the smart phone accelerometer and an built-in digital compass, something that will become available in future smart phones. They have now investigated the potential of three different smart phone placement modes: idle, hand held and listening, which could be used with pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) techniques to allow users to record the path they follow or for various kinds of workplace or other monitoring requirements. "The technique could be used in underground tube stations, airports , train stations where there is no infrastructure installed for tracking or navigation," Ayub explains, "It can also be used for location-based service applications. In big shopping malls it becomes easier to navigate to a target shop or meeting place, while in large offices and across industry it could be used to track employees and control movements of workers in restricted areas." What is the primary benefit of using smart phones with embedded inertial sensors? Answer: Whether you're up for a Crocodile Dundee adventure or you'd just like a taste of the Australian sun, the beaches in and around Sydney can offer you all that and more. Sydney Beach Sydney Beach is located at Sydney's northernmost tip on an extension of land ending at Palm Beach. Before checking out the golden sand, take a quick tour of the houses of millionaires from the art and film industries. Palm Beach Only about an hour from downtown Sydney, Palm Beach offers a long stretch of clean sand and water. With parking near the center of the beach, that leaves the rest of it as a _ population and peaceful location from which you can surf or body board--but take care; without the huge crowds of other Sydney beaches, Palm Beach doesn't afford quite the safety level to be found elsewhere; volunteer lifesavers are on duty only on weekends and holidays. Bondi Beach For the big name beach, Bondi Beach has to be your choice. Parking is difficult to find even on slow days, so consider taking public transport to this world-known beach in the eastern Sydney suburbs. Easily reachable by taxi, bus, and rail, Bondi Beach offers sun bathing, swimming, snorkeling, and all sorts of water sports fun. If you're in the mood for a bit of exercise, two scenic coastal walks will afford you great views and sights along the shore. Take in views from Mackenzie's Point. It starts at Bondi and heads south to Bronte Beach. But don't try to swim in Mackenzie's Bay--it holds dangers such as hidden rocks. Bronte Beach Your second choice for a scenic coastal walk covers a little under two miles and takes you from Bronte Beach to Waverly Cemetery, where many famous Australians are buried, including poets Henry Kendall, Doreothea Mackellar, and Henry Lawson. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Ask three people to look out the same window at a busy street comer and tell you what they see. Chances are you will receive three different answers. Each person sees the same scene, but each perceives something different about it. Perceiving goes on in our minds. Of the three people who look out the window, one may say that he sees a policeman giving a motorist a ticket. Another may say that he sees a rush-hour traffic jam at the intersection. The third may tell you that he sees a woman trying to cross the street with four children in tow. For perception is the minds' interpretation of what the senses -- in this case our eyes -- tell us. Many psychologists today are working to try to determine just how a person experiences or perceives the world around him. Using a scientific approach, these psychologists set up experiments in which they can control all of the factors. By measuring and charting the results of many experiments, they are trying to find out what makes different people perceive totally different things about the same scene. People perceive different things about the same scene because _ . Answer: Here is some information from a tourist guide to Patapsco Valley state Park Maryland, USA. Wildlife and Nature Appreciation While visiting Patapsco Valley State Park, you will see a variety of natural habitats. Throughout spring and fall, dogwoods, maples, redbuds, and many varieties of wildflowers color the forest. This park is also home to many small mammals and birds. If you pause during your journey through tile forest, you are likely to see rabbits, grey squirrels, and red foxes. Along the banks of tile river, birdwatchers will spot Canada geese and wood ducks all year round Fishing The Patapsco River meanders through the park and is a popular attraction for anglers . The Department of Natural Resources' Fisheries Service assigns the river as a put-and-take fishery with adult rainbow and brown trout in spring and fall. Anglers also enjoy catching naturally reproducing smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and yellow perch. Fishing opportunities have been specially set aside at Lost Lake for youth under 16 and seniors 62 years of age and older. This area is also designed for anglers with disabilities. Trails Adventure seekers will enjoy hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding on the park's popular trail system. More than 17 miles of challenging and rough single track trails follow the ridges, steep hillsides and stream valleys in the park. These trails are also excellent gateways for wildlife viewing, bird watching and general nature appreciation. Please respect the rights of nearby private property owners by using only blazed trails. Remember that the park is a natural area with certain dangers, such as poison ivy, slippery trail surfaces, insects, etc. You are responsible for having the necessary skills, knowledge and equipment for a safe visit. Discover History Along the Trail Enter another time as you explore Patapsco's trails. Layer upon layer of history tells the story of man's interaction with nature. Native American hunted, gathered and fished here for centuries. In the 1700s, the valley became one of the earliest sites for America's Industrial Revolution. Early settlers cut down trees for charcoal used to fire iron furnaces . The river's current was dammed and channeled to power iron, paper, grain and textile mills . Towns and tobacco farms were established throughout the valley. The passage is mainly about the park's _ . Answer: Life are always full of stress these days. How do you usually deal with your stress? Do you know doing housework is helpful in dealing with stress? In fact, doing something like washing dirty clothes may really make people relaxed. "Doing some housework such as washing windows or ironing clothes is a good way to face our stress without taking any medicine," says Carol Clark, a successful psychologist in New York. She often advises people who are under lots of stress to try doing housework every day. "While washing something," she says, "you can imagine you're washing away some trouble in your life." Do people all agree with her idea? Here are some ideas about it. "Housework is the main reason for the stress in my life," says Linda in France. "Get me out of doing the housework and then I'll really be relaxed." Gary is a single father. "So, a man pays a psychologist $200 an hour for his problem about stress. However, he is just told to go back home and do some housework. I really don't know who is crazier, the psychologist or the man! Which of the following could be the best title of the passage? Answer:
Scientist Florence Wambugu works with farmers in Kenya, a country in East Africa. She helps them grow bigger and better crops. Wambugu is especially interested in finding simple ways to produce more food. In the past ten years, Wambugu has spent much of her time studying sweet potatoes, which are an important food in her part of Kenya. A virus kept attacking the plants. It stopped the sweet potatoes from growing well. Because of the virus, some farmers lost three quarters of their crops. Wambugu went to war against the virus. Her research for a way to save the sweet potatoes led to a lab in St. Louis, Missouri. The lab mainly works on genes , the chemical "computer programs" found in the cells of living things. Genes tell a plant to produce pink flowers or an animal to grow black hair. Now scientists have found ways to move genes from one living thing to another. That process is called genetic engineering. Wambugu spent three years in the lab. As a result, she created a sweet potato plant that could fight off the virus. Wambugu tested her research in Kenya, and her plants produced wonderful sweet potatoes. That's just the beginning, Wambugu believes. Genetically modified foods, she thinks, could help farmers in poor countries grow badly needed crops, thus, fewer people will go hungry. The text is written mainly to _ . There is a brown female Canadian duck that weighs only four hundred fifty grams. The duck had flown to the southern state of Florida for the winter.A hunter shot it on January fifteenth and took it to his home in the city of Tallahassee.He put it in the refrigerator .Two days later the man's wife opened the refrigerator door.The duck lifted its head and looked at her.It was alive! The family took the duck to a doctor who treats animals.The doctor gave the duck to the Goose Creek Animal Sanctuary .Animal sanctuaries provide homes for animals and teach people about their care. The doctor said it was easy to understand why people thought the duck was dead. He said ducks generally do not move a 1ot,especially after being shot.And he said its low body temperature helped it survive in the refrigerator. _ was enough to make the duck famous around the world.The Tallahassee newspaper published the story that was re-printed in many different countries.But that was not the end of the story. Workers at the wildlife sanctuary named the duck Perky.And they got the doctor to give an operation to repair the duck's damaged wing.During the operation,Perky stopped breathing--not just once but two times.The doctor tried to save Perky by giving her oxygen.But he finally said the duck had died.A few seconds later, however, Perky began to move.Reports say the people in the operating room were so happy that they cried. Workers at the wildlife sanctuary say Perky will not have any more operations. It seems the drugs that were used had side-effects on her.Perky is expected to live at the sanctuary.And a local company has begun to sell T-shirts showing a picture of the lucky duck. Money from the sale of the shirts will help pay for Perky's care. The duck in the story _ . Patrick Johnson,an artist for the Washington Post,found some treasure in his new house35,000 dollars in a place where no one could see it. Although he had car and house payments in his head, he still decided to return all of the money to the previous owner of the house,Mr. Williams. Would you have done the same? Just hours after he had bought the house,Patrick came into the small house,where he was planning to lay out his tools and hang things up. He looked up and noticed a little hole in the wall. He didn't know what it was inside, so he walked towards the wall. It was very dark inside,but an old box caught his eye. "I caught the thing,it was heavy. I thought it might be some pieces of wood." he said. Actually it was not. It was filled with lots of dollar bills. But he and his wife knew they had to return the money to Mr. Williams. "I've got two boys and we teach them to be honest and to do what is right. I knew this was a teachable moment that I would never get back again." Patrick said to his wife. "So I thought we would do something honest with it. It's been a great thing for us and our kids." Patrick found the box _ . What makes a house a home? Not size, of course. I've been in some of the grandest houses in prefix = st1 /America, and it's clear no one lives there. Earlier this year, I had dinner in a mud hut inEthiopia, where we sat on chairs next to the hostess' bed -- a home that had more warmth than any house I've been in since. Now John Edwards is exploring what makes a house a home in his just-released Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives. There Edwards writes, "This isn't a book about houses; it's a book about homes. About the values they rest on, the dreams they are filled with, and the people they have shaped," Edwards writes. "The houses and circumstances are different, but much of what you find inside will be familiar." Whether you're sitting in an airport flight now, waiting to fly to your childhood home for Thanksgiving, or in your own home waiting for the s to arrive, you know what he's talking about. We've lived in our townhouse for 21 years. It's home now. The loose windows that shake in the wind. The fireplace so shallow it holds only one log. The kitchen window that offers a view of the world passing by. It's where friends sit on the kitchen counter drinking wine while dinner is being fixed. I lived there for only 18, but it will always be my true home. Even the lamp in the west living room window, which I could see far down the road when driving home late at night, still shines. While all this talk about childhood memories can be warm and comforting, home is whom you're with, not where you are. As Edwards writes, "Home is family. Home is safety. Home is faith." Happy homecoming. According to the author, what makes a house a home? Ever tried taking smart drugs to perform better in exams? They certainly work. Before last summer's exam, a few of my mates, merely out of curiosity, took a considerable amount of Modafinil, a drug normally used for narcolepsy . Guess what? While I was feeling sleepy, bored by revision, my mates were more focused. Modafinil is a smart drug that gives a user a feeling of staying awake for hours. It also sharpens the mind, improves memory and helps problem-solving. But it does more than just keeping you awake. It disturbs your mental system, making you desperate to do what you are doing. You just don't want to do anything else but revise all the time non-stop. A recent study discovers that healthy people use smart drugs, like Modafinil, to get down to and complete tasks they have been putting off, because these tasks seem more enjoyable when taking these drugs. This might sound like what a stressed student desires. However, the pills have a range of side-effects. "At present no evidence shows that these drugs are safe in healthy people," as a medical expert puts it, "Ordering online, though easy, is a dangerous way to obtain drugs. You never know what you're actually purchasing. " In my experience, Modafinil changes people's behaviour too. Over those weeks my friends became different people--in turn aggressive, cold. Even eating became "a waste of time" and so did conversation. A BBC survey found that of those who had tried smart drugs before, 92% would do so again. My friends say they'd happily do so without considering the practice a form of cheating. I admit I was curious--but not enough to try it. Seeing the strange behaviour of other users, I feel a little bit upset and scary. Modafinil may promise to change your grades, but it might also change the way you act. Don't say you haven't been warned! Who are the target readers of this passage?
Luo Gaoqi hopes to join the increasing number of Chinese students in the United States because he wants the experience of studying in a foreign land as it will help his future job at home. "I want to try Western education because people there think differently," said the 21-year-old who is in his final year of undergraduate studies. "I also hope to meet friends from different cultures. The social connections may help in the future." The latest report from the US-based institute of International Education said China, for the first time, has become the top country of origin for international students in the United States. For Yang Fan, a journalism student, said studying in the United States is a way to escape the competition for places in China's top universities. "Due to limited education resources, only about 60 percent of high school graduates in China enter college, and a much lower rate enters the top-level ones. "A foreign degree will definitely help when I seek a job in China," Yang said. Both Yang's and Luo's parents are supportive of them studying abroad. Neither of them is thinking of settling down in the United States after graduation. "It is not realistic to do so. As a journalism student, there would be no advantage for me to work in the United States," Yang said. "But in China, with a US degree and good English, I may stand out against other students who have only studied in China." China still needs to improve its environment for scientists and high-level talents, said Xiao Mingzheng, director of the Center for Human Resource Development and Management Research of Peking University, adding that, in particular, the country needs to improve its policies relating to research environments. In June, the Chinese government published a plan concerning talent development for the next 10 years. In it, it has improved policies and increased budgets to attract talented students back home. What do Guo Gaoqi and Yang Fan have in common? Both of them want to go back to China after graduation. What will man be like in the future -- in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time. Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively a short period of time, so we may suppose that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity . As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and finally we shall need our brains more and more, and finally we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring a physical change too: the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger. Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger. On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life. But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald. Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and motions similar to our own. The passage mainly tells us that _ . Future man will look quite different from us Backpacking in Europe is a wonderful experience for young people around the world.After high school or university,you can plan a European backpacking trip. Packing As you plan the things you will carry,bring warm clothes and a raincoat or umbrella to deal with changing weather in different European countries.Europeans like dressing nicely,and good clothes will make you feel less like a dusty backpacker.It is not worth taking the trouble to bring a hair dryer or shampoo,as you can buy basic necessities in Europe. Hostels The cheapest places to sleep when backpacking in Europe are hostels(where people can stay and eat fairly cheaply).Most hostels have a lot of information about low-cost ways to see local attractions,and many offer tours.The cost for hostel beds differs from country to country.In Paris,you might pay 30 euros,but in Bulgaria,you can get a bed for 10 euros.In general,hostels are more expensive in large,popular cities such as Paris,Rome and London. Many backpackers use rail passes ,which allow unlimited travel within country groups over a period of time.If you have the time to travel by train and will be traveling in a country group,this can be a good deal.Otherwise,you may consider point-to-point tickets,local trains,buses and airlines such as Ryanair,easyJet and Wizz Air,which offer cheap flights. Food Eating out in Europe can come with a high cost,and the best way to cut your food budget is to cook meals in the shared kitchens in hostels.You can make several meals into picnics to take advantage of Europe's parks.When shopping for your picnic,try and buy at a local market.You save some euros while supporting the local industry at the same time.When eating out,choose restaurants away from tourist attractions. Which of the following can be put in the blank in the text? Transportation. Japanese Students Suffer from Pressure Last April,15-year-old Rei Iwasaki stopped her piano and flute lessons and began to study every day of the week. Her parents paid to send her to a "cram school ."She wanted very much to pass her exams. In February she did pass an all-day, five-subject examination and entered the high school she hoped to enter. Thirteen-year-old Akio Yoshiwara wasn't so lucky. Unable to take the pressure of the exams, he hanged himself in February. He left a suicide note which said, "I did my best in this dear life, but it's no good." Suicides are now a common part of life among students in Japan. The cause is the incredible pressure of the "examination hell." Even a number of teachers are committing suicide each year. When some students broke windows in a school near Tokyo, the principal blamed himself and wrote the following note: "The incidents were due to the lack of appropriate measures by the principal and I apologize. I am very tired. The Japanese educational system is much different from the American system. It is perhaps the most regimented school system in any of the industrialized nations. Boys and girls wear uniforms and go to school six days a week --- 240 days a year compared to 180 in the U.S. Ninety- five percent graduate from high school compared to seventy-five percent in the U.S. Students don't ask questions in class but only listen respectfully to the teachers. And every few year's students are tested to see which school they will enter next. There is stiff competition for the "best" schools. The result is a well-informed, disciplined student, ideal for factory and company work and excellent at learning specialized skills. But there is little fun in education, little creativity and the incredible pressure of "examination hell." Which of the following ideas agrees with the title of the passage. The exams give the Japanese students much pressure. My parents always raised me to have strong values and hold firm to my confidence in life, and this was never more proved than when a situation arose when it would be easy for most people to ignore it. A gentleman at my father's work smelled awful and neglected his behavior, and as the months went by, he showed signs of confusion. After being told to pick up papers at another building, he would be found sitting at his desk staring at his shoes; after being reminded (to which he would completely believe he hadn't been told the first time), he would be found once again sitting at his desk in the same position. This happened to worsening degrees over a few months and his coworkers either ignored it or were ignorant to this due to a lack of social association with the man. My father began to mentally record all of this and finally sat down with him one day when he was found two hours after work was out, sitting in his car, looking like he didn't know where to go. Apparently the gentleman was in the beginning/middle stages of Alzheimer's and there was someone who used his forgetfulness as a reason to ask him for money every few days. My father took this man to a hospital (for the first time in years) to be properly treated, and then got a caretaker to watch over his condition. He then went to the man's house and helped him sort out all of his financial matters and get his retirement set up; they went to the bank and had a government worker ensure that his bills would be paid for and his children would no longer get to treat him like a personal ATM. That my father took his much personal time to help another man that so many had forgotten or would choose to neglect, or even make fun of, truly shows his character. The author presents this passage by _ . telling an instructive story
For a long time being happy was considered something that just happened, and there was nothing special about it. Now we know that getting along with other people is something that we can work at. It is possible to act in such a way that other people will like us better. One way is being unselfish, not wanting everything from our friends. Another way is to look for good points, not bad points in other people. It is surprising how successful this treasure hunt can be. You do not have to be spineless in order to be popular. In fact, you will be liked or loved if you are not afraid to stand up for your rights . But do it politely and pleasantly. Being friendly and polite to your group, to other people and to strangers and especially to those who do not look important or do not interest you is one way to develop a good character. You cannot expect to be perfect, and you must learn not to be unhappy when you make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, and no one is to be blamed if he does not refuse to learn from them. Many young people become discouraged when they know in themselves qualities that they do not like--selfishness, laziness, and other unpleasant qualities. Just remember that we all have some of these faults and have to fight against them. At the same time, it is important to remember that while you are probably no worse than others, the best way to be happy is to think yourself above other people. When something is wrong, it is good sense to try to make it right. Perhaps you do not like a teacher or a classmate. Try to see why, and look at yourself, too, to be sure that you are not doing anything to make that person dislike you. Some day, things may turn out all right when you have to learn to get along the best with the situation, without thinking too much about it. Worrying never helps in a situation you cannot change. The purpose for the writer to write the passage is to _ . Answer: show you the way to be happy About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college in New York, I was working as a practice student at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while I was working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in wheelchair. As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was seated on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and the trunk of the human body. She was wearing a little white dress with the patterns of red roses and yellow dots. As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink . As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the most beautiful, largest smile I have ever seen All of a sudden her _ was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. I immediately felt full of hope and confidence. She took me, a poor, unhappy college student, into her world, a world of smiles, love and warmth. That was ten years ago, but I still remember it clearly as if it happened just yesterday. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me. How did the writer probably feel before meeting the disabled girl? Answer: She felt unhappy because of poverty. It is autumn, and the Indians ask their new chief what the weather is going to be like this winter. The chief looks at the sky and says it's usually cold, and he tells the villagers to collect wood for the winter. As a good chief, he goes to call the weatherman and asks, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?" "It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold," the weatherman answers. So the chief goes back to his people and tells them to collect more food. A week later he calls the weatherman again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" "Yes," the weatherman answers again. "It's going to be a very cold winter." The chief again goes back to his people and tells them to collect every piece of wood they can find. Two weeks later he calls the weatherman again. "Are you sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" "Yes," the weatherman answers again. "It's going to be very very cold." "Why are you so sure?" asks the chief. The weatherman answers, "Because the Indians are collecting wood !" The chief calls the weatherman _ times. Answer: three A week in the sun relaxing in the beautiful March weather of Varadero, Cuba is a fantastic vacation for anyone. Luckily, my wife, two friends and I had the chance last year. To see Cuba, you have to talk to the Cubans. Our friends met us at the airport even at 1:00 a.m. which started our trip on a positive note. After a few days at the hotels, we got to know a local tour guide, Victor. The trip started off on a sunny morning. Our return trip would be along the coastline from Havana, but out trip to Havana would be through the countryside and the small towns. This trip was designed for us to visit the Cuban countryside. At first Victor brought us to Revolutionary Square, where Fidel Castro made his yearly speech praising the ideas of the revolution. Our second stop was the Bocoy Rum Factory. We walked through and learned how 5000 bottles of rum are produced every day. The smell of rum, and the huge barrels were interesting. The final stop was the market in Old Havana. Here my wife and I went away from our friends and we toured through this large shopping center. From store to store we saw so many items that all had a clear Cuban feel to them. We bought a picture and some special local things, and then we took off to meet up with Victor. As a tourist I was able to have a quick look at Cuban life with the help of Cubans. I felt lucky to have the chance. It was an interesting experience in my life. What time did the writer arrive in Cuba? Answer: At one o'clock early in the morning One day a great general asks his soldiers, "What is the strongest power in the world? " Four of his soldiers put up their hands. They want to answer the question. The general asks the first man to speak. The man is younger than the other three, and he's not strong. He says, "My gun is the strongest. It can kill anyone." "Thank you. Next, please." The second man is very strong. He says, "I don't think so. Soldiers use guns. So the soldier is the strongest." The third man says, "Soldiers use guns, but our general gives orders. So I think our general is the strongest." The fourth man is the oldest. He says, "Love is the strongest. For love, people don't use guns." The general says nothing. He takes out a medal and gives it to him. The fourth man _ . Answer: wants all the people to love
Question: Taking part in charity is not just for adult people. Kids can do it too! Melvin Sheppard, 14, an American student, has done charity work for 8 years. He has also encouraged his classmates to join him. Melvin studies at William Allen Middle School in Philadelphia. Recently, he collected $ 1,500 by himself and $487 from his classmates to donate to Cooper University Hospital. Melvin was born nine weeks premature in Cooper University Hospital, weighing 2.6kg. His father told him how Cooper saved his life, so he feels thankful to the hospital. Melvin's classmates joined him once they found out about his kind behavior. Their teacher, Michael Bemer, also held a class with them about helping others. "It wasn't really about the money," Bemer said. "It was about the fact that they were doing something good." "It feels great, helping someone that I know." said Jordan, Melvin' s classmate. Melvin's neighbors also helped out. Since Melvin was 6, he and his parents have given money to Cooper University Hospital every year. This year, Gray E. Stahl, the head of Cooper's division of neonatology , went to Melvin's school to accept the money. The money goes to a part of the hospital that helps about 500 young patients every year. "When they leave, we call them graduates," Stahl said, "my co - workers and I are pleased when our graduates and their families do well, like Melvin and his family." Why did Melvin donate to Cooper University Hospital? A. He was a doctor in Cooper University Hospital. B. His father worked in Cooper University Hospital. C. He was thankful to Cooper University Hospital. D. He used to volunteer in Cooper University Hospital. Answer: C Question: When I was in the eighth grade, my teacher asked us to write an article about what we would like to do when we grew up. All I could think of was one sentence I want to help other people! During the years, I met many problems. But I never gave up. I know that to help other people I have to help myself first. I encouraged myself after I experienced failures . Finally .my dream really came true. I found a part-time job in a charity. I began to spend my days doing things for people. I have a happy life. That doesn't mean that this kind of life is easy, or that my work is always enjoyable. I an happy because I an doing what I want to do. What do you want to do? Write it down now. If you don't know, you can ask yourself, "What would I do if this was the last day of my life ?" Then write down the first thing that comes to your mind, no matter how silly or impossible it is. If you have an answer, you will know what your dream is. The writer mainly wants to tell us _ . A. to believe in our dreams and never give up B. how to help people C. how to have a happy and easy life D. that it is good to help other people Answer: A Question: It is believed that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth's population to reach the 250 million total which existed at the end of the first century AD. For some time after that, disease, famine and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot to 1 billion and today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010. When experts are asked what are the most effective measures that can stop over population, they reply that at least three measures can be considered. (A) Increasing sources and supply of food for under-developed countries. (B) Increasing the industrialization of under- developed countries. (C) Controlling birth. The experts add, however, that none of the above measures can be effective by itself, and that all must be combined into one whole program. They also agree that without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed to failure. The population of the world doubled between the year _ . A. 1850 and today B. 100 and the year 1400 C. 100 and the year 1600 D. 1 and the year 100 Answer: C Question: About a quarter of the world drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly old British colonies like Australia , and Ireland. But Thailand, Indonesia and Japan also do so. This strange quirk puzzles the rest of the world; however, there is a perfectly good reason . Up to the late 1700's , everybody travelled on the left side of the road because it's the most sensible option for feudal , violent societies with mostly right-handed people. Soldiers with their swords under their right arm naturally passed on each other's right, and if you passed a stranger on the road, you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him. Revolutionary France, however, overturned this practice as part of its sweeping social rethink. A change was carried out all over continental Europe by Napoleon. It changed under Napoleon because he was left-handed. His armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent. From then on, any part of colonized by the French travelled on the right. After the American Revolutionary War (1775--1783), the US became independent and decided to make traffic drive on the right in order to cast off all remaining links with its British colonial past. As America became the center of the car industry, if you wanted a good reliable vehicle, you bought American right-hand-drive cars. From then on, many countries changed out of necessity. Today, the EU would like Britain to fall into line with the rest of Europe, but this is no longer possible. It would cost billions of pounds to change everything round. The last European country to change driving on the right was Sweden in 1967. While everyone was getting used to the new system, they paid more attention and took more care, resulting in a reduction of the number of road accidents. For Americans, driving on the right was a way to show _ . A. the connection with France was broken B. the US was no longer ruled by the UK C. the American Revolution War had ended D. America was the center of the car industry Answer: B Question: Actually, long-distance bicycle camping is one of the happiest activities I have ever experienced. I generally sleep poorly at night, but in the woods on a tour, I sleep like a baby with the music of insects. In the morning, birds wake me up. I eat a snack before getting up, and then I quickly pack my sleeping bag, tent, and other things and get on the road. Usually I have less speed. Traveling by bike allows me to stop anywhere, such as lakes(especially places to swim), woods, and scenic spots . Somewhere near lunch, I find a small drugstore and buy some bread, sandwich materials, and fruit. In the afternoon, my speeds are higher, and I spend less time at stops. In the late afternoon, I start thinking about stopping. I finally find a place in the early evening, cook a simple meal, and rest and cool off. As it starts to get dark, I put up my tent, and fall asleep. There are exciting times and difficult times as well. Visiting strange or famous places are always exciting to me. I meet and talk with interesting people along the way. Enjoying beautiful scenes, meeting wild animals(usually at my camping site), and traveling up and down hills also make me cheerful. On the other hand, I may run into rainy or hot days, have to repair my bike, or just find myself in a bad state. The problems are easily dealt with. The pleasures remain in my mind for years. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The writer has to sleep late during the tour. B. The writer doesn't want to get up early. C. The writer always has fruit for breakfast. D. The writer rides faster in the afternoon. Answer: D
When asked what they want for a gift, most teens would say a CD player, or maybe an iPod, but I want Lego. I received my first set for my fifth birthday, a tiny pizzeria with an umbrella and a delivery truck. Since then my collection has expanded rapidly and I have built skyscrapers, constructed spaceships and designed submarines. There is a small area in my house designated as The Lego Room. Beyond its door, I fantasize and govern my own small world of castles, modem cities, and thousands of Lego people. Each time I enter The Lego Room, a new story is created. Once, a friend asked to tour this room. Amazed by my Star Wars models, he reached for a ship and accidentally knocked over a restaurant, breaking it to pieces! This disaster became an opportunity to rebuild and I fashioned a two-story food court with a McDonald's, pizzeria, and drive-thru. It was better than the original! Ideas for new constructions fill my head and I write them down in a sketchbook. Lego represents a creative consistency in my life, much as an artist has his canvas and a musician, his violin. Lego has taught me to be an architect, engineer, governor, economist and so on. Lego has provided the building blocks of my future, developing my math skills and ability to follow complex directions. As I build new worlds, brick by brick, I imagine my own possibilities and opportunities. Through the "lives" of my Lego friends, I have been able to act out all kinds of experiences. They have served as a link between my childhood and manhood. My friends say I'm childlike and there is truth to that, but perhaps we should all find a way to keep in touch with our childhood. Lego is mine. With Lego in the room, the author probably feels _ . Answer: proud I also went out every day,and I always had my gun with me. Sometimes I killed a wild animal,and then _ 1 _ . But when it got dark,I had to go to bed because I had no light. I couldn't read or write because I couldn't see. But in the end,I learnt how to use the fat of dead animals to make a light. ... And so my life went on. Every month I learnt to do or to make something new. But I had troubles and accidents too. Once there was a terrible storm with very heavy rain. The roof of my cave fell in,and nearly killed me!I had to build it up again with many pieces of wood. _ 2 _ . I cooked it over a fire or dried it in the sun. So I always had meat during the rainy months when I could not go out with a gun. I learnt to make pots to keep my food in. But I wanted very much to make a harder,stronger pot--a pot that would not break in a fire. I tried many times,but I could not do it. Then one day I was lucky. I made some new pots and put them in a very hot fire. They changed colour,but did not break. I left them there for many hours,and when they were cold again,I found that they were hard and strong. That night I was very happy. I had hot water for the first time on the island. By then,I also had my own bread. That was luck,too. One day I found a little bag. We used it on the ship,to keep the chickens' food in. There was still some of the food in the bag,and I dropped some of it onto the ground. A month later I saw something bright green there,and after six months I had a very small field of corn. I was very excited. Perhaps now I could make my own bread! It was easy to say,but not so easy to do. It is a lot of work to make bread from corn. Many people eat bread,but how many people can take corn from a field and make bread out of it without help?I had to learn and to make many new things. _ 3 _ . During all this time I never stopped thinking about escape. When I travelled across to the other side of the island,I could see the other islands,and I said to myself,'Perhaps I can get there with a boat. Perhaps I can get back to England one day. ' So I decided to make myself a boat. I cut down a big tree,and then began to make a long hole in it. It was hard work,but about six months later,I had a very fine canoe. Next,I had to get it down to the sea. How stupid I was!Why didn't I think before I began work?Of course,the canoe was too heavy. I couldn't move it!I pulled and pushed and tried everything,but it didn't move. _ 4 _ . That happened in my fourth year on the island. In my sixth year I did make myself a smaller canoe,but I did not try to escape in it. The boat was too small for a long journey,and I did not want to die at sea. The island was my home now,not my prison,and I was just happy to be alive. There were always things to do or to make. I learnt to make new clothes for myself from the skins of dead animals. They looked very strange,it is true,but they kept me dry in the rain... Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: He failed to sail his first boat. If you have ever gone through a toll booth , you know that your relationship to the person in the booth is not the most intimate you'll ever have. It is one of life's frequent affairs: You hand over some money; you might get change; you drive off. Late one morning in 1984, headed for lunch in San Francisco, I drove toward a booth. I heard loud music. It sounded like a party. I looked around. No other cars with their windows open. No sound trucks. I looked at the toll booth. Inside it, the man was dancing. "What are you doing?" I asked. "I'm having a party," he said. "What about the rest of the people?" I looked at the other toll booths. He said, "What do those look like to you?" He pointed down the row of toll booths. "They look like......toll booths. What do they look like to you?" He said, "Vertical coffins. At 8:30 every morning, live people get in. Then they die for eight hours. At 4:30, like _ from the dead, they reemerge and go home. For eight hours, brain is on hold, dead on the job. Going through the motions." I was amazed. This guy had developed a philosophy, a mythology about his job. Sixteen people dead on the job, and the seventeenth, in precisely the same situation, figures out a way to live. I could not help asking the next question: "Why is it different for you? You're having a good time." He looked at me. "I knew you were going to ask that. I don't understand why anybody would think my job is boring. I have a corner office, glass on all sides. I can see the Golden Gate, San Francisco, and the Berkeley hills. Half the Western world vacations here......and I just stroll in every day and practice dancing." According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? Answer: The worker enjoyed his work very much. One sunny May afternoon, a group of teenagers ditched school and went to the mall. June volunteered to drive her friends Ben, Sasha, and Bruce. The teenagers piled into the red car and drove to the mall. When they arrived, Ben and Sasha wanted to go to the sporting goods store. However, Bruce and June wanted to go watch a movie directed by Miranda July. They split up and said they would meet up at the food area later. Three hours later, the friends got back together. Ben and Sasha wanted to leave, so they went back out to the parking lot and got in the car. When June backed out of the parking spot, she scraped the car next to her. Sasha said it was okay, but Bruce said June needed to leave a note for the driver of the other car. Just then, the other driver appeared. They called the police to get an accident report. When the police arrived, they put Ben and Sasha in handcuffs because they had been stealing. They had to volunteer every week until October. What time of year did the story take place? Answer: May What do the Milky Way Galaxy and other galaxies in the universe have in common? Answer: They have similar elements.
BOGOTA (Reuters) -- Colombian mobile telephone users are being tricked by criminals who pretend to be phone operators and instruct them to turn off their cellphones just long enough to demand a large amount of money from their families. prefix = st1 /Colombia has seen a large number of cases in which mobile phone customers receive messages telling them to turn off their cellphones for two hours because their telephones havebeen cloned, police say. The criminals then contact family members of the phone user to say that he or she has been taken hostage . Families who have no way of contacting their are directed where to drop off money before the two hours are up. "If you get a call telling you to turn off your cellphone, contact the official department." Local television channel Caracol told viewers during a Tuesday news program. BERLIN (Reuters) -- A Berlin court has sentenced a man known as "Schnitzel Stephan" to 18 months in prison for cheating 64 restaurants in the past year. The man of 160 kg, with a thin grey beard, would regularly order lamb chops, steak or Viennese schnitzel along with several beers. When the bill came, he either ran for the door or told the waiter he had no money. Iris Berger, a spokeswoman for the Berlin Justice Department, said on Thursday the 43-year-old jobless truck driver had been convicted ( ) on 64 counts of fraud ( ). The total damage to restaurants was $4,100. According to the first piece of news, which of the following happens first? Ever wondered how one person could save the planet from the effects of climate change? A British-made computer game on trial release on Monday creates different ways of doing just that. "Fate of the World"puts the Earth's future in players' hands, placing them in charge of an international environmental body which could save the world from the effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions or let it destroyed by more emissions. Through different scenes, players can explore options such as geoengineering and alternative energy sources to save the planet from rising temperatures, decreasing natural resources and a growing population over the next 200 years. An improved version of the game will be followed by a three-month feedback period from players, with final release due in February next year. Created by Oxford-based games developer Red Redemption, the game is different from other mainstream action games mainly by using data from real climate models and advice from scientists and economists. "Science data is often inaccessible and we are trying to put players in a position of power and connected with the issues," Gobion Rowlands, Red Redemption's founder and chairman said. This year, a series of apparent errors in climate science and the failure of UN talks to reach an international deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions appeared to weaken the public's interest in climate change. However, games centered on sustainability and human rights have been growing in popularity and are welcomed by green groups as a way of raising awareness. Using climate change as inspiration for entertainment shows the issue has affected global culture, which can only be a good thing.Friends of the Earth's head of climate Mike Childs said."We need creative industries to work with these big issues as the results can be extremely powerful and can help us to understand what a sustainable future looks and feels like,"he added. It can be concluded from the passage that_. Old Cremona Violins Most musicians agree that the best violins were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the Italian violins. But they aren't the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones. Some people think it is the age of the violins. But not all old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special . So age cannot be the answer. Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees. But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape . The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood. Size and shape may not be the answer, either. Scientists can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish. Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish. Violins made today _ . Awareness Weeks have become a regular part of Britain's cultural landscape over the past few years. They started back in 1957,when one charity , Christian Aid, decided to make all its money-raising efforts on one time of year. It was thought that by doing this they would get more publicity for their cause. They were right, and soon other charities and campaign groups followed them. These days, most donations to charity are not collected on the streets. So instead of just asking for money, charities prefer to spend their time "raising awareness"--spreading knowledge of the work they do or the cause they support. They also compete with businesses and trade groups who use awareness weeks as marketing campaigns for their products. There are now 500 awareness weeks held every year in the prefix = st1 /UK. No week goes by without one group or another trying to make the British public aware of something, with most held in May or October. The danger with all these awareness weeks is that people start to become cynical .Take National Smile Week, it seems like a great idea. Let's all make each other's life a little bit happier with a friendly smile. But really it's just a group of dentists and cosmetics companies trying to sell us toothpastes. It's enough to make you want to start National Forget About It Week."People feel that many awareness campaigns are just marketing exercises," says Ms Ormiston, who edits the Awareness Campaign Register, a newsletter which encourages people who run Awareness Weeks to become more aware of each other."But 90 per cent of campaigns are run by traditional charities or not for groups to make money." "There's still no official group for awareness campaigns," says Ms Ormiston."People can do what they like, whatever the size of their budgets or their public relations machines allows." This situation has led to calls for laws to stop real charities having their efforts overshadowed by marketing campaigns. This could be done by making the two groups hold their weeks at different times or stopping businesses running imitation charity campaigns. But there is another way. Maybe it's time for National Weak Awareness Week, especially for people whose awareness of Awareness Weeks is weak. What does Ms Ormiston think about awareness weeks? On Tuesday, the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) set new limits on advertising food and drinks in schools. The rules ban advertisements for unhealthy foods in schools. The ad ban includes sugary drinks that account for more than 90% of unhealthy ads. An ad for Coca-Cola, for example, will be removed from a scoreboard at a high school football game. However, ads for Diet Coke and Dasani water, owned by the same company, are allowed to display . The new rules are part of the First Lady's "Let's Move" campaign to fight childhood obesity . Her goal is to get kids to eat healthier food. The marketing limits came after new USDA regulations that put a limit on the calorie, fat and sugar in most school food items. "The idea is simple -- our classrooms should be healthy places," the First Lady Michelle Obama said. "Because when parents are working hard to teach their kids healthy habits at home, their work shouldn't be destroyed by unhealthy messages in schools." However, the healthier food rules are criticized by people who think the government should not control what kids eat and by some students who don't like the healthier foods. It is reported that food companies spend $149 million a year on marketing foods to kids, and many big companies are supporting the new rules. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have started to advertise healthier products. For schools, junk food ads like the Coca-Cola scoreboard will be taken down. "The new limits ensure that schools remain safe places where kids can learn and eat healthy food," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said. The rules will help guide schools on ways to create standards for foods and physical activities. They will require parents and the community to be involved in the campaign. What's Coca-Cola's attitude towards the new limits?
I left home to support my sister in her efforts to present a music festival. She lives on the other side of the world, and I went to visit her, not wanting to leave and feeling like I was leaving home against my will. However, I wanted to show her my support because she is my only sister. So I boarded the plane in mid-August, and hated the long flight. I arrived, tired and hungry. I had left my husband of 2 years, alone, in our old New Orleans house. I was all set and ready to perform for my sister for the music festival on Sunday morning when I received a call from Chicago. The hurricane was predicted to hit our city, and many people had already _ , but my husband chose to stay behind. He could not get a call to me on the other side of the world, but he could call his cousin in Chicago. He gave his cousin a message for me, that he would be just fine, and not to worry. As the day wore on, I finally took the stage in front of hundreds of Europeans, and I realized, thanks to CNN, that New Orleans was under water. I performed, hoping that my husband would survive. And I performed perfectly. The audience stood and applauded. I left the stage and went straight to the TV. I saw the street sign near my home, of Humanity Street, but nothing below it, except water. In the days that followed, I found out that my house, my car, my clothes, my furniture, everything that I'd left behind was gone...but not my husband. He survived by riding on the rear bumper of a VW bus, holding on to the overhead luggage rack, in the pouring rain, down the highway from New Orleans, half-way to Baton Rouge. The rest of the journey was a long walk, but he survived. By the first week of September, I flew back to the Baton Rouge airport, and hugged my husband. Since then, our relationship has grown deeper; we have completely rebuilt our house, bought a new car, bought new furniture and new clothes and joined an inspirational, spirit-filled community. How did the author feel when she left home? Answer: Unwilling. A homeowner wants to use a renewable resource to heat the home. Which resource would be the best to use? Answer: solar Of all nature's disasters, forest fires are often considered the most frightening. Moving at lightning speed, huge walls of flames can burn acres of land in just a few minutes. And although technology, including the use of tire-retardant chemicals, has greatly helped the fight against forest fires, they still take great damage. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the fire season last year was the worst on record in terms of the number of fires and acres burned. There were 96.385 fires and9,873429 acres affected by fire in a year that was 125% more destructive than the 10-year average . These fires cost the federal govemment $1.5 billion to fight, and this figure does not include the money spent by local and state govemments as part of the effort. Fires in the southern states represented half of the national total last year. with Texas. Oklahoma and Arkansas being home to an usually high amount of activity. Wildfire have also taken place in Western states such as California, Colorado. and Alaska throughout the past 10 years. It is said that two-thirds of forest fires are started accidentally by people. almost one quarter are purposely set, while lighting causes 10%. Forest fires can have advantageous effects. Charcoal enriches soil, and some plant species grow well after. The cones of the jack pine tree, for example, will not spread their seeds unless there is heat. Douglas fir trees grow best in open sunlight areas after fire. Almost 25% forest fires are set _ . Answer: on purpose Mike found a job in a bookstore after he finished middle school. He wouldn't do anything but wanted to get rich. It was a cold morning. It snowed and there was thin ice on the streets. Few people went to buy books and the young man had nothing to do. He hated to read, so he watched the traffic. Suddenly he saw a bag fall off a truck and it landed by the other side of the street. "It is full of expensive things." Mike said to himself. "I have to get it right now, or others will take it away." He went out of the bookstore and ran across the street. A driver saw him and began to whistle , but he didn't hear it and went on running. The man drove to the side, hit a big tree and hurt himself in the accident. Two weeks later, Mike was taken to the court . A judge asked if he heard the whistle when he was running across the street. He said that something was wrong with his ears and he could hear nothing. "But you heard me this time," said the judge. "Oh, I'm sorry. Now I can hear with one ear." "Cover the ear with your hand and listen to me with your deaf one. Well, can you hear me?" "No, I can't , sir." "You told a lie. There is nothing wrong with either of your ears," the judge said. One day he saw _ in the street. Answer: a lost bag As wild animal lovers are not content with watching tigers and gorillas during the day, a growing number of zoos in the US are offering a more thrilling after-dark experience -- overnight stays. The Philadelphia Zoo is America's first zoo and home to more than 1,300 animals. It has been running its Roars and Snores Overnight Programs for about 20 years. The most popular theme program is the Night Flight Overnight Program where children aged 5 to 12 sleep in the zoo's tree house. The overnight stays are not only popular with young children. Most overnight stays include a night tour during which youngsters experience the mysterious sights and unusual sounds of the zoo. A midnight snack and breakfast are also served. "It is a unique experience to be at the zoo without the crowds and additional noise," explained Patterson, of the Denver Zoo, which has been running its Bunk with the Beasts program since 1998. With nearly 4,000 animals and 700 species the zoo attracts more than 1.8 million visitors a year. "The things you hear and see in the zoo are completely different," said Patterson. On Denver's two-hour tours, night vision scopes are provided so guests can see nocturnal animals such as owls, and indoor educational games increase the learning experience. Patterson said parents tend to be more worried about leaving their children than the children themselves. They have rarely had to call up a parent in the middle of the night. "They love it," Patterson said about the children. "For many, it's their first overnight stay away from home. They are so excited that by the end of the day they are so tired that they have no opportunity to worry." "Guests at the new overnight program at the Queens Zoo make breakfast treats for animals, and watch the keepers feed them to the animals," said Education Curator Tome Hurtubise. The growing popularity of overnight programs has caused zoos that only serve day-time visitors to think again. The Queens Zoo, which started their program this year, is so pleased with its success that they want to continue it next year. The visitors go to the zoo at night mainly because _ . Answer: they can have a quite different experience at that time
_ In order to reduce air pollution and oilshortages, automobile manufacturers have announced their plans to develop hybrid vehicles for the Chinese market. Toyota's hybrid car Prius will be ready to drive in China this week. Let's have a look at the new car. Any vehicle is a hybrid when it combines two or more sources of power. Hybrid cars run off a rechargeable battery and gasoline. Hybrid cars have special engines, which are smaller than traditional gasoline engines. They run at 99 percent of their power when the car is cruising . A specially designed battery motor provides extra power for running up hills or when extra acceleration is needed. Step into a Prius, and turn on the engine. The first thing you notice is how much quieter it is than a traditional car. At this point, the car's gasoline engine is dormant . The electric motor will provide power until the car reaches about 24 km/h. If you stay at a low speed, you are effectively driving an electric car, with no gasoline being used, and no waste gas gives off. The onboard computer makes the decision about when to use a gas engine, when to go electric, and when to use a combination of the two. If you go over 24 km/h, when you step on the gas pedal , you are actually telling the computer how fast you want to go. The electronic motor recharges automatically using a set of batteries. When driving at high speed, the gasoline engine not only powers the car, but also charges the batteries. Any time you use the brake, the electric motor in the wheels will work like a generator and produce electricity to recharge the batteries. As a consequence, the car's batteries will last for around 200,000 miles. What is the most important feature of hybrid cars? Answer: They are powered by both a rechargeable battery and gasoline. What's in the news? Here are some articles from the Winfield Daily News. Engaged to be married Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Silva of Bogota, Colombia, are happy to announce that engagement of their daughter Cristina Ana Silva to Gino Antonio Leone. Miss Silva is studying art history at Winfield Community College and Mr. Leone is working at the Roma Restaurant. The wedding will take place at St. Mark's Church in Winfield on October 5th. The reception will be at the Roma. Black History Month Winfield Public Library is pleased to announce a special program to celebrate Black History Month. The well-known actor Albert Eaton will perform a one-man show named MLK:His life and Times. In the show, Eaton recreates the life and times of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., through music and drama. Performances are at 3:30 and 7:30, Thursday through Saturday. Admission free. Telephone: 5365400. Benjamins have a daughter Mr. and Mrs. Leon Benjamin are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Andrea Jean. She was born at Winfield Hospital on June 9 at 11:10 PM. SPORTS High School--Parents Beat Students The parents' football team beat the students 4 to 2 in a wild and exciting match yesterday at Winfield Stadium. It was the first win for the parents since the yearly event started five years ago. Adela Logan led the parents to victory with three goals. Her son, Bob Logan, scored the only two goals for the losing team, it was both a happy and a sad day for the Logan family! College--Winfield Community College Senior Wins State Tournament Ginny Lewis took the title away from defending state tennis winner, Susan Murray, yesterday in three straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. this was the first time a Winfield student has played in the state finals. Ginny brought home a trophy and a $1000 prize for her studies at college. Who's going to perform at Winfield Public Library? Answer: Albert Eaton Once upon a time, there was a garden in the village. Its owner was an old man. He had been away for several years to visit his friends. It was a large lovely garden with soft green grass and beautiful flowers. While the old man was away, some children came to play in the garden every afternoon. The birds in the garden sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games to listen to them. For them, the time they spent there was the happiest they had ever had. One day the old man came back. When he saw the children playing in his garden, he was very angry. "What are you doing here?" he shouted. "Nobody except myself is allowed to play in my garden." The children were terrified and ran away. Then spring came, but it was still winter in the old man's garden. There were blossoms and birds all over the village, except in the garden. The birds didn't like singing in his garden, since there were no children." Why is spring arriving so late this year?" the old man thought. "How pretty it would be if it were spring now!" One morning, the old man was woken up by some sounds. He heard birds singing and children laughing. When he opened the window, he saw the birds sitting in the trees and the children running about happily. "I'm sure spring has come. What I'm seeing is the most _ scene I have ever seen, and the sounds which I'm hearing are the most beautiful in the world," said the old man. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: The birds and the children made the old man's garden full of life again. Researchers recently found that hackers took control of 300,000 home routers . Once your home router has been controlled, hackers could redirect your network to malicious websites controlled by hi-tech thieves who could then steal your online back details and other sensitive data. However, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your router. Say no to 12345 passwords First, never leave your router open without a password and make sure you change both your Wi-Fi and router login password from the default one it comes with. If you use the default password , this could give someone access to the router setup, which could allow them to change your router settings, including viewing any security keys. Don't broadcast it Make sure you don't show up in other people's wireless network scans. Know your network name so you can easily enter it into any devices you want to access that network. Other people do not need to know your network name. To prevent outsiders from seeing your network's name and attempting to join your wireless network, turn off broadcasting in your router's settings. Invite only please One way you can ensure no one else joins your network without your permission is to enable your router to only allow certain devices to connect, and ban all others. To do that you can filter by media access control (MAC) addresses. Turn it off This is a simple piece of advice that can go a very long way in keeping you safe. Simply turn off your router when you're not using your network. If you're at work all day and no one's home, why keep it running? Build a firewall The firewall built into your router prevents hackers on the internet from getting access to your PC so it's always worth enabling it to help add an extra layer of security. However, it does nothing to stop people in range of your Wi-Fi signal from getting onto your network - and as said, a router in the wrong place means your Wi-Fi signal could reach pretty far. For further protection, you should run software firewalls on the individual PCs on your networks. If you use the default password, _ . Answer: your home router will be changed for new settings. I began to send e-mails when I was 17. I discovered Google 5 years later. Now, I use the internet all the time. The Internet has become so popular that 90 percent of 12-to-17-year-olds in the United States use the internet, and about half of these kids use it every day. They visit chat rooms and send e-mails. They go to websites to get information for their homework. "Kids are now living in a virtual world," says Greenfield, an expert at University of California, "As the Internet is becoming more and more important for our life, we should worry about one question: Is the Internet good or bad for kids? " "It's ***to answer the question because the Internet involves so many things," says Justine, who is from Northwestern University. "They include online computer games, news, messages and even e-mails to your grandmother." So more and more people believe that the online world can be helpful in some ways but dangerous in others. "Although it's not easy to tell whether it's good or bad,"says Justine, "the Internet, at least, is very useful and can be used widely by everyone in the world. in the passage should be the word " _ ". Answer: difficult
Researchers designing the 'classroom of the future' have found that multi-touch, multi-user desks can improve skills in mathematics. New results from a 3-year project working with over 400 pupils, mostly 8-10 year olds, show that cooperation learning increases both fluency and flexibility in maths.It also shows that using an interactive 'smart' desk can have Benefits over doing mathematics on paper. Using multi-touch desks in the new classroom, the children were able to work together in new ways to solve problems using inventive solutions.Seeing what your friends are doing, and being able to fully participate in group activities, offers new ways of working in class, the researchers say.The 'Star Trek classroom' could also help learning and teaching in other subjects. Lead researcher, Professor Liz Burd, said: "Our aim was to encourage far higher levels Of active student engagement, where knowledge is obtained by sharing, problem-solving and creating, rather than by passive listening.This classroom enables both active engagement and equal access." "We found our tables encouraged students to cooperate more effectively.We were delighted to observe groups of students improving their understanding of mathematical concepts.Such cooperation just did not happen when students used paper-based approaches." The teacher plays a key role in the classroom and can send tasks to different tables to individuals and groups.The teacher can also send one group's answers on to the next group to work on and add to, or to the board for a class discussion.A live feedback of the desks goes directly to the teacher who can come quickly to help an individual while allowing the group work to continue. Such a classroom may be some way off being a regular feature of schools across the.World due to the costs in setting it up.However, in just 3 years the project team have noted major improvements in the technology, and a reduction in costs. The author's attitude to cooperation learning in 'Star Trek classroom' is _ . Answer: One of the latest trend in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4,000 since 2004. And that's true all across the country. "I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age" Joseph Stocke, the managing director of s company, says of his 2-year old son. "I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future," After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says. Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn't want her children to miss out on their roots." Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to the language and culture." she says. "Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom," says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children."But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders. Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12." The popularity if au pairs from china has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years. What can we infer from the text? Answer: They only got engaged on Saturday, but it seems that Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes are planning on marrying in March. The pop stars are eager to tie the knot in just ten weeks in order for their big day to coincide with their birthdays. are both keen to turn the events into one big celebration. According to the Daily Star, the couple think it is the perfect excuse to have one huge party. "After getting engaged this Christmas, Rochelle and Marvin didn't waste any time in thinking about dates," a source told the newspaper. The couple apparently came to a mutual agreement that they would like to be married by the summer, and then the subject of their birthdays came up."Rochelle has been telling her pals how excited she is and that she loves the birthday idea," the source continued, "she thinks combining the events will make it the most amazing three--way celebration ever." JLS star Marvin proposed to Rochelle during a festive break in Antigua,and The Saturdays singer was keen to announce the news as soon as possible." _ " she tweeted on December 31. She also posted a photo of her and her husband-to-be in which she flashes her PS45,000 heart-shaped diamond engagement ring. What can be inferred from the passage? Answer: Do you know that you are not outgoing enough? Do you want to make friends, but are you too shy? Read the following rules. They will help you. Feel comfortable. Always be clean. Shower, brush your teeth, and try to look nice. Dress in clean clothes. They must make you feel good and comfortable. Those make you feel more confident . Smile more often. Try to smile more often at people. It will get them to think that you are friendly Then they'll talk to you more even if they don't know you. Just talk Some people worry about talking because they think,"What am I going to talk about with that person?" Outgoing people don't even think about it.They just go up to people and say what they think. Listen to people. You can't just talk. People will think that you're self-centered .You have to listen to others and give your ideas. Let them know what you think. Read the news. Don't just stay at home and do nothing. Surf the net for news and information, and talk about them when you're with friends. ,. If you smile at people, _ . Answer: Remembering your dreams will require some efforts on your part. But what your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself will be well worth _ Here are some tips to help recall your dreams: 1. Before going to bed, keep a clear mind. Tell yourself that "I will remember my dreams when I wake up". This is actually a proven and effective way to recall your dreams. 2. Have a regular bedtime and wake-up time. Make this your routine. Going to bed and waking up at a regular time every day could aid in dream recollection. 3. Avoid alcohol consumption and taking medicine before going to bed. These things may prevent you from remembering your dreams. 4. Keep a pencil and a notebook next to your bed so that they will be within reach as soon as you wake up. Having a small lamp by your bedside is also a good idea, so you wake up in the middle of the night and can record your dreams immediately. 5. Do not get out of bed immediately. Upon waking from a dream, lie still in your bed, keeping your eyes closed and moving as little as possible. Let your mind wander among the images of what you have just dreamed. 6. Write down as many details in your dreams as you can, no matter how seemingly unimportant they may be. Do not judge the content or worry if they make sense. 7. Sometimes it may help to draw pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Even if you are not an artist, a simple drawing can help to recall details of your dreams. Which of the following ways may NOT be useful for recalling dreams? Answer:
Everybody needs water. Everything needs water. We use water to wash the bowls , clothes and ourselves. We use water to plant trees, flowers and crops . Where does all water come from? It comes from clouds. Some of rain goes into the ground. Many people get it under the ground. Some rain water goes into the hills. It runs into lakes and rivers. Many people get it there. ,. Which statement(,) is right? _ . Answer: Many English people have three ninny, a first name, a middle name and a last name (or a family name).For example , my name is James Allen Green.James is my first name.Allen is my middle name.Green is my last name.People don't use Mr. , Mrs., Ms.or Miss before their first names.People should use them before their family names. But in China, people use Mr. Mrs. Ms.or Miss before their first names.Because( ) the first name is the family name.For example, my name is Lin Tao."Lin" is my family name, and "Tao" is my given name. ,. My name is James Alien Green.Which is my family name? _ Answer: Hello, everyone! My name is Winnie. I'm a 15-year-old girl. I live in the beautiful city of Rizhao. I'm an active , lovely and clever girl. In the school my favourite subject is Math. Maybe someone thinks it's difficult to study well. But I like it. I believe that if you try your best, everything can be done well. I also like sports very much, such as running, volleyball and so on. I'm kind. If you need help, please come to me. I hope we can be good friends! OK. This is me, a sunny girl! Why does Winnie like the difficult subject? Answer: On a sunny morning, children in Ganale stood in front of their new school and expressed their thanks to Tina Charles. Tina Charles, a woman member of the WNBA, plays for the women's basketball team of America. She understands the importance of education and of giving back to others. So the WNBA star made sure to support a school in an African village when she heard about the chance to give money to it. Charles first knew about the chance while she was in a college. But she didn't have the money to help out at that time. After she played for the WNBA, she made much money. With the help of charitable organizations , Charles donated $32,000 to the school. Charles did the charity work while playing basketball and getting ready for the London Olympics. She played for the team that had won the gold medal in the last four Olympic Games. And they got the fith gold medal in London. Charles always works hard on both working for the country in the Olympic Games and giving back to others."The more I give, the more happiness I get."she said. What's the Chinese meaning of WNBA? Answer: Miss Li is my English teacher. She is from Shanghai. She has one English class every day. Oh, no! She has two English classes on Tuesday. Miss Li has two daughters. One is in our class, Class Two. Sally likes sports. She plays soccer every day. Her favorite soccer player is Ronaldo from Brazil . Sally's twin sister Susan is in Class One. She doesn't like any subjects. She doesn't like to do her homework. She only likes playing with her friend, Jeff. Jeff is a white cat. Susan's friend is _ . Answer:
Question: Parents have widely different views on the problem of pocket money. Four new fathers were asked this question and this is how they answered. Ashish Khanna: Although many argue that pocket money helps develop children's sense of value, I don't agree. I wouldn't give my child any pocket money. First of all, I never got pocket money and I seem to have a good value for money. If my child ever needed something and I felt it was a reasonable request, I would buy it for him. Sharad Sanghi: No, I wouldn't give my child pocket money because I don't want to create the perception of "her" money and "my" money. Besides, if I refuse to buy her something that I think is bad for her, she may buy it with her pocket money _ In this way, I would lose control over my child's requests. I feel it also encourages children to care more about money than anything else. I don't want my child to start judging other children by the amount of money or pocket money they have. Rakesh Shah: Yes, I would give my child pocket money because I feel that children should learn to spend money properly. I will give him a fixed amount every month and if he spends the money before the month is over, he will learn a lesson and not spend money so freely. He will learn what his limitations are and feel the difficulty when he has to pay for something that is over his own pocket. Rajiv Patel: Yes, I would give my child pocket money because it is important that he learns to manage money. But I would not give it to him on a weekly or monthly basis. He would have to earn it. If he helped me finish some of my jobs or helped his mother with housework, I would reward him. This helps him realize that "money does not grow on trees" and it requires hard work to earn money. Who would give his child pocket money every month? A. Ashish Khanna. B. Sharad Sanghi. C. Rakesh Shah. D. Rajiv Patel. Answer: C Question: The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is an international organization that brings together zoos and aquariums to cooperate in efforts to advance the respectful, humane treatment of animals in our care, and to support the conservation of animals across the globe. WAZA was shocked and disappointed to learn of the inappropriate and damaging content in the new TV show Wonderful Friends, jointly produced by China's biggest zoo & circus company (Chimelong) and one of China's top TV companies (Hunan TV). The show dresses up chimpanzees in human clothes and markets them as "cute pets". The animals are placed in many stressful and harmful situations, in order to create "entertaining" story lines. It is disappointing to note that Chinese pop singer and actress Li Yuchun took part in this show, helping to popularize these misleading and inhumane practices. In one example, a young chimp bit an actress in the face right next to a zoo visitor, and then bit another actor leaving a wound on his hand. WAZA is strongly against practices and shows of this nature. Animals presented in such cruel and unnatural surroundings cannot contribute to serious conservation efforts. Presenting chimpanzees in unnatural and anthropomorphic settings suggests to viewers that they are not endangered and make great pets. Such shows are not only disrespectful to animals, they also lack any sort of conservation purpose. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, chimpanzees are now considered endangered, and wild populations are declining rapidly. WAZA recognizes that the growing popularity of television programmes such as Wonderful Friends can only increase the already-huge existing demand for chimpanzees as pets. WAZA requests the following: (1) The immediate cancel of this programme and similar shows wherever they may take place; (2) That all animals held in captivity be provided with the highest level of care; (3) That under no circumstances should chimpanzees be imported from the wild just for entertainment purposes. According to the passage, what is WAZA in favour of? A. Stopping importing chimpanzees. B. Never dressing any animals in human clothes. C. Taking good care of all the animals kept in places like zoos. D. Not showing Wonderful Friends on TV again after it is finished. Answer: C Question: How to survive an earthquake prefix = st1 /Indonesia is located on the edge of the volcanic ring that circles the Pacific. This means volcanoes and earthquakes, which can cause serious loss of life. Many people there have heard suggestions of what to do in an earthquake. For instance, they are taught to stand in a doorway or, in a building, avoid the elevators and head for the stairs. Mr. Doug Copp is an expert on earthquakes and is the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International. He has worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985. What his years of involvement have taught Doug is that when roofs and ceilings collapse they fall on objects and furniture, crushing them. Anyone hiding under a desk or a bed is always killed. However, Doug says the falling roofs and ceilings always end up forming triangle of space between the crushed object and the floor, what he refers to as Triangles Of Life. Instead of hiding under a solid object, lie on the floor next to it and you will likely have a space to survive. Doug says paper does not crush and usually where there are boxes of paper in an office building there will be a triangle space next to it. What about the old idea of standing in a doorway because the roof falls into the room? Dough says people who stand in doorways are usually killed, too. If the door falls forwards or backwards you will get crushed by the falling ceiling. If it falls sideways you will get cut in half by the doorway. What about stairs? Stairs have a different "moment of frequency " to the rest of the building and will swing back and forth until they collapse. Getting caught on a destroyed set of stairs means you will probably be injured or even killed by the different parts. If you are in bed when an earthquake happens, you should_. A. lie close to your bed B. hide under your bed C. head for the stairs D. stay where you are Answer: A Question: As we get older, most of us worry about grey hair, wrinkles and maintaining a youthful body. But people often don't realize the voice needs looking after. Here, Mr. Rubin, a voice expert, reveals how to keep your voice youthful. Drink more fluid and avoid spicy food You need water for the vocal cords to vibrate well. The body must be kept hydrated enough to make the vocal cords operate well. Drinking 1.5 liters of water a day at intervals of 15 minutes is very important. Mr. Rubin advises avoiding foods with an annoying effect on the stomach, such as onions, chili, fizzy drinks and chocolate. Rest the throat and talk regularly The vocal cords can be scared if you use your voice during a bad cough. If you have a case of laryngitis with a cold, you should rest your voice for a day or two, and seek medical advice. Simply staying sociable and using your voice is very important. "As older people get less mobile, they can become socially isolated and speak less." says Mr. Rubin. "The elderly need to communicate with people more. By using the vocal cords, they enable the ageing process to slow down. " Improve your posture Good posture is essential to keeping the voice young, so we'd better stand properly. Exercise helps you take deeper breaths as it means there is better airflow through the voice box, producing a stronger tone. Sing in the shower This is one of the best ways to preserve your voice, as it keeps the larynx muscles strong while the steam lubricates the voice box. "Singing is gymnastics for the voice," says Mr. Rubin. Joining a choir is one of the best ways to preserve a youthful tone. What can we learn from the text? A. Most people have realized the importance of protecting voice. B. It's hard to keep the vocal cords strong through exercise. C. Singing in the shower is among the best ways to keep our voice youthful. D. Shouting now and then benefits our vocal cords. Answer: C Question: Next Stop: Planet Mars Fly me to the moon? That's not far enough. On September 14, 2011, NASA released designs for a superrocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). This time the final destination will be Mars. The SLS is a huge, liquid-fuelled rocket. If it is fully developed, it will be the most powerful rocket ever built. Its lift capability will be much bigger than that of the space shuttle of Saturn 5, the rocket that sent the Apollo missions to the moon. NASA is planning to launch its first unmanned test flight in 2017. It is hoped that the first crew will fly in 2021 and astronauts will make it to a nearby asteroid in 2025. NASA hopes to send the rocket and astronauts to Mars from the asteroid by the 2030s, according to the Associated Press (AP). NASA used liquid rockets to send Apollo, Gemini and Mercury into space, but later changed to solid rockets boosters because they were cheaper. Tragically, however, a booster flaw caused the space shuttle Challenger to crash in 1986. The new project plans to return to liquid fuel. According to AP, the rockets will at first be able to carry 77 to 110 tons of payload . Eventually they will be able to carry 143 tons into space, maybe even as many as 165 tons, NASA officials said. By comparison, the Saturn 5 booster could lift 130 tons and the space shuttle just 27 tons. However, unlike reusable shuttles, these powerful rockets are mostly one use only. New ones have to be built for every launch. This will be very costly. NASA estimates that it will cost about $3 billion (19 billion yuan) per year, or $18 billion until the first test flight in 2017. NASA hopes to make money by allowing private companies to send astronauts to the International Space Station like giant taxi services, so that the program can be "sustainable". "This is perhaps the biggest thing for space exploration in decades," said Senator Bill Nelson, a former astronaut. "The goal is to fly humans safely beyond low-Earth orbit and deep into outer space where we cannot only survive, but one day also live." It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. the SLS program is planning to make reusable rockets B. the goal of the SLS program is to enable humans to live on the moon C. the US government may not have provided enough money for the SLS program D. NASA will use SLS as a space taxi between the Earth and Mars Answer: C
Keesh lived at the North Pole a long time ago. He lived near the edge of the polar sea. He was a bright thirteen-year-old boy with a strong, healthy body. His father was a brave man who had died during a food shortage in the village. His father tried to save the lives of his people by fighting a giant polar bear. Keesh's father was crushed to death during the struggle. But he killed the bear, and the meat from the bear kept the people from starving. Keesh was his only son, and he lived alone with his mother. But people are forgetful, and they soon forgot how Keesh's father had saved their lives. And since Keesh was only a boy and his mother was a woman and not a warrior , they were forced to live in the smallest and poorest igloo in the village. One night there was a council meeting in the large igloo of Klosh-Kwan, who was the chief. At that meeting Keesh showed how much courage he possessed. He rose to his feet and waited for silence. Then, with the dignity of an older man, he said, " It is true that my mother and I are given meat to eat. But the meat is always old and tough, filled with bones, and difficult to eat." The hunters--both the young and the old--were shocked to hear a child speak to them that way. But Keesh went on steadily, "Because my father, Bok, was a great hunter, I can speak these words. You know that Bok brought home more meat than any hunter in the village. The oldest woman, the weakest old man, received a fair share." Keesh waited calmly until the shouting died down. "My mother has no one except me, and therefore I must speak. My father put his life in danger and died, to provide food for this village. It is only right that I, his son and his wife should have enough good meat as long as there is plenty of good meat in this village. I, Keesh, the son of Bok, have spoken." He sat down. He could hear angry murmuring all around him. Some men began to shout at Keesh. They ordered him to leave. They threatened to punish him by not giving him any food at all. Keesh's eyes flashed and the blood pounded under his skin. In the midst of the noise and the uproar, he jumped to his feet. "Listen to me, you men!" he shouted. "I shall never speak in this council again--not until you come to invite me to speak. My father was a great hunter, and so will I be." They laughed at Keesh and followed him out of the igloo, shouting at him. But Keesh said nothing more. He walked away with his head raised, looking neither to the left nor the right.... ---Based on a story by Jack London From the passage we can infer _ . Answer: Keesh will prove his words by going out to hunt The word advertising refers to any kind of public announcement that brings products and services to the attention of people.Throughout history, advertising has been an effective way to promote the trading and selling of goods.In the Middle Ages,merchants employed "town criers" to read public messages aloud to promote their goods.When printing was invented in the fifteenth century, pages of advertisements (ads) could be printed easily and were either hung in public places or put in books. By the end of the seventeenth century, when newspapers were beginning to be read by more people, printed materials became an important way to promote products and services.The London Gazette was the first newspaper to set aside a place just for advertising. _ was so successful that by the end of the century several companies started businesses for the purpose of making newspaper ads for merchants. Advertising spread quickly throughout the eighteenth century.Ad writers were starting to pay more attention to the design of the ad text.Everything,from clothes to drinks,was promoted with clever methods such as repetition of the firm's name or product, words organized in eye-catching patterns,the use of pretty pictures and expressions easy to remember. Near the end of the nineteenth century, companies that were devoted to the production of ads came to be known as "advertising agencies " . The agencies developed new ways to get people to think of themselves as members of a group.Throughout the twentieth century, advertising agencies promoted consumerism as a way of life,spreading the belief that people could be happy only if they bought the "right" products. The l8th century advertising was special in its _ . Answer: attractive designs Drinking alcohol is a socially acceptable behavior in many parts of the world. Some medical experts say light drinking may even be good for your health, especially for the heart. But they say such health benefits should be compared to the many health risks connected with alcohol use. Some research suggests that having one to two drinks of alcohol a day may offer some health benefits. Several large studies have shown that this type of moderate drinking may lower the risk of heart disease and other diseases. A study last year suggested that drinking small amounts of red wine may help lower the risk of breast cancer in women. Researchers at Medical Center in California studied 36 women. Each woman drank a glass of red or white wine every day for almost a month. Researchers collected blood samples from the women two times a month to measure their hormone levels. The next month the women who drank red wine were told to drink white wine instead. The white wine drinkers were told to drink red wine. The researchers found that the women who drank red wine had lower levels of the female hormone than the white wine drinkers. They said red grapes have chemicals that may help to lower the risk of breast cancer. However, recent studies suggested that even small amounts of alcohol may generally increase the risk of breast cancer in women. They found that women who drink four small glasses of wine a week increase their risk of breast cancer by 15 percent. Many studies have examined the harmful effects of alcohol use on the body. Alicia Ann Kowalchuk serves as medical director, saying "Healthy use for adults --- that's men under age 65 --- is no more than 4 drinks in a day and no more than 14 drinks in a week. And for women of all ages, it's no more than 7 drinks in a week and no more than 2 drinks in a day." She says too much alcohol use has been linked to liver diseases, and many other cancers. What is the best title of this passage? Answer: Alcohol drinking can be both good and bad for you Having taken a room at the hotel at which he had been instructed to stay, Smallwood went out; it was a lovely day, early in August, and the sun shone in an unclouded sky. He had not been to Lucerne since he was a boy, but remembered a covered bridge, though not clearly, a great stone lion and a church in which he had sat, bored yet impressed while they played an organ ; and now wandering along a shady quay he tried not so much to find his way about a half-forgotten scene as to reform in his mind some recollection of the shy and eager boy, so impatient for life, who so long ago had wandered there. But it seemed to him that the most lively of his memories was not of himself, but of the crowd; he seemed to remember the sun and the heat and the people; the train was crowded and so was the hotel, the lake steamers were packed and on the quays and in the streets you found your way among the holiday-makers. They were fat and old and ugly and strange. Now, in wartime, Lucerne was as deserted as it must have been before the world discovered that Switzerland was the play-ground of Europe. Most of the hotels were closed, the streets were empty, the boats for hire rocked lazily at the water's edge and there was none to take them, and in the avenue by the lake the only persons to be seen were serious Swiss taking their dogs for their daily walk. Smallwood felt happy and, sitting down on a bench that faced the water, surrendered himself to the feelings. The blue water, snowy mountains, and their beauty hit you in the face. So long, at all event, as the fine weather lasted he was prepared to enjoy himself. He didn't see why he should not at least try to combine pleasure to himself with advantage to his country. We can infer that Smallwood went to Lucerne _ . Answer: to do something as told In litigation over the estate of Baggs, who died intestate, Payton, who is 18 years old, claimed to be Baggs's niece and entitled, therefore, to a share of his large estate. In support of her claim, Payton offered in evidence a Bible, properly identified as having belonged to Baggs's family, in the front of which was a list of family births, marriages, and deaths. The list recorded Payton's birth to Baggs's oldest sister. To prove that Payton is Baggs's niece, the Bible listing is Answer: admissible as a family record.
Marketing Professionals A major US corporation in the health and nutritional industry has announced the opening of its direct selling division in Taiwan. The company offers the most lucrative compensation plan in the industry and has paid over NTD 3.5 billion in commissions in just 6 years in the US. We are a group of top earners. Applicants should meet the requirements: (1) Taiwan citizen (2) Have experience in marketing (3) Aggressive, energetic, and willing to learn If you believe you have what it takes to develop this business, please dial 2742-6996. Job B An international company requires a Service Technician To service and maintain electronic medical equipment,applicants should have degree in electronics. The selected candidate will have a training program to be conducted by our manufacturer's trained technical personnel. Interested candidates please apply immediately with a resume and mail to P.O. Box 594. Or telephone Ms Chang at 2945-0027 for an immediate interview. Job C Wanted: Reporters & Editors Qualifications: * Strong command of English language * Chinese speaking and reading ability a must * A university degree * Journalism education and/or experience preferred * Flexible working hours (30 hours per week) * Good work environment and medical insurance, etc. Fax resume and work samples, if any, to The China Post at(03) 2595-7952. Job D Southeastern Travel Services Tour Guides Duties: To conduct escorted tours for foreign visitors;to assist with travel and transportation arrangements. Qualifications: Good appearance. High school diploma. Good knowledge of English. Outgoing personality. Dial 2703-2172 after 3 p.m.. Ask for Gary. Charles has a strong interest in technology service. Which phone number should he dial? Answer: Which of the following is true? Answer: During the summer holidays there will be a revised schedule of services for the students. Changes for dining-room and library service hours and for bus schedules will be posted on the wall outside of the dining-hall. Weekly film and concert schedules, which are being arranged, will be posted each Wednesday outside of the student club. In the summer holidays, buses going to the town center will leave the main hall every hour on the half hour during the day. The dining-room will serve three meals a day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm during the week and two meals from noon to 7:00 pm on weekends. The library will continue its usual hours during the week, but have shorter hours on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend hours are from noon to 5:00 pm. All students who want to use the library borrowing services must have a new summer card. This announcement will also appear in the next week's student newspaper. Times for films and concerts are not listed in this announcement because _ . Answer: Which of the following is an example of an escape strategy that is used to avoid being killed and eaten by predators? Answer: Scout Bassett is often asked if she hopes to have normal legs. Bassett answers, "No. When you lost a leg, it teaches you to appreciate little things - like being able to walk and run." Born in England, Bassett was left at an orphanage due to terrible burns. Her right leg was cut off above the knee. She felt hungry all the time. When she was old enough to get around, she was forced to clean floors, feed babies and wash dishes. And she had to do all that with an artificial leg that didn't work well. When she was 7, a family in Michigan adopted her, giving her an improved artificial leg. It was OK for everyday activities, but she couldn't play soccer or basketball. When she was 14, she got a high-tech leg made for sports. "I remember being terrified because that was my first time," she said. Scout Bassett was waiting nervously for the race to start when the athlete Sarah Reinertsen came up and said, "I've been doing this for a while. Let me help you." Reinertsen, who lost her leg when she was 7, works with an organization called the Challenged Athletes Foundation to help people like Scout Bassett. She lost that first race, but gained confidence from Reinertsen. Training hard, she improved her strength and skill. She even took up golf and tennis. Now, living in Califomia, Bassett runs competitively and finds time to share her story with school groups. She said, "Some people think they having nothing in common with me. I want to say everyone has challenges - maybe with homework or friends. No matter what it is, everything you need is inside your heart. Take small steps and you will reach your dream." What can be the best title for the text? Answer:
Question: Does eating a good breakfast improve school study? A study of more than 1,000 pupils in the city of Lawrence suggests it does. Youngsters who took part in the breakfast program improved their scores in the tests much more than those who didn't. Among those who attended the program, fewer were found late for school than those who didn't. And much fewer were found absent from their classes. "Starting the day with a meal appears to be quite helpful," says Amy Sampson, a research professor, who carried out the experiment on the students for a year. Students who miss breakfast may be losing out on important nourishment in fruit, milk, bread and so on. If you are in a hurry in the morning, get you some pieces of bread with some fruit or yogurt. In that case, you won't have to go to the selling machines for some chips or candy bars. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? A. Breakfast or not? B. 1,000 clever pupils. C. How to keep fit? D. How to become clever? Answer: A. Breakfast or not? Question: Female birds sit in what? A. assorted materials B. trash cans C. chimneys D. boxes Answer: A. assorted materials Question: No satisfactory way exists to explain how to form a good idea. You think about a problem until you're tired, forget it, maybe sleep on it, and then flash! When you aren't thinking about it, suddenly the answer arrives as a gift from the gods. Of course, all ideas don't occur like that but so many do, particularly the most important ones. They burst into the mind, glowing with the heat of creation. How they do it is a mystery but they must come from somewhere. Let's assume they come from the "unconscious." This is reasonable, for psychologists use this term to describe mental processes which are unknown to the individual. Creative thought depends on what was unknown becoming known. All of us have experienced this sudden arrival of a new idea, but it is easiest to examine it in the great creative personalities, many of whom experienced it in an intensified form and have written it down in their life stories and letters. One can draw examples from genius in any field, from religion, philosophy, and literature to art and music, even in mathematics, science, and technical invention, although these are often thought to depend only on logic and experiment. All truly creative activities depend in some degree on these signals from the unconscious, and the more highly insightful the person is, the sharper and more dramatic the signals become. A type of creative experience is illustrated by the dreams which came to Descartes at the age of twenty-three and determined his life path. Descartes had unsuccessfully searched for certainty, first in the world of books, and then in the world of men. Then in a dream on November 10, 1619, he made the significant discovery that he could only find certainty in his own thoughts, cogito ergo sum ("I think; therefore, I exist"). This dream filled him with intense religious enthusiasm. Descartes' experience is representative of countless others in every field of culture. The unconscious is certainly the source of instinctive activity. But in creative thought the unconscious is responsible for the production of new organized forms from ly disorganized elements. Good ideas come from _ according to the writer. A. the unconscious B. creative activities C. dreams D. logic and experiments Answer: B. creative activities Question: Teenagers around the world can be glad with the news that their brain deserves the blame when parents' orders go ignored while they tap on their smartphones. A new scientific study from the University College London has found that humans may suffer temporarily deaf when they're simultaneously focusing on something visual. Research found that the 13 volunteers experienced inattentional deafness to the normal-volume sounds playing in the background as their visual tasks became increasingly difficult. 'We found that when volunteers were performing the demanding visual task, they were unable to hear sounds that they would normally hear,' study co-author Maria Chait said in a statement. 'The brain scans showed that people were not only ignoring or filtering out the sounds, they were not actually hearing them in the first place.' The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggest that the visual and auditory processing centers that make sense of the sights and sounds that surround us share limited resources. Inattentional deafness is a common everyday experience and the study explains why, according to UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience Professor Nilli Lavie, a co-author of the study. 'This could also explain why you might not hear your bus or train stop being announced if you're concentrating on your phone, book, or newspaper. ''If you try to talk to someone focusing on a book, game, or television program and don't receive a response, they are not necessarily ignoring you, they simply might not hear you! ' she said. Loud sounds--like ambulance sirens--will still be able to break through, but some situations could become potentially dangerous when the quieter ones go unheard, according to Medical Daily. 'This has more serious implications in situations such as the operating theater, when a surgeon concentrating on their work might not hear the equipment beeping,' Lavie said. 'It also applies to drivers concentrating on complex directions as well as cyclists and motorists who are focusing intently on something such as an advertisement or even simply an interesting-looking passerby. If a person concentrates on a book _ A. you cannot expect him to respond to you B. he doesn't want to give you a reply C. he wants you to be away from him D. he may get angry because of your disturbance Answer: A. you cannot expect him to respond to you Question: Here are a lot of different cakes-fruit cakes,chocolate cakes,etc.Sometimes we buy them in a shop.Sometimes we make them ourselves. We like cakes.We like Christmas cakes a lot.My mother often makes cakes for us at Christmas.And I often help her to make them.To make a Christmas cake,we need these things: Half a kilo of flour ; 3 cups of milk; 4 eggs and some fruit,etc. Now we can make a cake with those things. How many eggs and how much fruit do we need to make a cake? A. Three eggs and some fruit. B. Much fruit and four eggs. C. Some fruit and some eggs. D. Four eggs and some fruit. Answer: D. Four eggs and some fruit.
If you have a chance to go to Finland, you will probably be surprised to find how "foolish" the Finnish people are. Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high-class Benz with a fare of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to attend to, and then walk off without paying your fare. The driver would not show the least sign of anxiety. The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also serve outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so they naturally go to the free dining rooms to have their meals. The most they would do to show their good faith is to wave their registration card to the waiter. With such a loose check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends to dine free of charge. The Finnish workers are paid by the hour. They are very much on their own as soon as they have agreed with the boss on the rate. From then on they just say how many hours they have worked and they will be paid accordingly. With so many loopholes in everyday life, surely Finland must be a heaven to those who love to _ . But the strange thing is, all the taxi passengers would always come back to pay their fare after they have attended to their business; not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. And workers always give an honest account of the exact hours they put in. As the Finns always act on good faith in everything they do, living in such a society has turned everyone into a real "gentleman". Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A While taking a taxi in Finland, you can get off without first paying your fare. B In a big hotel in Finland, you can enjoy free meals if you're living in the hotel. C The bosses in Finland pay the employees according to registration of t heir working hours. D The workers are always honest with their working hours. Answer: C The Collections of Chinese Ancient Cultural Relics Abroad: Volume Victoria and Albert Museum has just been published, the fruit of ten years' efforts by Chinese experts. The book is the first of an upcoming series that centers on ancient cultural heritage collections in different museums around the world. The book details 195 out of 18,000 items now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in England. More than 1.64 million ancient Chinese artifacts have been transported out of China because of different reasons such as wars and smuggling since the mid 19th century. More than 200 museums in 47 countries hold such collections, according to a report from UNESCO. "The information we now have about these pieces is still very patchy ," said Lu Zhangshen, curator of the National Museum of China. "In order to have a clearer picture about these items, National Museum of China decided to start the Chinese Ancient Cultural Relics Abroad book project in 2005. But after we began, we found it really difficult to collect information for every piece from each museum. That's why the first volume took us ten years." "The pieces in the book include 102 porcelains , 31 bronzes , 22 lacquer , 10 enamel vessels and so on," Liu Mingqian from Victoria and Albert Museum said. According to the National Museum of China, the volume of the Japanese museum Sen-oku Hakuko Kan is coming out soon and the museum will seek more cooperation from museums worldwide to accelerate the project. The main purpose of the passage is to _ . A compare and evaluate B inform and explain C argue and discuss D examine and explain Answer: B What is the hottest topic at your school recently? In Taiyuan No.55 Middle School, it's money. The school held an activity called "making money" last weekend. About 200 Junior 1 and Junior 2 students were divided into 30 teams. They went out to make money by selling things. What did they choose to sell? Some sold newspapers; some chose bottled water; some sold environmentally friendly shopping bags and bamboo baskets. Hu Qing's team decided to sell some useful books in front of the Children Activity Center. They thought parents would like to buy the books for their children. But unfortunately, they met urban management officers . The officers asked them to leave. "We played hide-and-seek with the officers for the whole morning" said Hu. "Finally we had to give up." Wang Bing and her team sold ice cream in a square. They didn't meet any officers. But few people were interested in what they were selling. The team then put up a board saying "For Country Kids". It worked. More people came to their stall . A foreigner even gave them 100 yuan. "He didn't want any change. He said he wanted to help the children," said Wang. "We were touched." Later that day they gave the 100 yuan and more to the "Project Hope" office. Meng Zhaoxiang and his team were luckier. They sold all their cakes in four hours, spending 39.5 yuan and getting back 80 yuan. They made 40.5 yuan. "It was not easy to make the money," said Meng. "Some people just looked. Others just tasted but didn't buy. Now I know how hard it is for our parents to make the money we need to lead happy lives." . In Taiyuan No.55 Middle School, what the students talk more about is _ . A the officers B money C the activity called "making money" D the money they made last weekend Answer: B Computers are good tools .The Internet is also good. But some people spend too much time online. They can't stop. Doctors say this is a new sickness. They call this sickness Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). People with IAD are online a lot. They spend hours chatting to their friends or playing online games. Many people with IAD spend more time on the Internet than with family or friends. Some people with IAD even quit their jobs! Do you have IAD? Think about these questions:How many hours a day are you online? Is it a lot or a little? When you are not online,are you thinking about playing a computer game or checking your messages? When you are online,do you forget the time? Do you get angry when you can't play a game? If you have IAD,what can you do? Dr. Ivan Goldberg and Dr. Kimberly S.Young have some ideas. First,ask yourself "Why am I online a lot?" Then try to take a break. For example,use the computer or play games twice a week,not every day. In this way,you can have a good social life with other friends. Ivan Goldberg and Kimberly S. Young _ A quit their jobs B are online a lot C have IAD D help people with IAD Answer: D A mother hen clucks loudly when danger is near and her chicks quickly gather around her. Which sense helps the chicks receive this warning about danger from their mother? A smell B taste C sight D sound Answer: D
C 8:30 PM Outlook Outlook is back with a new series of reports to keep you up date with all that's new in the world of entertainment. Stories go all the way from the technical to the romantic, from stage to screen. There will be reports of the stars of the moment, the stars of the future and the stars of the past. The director with his new film,he designer with the latest fashion and the musician with the popular song are part of the new Outlook . The program is introduced by Fran Levine. 9:00 PM Discovery When a 10-year-old boy gets a first class degree in mathematics or an 8-year-old plays chess like a future grand master, they are considered as geniuses . Where does the quality of genius come from? Is it all in the genes or can any child be turned into a genius ? And if parents do have a child who might become a genius in the future,what should they do? In this 30-minute film, Barry Johnson , the professor at School of Medicine , New York University will help you discover the answer . 10:00 P Science/Health Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs? The answer is "yes", according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers . After a study of 800 persons with high blood pressure , they found that after 6 months , those devoted to weight loss--exercise and eating a low--salt , low-fat food--lost about 13 pounds and became fitter . Plus , 35% of them dropped into the "normal" category . This week, Dr . Alan Duckworth will tell you how these people reduce their blood pressure to a level similar to what's achieved with Hypertension drugs . The main purpose of writing these three texts is_. Answer: to attract more people to watch TV programs Psychologists have known that what's going on inside our head affects our senses. For example, poorer children think coins are larger than they are, and hungry people think pictures of food are brighter. Professor Remi Radel wanted to investigate(look into) how this happens -- whether it's right away, as the brain receives signals from the eyes, or a little later, as the brain's higher-level thinking processes get involved. Radel chose 42 students and each student was told to arrive at the lab at noon after three or four hours of not eating on the day of the test. Then they were told there was a delay. Some were told to come back in 10 minutes; others were given an hour to get lunch. So half the students were hungry when they did the experiment and the other half had just eaten. For the experiment, the participant looked at a computer screen. One by one, 80 words flashed on the screen. A quarter of the words were food-related. After each word, the person was asked how bright the word was and asked to choose which of two words they'd seen -- a food-related word like gateau (cake) or a neutral word like bateau (boat). Hungry people saw the food-related words as brighter and were better at identifying food-related words. Because the word appeared too quickly for them to be reliably seen, this means that the difference is in perception , Radel says--it's not because of some kind of processing happening in the brain after you've already figured out what you're looking at. "This is something great to me, that humans can really realize what they need or what they hope for, to know that our brain can really arrange for our motives and needs," Radel says. "There is something inside us that selects information in the world to make life easier." In the experiment 20 words that flashed on the screen had something to do with " _ ". Answer: food Oscar-winning director Ang Lee' s new epic "Life of Pi" reveals the relationship between a teenage Indian boy and a Bengal tiger. But in reality, the predators are under increasing threat from humans. Animal rights group PETA is hoping to use the popularity of the film to focus people's attention on the real life of Bengal tigers. With the rising demand for tiger parts from East Asia, illegal hunting remains a tremendous danger for the remaining cat population. Back in 1947, there were 40,000 tigers in India, but the number is experiencing a sharp decline t0 1,706 despite campaigns to protect the animal. Rising man-animal conflict is also one of the leading causes of decline in tiger numbers. In one of numerous reported attacks on the endangered big cats, villagers near The Bangladesh-India border, armed with sticks and boat oars, set upon the animal suspected to have attacked a local fisherman and beat it to death earlier this month. So far this year, 58 tiger deaths have been reported in the country. "The first instinct when a tiger is spotted is to just kill it,"grieved Gurmeet Sapal, a wildlife filmmaker. "The feeling of fear and revenge is so strong that it shuts out any other emotion. What we don' t realize is that the tiger never attacks humans until it is forced to. "' India has been struggling to stop the tiger's decline in the face of the loss of habitat as well that encourages the animals to leave the forest for food. " The tiger's rapidly exhausted prey base causes the predator to go al! out to get its food. Consequently, livestock and human beings become easy prey, which leads inevitably to conflict," says a wildlife conservationist. Filmmaker Sapal says it is only normal for people to think of the tiger as a dangerous animal, but its image as a human killer bears some injustice. "Tigers never kill for sport nor store meat. They kill their prey only in case of hunger. " How can PETA take advantage over the hot movie " Life of Pi "? Answer: PETA can count on the movie to promote people' s awareness of tiger' s life. Morocco, a North African kingdom, is on the south of the Mediterranean Sea and on the east of the Atlantic Ocean, between Algeria and Western Sahara. Morocco became independent from France in 1956. People in Morocco speak Arabic, which is the official language. Some people speak French and Spanish. 98.7% of the people believe in Islam. The capital city of Morocco is Rabat. Casablanca, in the north of this country, is the largest city. The famous movie Casablanca tells a story which happened in this city. It seldom rains in Morocco. The coastal cities are not cold in winter (around 16degC) and not hot in summer (around 22degC). In the inland areas, winters are colder and summers warmer. High up in the mountains the temperature can be as cold as -17.8degCin winter, and mountain tops are covered with snow most of the year. The population of Morocco is about 31,000,000. Most children in Morocco go to primary school, but only about 39% of them go to secondary school. However, this country has one of the oldest universities in the world, hundreds of years older than Oxford University. It is Al Qarawiyin University in Northern Morocco, which was founded in AD 859. Which of the following word best describe the weather in Morocco? Answer: Various. A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!!!" To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountains: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Curious, he shouts: : "Who are you?" He receives the answer:" "Who are you?" And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!" Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward (one without courage)!" He receives the answer: "Coward!" He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?" The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." Again the man screams at the top of his voice: "You are a champion!" The voice answers: "You are a champion!" The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO , but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence." This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; life will give you back everything you have given to it." The boy is surprised because _ . Answer: he hears his screams repeated.
Mrs. Green's telephone number was three-four-six-three, and the number of the cinema near her house was three-four-six-four. So people often made a mistake and telephoned her when they wanted the cinema. One evening the telephone rang and Mrs. Green answered it. A tired man said, "At what time your last film begin?" "I'm sorry," said Mrs. Green, "but you have the wrong number. This is not the cinema." "Oh. It began twenty minutes ago," said the man, "I am sorry about that. Goodbye." Mrs. Green was very surprised, so she told her husband. He laughed and said, "The man's wife wanted to go to the cinema, but he was feeling tired, so telephoned the cinema. The man's wife heard him, but she didn't hear you. Now they will stay at home this evening and the husband will be happy." Why was Mrs. Green very surprised after she answered the telephone? Because _ . Answer: What's your earliest childhood memory? Can you remember the first time you heard thunder or watched a television program? Adults seldom recall events much earlier than the year or so before entering school, just as children younger than three or four rarely keep any memory of specific, personal experiences. A variety of explanations have been put forward by psychologists for this "childhood amnesia" . One argues that the _ , the region of the brain which is responsible for forming memories, does not mature until about the age of two. But the most popular theory thinks that, since adults do not think like children, they cannot access childhood memories. Adults think in words, and their life memories are like stories. But when they search through their mental files for early childhood memories to add to this verbal life story, they don't find any that fit the pattern. It's like _ . Now psychologist Annette Simms offers a new explanation for "childhood amnesia". She argues that there simply aren't any early childhood memories to recall. According to Dr. Simms , children need to learn to use someone else's spoken description of their personal experiences in order to turn their own short-term, quickly forgotten impressions of these experiences into long-term memories. In other words, children hear others talk about their experiences--Mother talking about the afternoon spent looking for crabs at the beach or Dad asking them about their day at Ocean Park. Without the help of this kind of verbal description, says Dr. Simms, children cannot form long-term memories of their personal experiences. According to the passage, it is widely believed that _ . Answer: Everyone has worries(,). How do you deal with(,) your worries? There is always something you can do to help yourself feel less worried. Sitting there worrying is no fun and it won't solve your problems. Grades(,) at school are often a top worry for children. If you worry most about grades, ask yourself these questions: * Why are grades important? What do grades mean to me? * How do I get ready for class? Do I go over my notes even when there isn't a test? * Do I have a good place to do my homework? * Have I tried different ways of studying? If your worry is about a fight you had with your friend, you might write down all the things you could do----write a note to him or her, invite him or her to watch a basketball game, say sorry to him or her and so on. Once you have a list of things you could do, you can choose one thing that could get your friend back. You can ask for help when you're worried. You can find someone to talk to, such as your parents, friends, and teachers. If you had a fight with a friend, you could _ . Answer: Burning wood was the only way to do what to your house back in the day? Answer: When I was fifteen months old.I fell on a glass rabbit which cut my eye badly enough to blind it.And as I grew,this sightless eye , in so many ways controlled me that I walked with my face looking at the floor so people would not see the ugly me. Yet Mama would hold me in her arms and stroke my hair and say,"If you hold your head up high,it will be OK.And people will see your beautiful soul."She continued this message whenever I wanted to hide. As a little child,I thought Mama meant,"Be careful or you will fall down or bump into something because you are not looking."As a teenager, I found that my mama's words helped me begin to realize that by letting people look at my face,I let them recognize the intelligence and beauty behind my eyes. In high school I was successful both academically and socially.I was even elected class president,but inside me I still felt like a freak .When things got really bad,I would cry to my mama and she would look at me with loving eyes and say, "Hold your head up high and face the world.Let them see the beauty that is inside." When I met the man who became my partner for life,we looked each other straight in the eye,and he told me I was beautiful inside and out.Mama's love and encouragement were the spark that gave me the confidence to overcome my own doubt. "Hold your head up high" has been heard many times in my home.Each of my children has felt its _ .The gift my mama gave me lives on in another generation. When the writer was a high school student,she _ . Answer:
Question: Dear Mrs. Smith, I was a students of yours in Grade Six, and I hope you still remember me. I'm writing this letter because I want to let you know that the school year with you was important and special to me. It made a big contribution to my life. I know I was very quiet in your class, and you never said much to me. But you did something that made a big difference in my life. You see, all through my first year in school, I hated to read. Books were just words that had very little to do with me, and I was bored by them. I'll never forget the first day of Grade Six when you took out a thick book and began to read the story to our class. Your voice seemed to change with the people in the story, I couldn't wait until after lunch when you would read to the class. You read us all kinds of wonderful books. During the summer after my year in your class, I missed hearing the stories you would read. So one day I picked up a book and read it all on my own. I found out that I could make the words interesting, too. I love to read! Thank you for opening the world of books for me. Yours, Jenny Mrs. Smith got Jenny to _ . A. enjoy reading B. enjoy drawing pictures C. write books D. read aloud Answer: A Question: A man went out with the wrong boots, one with a thick sole and the other with a thin one. As he began to walk, he felt uncomfortable, for one foot was higher than the other. He felt very strange and said, " Is there anything wrong with my legs today? Why is one of my legs long, and the other short? " A _ told him that he was wearing the wrong boots. He look down and found that it was really so. At once he asked his servant to go back home and get another pair. After a while the servant ran back to him. There was nothing in his hand. So he was angry and shouted at him, "Why didn't you get me the right boots?" "There's no need to change them," the servant said. "The pair at home is the same, one with a thick sole and the other with a thin one." The man's legs themselves _ . A. were shorter than before B. were longer than before C. were broken on his way D. were right as usual Answer: D Question: What exactly is a Dream Career? I am sure it means different things to different people. You could presently be unsure about what your final job would be. If you have any doubts about what your dream career is, you may know which careers you definitely would not like to do. For example, if you have an interest in art, and do not like math, you most certainly would not be an engineer .If you love art. and have no artist talent ,maybe you would like to be around art instead, as an art curator A career related to your passion, bobby, or special interest, is the path to follow in finding your dream job. Try thinking about what things you like to do in your spare time. Many are attracted toward turning what they love to do in their off work hours into a full time job. For example, if you like to put together model cars, maybe you would like opening your own hobby shop, or work for someone who owns one. Once you find what you arc interested in doing, you can then match this to a career which will be similar to what you are passionate about. What you consider a dream career has to centre around what kind of person you actually are. This is called your Career Personality. What type of person do you consider yourself to be? People are naturally attracted to those things which reflect who they are as unique individuals. For example, if you are slightly on the shy side, maybe you would like a job where you work on your own. relatively unsupervised ,behind a computer. If you are outgoing, maybe you would like to work with others, and be the supervisor. All it may take to find our dream career is to know ourselves a little better, trust in our own judgment, and be realistic about what we can attain occupationally: This is how I found what I am doing now. 55. It can be inferred from the passage that A. a dream job is one that most people are fond of B. people all want to turn their part-time jobs into full-time ones C. finding our dream career should follow different suggestions D. the author's present dream job is chosen by his personality Answer: D Question: 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 The text most probably comes from the writer's _ . A. blog B. telephone message C. note D. interview Answer: C Question: A person wants to conserve toothpaste so they will A. use it generously B. use it indiscriminately C. throw it out D. use it stingily Answer: D
Books are our best friends. They are very quiet, but we can always find both fun and knowledge once we open them. Here are two good books you can read during the holiday. Book: The Little Prince French writer :Antoine de Saint-Exupery Both adults and children love this classic book. It is about the adventure of a young prince. It shows the importance of innocence ( ) ,imagination and love. The little prince comes from planet B-612. In his eyes ,adults are all very strange. Unlike them, he sees the essence of things .He cares more about a flower and a sheep than the " important" things of adult world. The prince lives on his planet with a rose. He loves the rose very much. But he soon feels tired and leaves his planet. He meets many more strange adults on other planets. On Earth, he discovers interesting things such as a snake, other roses and a fox. The fox tells him a secret :Only the heart can discover the most important things. This helps the prince realize his love for the rose and he goes back to his planet. Book: To Succeed on One's Own( ) American Writer :Liu Yong Writer Liu Yong from Taiwan wrote this book for his daughter .It can help young people succeed. The book teaches you about student-teacher relationship, how to use your free time and even what kind of clothes to wear. It answers many of teenagers' most common questions. Liu uses his daughter's stories as an example to help readers understand the principles . His book is far from boring. There are lively stories and dialogues, with objective analysis ,hope and confidence from a good father. ,. What does " The Little Prince"talk about? It's about. Answer: Knots are the kind of stuff that even myths are made of.In the Greek legend of the Gordian knot, for example, Alexander the Great used his sword to slice through a knot that had failed all previous attempts to unite it. Knots, enjoy a long history of tales and fanciful names such as "Englishman's tie, " "and "cat's paw. " Knots became the subject of serious scientific investigation when in the 1860s the English physicist William Thomson (known today as Lord Kelvin) proposed that atoms were in fact knotted tubes of ether . In order to be able to develop the equivalent of a periodic table of the elements, Thomson had to be able to classify knots -- find out which different knots were possible. This sparked a great interest in the mathematical theory of knots. A mathematical knot looks very much like a familiar knot in a string, only with the string's ends joined. In Thomson's theory, knots could, in principle at least, model atoms of increasing complexity, such as the hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms, respectively. For knots to be truly useful in a mathematical theory, however, mathematicians searched for some precise way of proving that what appeared to be different knots were really different -- the couldn't be transformed one into the other by some simple manipulation . Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Scottish mathematician Peter Guthrie Tait and the University of Nebraska professor Charles Newton Little published complete tables of knots with up to ten crossings. Unfortunately, by the time that this heroic effort was completed, Kelvin's theory had already been totally discarded as a model for atomic structure. Nevertheless, even without any other application in sight, the mathematical interest in knot theory continued at _ point for its own sake. In fact, mathematical became even more fascinated by knots. The only difference was that, as the British mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah has put it, "the study of knots became a special branch of pure mathematics. " Two major breakthroughs in knot theory occurred in 1928 and in 1984. In 1928, the American mathematician James Waddell Alexander discovered an algebraic expression that uses the arrangement of crossings to label the knot. For example, t2-t+1 or t2-3t+1, or else. Decades of work in the theory of knots finally produced the second breakthrough in 1984. The New Zealander-American mathematician Vaughan Jones noticed an unexpected relation between knots and another abstract branch of mathematics, which led to the discovery of a more sensitive invariant known as the Jones polynomial. According to the passage, _ shows the most updated study about knots. Answer: Peter is thirteen years old. He is in Grade Two this year. He likes playing football and watching football matches. And he often reads newspaper. He does his best to know where and when 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 nice football match on TV at four this afternoon. He wants to watch it very much. But he is going 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's that? " "It's my father, Mr. Black." Peter often reads newspaper because _ . Answer: Keesh lived at the North Pole a long time ago. He lived near the edge of the polar sea. He was a bright thirteen-year-old boy with a strong, healthy body. His father was a brave man who had died during a food shortage in the village. His father tried to save the lives of his people by fighting a giant polar bear. Keesh's father was crushed to death during the struggle. But he killed the bear, and the meat from the bear kept the people from starving. Keesh was his only son, and he lived alone with his mother. But people are forgetful, and they soon forgot how Keesh's father had saved their lives. And since Keesh was only a boy and his mother was a woman and not a warrior , they were forced to live in the smallest and poorest igloo in the village. One night there was a council meeting in the large igloo of Klosh-Kwan, who was the chief. At that meeting Keesh showed how much courage he possessed. He rose to his feet and waited for silence. Then, with the dignity of an older man, he said, " It is true that my mother and I are given meat to eat. But the meat is always old and tough, filled with bones, and difficult to eat." The hunters--both the young and the old--were shocked to hear a child speak to them that way. But Keesh went on steadily, "Because my father, Bok, was a great hunter, I can speak these words. You know that Bok brought home more meat than any hunter in the village. The oldest woman, the weakest old man, received a fair share." Keesh waited calmly until the shouting died down. "My mother has no one except me, and therefore I must speak. My father put his life in danger and died, to provide food for this village. It is only right that I, his son and his wife should have enough good meat as long as there is plenty of good meat in this village. I, Keesh, the son of Bok, have spoken." He sat down. He could hear angry murmuring all around him. Some men began to shout at Keesh. They ordered him to leave. They threatened to punish him by not giving him any food at all. Keesh's eyes flashed and the blood pounded under his skin. In the midst of the noise and the uproar, he jumped to his feet. "Listen to me, you men!" he shouted. "I shall never speak in this council again--not until you come to invite me to speak. My father was a great hunter, and so will I be." They laughed at Keesh and followed him out of the igloo, shouting at him. But Keesh said nothing more. He walked away with his head raised, looking neither to the left nor the right.... ---Based on a story by Jack London How did Keesh's father die? Answer: The Future of Technology William, a businessman, arrives in a foreign airport. He doesn't show his passport. Instead, a machine in the wall reads the computer chip in his arm. This contains information about him: his name, age, and I.D number. He exits the airport, and a car door opens when it "sees" him. The car takes him to his hotel. His room "knows" he has entered the building and it "reads" his body. He is cold, so the room becomes warmer. William then watches a business presentation on a video wall. When he takes a bath, the presentation "follows him and continues on the bathroom wall. Finally, the room plays music to help him sleep. It turns off the music when it "sees" him sleeping. William doesn't exist, and none of this is real. But it might be soon. "In five to ten years, computing and communications are going to be free and everywhere, in your walls, in your car, on your body,' says Victor Zue, leader of Project Oxygen. Project Oxygen has one big idea: to create better relationships between machines and people. The dream is that computer will learn to understand what people want. So, what changes will there be at work? Firstly, the building will know where everyone is, all the time. You want to talk to someone? Type the person's name on the nearest computer. It will show you a map of the building and exactly where this person is. You then call this person, who picks up the nearest telephone, also shown on the computer. If he or she is busy with a client or in a meeting, the computer will tell you. Is all this really possible? Visit the Siebel Center, Illinois and see for yourself: computers in the doors and walls, cameras everywhere, the technology of the future, but here today. William doesn't' show his passport because _ . Answer:
Do you want to have a trip? Hope Farm can give you a nice experience this autumn. On the farm, you can meet animals and take a walk through the garden and greenhouse. How about making friends with the plants there? Our teachers will tell you the differences or _ of all the plants. You can also take a look at the honeybees, learn more about then and maybe even taste some honey! There is a hill beside the farm. Picking apples at the foot of the hill is an interesting activity. After that, how about climbing it with your friends? You are able to see the fantastic view at the top of the hill. The price of each trip is $50 for a group of ten students. You can visit the traveling club in our school to order a trip. You can _ at the foot of the hill. Answer: The Girl From the Street The workers who brought the girl to the orphanage knew little about her. The streets where they found her had been her home for many years. Her parents were unknown. They left her long ago. At the orphanage, the girl, like all the children there, was taught to read and write. While she was studying at the orphanage, she learned something else--to be independent . At twenty-one, she left the orphanage and began working as a secretary. And then, in 1975, while she was still working as an ordinary secretary, something special happened. She entered the Miss Hong Kong competition and won it. This was the turning point in her life. Now her name, Mary Cheung, was known to everybody. Mary entered the competition because she wanted to show that orphanage girls could be something. Winning the competition gave her the chance to start a new life. This led her first into television and then into business as a manager. When she was working as a manager, she had trouble with her reports. "My English just wasn't good enough." She says. Luckily, she had a boyfriend (who later became her husband) to help her. Mary studied management at Hong Kong and graduated in 1980, She started her own business in 1985. But she did not stop developing herself. She then studied at the University of Hong Kong. Since 1987, she had spent a lot of time on photography. She has held several exhibitions of her work in many places---China, New Zealand and Paris. She still found time, however, to work on TV, write for newspapers and bring up her family. The girl from the street has come a long way, but her journey is not finished yet. Before Mary Cheung was brought to the orphanage, _ . Answer: Who Is Kimberly Kirberger? Kimberly Kirberger is the president and founder of Inspiration and Motivation for Teens, Inc. (I. A. M. for Teens, Inc. ) a corporation formed exclusively to work for teens. It is her goal to see teens represented in a more positive light and it is her strong belief that teens deserve better and more positive treatment. She spends her time reading the thousands of letters and stories sent to her by teen readers and traveling around the country speaking to high school students and parents of teens. She has appeared as a teen expert on many television and radio shows. Kimberly says that the College Soul book has been an amazing journey. In getting close to and heating from so many teenagers she kept hearing about this very emotionally packed time that begins with application to college and extends through the four-year experience. It became clear to her that this was a time of life that was filled with many challenges and that college students could really benefit from a book like this. For her, it was simply a continuation of a commitment that she has made to teenagers to do what she can to inspire and motivate them while letting them know there are people who believe in them. Kimberly is the coauthor of the bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and the New York Times bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II, as well as Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Journal . She is also the co-author of the forthcoming Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III, and the author of Teen Love: On Relationships, a Book for Teenagers. Kimberly started the Teen Letter Project with Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Health Communications, Inc. The Project is responsible for answering the heartfelt letters received from teenagers and also reaching out to teens in trouble and encouraging them to seek professional help. To book Kimberly for a speaking engagement or for further information on any of her projects, please contact: I. A. M. for Teens, Inc. P. O. Box 936, Palisades, CA 90272 phone: 310-573-3655 fax:. 310-573-3657 e-mail for stories: stories @ teenagechickensoul. com e-mail for letters: letters @ teenagechick Web site: www. Teenagechickensoul. com What's the purpose of the Teen Letter Project? Answer: Toyota Motor Corp, Japan's biggest carmaker, said on Friday it will recall 1,489 Lexus sedans sold in China. "It will take us some time to ship the fuel tanks and vent pipes to China to change those in these Lexus sedans for customers free of charge, if problems are found," said Yang Hongjian, a spokes- woman of Toyota's China representative office. The expected recall will affect Lexus LS430 sedans made in Japan from July 29, 2003 to January 14, 2004, the representative office said in a statement. Toyota has not received complaints from Chinese customers, according to the statement. The move will be part of Toyota's global recall of 18,200 Lexus LS430s. It will be the third car recall in China in two weeks. Although automobile recall is a common practice in developed markets, it remains new to Chinese customers. The Chinese government published long-awaited automobile recall rules on March 15, which will be officially carried out at the beginning of October. China's auto market is forecast to reach 10 million units by 2010. Automakers, especially Chinese producers, will face greater pressure from automobile recalls, which could be very costly sometimes, and should be in full preparations, according to the expert. The Japanese carmaker sold 1, 549 Lexus vehicles on the Chinese mainland during the first five months of this year, according to Yang. Lexus sales on the mainland reached 4,000 units last year, up from 1,600 units in 2002. (China Daily July 3, 2004) It is implied in the passage that _ . Answer: Vendor owned Greenacre, a tract of land, in fee simple. Vendor entered into a valid written agreement with Purchaser under which Vendor agreed to sell and Purchaser agreed to buy Greenacre by installment purchase. The contract stipulated that Vendor would deliver to Purchaser, upon the payment of the last installment due, "a warranty deed sufficient to convey the fee simple." The contract contained no other provision that could be construed as referring to title. Purchaser entered into possession of Greenacre. After making 10 of the 300 installment payments obligated under the contract, Purchaser discovered that there was outstanding a valid and enforceable mortgage on Greenacre, securing the payment of a debt in the amount of 25% of the purchase price Purchaser had agreed to pay. There was no evidence that Vendor had ever been late in payments due under the mortgage and there was no evidence of any danger of insolvency of Vendor. The value of Greenacre now is four times the amount due on the debt secured by the mortgage. Purchaser quit possession of Greenacre and demanded that Vendor repay the amounts Purchaser had paid under the contract. After Vendor refused the demand, Purchaser brought an appropriate action against Vendor to recover damages for Vendor's alleged breach of the contract. In such action, should damages be awarded to Purchaser? Answer:
What is lava found above? natures floor Sun Li has bumped into the headline of the press recently not because of her role of an actress but of a sponsor of a university student. The student named Zhang Haiqing, who studies in prefix = st1 /ShanghaiFisheriesUniversity, wrote a letter to a reporter named Qiu Zhaoju working in Chongqing Satellite TV , saying that Sun, who had sponsored him for two years, stopped the financial aid after his entry into university and insulted him with words like "you are no better than a pet dog. " In 2002, Sun decided to sponsor the student who had lived in a poverty-stricken area when she shot a TV series in YunnanProvince. According to Sun's spokeswomen Ms. Wang, the actress and her mother bought pens, notebooks, even a mobile phone and a camera besides tuitions for him. Qiu revealed the complaint in his blog, which has soon set off a heated debate over whether Sun should stop or continue her aid to Zhang. Most of netizens who responded to the news expressed strongly different views to-wards the issue. The issue has answered for an old Chinese saying that longtime sponsorship will lead to hatred, an article written by a reader named Yin Guo'an on people. com. cn. The saying tells us that longtime contacts will set off conflicts. If Sun had donated 5,000 yuan to Zhang once and for all, the student would have had heartfelt gratitude for her. Now, however Sun's two -year-old funding has induced his complaint. It could be seen, the article said, that Sun had planned to shoulder Zhang's tuition until his graduation from university, as showed the actress' responsible attitude. As a student being sponsored, Zhang should have some self-control so he could neither feel justified to ask for constant help nor return kindness with hatred, the article suggested. The reporter Qiu also voiced his own views on kindness. There is no real kind and enmity between Sun and Zhang, he said. Both parties have not done something wrong, the reporter believed, _ , which results in mis-understanding and such a result no one could expect at the very beginning. That is why he put the student's letter in his blog, the reporter explained. "I want you to think of the questions: why will a kind action lead to a bad ending? How should we help an innocent student deal with the action? What sort of kind actions will get the best result?" The sponsoring matter between Sun Li and Zhang Haiqing was probably first released _ . on the Internet If something consumes air, then it has capacity to grow Due to plates gliding over our planet's mantle, why is Vancouver likely to be destroyed? it sits on an active fault line When you turn on the radio, you hear an advertisement. When you watch television, you hear and see an advertisement. If you turn the pages of a newspaper or magazine, again you find an advertisement. If you walk down the street, you see one advertising board after another. All day, every day, people who want to sell you something compete to catch your attention. As a result, advertisements are almost everywhere. In the West, advertisements are the fuel that makes mass media work. Many TV stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations are privately owned. The government does not give them money. So where does the money come from? From advertisements. Without advertisements, there would not be these private businesses. Have you ever asked yourself what advertising is? Through the years, people have given different answers to the question. For some time it was felt that advertising was a means of "keeping your name before the public." And some people thought that advertising was "truth well told." Now more and more people describe it in this way: Advertising is the paid, non-personal, and usually persuasive description of goods, services and ideas by identified sponsors through various media. First, advertising is usually paid for. Various sponsors pay for the advertisements we see, read, and hear over the various media. Second, advertising is non-personal. It is not face to face communication. Although you may feel that a message in a certain advertisement is aimed directly at you, in reality, it is directed at large groups of people. Third, advertising is usually persuasive. Directly or indirectly it tells people to do something. All advertisements try to make people believe that the product, idea, or service advertised can do good to them. Fourth, the sponsor of the advertisement must be identified. From the advertisement, we can see if the sponsor is a company, or an organization, or an individual. Fifth, advertising reaches us through traditional and nontraditional mass media. Included in the traditional media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and films. Nontraditional media include the mail, matchbox covers, and billboards. The existence of the privately-owned mass media depends financially on _ . advertisements
Monitoring global warming usually requires a Ph. D. and enough maths to glaze your eyes. But that Francisco Lopez and Ruby Nostrant track what climate change is doing to five different plants in Tucson, Arizona and they are only in the second grade. "We are collecting data because the weather is changing and the plants are blooming," Ruby explained. Scores of other students at Borton Primary Magnet School and Sunnyside High School in Tucson are heading outdoors to be part of a new scientific push to figure out how the biological timing of the earth is changing. It's a research project that the average person, even a kindergartner, can join in. The National Phenology Network is calling on volunteers to help track early spring blooms and eventually changes in animals caused by global warming. It's called Project Budburst. When it was first open to the public last year, thousands of people participated in 26 states. "All people can contribute to it by tracking the timing of flowering events or leaf-out events for plants and animals in their backyard," said Phenology Network director Jake Weltzin. He calls the volunteers "citizen-scientists." The idea is that tracking flowers blooming--especially lilacs ; which everyday people have helped track for decades--is fairly simple. The Website http://www.Windows.ucar.edu/ citizen _ science/budburst/index.html gives directions on what to look for in different parts of the country. University of Maryland professor David Inouye said it's so easy to figure out what's blooming that a lack of special knowledge isn't a problem. University of Arizona ecology graduate student Lisa Benton coordinated the Tucson high school students as they looked at plants five minutes from their high school. Each student has specific guidelines and she's been happy so far with the data she is getting. For his part, second-grader Francisco said he had fun helping out. "I like going out in the desert," he said. "I want to be an Einstein." Who is primary school student joining in the Project Budburst? A. Lisa Benton. B. David Inouye C. Francisco Lopez. D. Jake Weltzin. Answer: C. Francisco Lopez. There was once a farmer who had a fine olive orchard. He was very hardworking, and the farm always prospered under his care. But he knew that his three sons despised the farm work, and were eager to make wealth, through adventure. When the farmer was old, and felt that his time had come to die, he called the three sons to him and said, "My sons, there is a pot of gold hidden in the olive orchard. Dig for it, if you wish it." The sons tried to get him to tell them in what part of the orchard the gold was hidden, but he would tell them nothing more. After the farmer was dead, the sons went to work to find the pot of gold. Since they did not know where the hiding-place was, they agreed to begin in a line, at one end of the orchard, and to dig until one of them should find the money. They dug until they had turned up the soil from one end of the orchard to the other, round the tree-roots and between them. But no pot of gold was to be found. It seemed as if someone must have stolen it, or as if the farmer had been wandering in his wits. The three sons were bitterly disappointed to have all their work for nothing. The next olive season, the olive trees in the orchard bore more fruit than they had ever given. When it was sold, it gave the sons a whole pot of gold. And when they saw how much money had come from the orchard, they suddenly understood what the wise father had meant when he said, "There is gold hidden in the orchard. Dig for it, if you wish it." Why didn't the sons find the pot of gold? A. There was no gold in the soil. B. The farmer cheated them. C. The gold was hidden in the olive trees. D. Someone had stolen the gold. Answer: A. There was no gold in the soil. Long ago, there was a queen who lived in a palace. She felt bored and said to her advisor( ), "AIl the things around me are too boring. I need a different kind of beauty. Let everyone know that I will hold a competition for the most beautiful thing in the world. And the prize will be this crown ." Several days later, lots of people came to the competition and showed their things. The queen was not satisfied with what she saw. The advisor suggested, "What you are looking for cannot be brought to you. You must look for it by yourself. What about a journey?" The queen was interested in the idea, so she started immediately. As she was on top of the hill near her palace, she looked down and suddenly something cried in her heart. "Why have I never found my palace so beautiful?" The queen spent one year travelling. She saw beauty on the farm, in the forest and even in the stars twinkling at night on her journey. But what was the most beautiful thing? She thought it over. Suddenly, she understood beauty was everywhere. She should learn to enjoy the world. She left the pieces of her crown at different places that she had seen. As time went by, the queen's crown got smaller and smaller until nothing was left. She found the most beautiful thing at last. It was the world! The queen wanted to _ for the most beautiful thing in the world. A. hold a competition B. buy a new crown C. go on a journey D. see stars twinkling Answer: A. hold a competition The engineer Camillo Oliver was 40 years old when he started the company in 1908. At his factory in Ivrea, he designed and produced the first Italian typewriter, Today the company 's head office is still in Ivrea, near Turin, but the company is much larger than it was in those days and there are offices all around the world. By 1930 there was staff of 100 and the company turned out 13,000 machines a year. Some went to customers in Italy, but Olivetti exported more typewriter to other countries. Camillo's son, Adriano, started working for the company in 1924 and later he became the boss. He introduced a standard speed for the production line and he employed technology and design specialists. The company developed new and better typewriters and then calculators .In 1959 it produced the ELEA computer in Italy. After Adriano died in 1960,the company had a period of financial problems. Other companies, especially the Japanese, made faster progress in electronic technology than the Italian company. In 1978,Carlo de Benedetti became the new boss. Olivetti increased its marking and service networks and made agreements with other companies to design and produce more advanced office equipment. Soon it became one of the world's leading companies in information technology and communications. There are now five independent companies in the Olivetti group - one for personal computers, one for Systems and services, and two for telecommunications. From the text we learn that _ . A. by 1930 Olivetti produced 13,000 typewriters a year B. Olivetti earned more in the 1960s than in the 1950s C. some of the 700 staff regularly visited customers in Italy D. Olivetti set up offices in other countries from beginning Answer: A. by 1930 Olivetti produced 13,000 typewriters a year Some people can stay up all night and still get work done the next day. I'm not one of them. After a night without enough sleep, I feel bad-tempered. I have trouble remembering things. And all I want to do is go to bed. How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork or the day after an overnight party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes. New research suggests that a gene called "period 3" influences how well you function without sleep. The "period 3" gene comes in two forms: short and long. Everyone has two copies of the gene. So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each. Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies of "period 3". Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers. Results showed that the people with the short form of "period 3" performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did. In both groups, people performed worst in the early morning. After the first round of experiments, participants were finally allowed to sleep. People in the group that performed well on the tests (those with the short form of "period 3") took about 18 minutes to nod off. While people with the long "period 3" gene fell asleep in just 8 minutes. They also spent more time on deep sleep. That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working in top form. I think I must have the long form of "period 3". What about you? Why did the writer think he or she had the long form of "period 3"? A. Because the writer could remain energetic without enough sleep. B. Because the writer could do things correctly at dawn. C. Because the writer needed more sleep to keep energetic. D. Because the writer recovered quickly after sleep. Answer: C. Because the writer needed more sleep to keep energetic.
While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a beach near a playground. "That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. "He's a fine-looking boy," the man said. "That's my son on the swing in the blue sweater." Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son," What do you say if we go, Todd?" Todd pleaded , "Just five more minutes, Dad. please? Just five more minutes." The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart's contently . Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. "Time to go now?" Again Todd pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "Okay." "Oh, you are certainly a patient father," the woman said. The man smiled and then said ,"My older son Tommy was killed by a drunken driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Todd." "He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is ...I get five minutes to watch him play." ,A, B, C, D,. (10) The woman thought the man was _ with his son. Answer: A 15-year-old Saanich student who invented a flashlight powered by body heat is heading home today from California with a big prize--and an opportunity to expand on her work. St. Michaels University School student Ann Makosinski was the only Canadian among the four winners at Google's annual international science fair, beating out thousands of other young scientists from around the world. Winning the international contest was "a total shock", Ann said from San Francisco. "I definitely think it will have an influence on my future." Ann thanked her family for encouraging her interest in science, telling the judges that her first toy was a box of transistors . Ann's prize includes a $25,000 scholarship and a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" from either the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Lego or Google for her Hollow Flashlight, which has no moving parts or batteries. Ann created the flashlight for a local science fair. The inspiration for the invention came from seeing unwanted batteries and after visits to the Philippines, where she saw the need for a battery-free flashlight. A friend at school there failed in her studies because of a lack of electricity and light to study when it became dark. In her project, Ann wrote that she "made two flashlights that do not use any batteries, harmful chemicals, or kinetic energy . They do not create any noise and will always work. The flashlight's only limitation is its need for at least a 5degC temperature difference to provide usable light." A You Tube video of Ann explaining how she created the flashlight has been viewed more than 1.4 million times. Despite her success, the private school student is undecided about her career path. Ann hopes she can find a way to combine her love of film with science. The four winners were chosen from 15 finalists from eight countries. The contest attracted thousands of entries from students in 120 countries. What made Ann want to develop a battery-free flashlight? Answer: Intense heat and pressure in Earth's crust can change sandstone into quartzite. During this metamorphosis, many properties of these rocks change. Which property of these rocks will most likely remain the same? Answer: In China,people born in and after the 1980s are called the post-80s generation .Most of them come from single-child families. However,this generation is playing a more and more important part in China,and their image in people's minds is changing.Han Han,a popular youth writer,is one of them. Han Han was born in 1982 in Shanghai.His talent for writing was clear at an early age.When he was 17,he drew the public's attention with the article Viewing the People through the Glass. The article won first prize in the national New Concept Composition Competition.Later,Han Han again surprised the public by leaving high school. "I did poorly in Grade One of high school and failed to move up to the next grade. I tried my best to improve my studies,but failed ,so I gave up. However ,I am always learning, since learning and going to school are two different things." Han Han said. Han Han's first novel Three Folded Gates sold very well in China.Later the book wastranslated into several languages and sold abroad. In the following years,Han Han wrote a lot of books. All of them were welcomed by the market.In 2006,he started blogging and had great success. Today,Han Han's blog has become one of the honest blogs on the Internet. What does the passage mainly talk about? Answer: Who is greatest teacher in Chinese history? You can't think of anyone else when you hear people read Confucius 2,500 year-old words: "All study but no thinking makes people puzzled." All thinking but no study makes people lazy. Tuesday was Confucius' birthday. He was born on September 28,551 BC in the Kingdom of Lu , in today's Shandong Province. Chinese look upon Confucius as the greatest thinker and also the greatest teacher. He had about 3,000 students. For more than 2,000 years, Confucius' ideas have been around in people's everyday lives. Now they have gone far into Western countries and south Asia. People can still hear _ today. Why are his ideas so popular? They help not only in everyday life but also society. Confucius' most important ideas are kindness and good manners. Confucius said young people should take care of the old. People should give up thinking of themselves and work for others. As a great teacher, Confucius said that all should go to school if they wanted to learn. Some of Confucius' popular words are "A kind person should care others" and "Be strict with yourself, but be kind to others". People use his ideas to help themselves and society. Now, more than 100 Internet web sites are teaching people about Confucius and his ideas. "Kindness and honesty are the best values of the world today," said 79-year-old Kong Fanjin who was studying Confucius. Confucius was not only a greatest teacher but also a greatest _ . Answer:
Americans think much about time. From childhood they learn to value time. They are taught to be on time to go to school, to work and to do everything. When they are having a good time, they say that time goes easily. When a person is dying, they say he is living on a borrowed time. Time is money. Time is knowledge. Time is everything in America. A working American has to work hard for eight hours a day or forty hours a week. This is the working time. In his free time, he also works hard for more money. Even on Saturday and Sunday he also works hard as usual. In the street you can hardly see a man walking slowly. They walk very fast. In fact, they are running. They love time because time can bring them money and lots of things. But sometimes they also hate time , because they feel they have become servants of the clock . This passage says that a dying person _ . A is having a good time B is living on a borrowed time C thinks time goes easily D is saving time Answer: B So there are four of them in this car heading north from Coleman in the heart of Texas to the town of Abilene , some 53 miles away. It is a hot day, and the drive is dusty and boring. Someone has had the bright idea to interrupt a nice family game of dominoes to go on a four-hour round-trip to eat at a really not very good restaurant. When they are back home again, one family member admits that she hasn't enjoyed herself all that much. One by one they all confess that they would rather have stayed at home. "I only went along with it because I thought the rest of you wanted to go," says everyone. No one wanted to go to Abilene. It had just happened. This story was first told by Professor Jerry Harvey in an article published in 1974 calledThe Abilene Paradox and other meditations on management. It offers a wonderful insight into the way that decisions can sometimes just emerge, without ever being consciously "made". Whether they mean to or not, groups exert a pressure to conform . A senior management team can find itself a long way down the track to a bad decision without realizing that the idea has very little support around the table. Close-knit teams are easily influenced by the pull of groupthink. The late Professor Janis suggested several ways in which teams can avoid it. Two key steps are to invite experts from outside into meetings, and to appoint at least one person to the role of "devil's advocate" -- a role that should be played by different people in different meetings. When they are back home, they find that _ . A they have not really trusted each other B they have all enjoyed the trip except one family member C they would have had a better time if they had stayed at home D they have all had a good time although none of them wanted to go Answer: C To win an Oscar is an achievement at any age. To do so at 22, as Jennifer Lawrence has, is just amazing. Recently, the American star won Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards for her role in the film The Silver Linings Playbook. According to Time magazine's Richard Corliss, Lawrence is that rare young actress who "lends a mature intelligence to any role". Though Lawrence has found great success through her big screen work, Lawrence wasn't sure what she really liked doing before the age of 14. She thought she'd go to college and maybe find a career as a doctor or a travel agent. Lawrence's two brothers were star athletes and one of them was a straight-A student. Unlike them, she suffered through school, never quite finding where she belonged. However, during a trip to New York, Lawrence suddenly realized that she wanted to be an actress. When she was enjoying the beautiful city, a model seeker asked if he could take her picture, and the next day he called her in for an audition . "I read the script and it was the first time I had that feeling like I understand this," Lawrence said. "Within 20 minutes, in the cab ride from the hotel room, I decided I didn't want to be a model. In fact, I wanted to be an actress." Having appreciated this young lady's performance, the agency was so impressed with her reading that they signed her on the spot. But she insisted on finishing high school so she could give her full attention to her acting career. Lawrence burst onto the Hollywood scene last year with The Hunger Games, which established her as the highest-grossing female action hero of all time. Rolling Stone called her"the most talented young actress in America". Lawrence made up her mind to be an actress because of _ . A a model interview B her brothers' examples C the taxi-ride to her hotel room D the beautiful scenery of New York Answer: A Organisms that consume wastes to obtain the nutrients they need to survive are classified as A decomposers B herbivores C predators D producers Answer: A Tea bag drinking is most westerners' favorite way of drinking tea. Do you know how it came about? The tea bag was invented in 1908 by Thomas Sullivan, an American tea seller. He was sending out free tea in silk bags for people to try. People put the bags together with the tea leaves into the cup and added hot water. The tea tasted good, and people thought it was easy to clean the cup. They were not happy when Sullivan started sending them loose tea again. Sullivan realized that he had a hot new thing in his hands, and he built a machine to pack the bags. As tea bags became popular, they were changed from silk to gauze and later paper. In 1952, Lipton Tea made the tea bag even more popular with its invention of the four-sided tea bag. _ , and today 85% of the tea in the UK is packed in paper bags. However, many people still prefer loose-leaf tea. This is because some tea companies put not very good tea in their tea bags. But for most drinkers, tea bags are still the easy, tasty way to go. This sentence "today 85% of the tea in the UK is packed in paper bags." tells us _ . A Most drinkers in the UK prefer loose-leaf tea. B Most drinkers in the UK prefer tea bags. C A quarter of the drinkers in the UK prefer loose-leaf tea. D A quarter of the drinkers in the UK dislike tea bags. Answer: B
Helen Keller was a US author and public speaker who became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months. Anne Sullivan became her teacher in 1887 and taught her to read, write, use sign language and speak. Keller received degree from Radcliffe College in 1904 and spent the rest of her life encouraging others with difficulties like hers to overcome them. Her books include The story of My Life (1902) and Out of the Dark(1913). Her life was the subject of the play The Miracle Worker Which book is written by Helen Keller? A The story of My Life B Out of the Dark C One million pound D A and B Answer: D. A and B He has vowed that he will not stop building his business until it is worth PS100 million.But hard-working Owens can stop for at least a moment's celebration after making his first PS1 million at the age of 16.Owens,who has used a computer since the age of seven,began teaching himself basic web design at the age of ten when he was given his first Mac computer.He used his pocket money to fund his first business project,website Mac Box Bundle at just 14 which has made PS700 000 since its establishment in 2008.Mac Box Bundle sells a combination of popular Mac applications which are worth up to $400 together for under just $100 and donates 10 percent of the money to charities. He then established an advertising company Branchr a year later and worked on the business after school and at weekends.Branchr made a surprising PS500 000 in its first year.Branchr works as a platform for website owners to sell advertising. Owens,from Northampton,currently employs eight staff--all adults--around the UK and America as sales and technical assistants.The young man lives with his parents.His mother who is a company secretary said he was inspired to go into business after observing the huge success achieved by Apple's chief executive officers Steve Jobs. Owens said,"I think everyone has business sense in them,and they just need to gain experience and be determined to make it.There is no magical formula for business.It takes hard work,determination and the drive to do something great.My aim is to become a leading name in the world of Internet and mobile advertising and push myself right to the top of the game. The teenager insists his professional success has not affected his personal life,and says his interests include photography and playing the guitar."My friends and I don't really talk about my success.To them I'm just a normal teenager and it doesn't change anything between us." Owens tends to think that . A every person has potential talent for business B getting experienced in business needs determination C it is hard work for people to decide to do something great D he is sure to play a leading part in the world of the Internet Answer: A. every person has potential talent for business Dogs can know the meaning of a human perspective, say researchers. Dogs are more capable of understanding situations from a human's point of view than has previously been recognized, according to researchers. They found dogs were four times more likely to steal food they had been forbidden, when lights were turned off so humans in the room could not see. This suggested the dogs were able to alter their behavior when they knew their owners' perspective had changed. The study, published in Animal Cognition, conducted tests on eighty-four dogs. The experiments had been trying to find whether dogs could make their behavior suitable to react to the changed circumstances of their human owners. It wanted to see if dogs had a "flexible understanding" that could show they understood the viewpoint of a human. It found that when the lights were turned off, dogs in a room with their human owners were much more likely to disobey and steal forbidden food. The study says it is "unlikely that the dogs simply forgot that the human was in the room" when there was no light. Instead it seems as though the dogs were able to differentiate between when the human was unable or able to see them. Juliane Kaminski carried out the research into how dogs are influenced by human circumstances. Dr Juliane Kaminski, from the University of Portsmouth's psychology department, said the study was "incredible because it implies dogs understand the human can't see them, meaning they might understand the human perspective". Previous studies have suggested that although humans might think that they can recognize different expressions on their dogs' faces, this is often inaccurate and a projection of human emotions. "Humans constantly attribute certain qualities and emotions to other living things. We know that our own dog is clever or sensitive, but that's us thinking, not them," said Dr Kaminski. "These results suggest humans might be right, where dogs are concerned, but we still can't be completely sure if the results mean dogs have a truly flexible understanding of the mind and others' minds. It has always been assumed only humans had this ability. This passage can be classified as _ . A an argumentative writing B a feature story C a dog show review D a research result Answer: D. a research result After studying the daily habits of 177 self-made millionaires over the course of five years, Thomas C. Corley found that they avoid one costly habit: procrastination . "It prevents even the most talented individuals from realizing success in life," he writes in his upcoming book, "Change Your Habits, Change Your Life." This goes hand-in-hand with author Napoleon Hill's claim that the wealthiest people are also the most decisive people. Out of the 500 millionaires Hill studied in the early 20thcentury, "Every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions quickly," Hill wrote in his 1937 classic, "Think and Grow Rich." One of the major causes of procrastination is lack of passion, Corley emphasizes: "We simply like to do the things we like to do and we put off the things we do not like to do." "According to Gallup, only 13% of employees are 'engaged' in their jobs, or emotionally invested in their work," Corley writes. "Whether you realize it or not, procrastination is a big reason why you are struggling financially in life. It damages your credibility with employers and fellow colleagues at work. It also affects the quality of your work and this affects the business you or your employer receive from customers, clients, and business relationships." The good news is that anyone can overcome procrastination -- and it's simpler than you may think. He also notes that "the voice of procrastination screams just as loud and clear in the minds of those who _ in life as it does in the minds of those who do not." How do they silence it? They rely on "to-do" lists to get things done. They create firm deadlines, and they meet with "accountability partners" to ensure they're sticking to their goals and deadlines, Corley says. Nearly everyone is susceptible to procrastination -- but fighting against it can make all the difference. What might be the best title for the passage? A Fighting procrastination B How to become a millionaire C Research on a bad habit D The importance of making "to-do" lists Answer: A. Fighting procrastination Businesses are witnessing a difficult time,which has in turn produced influence on consumers' desire to go green.However,shoppers are still laying stress on environmental concerns. Two thirds of customers say that environmental considerations _ their purchases to the same degree as they did a year ago,while more than a quarter say that they are now even better aware of the environmental effect on what they buy. This may help to influence how shops store goods on their shelves.And the companies should still make efforts to become more environmentally friendly.Two out of three people think it is important to buy from environmentally responsible companies,with about one in seven saying that they had even decided to take their custom elsewhere if they felt a company's environmental reputation was not good enough. Harry Morrison,chief executive of the Carbon Trust,sympathizes:"I understand this situation where survival is very important now.But from environmental considerations,the clock is ticking--we don't have much time.In addition,cutting carbon has an immediate effect as costs drop and a mediumterm benefit for the brand." Larger companies have an extra motivation to look at reducing their carbon footprint,as new rules next year will require businesses to buy carbon allowances to make up for their emissions .Those that have taken early action will have a head start.More than two thirds of consumers are not clear about which companies are environmentally responsible.This suggests that firms that are able to relay clearly their message to the public will be in a pole position to attract shoppers. The Carbon Trust believes that it can help by informing customers about the good work companies are doing."When companies are granted the standard,they can use a logo in all their marketing which makes it clear that they are working towards cutting emissions," Mr.Morrison said. (2010*,C) We can learn from the passage that businesses will _ . A have a strong desire to reduce costs B use the same logo in their marketing C gain advantages by taking early action D attract more shoppers by storing goods Answer: C. gain advantages by taking early action
China news, Oct. 26--China Great Wall Society's secretary-general Zhang Ji says that the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) would join hands with the Society to produce a 3D picture of the Great Wall so that _ could view its original looks. When the website opens, a picture of the revolving earth will appear against the background of the universe. A click on the Great Wall will bring the earth nearer, and slowly a white line is seen across the Chinese land in the north. A closer view shows that this is the Great Wall. Netizens will be able to appreciate the Great Wall with the eye of a tourist and "walk" from Shanhai Pass in the east of the Great Wall to Jiayu Pass in the west in just a couple of days. They can also take a look at the mineral resources and economic status of regions along the Great Wall. CASS and the Great Wall Society are trying their best to make this dream come true through working together closely. According to Zhang, to achieve the above effects, scientists will rely on airborne remote sensing, national geographical information system and global positioning system to collect detailed data of the Great Wall, analyze and process the data, apply them to satellite images for 3D translation, and thereafter create a 3D digital image of the Great Wall for the entire world to appreciate the really great Great Wall of China via the Internet. What would be the best title for the news report? Answer: When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your _ . But forgiveness is possible and it can be surprisingly helpful to your physical and mental health. Indeed, research has shown that people who forgive report more energy, better appetite and better sleep patterns. "People who forgive show less anger and more hopefulness," says Dr. Frederic Luskin, who wrote the book Forgive for Good. "So it can help save on the wear and tear, and allow people to feel more energetic." So when someone has hurt you, calm yourself first. Take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, someone you love. Don't wait for an apology. "Many times the person who hurt you may never think of apologizing," says Dr. Luskin. "They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don't see things the same way. So if you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting a very long time." Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean accepting the action of the person who upset you. Mentally going over your hurt gives power to the person who brought you pain. Instead, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you. Finally, try to see things from the other person' s perspective. You may realize that he or she was acting out of ignorance , fear even love. To gain perspective, you may want to write a letter to yourself from that person's point of view. According to the writer, what is the best way to calm down after being hurt? Answer: WASHINGTON----Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington,February 13,2012.Vice-President Xi Jinping said he would explore important problems in an active and practical manner with his America hosts on Monday during his five-day official trip here after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in the afternoon. In a written statement given upon his arrival,Xi said as the international situation experiences complex and complete changes,China and the United States have more extensive common interests and shoulder more important common responsibilities on the present world stage. The purpose of the current visit is to "carry out the important _ reached by President Hu with President Obama during his visit to the United States in January last year and to advance the building of the China--US cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit",said Xi. According to Xi,bilateral relations have moved forward in spite of some twists and turns during the past several decades. "This has brought enormous benefits to our two countries and two peoples,and has had a positive, far-reaching impact on peace,stability and the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large". Xi said that"whether we can seize opportunities,tackle challenges and build a cooperative partnership at the new historical starting point matters to the future of our two countries and the world as a whole." Xi said he looks forward to engaging in extensive dialogue and exchanges with Americans from various sectors to enhance cooperation and strengthen friendship. Xi is scheduled to meet US senior government officials,including Henry Kissinger,Brent Scowcroft,Zbigniew Brzezinski,Madeleine Albright and Henry Paulson this evening to listen to their advice on China-US ties. Meetings between Xi and US Vice-President Biden and President Obama are scheduled on Tuesday. What is Xi's attitude towards the visit? Answer: Most people think talking is the most important communication skill.They care little about listening.A research about our waking day communicating time shows that 9% is spent writing, 16% reading, 30% talking and 45% listening. Many of us can remember only 50% immediately after hearing something.But within two to eight weeks, we can only remember 25% or less of the message.Sometimes it will make us fail if we really forget something important. Here are some suggestions to be a good listener. Stop talking -- you can't listen well when you speak. Ask questions -- when you don't understand, when you want to catch their attention or when you want to be liked. Be polite -- give them time to say what they have to say. Listen carefully and actively to what they are saying -- pay attention to their words, their ideas and their feelings as those things relate to the subjects. Understand the main points. Look at each other -- you will feel confident by looking. Don't argue with other people when you are trying to understand them, especially when they are speaking. Try not to bring your worries and problems -- when you listen, they will stop you from listening well. Learn to listen and you'll achieve a great success in your life. You can make the speaker like you by _ . Answer: One day a great general asks his soldiers, "What is the strongest power in the world? " Four of his soldiers put up their hands. They want to answer the question. The general asks the first man to speak. The man is younger than the other three, and he's not strong. He says, "My gun is the strongest. It can kill anyone." "Thank you. Next, please." The second man is very strong. He says, "I don't think so. Soldiers use guns. So the soldier is the strongest." The third man says, "Soldiers use guns, but our general gives orders. So I think our general is the strongest." The fourth man is the oldest. He says, "Love is the strongest. For love, people don't use guns." The general says nothing. He takes out a medal and gives it to him. The youngest man thinks _ is the strongest power in the world. Answer:
Modeled after US hot website.com, group buying websites are now popular in China. These websites use the power of group buying to get competitive discounts for a daily deal on some best stuff to do, see, eat and buy in the cities across China. Discounts are available within just one click. Zhao lei, a software engineer in Beijing, loves the one-hour lunch break at noon,as it is the best time for him to check "today`s special" at his favorite group buying websites . Sometimes he searches for great deals at directory sites devoted to the new shopping space. Zhao spends around 800 yuan($117.65) on group buying every month, mostly to buy food coupons for eating at some nice restaurants and occasionally to find something fun to do. " I love group buying. In addition to the competitive discounts it offers, it helps me get something fun, exciting and new, and such surprises give me a reason to try something new," he said. When he finds a really good bargain, he will send the link to friends or colleagues through MSN,QQ, or e-mail, or share the information at some social networking websites. In doing so, he often gets a certain cut off the price. At some sites, buyers are invited to leave notes about what they want to buy and the website will consider it if similar applications reach a certain number. That is how Zuo got her digital camera after waiting for two months. "It is cool. I want to buy a new digitgal camera for my trip to Switzerland this winter, but I never expected such cheap prices!" Zuo said. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: group buying is becoming popular in China Tim Goes To The Beach Today was exciting. Tim's mom was taking him and his little sisters, Rebecca and Georgia, to the beach! They were going to go swimming. Then they were also going to have a picnic lunch on the beach. After their picnic lunch, Tim's mom was going to light a campfire and they were going to eat toasted marshmallows. Tim and his mom and his two little sisters hopped into the van. His little sisters were both very blonde and pretty little girls. They were only 4 years old. Because they lived in the city, they had a short drive to get to the beach. To pass the time, Tim played Eye Spy with his mother as they drove for a bit. Once they had gotten bored with Eye Spy, they played 20 Questions. Tim would think of something, and his mother would ask him questions to try and guess what it was. When they got to the beach, it was warm, and sunny. The salt water was warm, and the waves lapped up on the shore. It made a lovely noise. It also felt great on Tim's toes, and his little sisters giggled when the waves hit them. When they had had their fill of swimming, Tim's mom had them sit down to a nice dinner. They ate and ate. They ate macaroni salad. Then they ate some cold chicken. They also had lemon pie for dessert. Tim's mom started a fire, and they spent the rest of the evening as the sun set eating toasted marshmallows and singing campfire songs. Tim thought it was a very good day. What was the water like when the family reached the beach? Answer: The water was warm, and made a lovely sound when it lapped up on the shore, and it also felt great on Tim's toes. Not only women wear skirts. Men can wear them, too. In Scotland , men wear a kilt - a kind of skirt. The kilt is their national dress. The kilt has checks and different colors, like red or blue. Each family in Scotland has its own colors. How did the Scotsmen start to wear kilts. There is a story about it. Rawlinson had some workers from Scotland in his office and he thought their clothing _ their work. So he cut their clothes into a shorter skirt. Today, they usually only wear them at weddings or big dinners. Only a few men wear a kilt every day. Scotsmen also wear kilts in big parties. The policemen still have skills as the dress uniforms, but they don't wear them to catch the thieves. The story is about _ . Answer: Scotsmen's traditional kilts Hi! I am Jack. I am thirteen years old. I'm an English boy. Now I'm in China with my parents. I go to a middle school in Tianjin. This is my school day. I get up at half past six. I go to school at seven o'clock and I go to school in my dad's car. I want to walk to school, but the school is far from my home. I usually eat breakfast in the car. School starts at half past seven in the morning. We have five lessons in the morning and we have four lessons in the afternoon. I go home at six o'clock. I eat dinner at seven o'clock. I do my homework at half past seven. After that, I play the guitar. I go to bed at nine thirty. This is my school day. It is happy! Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Jack has nine classes a day. To explain why he liked his art teacher the best, 16-year-old Dainzin Tanam could not write more words than a simple sentence "Because he teaches me painting." In the eyes of his teachers at the Lhasa Special Education School, the deaf boy was a little painter. Five years ago, however, all Tanam could do was to stay in bed until noon, and then stare at the sky through the window, waiting for his parents' return. His mother Yangzom said she had no other choice but to lock him in the house every day as she and her husband had to work and they did not want to allow the boy to roam the streets. "Every day when I came back home and saw my lonely poor son, I felt my heart hurt. But now I can finally feel a bit relieved," the mother said. She said it was the school that changed his son. "Without the school, I dared not imagine how my son would be now." With a governmental fund of 4.5 million yuan, the special education school was founded in 2000. The only government-run school for handicapped children in Tibet, it now has 28 teachers and 120 school children in nine classes of 5 grades. Eight classes in the school are for deaf kids and the other one is for blind kids. Students can enjoy free food, boarding, clothing and medical services in the school, which is open to deaf and blind children from all over the autonomous region. Tibetan sign language and Tibetan Braille are basic courses here. Children also have Tibetan, Chinese, mathematics, science, painting, dancing and sports lessons. A "black and white" textbook seemed appealing among the color1ful books in Tanam's schoolbag. The text was handwritten. It was the Tibetan language textbook compiled and written by teachers themselves. "As textbooks for students in ordinary schools sometimes are too abstract and hard for our kids to understand, two other Tibetan language teachers and I compiled the textbook to make things easier for them," said teacher Dawa. Those books with the love of all the teachers, though not spoke out, will surely help children enjoy their life by supporting themselves after leaving the school. What is the parents' feeling about the special school? Answer: grateful
A large tree was cut down with a saw. What is the best way to estimate the age of this tree? A measure the height of the tree B measure the thickness of the bark C count the number of rings in the trunk D count the branches growing from the trunk Answer: C There are many different kinds of music in the world . Let's read some kinds of them . Classical Music Classical music is a form of music needing high musical skills . If you wish to learn this kind of music , you have to go through proper training . Metal Music Metal music came out after the Second World War . The melody of the song is heavily influenced by the structure for it . It is also know as " information music ". While in metal music , songwriting is based on(......)a form . Hip-hop Music This music always includes the use of instruments such as the guitar , violin , piano , bass , drums and so on . In this type of music , the bass is the main instrument . It was first played by a group of travelling singers and poets of West Africa . Opera Music It first appeared in Italy in the 1600s . It has a great mixture of theatrical art and musical invention and is used to playing in the theaters . Jazz Music This type of music has strong and complex melodies . The main musical instruments are comet , trumpet or violin , that help carry the melody . Besides these , there are many others such as the blues , new age music , Celtic music , religious music and chamber music . Which of the following RIGHT according to the passage ? A Metal Music appeared after the First World War . B Only after proper training , you can learn the blues . C People call Jazz Music information music . D In the world there are many kinds of music . Answer: D Sam woke up early. He wanted to play. Mom said he could not play. It was time for breakfast. Sam loves breakfast. Sam loves breakfast because Sam loves cereal. There is a lot of cereal in the kitchen. There are Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Friendly O's, and Sharkies. Sam loves Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Friendly O's, and Sharkies. His favorite cereal is Friendly-O's. Sam loves Friendly-O's because they look like smiley faces. After Sam finishes breakfast Sam plays with Ralph. Ralph is a dog. Sam loves Ralph. Ralph likes to play. Ralph likes to run. Ralph likes to jump. Sam loves Ralph because Ralph has floppy ears. Sam loves Ralph because he licks him on the face. After Sam plays with Ralph he takes a bath. Sam takes a bath because he has to get ready for school. Sam is happy to go to school. Sam can play with his friends at school. When he is at school he can see Bill, John, and Katy. Bill is Sam's best friend. John is the class cat. Katy is the class bird. Bill lives two houses down from Sam. Sam likes John the cat. He has a fluffy tail. Bill likes John the cat too. When Bill and Sam get to school they pet John. Sam is ready to play at school. School is fun. Why does Sam love Ralph? A Because Ralph licks him on the face and has floppy ears. B Because Ralph likes to lick him on the face and play. C Because Ralph likes to run and play. D Because Ralph likes to jump and run. Answer: A On June 15th,2012,millions of people watched as 33yearold Nik Wallenda walked across one of the world's greatest waterfalls on a tightrope .What made the 25-minute walk that was televised live and watched by over 13 million people worldwide even more amazing,is that it was done over the Niagara Falls-An action that had never been attempted before. Even though Nik was wearing a harness ,a safety measure provided by ABC,the television network that broadcast the event,his action to keep his balance against the strong winds made for some heart-stopping moments for the audience. Nik,however,never slowed down for even one moment.Wearing special shoes made by his mother,he remained totally focused on the job at hand.It was only when he got to the last stretch near Canada's Table Rock that he knelt down on one knee and finally broke into a smile.Waving and blowing kisses to the cheering audience,he knew he had accomplished a great task,which most people had thought impossible. While he described the whole experience as peaceful and relaxing,Nik said his biggest challenges came from a totally unexpected source-his 40 pound balancing pole.The balancing pole was so heavy that he could hardly carry it on the tightrope. One would think that now that Nik has realized his lifelong dream he would be ready to hang up his "balancing pole".However,the adventurer who already has seven Guinness World Records under his belt,is just getting started-Next up? A 5,000-foot tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon.While the one across the Niagara Falls took years of planning because he had to convince the US and Canadian officials,this one should happen in the very near future.That's because,the Florida resident has already been granted a permit by the Canyon officials.5 What was the greatest difficulty for him to face in Nik view? A The supplied tightrope. B The safety belt. C The balancing pole. D The audience's noise. Answer: C Cara and Ben are twins . They are ten. This is their room. It's a nice room. Two beds are in the room. The yellow bed is Cara's and that green one is Ben's. The twins have one desk and two chairs . Cara's English book is on his bed. Ben's CD is on his chair. Their clock and pencil boxes are on the desk . Their schoolbags are on the chairs. Cara's English book is _ . A onherbed B onBen'sbed C onthechair D onthedesk Answer: A
Question: Attitude is one of the most important factors in determining success for all people.Successful people have one thing in common--an expectant attitude of success.Most people begin each morning in neutral and react to events of the day.You can be one of the successful people in life by starting each day with a positive attitude, a gratitude for the opportunities you have, and an expectancy of the best for yourself. People tend to live up to expectations.We get out of life just about what we put into it.Our environment becomes a mirror of our spirit, our attitude, and expectations.If we set a great goal, we get great results.If we have a fair goal, we accomplish fair results, and if we have a poor goal, we accomplish poor results.The world will give you back what you expect, so expect the very best.Don't be defensive or doubtful.Nothing changes unless you do.Before you can do something, you've got to be something.Know that you have worth and value.Show that to the world. Treat everyone you come in contact with as the most important person in life.It will build self-esteem .Smile! You'll be rewarded with a returned smile.Don't react to others rudely.Forgive everyone who ever hurt you.Then, forgive yourself.Keep yourself healthy.Exercise.Eat a proper diet.Display an attitude of confidence. Develop these good habits and your expectancy will be rewarded by successes.This attitude will put you into that group of people who are truly successful, because you will know and understand how an expectant attitude enhances every aspect of your life. The author's purpose of writing the text is to _ . A. share his view point about life B. offer advice on confidence building C. suggest some ways to acquire success D. stress the importance of positive attitude Answer: D Question: I don't know if I am missing the greatest pleasure of my life.I am not a fan of computer games.Some guys forget themselves and forget day and night when they play games.For example,a colleague has been playing since 1 o'clock this morning and now it is 7 o'clock.He is still commanding his army of little people to attack strange-looking animals.Some games could be fun,I admit,and it is therefore understandable that such a game catches players.For example,games like Red Storm or some role-play games,you do something and try to outwit your computer.You get some fun out of these games.It is understandable that such a game pushes you into a pitfall of pleasures.But some games look quite stupid and simple.Again for example,my colleague has been interested in Stone Age,a cartoon-like game rooted in pre-historic time.The game is well made,full of strange people and animals and you can play on line with partners.You can have reference books to study so as to shortcut your rivals and increase your own conquering power. I believe some kinds of games are really created for adults.But seeing these adults play the simple games with such interest,I just wonder if there is something wrong with me and if I am losing the greatest possible fun of my life.I ask why I don't _ playing such games and why I seem to have some aversion to such games.I have no answers.Certainly computer games are not my idea of a good time.I would rather listen to some music or read a book.Take music for example.Good music tops my list of pleasures.Nothing could beat music, all in a harmony of sounds and emotions.But how about games? Why am I so strongly biased against such games? The author has a pleasure to _ . A. make a computer game B. to read newspapers C. to listen to good music D. ask himself questions Answer: C Question: Mr. and Mrs Jones seldom go out in the evening , but last Sunday Mrs Jones said to her husband , " There is a good film at the cinema this evening . Can we go to see it ? " Mr. Jones was quite happy about it . So they went there and they enjoyed the film . They came out of the cinema at 11 o'clock , going into the car and began to drive home . It was quite dark . Then Mrs Jones said , " Bill , look , a woman is running along the road very fast and a man is running after her . Can we help her ? '' Mr. Jones said , " Yes , I can .'' He drove the car slowly near the woman and said to her , " Can we help you ? " " No , thank you , " the woman said , but she didn't stop running . " My husband and I run home after the film , and the last one will wash the dishes at home ." The film finished at _ o'clock . A. twelve B. ten C. eleven D. eight Answer: C Question: In northern Scotland there is a deep lake called Loch Ness. It is more than 200 metres deep and it is the deepest lake in the United Kingdom. People say a huge monster lives in the dark, cold water. It weighs more than 1,000 kilos and is at least ten metres long. It has a dark gray colour. Some people say that it looks like a snake. Many people travel to Loch Ness to look for this strange monster, but only a few people say that they saw it. No one knows whether these people really saw it or not. The Loch Ness Monster is a famous story. People first told it over 500 years ago, but it became popular only in the twentieth century . In 1993, a couple reported that they saw a big monster in the middle of the lake. From then on, many people said that they saw a monster in Loch Ness. A few people took photos, but some of them weren't real photos. During the 1960s, people set up an organization to find out the truth. They took many photos and made movies, but they weren't able to find a monster. There is no real evidence that there is a monster in Loch Ness, but there is also no evidence that there is not. One thing is true about Loch Ness: there are lots of curious people going there every year. From the passage, we know Loch Ness is the name of _ . A. a huge monster B. a lake C. a river D. a country Answer: B Question: The Attack on September 11th New York: When the first jet struck Tower 1 at World Trade Center at 8: 48 am on Tuesday, the people in Tower 2 at World Trade Center with a view of the instant damage across the divide had the clearest sense of what they too must do : get out fast. Katherine Ilachinski, who had been knocked off her chair by the blast of heat exploding from the neighboring tower, was one of those. Despite her 70 years of age, Ms Ilachinski, an architect working on the 91st floor of Tower 2 at World Trade Center, the south tower, went for the stairs. Twelve floors above her, Judy Wein, a manager, screamed and set off too. But others up and down the 110 floors, many without clear views of the damage across the way and thus unclear about what was happening, were not so sure. And the 18 minutes before the next plane would hit were ticking off. Among the uncertainty about what was the best thing to do, formal announcements inside the south tower instructed people to _ , assuring them that the building was sound and the threat was limited to the other tower. Some left, others stayed, some began to climb down and, when met with more announcements and other warning to stop or return, went back up. The decisions made in those instants proved to be of great importance, because many who chose to stay, were doomed when the second jet crashed into the south tower killing many and stranding (...) many more in the floors above where the jet hit. One of those caught in indecision was the manager at Fuji Bank USA. Richard Jacobs of Fuji Bank left the 79th floor with the other office workers, but on the 48th floor they heard the announcement that the situation was under control. Several got in the lifts and went back up two minutes or so before the plane crashed into their floor. Few people would have died if _ A. more announcements had been made B. people hadn't used the lifts C. the incident had happened on a weekend D. people chose to stay Answer: C
The Ocean Institute welcomes people to the City of Dana Point's Festival of Whales celebration on both weekends.The event celebrates the migration of the whales off our coast.Respected ocean scientists of the ocean Institute introduce visitors to the world of whales.The speakers are arranged as the following. Saturday,March 5,12:30 pm Dr Gwen Goodmanlowe from Califomia State University is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Biology,and advises students working on degrees in marine biology.She received her doctorate in zoology from the University of Hawaii-Honolulu. Sunday,March 6,12:30 pm Matt Leslie,from Scripps Institute of Oceanography,has studied whales off the coast of Australia.Some of his current research projects include population structure analysis of whales using performance testing.He will lecture on guides for treatment of marine animals. Saturday,March 12,12:30 pm Dr Merkens,from Scripps Institute of Oceanography,will present her latest research on how sound or music can be used as a means to identify characteristics of whales and to find out how whales communicate with one another in the environment. Sunday,March 13, 2 pm Robert L. Pitman is a marine ecologist working for the National Marine Fishing Service.He began his career 35 years ago,studying seabirds and whales,and spends much of his time at sea on vessels at locations all over the world.His main interest is the ecology of the Antarctic killer whale. The Festival will allow visitors to know about new discoveries in marine animal research and to explore a variety of information on whales.Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to underwater whale sounds,and enjoy hands-on activities.Guests will tour the tall ship Pilgrim. Cost:$6.50 adults,$4.50 children(ages 4-12).For more information, please visit www.ocean-institute.org or call(949) 496-2274. Which of the following things can NOT visitors do according to the passage? Answer: There are five people in my family. We all like watching TV, but we like different TV shows . My grandpa is a great fan of Beijing Opera . He likes watching it very much. Now he is in a Beijing Opera club . There he talks about Beijing Opera and acts in it with other Beijing Opera fans. My grandma likes cross talk , and she often watches it on TV. Her favorite cross talker is Guo Degang. My father is a reporter from a TV station . He watches all kinds of TV shows, but his favorite TV show is news. My mother is a teacher. Her favorite TV shows are soap operas . She thinks they are very interesting. But I think they are very boring. I like playing basketball, so my favorite TV shows are sports shows. I like watching basketball games best on TV. What kind of TV shows do your family like? What does the writer think of soap operas? Answer: Ocean Park If you love the sea, Ocean Park is the place for you! Situated on the south side of Hong Kong Island, this 870,000 square metre educational theme park provides many opportunities to learn about marine life. To start with, the park boasts the Atoll Reef, one of the world's largest aquariums, with about 2,500 fish from nearly 300 different species. What makes this aquarium special, however, is not just its size, but also its design. The Atoll Reef is built with an observation passageway that circles the aquarium on four different levels. This lets visitors view sea life from a variety of depths and angles. Then there's the Shark Aquarium, a tank with more than 200 sharks from more than 30 species. Like the Atoll Reef, this unique aquarium is designed to make sure guests get the most out of their visit. Shaped like an underwater tunnel, guests can watch as sharks swim overhead and dive at them from every side. There's also the Sea Jelly Spectacular, an aquarium that houses more than 1,000 jellyfish of all shapes, colours and sizes. And at the park's Dolphin University, visitors can go on educational tours and watch the training of dolphins up close. The park's most popular attraction is the Ocean Theatre, a huge outdoor pool where dolphins and sea lions entertain the visitors. Sometimes a killer whale even takes part in the performance! Although Ocean Parks focus is on the water, the theme park has plenty of other activities, too. For people seeking excitement, there are rides like the Abyss Turbo Drop, a roller coaster ride that takes passengers on a 20-storey drop straight down. There are also exhibits like the Dinosaur Discovery Trail and Bird Paradise. Finally, no trip to Ocean Park would be complete without visiting the park's most popular animals--four giant pandas that were given as a gift from China's central government. Hong Kong Ocean Park is called an educational theme Park because _ . Answer: A man named Jerry lived in a small town in the state of Kentucky. Jerry owned a sheep farm. His favorite time of year was when lambs were born. They were very cute. Jerry also had other animals on his farm, such as pigs, dogs, cats, and cows. One day Jerry wanted to paint his barn. He could not find his ladder. He looked in the barn, in his house, in his garage, and in his field. Since he could not find it he had to stand on a table. It took Jerry six days to paint his barn that way. Jerry's favorite activity was to sit on his porch and sip lemonade. He would watch the clouds float by in the sky. He thought they looked a lot like his sheep. Every night when Jerry went to sleep, he would listen to the sound of the wind blowing across the fields on his farm. He would dream about feeding his sheep. What kind of farm did Jerry own? Answer: The twentieth century saw greater changes than any century before changes for the better, changes for the worse, changes that brought a lot of benefits to human beings ,changes that put man in danger .Many things caused the changes ,but ,in my opinion ,the most important was the progress in science. Scientific research in physics and biology has vastly broadened our views. It has given us a deeper knowledge of the structure of matter and of the universe ,it has brought us a better understanding of the nature of life and of its continuous development .Technology in the application of science has made big advances that have benefited us in nearly every part of life. The continuation of such activities in the twenty-first century will result in even greater advantages to human beings : in pure science--a wider and deeper knowledge in all fields of learning ;in applied science--a more reasonable sharing of material benefits ,and better protection of the environment. Sadly ,however ,there is another side to the picture .The creativity of science has been employed in doing damage to mankind .The application of science and technology to the development and production of weapons of mass destruction has created a real danger to the continued existence of the human race on this planet .We have seen this happen in the case of nuclear weapons ,Although their actual use has so far occurred only in the Second World War ,the number of nuclear weapons that were produced and made ready for use was so large that if the weapons had actually been used ,the result could have been the ruin of the human race ,as well as of many kinds of animals. William Shakespeare said. "The web of our life is of a _ yarn ,good and ill together. "The above brief review of the application of only one part of human activities--science seems to prove what Shakespeare said. But does it have to be so ?Must the ill always go together with the good ?Are we biologically programmed for war? What do you think the author is most likely to suggest if he continues to write? Answer:
It was a terrible day to live in the zoo again for Pauly. It wasn't a terrible day for Zip, the monkey next to him, or Garth, the giraffe down the sidewalk, or Pat, the alligator in the pond, or for Bam the prairie dog, but it was a terrible day in the monkey cage for Pauly. Pauly didn't feel he belonged in the monkey cage because he wasn't a monkey. He was a sailor who had visited the zoo on vacation and fallen asleep on a bench right before closing time. The zoo worker saw how hairy he was and thought he was a monkey that had escaped from his cage, so they put him in a cage. Pauly knew if he didn't sleep so deep, none of this would have happened. He tried to tell the zoo worker the next morning he wasn't a monkey, but the zoo worker knew monkeys liked to play tricks and thought Pauly was a talking monkey that was trying to trick him. Soon, the zoo worker told others about the talking monkey, and Pauly became famous. People came from all over to see him. When the zoo was closed at night Pauly passed the time teaching the real monkeys how to sail. One day Pauly was asking the people watching him to shave him when James, another sailor on vacation, who knew Pauly, saw him. When he did, the sailor yelled, "That's no monkey, that's Pauly!" The zoo worker saw his mistake and sent Pauly away with James in time to join the boat to sail home. What was Pauly asking the people watching him to do? Answer: A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He _ a sign which said, "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was, "Today is a beautiful day; I can not see it." Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply sign the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective ? What happened after the man changed the sign? Answer: Farquart had made a legally binding promise to furnish his son Junior and the latter's fiancÃ©e a house on their wedding day, planned for June 10, 1972. Pursuant to that promise, Farquart telephoned his old contractor-friend Sawtooth on May 1, 1971, and made the following oral agreement each making full and accurate written notes thereof: Sawtooth was to cut 30 trees into fireplace logs from a specified portion of a certain oneacre plot owned by Farquart, and Farquart was to pay therefor $20 per tree. Sawtooth agreed further to build a house on the plot conforming to the specifications of Plan OP5 published by Builders, Inc., for a construction price of $18,000. Farquart agreed to make payments of $2,000 on the first of every month for nine months beginning August 1, 1971, upon monthly presentation of a certificate by Builders, Inc., that the specifications of Plan OP5 were being met. Sawtooth delivered the cut logs to Farquart in July 1971, when he also began building the house. Farquart made three $2,000 payments for the work done in July, August, and September 1971, without requiring a certificate. Sawtooth worked through October, but no work was done from November 1, 1971, to the end of February 1972, because of bad weather, and Farquart made no payments during that period. Sawtooth did not object. On March 1, 1972, Sawtooth demanded payment of $2,000; but Farquart refused on the grounds that no construction work had been done for four months and Builders had issued no certificate. Sawtooth thereupon abandoned work and repudiated the agreement. "Assuming that Sawtooth committed a total breach on March 1, 1972, and assuming further that he was aware when the agreement was made of the purpose for which Farquart wanted the completed house, which of the following, if true, would best support Farquart's claim for consequential damages on account of delay beyond June 10, 1972, in getting the house finished? Answer: They say there are three ways to experience the Grand Canyon;on foot,on mules or by air.We chose the first.Waking up early,my husband and I and our three children couldn't wait to get started.We decided to walk along a lovely path named Bright Angel Trail. As we set out,I was shocked at how narrow the path was.And I couldn't help noticing that the other tourists weren't like us.They had heavy backpacks,water bottles,and hats.But as usual we were dressed.As the sun rose higher.Arizona's famous heat seemed to roast us.There was no shade and our legs were aching.We decided to go back,with the girl on my back and the boys far behind.By the time we finally got back, _ . The next day,after we'd had a long rest and a good breakfast,we were ready for another view of the Canyon--by air.After our last walk,this would be the easiest thing in the world. We called to each other excitedly as the plane took off and circled around the Canyon.But the smiles on our faces disappeared as the pilot tossed the plane around,pretending he was going to hit the ground.I shouted,"STOP,TAKE US BACK!"When we finally arrived back on land,once again our legs were like jelly.We hardly spoke as we drove back. As I said,there are three ways to view the Grand Canyon.We never tried the mules,but personally I'd suggest a fourth buy yourself a good magazine like National Geographic.That way,you can see the Canyon,without fear or tiredness. Which of the following best describes their Canyon trip by air? Answer: It started off as part of French military training and has since evolved as a sport, founded by Sebastian Foucan and David Belle, to encompass a wide variety of techniques, philosophies and exercises. Park-our now enjoys the devotion of many die-hard fans across the world and has been the source for much inspiration. But what is park-our? It is the art of using only your body to navigate from Point A to B in the least time possible, which involves besides leaping, climbing and sprinting, various unusual and complex movements to overcome barriers. Just like the James Bond in the movie Casino Royale? Bond jumps down from a roof to a windowsill and then runs several blocks over _ on the way. It is just because of Bond's wonderful performances that the sport has become popular worldwide. Yes, that's pork-our, an extreme street sport aimed at moving from one point to another as quickly as possible, getting over all the obstacles in the path using only the abilities of the human body. Park-our is considered an extreme sport. As its participants dash around a city, they may jump over fences, run up walls and even move from rooftop to rooftop. Park-our can be just as exciting and charming as it sounds, but its participants see much more in park-our than that. To overcome all the obstacles on the course and in life is part of the philosophy behind park-our. This is the same as life. You must determine your destination, go straight, jump over all the barriers as if in park-our and never fall back from them in your life to reach the destination successfully. A park-our lover said, "I love park-our, because its philosophy has become my life, my way to do everything." Another philosophy we've learned from park-our is freedom. It can be done by anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world. It is a kind of expression of trust in yourself so that you earn energy and confidence. Which of the following is the philosophy of park-our? Answer:
Steven Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, was not clever when he was in school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made troubles with his schoolmates. When he went into college, he didn't change a lot. Then he dropped out . But he was full of new ideas. After he left college, Steven Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in his life. Steven Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India. In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple Computer with his friend in his garage. He chose the name "Apple" just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent in an apple tree garden. His Apple Computer was so successful that Steven Jobs soon became famous all over the world. He often said, "I live in order to change the world, there aren't any other reasons. The only way to have a great achievement is to love your own career. If you can't find your favorite career, go on looking for it and never give up." This is Steven Jobs, though he is dead, his spirit and achievements still influence our lives. Why did Steven Jobs go to India? A. Because he wanted to be a video game designer. B. Because he wanted to get some new ideas. C. Because he wanted to make a new type of computer. D. Because he wanted to have a happy summer. Answer: B. Because he wanted to get some new ideas. Hongkong has about forty beaches. They are open to all people. Some of the beaches are the best in the world. People can go there for a swim. You can go to most of them by bus. To go to some beaches you have to take a boat. There are toilets, clothes changing rooms and places to buy food and drinks on most of the beaches. You will swim there safely if you do as the following: 1. Don't swim alone. You should go with an adult or your friends. 2. Don't swim right after a meal or when you are hungry or tired. 3. You should not stay in the water too long. 4. Do not go out in a boat if you can't swim or if you're not wearing a life jacket. Remember: A red flag means that it is dangerous for anyone to go into the water. A blue flag means that it is dangerous for children and weak swimmers to enter the sea. A red flag means that _ . A. it is dangerous for children to swim B. no one should swim C. it is dangerous for women to swim D. only children can swim Answer: B. no one should swim LG Electronics, the world's fourth largest cell phone producer, has added another feature to the mobile phone-reading books for the visually impaired . The company started marketing the model, the LF1300 on Sep.18.No other people but the blind and visually-impaired with a certificate can buy the talking phone at sales shops of LG Electronics. "The LF1300 is the world's first mobile phone that is capable of reading books for the print-disabled, who otherwise could not enjoy them.This is not about making money but about continuing to put froth efforts to reduce the digital difference for the disabled," LG Vice President said. Its users can download about 300 audio books from the Internet site of LG Sangam Library to their phones for free in two ways. One is to access the digital library's Website on a computer designed for the blind to get the audio books and transfer them to cell phones. The other is to download the digital books directly with cell phones through the wireless net work by touching a hot key on the LF1300 phone. On top of its unique feature of reading books, the LF1300 is no worse than the pupular top-line phones in both outlooks and frnctionalities . The phone is armed with an MP3 player and a Bluetooth headset, enabling users to listen to the music or talk without a cord. The user interface of the LF1300 is also designed for the blind,enabling phone users to control it through a voice guidance system. However, because the phone's internal mimory of 17MB is small even for a single audio book file, which takes up 80MB on average, a high-volume external memory is a must for the talking book services. _ are allowed to buy the talking phone. A. Disabled people with a certificate B. All the blind and poor-sighted people C. The blind and poor-sighted with a certificate D. Both healthy and disabled citizens Answer: C. The blind and poor-sighted with a certificate As an American artist and writer of children's books, Tasha Tudor's art and nineteenth-century lifestyle have fascinated adults and children for decades. She received many awards and honors for her contributions to children's literature. When people talk about her creativity in artwork, she said, "I do it to support my dogs and my four children." Her great publishing record, the number of magazine stories that have been written about her over the years, and her admirers have no effects on her at all. Much of Tasha's artwork and her reading are done in the wintertime. "I love winter. It's delightful," she says. "I don't have to go anywhere because I work at home. If I'm snowed in, I can stay this way for months." She hopes for early, deep snow to protect her garden from the hardship of the New England winter, and when it comes she puts on snowshoes when she needs to get down the mile-long dirt path that leads to the road. Given her enjoyment of winter and her fantasy way of life, it's not surprising that Tasha's Christmas is a storybook holiday. She hangs flowers over the front door. Her tree comes from the woods, and it goes up on Christmas Eve, lit by homemade candles and decorated with her great- grandmother's collection that dates from 1850. In a place of honor on the tree are large cookies cut into the shapes of her animals. The grandchildren and friends get presents from Tasha's old dolls; so do the animals and they have their own Christmas tree. "Of course, it's a known fact that all the animals talk on Christmas Eve," she has written. Small, handmade gifts fill a big wooden box. At the end of each year, Tasha can look back and know that her life is perfect, that she has again ignored the twentieth century, and that the magic continues. And for the rest of us,here's a bit of advice, Tasha style: "Nowadays, people are so restless. If they took some tea and spent more time rocking on the porch in the evening listening to light music, they might enjoy life more." In which section of a paper can you probably read the article? A. Travel. B. Sports. C. Economy. D. People. Answer: D. People. I've been home from Hawaii less than a week, and I've almost adjusted to being back at work (the 30 degree temperatures are a different story). I came back from my trip with a ton of energy, a great fun and so many wonderful memories. I also came back with some unexpected realizations about my business and my role as chief executive. Here's what I've decided: First and foremost, I'm still too caught up in the details. When I glanced at my e-mail each day I was away, I noticed so many messages,customer requests, etc. that I would have addressed immediately if I had been at the office. By putting myself in a position where I "couldn't" respond to these e-mails, I realized that the majority of them didn't require my response. I was worried that our new operations manager Amaya might get stuck in things without me there, but it turned out that she was just fine. When she had questions about the storage history of a customer, for example, she turned to the team and got her answers. It gave me new appreciation for my employees and their ability to help each other. I often get involved with the engineers on decisions related to our data centers. While I was gone, they had to make important decisions on a number of data center projects. They analyzed the options, and determined the proper course of action. I now realize that I don't need to be as involved in the details of this aspect of the business. Finally, I learned that having an auto--response message on my e-mail is the BEST. People immediately knew my status and were given contact information for other people who could help them. I saw all of my e-mails but didn't need to answer them. Somehow, everything just got done. So what does this mean for me? Well, that's a big, important question that involves my ever evolving role here. I thought I was doing a pretty good job pulling out myself from the details, but now I realize I can step back even more, so long as I'm keeping an eye through ongoing team and individual checkpoints. It'll require some restriction on my part, but it'll give me more time to work on other projects, like some marketing ideas I've been toying with. I may even plan a few more vacations! The author thinks the best way of dealing with his e-mail is _ . A. seeing some of his e-mails B. contacting them immediately C. telling them status slowly D. designing system auto reply Answer: D. designing system auto reply
The United States is already one year into a depression That was the news this week from the Na-tional Bureau of Economic Research. The downturn is the longest since a depression that began in 1981and lasted sixteen months. Economists generally wait for production to shrink for six months in a row before they declare a re-cession. But the bureau, a private group, uses a wider set of information to measure the economy. Thenews only confirmed what many people already knew: that the world's largest economy is weak and maynot recover soon. Worsening conclitions have led to a big drop in spending, especially on costly products like new cars. Even Japanese automaker Toyota saw its sales fall thirty - four percent in the United States in November from a year ago. The heads of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors retumed to Congress this week to again ask for federal aid. Congressional leaders denounced them two weeks ago after they came in private jets with no clear plans for saving their industry. This time, the chiefs drove to Washington in fuel- saving hybrid vehicles. And their companies presented detailed restructuring plans. The reguest for aid has risen from twenty-five billion dollars two weeks ago to thirty-four billion in loans and credit lines. G.M. wants almost half of that, and says it needs four billion dollars this month. It warned that without support it cannot continue to operate. Ford is in a better position, But the sharing of suppliers means it could be affected if G.M. or Chrysler fails. Ford is asking for a nine billion dollar credit line in case it needs it. Chrysler is the smallest and most trouble of America's Big Three. It says it needs a seven billion dollar loan by the end of the month. Two days of congressional hearings began Thursday in the Senate Banking Committee. The chairman, Democrat Chris Dodd, said he would support helping the automakers for the good of the economy. But the committee's top Republican, Richard Shelby, continued to express opposition to a bailout . A main root of the world financial crisis is the weak housing market in the United States. The Trea-sury Department has been under pressure to help troubled homeowners. Now comes news that the depart-ment is developing a plan aimed at reducing interest rates on mortgage loans for some buyers of homes. That could be good for homeowners trying to sell. From the passage we may know Richard Shelby _ tile automakers' request for federal aid? Answer: was against Every year there are hundreds of earthquakes in different parts of the world. In September, 1923, Tokyo and Yokohama were both destroyed by an earthquake and the fires that followed it. They had to be completely rebuilt. One of the most serious earthquakes was in China's Shanxi province in 1556. It killed almost one million people. We measure an earthquake's strength on the Richter Scale. The Richter Scale was introduced in 1935 in Southern California in the USA. It measures earthquakes on a scale of one to ten. Any earthquake measuring five or more is usually serious. The Earth's crust is made up of rock called plates. As these plates move, they sometimes crash against each other, causing the crust to quake. In cities such as Tokyo, where small quakes happen quite often, many modern buildings are designed to be flexible so when the Earth moves, they move with it. Earthquakes can also break up gas and oil pipes. This can cause fires to break out, which can do as much damage as the earthquake itself. Another effect of earthquakes is _ These are huge waves created by earthquakes beneath the sea. They can be many meters high and cause great damage to coastal towns and cities, China, Japan, Russia and the USA have the highest occurrence of earthquakes in the world. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: a usual natural disaster There is no excuse for not doing yourassignments . If you can't come to school, you should call your teacher or your classmate and ask about homework. It is yourresponsibility to find out what homework you have missed. It is not the teacher's job to remind you of the missed assignments. You must not be absent on a test day. If you are seriously ill, call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows amake-up test ,you should take the test within one or two days after you return to class. Serious illness is the only reason for missing a test. Be on time! It is impolite to be late. Also, it bothers other students. If you must come in late, be sure to do it quietly. Have your books and papers out of your bag before you come into the room. Then go to your seat and sit down quietly. In the USA, it is not necessary to knock before you enter the classroom. Most teachers will give you a low grade if you are often late. In America, you should call your teacher by his or her last name instead of " teacher". Also you should use Mr, Miss, Ms or Mrs before the last name ( such as Mrs Smith or Mr Jones). This is polite. The teacher will tell you the title that he or she likes. It is impolite in the USA to eat, drink or chew gum during class. Don't do these until the break. Also, removing your shoes in the classroom is not polite. When can a student miss a test according to the passage? Answer: When he/ she is really sick. When was the last time you lost something? What was it? According to a recent survey, we spend about ten minutes a day looking for lost things. Over an average lifetime, this adds up to an incredible 3,680 hours (or 153 days). Is there anything we can do about it? The study of 3,000 adults was carried out by home insurance company Esure. They found that mobile phones and car keys were the most frequently lost items. Other things on the list included: house keys, bills, sunglasses, wallets, bank cards, watches, jewellery (particularly rings and earrings). So, what's going on? "Most blame it on a busy lifestyle," says Nikki Sellers, the head of Esure. Others say it's the fault of spouses or children for not putting things back where they belong. A few admitted to untidiness, absent-mindedness and a poor memory, with some wishing they were more organized. What's the solution? "You need to choose a particular place for something and always put it back there," said Nikki Sellers. "And you need to make sure everyone else in the house knows where to put it back too. You also need to keep your house tidy, label boxes clearly and find a place near the front door for all the items that you need in the morning. A good idea would be to have a shelf there with a bowl for your keys, purse, wallet and anything else." she added. If you are still having trouble finding things, don't worry -- things could be a lot worse: fourteen people in the survey said they spent over an hour every day looking for lost items. Surely you can't be as bad as that! According to the survey, which do people lose most frequently? Answer: Cell phones. Wondering where to watch the fireworks on the fourth Friday of July? Here are some restaurants where you can sit, grab a bite to eat and watch the show. The Roof on Wilshire offers a view of the city, so chances are that you'll be able to catch a fireworks show while you're up there. The restaurant will also offer an all-you-can-eat menu for $20 that includes all beef hot dogs and sweet potato chips. The festivities will take place from 2 to 11 p.m. Reservations are recommended. 6317 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 852-6002. Whiskey Red's is located in Marina Del Rey. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., it will include live music from Jack of Hearts. Drink specials include $3 select "Old School" beers and $5 Fireball shots from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A custom menu of hamburgers and hot dogs will be available. Guests can make reservations from 5:30 to 10 p.m. It costs $59 to reserve a seat on the patio and $49 for indoor seating. Kids aged 5 to 12 need $25 for a seat outside and $20 for an indoor seat. Kids aged four and below are free. 13813 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, (310) 823-4522. High Rooftop lounge in Venice at the top of the Hotel Erwin offers views of the Venice coastline. The fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. The rooftop lounge offers a full menu of cocktails and a selection of snacks. 1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice Beach, (800) 786-7789. The last one is Carbon Beach Club at the Malibu Inn. Here you can see fireworks from the restaurant's oceanfront balcony from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The restaurant offers a menu of cheese, steak, fish, as well as a selection of raw shellfish. Reservations are recommended. 22878 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, (310) 456-6444. If a couple with a six-year-old kid want to reserve three indoor seats in Whiskey Red's, they should pay at least _ . Answer: $118
Adam and his mom, Deborah, ran across the front lawn of their house. The grass was very tall, the lawn had not been mowed. After removing the groceries from the car, Adam had wanted to play in the yard. Deborah did not. She was sad that her new boss at work, Pierre, did not seem to like her. She ran along with Adam, but he could tell that Deborah was upset. Adam asked his mom what was bothering her. Deborah explained that she felt like her new boss was not nice to her. Adam sat down in the grass and asked Deborah to sit down next to him. He told her that he had a bully in his class named Mike. Adam said that all he had to do was ignore the bully and he would feel better. Then Adam asked why his mom could not ignore her new boss. Deborah explained to Adam that her new boss could fire her. Deborah frowned, took off her pink shoes, and walked inside the house to make rice for dinner. What is the bully's name? A. Deborah B. Adam C. Pierre D. Mike Answer: D. Mike Everyone procrastinates.We put things off because we don't want to do them, or because we have too many other things on our plates.Putting things off--big or small--is part of being human. But procrastination does have consequences.When your procrastination leaves you feeling discouraged, it is time to take action, and one of the best ways to get rid of it is to make an un-schedule. An un-schedule is a weekly calendar of all the ways in which your time is already accounted for.You consider not only your timed commitments such as classes and meetings, but also your untimed activities such as meals, exercise, time with friends, and the like.Once you have made your un-schedule, you may be able to see your time is often filled with more activities than you realize, for instance, that you really don't have five hours to spend writing on the night before your paper is due.Procrastinators' views of time tend to be unrealistic, and the un-schedule can help you outline a realistic plan.By planning accordingly, you will not only get a better night's sleep, you may also end up with a better paper. The un-schedule might also be a good way to get started on a larger project, such as a term paper or an honors paper.You may think that you have "all semester" to get the writing done, but if you really map out how much time you have available to write on a daily and weekly basis, you will see that you need to get started sooner, rather than later.In addition, the un-schedule may reveal especially busy weeks or months, which will help you budget time for long-term projects. Perhaps most importantly, the un-schedule can help you examine how you spend your time.You may be surprised at how much time you spend watching television, and decide to make a change.It's especially important that you build time for fun activities into your un-schedule.Otherwise, you will procrastinate in order to steal time for relaxation. You can also use the un-schedule to record your progress towards your goal.Reward yourself for your small successes.Seeing what you've achieved will help reinforce the productive behavior, and you will feel more motivated in the following process. As you explore ways to conquer procrastination, don't expect overnight transformation.You developed the habit over a long time; you aren't going to stop magically.But you can change the behavior, bit by bit.If you start to make an un-schedule now, you will eventually develop new habits. According to the writer, people need to make an un-schedule because of their _ . A. interests in doing things differently B. determination to try out new things C. inability to manage time properly D. lack of concentration on a project Answer: C. inability to manage time properly People who smoke could lose around one third of their daily memory, researchers say. A study by a team at Northumbria University showed that smokers lost more of their memory when compared to non-smokers. And the research also found that those who kicked the habit saw their ability to recollect information restored to almost the same level as non-smokers. The study involved more than seventy 18-to-25-year-olds and included a tour of the university's campus. Those who took part were asked to recall small details, such as a list of songs played at a campus concert and tasks completed at various points-known as real world memory test. Smokers performed badly, remembering just 59 percent of tasks. But those who had given up smoking remembered 74 percent and those who had never smoked recalled 81 percent of tasks. Dr. Tom Heffernan, who leads Northumbria University's Collaboration for Drug and Alcohol Research Group, said the findings would be useful in anti-smoking campaigns. He said, "Given that there are up to 10 million smokers in the UK and as many as 45 million in the United States, it's important to understand the effects smoking has on everyday cognitive function-of which prospective memory is an excellent example. " "This is the first time that a study has set out to examine whether giving up smoking has an _ on memory. We already know that giving up smoking has huge health benefits for the body, but this study also shows how stopping smoking can have knock-on benefits for cognitive functions too. '' The research will now investigate the effects of passive smoking on memory, while Dr. Heffernan and Dr. Terence O'Neil will look into the effects of third-hand smoking-toxins left on curtains and furniture. What will Dr. Heffernan and Dr Terence O'Neil do? A. Investigate the effects of third-hand smoking. B. Do research on how smoking affects passive smokers. C. Find ways to persuade people to quit smoking. D. Study whether giving up smoking affects memory. Answer: A. Investigate the effects of third-hand smoking. Peter King, 15, and Mary King, 13, went to see a doctor. Peter had a bad cold, so the doctor gave him some pills to take. Mary had a bad cough, so the doctor gave her some cough medicine. There are the words on the bottle of the medicine: Cough Medicine Shake well before use. Take three times daily after meals. At one time: adults --------- 2 teaspoonfuls Children 8 -- 14 1 teaspoonful Children 4 -- 7 1/2 teaspoonful Not suitable for children below the age of 4 Store in a cold place. Use before Oct.2007. Mary or mother should _ the medicine left after Oct.2007. A. throw away B. take two times more C. stop to take D. take three times more Answer: A. throw away Have you ever ''Googled'' yourself? More Americans are Googling themselves-and many are checking out their friends,co-workers and romantic interests,too. In a report Sunday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said 47 percent of U.S.adult Internet users have looked for information about themselves through Google or another search engine.That is more than twice the 22 percent of users who did in 2002,but Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden was surprised the growth wasn't higher. "Yes,it's doubled,but it's still the case that there's a large number of Internet users who have never done this simple act of plugging their names with search engines,"she said. Americans under 50 and those With more education and income were more likely to self-Google--in some cases because their jobs demand a certain online persona.Meanwhile.Pew found that 53 percent of adult Internet users admit looking up information about someone else. celebrities excluded. Often,it's to find someone they've lost touch with.But looking up information about friends, s,colleagues and neighbors was also common. Although men and women equally searched for online information about themselves.women were slightly more likely to look up information about someone they are dating. In many cases,the search is just done to find someone's contact information.But a third of those who have conducted searches on others have looked for public records,such as bankruptcies and divorce proceedings.A similar number have searched for someone else's photo. Few Internet users say they Google themselves regularly-about three quarters of self searchers say they have done so only once or twice.And most who have done so consider what they find accurate. Pew also found that teens were more likely than adults to restrict who can see their profiles at an online hangout like Facebook or news Corp's MySpace. The research of Pew was aimed to find . A. why Google is so popular among Americans B. how many people would like to self-google in prefix = st1 /America C. whether Americans like searching for online information D. What online information is most welcomed among Internet users Answer: B. how many people would like to self-google in prefix = st1 /America
Why do our eyes open wide when we feel fear? And why do our eyes become narrow when we express disgust ? According to a new research, it has something to do with survival. In a recently published paper, researchers concluded that expressions of fear and disgust changed the way human eyes gather and focus light. They argued that these changes were the result of evolutionary development and were intended to help humans survive, or at least discover, very different dangers. In order to test their hypothesis ,researchers examined two dozen volunteer college students with standard eye-exam equipment, and asked them to show expressions of fear and dislike. It was found that when the students widened their eyes, more light was admitted and their field of vision was expanded. When they wrinkled their noses in disgust, their eyes narrowed. This had the effect of blocking out more light but focusing on a specific point. Although some scientists have admitted that emotional expressions are intended primarily to communicate information, expressions of fear and disgust seem to perform different visual functions. "Eye widening may help to find a potential danger that requires much attention. And this would agree with the hypothesized function of fear," said researchers. "On the other hand, eye narrowing may help to distinguish and avoid different kinds of dangers, such as disease carriers and dirty foods. And this would agree with the hypothesized function of disgust." These findings supported naturalist Charles Darwin's view that expressions are not necessarily for communication and are not arbitrary ."If our expressions were arbitrary, they would show little cross-cultural relationship." researchers said. "But actually, our expressions probably have some universal functional principles." What is the hypothesis of the research in this text? Answer: Emotional expressions affect how human eyes collect or focus light. They may be just passing your office, computer bag slung over one shoulder. Or they may be sitting in a car outside it, causally tapping away at a laptop. They look like innocent passers-by. In fact, they are stealing your corporate secrets. Drive-by hacking is the trendy term given to the practice of breaking into wireless computer networks from outside the buildings that house them. A recent study in the UK, sponsored by RSA Data Security, found that two-thirds of organizations with wireless networks were risking their data in this way. Security experts patrolled several streets in the City of London seeking evidence of wireless networks in operation. Of 124 that they identified, 83 were sending data without encrypting them. Such data could readily be picked up by a passer-by armed only with a portable computer, a wireless modem and a few pieces of software that can be freely downloaded from the Internet. The data could include sensitive company documents containing valuable information. Or they could be e-mail identities and passwords that could be used by hackers to log into corporate networks as if they were legal users. Most companies using wireless networking technology do not take even the simplest of measures to protect their data. Nearly all wireless network technology comes with some basic security features that need only to be activated in order to give a minimum level of security, for example, by encrypting the data being passed over the network. Raymon Kruck, business development manager at Check Point Software, a security technology specialist, believes this could be partly a psychological problem. People see the solid walls of their building as safeguards and forget that wireless networks can extend up to 200 meters beyond physical walls. Companies without any security at all on their wireless networks make it ridiculously easy for hackers to break in. Switching on the security that comes with the network technology should be automatic. Then there are other basic steps a company can take, says Mr. Kruck, such as changing the passwords on the network from the default setting. Companies can also install firewalls, which form a barrier between the internal network and the public Internet. They should also check their computer records regularly to spot any abnormal activity, which might betray the presence of a hacker. Most wireless network technology has _ . Answer: data encryption program Over the years I've been teaching my grandchildren about a simple but powerful concept--the ant philosophy. I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy, and here is the first part: Ants never quit. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, or around. They keep looking for another way to get where they're supposed to go. What a great philosophy. Second, ants think summer all winter. That's an important perspective. You can't be so childish as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering their winter food in the middle of summer. The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think winter all summer. That is so significant. 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 dive back down, but then they come out on the first warm day. They can't wait to get out. And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy. Wow, what a great lecture to attend--the ant seminar! Which of the four parts of the ant philosophy means "look ahead"? Answer: The second part. The reason that flies can always find food is that they can smell Answer: organism decay Jim, a young farmer, was once put into prison . One day, he got aletter from his mother. "I'm so worried about our farm,"she wrote. "It'stime to plant potatoes. I can't dig all the fields by myself. Jim read the letter and became sad. "What can I do?" he thought. Then he had a good idea. He wrote to his mother, "Don't dig the fields, there's a pot of money in the earth. Don't plant potatoes until I come home. " Some days later, Jim got another letter from his mother. It said, "Two days ago, about ten men came to our farm and dug all our fields. I can't understand it. It looks as if they were looking for something. What shall I do?" Jim smiled when he read his mother's letter. He wrote a letter to his mother at once. It was very short. Guess what it would say? Jim's mother told him that about ten men came to dig their fields. These men might be _ . Answer: prison guards
What loosens soil? A gopher homes B wind C heat D bird nests Answer: A. gopher homes "Folk singers are more like poets than singers," Li Yahe, a music businessman, once told China Youth Daily. That saying perfectly describes Zhang Lei, the 34-year-old champion of the fourth "Voice of China" singing competition, which ended on Oct 7. Critics thought Zhang's success as a victory for folk singers. The Voice of China used to attach great importance to singing skills and vocal techniques, which are not necessarily what folk singers are good at. "Folk songs are more about emotions and storytelling," said Li. Folk is one of the oldest musical styles. It dates back to ancient times, when people sang about their everyday lives and the society around them. A powerful comeback Folk music became popular again in the Western world in the 1960s. During social revolutions, many young Westerners turned to the simple rhythms of folk. Pioneers included US singer Bob Dylan, whose songs are reflections of some social issues like the Vietnam War. Singers at that time used traditional folk instruments like the banjo, the upright bass, the mandolin and the piano. In the late 1970s, folk music was introduced to Taiwan. The rise of singers like Lo Tayu and Chyi Yu popularized folk music, particularly among young Chinese people. At that time, folk tunes were based on simple song structures, with pleasant chord progression and pretty lyrics, just like during old times. But they focused more on the dreams and sorrow of youth than on politics. This continued to be the case when the folk "wave" swept Chinese mainland in the 1990s. Folk pioneers Sadly, _ didn't last long in China. Folk gave way to pop in the late 1990s, when people started living more fast-paced lives. But that didn't mean folk music had disappeared from the music world entirely. "The drop in the popularity of folk songs is because the business mode of the music industry is outdated, not because of the music itself," folk singer Song Ke once said. He was right. Recent years have seen folk songs gaining popularity, with the appearance of singers like Li Jian and Song Dongye. "The popularity of the Internet has shocked the traditional profit model in music industry," Lu Zhongqiang, manager of 13-Month, a music recording and publishing company, told Tencent Entertainment. "Not-so-well-known music starts showing its strength when the production of mainstream music is declining," he added. Which word can best describe the attitude of Lu Zhongqiang towards folk music? A Objective B Confident. C Critical. D Worried Answer: B. Confident. "Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby' s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was imperfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother's arms, she sighed , knowing that his life was to be unfortunate. He cried to his mum "A boy, a big boy... called me a freak ." He grew up, handsome. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. "But you might communicate with other young people," his mother blamed him, but felt a kindness in her heart. Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, "You' re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it' s a secret." The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared. Later he married and became a lawyer. One day, he asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her." "I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet." The years kept their secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother' s casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," his father whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?" We can infer that the person who donate the ears is _ . A A doctor. B His father. C His mother. D A stranger. Answer: C. His mother. The earth is about 4,600 million years old. Modern man has lived on the earth for only 35,000 years, but during that time, we have changed our planet in many ways. Many of the things that we have done are good, but more are not good for the earth. Water pollution A lot of people, birds and fish die each day because of water pollution. Factories have polluted the land and the water. As a result, many rivers and lakes are now dead. Air pollution In big cities, factories, as well as cars, trucks and buses are the main cause of air pollution. Many people in cities now have serious health problems. For example, Mexico city used to be a beautiful sunny capital, but today it is always covered by thick brown clouds. Soil pollution In order to have a good harvest, most of the farmers use chemicals too much in their fields. That's bad for the soil. But this kind of pollution is difficult to stop. Hope for the future These problems are very serious for our future, so all of us should do something to improve our environment. If we can stop pollution, our planet will become more and more beautiful and our health will be better. Let's be greener people! ,. Which sentence is TRUE? A Though Mexico city is always covered by thick brown clouds, it's still a beautiful sunny capital. B Air pollution can make people sick. C Now fewer farmers use chemicals in the fields. D Factories, cars, trucks and buses are the main cause of soil pollution. Answer: B. Air pollution can make people sick. Flying over a desert area in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes. After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote in his book, "Look here for probable metal." Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported, "This ground should be searched for metals." From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word "Uranium." None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's surface. They were merely putting to use one of the newest methods of locating minerals in the ground---using trees and plants as signs that certain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees and plants are growing. This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface. At Watson Bar Creek, a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxes were filled with small branches from the trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested. Each small part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it. Study of the roots, branches, and seeds showed no silver. But there were small amounts of gold in the roots and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold than those growing on the ends of the branches. If the trees had not indicated that there was gold in the ground, the scientists would not have spent money to pay for digging into the ground. They did dig and found more gold below. They dug deeper. They found large quantities of gold. The scientists were searching for minerals by using _ . A X-rays B trained eyes C a special instrument D magic power Answer: B. trained eyes
A Bite of China Are you an eating-lover? Do you want to eat every delicious food in the world? Then do you watch the popular program A Bite of China? It's a TV program on Chinese delicious food which has been produced by CCTV. Is there any holiday that isn't celebrated with special festival food? Here are several traditional Chinese foods: Noodles are a symbol of long life in Chinese culture. They are as much a part of Chinese birthday celebration as a birthday cake with its candles lit in many western countries. Since noodles mean long life, it is considered very unlucky to cut it off. Although westerners sometimes may be very sorry to see fish lying on the plate, in China a whole fish is a symbol of richness. In fact, at a party it is a tradition to serve the whole fish last, pointed towards the most valued guest. Fish also has a special meaning because the Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for richness or plenty, and it is believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true in the year to come. A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat Festival is Zongzi. This tasty dish is made of rice dumplings with meat, peanuts or other delicious food in bamboo leaves. The tradition of Zongzi is meant to remind us of a great man, Qu Yuan in Chinese history. _ in the Dragon Boat Festival makes us think of Qu Yuan. Answer: Zongzi People were hanging out of their apartment windows screaming down at me,"Just give up,you fool! You'll never make it with that little bike."I kept telling them repeatedly,"All I have is this three-wheeled tricycle."I kept tipping to the side,but I kept my balance and ignored the people who were making fun of me. Then at one point a man left his home and ran out into the middle of the street. "This bike will take forever at the speed you're going!" He continued screaming words of discouragement right in my face. I replied,"I must push forward;I must get to the finish line! " I held on as tightly as possible and rode straight ahead with great determination. I had unshakable faith that I would make it! I also knew it did not matter how long it would take,because I knew it was worth it. At that point,the dream came to an abrupt end I got up and remembered the dream very clearly. I also remembered that the night before I was feeling discouraged -- but now I felt happy and peaceful, and my spirit felt alive with hope. I think we've all been given small tricycles as adults,and we struggle to balance our lives down the dark,narrow streets of mortality . I now consider the tricycle to be my three wheels of hope. The dream has given me courage and hope that I will finish the race inch by inch. I know I must never give up,but press forward always. Why did the man run out into the middle of the street? Answer: To discourage the writer from riding. Materials combine chemically or physically. Which materials form a new substance when chemically combined? Answer: baking soda and vinegar As a girl, I've spent a great deal of my time on earth concerned about my weight. So I do know something about exercise. Let me tell you about the calorie-burning activities I've tried or will try. Salsa I try to maintain my weight through dancing. Dancing improves my coordination and sense of rhythm in addition to burning calories. I'm personally interested in salsa, which I find sexy and expressive . But I have not yet to start classes, because classes are very expensive, and I cannot find a dance partner. Ping-Pong Ping-pong is the national sport of China, so how could I know nothing about it? My father is a ping-pong fan, and a really good player. He's won several informal matches. My relationship with ping-pong has always been on-and-off. I'll get into it for a while, and then lose interest. The reason is because I can't find a good partner. Some stronger can depress you, while someone weaker (or just as weak) can make the game boring. Tae Kwon Do I've recently decided to try tae kwon do as my regular exercise activity. There's a story behind this choice: A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a bus, concentrating on a book. Suddenly, the bus became very quiet except for the sound of a woman's crying. I looked up to see what had happened and overheard whispers that she had just quarreled with a man, and the man slapped her face. No one on the bus dared say anything because the man looked really strong. Even now I feel ashamed I was among the silent. That's why I've made up my mind to learn something that will help me protect others and myself. Why doesn't the girl want to go to learn salsa? Answer: Nobody wants to dance with her. It is a fine Sunday morning. There're many Young Pioneers in the park. They are having a good time . Some are playing games under a tree. Some are singing and dancing near the river. Some are running up the hill. Others are boating on the river. Where's Li Lei? He's sitting on a chair by the river. What is he doing? He's reading. Where are Lucy and Lily? They're on the meadow .What are they doing? They are running after a butterfly .They want to catch it. Who are in the park? _ Answer: Many Young Pioneers.
Question: When travelers think of an Adriatic cruise, scenes of Venice, Italy--its canals, bridges, piazzas, and stunning architecture--come to mind. It's one of the most popular cruise destinations in Europe. And for many, the sail-away from Venice, through its Giudecca Canal, is an awe-inspiring experience. Venice may be known as La Serenissima, or "the most peaceful," which, however, isn't entirely accurate these days. Venetians have been increasingly concerned about the impact of tourism and the potential for an environmental disaster off its shoreline due to the number of cruise ships that enter and exit its lagoon . That's why earlier last month, Venice announced a new policy to forbid the transit of cruise ships to the city via the Giudecca Canal. It's not that the city wants to shun the cruise industry altogether: It simply wants to force traffic further away from the landmarks along the shoreline. City officials say that most ships will now transit the Contorta Sant'Angelo Canal. Additionally, the city is _ the size of ships that can visit Venice, as well as the total number of ships that call on it on a daily basis. As of January 2014, Venice plans to reduce the visitations of larger ships (those that are 40,000 tons or heavier) by 20 percent. This effectively caps the number of ships that can enter per day to five. In November, ships heavier than 96,000 tons will not be allowed to enter Guidecca Canal at all. How the city plans to carry out the new five-ships-per-day rule remains to be seen and have yet to be announced. Which ships will be allowed passage? Will it be first-come, first-served? However they proceed, cruise line executives want their passengers to know that Venice will remain a regular port of call--even if the transit to and from the city must evolve. It can be learned from the passage that _ . A. People in Venice are complaining about the toursits' behaviors. B. Venetians are often bothered by noise and pollution. C. The city government has announced the concrete ways to carry out the new five-ships-per-day rule. D. The new policy will not discourage the tourism from developing. Answer: D. The new policy will not discourage the tourism from developing. Question: Going green seems to be a fad for a lot of people these days.Whether that is good or bad,we can't really say,but for the two of us,going green is not a fad but a lifestyle. On April 22,2011,we decided to go green every single day for an entire year.This meant doing 365 different green things,and it also meant challenging ourselves to go green beyond the easy things.Rather than recycle and reduce our energy,we had to think of 365 different green things to do and this was no easy task. With the idea of going green every single day for a year,Our Green Year started.My wife and I decided to educate people about how they could go green in their lives and hoped we could show people all the green things that could be done to help the environment.We wanted to push the message that every little bit helps. Over the course of Our Green Year,we completely changed our lifestyles.We now shop at organic stores.We consume less meat,choosing green food.We have greatly reduced our buying we don't need.We have given away half of what we owned through websites.Our home is kept clean by vinegar and lemon juice,with no chemical cleaners.We make our own butter,enjoying the smell of homemade fresh bread.In our home office anyone caught doing something ungreen might be punished. Our minds have been changed by Our Green Year.We are grateful for the chance to have been able to go green and educate others.We believe that we do have the power to change things and help our planet. (2013*,B) What might be the best title for the passage? A. Going Green B. Protecting the Planet C. Keeping OpenMinded D. Celebrating Our Green Year Answer: A. Going Green Question: You have heard the expression "horse sense". As you may imagine, it came from the time when the majority of people traveled in vehicles drawn by horses. A horse does have a lot of common sense, and there are many true stories about horses having saved their drivers from danger of death. Today for the most part, people travel by train, ship, airplane, and car, but very little by the use of horses. Modern vehicles are _ by engines, and an engine does not have any sense. In case of danger, many horses could be depended on to help. Not so with the engine; the driver must do all the things. In recent years, the speed of travel has increased greatly. With the increased speed comes greatly increased danger. The driver of a powerful engine needs to be careful. A moment of being careless may cost a life. In order to drive today, a person must be able to see clearly, and he must learn and follow carefully the rules for safety on the road. Greater attention is the price we pay for using a machine instead of a horse. The passage mainly talks about _ . A. engines B. safe driving C. using horses D. modern machines Answer: B. safe driving Question: Let me tell you my pen friend Ivan. He is 12 years old. He likes playing football. He usually play football with his friends at weekends. Ivan lives with his father and mother in a city in France. They have a dream home with five rooms, a swimming pool and a garden. They often have a party in the garden at weekends. They like to help their neighbours. His home is not near his school, so Ivan takes a bus for an hour and then walks for 10 minutes to school. There is a Basketball Club near his school. He likes play basketball in the club. Ivan's father is a worker. He is busy. Ivan's mother is a doctor. She is nice to the patients. Ivan wants to be a teacher when he grows up. I want to be a teacher, too. Every month Ivan writes two letters to me. He'll come to Suqian next year. We'll meet then. How often does Ivan write to me? A. Twice a month. B. Twice a week. C. Every day. D. Every week. Answer: A. Twice a month. Question: What's the most important thing for you to have in your life? Somebody mentions hard-work, others suggest knowledge, love and luck. If you arrange the 26 English letters alphabetically and use numbers to represent each of them, for example, 1 for a, 2 for b, 3 for c..., you can change an English word into a number. So hard-work becomes 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11="98," meaning 98 is its mark; knowledge: 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5="96," while love: 12+15+22+5="54," and luck: 12+21+3+11="47," a small mark. None of these words can give one a full mark. What about money? It can't , either. Then what else? Don't be worried. You can always find an answer to a problem in your life, when you change your way of looking at things or doing things, or your attitude. Yes, attitude is the word. See for yourself: attitude:1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100,a full mark. Most times people hope for a better life. It is possible if you will have a change for the better after you have changed your attitude. When you change your manner and become friendly to others, you'll meet more smiling faces towards you. Which of the following has the highest mark? A. Hard-work and knowledge. B. Knowledge and luck. C. Love and hard-work. D. Hard-work and luck. Answer: A. Hard-work and knowledge.
This month inTravelersCorner there are three teenagers' experiences in year-abroad programmes. Mariko Okada - Tokyo My year abroad in the United States was a fantastic experience. I'm not a shy person, and I was very comfortable speaking to everyone. So I got lots of speaking practice. I also learned many English songs and lots of interesting things about American culture. When I got home, my friends all said that I had improved so much! I hope to go back again in the future. Carla Fonseca - Rio de Janeiro I spent last year studying English in London. I'm from a small town, and London is a very big city. Sometimes I felt it was too big. There were so many people to talk to, but I always felt bad about my English. I missed my family, and I really missed my two cats. My roommate was always using our telephone, so I hardly had the chance for a nice long talk with my parents. I think it was a good experience for me, but I'm glad to be home! Alvin Chen - Hong Kong Studying in New Zealand was a fun experience for me, but it was also lots of hard work! I had English classes six hours a day, five days a week----with lots of homework. I also kept a diary of my experience. I like to write, and I wrote two or three pages in my diary every day. On Saturdays, my homestay family took me to lots of interesting places and showed me so many wonderful things about the culture. I'm really glad I went. This article is most probably taken from _ . A an advertisement B a textbook C a travel magazine D a news website Answer: C Laptop computers are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms. Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are part of a $10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college. The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to "speak" with their teachers, their classmates, and their families. However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a fast-food restaurant or under the trees----anywhere at all! Because of the many changes in computer technology , laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher-education officials are studying how laptops can help students. State officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too. At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, " Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we're giving students _ . They can see everything and do everything." Which of the following is true about Westlake College? A All teachers use computers. B 1500 students have laptops. C It is an old college in America. D Students there can do everything. Answer: C Going green is something that affects every single one of us. Whether by recycling those plastic water bottles, or by cutting down on electricity in your home, the importance of going green on a personal level is extremely important. But, when you're a millionaire NBA basketball star, how do you help out the environment? Yao Ming is a basketball player that plays for the Houston Rockets and has spoken out against hunting of sharks for fins, a delicious food in his native China. He is also the United Nations' Environmental champion. His goal is to raise awareness of climate change and energy-saving. "I will work with young people across the world and try to inspire them to plant trees, harvest rainwater and to become environmental champions in their own communities." The Philadelphia Eagles, a professional American football team, are really doing their part to give back to the community. The Eagles Go Green page has a "Green Energy Calculator" and according to the web site fans have saved $ 73,674.90 a year and saved 666,320 pounds of CO per year. Also, the Eagles have set up a "Stop global warming virtual march on Washington", a march across America for one year, through the Internet with a goal to bring fans together and to urge leaders to deal with the serious problem of global warming now. Bob Burnquist, a Brazilian skateboarder, is a member of Action Sports Environmental Coalition and founder of a program that gets organic foods and farming into schools for healthy lunch programs. Bob also has a huge homegrown organic farm where he hosted a gathering in celebration of Earth Day. Kelly Slater is a surfer and eight-time champion, but he also supports saving the coral reefs world wide. He has founded the Kelly Slater Invitational Competition which raises funds and awareness for Reef Check, which is able to get its message out to a large group of guests including professional surfers, film and music stars, and other famous people. According to the passage, Yao Ming wants to _ . A help the Houston Rockets win the NBA championship B ask the United Nations to protect sharks in China C encourage young people to care about the environment D train more young people to become players of NBA Answer: C Musa Kayairanga of Rwanda is a traditional healer. He uses natural medicines to treat his patients. He learned how to use computers at a rural telecommunications center in his country. Musa Kayairanga says he exchanges information with doctors as far away as Canada. He also says the computer has improved his knowledge of using plants to treat diseases. Many people in rural areas are now able to communicate with the rest of the world. This is one example of how technology is changing life in developing countries. Andrew Burns is an economist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. He led a recent study of technology in developing countries. The study found that technology has spread faster in such countries than in rich nations. It also found that technological progress has helped raise wages in developing countries. And it reduced the percentage of people living in extreme poverty from twenty-nine percent in 1990 to eighteen percent in 2004. Progress in communications technology has aided the growth of call centers in developing countries. Call centers are offices where most telephone calls for a business can be answered. For example, a woman in the United States who calls her computer company about a problem might speak with someone in India or Pakistan. Call centers serve businesses in local and international markets. And they have added to economic growth by providing well-paid jobs and new skills for workers who might not have had such employment. Ahsan Saeed is a young call center worker in Karachi, Pakistan. He says the job improves his language skills, his sales skills and his ability to deal with people.( from VOA Special English ) Where does the passage most probably come from ? A a magazine B a book C a TV program D a radio program Answer: D Water can be a liquid, a solid or a gas. When it is a solid, it can be as hard as stone. When it is a liquid, it can run through your fingers. When it is a gas, you may not see or feel it. Water can change from a solid to a liquid or to a gas easily. This is why we always have fresh water. Now let us find out how it does. The heat of the sun turns liquid water into gas from the oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. The heat also turns liquid water into gas from the ground, the plants and the animals. Water in the gas rises and turns into clouds in the air. When the clouds come near a mountain, they rise high. As the clouds rise, they get cooler. The higher they rise, the cooler they become. Then more and more water gas turn into water drops. In this way, the drops of water in the clouds get bigger and bigger. Then they fall to the earth as rain. , What is the solid of water? A Rain B Gas C Stone D Ice Answer: D
Thanks to science, industry and moral philosophy, mankind's steps were at last guided up the right path in the past century. The 19th century of steam was about to give way to the 20th century of oil and electricity. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, only 41 years old in 1900, provided a scientific basis for the idea that progress was not to be stopped, determined by natural law. And almost everybody thought that the development would continue to be as slow as that in the 19th century. Inventions like the railroad or the telegraph or the typewriter enabled people to live their everyday lives a little more conveniently. No one could have guessed that new ideas would storm the world with a force and frequency at an amazing pace. This high-speed attack of new ideas and technologies seemed to make people believe in the old dreams of a perfect life on earth, of a safe world in which natural disasters would be controlled. But the fast progress was accompanied by something against mankind's will. Murders in Sarajevo in 1914 led to the Great War, which did more than destroy a generation of Europeans. The Great War was most commonly called so until the beginning of World War II when it was renamed World War I. Hitler rose to power in the 1930's. It was this very man who ordered the attack of prefix = st1 /Poland, only to meet with his failure whenGreat BritainandFrancemade war onGermany. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed the American naval base at Pearl harbor. Americans decided to enter the war, and World War II was now truly a world war. But civilization was not crushed by the two great wars, and from the ruins people built a way of life again. The citizens of the 20th century felt free to reinvent themselves. In that task they were aided by two far-reaching developments-Psychoanalysis and the Bomb. Why was the Great War renamed as World War I? Answer: Because it was followed by the other world war. Drunken driving -sometimes called America's socially accepted form of murder--has become a national epidemic . Every hour of every day about three Americans on average are killed by drunken drivers,adding up to an incredible 250,000 over the past ten years. A drunken driver is usually referred to as one with 0.10-blood alcohol content or roughly three beer glasses of wine or shots of whisky drunk within two hours. Heavy drinking used to be an acceptable part of the American manly image and judges were in most courts,but the drunken killing has recently caused so many well-publicized tragedies,especially concerning young children,that public opinion is no longer so tolerant. Twenty states have raised the legal drinking age to 21,reversing a trend in the 1960s to reduce it to 18. After New Jersey lowered it to 18,the number of people killed by 18-20 years old drivers more than doubled,so the state recently upped it back to 21. Reformers,however,fear raising the drinking age will have little effect unless accompanied by educational programs to help young people to develop 'responsible attitudes' about drinking and teach them to resist peer pressure to drink. Though new laws have led to increased arrests and tests in many areas already,to a marked drop in accidents,some states are also punishing bars for serving customers too many drinks. A bar in Massachusetts was fined for serving six or more double brandies to a customer who was 'obviously drunk' and later drove off the road,killing a 9-year-old boy. As the accidents continue to occur daily in every state,some Americans are even beginning to speak well of the 13 years national prohibition of alcohol that began in 1919,which President Hoover called the 'noble experiment'. They forgot that legal prohibition didn't stop drinking,but encouraged political corruption and organized crime. As with the booming drug trade generally,there is no easy solution. Statistics issued in New Jersey suggested that _ . Answer: the legal drinking age should be raised. China is very famous for its food in the world. There are many kinds of food in China. They're Cantonese food, Sichuan food, Shanghai food, Hunan food and so on. And I like Sichuan food best. Now, Sichuan food is very popular. There are many Sichuan food restaurants all over the country. Sichuan food is very hot , but people love it. In some famous Sichuan food restaurants, you can see many people waiting there. Now in Beijing, there are more and more Sichuan food restaurants. The writer likes _ best. Answer: Sichuan food BEIJING, Oct.14(Xinhua)----A total of 120 middle school students from 35 countries will attend the final of an international China language contest, to be held in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from Oct.16 to 30. The candidates, aged from 15 to 20,must be from foreign countries and not native Chinese speakers, said a statement issued by the Chinese language Council (CLC),the contest's organizer, here Thursday. All of the candidates have passed the preliminary contests held in their own countries. According to the organizer, the competition will have a top prize, five second prizes,10 third prizes and a dozen prizes for special talents.The organizer will also launch an online vote for "the most liked candidate." It was the third year China has held the contest. "The competition not only tests the proficiency of Chinese language but also the candidates capability to communicate across different cultures."the statement said. All the candidates in the final will receive scholarships from the Chinese government.said Hu Hangyu, an official with the Education Bureau of the Chongqing Municipality, jointly organizing the contest. They will also meet local Chinese students and live with Chinese families, Hu said. "The competition is to meet the increasing demand for Chinese learning by foreign youngsters."said Xu Lin.the CLC director. The CLC has also hosted similar contest for foreign college students since 2002. China has been working to promote Chinese language learning abroad over the past few years.According to the CLC, the country had 282 Confucius Institutes and 272 "Confucius Classrooms" in 88 countries and regions as of 2009 since the first one was established in 2004. What has China been doing to promote Chinese language learning abroad according to the text? Answer: The Chinese language contests for foreign students are regularly held. There are two deaf men in the small village.One is Mr. Brown and the other is Mr. Green.They live near to each other.They are good friends. They often talk together.They talk about all kinds of things.Sometimes they are worried about their hearing.But one thinks the other is deafer. One day,Mr. Brown comes to Mr. Green's house.Mr. Green is sitting in a chair.He is having a rest.Mr. Brown stops at the door and asks,"Can you hear me?" There is no answer.Mr. Brown goes near and asks again,"Can you hear me?" Again he doesn't hear any answer.Mr. Brown is quite pleased.Still he goes nearer and asks for the third time,still there is no answer.At last,Mr. Brown goes up to Mr. Green and says,"Now I know you are much deafer than me.You don't hear my questions.""I am much deafer?" says Mr. Green,"No,I answered you three times,but you didn't hear my answer." They often talk about _ . Answer: all kinds of things
On October 23, 2011, David Pologruto, a high school physics teacher, wasstabbed by his smart student Jason Haffizulla. Jason got straight A's and was determined to study medicine at Harvard, yet this was his downfall. His physics teacher gave Jason a B, a mark Jason believed wouldundermine his entrance to Harvard. After receiving his B, Jason took a butcher knife to school and stabbed his physics teacher. How can someone as smart as Jason do something so dumb? Studies show there is little or no correlation between IQ and emotional intelligence. During my early university years, I regarded myself as an intelligent guy. I got good marks in mathematics, physics, and other subjects. I thought such skills would surely give me a bright future. After one year of study with decent marks, I began to see two major classes of students. The first category of students turned up to few lectures, partied every weekend, enjoyed a great social life, and did minimal work to pass courses. The second category of students were intelligent and hard workers who got good grades and were very focused on their studies. Surely would these intelligent and hard-working students find the great jobs before the other lazier class of students? Not so. Students are often shocked upon graduation that their qualifications are not as important as they once thought. Graduates enter the workforce only to realize that co-workers hate them and less intelligent people are the ones receiving promotions. Educational skills are useless in some industries when interpersonal skills are absent. You can have great ideas, theories, and solve complex problems, but if you cannot effectively communicate in a persuasive and exciting manner by relating to your fellow humans, you will face an uphill battle in whatever challenges you encounter. It's not that people dislike you because of your intelligence; it's that people dislike you because you're rude and not understanding. The intelligent person with poor communication skills is insensitive or unaware of others' emotions. Jason Haffizulla stabbed his physics teacher because _ . A he was unfairly treated by his teacher B he was disappointed with his downfall C he was not smart enough at studies D he got a worse mark than usual Answer: D Little Brother By Cory Doctorow, 382 pages, $19.95 In the very near future, Marcus Yallow is walking with his friends in San Francisco when a 9/11-sized terrorist attack occurs blocks away. Everyone around is secretly taken away by the Department of Homeland Security to see whether they're terrorists. However, during the investigation, one of his friends dies mysteriously. The friends try to find out the truth. If you read only one science-fiction novel this year, make it this one. The Flying Troutmans By Miriam Toews, 274 pages, $32 The heart of the book is a road journey in Canada made by Hattie,Thebes and Logan to find Cherkis, the kids' dad. It's rich in dialogue, sometimes funny, sometimes surprisingly sad, always character-true. Toews is an extraordinarily gifted writer, with tough-minded compassion for her characters. Reading By Lightning By Joan Thomas, 388 pages, $22.95 We're in 1930s Canada, where Lily's father arrived three decades earlier to be promised fertile agricultural land. But they had been cheated and thrown in the middle of Manitoba. Now William Piper and his wife farm their land and place little hope in this life. What They Wanted By Donna Morrissey, 325 pages, $32 A father has a heart attack; a brother and a sister leave Newfoundland and go to Alberta, Canada to work; a tragedy brings reconciliation , but also terrible loss. Primarily a novel of character, it's also a novel of Canada, of two very specific and vividly drawn places. Donna Morrissey's characters are troubled, sensitive, quick to be moved to anger or pain, and just as quick to laughter and affection. In Reading By Lightning, why did William Piper arrive in Canada? A To carry out his promise. B To work in a big city. C To get work experience. D To seek his fortune. Answer: D Remembering names is an important social skill . Here are some ways to improve it. Remember and repeat in conversation . When you hear a person's name , repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips . you could also repeat the name in a way that sounds natural. Ask the other person to recite and repeat . You can let other people help you remember their names. After you've been introduced to someone , ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you . Most people will be glad by the effort that you're making to learn their names. Admit that you don't know .You may tell them that you can't remember someone's name . Most of them will feel glad if you say, "I'm working to remember your names better . Yours is right on the tip of my tongue . What is it again?" Use associations . Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you can remember in this way : "Vicki Cheng ----tall, black hair." To remember their names , you can write them on a small card as soon as possible. Limit the number of new names you learn at one time. When meeting a group of people, you'd better remember just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later. Go early . Consider going early to meetings , parties and classes . Sometimes just a few people show up on time . There're fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive , you can hear them being introduced to others . What does the text mainly tell us? A Suggestions on an important social skill. B Importance of attending parties. C How to make use of associations. D How to remember and repeat names in conversation. Answer: A "Mom, I have cancer." These four words catapulted my son and me on a journey that lasted two years. On that day I felt a wave of paralyzing fear. Scott was the oldest of my four children. He was 33 years old and a successful assistant principal at SamRayburn Hifht School in Pasadena, Texas. He and his wife Carolyn were busy raising four active children. Scott was 6'2'', weighed 200 pounds and had never been sick a day in his life. A few month earlier a mole on his neck had changed color. "Dr.Warner called," Scott said that spring morning. "It's melanoma. " I tried to comfort him, naming all the people I knew who had survived skin cancer. Yet, I felt small tentacles of fear begin to wrap around my chest. Our next stop was MDAnderson, the famous cancer hospital in Houston. Scott had surgery at the end of May and was scheduled for radiation treatments over the summer recess. "There is an 80 percent chance it won't reoccur," the doctors said. At the end of summer, all his tests came back negative and Scott was back at school in the fall. However, in December, Scott discovered a lump on his neck. It was examined and the result came back "malignant. " We now realized that Scott fell into the 20 percent category. I could feel the tentacles tightening around my chest. He entered the hospital for an aggressive treatment, a combination of interferon and interleukin. After five months of treatment, he had radical surgery on his neck. The test results were encouraging, only three of the 33 lymph nodes removed were malignant. We were very hopeful. For the next six months, Scott's follow-up visits went well. Then in October, X-ray revealed a spot on his lung. The spot was removed during surgery and the doctors tried to be optimistic. It was a daily battle to control the fear and panic each setback brought. In January, he was diagnosed as having had a "disease explosion." The cancer had spread to his lungs, spine and liver and he was given three to six months to live. There were times during this period when I felt like I was having a heart attack. _ When you watch your child battle cancer, you experience a roller coaster of emotions. There are moments of hope and optimism but a bad test result or even an unusual pain can bring on dread and panic. Scott was readmitted to the hospital for one last try with chemotherapy. He died, quite suddenly, just six weeks after his last diagnosis. I was completely destroyed. I had counted on those last few months. The next morning I was busy notifying people and making funeral arrangements. I remember having this nagging feeling that something was physically wrong with me. It took a moment to realize that the crushing sensation in my chest was gone. The thing every parent fears the most had happened. My son was gone. Of course, the fear had been replaced by unbearable sorrow. After you lose a child, it is so difficult to go on. The most minimal tasks, combing your hair or taking a shower, becoming monumental. For months I just sat and stared into space. That spring, the trees began to bloom; flowers began to pop up in my garden. Friendswood was coming back to life but I was dead inside. During those last weeks, Scott and I often spoke about life and death. Fragments of those conversations kept playing over and over in my mind. "Don't let this ruin your life, Mom." "Make sure Dad re models his workshop." "Please, take care of my family." I remember wishing I could have just one more conversation with him. I knew what I would say, but what would Scott say? "I know how much you love me, Mom. So just sit on the couch and cry." No, I knew him better than that. Scott loved life and knew how precious it is. I could almost hear his voice saying, "Get up Mom, Get on with your life. It's too valuable to waste." That was the day I began to move forward. I signed up for a cake decorating class. Soon I was making cakes for holidays and birthdays. My daughter-in-law told me about a writing class in Houston. I hadn't written in years, but since I was retired I decided it be time to start again. The local college advertised a Life Story Writing class that I joined. There I met women who had also lost their children. The Poet Laureate of Texas was scheduled to speak at our local Barnes and Noble. I attended and joined our local poetry society. I never dreamed that writing essays and poems about Scott could be so therapeutic. Several of those poems have ever been published. In addition, each group brought more and more people into my life.. I don't believe you ever recover from the loss of a child. Scott is in my heart and mind every day. However, I do believe you can survive. Scott fought so bravery to live and he never gave up. He taught me that life is a gift that should be cherished, not wasted. It has taken years to become the person I am today. The journey has been a difficult, painful process but certainly worth the effort and I know that my son would be proud. Which of the following statements best shows the author's feeling about Scott's death? A It was a daily battle to control the fear and panic each setback brought. B She felt a wave of fear. C She felt a feeling of fear begin to wrap around her chest. D The fear had been replaced by unbearable sorrow. Answer: D How was your Children's Day? What kind of gifts did you get? Eight third graders in some poor places in Hebei Province got new schoolbags as Children's Day gifts. They were very happy. There were pencils, pens, exercise books and many other school supplies in the schoolbags. These schoolbags are from students in Beijing Zhongguancun Fourth Primary School. They are in Class 5, Grade 3. They raised money by themselves. They printed out their writings. Their head teacher Mrs Hou helped them to make books. They sold the books at their school to make 800 yuan. Chen Hongsheng, 9 years old, is one of the students. "We use 800 yuan to buy eight schoolbags at the post office. The post office workers give us a list of the kids. These kids live in poor places. We can choose eight kids by ourselves and post these schoolbags to them," she said very proudly. "These schoolbags are gifts of our class. This summer vacation, I'll send out a schoolbag by myself. I hope the kid with my schoolbag can go to school happily like us in the new term." How many kids got new schoolbags in Hebei Province? A Three. B Five. C Eight. D Nine. Answer: C
Believing overweight among school children is the result of bake sales, the Education Department of New York declared that bake sales will be banned all through the states, as a part of their new "wellness"policy. The ban gives a harder time to schools tying to earn money,because of budget difficulties. Bake sales have proven to be highly profitable toward schools with young people because the start-up costs are very small. Allie,a Roslyn High School freshman , agrees that bake sales are needed for school supplies."l think it's wrong for schools to ban bake sales because a lot of schools need the money to be raised. Our school could really use the money for new uniforms."Allie also commented on the bake sales apparent cause of child overweight. "I feel that it is the student's choice to eat the baked goods. lf they want it, let them have it."Jessica,another Roslyn High School freshman, had a different opinion."I feel that children can not always stay away from items such as cupcakes. It might be better if the amount of bake sales were limited, and only allowed students to buy one item." New York Education advisors are having trouble coming up with substitute product for students to sell. A plan of advertising healthier foods has come into play. However the department needs to consider if students will go for items like vegetables. Allie and Jessica don't think so."Students might not like the healthier foods. This way, the schools are gaining less money."Allie shares. Another plan to think about is the idea of not selling food products altogether. Alternate programs are being conducted throughout New York schools,such as walk-a-thons, as a healthy way for students to earn money for their schools. Which of the following statement about Allie is true? He attaches great importance to the school's income. Mary Cassette is one of the first great female American painters. She followed her dreams and became an artist. She was born on May 22, 1844, and lived in Europe for several years as a child . Her family returned to the United States and at the age of 16,Mary attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.Four years later she found she couldn't learn any more in Philadelphia,so her parents sent her back to Europe.There she studied the techniques of the masters in Rome,Seville,Antwerp,and Paris. Mary received the chance of a lifetime in 1877 when the famous French painter,Edgar Degas,asked her to join a group of painters that included now--famous artists like Monet and Renoir.Their style of paintings is called Impressionism .They used primary color1s and short brush strokes in their works.They recognized Mary's powerful talent and invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist art shows. Mary painted what she saw:gardens, and portraits,especially of mothers and children in everyday life.One of her paintings,Young Mother and Two Children,was donated to the White House in 1954 where it hangs today. Mary never married and,in 1877,her parents and sister moved to Europe to join her.Mary devoted much of her time to them for the next 1 8 years.Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue.She died in 1926 at the age of 82. We know from the passage that Mary Cassette _ . painted things she saw in everyday life Do you dream of being a reporter? Are you a good English writer who loves the news? We're looking for 100 students from around the world. They will join the BBC Kid Reporter team for the 2015-2016 school year. In the past, BBC Kid Reporters have: Interviewed leaders and other people. Written news stories for BBC For Kids. Talked about their work on television.[ Next year our team will continue to report local news stories for BBC For Kids magazine and bbcforkids.com. How to Enter Visitwww.bbcforkids.comand fill in the entry form . Be sure to read the rules and share them with your parents, who must sign your form. Entries must be done by June 19, 2015. You must be OVER 13 years of age. Good luck! In the past, BBC Kid Reporters have _ . interviewed leaders and other people 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." When did the author realize that she was too short? When she began to go to school. How would a drought most likely affect the plants of a grassy plain? There would be shorter plants.
Shlander is a man from space. He thinks the people and things on the earth are very strange. He is now writing a letter to his friend at home. Here is part of his letter. Read it and answer the questions. Now I am in a strange world. It is very nice. There are many new things here. There are many earth monsters here, too. The earth monsters look very funny. They have just one head, two arms and two legs. They have thin black strings on their heads. Some earth monsters have brown or yellow strings. The earth monsters have a hole in their faces. Every day, they put nice things and balls from the trees into the hole. They put water into the hole, too. The earth monsters do not walk very fast. They move from place to place in tin boxes. At night, the earth monsters like to look at a square window box. This box has very small earth monsters in it. Shlander thinks the people and things on the earth are very _ . A. strange B. nice C. different D. beautiful Answer: A. strange Hi, I am a Chinese boy. My name is Chen Haonan. My first name is Haonan. My last name is Chen. My English name is Dale. I like red. My telephone number is 178-267. I have a good friend. He is English. His name is Jim Smith. Jim is his first name and Smith is his last name. His Chinese name is Huang Qiang. His phone number is 362-597. My friend Huang Qiang is _ . A. a Chinese B. an English boy C. a girl D. a English Answer: B. an English boy Once Dr. Mellinkoff invited me to join him at the hospital to discuss interesting cases with his students . The case at hand was a Guatemalan man , aged 34 , who had a fever and many other medical problems . His condition was not improving , and there was not much hope he would live . Dr. Mellinkoff asked to see the patient . He introduced himself in Spanish and , in a very gentle voice , asked how he felt . The patient smiled and said everything was all right . Then the doctor asked if he was able to eat . The patient said that he had no desire to eat . " Are you getting food you like ? " The patient said nothing . " Do you get the kind of food you have at home ? " The answer was no . The doctor put his hand on the man's shoulder and his voice was very soft . " If , you had food that you liked , would you eat it ? " " Yes , yes . " the patient said . The change in the patient's appearance couldn't have been more obvious . Nothing was said , but it was easy to tell that a message had been sent and had also been received . Later , the doctor asked why the Guatemalan man wasn't getting food he could eat . One of the students said , " We all know how difficult it is to get the kitchen to make special meals . " " Suppose , " the doctor replied , " you felt a certain medicine was ly necessary but that our hospital didn't carry it , would you accept defeat or would you insist the hospital meet your request ? " " I would probably insist , " the student said . " Very well , " the doctor said . " You might want to try the same method in the kitchen . It won't be easy , but I can help you . Meanwhile , let's get some food inside this man as fast as possible , and stay with it . Or he'll be killed by hunger . By the way , there must be someone among you who can speak Spanish . If we want to make real progress , we need to be able to talk with him . " Three weeks later , Dr. Mellinkoff told me that the Guatemalan man had left the hospital under his own power . It takes more than medicine to help sick people ; you also have to talk to them and make them comfortable . According to the passage , we can conclude that _ . A. the patient was from another country . B. the patient's illness was caused by hunger C. Dr. Mellinkoff performed an operation on the patient D. the hospital failed to provide the right medicine for the patient Answer: A. the patient was from another country . In an American classroom, a teacher asked a Chinese girl to answer a question. She stood up and smiled, without making any sound. The American teacher looked at himself and didn't see anything funny. So he asked her the question again.The girl just smiled but said nothing. The teacher was angry. He didn't know that the girl smiled to cover her embarrassment because she didn't know how to answer the question. In a dining room in Beijing, an Englishman was careless and dropped a plate. The Chinese who saw this began to laugh. The Englishman felt uncomfortable and even got angry."They are laughing at me," he thought. In fact ,the Chinese laughed not at the Englishman or his bad luck---whether he is a foreigner or a Chinese. The laughter has some feelings, don't take it so seriously ;laugh it off, it's nothing;such things can happen to any of us,etc. The Chinese girl smiled in an American classroom because _ A. the teacher asked her to answer a question. B. The teacher asked her to stang up. C. She couldn't answer the question. D. The teacher looked funny. Answer: C. She couldn't answer the question. Ronald Hoffman born in 1937 is Polish-born American organic chemist and Nobel laureate . As a theoretical chemist, Hoffmann studied energy levels in chemical bonds during chemical reactions. He put computers to use to solve his problems and, despite the complexity of his research, was able to explain his theories and discoveries to the non-specialist. For his work he was awarded the 1981 Nobel Prize in chemistry, which he shared with Fukui Kenichi. Born in Poland, Hoffmann settled in New York City as a child and became a United States citizen. He received his undergraduate degree in premedical studies from Columbia College in 1958. He attended Harvard University, where he received his PhD. degree in chemical physics in 1962. He joined the faculty of Cornell University in the mid-1960s and remained there throughout his career. Hoffmann and Nobel laureate chemist Robert Burns Woodward developed rules, based on quantum mechanics, to determine how energy levels in atomic electron orbits influence how a chemical reaction takes place. These simple rules, known as the Woodward-Hoffmann rules, allowed chemists to predict reaction results and was quickly accepted and put to use in a wide variety of situations. Hoffmann later turned his research to a variety of problems related to discovering the molecular structure of inorganic and organometallic compounds. Hoffmann is also known for what is called the Isolobal Analogy, which is yet another discovery linking all areas of chemistry. It is useful in predicting the behavior of new molecules based on the orbit structure of the components used to form them. Aided by computers, Hoffmann was able to _ a vast amount of data to support his ideas. Unlike the scientific papers of many chemists, Hoffmann's publications contain little raw data but instead are filled with diagrams and pictures to explain his results. His drawings of shaded balloons to indicate eigenvectors, a unit used in mathematics, are now the accepted scientific notation for illustrating this value. How did Hoffman make his research popular? A. He applied some computer skills to help explain his ideas. B. He established a special computer system to help. C. He drew some forms explaining his ideas. D. He did series of experiments to prove his ideas. Answer: A. He applied some computer skills to help explain his ideas.
Gasco owns a storage facility where flammable gases are stored in liquified form under high pressure in large spherical tanks. The facility was constructed for Gasco by Acme Company, a firm that specializes in the construction of such facilities. After the facility had been in use for five years, an explosion in the facility started a large fire that blanketed the surrounding countryside with a high concentration of oily smoke and soot. Farber owns a large truck farm near the facility. His entire lettuce crop was destroyed by oil deposits left by the smoke.If Farber asserts a claim against Gasco for the loss of his lettuce crop and is unable to show any negligence on the part of Gasco, will Farber prevail? Answer: Not everyone can afford their own vehicle,and with the high demands of consumers and incredible expectations of today g leading engineers,public transportation needs all the improvement it can get. Nowadays,there aren't many comfortable alternatives to owning your own car,unless you're happy with inaccessible and expensive rental Pars.To fight against this.the City Car appeared and it's stackable electric car with room for two.Saving the burden of paying for gas and spending times searching for parking in a crowded city, the City Car would be an ideal and inexpensive form of transportation with easy storage. But for those of you that want to stick to trains on tracks,China's 3 D Express Coach is the answer.Unlike trains that must run far from shopping areas or even stay underground because there's simply no room for tracks,the Express Coach runs on rails positioned above the freeway.With more Express Coaches, public transportation would be more time-efficient and energy-efficient. Have you heard of the Nano car? The Tata Nano from India is ten percent of the cost of most new cars.Because of its current lack of an airbag and difficult access to the trunk,the Nano does not meet certain safety standards in other countries but after improvements are made,you may be able to buy a new car for less than$3.000 and enjoys its fit in a motorcycle parking space. The pioneer of hybrid cars,the Toyota Prius,is the shining model of the alternatively fueled vehicle.Due to the Prius' great success,the Lexus RX 450h,Honda Insight and Ford Fusion Hybrid quickly followed.A hybrid car alternates gas and electric power,but contains a complete electric motor.When you drive a hybrid,it's mostly run electrically,but some gasoline powers the generator . Cars like these are no longer imaginary.They are being planned and built,making them not just a fantasy anymore. A hybrid car is a car that _ . Answer: We have all heard the old phrase "attitude is everything", and that phrase is certainly true.Your attitude can have a great impact on your personal motivation, so it is important to keep a positive attitude no matter what challenges you face. As a matter of fact, keeping your attitude positive in the face of difficulties is the motivation tip that most successful business owners will tell you.The most successful business owners, from Sam Walton to Bill Gates, have all been able to triumph in the face of unpleasant situations.It is those successful business owners who tell you that attitude is everything.But how you deal with that knowledge will determine your level of success. One of the most important ways to carry out "attitude is everything" is to observe who you associate with and who you surround yourself with.That is because when you surround yourself with negative people, their negative attitudes will infect you.So keeping your associates, colleagues, co-workers and friends as positive as possible is a great way to put the phrase "attitude is everything" into practice. Whatever you decide to do in life, your attitude will have a great effect on the success you achieve.Success , whether in the world of business or in your personal life, is directly related to your attitude, and the attitude you bring to your work.A positive attitude will help you achieve greater success in your job, no matter what your current level of employment. One useful way of carrying out "attitude is everything" is _ . Answer: The hallways cast shadows since the only light available was from open windows and doorways. The lights are turned off to save money on the electricity bill. The rooms, borrowed rooms, were not like being in hospitals. There were no color1s on the walls, or framed pictures for us to be distracted by. There were no magazines to look at, or pens to write with. There were no plants, or matching chairs, or paper spread over the examining tables. By the second day of a medical mission hosted by PAMS (Peruvian American Medical Society) in Abancay, Peru, it was easy to start adapting and taking advantage of what we did have inside the hospital. I learned to reuse a brown paper bag in order to transport items the entire week. I hid my mask, hat and shoe covers whenever I needed to leave the surgery floor to be sure they were available again. The one towel was creatively folded so that we could keep using it. By the third day, I realized how wasteful I was the first day. I had thrown away a rubber band that had held a pile of envelopes, a used water bottle, and worst of all: we had used two gloves instead of one. The free medical care the local Indians were receiving today was a new experience for many of the people. PAMS is a nation-wide, non-profit organization that helps bring Peruvian and American doctors together to offer medical treatment and education to towns in Peru. Several other towns including Cusco, Lima, and Trujillo also benefit from these medical missions. All the volunteers donate their own time and services. The mission is organized for two weeks, once or twice a year. Volunteers are encouraged to stay as long as possible. Abancay is a beautiful town, 7,000 feet above sea level with a population of 80,000 people. This first week, there are 19 other people who volunteered to help those less fortunate. Many of the volunteers stayed in the same hotel together and many were paired up to have a roommate. On the first night, the mayor welcomed everyone as the high school children performed a dance of local custom. Work started at 8 a.m. the next morning. The first task to accomplish was setting up a room to be used as an office and pharmacy . Everything that was donated was set up on portable shelves that were put up for the occasion. How did the author feel about what she did on the first day? Answer: An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old son. Suddenly a crow landed on their window. The father asked his son, "What is that?" The son replied, "That is a crow." After a few minutes, the father asked his son for the second time, "What is this?" The son said, "Father, I told you just now. It's a crow." After a little while, the father asked his son the same question for the third time, "What is this?" This time, the son said to his father in a low and cold tone, "It's a crow, a crow." After a moment, the father yet again asked his son for the fourth time, "What is this?" This time his son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again? I have told you already, 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?" A minute later the father went to his room and came back with a diary, which he had kept since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow suddenly landed on the window edge. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied him 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question. I didn't at all feel angry, but instead felt _ for my son. If your parents reach old age, do not look at them as a burden, but speak to them gently, and be kind to them. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered me with love. I will take care of my old parents in the best way no matter how they behave." The old man brought out the diary, which he had kept since his son was born, because _ . Answer:
How can a small stamp be worth $16,800? Any mistake made in the printing of a stamp raises its value to stamp collectors. A mistake on a two-penny stamp has made it worth a million and a half times its face value. Do you think it impossible? Well, it is true. And this is how it happened. The mistake was made more than a hundred years ago in the former British colony of M auritius , a small island in the Indian Ocean. In 1847 an order for stamps was sent to London. Mauritius was about to become the fourth country in the world to put out stamps. Before the order was filled and the stamps arrived from England, a big dance was planned by the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces on the island. The dance would be held in his house and letters of invitation would be sent to all the important people in Mauritius. Stamps were badly needed to post the letters. Therefore, an islander, who was a good printer, was told to copy the pattern of the stamps. He carelessly put the words "Post Office" instead of "Post Paid", two words seen on stamps at that time, on the several hundred that he printed. Today, there are only twenty-six of these misprinted stamps left--- fourteen One-penny Reds and twelve Two-penny Blues. Because there are so few Two-Penny Blues and because of their age, collectors have paid as much as $16,800 for one of them. Why did Mauritius print some stamps too? Because _ . Answer: invitations to a big dance had to be posted quickly More than half of the world's population live in cities. Traffic and pollution are becoming big problems in big cities all over the world. In cities like Mexico City, Shanghai or Cairo the quality of air is getting worse every day. In the United States, people spend more time sitting in traffic jams. Some of the world's cities have already found the answer to the problem. In Bogota, the capital of Columbia, the government has taken measures to improve the quality of life for the city's 8 million people. They created over a thousand new parks, a new public transport system, and built hundreds of cycling and walking paths. People who live in the city also joined in making their city one of the most livable places in South America. Today city planners around the world are looking for ways to provide more room for living and less room for cars. In America, public transport has increased over 2 % since the mid 1990s -- not much but a start. More and more people leave their cars at home and get on buses, trains or even ride a bike to work. Some cities are far better at planning than others. In Amsterdam, for example, only 40 % of the population use their cars to get to work, 35 % ride bikes while 25% use public transport. In Paris, about half of the city's workers drive their cars to work. For cities in developing countries, the problems have just started. Traffic is getting worse as more and more people can afford to buy a car. What would be the best title of the text? Answer: Parks instead of cars for cities There is a park near my home. People like to go to this park after work. Some of them go to the park every day. Look! That is Mr. King. He is sitting on a chair and watching the children. Some children are playing a game. Some boys are playing soccer. Lucy and Lily are standing under a tree. They are talking. There is a small river in the park. We can see some boats on the water. Some children are sitting in the boats with their fathers and mothers. Listen! A girl is singing. This is really a nice park. I come here after school every day. There are some _ in the park. Answer: chairs and boats A TV program was being videoed. Tonight it was to select the sweetest whisper of love ever said between husband and wife. The final competition was held among 10 married couples. Seven of them were young ones, two middle-aged and one old. The last turn came to the old couple. The old lady took the microphone and said the sweetest whisper of love she had ever heard was: " Are you standing or sitting?" The host fixed his eyes on her, quite puzzled by her words. Regardless of all the talking around, she went on with her story. Her husband had been a doctor before he retired. One day when he was on duty at the hospital, he felt a sharp pain at the heart. By his professional knowledge he knew immediately he suffered a fit of heart attack. His colleagues carried him at once to the operation room and prepared him for a bypass operation, which was highly risky. The patient's family members had to be informed before it began. The patient himself was allowed to put in a word. Lying silently on the operation table with a trembling hand, he dialed after a moment's thinking of the number of his wife's phone. Finally a familiar voice came from the other end... "So many years had passed but memory of this incident remained fresh in my mind. What he said in the beginning was: 'Are you standing or sitting?' He was actually worried about me, wondering how I felt at the news. He was afraid I would have fallen flat onto the ground. In such a critical state as he was then, his thought still went to me..." The old lady concluded slowly, "That's the sweetest whisper of love I've ever heard all my life." A loud applause followed in the wake of a short silence. What can be inferred from the fact that the old woman had to be informed of the operation? Answer: It was the hospital's rule to do so. Young men often give flowers to young women when they are in love. This tradition may have come from prefix = st1 /Turkey. In the 1700s inTurkey, it was quite popular for people in love to send each other baskets full of strange things. The baskets were delivered secretly to the person who was receiving it. Usually, an old woman who sold flowers or fruit on the street left the basket beside the person's door. These baskets included a variety of "gifts": flowers, stones, feathers, wax, and even charcoal. Each thing in the basket had a special meaning. By figuring out the secret message contained in each item, the person who received the basket began to understand little by little the true feeling of the person who sent it. This idea of sending gifts of love with secret meanings quickly spread toGermany,France, andEngland. However, as time passed, only flowers remained popular. An innocent bunch of flowers told young ladies about the feeling in the hearts of young men. Each different flower held a different meaning. For example, the flowers from an orange tree meant, "You are beautiful and pure." Pink carnations meant, "My love for you is strong and great." Yellow roses, on the other hand, meant, "I saw you with someone else." Many flower dictionaries were made to help young people in love understand the meaning of the flowers they received. Not all of the dictionaries agreed, however, on the meaning of each flower, so a person had to be careful about the flowers they chose to send. By the 1880s, using flowers to send messages had fallen out of fashion, and the more direct way of sending love letters began. Today, flowers are still considered a lovely gift, but the meaning for each kind of flower has been lost. The text suggests that_. Answer: people don't use flower dictionaries any longer
American colleges and universities consider a number of things about a student who wants to be admitted. Experts say the most important thing is the students' high school record. Besides, student's interests and activities may also play a part in getting accepted. But in most cases another consideration is how well the student did on college entrance exams. Here we'd like to discuss two of these tests: the SAT and the ACT. Most American schools accept either one. The SAT measures reasoning skills in mathematics and language. Students have almost four hours to complete the SAT. The newest part is an essay. Students have twenty-five minutes to write an answer to a question. The SAT costs 41.5$. Besides, the international processing charge is 22$ more. And test-takers in India and Pakistan must also pay a 21.5 $ security charge. Students may also need to take SAT subject tests in areas like history, science and foreign language. Subject tests cost eighteen dollars each. The ACT is an achievement test. It is designed to measure what a student has learned in school. Students are tested in mathematics, English, reading and science. A writing test is offered but not required. Without it, the ACT takes about three hours to complete. The essay part adds thirty minutes. The ACT costs forty-nine dollars to take outside the United States. The writing test costs an additional fourteen dollars. What might be the best title of this passage? A College Entrance Exams in America B The Way to America Colleges C The Cost of American Colleges D Important Things in College Entrance Answer: A Pocket, a bank vice president, took substantial kickbacks to approve certain loans that later proved worthless. Upon learning of the kickbacks, Dudd, the bank's president, fired Pocket, telling him, "If you are not out of this bank in ten minutes, I will have the guards throw you out bodily." Pocket left at once. If Pocket asserts a claim against Dudd based on assault, will Pocket prevail? A No, because the guards never touched Pocket. B No, because Dudd gave Pocket ten minutes to leave. C Yes, if Dudd intended to cause Pocket severe emotional distress. D Yes, because Dudd threatened Pocket with a harmful or offensive bodily contact. Answer: B U.S. billionaire Bill Gates went to watch a game of his friend, U.S. teen player Ariel Hsing, at the ExCel Centre while the girl was playing against Chinese Li Xiaoxia. Gates wore an orange jacket and dark blue baseball cap. He sat in the front row of thespectators' stand andapplauded for every point Hsing scored. "I'm wishing her the best of luck, but the opposite player is really great," Gates said. Hsing was in her third match at London 2012. She had already beaten Mexico's Yadira Silva and Luxembourg's Ni Xia Lian. Hsing is known in the U.S. as a close friend with billionaires Warren Buffett and Gates. She is close enough to call them "Uncle Warren" and "Uncle Bill". Buffett met Hsing when she was only 9. Two years later, he invited her to play against his friends. She has returned several times after that. Earlier this year after winning a position on the U.S. team, she took a few points off Buffett and Gates. When asked whether he has won a point off Hsing, Gates said, "She beat me when she was nine. She has been nice to me." What's the best title for the passage? A Bill Gates cheered for Li Xiaoxia in London B How Ariel Hsing made friends with Buffett and Gates C An excellent teen player -- Ariel Hsing D An interesting visit in London Answer: C Learn To Speak Rocket French! Who Wants to Learn to Speak French in the Shortest Possible Time? If you Answered " I DO" Then Please Read on to Try My Free-6-Day French Course. Why do you want to learn to speak French? Do you want to be a part of a French-speaking community? Are you travelling to A French-speaking country with confidence? Are you a home-student or a parent who wants their children to learn more quickly and easily? Are you keen to refresh your memory of this beautiful language? Or, perhaps you just have an interest in learning the language for love! I've designed Rocket French Premium to be the easiest to follow and the fastest system for learning how to speak French available. Rocket French Premium is an interactive course that makes you want to study. Also, it's practical. You are going to be able to speak at a restaurant, at an airport, and with new friends! It's a great experience to be able to speak with others in a different language. You will be able to enter a different culture, a different world! Being bilingual is a very special ability, and it's a gift that we want to give to you. So you are ready to get to know the secret of learning a new language? You're in the right place. Try our free six-day course. If you don't, you'll be missing a valuable opportunity to see just how much Rocket French Premium can improve your language level. Thousands of people worldwide have used our unique multimedia to _ their French learning, while having piles of fun in the process. Will you be the next? Rocket French Premium describes itself as _ . A free and funny B Practical and interactive C slow but efficient D suitable for everyone Answer: B Hi. I'm Lingling. I'm a student at No. 14 Middle School. Do you want to know my life? Let me tell you about it. I usually get up at 7:00 in the morning. I have my breakfast at 7:10. My parents always prepare the breakfast for me. I go to school at 7:30. We have seven lessons every day from Monday to Friday. I like English lessons very much .After school, I like playing table tennis and basketball with my friends. There is a very big playground in our school. There is a big _ in No. 14 Secondary School. A garden B library C swimming pool D playground Answer: D
It could happen just about any time you step out in public. You get onto an almost-empty bus, but the next passenger in decides to ignore dozens of empty seats to sit right next to you. While you're waiting in line at a supermarket, the next customer insists on standing only two inches behind you and shouting into his cell-phone. You go into a public restroom, and the next person to enter decides to use the next stall. Transgressions like these don't just make us feel uncomfortable; we often feel anxious, alarmed; and violated . It is the attack of the personal-space invaders. In any society, shared definitions of personal space govern how we interact with other people. People living in densely populated cities like Mumbai, Beijing, or Mexico City tend to require less personal space than people living in sparsely populated places within the country. In America, New Yorkers often have smaller requirements than residents of western states, like Montana, Shenandoah and Wyoming. Because everyone has different standards, gestures that are innocent in one place can be interpreted as opposite in another, especially in Britain. As the British etiquette website Debrett puts it, as a British person, somebody standing too close may make you "focus less on what somebody is saying than on how close they are to you". Simple acts like putting an arm around someone you don't know may seem friendly in China, but they can make us very uncomfortable. People from many European countries such as France and Spain kiss each other on the cheek when they meet, yet to British person, this seems too friendly and "touch-freely". The website explains! "The British are not backslappers and generally do not show affection in public". Are British people unfriendly? Far from it. The website adds that they are not as " _ ' as they may seem, but very friendly and helpful to foreigners. However, remember not to be too close. If you are going to come closer than an arm's length, please let them know. According to the passage, who tend to require more personal space? Answer: In this century the traditional American family is constantly faced with the threat of breakdown. Some people suggest that one little - noticed cause may be the introduction of the TV dinner. Before the appearance of television seats, the American dinner was a big event for the family. In many homes dinner time may be the only time when everyone got together. A typical dinner was usually in three periods In the preparation period, the children and Father frequently helped with setting while Mother put the last touches on the roast. In the eating period, family members shared the day's experiences and more than food was eaten. In this period,families got to know one another and made joint decisions around the dinner table, and thus the family solidarity was strengthened. In the cleaning - up period,children or Father again gave their hands, so that their meaning to the home community was clear. Unfortunately, all of these have been abandoned by a product--the television set. By the beginning of the 1980s, the typical American family dinner was just twenty minutes long. The speed - up of this once - leisurely experiences is clearly connected to the overall pace of modern life and maybe a model of the modern life is the TV dinners--meals designed to be used between the opening and closing credits of a half - hour program. The once family affair has now become nothing more than the use of a fork and knife. In the past, Americans tended to_. Answer: Part I If you are hunting a chance to improve yourself in English, TOP ENGLISH CITY will be a smart choice. We are members of "the International Language Workshop" and enjoy both of the good honor in English teaching and high quality of our teaching team. We are devoted to providing affordable, excellent English training programs for those who want to improve both their English knowledge and their language skills. In TOP ENGLISH CITY, you will be a top English-speaker among your competitors and enjoy the advantage that your competitors have not. You will be proud of being a member of TOP ENGLISH CITY. Courses designed: Basic Studies... Sat. 8:00-10:00 a. m. Intermediate Spoken English... Sun. 8:00-10:00 a. m. Standard Spoken English... Sat. 8:00-10:00 a.m. Basic Business English... Sun.8:00-10:00 a.m. Intermediate Business English... Sun. 7:00-9:00 p.m. TOEFL Super Studies... Sun. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Children's Weekend... Sat. &. Sun. 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. For more information, please contact: Room 806 American Plaza Tianhexi Rd, 510150 Guangzhou Tel: 86668888-8806 Part II ENGLISH SALON A place for you to practise your English, to exchange your English learning experiences, to know more about the culture of English-speaking countries, to make more friends who can speak very good English. You will have free talks, famous English films and songs appreciation, English lectures and games; all are for you to improve yourself in English in the special, full-of-fun Salon. How to Join: We are a group with membership system, so if you want to join our group, please make an application to the Tianhe Office of Top English City, filling in the applying forms. You will be given a salon ID card, and becomes our member. The Qualifications : You must be fluent in English-speaking or / and an English lover. Those who are now learning English in the Top English City will be advantageous. For more information, please contact: Mr Jiu Chan at: 47129198 English Salon, your best friend! Join Right Now! If you want to join the English Salon, you should at least_. Answer: I always wanted to run a business of some sort,and finally I got such a good chance to do so at the beginning of the summer term.The business project is called Young Enterprise,where we set up a small company called "Limitless" and sold the products to the school and public.I was appointed deputy director and financial director of the company,in which my role was to manage the financial activities. I have learnt so much from this experience,for I could put what I have learnt into practice in real life and learn to work with different people,which improved my skills in management and communication. In this school we students can organise our own activities if we want to,and the school is usually highly supportive:so this term I have organised an Engineering Society in school,which arranges regular visits to local industries.So far,the society which has only 10 members has proved to be really "popular".Well,it is always the quality,not the quantity,that matters,isn't it? I have had many opportunities to challenge myself since I got to the school,and I do think it is all of these challenges that make me more and more mature.Perhaps one of the most important lessons I have learned in this school is to have the initiative to look for any possible challenges. Why does the writer like this boarding school so much? Answer: All the wisdom of the times, all the stories that have delighted mankind for centuries, are easily and cheaply available to all of us in books, but we must know how to make use of this treasure. The unluckiest people in the world are those who have never discovered how satisfying it is to read good books. I'm very interested in people and finding out about them. Some of the most amazing people I've met could only be found in a writer's imagination, then in his book, and then, again, in my imagination. I've found in books new friends and new worlds. Reading is fun, not because the writer is telling you something, but because it makes your mind work. Your own imagination works along with the writer's or even goes beyond his. Your experience, compared with his, brings you to the same or different conclusions, and your ideas develop as you understand his. Every book stands by itself, like a one-family house, but books in a library are like houses in a city. Although they are separate , in some way they are connected with each other. The same ideas, or related ones, appear in different places; the human problems that repeat themselves in life repeat themselves in books, but with different solutions according to different writings at different times. Books influence each other. They connect the past, the present and the future and have their own generations (age groups), like families. Wherever you start reading, you connect yourself with one of the families of ideas, and in the end, you not only find out about the world and the people in it, you find out about yourself, too. Reading can only be fun if you expect it to be. If you concentrate on books somebody tells you "ought" to read, you probably won' t have fun. But if you put down a book you don't like and try another till you find one that means something to you, and then relax with it, you will almost certainly have a good time -- and if you become, as a result of reading, better, wiser, kinder, or more gentle, you won't suffer during the process. Which of the following ideas may the writer of this article agree with? Answer:
Question: Another small animal that tigers eat in Ranthambhore (a wildlife park in northern India) is the porcupine .These animals are spread widely across India in open areas and grasslands; they often live in the earth and between rocks.They are good diggers, and in Ranthambhore are nocturnal ; they only come out at night.They weigh 12 to 16 kilograms and reach the length of 80 to 90 centimetres.They live usually on vegetables and fruit and seem to have a good sense of smell.Porcupines defend themselves when attacked by moving backwards with their quills upright, often making a strange noise. Several times, I have found the remains of quills where a tiger has killed and eaten a porcupine, but I have never actually seen the kill.In spite of the quills, experienced tigers will try to kill clearly by biting the porcupine's head, its weakest spot.But the quills are very sharp and can give painful injuries to young tigers.If the quills have gone in very deeply or if they are stuck in the tiger's paw, it will try to pull them out.Often, it will be successful, and the wound will get better.But, if the quills have gone in very deeply or if they are stuck in the tiger's neck or mouth, where they cannot be reached, the wound will often turn bad.If this happens, the tiger is in pain and is less able to hunt animals.It has to look for easier prey and so may turn to cows on the edges of the forest.From this, it is a small step to becoming a man-eater. What is the proper title for this passage? A. A Tiger and Its Food. B. How Do Tiger Kill Porcupines? C. What Can Cause a Tiger to Become a Man-eater? D. A Porcupine. Answer: A Question: Do you often play with your pet dog or cat? Do you like touching wild animals such as squirrels? They are cute. But be careful. If they bite you, you may get a terrible disease----rabies. Believe it or not, in the last five months, rabies killed more people in China than any other disease. 2,254 people got rabies in the first nine months of this year. In September, 318 people died of rabies. That is 37 per cent more than last September. Animals like dogs, cats, squirrels and bats can have rabies. If they bite or scratch someone, rabies could infect the person's nervous system . The person could even die. It's important to get the right _ as soon as possible. Every year, more than 50,000 people around the world die of rabies. Most of them are from developing countries. India has the most deaths. China is second. Which of the following animals might NOT have rabies? A. Squirrels. B. Ducks. C. Cats. D. Bats. Answer: B Question: The 16-year-old girl Jessica Watson is said to be the youngest person to sail non-stop alone around the world. But her record has been questioned because someone thought that she has not sailed far enough. She will also not be recognized by the World Speed Sailing Record Council, as it was too dangerous for someone under 18 years old. Ms Watson sailed into Sydney port on Saturday, seven months after leaving on a hard voyage. Family, friends and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd have gathered to greet her. Thousands of well-wishers waited at the port and watched from boats as Ms Watson sailed her pink, 10m boat over the finishing line. Many more Australians watched the event broadcast live on television. Watson said she was just an "ordinary girl who believed in her dream". Ms Watson left Sydney on 18 October, despite that some people disagreed her plan. Watson traveled northeast through the South Pacific and across the equator , south to Cape Horn at the tip of South America, across the Atlantic Ocean to South Africa, through the Indian Ocean and around southern Australia. The route took her through some of the world's most changeful waters, and she battled through huge storms and suffered seven accidents of her boat. People around the world have followed Ms Watson's adventures on her blog, which she has daily updated . On her blog, she wrote down beautiful sunrise over seas, the excitement of meeting a blue whale and the bright, terrible sight of a shooting star flying across the night sky above her boat. Ms Watson has reportedly sold her story to a news company for $700,000. She is planning to write a book on her experience. We can make a conclusion from this passage that Watson _ . A. would make another voyage for money B. made the world round voyage for money C. had no way to communicate with others during the voyage. D. is so confident and brave that she could overcome troubles on her own Answer: D Question: For better eyesight, doctors advise limiting the hours of screen time and encourage having enough eye resting time. However, another study shows that sitting in front of computer or TV screens for long hours is not the only reason formyopia . An Australian research team studied young children in Sydney and Singapore to find the reasons for myopia. The research team found that theprevalence of myopia among children in Sydney was lower than children in Singapore, even though they spent more time in front of computer and TV screens. The major finding is that children in Sydney spend longer hours on outdoor activities than those in Singapore. Indoor and outdoor sports activities both make the eyes focus on more distant objects, which prevents the eyes from changing shape. But outdoor activities may better help avoid myopia than indoor sports activities. Jane Gwiazda, who does research in sight problems, says: "Natural light is good for eye growth. And extra vitamin D from the sun might contribute to eye growth." Many doctors suggest that every child get its first eye test done when he/she is about two and half years old, and even if his/her sight seems perfect. It is necessary for myopic children to wear glasses to prevent headaches, trouble reading or injuries. It is also important that schools invite doctors to test their students' eyes. If that is not possible, school teachers should at least encourage parents and children to have regular eye examinations and wear glasses. And parents should remember not only to limit the total screen time for their children, but also to encourage them to spend time outdoors. Which of the following statements is TRUE ? A. Children should have eye tests as soon as they reach school age. B. Doing outdoor activities with no glasses is good for myopia children. C. Focusing on distant objects can help the eyes keep their original shape. D. Children should limit their time in the sun in order to protect their eyes. Answer: C Question: Some of the greatest problems we face today are the destruction of our environment. Brown clouds, polluted water,endangered wild animals.... these problems seem so huge. So my family does what we can. We take cloth bags to stores instead of using plastic bags. We walk where we don't have to drive... But does it do any good? When I am the only one in line at the market with cloth bags, am I doing any good? Does my walking to stores make any real difference to the world? I recently learned something about flamingos which like to get together in groups of a thousand or more. Every year, when the time comes for migration ,a few of them first take off from the lake. But none of the others seem to notice. So the small group returns. However, the next day they try again. This time a few more fly along with them, but most of them still pay no attention, so they return again. They try for several times. Every time a few more birds join in but, since thousands of the others still take no notice, the great migration plan is once more stopped. Then one day something changes. The same small group of birds once again starts flying and a small number more join in just as before. then more. Finally, they all take flight and the migration really begins. What a _ sight it must be -- thousands of flamingos taking off into the sky at once ! A few can make a difference. Even if you're the one to take the first step, and continue trying, others will someday take notice and together we will solve even our greatest problems. What's the writer's purpose of writing this article? A. To show that the writer loves to see the migration of flamingos. B. To tell readers to continue trying and it can make a difference. C. To introduce a special kind of flamingo to readers. D. To show that there're many problems in the world. Answer: B
The 12-year-old CEO of a Web site design company will be one of 300 business and political leaders accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a trade visit to China in March. Keith Peiris, who founded Cyberteks Design in June 1999 and now has 25 clients in North America, insisted in an interview that he is "just like any other kid". He and his father will spend nine days on the Team Canada trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, where Chretien aims to showcase the best of Canadian business in the most populous country in the world. A glance at the complex, elegant animations on his www. cyberteks, com site shows the extent of Peiris talent. "He doesn't want to be No.2," his father Deepal said proudly. His father, who is now vice president of operations at Cyberteks, said "I am teaching my son what I know. We make decisions together. I haven't done anything my son disagreed with. He makes the final decision." The company has seven offices in the United States and five part - time employees who, like the Peiris family, work from their London homes. Keith Peiris admitted some potential clients change their minds when they learn his age, but the well- informed teenager tries to ignore them. "suddenly, I've been called a whiz kid or geek, which I am not too happy about. A few people have asked if they should call me 'mister', but I stay casual, I am still a kid." Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE? If you want to get a new cell phone number, don't forget to bring your ID with you . As of September 1, people have to register with their ID to buy a new cell phone number. You can show your ID card orhukou, but student ID's won't work. If you already have a cell phone number, it is better to register it before 2013. The new rules are meant to prevent junk messages and fraud through cell phones. A cell phone user in China on average received 43.3 messages a week in the first half of this year. According to reports, about 12 of those were junk messages. In a survey, about 74.5 percent of users said they have received fraudulent messages. If all people register their cell phone number with ID information, it will be easier for police to find the people behind those messages. Situations in other countries Because cell phone are getting more and more popular, many countries have made stricter cell phone rules. Countries like India, Japan, Australia, and Singapore all ask users to register their ID information. Ulrich Mller is a German living in Beijing. "In Germany, you have to show your ID when you buy a cell phone card," he said. "The rules have been there for a long time. Most people know about it." Linda van der Horst is a student at Peking University. She said that in the Netherlands ,people have to show ID information and bank account information to buy a cell phone card. People received an average of _ junk messages in a week in the first half of this year. Here are a lot of different cakes-fruit cakes,chocolate cakes,etc.Sometimes we buy them in a shop.Sometimes we make them ourselves. We like cakes.We like Christmas cakes a lot.My mother often makes cakes for us at Christmas.And I often help her to make them.To make a Christmas cake,we need these things: Half a kilo of flour ; 3 cups of milk; 4 eggs and some fruit,etc. Now we can make a cake with those things. How does the writer like Christmas cakes? Pete Richards was the loneliest man in town on the day that little Jean Grace opened the door of his shop. Pete's grandfather had owned the shop until his death. Then the shop became Pete's. The front window was full of beautiful old things: jewelry of a hundred years ago, gold and silver boxes, carved figures from China and Japan and other nations. On this winter afternoon, a child stood there, her face close to the window. With large and serious eyes, she studied each piece in the window. Then, looking pleased, she stepped back from the window and went into the shop. Pete himself stood behind the counter. His eyes were cold as he looked at the small girl. "Please," she began, "would you let me look at the pretty string of blue beads in the window?" Pete took the string of blue beads from the window. The beads were beautiful against his hand as he held the necklace up for her to see. "They are just right," said the child as though she were alone with the beads. "Will you wrap them up in pretty paper for me, please? I've been looking for a really wonderful Christmas present for my sister." "How much money do you have?" asked Pete. She put a handful of pennies on the counter. "This is all I have," she explained simply. "I've been saving the money for my sister's present." Pete looked at her, his eyes thoughtful. Then he carefully closed his hand over the price mark on the necklace so that she could not see it. How could he tell her the price? The happy look in her big blue eyes struck him like the pain of an old wound. "Just a minute," he said and went to the back of the shop. "What's your name?" he called out. He was very busy about something. "Jean Grace," answered the child. When Pete returned to the front of the shop, he held a package in his hand. It was wrapped in pretty Christmas paper. "There you are," he said. "Don't lose it on the way home." She smiled happily at him as she ran out of the door. Through the window he watched her go. He felt more alone than ever. Something about Jean Grace and her string of beads had made him feel once more the pain of his old grief. The child's hair was as yellow as the sunlight; her eyes were as blue as the sea. Once upon a time, Pete had loved a girl with hair of that same yellow and with eyes just as blue. And the necklace of blue stones had been meant for her. But one rainy night, a car had gone off the road and struck the girl. After she died, Pete felt that he had nothing left in the world except his grief. The blue eyes of Jean Grace brought him out of that world of self-pity and made him remember again all that he had lost. The pain of remembering was so great that Pete wanted to run away from the happy Christmas shoppers who came to look at his beautiful old things during the next ten days. When the last shopper had gone, late on Christmas Eve, the door opened and a young woman came in. Pete could not understand it, but he felt that he had seen her before. Her hair was sunlight yellow and her eyes were sea-blue. Without speaking, she put on the counter a package wrapped in pretty Christmas paper. When Pete opened the package, the string of blue beads lay again before him. "Did this come from your shop?" she asked. Pete looked at her with eyes no longer cold. "Yes, it did," he said. "Are the stones real?" "Yes. They aren't the best turquoise , but they are real." "Can you remember to whom you sold them?" "She was a small girl. Her name was Jean. She wanted them for her sister's Christmas present." "How much were they?" "I can't tell you that," he said. "The seller never tells anyone else what a buyer pays." "But Jean has never had more than a few pennies. How could she pay for them?" " " he said. For a moment there was no sound in the little shop. Then somewhere in the city, church bells began to ring. It was midnight and the beginning of another Christmas Day. "But why did you do it?" the girl asked. Pete put the package into her hands. "There is no one else to whom I can give a Christmas present," he said. "It is already Christmas morning. Will you let me take you to your home? I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas at your door." And so, to the sound of many bells, Pete Richards and a girl whose name he had not yet learned walked out into the hope and happiness of a new Christmas Day. When Pete saw Jean Grace, he was _ . "I see you've got a bit of water on your coat," said the man at the petrol station. "Is it raining out there?""No, it's pretty nice," I replied, checking my sleeve. "Oh, right. A pony bit me earlier." As it happened, the bite was virtually painless: more the kind of small bite you might get from a naughty child. The pony responsible was queuing up for some ice cream in the car park near Haytor, and perhaps thought I'd jumped in ahead of him. The reason why the ponies here are naughty is that Haytor is a tourist-heavy area and tourists are constantly feeding the ponies foods, despite sighs asking them not to. By feeding the ponies, tourists increase the risk of them getting hit by a car, and make them harder to gather during the area's annual pony drift . The purpose of a pony drift is to gather them up so their health can be checked, the baby ones can be stooped from feeding on their mother's milk, and those who've gone beyond their limited area can be returned to their correct area. Some of them are also later sold, in order to limit the number of ponies according to the rules set by Natural England. Three weeks ago, I witnessed a small near-disaster a few mils west of here. While walking, I noticed a pony roll over on his back. "Hello!" I said to him, assuming he was just rolling for fun, but he was very still and, as I got closer, I saw him kicking his legs in the air and breathing heavily. I began to properly worry about him. Fortunately, I managed to get in touch with a Dartmoor's Livestock Protection officer and send her a photo. The officer immediately sent a local farmer out to check on the pony. The pony had actually been trapped between two rocks. The farmer freed him, and he began to run happily around again. Dartmoor has 1,000 or so ponies, who play a critical role in creating the diversity of species in this area. Many people are working hard to preserve these ponies, and trying to come up with plans to find a sustainable future for one of Dartmoor's most financially-troubled elements. What as the author's first reaction when he saw a pony roll on its back?
One day I heard that one of my dear friends had lost his mother. This made me sad, for my friend was very close to his mother. He had been by her side as she traveled through her long and hard journey with cancer. At this time, many memories about my loved ones that had passed away came flooding to me. Finally these memories passed, but it was really sad to think that my friend would have to go through the pain. Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am a person who is not often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up I could hardly wait for my computer to work, the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent an email. They say that everything in this universe is balanced and indeed it is. Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he'd been admitted to Cambridge University. It served as a gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on. Everything in life is balanced; the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, the sunshine is always there and just waiting for the opportunity to shine through. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? The mother of the author's friend died from cancer. A German study suggests that people who were too optimistic about their future actually faced greater risk of disability or death within 10 years than those pessimists who expected their future to be worse. The paper, published this March in Psychology and Aging, examined health and welfare surveys from roughly 40,000 Germans between ages 18 and 96. The surveys were conducted every year from 1993 to 2003. Survey respondents were asked to estimate their present and future life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, among other questions. The researchers found that young adults (age 18 to 39) routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction, while middle-aged adults (age 40 to 64) more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future. Adults of 65 and older, however, were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction. Not only did they feel more satisfied than they thought they would, the older pessimists seemed to suffer a lower ratio of disability and death for the study period. "We observed that being too optimistic in predicting a better future than actually observed was associated with a greater risk of disability and a greater risk of death within the following decade," wrote Frieder R. Lang, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future. "Seeing a dark future may encourage positive evaluations of the actual self and may contribute to taking improved precautions ," the authors wrote. Surprisingly, compared with those in poor health or who had low incomes, respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline. Also, the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability. The authors of the study noted that there were limitations to their conclusions. Illness, medical treatment and personal loss could also have driven health outcomes. However, the researchers said a pattern was clear. "We found that from early to late adulthood, individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic, to accurate, to pessimistic," the authors concluded. How do people of higher income see their future? They will earn less money. I asked Jackie a lot of questions. I asked if she became close to her patients. She said, "Some I do, especially if I have become their close friends and they tell me things they wouldn't tell anyone else. I've found it harder for the patient's family to accept what's happening. In most cases, the dying person has accepted the truth." I asked her how she could do this work for so long. She said, "I have taken care of 3,000people over 37years. I consider dying to be a very important part of life. I feel good because I can make these people's journey easier." Jackie was the mother I have never had. My own mother, Helen, was taken away from me right after I was born. I never knew her. And I had a strange relationship with my father. He was a Sunday father. Since my sister and I lived in foster homes, he came to visit only on Sundays. But at the hospice , nurse Jackie gave me hope, love and encouragement. She listened to all my stories, and I listened to hers. It was a comfort. The nurses had told my family that death was coming near. As time went on, I became the star patient at the hospice, because I didn't go according to plans. My kidneys started working again and could function without dialysis . It was a mystery to my doctors. My friends said It was a _ . But I knew what actually cured me. The employees showed me off to other patients and being the ham I was, I enjoyed. we can learn from the passage that_. the author was the youngest child in his family Bob Smith is old. He has two big houses and a new car. He has no wife, but he is a father of four children. He has two sons and two daughters. One son is from Canada. His name is Jack. The other is from England. His name is Mike. One of his daughters is from China. Her name is Meimei. She is eleven years old. The other is from America. Her name is Lucy. She's eleven, too. Bob Smith is not the children's real father, but he loves them very much. The children love their "father", too. Bob Smith has many toys for the children. He gives different toys to different children. The boys play with toy cars. The girls play with doll and toy animals. Bob Smith is their good friend. How many people are there in Bob's family? Five A weed will only live in the dirt
The blue eyes that looked at him from outside the door were like the light through a maginifying glass when it is at its brightest and smallest, when paper and leaves begin to smoke. "Hey . " said the man in the door. " Remember me? " " Yes. " the boy said. whispering. "Rick. " He felt so surprised to see Rick. All of Rick seemed to be shown in the eyes. With a strong feeling that ought to have hurt him. " You knew me." Rick said. " You hadn't forgotten. " " You're--just the same. " the boy said. and felt much thankful. He seemed even to be wearing the same clothes, the same blue shirt and grey trousers. He was thin, but he was built to be lean; and he was still, or again. sunburnt. After everything, the slow white smile still showed the slight feeling of happiness. " Let's look at you." Rick said, dropping into a chair. Then slowly he felt more at home, and he became once more just Rick as if nothing had happened. There were lines about his eyes. and deeper lines on his cheeks. but he looked like-just Rick, lined by sunfight and smiling. " When I look at you." he said, " You make me think about me, for we look like each other. " " Yes, " said the boy, eagerly, " they all think we both look like my grandfather. " Rick and the boy _ . Answer: cared about each other Hawthorne rolled over in bed and looked around the room. He let out a breath. His eyes were half-closed as he shoved the covers back from his bed, and moved towards the door. He knew that he had to check on Kate, if he did nothing else. She was ill, with a heart problem, and he worried about her all the time. They both lived in a home for orphans, and he had since his parents had died, when he was the age of four. He had taken care of Kate as if she were his sister ever since. He wandered to her room sitting himself by her on her bed, shoving her hair from her face. She moved on the bed as he pulled her into his arms, "Kate." He said into her ear, "It's time to wake up." He pressed a kiss to her head, and her eyes opened. "Hawthy?" She said, her nickname for him moving from her lips. "Yea." He moved her hair. "I want to go outside today," she said, and he nodded in response. "If you are up to it, I won't stop you", he told her, and she smiled. "Thanks Hawthy", she said. It wasn't long until she fell back to sleep. Where do the main characters live? Answer: A home for orphans. Last summer my parents and l went to Yunnan. It left us wonderful memories. If you like a spring climate ,clean air and nice views, then Yunnan is the best place for you! Day l Shanghai-Kunming Activities: Arrive in Kunming. Hotel check-in. Meals: No meals (We flew to Kunming. After our arrival in Kunming, the guide took us to our hotel by bus. Then he showed us around the shopping center for the rest of the day.) Day 2 Kunming Activities: Visit Stone Forest, Bird & Flower Market. Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch (In the Bird&Flower Market, we saw many kinds of flowers and birds as well as some traditional Chinese arts.) Day 3 Dali-Lijiang Activities: Arrive in Lijiang. Visit Lijiang Dayan Ancient City, and its famous Square Street. Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch (The Ancient City of Lijiang is known as Dayan Town. It has a long history of over 800 years.) Where is the Square Street? Answer: In Dayan Town. One day a famous teacher was walking with his student. On the way, they saw a lake. They stopped and the teacher told the student, "I'm thirsty. Get me some water from that lake." Just when the student reached the lake, a cow was walking in the lake. So the water became very dirty. He thought "I can't give the dirty water to my teacher!" He came back and told the teacher, "The water is very dirty. We can't drink it." After about half an hour, the teacher asked the student to get some water again. So he went back to the lake. But the lake was still dirty. So he told the teacher the same thing. After some time, the teacher asked him to go back again. But this time, he found the water was clear. The mud in the water came to the bottom. So he got some water. The teacher looked at the water and said to him, "You did nothing to make the water clear. You just let it be. Your mind is also like that! When it is bothered , just let it be. Give it some time." The teacher told his student that he should _ when his mind was bothered. Answer: do nothing If there is one thing I'm quite sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we still be reading newspapers. Not those newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of the news from the television or have the radio switched on in the background or in the car. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation. The basic British character won't change, and one of the characteristics of the British is that we don't much like talking to each other when we get up. So what better way is there to keep yourself thinking in the morning than to wrap yourself in a newspaper? Over the past couple of centuries, human beings have developed a close relationship with the newspaper. It has become as natural as breathing or enjoying the sun. And it is not just the British who love newspapers. On suburban trains in Calcutta, for instance, just one person in the whole car will buy a newspaper and read aloud the best bits to his fellow passengers, much to everybody's enjoyment. The nature of what is news may change. What essentially makes news is what affects our lives and the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It's already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do, whether it's love or depression. We develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are. It's quite possible that in the next century newspaper will be transmitted electronically from thenational equivalents of Fleet Street (,) and printed out in our own homes. In fact, I'm pretty sure that that is how it will happen in future. You'll be probably selecting from a menu, making up your own _ by picking out the things you want to read and say. You might even have an intelligent screening device to do the job for you. I think people have got it wrong when they talk about the competition between the different media. They actually have a relationship, feeding off each other. It was once predicted that television would kill off newspapers, which hasn't happened. What is read on the printed page is more enduring than pictures on a flickering screen or sound lost in the sky. And as for the Internet, it's never really satisfying to read something just on a screen. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: It was centuries ago that newspapers came into being .
My name is Lisa.I have a bird.She is white.So I call her Xiaobai.Xiaobai is only two years old.She's not big.But she is beautiful and clever.She can speak. One day I go shopping with my sister Gina and Xiaobai.At Green Clothes Store Gina sees a red skirt and says, "Look! Lisa! That red skirt is very beautiful." Xiaobai answers her instead of me, "No.I think you look nice in that green skirt." Gina says, "OK.I listen to you." Then she asks the shop assistant, "How much is the green one?" The shop assistant looks at Xiaobai, opens her mouth but says nothing.At last she says to Gina, "I never see a bird that can speak these words.It's great! You can take this green skirt.Oh, you don't need to pay for it." Gina is very happy.She asks me and my bird to have a big lunch in Leo's Restaurant and then we go home. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Long long ago, There was a tree and some grass . The grass grew next to the tree. The tree was very tall and the grass was short. The tree often _ the grass. One day, the tree said to the grass, "You are weak . Even the grasshopper is too heavy for you." The tree also said that it was big and strong. No strong wind was able to blow it down. The tree laughed at the grass. But the grass didn't get angry. The grass only said, "I'm not afraid of the wind." That night, there was a strong wind. The wind blew down the tree. The tree was very poor. It was thrown on the ground. But the grass was still there. The wind couldn't blow down the grass. It even danced in the wind. ,,. Why did the tree mention the grasshopper? Answer: There are some decorative fruits used for holidays where the outside is carved, such as large orange ones. The insides of these fruits, similar to gourds, most commonly Answer: This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. As I searched the name, I found that there were two famous people having the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts , while the other led some kind of army across America. I looked at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice: let the coin decide. I flipped a coin and ah! Tails ! My report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver. Weeks later, I stood in front of the classroom and proudly read my homework. But things started to get strange. I looked around the room, only to find my classmates with big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes and my stone-faced teacher. I was completely lost. "What could be causing everyone to act this way?" Oh well, I dropped the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, "My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American War of Independence." The whole world became quiet! How could I know that my teacher meant that George Washington? Of course, my subject result was awful. Sad but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to the headmaster Miss Lancelot, but she said firmly: No re-dos; no new score. I felt that it was not fair, and I believed I should get a second chance. So I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, I sat in the headmaster's office again, but this time a completely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the terrible moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster told me I was good enough to skip the 6th grade and started the 7th grade next term. People in the class acted strangely because _ . Answer: We were driving from Los Angeles to Dallas,running low on gas somewhere in New Mexico and figured we'd see a gas station soon enough to fill up. But that didn't happen and we realized we wouldn't make it to the next town.So my daughter made up a sign that read"Low on gas.Can u help?" and held it outside her window in the hopes that a driver in the next lane would notice it and stop. There weren't too many vehicles passing us either at the time.It was a lonely stretch of road and about 3:30 pm on a weekday.A suburban was driving along happily in the neighboring lane ahead of us.We caught up with it in the hopes the driver would notice the sign.After a brief expression of confusion on his face,he seemed to have noticed the sign and slowed down to pull over.We pulled over right behind him. He was friendly and was eager to help us.At first he thought we didn't have enough money to buy gas,so he offered to buy us gas at the next town Roswell that was about 10 miles away![:ZXXK] When we explained our _ of not having enough gas to get to Roswell,he said his farm was about 1 0 minutes away and they had a gas pump there,so if we could give him 20 minutes,he would head back there,get a can of gas and fill up our tank for us. We could not believe our good fortune ! There not being any cell phone reception for either of us in the area, we had just hoped that whoever stopped to help would be kind enough to call AAA when they got to Roswell and we would just wait it out for them to help us. We were filled with gratefulness for the kindness of strangers such as this person as we waited for him to return.Sure enough,he was back with the can and quickly filled our tank.He refused to take payment for the gas.Tears flowed,as did our endless appreciation. What is the author's final destination? Answer:
Only three local students won Chinese Blog Competition. And 15 of the 18 awards went to students from China. 170 students' task: to get a fully-designed blog up and running, complete with many postings based on a theme of choice--all written in Chinese. Themes ranged from local opinions-such as the usage of Singlish, education and whether Singapore can be a cultural centre-to food blogs. The entries were judged on Language proficiency and the quality of writing, as well as the design and level of exchanging ideas with readers. Academics from the National University of Singapore and the SIM University IT experts, and a journalist from Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in Singapore made up the judges. In the end, only three Singaporean students made it to the award list--the rest of the awards were swept up by students from China. "No surprise, " said Mr. Chow Yaw Long, 37, teachers in charge from Innova Junior College, which organized the event. "Although the topics were local subjects, the foreign students were generally better in terms of the content of the posts and their grasp of the Chinese language. " One of the three local students winning the first prize in the Best Language Award was blogger Christina Gao 19, from the Saint Andrew's Junior College, who spared no effort in researching for and writing her blog. Each entry took her between five and seven days to produce, complete with pictures and even podcasts Her advice for bloggers is: Be responsible "Some bloggers out there only seek to blame the authorities and other bloggers." Said Miss Gao. "I think they lack responsibilities and there is no value to their posts." What Miss Gao said suggests that _ . A she likes to blame the authorities B she thinks highly of the others' blogs C she has a sense of responsibility D she loves to read valuable posts Answer: C. she has a sense of responsibility Which of the following systems breaks food into nutrients that can be used by the body? A circulatory B digestive C respiratory D reproductive Answer: B. digestive Two students are studying what makes ice melt fastest. They want to conduct an investigation. During which of these steps in their investigation will they measure the ice? A showing some graphs B making a conclusion C developing a hypothesis D collecting some data Answer: D. collecting some data A young man is sitting by the road. He is eating something. A policeman is coming over. At once the man gets up quickly and runs down the road. The policeman runs after him. Te man runs very fast, but the policeman runs faster. After a few minutes, the policeman catches him. "Where are you going?" says the policeman. "You must be a criminal if you run like that when you see a policeman." "No, no," says the man. "I'm not a criminal. I'm just too fat, you see, and the doctor tells me I must always run fast after eating." "I see," says the policeman. "You're running to help to lose weight." A young man is sitting by the road and _ something. A looking B seeing C eating D drinking Answer: C. eating Students and Technology in the Classroom I love my blackberry--it's my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me . I also love my laptop computer ,as it holds all of my writing and thought .Despite this love of technology ,I know that there are times when I need to move away from these device and truly communication with others.On occasion ,I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas .Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom ,I have a rule --no laptop ,ipads ,phones ,etc .When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy . Most students assume that year reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology . There's a bit of truth to that.Some students assume that I am anti-technology . There's no truth in that at all . I love technology and try to keep up with it so I relate to my students. The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversions and truly complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas . I want students to think differently and make connections between the course the material and the class discussion . I've been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the educations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create .Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge , they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom . I'm not saying that I won't ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change ,I'm sticking to my plan. a few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too give up. some of the students in the history class were unhappy with _ A the course material B others' misuse of technology C discussion topics D the author's class regulator Answer: D. the author's class regulator
Boys and girls,as we all know,most people,especially young people ,tend to care about their hair much because hair plays a very important role in our appearance.But can you imagine what other uses hair has?Do you have any idea that human hair may become a new solar energy soutce?Before we begin with the new content of our Physics ,let me tell you a new invention first. It's reported that a Nepali teenager has designed a $32 solar panel using human hair. Milan Karki,who is 18 years old and lives in a village in rural Nepal,used human hair to replace silicon ,which is a common but expensive componet of solar panels. By using hair as a replacement,Karki says that solar panels can be produced for around $32,a price that could be halved if they were mass-produced. The solar panel works,because melanin ,which gives hair its colour,is light sensitive and can act as an elecrtical conductor.Kaiki was inspired to think of the idea by a Stephen Hawking book ,which explained how to create elecrtic energy from hair. The device that Karki has invented is capable of producing 9V or 18V of energy--plenty to charge a mobile phone. "Half a kilo of hair can be bought for only 16p in Nepal and lasts a few months;whereas a pack of batteries would cost50p and lasts few nights,"according to The Daily Mail. The solar panel is claimed to be easy to service as the hair is easy to replace. Karki has now seng out several devices to other disrticts near his home for tetimg .He said,"First I wanted to provide elecricity for my home,then my village .Now I am thinking for the whole worle." So next time when you have a haircut,do remember to keep your hair cut down to use for energy.Perhaps you can also provide elecrticity for your home,even your village using your own hair. Who do you suppose the speaker is ? A A famous scientist. B A reporter of The Daily Mail. C A senior hight school teacher. D A famous hairdresser. Answer: C Of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today, linguists say, nearly half are likely to disappear this century. In fact, one falls out of use about every two weeks. Some languages die out in an instant, at the death of the only surviving speaker. Others are lost gradually in bilingual cultures, as local tongues are edged out by the dominant language at school, in the marketplace and on television. New research, supported by the National Geographic Society and the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, has found the five regions where languages are disappearing most rapidly. They are northern Australia, central South America, North America's upper Pacific coastal zone, eastern Siberia, and Oklahoma and the southwestern United States. K. David Harrison, an associate professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College, US, said that more than half the languages had no written form and were _ to loss and being forgotten." Their loss leaves no dictionary, no text, or no record of the accumulated knowledge and history of a disappeared culture. Harrison and other researchers started their rescue project last year. They have been trying to identify and record endangered languages. They interviewed and made recordings of the few remaining speakers of a language and collected basic word lists. The individual projects, some lasting three to four years, involve hundreds of hours of recording speech, developing grammar and preparing children's readers in the obscure language. The research has concentrated on preserving entire language families. "These are probably languages that cannot be brought back, but at least we made records of them," said Gregory Anderson, director of the Living Tongues Institute, in Oregon, US. What does the passage mainly tell us? A Many languages are quickly disappearing. B Some languages are disappearing because they are hard to remember. C Chinese is one of the languages that are disappearing. D Thanks to some researchers, many endangered languages have been rescued. Answer: A Often you are not aware that you have to remove,but one day your job demands your move to another place in no time.You are at a loss about how to manage the whole complex process of remove with all your valuable possessions.You need not worry about this as moving boxes and supplies axe there to care for all your possessions.They have become very popular in New York in recent years! Redline Movers is unique in our city and is specially talked about for their durable form and varieties.Redline Movers offers a wide range of moving boxes and supplies specially designed for remove.They are available in various shapes and sizes.These moving boxes ale so designed that they guarantee the maximum load with safety and without any damage.There are different forms of moving boxes.For example,you get moving boxes for TVs,glassware,wall hangings and even a piano.The sizes vary according to the size of the item and you can select from the wide range.No matter what kinds of possessions you intend to move,we always have some moving boxes to satisfy your demand. Redline Movers has obvious advantages over other moving companies.Moving boxes and supplies of Redline Movers are low priced with quality guaranteed.We also provide storage facilities where customers can use our storage space for keeping their possessions for a month or two.If you take our storage facility,these moving boxes will help you the most.You can keep your articles in those moving boxes in our storage room, till you have time or enough room to arrange them.Of course,they are in safe and sound form! If you have to remove but scared of the complex process,don't worry.Redline Movers is there to help you in your safe and trouble--free moving.If you are interested in us, please visit www.redlinemovers.com for more details. Moving boxes have become popular in New York because _ . A they meet the needs of moving people B they are specially-designed possessions C they can guarantee people's safety D they can store valuable possessions Answer: A Emily and her boyfriend had just had a fight. She felt alone and hopeless. Then she went into the kitchen and grabbed what she needed before going back up to her room quietly. She switched on the TV and started eating...and eating...for hours, until it was all gone. What Emily didn't know at the time was that she was suffering from an illness called binge-eating disorder(BED) . For years, Emily didn't tell anyone what she was doing. She felt ashamed, alone, and out of control. Why don't famous people confess to BED, as they do to _ ? It's simple: There's a stigma involved. "Overeating is seen as very bad, but dieting to be skinny is seen as positive and even associated with determination," says Charles Sophy, a doctor in Beverly Hills , California. "Some parents or friends may look at a teen with BED and think, 'Oh, a good diet and some will-power will do the trick.' But that's not true," says Dr.Ovidio Bermudez , a baby doctor at the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. "Eating disorders are real physical and mental health issues; it's not about willpower." The focus in treating BED shouldn't be on weight, because as with all eating disorders, the behaviors with food are a symptom of something deeper. Like most other diseases, genetics may play a big part in who gets BED and who doesn't. If you have a close relative with an eating disorder, that means you're more likely to develop an eating disorder of your own. Besides, many people with BED have tried at some point or another to control it by going on a diet, but paying more attention to food doesn't help. And it might even make things worse, like it did for Carla, who's 15 now and is recovering from BED. "My parents would always tease me about my weight, so when I was 14, I went on a very restrictive diet," she says. When you can't have something, you only want it more, so every time Carla would have a bite of something that wasn't allowed on her strict diet. She would quickly lose control and binge . According to Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, people with BED _ . A just need a lot of willpower B can recover with a good diet C can recover with the help of others D need to deal with their health problems Answer: D It's June in Australia so I should make sure to wear A mittens B shorts C flip flops D a bathing suit Answer: A
Question: In our town, there is a big zoo with a lot of animals in it. There are so 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 four 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. The zoo is _ . A. near our town B. very big C. very small D. next to the city Answer: B Question: When Tom finished his studies at the university , he began to look around for a job. He did not know what he would like to do, but one of his uncles had worked for the government for thirty years, and he advised Tom to try to get a job of the same kind, so he went for an exam one day. He was successful, and his first job was in a large government office in London. When Tom had been working there for a few weeks, his uncle came to visit the family one Saturday evening. He was pleased that his nephew had got a job working for the government, and he asked him a lot of questions about it. One of the questions he asked was, "How many people work in your department , Tom?" The young man thought for a few moments and then answered, "About half of them, Uncle Jim." When he graduated from university, Tom was not _ . A. interested in getting any information from the government B. looking for a good-paying job with excellent hours C. good at making decisions D. very good at science Answer: C Question: In the past, when people had problems, they usually went to their families or friends to get advice. Today it is possible to get advice from radio shows, TV programmes and telephone hot lines. A hot line is a telephone line. It offers a direct way of getting in touch with advisers. Most hot lines are completely _ . That is to say, callers do not have to say their names or telephone numbers. Most hot lines are free. Callers do not have to pay for the advice or the phone calls. At some hot lines, the advisers are volunteers. Other hot lines pay their advisers for their work. Usually the advisers are full-time-job people with years of education and experience, but sometimes the advisers have only taken a short class before starting to work on the hot line. All the advisers listen to people and help them solve their problems. How did people get advice when they had problems in the past? A. They listened to the radio B. They went to their families or friends C. They watched TV programmes D. They made telephone calls Answer: B Question: Some children cannot wait to grow up. Because once you become an adult, you are free to make your own decisions. More importantly, you can do all those things that you cannot do now because you are too young. So, the question is, 'At what age do you really become an adult?' Well, people become adults at different ages in different places. In Australia, the 18th birthday is a very important event for young Australians because it means they can do almost anything they want. They can vote, learn to drive a car, get married, join the army and even buy their own houses. However, even if they can do all these things, most Australians have to wait until their 21st birthday to really celebrate becoming an adult. This is the traditional adult age not only in Australia, but also in the USA and the UK. It is their first year of true independence .Traditionally, people were given a key to their houses by their parents when they turned 21, meaning they could come and go as they like. Even though 21 is the traditional adult age in many English-speaking countries, the law nowadays is different in each country. In the UK, you can join the army at 16 and even get married at 16 if your parents allow. Young people in the UK can learn to drive a car at 17 as in Australia, although they have to wait until they are 18 to vote. In China, there is a different age for each of the stages of becoming an adult. You can vote and learn to drive a car when you are 18, but if you want to get married, women have to wait until they are 20 and men until they are 22. Chinese people celebrate important birthdays every 10 years--so when young people turn 20, they can expect a big party! No matter what age you are, becoming an adult is really about learning how to be independent and responsible . Once you are finally able to take care of yourself and make your own decisions, then you can say that you are truly all grown-ups. Why do people in Australia get the key to the houses when they really become adults? A. Because the law decides it. B. Because they can leave when they want. C. Because they can come home when they want. D. Because it is a tradition. Answer: D Question: The Underground Railroad wasn't underground and it wasn't a railroad. But it was real just the same. And it was one of the brightest chapters in American history. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of people who helped slaves flee to freedom before the Civil War. The slaves were black people from families who had been brought from Africa in chains. They were owned by their white masters and forced to work without pay. The first slaves arrived inprefix = st1 /Jamestown,Virginiain 1619. Two hundred years later, there were nearly four million slaves in theUnited States. Most worked in large plantations in the South. By then, slavery had been outlawed in most northern states. Many slaves were treated cruelly. Some were not. All could be bought and sold. Some slaves bought their own freedom by earning money during time off from work at the plantation. There were free black people in both the North and South during slavery days. Thousands of slaves ran away each year. Some fled to get away from harsh masters. Others wanted to enjoy liberty. The Underground Railroad was started to help them. The "station" of the Underground Railroad were homes, shops, and churches where runaway slaves were hidden and fed. The "agents" or "stationmasters" were people --- both black and white --- who hated slavery. They wanted to help slaves get free. "Conductors" on the Underground Railroad led or transported fugitives from station to station on their way to free states. They had to watch for slave catchers, who were paid to capture runaways and return them. Some conductors guided slaves all the way to Canada. The most famous conductor was Harriet Tubman. She was a strong, determined woman. Before she became a conductor, Mrs. Tubman had been a passenger on a dangerous journey on the Underground Railroad. She lived as a slave on the plantation inMaryland. One day in 1849, Mrs. Tubman heard that she was going to be sold. She decided to escape instead. Harriet Tubman walked away from the plantation that night. She followed the North Star toward the free state ofPennsylvania90 miles away. Sometimes she hiked all night, from station to station on the Underground Railroad. Once she was hidden under blankets and vegetables in a farm wagon, and she rode through the night. Another time she was carried in a rowboat for miles. She got toPennsylvaniaone morning just at sunrise. What the Underground Railroad didn't have was _ . A. "stations, conductors and agents" B. people who hated slavery C. slave catchers D. slave owners Answer: D
Chris Waddell wants to climb Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair; George Del Barrio wants to make a film in Cambodia; Jeff Edwards wants to write a book: they want you to fund their dreams. A website called Kickstarter.com is making it possible for people like this to raise money from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars to fund anything that catches the imagination of Internet users with a little money to spare. It worked for Emily Richmond, a 24-year-old living in Los Angeles who plans to sail solo around the world for two years. She's raised $ 8,142 from 148 people who'll receive gifts such as photos from the trip or a telephone call when she crosses the equator . "This was a perfect learning experience for my daughter," Landon Ray said, adding that he also dreamed of sailing the world himself. Jason Bitner's plan for $ 7,500 to pay for a film about the small Midwestern town of La Porte, was so popular that it raised $ 12,153. It's about a record of pictures by a photographer who died in 1971. About a third of his supporters were friends and family. Others include people of La Porte but also people from as far as Australia. "It's a creative marketplace," said Jonathan Scott Chinn, who is collecting $16,500 to make a short film. "You're given the opportunity to make yourself known, and if it's really interesting, it'll take off." Independent singer & songwriter Brad Skistimas, 26, has been using the Internet for eight years to promote his one-man band Five Times August. He used Kickstarter to raise $ 20,000 to help his new album Life As A Song. "It's a great way to get in touch with fans," Skistimas said. "I was marketing to my own fans, so I said 'If you want more music from me, now's a great time to help me out'" . Emily Richmond's success showed that _ . The European Union on Monday prohibited the use of X-ray body scanners in European airports, parting ways with the U. S. Transportation Security Administration, which has used hundreds of the scanners as a way to screen millions of airline passengers for explosives hidden under clothing. The European Commission, which enforces common policies of the EU's 27 member countries, adopted the rule "in order not to risk doing harm to citizens' health and safety." As a ProPublica/PBS NewsHour investigation detailed earlier this month, X-ray body scanners use ionizing radiation ,a form of energy that has been shown to damage DMA and cause cancer. Although the amount of radiation is extremely low, equal to the radiation a person would receive in a few minutes of flying, several research studies have concluded that a small number of cancer cases would result from scanning hundreds of millions of passengers a year. European countries will be allowed to use an alternative body scanner relying on radio frequency waves, which have not been linked to cancer. The U. S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also used hundreds of those machines --known as millimeter-wave scanners --in U. S. airports. But unlike Europe, it has decided to use both types of scanners. The TSA would not comment specifically on the EU 's decision. But in a statement, TSA spokesman Mike McCarthy said, "As one of our many layers of security, TSA uses the most advanced technology available to provide the best opportunity to detect dangerous items, such as explosives. " We strictly test our technology to ensure it meets our high detection and safety standards before it is placed in airports," he continued. "Since January 2010, advanced imaging technology has detected more than 300 dangerous or illegal items on passengers in U. S. airports nationwide." Body scanners have been controversial in the United States since they were first used in prisons in the late 1990s and then in airports for tests after 9/11. Which of the following is true about the new body scanners to be used in Europe?. Do you like listening to music? Do you often turn up the music when you're using earphones? If so, your hearing may have been damaged . The World Health Organization (WHO) is worried that 1.1 billion children and young people are damaging their hearing by listening to loud music. Nearly half the young people in developed countries may lose their hearing because of the "unsafe use" of music players, including smartphones. Loud music in nightclubs, parties and at sports also make it worse. The WHO advises young people to listen to music for just one hour a day. Dr. Etienne Krug told BBC: "What we're trying to do is to draw people's attention to a problem that is not talked about enough." He said it's easy to solve this problem. Dr. Krug said keeping the music down and limiting the listening time to less than one hour a day would save a lot of people's hearing. However, he also said, "Even an hour can be too much if the music is too loud." Ralph Holme, a researcher, explained how loud noise can damage ears. He said: "Loud sounds damage your hearing by killing off thousands of little hair cells in the inner ear. The cells can tell different sounds through vibration . But they are very _ --they get damaged easily and even die if they vibrate too much because of loud sounds for too long." He warned: "The bigger problem is they don't grow back and the ear can no longer get sound." No one wants to lose their hearing! Therefore, next time when you listen to music, make sure it's not too loud and only listen for less than an hour. You can enjoy your music much better in this way. How are the children and young people damaging their hearing? The next time you eat a piece of chocolate, be sure to enjoy it, because according to two of the world's largest chocolate makers--Mars Inc and Barry Callebaut, the treat may soon be in short supply. The problem? We are consuming the candy at a faster pace than farmers can grow cocoa. The manufacturers say that in 2013, people consumed 70,000 tons more cocoa than was produced. Experts say that this is the worst supply-demand imbalance they have experienced in more than 50 years. Parts of the reason for the condition is the large reduction in supply, caused by a continuous drought in the west African countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana, where more than 70 percent of the world's cocoa is produced. Additionally, a certain disease known as frosty pod has destroyed 30 to 40 percent of global cocoa production. As a result, many farmers have turned to more profitable and easier grown crops like corn. This means that even if conditions improve, cocoa production may never get back to normal. Meanwhile, the world is only getting hungrier for chocolate. The biggest increase in demand is from the residents of emerging market countries like India. Though their consumption is nowhere close to the amount European devour, their newly acquired amount for the treat , is making a huge dent in an already tight market. There is also the growing desire for dark chocolate, which contains more than 70 percent cocoa compared to normal chocolates. Experts believe that if consumption continue at this pace, cocoa deficits could swell to one million tons by 2020 and to an even more worrisome, two million tons, by 2030. Not surprisingly, cocoa prices have risen by 60% since 2012, a cost that manufacturers have offset by raising the prices of everyone's favorite candy. As the situation worsens, the price of chocolate can only rise--so be sure to enjoy piece of the sweet treat, like it is your last! Where has the demand of chocolate been increasing greatly according to the passage? Contestants from around the world met in Pomona, California, this month to test their skills at things like driving a car, walking down stairs, and opening doors. Sounds easy, right? But the competitors weren't people--they were robots! The bots were participating in the final round of the US's DARPA(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Robotics Challenge. This event, which took place on June 5-6, tested robots on how well they could respond during a disaster and the winning team finally took home a $2 million grand prize. The DARPA challenge was created after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. An earthquake caused a tsunami, which damaged a nuclear power plant. Workers at the plant needed to shut off an important valve , but it was too dangerous for humans to reach it. The US scientists at DARPA wondered whether the disaster could have been avoided if a robot had been sent to do _ . So they set up the robotics competition. Turning a valve was just one task a robot might have to perform when entering a disaster zone. In addition to doing this, robots participating in the challenge had to navigate a course containing several other tasks: driving and exiting a vehicle, opening a door, walking over or clearing objects, cutting a hole in a wall, plus climbing a flight of stairs. Teams had to complete the challenge in one hour, and points were awarded based on how quickly the robots completed a task. They didn't have to attempt all the tasks. To make things even more realistic, challenge organizers caused short computer-system blackouts that prevented robots and the human operators controlling them from communicating. That means teams had to program their robots to be partially autonomous . Robots also couldn't be attached to anything that could keep them from falling down, which happened a lot. The robots that participated in the US's DARPA challenge were required to _ .
Schoolgirls have been wearing such short skirts that a Staffordshire school has ordered them to wear trousers instead. All skirts will be banned from September at Paget High School in Branston. Tight-fitting trousers will also be banned and Muslim head-dressed will have to be "School blue" colour. Head teacher Don Smith said, "one of the big problems for us at the school has been the number of girls who have been wearing improperly short skirts. This has been an area of special concern at a time when there have been a lot of wrong ideas of being beautiful." Mr Smith said it would be impossible to determine how long girls' skirts should be and that _ would be easier for teachers to carry out. The head teacher said pupils' and other teachers' opinions were asked for before the new rule was set. The new clothing policy has been explained in a letter sent to parents of the school's 1,000 pupils and will come into force after the summer holiday. The school also wants pupils to wear clip-on ties instead of traditional neckwear. This rule will be gradually out over the next year and support will be given to parents unable to afford the new tie. One parent, whose teenage daughter studies at school, said, "I completely agree some girls were wearing skirts that were too short. However, I think girls should be allowed to wear skirts. Other school manage to let girls wear skirts while making sure they are not improperly dressed. I don't see why Paget can't do the same" What can we know from the passage? Answer: My six-year-old granddaughter stared at me as if she were seeing me for the first time."Grandma, you are an antique ,"she said. "You are old. Antiques are old. You are my antique." I was not satisfied to let the matter rest there. I took out the Webster's Dictionary and read the definition to Jenny.I explained, "An antique is not only old, it's an object existing since or belonging to earlier times...a work of art... piece of furniture. Antiques are treasured,"I told Jenny as I put away the dictionary. "They have to be handled carefully because they sometimes are very valuable. In order to qualify as an antique, the object has to be at least 100 years old." "I'm only 67,"I renunded Jenny. We looked around the house for other antiques, besides me. There was a desk that was handed down from rone aunt to another and finally to our family. "It's very old,"I told Jenny."I try to keep it polished and I show it off whenever I can. You do that with antiques." There was a picture on the wall purchased at a garage sale. It was dated 1867. "Now that's an antique," I boasted. "Over 100 years old." Of course it was marked up and scratched and not in very good condition. "Sometimes age does that," I told Jenny. "But the marks are good marks. They show living, being around. That's something to display with pride. In fact, sometimes, the more an object shows age, the more valuable it can become." It was important that I believed this for my own self-esteem. Our tour of antiques continued. There was a vase on the floor. It had been in my house for a long time. I was not certain where it came from but I didn't buy it new. One thing about antiques, I explained to Jenny, was that they usually had a story. They'd been in one home and then another, handed down from one family to another, traveling all over the place. They'd lasted through years and years. They could have been tossed away, or ignored. or destroyed, or lost. But instead, they survived. For a moment, Jenny looked thoughtful. "l don't have any antiques but you," she said. Then her face brightened. "Could I take you to school for show and tell?" "Only if I fit into your backpack," I answered. And then Jenny's antique lifted her up and embraced her in a hug that would last through the years. What can be the best title for the passage? Answer: Are you a forgetful person? You might be able to blame your genes, a new study in the journal Neuroscience Letters suggests. Researchers from the University of Bonn have identified a variant on the DRD2 gene that seems to be associated with increased forgetfulness. Everyone has one of two variants of the DRD2 gene, the difference is just one letter in the genetic code: Some people have the cytosine (C) variant, while others have the thymine (T) variant. The researchers wanted to see how having one variant over another was associated with forgetfulness. To test this, they analyzed the DRD2 gene of 500 study participants, and also had the participants answer surveys about their forgetfulness (such as how often they misplaced their keys, or forgot names). Most of the study participants--three quarters of them--had the thymine gene variant, while the other quarter had the cytosine gene variant. Researchers found an association between more forgetfulness problems and having the thymine gene variant of DRD2. Meanwhile, the cytosine gene variant seemed to have a protective effect against forgetfulness. However, "there are things you can do to compensate for forgetfulness; writing yourself notes or making more of an effort to put your keys down in a specific location--and not just anywhere," study researcher Dr. Sebastian Markett, of the University of Bonn, said in a statement. Research has also suggested that some age groups are more forgetful than others. A recent national poll showed that millenials, who were born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, are actually more likely than seniors to be absent-minded with things like what day of the week it is, where they put their keys and remembering to bring their lunch. Meanwhile, another study recently published in the journal BMC Psychology showed that men are more likely than women to experience minor memory problems. What do we know about the DRD2? Answer: Lee's mother Sun became unexpectedly pregnant while married to a disabled man. Doctors told her that because of a medication she had been taking her child would not be normal. She chose to continue with the pregnancy and in 1985 in Seoul, South Korea, little Hee Ah Lee was born with only two fingers on each hand, disfigurement of her legs, and slight brain injury. The hospital told Sun that she could not care for the child at home and her relatives wanted her to place the child for adoption in a foreign country. Sun, however, thought her baby would live a successful life. When Lee was a pre-schooler, Sun wanted her daughter to take piano lessons for two reasons. One was that she felt it would help her strengthen her hands so she could hold a pencil. The other was that she felt that if she could master the piano, she could master anything. For six months piano schools turned them down and then the one teacher who did accept the task got discouraged and wanted to quit. It was a three-month contest of wills between mother and daughter that led to a conflict in which Sun actually threw her daughter on the floor in frustration. But Lee got back up on the piano bench and for the first time played a children's song. That was the turning point and one year later Lee won the grand prize in a piano concert for Kindergartners. It was at the age of 7 that Lee won Korea's 19th National Handicap Conquest Contest and was presented with her award by the President of Korea. Lee has won numerous awards, and is a widely traveled concert pianist with more than 200 appearances. Her first album titled "Hee-ah, a Pianist with Four Fingers" was released in June, 2008. Lee speaks highly of her mother for challenging her to master the piano and said that although her training was difficult, "As time went by, the piano became my source of inspiration and my best friend." When was Lee awarded by the president of Korea? Answer: Sarah looked up high. She could see the scissors up on top of the cabinet. If she could only reach them, she could cut the gum out of her baby sister's hair and her mom would never know. Her mom was still busy helping her brother take out the trash. Sarah quickly pushed a chair over to the cabinet. She climbed up on the chair and got the scissors. Then she hopped down and put the chair back at the table. Sarah ran to the bathroom and shut the door. While her sister sat on the floor, Sarah cut the gum and a big piece of Sally's hair, and then threw it into the trash. Sarah put on her dress, then she and Sally headed back to the kitchen for breakfast. Sarah had taken a drink of her chocolate milk when she heard her brother Kyle start to laugh and point at Sally's head. Their mother heard the laugh and turned around to see what was so funny. Sarah began to turn red before their mother even asked what had happened. "I did it," Sarah said in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry, Mom." What did Sarah do when her mom was helping her brother with the trash? Answer:
When we asked Oprah to pick the 10 books she's read in the past decade that have mattered to her most, she was momentarily stumped. For someone who describes herself as --inspired, challenged, and sustained by books, it was almost impossible for Oprah to stay within our limit of 10. Still, she offered up the following, but she emphasized that it was only a sampler of delightful titles that have also managed to teach her -- and all of us -- a few things. 1. Discover the Power Within You By Eric Butterworth 256 pages; Harper One Advice from the internationally known spiritual teacher. 2. A New Earth By Eckhart Tolle 316 pages; Plume There's a reason Oprah picked this for her Book Club in 2008 -- and that she gave audience members Post-it pens along with their copies.So much wisdom, so little time! A real-life guide to living your best life. 3. The Poisonwood Bible By Barbara Kingsolver 576 pages; Harper Perennial This novel is about a family involved in the political trouble of postcolonial Africa. It established Kingsolver as one of our wisest observers of history, politics, and human nature. 4. Night By Elie Wiesel 120 pages; Hill and Wang A memoir of a childhood suffered in concentration camps during the Holocaust. It's horrific butuplifting. --I gain courage from his courage,\|\| Oprah says. 5. A Fine Balance By Rohinton Mistry 624 pages; Vintage A Dickensian novel about India during the Emergency. Like the aftermath of September 11, it teaches us about cultures we haven't understood. "It takes us out of our own little shell and exposes us to a whole other world out there." Oprah say. 6. East of Eden By John Steinbeck 608 pages; Penguin This classic is about good and evil as played out in a late-19th-century California ranch family. If you didn't read it in high school, read it now. If you did, reread it! 7. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle By David Wroblewski 576 pages; Harper Collins A kind of Hamlet on the prairie, this is the wrenching story of a mute boy and his dog. Oprah compares it to East of Eden and To Kill a Mickingbird. 8. The Pillars of the Earth By Ken Follett 973 pages; Penguin About the challenges of building cathedrals in 12th-century England. This novel couldn't be more different in setting, time, and plot from the author's breakthrough success, Eye of the Needle. Oprah declares it simply "great". 9. The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison 224 pages; Penguin How to choose among the great Morrison's novel? Start with this one about a girl who thinks she has to have blue eyes to be beautiful. Oprah considered it one of the best in a crowded Morrison field. 10. The Known World By Edward P. Jones 400 pages, Harper Collins When this book was published in 2003, it shocked everybody with its description of slave-owning blacks before the Civil War. A daring, unusual examination of race. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: I never knew how amazing it would feel to help a family 4,560 miles away from my home. I never knew how great an effect I could have on that single family. From the moment I walked into French class, I knew almost instantly that I belonged there. My teacher, Madame Weiser, is a kind and caring woman, and is the person who started the interest within me to help a family abroad, no matter how many miles apart. Back in 2011, my teacher traveled as a tourist to Maxi, a country settled in West Africa with a large French-speaking population. She didn't expect to adopt an entire family, but fate had other plans. Madame met a nice man named Monsieur Diarra, a driver who had shown her the way through the dry lands of Mali. Mali is now a war-torn country and unsafe for tourists to visit, leaving little work for taxi drivers. Madame Weiser realized how Monsieur Driarra's family struggled on a daily basis, for he had a wife and four children to support as well as their grandmother, so she made a final decision to send the family as much money as she could raise every month. Now, three years later, Madame Weiser has still kept up her fund, collecting money from family and friends as well as students to support _ . It has become more than just my teacher donating to her adopted family abroad. As president of French Club at my high school and a French Honor Society member, I decided that our club should work to raise money for the family in need. By washing cars, we raised over $1,000. From my experience, I've learned that making an effort is worth more than anything. Its effect is priceless! What is the best title of this passage? Answer: I was working as an intern at my University's Museum of Natural history when I was an undergraduate in college. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair. As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized that she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and upper body. She was wearing a little white dress with red dots. As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink , As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me a nicest, largest smile I had ever seen. All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me away from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth. That was 10 years ago. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the unforgettable lesson about life that she taught me. In the writer's opinion, the little girl _ . Answer: Oscar purchased a large bottle of No-Flake dandruff shampoo, manufactured by Shampoo Company. The box containing the bottle stated in part: "CAUTION--Use only 1 capful at most once a day. Greater use may cause severe damage to the scalp." Oscar read the writing on the box, removed the bottle, and threw the box away. Oscar's roommate, bottle, and threw the box away. Oscar's roommate, Paul, asked to use the No-Flake, and Oscar said, "Be careful not to use too much." Paul thereafter used No-Flake twice a day, applying two or three capfuls each time, notwithstanding the label statement that read: "Use no more than one capful per day. See box instructions." The more he used No-Flake, the more inflamed his scalp became, the more it itched, and the more he used. After three weeks of such use, Paul finally consulted a doctor who diagnosed his problem as a serious and irreversible case of dermatitis caused by excessive exposure to the active ingredients in No-Flake. These ingredients are uniquely effective at controlling dandruff, but there is no way to remove a remote risk to a small percentage of persons who may contract dermatitis as the result of applying for prolonged periods of time amounts of No-Flake substantially in excess of the directions. This jurisdiction adheres to the traditional common-law rules pertaining to contributory negligence and assumption of risk. If Paul asserts a claim against Oscar for his dermatitis injuries, Oscar's best defense will be that Answer: There is a saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Although eating properly is important, being kind to others is also good tor your health. Studies show that people who perform kind acts are more relaxed, happier, and healthier than other people. In one study at Arizona State University researchers, found that many volunteers experienced a sudden feeling of joy, followed by a long period of calm, after performing a kind act. This feeling, called "a help's high" may actually help reduce stress as the body releases naturally painkillers. Stress can cause' serious health problems, and heart depression, and .sleeping problems. However, the study found that volunteers had fewer *stress-related health problems when they did helpful things for other people. The study also found that people who did nice things for others felt better about themselves as well. They had higher self-esteem , and were' happier. Many believe this is because volunteers spend more of their time with other people. People who are more outgoing are often healthier. Another study at the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center confirmed the health benefits of volunteering. A ten-year study showed that people who volunteered live longer than those who didn't. Although you shouldn't need a reason to be helpful, it is nice to know that kindness may help you live longer. Another study of almost 3 ,000 men showed that people who volunteered _ . Answer:
When an ant dies, other ants move the dead insect out. Sometimes, the dead ant get moved away very soon--within an hour of dying. This behavior is interesting to scientists, who wonder how ants know for sure--and so soon--that another ant is dead. One scientist recently came up with a way to explain this ant behavior. Dong-Hwan Choe is a biologist. Choe found that Argentine ants have a chemical on the outside of their bodies that signals to other ants, "I'm dead--take me away." But there's a _ to Choe's discovery. Choe says that the living ants--not just the dead ones--have this death chemical. In other words, while an ant crawls around, perhaps in a picnic or home, it's telling other ants that it's dead. What keeps ants from dragging away the living ants?Choe found that Argentine ants have two additional chemicals on their bodies, and these tell nearby ants something like, "Wait--I'm not dead yet." So Choe's research turned up two sets of chemical signals in ants: one says, "I'm dead," and the other set says, "I'm not dead yet." Other scientists have tried to figure out how ants know when another ant is dead. If an ant is knocked unconscious, for example, other ants leave it alone until it wakes up. That means ants know that unmoving ants can still be alive. Choe suspects that when an Argentine ant dies, the chemical that says "Wait-I'm not dead yet" quickly goes away. Once that chemical is gone, only the one that says "I'm dead" is left. "It's because the dead ant no longer smells like a living ant that it gets carried to the graveyard, not because its body releases new unique chemicals after death," said Choe. When other ants detect the "dead" chemical without the "not dead yet" chemical, they drag away the body. Understanding this behavior may help scientists figure out how to stop Argentine ants from invading new places and causing problems. Choe would like to find a way to use the newly discovered chemicals to spread ant killer to Argentine ant nests. The ants' removal behavior is important to the overall health of the nest. "Being able to quickly remove dead individuals and other possible sources of disease is extremely important to all animals living in societies, including us," says Choe. "Think about all the effort and money that we invest daily in waste management." Ants judge whether another one is dead or not depending on _ . Answer: Raised in a fatherless home,my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children. His attitude didn't soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college. I had to ride the bus whenever I came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home,Dad never met me,even in severe weather. If I _ he'd say in his loudest father-voice,"That's what your legs are for!" The walk didn't bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn't seem concerned about my safety. But that feeling was canceled one spring evening. It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs. I longed for home. When the bus reached the stop,I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home. A row of hedge edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey,I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening,the hedge had just come into view when I saw something gray moving along the top of the hedge,moving toward the house. Upon closer observation,I realized it was the top of my father's head. Then I knew,each time I'd come home,he had stood behind the hedge,watching,until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the tears. He did care,after all. On later visits,that spot of gray became my watchtower. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home,I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair. "So! My son,it's you!" he'd say,his face lengthening into pretended surprise. I replied,"Yes,Dad,it's me. I'm home." What made the author feel upset was _ . Answer: The Golden Compass is the first movie based on the Philip Pullman's bestselling novel, His Dark Materials. It is a work of imagination that tells us about a young girl who travels to the far north to save her best friend. Along the way she meets strange creatures, like witches and so on. Finally , she saves not only her world, but also ours as well. Lyra is a young girl among scholars in Oxford's Jordan College. She spends most of her time with her friend Roger, a kitchen boy. Together, they share a life with no worries. However, when Lyra hears a conversation about a very tiny particle , she is thrown into a dangerous adventure. This particle is said to unite different worlds, and is feared by many people who want to destroy it. At the same time , children began to disappear without a trace, including Lyra's good friend, Roger. As Lyra starts this horrible struggle, and begins to search for Roger, she meets strange creatures both big and small, and bad people who are not what they seem to be. Gobblers that kidnap children appear in the most unexpected places. And a magical compass made of gold will answer any question if one is skilled enough to read it. In unbelievable danger, Lyra doesn't know that she is doomed to win, or to lose, this battle... With the movie The Lord of the Ringsmaking New Line cinema over a billion dollars, it's easy to see why they got the rights to Pullman'sHis Dark Materials quickly. The books, sold more than nine million copies in the world, have a different idea from the Harry Potter series. Pullman's imagination may look suitable for children, but it works far better for adults. From the passage we can conclude that _ . Ks5u Answer: On the first day of school, our professor introduced himself and let us get to know someone we didn't know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. "Hi, girl! My name is Rose, I'm 87 years old." "Why are you in college at such a young age?" I asked jokingly. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she replied. Rose became a college symbol this year and she easily made friends with other students. At the end of the term we invited her to speak at our football party. I'll never forget what she taught us. "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only two secrets of staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! "There is a big difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do anything, you will turn 20 years older. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. But every minute counts for young men," she added. She ended her speech by singing The Song Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the end of the year, Rose finished the college education. One week after graduation, Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. Remember GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY , GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL . Rose went to college because she _ . Answer: Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons in our brains. Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate it,whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further: mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people. Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to (for example: "The hand took hold of the ball"), the same mirror neurons were as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball). Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much research suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders. Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with ever more information concerning how humans behave and interact .Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent for neuroscience of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does---well, perhaps you'll understand why. We can learn from the passage that mirror neurons _ . Answer:
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". Working class children are thought to be at a disadvantage because Answer: many of the clever ones leave school early Going to outer space is a little like going camping. You have to carry with you all the food and equipment you need for your trip, so your food can't be too heavy or hard to prepare. Plus, there are no refrigerators to keep food cold and fresh. Food with all the water dried out is lightweight and doesn't spoil. So, many space foods are dried on Earth and stored in special packets. Some taste good right out of the packet. On earth, gravity is the force that keeps your feet on the ground and your sandwich on your plate. But there's no gravity in space. To keep food from floating away, astronauts on the Space Shuttle attach the packets to a special tray. The tray can be fixed to a wall or to the astronaut's lap. To prepare their food, astronauts use liquid forms of salt and pepper. The liquid sticks to the food better. Regular salt and pepper would float away, maybe up an astronaut's nose. Liquids float right out of cups and glasses, though. So astronauts drink everything from a small bag with a straw that can be closed. Astronauts say that most space foods taste pretty good. Some, such as apples and pudding, are the same as the foods you eat on Earth. Astronauts eat tortillas instead of bread because they make fewer crumbs . Floating crumbs could get stuck in equipment or an astronaut's eye. Your body used food in space the same way it does on Earth. Your body must deal with waste in space too. During takeoff the landing, astronauts can't leave their seats to go to the bathroom. They wear diapers under their spacesuits instead. The Space Shuttle has a bathroom the size of a small closet. The toilet has bars that keep astronauts from floating away. A strong flow of air is used instead of water to flush waste down the toilet. Back on Earth it's flushed away-or sometimes studied by scientists. We can infer from the passage that astronauts _ . Answer: must pay attention to the crumbs in space As summer arrives, it's important to drink more, to keep us cool. Let's look to see what drinks are popular in the US. Sports drinks and fruit drinks are quite popular. But there are two main drinks that Americans enjoy most: water and soda. Around 10.9 billion gallons of water is drunk each year, and 12.8 billion gallons of soda. Soda is the most popular drink. It's fizzy and enjoyed with friends. Perhaps it is the drink of choice for parties. However, if you are playing sports, soda is not a good drink. The fizzy and sweet drinks may make you uncomfortable while exercising. The best drink for sports is water. That's because it has no calories and keeps you fresh during sports. Besides, doctors tell us that drinking water each day is healthy. For many kids, juice or milk are their favorites. These drinks are healthy and give kids vitamins and energy during the day. Adults usually choose between tea or coffee. What does the writer want to tell us? Answer: The popular drinks in Americans. Once upon a time, a man was walking on a mountain when he found an incredible cave with all kinds of treasure inside it. So he gave up his job, his home, and his friends, and spent all his time guarding the cave. He was so dedicated to it that he hardly ate or drank, and before long he fell ill. One day, when he could hardly move at all, he decided to share the treasure. He crawled into the cave to get a handful of jewels, but discovered, to his horror, that it was empty except for a small emerald . The man took it, and gave it to the first person he came by, a woman. Then an old man came by. "What bad luck!" the man said. "Just a moment ago I gave a woman the last of the treasure I was guarding." "Are you sure there is nothing left?" the old man asked. The man took him into the cave, where they found a chest with jewels and some bags of gold. The man was shocked, and the old man explained to him, "At last! At last someone has broken the spell of this cave. This is the Cave of Treasure, and you're the first to have passed its great test. Many have dedicated their lives to this cave, only to end up realizing there was nothing here..." "And why does this happen?" the man asked. "This magic cave has only as many riches as your own heart. When someone discovers it, the cave is filled with treasure, but later, when they have devoted themselves to guarding the treasure, their hearts empty, as does the cave. The only way to fill it is by filling your heart with all that is good, as you did by giving the woman that last jewel." From that day on, the man understood that it was better to share than to keep. Thanks to the cave and the old man, he became noble and generous. What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Purely material things cannot make us truly wealthy. If you can't wait until the summer for your sunshine fix,why not fly off on a winter break? Here are some great deals for all budgets. 1.ST LUCIA The beachside resort of St James's Club in Morgan Bay is fairly quiet--the local market is nearly 5kin away--but it has six bars,six restaurants and four outdoor pools. There are plenty of watersports,you can travel through the rainforest,go on a jeep trip or enjoy dolphin-Spot-ting. Average temperature in March is 27degC. THE DEAL:A seven-night stay with flights from Gatwick for 1,429pp.From March 1. 2.GOA With an average February temperature of 26degC,scenic Goa makes for a warm winter get away. In the village of Arpora,the Resorte Marinha Dourada is a 10-minute walk from the clear beach--the hotel provides transfers for guests.Alternatively,relax by the outdoor pool and have a drink at one of the hotel's two bars. A visit to Arpora's lively Saturday night market is also recommended. Go bird-watching,beating on the lake,or fishing. THE DEAL:10 nights' bed and breakfast with flights from Manchester for 1,157pp.From February 18. 3.DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Bayahibe is a beautiful fishing village on the shores of the Caribbean and it is also the Dominican Republic's premier scuba-diving destination.There are around 20 dive sites just off its coast. Enjoy golf,spas,watersports and large outdoor pools.If you simply want to relax,the Catalonia Gran Dominicus hotel is right on a pure white sandy beach,complete with palm trees. With average February temperature of 28degC,it's the perfect escape. THE DEAL:A seven-night stay with Gatwick flights for 1,403pp. From February 20. 4.SOUTH AFRICA February is summer in South Africa,with average temperatures in the mid-20sdegC. If you fancy chilling out in the sunshine,the Southern Sun Waterfront hotel has a large outdoor poo1. But it is also in the heart of the city,which makes it easy to explore its many historic attractions. Take a cable car ride up Table Mountain,or a short boat trip to Robben Island,where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner. THE DEAL:10 nights for 1,662pp,with Heathrow flights. From February 18. What do these resorts have in common? Answer: The outdoor pools.
Question: Beautiful cars surrounded by even more beautiful models--it's no secret why the 2012 Beijing Auto Show was popular. The exhibition was held between April 23 and May 2.Although renowned companies showed off their top models,it wasn't just their expensive sports cars that grabbed people's attention. Concept cars are a way for designers to test out their ideas on the public with complete freedom.They can try out cars with special features that could not be massively produced easily. Designers don't have to follow industry rules;they don't even need to worry about whether their cars would be followed on the roads. At the Beijing Auto Show,the@Ant by Chery was one concept car to draw a lot of attention.China Daily called it''the very definition of a concept car". The vehicle is powered by electricity and is capable of driving itself.But the magic doesn't end there. The@Ant was inspired by actual ants.According to Car News China,with the help of automated telemetric systems,@Ants are able to"see" other@Ants and compare destination information. If two are heading the same way for a while, the vehicles connect, with one car's rear wheels matching up with the front wheels of another car.Up to 10@Ants can be put together and will automatically connect to form a"train".This will help save energy while traveling, as well reducing traffic jams. The car sounds like a great idea.Further research will be needed to turn this concept car into something for the market,but concepts like Cherry's show how carmakers are working for cleaner and greener vehicles.It's like what the@Ant motto says,"Exploring future human beings'lifestyles". The best title of the passage is _ . A. Concept Cars Are Driving to the Future B. The@Ant Draws a Lot of Attention C. The@Ant Is a Top Model of Concept Cars D. Concept Cars Are Cleaner and Greener Answer: A Question: Fear is an emotion like others such as happiness, anger, hurt, sadness. We need emotions to process information we receive and decide how to respond. Being afraid of fast cars, for example, is something that might protect us from harm. Being afraid of the consequence of a choice may prevent us getting into trouble. Fears in young children commonly center on certain animals like snakes or big dogs. Fears are caused often because of experiences or ideas expressed by others, and at times, the media. Many normal fears during the early years, like men with beards, or large dogs, disappear with age. Those relating to personal failure and ridicule remain through adulthood and may need special help to overcome. Children's fears are often _ , but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. They need to be recognized and accepted as real for that child. Only when we help children understand their fears can they grow normally in their ability to deal with them. Research shows that as a child grows up, the center of his fears changes a lot. Things like divorce, a teacher who "shouted at me", people with guns, bullies, big boys, or "making fun of me" top the list of childhood fears. We can not always prevent these experiences from happening, but it's essential that children be allowed to freely express their emotions without judgment. Sympathy and a caring listener will help ease the pain of these fears. Read books and stories to your child about children who have experienced similar fears. This helps children talk about their fears and find ways to cope. With all emotions, fears become less of a problem for children as they gain self-confidence and they find that fear is normal and can be dealt with. What's the best title for this passage? A. How to Overcome Children's Fears B. Children's Fears C. The kind of Children's Fears D. The Bad Effects of Fears Answer: B Question: That Easter day ( ) I found out we were so poor . The minister brought us the money for the poor family , so we must be poor , I thought . I didn't like being poor . Everyone there probably already knew we were poor ! I thought about school . I was in the ninth grade and at the top of my class over 100 students . I wondered if the kids at school knew that we were poor . We sat in silence for a long time . Then it got dark , and we went to bed . All that week ,we girls went to school and came home , and no one talked much . Finally , on Saturday , Mom asked us what we wanted to do with the money . What did poor people do with the money ? We didn't know . We didn't want to go to the church on Sunday , but mom said we had to . Although it was a sunny day , we didn't talk on the way . Mom started to sing , but no one joined in . At church we had a speaker . He talked about how churches in Africa built schools and houses for the poor people , but they needed more money to buy foods . The speaker said ," Can't we all give away some money to help those poor people ?" We looked at each other and smiled for the first time in a week . Mom reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope . She passed it to Darlene , Darlene gave it to me , and I put it into the offering . When the offering was counted , the minister _ that it was a little over 500 dollars . The speaker was excited . He hadn't expected such a large offering from our small church . He said ," You must have some rich people in this church ." Suddenly it struck us ! We had given 420dollars of that " little over 500 dollars ." We were the rich family in the church ! Hadn't the speaker said so ? From that day on , I've never been poor again . Which of the statements is true ? A. The writer was born in an African country B. The writer didn't like going to school C. The mother was helpful to others D. he mother didn't want the money given by others Answer: C Question: Which of these events have the most influence on regional climate? A. frequent tornadoes B. ocean trade winds C. winter snowstorms D. temperature inversions Answer: B Question: For years and years people have been saying that the rail ways are dead. "We can do without railways", people say as if motorcars and planes have made the railways unnecessary. We all keep hearing that trains are slow, that they lose money, and that they're dying. But this is far from the truth. In these days of expensive oil, the railways have become highly competitive with motorcars and planes. If you want to carry people or goods from place to place, they are cheaper than planes. And they have much in common with planes. A plane goes in a straight line and so does a railway. What is more, it takes you from the heart of a city into the heart of another. It doesn't leave you as a plane does, miles and miles from the city center. It doesn't hold you up as a car does, in endless traffic jams. And a single train can carry goods which no plane or motorcar could ever do. Far from being dead, the railways are very much alive. Modern railway lines give you a smooth, untroubled journey. Where else can you eat well, sleep in comfort, feel safe and enjoy the scene while you are traveling at speed at the same time? And we are only at the beginning,for we have just entered the age of _ . Trains are traveling at 150 miles an hour and more. Soon we will be wondering why we spent so much on motorways we can't use because we have not enough money to buy the oil and planes we can't fly in for the same reason. The best title for this passage may be _ . A. Not the End , but the Beginning B. Which is the Best: Train, Motorcar or Plane C. Trains Are More Competitive than Motorcars or Planes D. Oh, Super-fast Trains Answer: A
Dear Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, Most people don't really know what pressures a typical teenager has to go through. Sure, our parents and grandparents were once teens, but things are so different now. It has never been to tougher to a teenager. It had never been more important to be in the "right group" or to have the "right brand" of shoes. And those are the easy things to deal with. We also face problems with family, friends, relationships and school pressures. When it gets to be too much, I turn to my friends. One friend I could not live without is Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. Your books have been so inspiring to me and have helped me to deal with and understand the problems I go through. For example, I went through a confusing time with my friends when we got to junior high. I had known these friends since kindergarten, and when we began junior high it seemed like some of them began to change. We started hanging out with different groups, and we slowly grew so far apart that it seemed as if we had never been friends. I felt confused and hurt. Sometime during this period I read the story Friends Forever in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II.I felt so much better after reading it. It was like a weight had been lifted from me when I realized that many friendships went through changes and that we weren't the only friends to experience _ People change, but that doesn't mean we have to lose the friendships we once shared. My friends and I still spend time together when we can and care about each other a lot. That things are different doesn't mean I have to forget about all the good times we had. I will always keep the memories in a safe place in my heart. Sincerely, Peter In the letter the author mainly tells us that Answer: people change but friendships always last. Most animals have some type of defense mechanism to protect them from predators. The Octopus has Answer: its ink This August, we'll welcome guests from all over the world. Some of them follow their own special cultural traditions. It's important for us to know about them. In many countries, such as Thailand, India and Malaysia, people believe that the left hand is unclean. So, it's not proper to use one's left hand to hold food, touch others or pass objects, Doing so may _ certain guests. Some Westerners may be offended if you touch them or their personal things-even by accident. If this happens, say sorry politely. Some elderly Westerners may be offended if you try to help them without their agreement. People think numbers can be lucky or unlucky. Some Westerners avoid the number 13 because they believe it is unlucky. Muslims do not eat pork, and words like pigs are not considered proper. People from Brazil, Italy and Pakistan do not give handkerchiefs as gifts. They believe a handkerchief is closely connected with unhappy feelings. *Wine is not sent as a gift in many parts of western and middle Asia, where most Muslims live. Indians don't hold food with the left hand because they consider it _ . Answer: unclean Shundagarh is a village on India's east-facing coast.It is a village of simple mud and grass houses built on the beach just above the waterline.The Khadra Hills rise immediately behind the village,to a height of one hundred and fifty meters.A simple,good-hearted old man,whose name was Jalpur,farmed two small fields on the very edge of these hills.From his fields he could see the fishing boats that travelled up and down the coast.He could see the children playing on the sands;their mothers washing clothes on the flat stones where the Shiva River flowed into the sea;and their fathers landing the latest catch or repairing nets and telling stories that had no end. All Jalpur owned in the world were the clothes he wore day in and day out,the miserable hut that he slept in at night,a few tools and cooking pots--and his fields.The corn that he grew was all that made life possible.If the weather was kind and the harvest was good,Jalpur could live happily enough--not well,but happily.When the sun was fierce,and there was little or no rain,then he came close to the line between life and death. Last year the weather had been so kind,and the harvest promised to be so good,that Jalpur had been wondering whether he could sell all that he had and live with his son farther up the coast.He had been thinking about doing this for some years.It was his dearest wish to spend his last days with his son and his wife.But he would go only if he could give;he would not go if it meant taking food out of the mouths of his grandchildren.He would rather die hungry than do this. On the day when Jalpur decided that he would harvest his corn,sell it,and move up the coast,he looked out to sea and saw a huge wave,several kilometers out,advancing on the coast and on the village of Shundagarh.Within ten minutes everyone in Shundagarh would be drowned.Jalpur would have shouted,but the people were too far away to hear.He would have run down the hill,but he was too old to run.He was prepared to do anything to save the people of Shundagarh,so he did the only thing that he could do: he set fire to his corn.In a matter of seconds the flames were rising high and smoke was rising higher.Within a minute the people of Shundagarh were racing up the hill to see what had happened.There,in the middle of his blackened cornfield,they found Jalpur;and there they buried him. On his grave,they wrote the words: Here lies Jalpur,a man who gave,living: a man who died,giving. What did Jalpur do when he saw the huge wave? Answer: He set his corn on fire so the people of Shundagarh would leave the beach. Most people think that the capital of the movie world is Hollywood, in the United States. However, the real movie capital is Mumbai, in India. Mumbai used to be known as Bombay, and so the film industry there is called "Bollywood". Each year, Bollywood makes twice as many movies as Hollywood. The movies from Bollywood are very different from Hollywood movies. For one thing, Bollywood movies are longer than most Hollywood movies. Most Bollywood movies are more than three hours long, and contain singing, dancing, adventure, mystery and romance. Because Bollywood films has so many different characters, this style of film is called a "masala" film. Masala is an Indian word for a mixture of spices . Another big difference is the way the movies are made. It takes longer to make a movie in Hollywood than in Bollywood. In fact, filming may begin on a Bollywood movie before the script is finished. The director and writers can make up the story while the filming is being made. Sometimes they even write the script by hand instead of typing it. Bollywood actors are so popular that some of them may even work on several movies at the same time. They may even make several different films on the same day using the same costumes and scenery. Since most Bollywood movies follow the same kind of story, shooting scenes for several films at the same time is not a big problem for actors or directors. This also helps to keep the cost of Bollywood movies lower than the cost of Hollywood movies. What is Not True about Mumbai? Answer: The new name is Bombay.
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. Where does the passage say the only child learns his social lessons? Classroom and playground Dolphins are interesting animals and researchers find them interesting to watch. They don't have hands, but can use tools to solve problems, just like us. Scientists have observed a dolphin trying to get a shy eel to come out of its hole by poking it with a dead fish. Many species of dolphin live in large societies. They have many different relationships and need a good communication system; they use a variety of sounds to communicate with each other. There is currently no evidence that dolphins have a language of their own. But scientists still have a lot to find out about these animals and so there are certain to be a few surprises in the future. At Kewalo Basin Marine Laboratory in Hawaii, the dolphin team have developed a sign langue to communicate with the dolphins, and the results are amazing. Not only do the dolphins understand the meaning of individual words, they also understand the significance of word order in a sentence. For example, when they were asked to 'touch the ball with your tail and then jump over it' they generally responded correctly and straight away, which showed that they understood the langue. Most mammals seem to enjoy play--but dolphins seems to like making their games as challenging as possible. On a beautiful day in 1997, researchers working at a beach, off the southern coast of Brazil, observed a little dog going into the sea and swimming towards the dolphins. To their surprise, the dolphins approached the dog and then started throwing it into the air. The dog seemed to enjoy the 'game' and continued playing with the dolphins for more than an hour. From then on, different dogs were seem trying to interact with the dolphins. Dolphins live in a very different world to ourselves, but they are very good at our 'intelligence tests'. For example, they will jump out of the water when they hear a whistle noise. They do this because they will get a fish as a reward. There is still much to learn about these flexible problem-solvers, but from the evidence so far, it would seem as though dolphins are very intelligent. Dolphins will jump out of the water when they hear a whistle noise in order to _ . get some food We spend hours, days and years of our lives in studying. But what do you think of your school? What is your ideal school like? Here is some designing from four children in different countries. I'm Ma from China. My dream school has a swimming pool and two football fields. It also has a cinema, a restaurant and a shopping centre. Now my school has none of these and I think there should be more enjoyable things for pupils to do while they are studying. I am Sonia from Italy. I'd like a room. We can go and play computer games and chat with friends there. Some older pupils in the school have this but I think there should be a place for everyone to go when they want to switch from the lessons. I am Richard from the USA. I think it would be great to have a three days' holiday every week. We could have a long holiday. What fun! I also think school should start at ten o'clock, and finish at three o'clock in the afternoon. I am Rebecca from Australia. My dream school would be big and roomy with a computer for every person in the school. I'd also like to have a music room. We can go and play instruments when we want. Rebecca may like _ according to the passage. playing music Even with the multimedia excitement of the web. Electronic Mail, email, is the most frequently used application of the Internet. Many people who have a chance to use the Internet at school, home, and work. They use the Internet for no other purposes than to send or receive emails. It's all very easy. You prepare the message, log onto the Internet, and send it. The message first goes to your Internet Service Provider's mail server, which in turn sends it to the recipient's mail server. On the way your message may go through several servers, each reading the name in order to send it to the right server. The message then remains in the recipient's mail email server until he requests it by "checking his mail". The benefits of emails are obvious: mostly it's quick. Also, many people feel that the rules for regular mails don't apply to email, making it less formal, which in turn make email easier to write and send. It's not just friends and coworkers that are receiving emails. Wherever you look, the Web is providing email addresses. This has made communication between strangers easier than ever. You can read an interesting article online and immediately send the author an email. Anyone who posts his email address on a Web page is saying he wants to receive email. There are places you can go if you don't know someone's email address. Check out Bigfoot, the Internet Address Finder, or Netscape's Email Directories for more information. Email is one of the services offered by your Internet Service Provider--a service that you're applying for every month. We can infer from the passage that _ . many people use the Internet only for the purpose of sending and receiving email It was Sunday morning. A butcher heard the doorbell and thought it must be a customer. But he was surprised to see that a dog was coming into his shop. The dog had $10 and a note in its mouth. The butcher took the note and read it. It said,"10 pork chops , please."So the butcher took the money and put a bag of chops in the dog's mouth. Then he quickly closed the shop because he decided to follow the dog. He found the dog on the street. The dog was waiting for a green light. Then the dog walked across the road. The dog went to a bus stop. When a bus arrived, the dog checked the number and then got on the bus. After a while, the dog stood up on his back paws to push the "stop" button . The bus stopped and the dog got off. Then the butcher followed it to get off the bus. The dog ran to a house and dropped the bag in front of the front door. It then began to beat its head against the front door. After a while, a big man opened the door and began shouting at the dog. The butcher ran up and shouted at the man, "What are you doing? Your dog is a genius ." The owner of the dog said, "Genius? No way! I always tell him to take the keys when he goes to the stores. But he never listens to me!" Which is NOT right according to the story? The big man was pleased with his dog.
Many kids think they are too common. They think they are not the prettiest and smartest. Sometimes kids don't know how special they are. When they see outstanding athletes or cool stars, they often think: Am I outstanding? What am I going to be when I grow up ? Growing up means understanding what you can do and what you can _ to the world. When you are young, you don't see that. But when get older, you may know that by being yourself, you do offer something to other people. Maybe you aren't the best, but that doesn't make you "not special" Think about your friends. Write down some things that you like about them. Think about why you are friends. You are going to know that in the end, though they aren't the smartest or the prettiest or the most talented, they are great in their way. And they feel just the same as you. In fact it is great to be the best at something, but it's OK if you can't. If you just live our life and try hard, you are still pretty amazing .And you can make your dream come true. From the passage, you can know _ . A how special you are B how you can easily grow up C why you are so common D how you can become good friends Answer: A. how special you are The following are the results of the tests done by "Family and Home Magazine" on some Pocket Tape-Recorders on the market now. Pearlcorder S702 $64 This simple model at the bottom of the Olympus range scored the most points for its excellent quality of recording. Background noise hardly affects the sound and recording from a pocket is perfectly possible, but it doesn't turn off automatically. Tape length: 30minutes per side. Weight: 240g. Sony M9 $49.95 Small and very good looking, Sony's latest offering scored most for its appearance. Sounds clear, but there is slight machine noise. The big control buttons are a great improvement on some of the complicated little controls on other tape-recorders. It doesn't switch off automatically, but a red light shows if the machine is still running. Tape length: 60minutes per side. Weight: 195g. Sony M400 $115 Lots of little control buttons that make a noise are difficult to use. Recording is good but machine noise loses points. Tape counter and automatic switch-off when tape has finished recording or rewinding are useful. Tape length: 60 minutes per side. Weight: 230g. Imperial OEM MC7 $ 29.95 Cheap and simple compared with the rest, but recording is good as long as there is no background noise. Use only its own-make of cassette. No light to show it is on; no fast-forward button and the record button makes a loud noise. Tape length: 30 minutes per side. Weight: 285g. Philips 585 $80 Handsome and simple to use, but recording is very poor at more than the recommended distance of 5 cm-designed for dictation. No recording light. Tape length: 15 minutes per side. Weight: 220g. If you want a machine which turns off automatically and weighs very little you should choose _ . A Pearlcorder S 702 B Sony M9 C Sony M400 D Philips 585 Answer: C. Sony M400 The Chinese boy is Li Lei. He's thirteen. He's in No.3 Middle School. He's in Class Two, Grade One. His good friend is Jack. He's English. He's in Li Lei's school. He's in Class One, Grade Two. Mrs. Read is an English teacher in their school. She is an English woman and she teaches Grade 3. Jack and Li Lei have a secret . Jack is their English teacher's son. How old is Jack? A He is twelve. B He's not twelve. C Sorry, I don't know. D He's thirteen. Answer: C. Sorry, I don't know. More and more Chinese people care for their own health. I come from England. I came to China five years ago. I began to learn cooking Chinese food from my father. When I was fifteen, I began to help my mother in the kitchen. My father is a very famous cook in Beijing. So he taught me many things about cooking. In the past three years, I never stopped learning cooking. When I saw a book called The disease eating out can be gone back again by eating (<<>> ), I began studying the book. .The writer of the book is Zhang Wuben. He said he was a famous nutritionist and well-known traditional Chinese doctor. He asked the people to eat eggplant and gram . In China, Zhang Wuben's book has been popular in the past few years. My father was invited to talk about the book in May, 2010. A large number of Chinese people believe they should eat eggplant and gram to be healthy. I have visited a lot of Chinese restaurants in Beijing and studied hundreds of restaurant menus. I talked to lots of doctors about eating and nutrition . They thought that Zhang Wuben's words _ the science. He told a lie. The fact is that it's important for us to eat a balanced diet and not just to eat eggplant and gram. Why did most of Chinese people believe to eat eggplant and gram to be healthy? A Because the people think Zhang Wuben is a famous nutritionist and doctor. B Because the people like eggplant and gram best. C Because the people don't believe doctors. D Because hundreds of restaurants are closed. Answer: A. Because the people think Zhang Wuben is a famous nutritionist and doctor. Peter always doesn't know the way. His friends often laugh at him. They say he needs a map to find the bathroom in his own house. In his eyes, every street looks the same, and he doesn't know which way to go. Sometimes he has to take a taxi home because he can't remember the way to his house. Peter watches a lot of films and reads a lot of books about animals. Each bird knows which way is south. Bats can fly at night and find their way with their ears. He feels embarrassed because all these animals have a good _ . He tries to find his way with the help of stars in the sky. There is a star called the North Star, and he knows how to find it. Of course, Peter's friends are still laughing at him, because he can only see the North Star outside when it is sunny at night. He can't tell the directions in the daytime or when he is inside or when it is cloudy. Bats find the way with their _ . A ears B mouths C noses D eyes Answer: A. ears
What substance found in rocks shares it's name with an object which can take wrinkles from an item worn on the body to cover the skin from the elements? Four decades ago a group of college students visited the mountains of Borneo to examine moth populations. Now a team of British scientists, including a member of the original trip, has returned to the same sites to repeat the survey. They have found that, due to rising temperatures, the insects now live 68 meters higher. Global warming is forcing tropical species uphill to escape the rising temperatures at a rate of nearly 2 meters a year, the new study from Borneo suggests. Since this was the only chance to repeat the original survey, the scientist did everything they could to do it exactly the same way, going at the same time of year, in July and August, using photographs to find the exact original sites of the moth traps. "While this is the first study of insects, a few other studies of tropical species are starting to appear," said Thomas. "If you look across all those studies, you'll find the same results, and it's extremely difficult to think of any other explanation for them." While some species might survive by finding places on the mountains with temperatures similar to those of their original habitats, others may run out of habitat on the rocky peaks, warns the study. In a paper in the journal Naturein 2004, Thomas and 13 other experts analyzed the habitats of 1,100 species on five continents, and estimated that on average one quarter were at risk of extinction. Last year a paper published in the Public Library of Science in the US warned that the risk of extinction in the tropics was becoming more and more serious. The authors, Jana and Steven Vamosi, estimated that 20-45% of tropical species were at risk of extinction. Which of the following has been mainly discussed in the passage? Do you feel a little sleepy after lunch? Well, that's normal . Your body slows down then. What should you do about it? Don't drink coffee! Instead, take a nap . It's good to have a daily nap. First of all, you are more energetic after napping. You remember things better and make fewer mistakes. Also, you can learn things more easily after taking a nap. A nap may improve your self-confidence and make you more active. It may even cheer you up. But, there are some rules you should think about taking a nap. First, take a nap in the middle of day. Next, a 20-minute nap is best. If you sleep longer, you may fall into a deep sleep. After waking from a deep sleep, you will feel worse. Also, you should set an alarm clock. That way, you can fully relax during your nap. You won't have to keep looking at the clock so you don't sleep too much. Now, the next time you feel sleepy after lunch, don't get stressed. Put your head down, close your eyes, and take a nap. What can help you have a fully relaxing nap according to the passage? All around the world, people drink tea. But tea does not mean the same thing to everyone. In different countries people have very different ideas about drinking tea. In China, for example, tea is always served when people get together. The Chinese drink it at any time of the day at homes or in teahouses. They prefer their tea plain, with nothing else in it. Tea is also important in Japan. The Japanese have a special way of serving tea called a tea ceremony . It is very old and full of meaning. Everything must be done in a special way in the ceremony. There is even a special room for it in Japanese homes. Another tea-drinking country is England. In England, the late afternoon is "teatime". Almost everyone has a cup of tea then. The English usually make tea in a teapot and drink it with milk and sugar. They also eat cakes, cookies and little sandwiches at teatime. In the United States people drink tea mostly for breakfast or after meals. Americans usually use tea bags to make their tea. Tea bags are faster and easier than making tea in teapots. In summer, many Americans drink cold tea -- "iced tea". Sometimes they drink iced tea from cans, like soda. ,. Iced tea is popular _ . If you wanted to make a metal bed frame, where would you start?
Do you like doing sports every day? A lot of people like doing sports because they can help them to keep fit. Today Yoga is women's favorite kind of sports. But many people like to watch others to play ball games. They like Yao Ming and David Beckham very much. Yao Ming plays basketball very well. David Beckham is good at playing football. People often watch their favorite players or teams on TV. When they watch them on TV, they feel excited. Sports change with the seasons. People play different games in different seasons. They will swim in summer and skate in winter. In autumn, they enjoy playing volleyball and tennis. They love going on a trip in spring. Doing sports is good for people's health. Swimming is suitable for the hot weather but skating is great for the cold weather. Swimming in some places is popular. People living near the sea or lakes or rivers often swim in summer. Many American families do some sports at the weekend. They are happy and healthy. What is the best title for this passage? A People and sports. B Sports and seasons. C Favorite sports stars. D American sports. Answer: B. Sports and seasons. John Steinbeck once said, "All Americans believe they are born fishermen. For a man to admit to a distaste in fishing would be like denouncing mother - love or hating moonlight." I can't say that I'm the biggest John Steinbeck fan. Actually, the only thing I can ever remember reading by him was "The pearl" when I was in middle school, but I couldn't agree more with the man when it comes to fishing. Whether I am on a boat in the middle of the Lay Lake, fishing off the shores of the Florida Keys for tarpon or catching rainbow trout in the Shoshone River of Wyoming, fishing is my life. According to the American Sports Fishing Association, the fishing industry brings in more than $ 116 billion per year from fishermen across the country. Though a beautiful picture to imagine, fishing is much more than that. Fishing is a way of life for many people and a way to escape everyday stress. Being a fisherman makes me a member of a wonderful group of people extending to all walks of life. Even President Obama can be found fishing on his farm in Texas with his good friend Roland Martin when the job gets too stressful. I can remember fishing with my grandfather when I was 5 years old on his boat at Lake Mitchell. Although I didn't understand what I was doing, I did know that my grandfather was happy and that made me happy. Since then I've spent the past 16 years on the rivers and lakes of Alabama. After days of practice, before and after work, I slowly developed an understanding of fishing. My boss, Ric Horst, took me back to the Shoshone, and I managed to bring in a 19-inch cutthroat trout. Fishing with Ric was a life-changing experience for me. He not only showed me how to fish correctly, but also told me how fishing could be a way to escape your problems. Since then, prime-time season seems to take forever to arrive. Now, with the ending of February and beginning of March in sight, the excitement of heading out Lake Tuscaloosa or Lake Lurleen before classes and catching something has finally returned. .According to the author, _ . A people can get to know VIPs when fishing. B people can smooth away all the troubles by fishing C Fishing is a way of communication D Fishing is a way to make a living for most American people Answer: C. Fishing is a way of communication I'm Bolivia Williams, a students at Bard College. I was the only person in my family who was Facebook friends with my mom, Rynn, when she died four years ago. At that time, my brother and sister were still young. As soon as we got the news that she died, I thought it would be an easy way to let everyone know what happened. Right after I posted the news, so many people offered their help and shared stories about her. I like to visit my mom's page to tell her things that I'm doing and I like to look at her pictures there. I sing with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus ,and we did a concert for the tenth anniversary of 9/11,which was also my mom's birthday. It was an unforgettable day. I posted, "You will be proud of me--I will sing at the site of the World Trade Center tomorrow. I know you will be looking down, smiling. "When I'm writing to her, it feels like I'm still here. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how to face my mom's death. But I've grown up now. I haven't been on my mom's page for a month, but I would miss _ if it were gone. Her page allows me to think that she's still here. I used to go to my mom's page to look at her pictures, which would make me feel really sad, Now, when I visit it, I smile more often than cry. ,. Right after her mother has died, the writer _ . A did a concert for her mother B posted the news on Facebook C wrote stories about her mother D called her friends and relatives Answer: B. posted the news on Facebook It is often necessary to release a fish, that is, set it free after catching, because it is too small, or you just don't want to take it home to eat. In some cases, releasing fish is a good measure that will help keep fish variety and build their population size. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) encourages fishermen who practice catch-and-release fishing to use a few simple skills when doing so. The advice provided below will help make sure that the fish you release will survive to bite again another day. --When catching a fish, play it quickly and keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Don't' use a net in landing the fish and release it quickly to prevent it from dying. --Hold the fish gently. Do not put your fingers in its eyes. Don't wipe the scales off the fish because it might cause it to develop a disease and reduce its chance of survival. --Remove your hook quickly. If the hook is too deep or hooked in the stomach, cut the line and leave the hook in. The hook left inside will cause no serious problem to the fish. --Take good care of the fish by moving it gently in water . Release the fish when it begins to struggle and is able to swim. --Do not hold fish in a bucket or some other containers and later decide to release it. If you are going to release a fish, do so right away. With a little care and by following the suggestions given above, you can give the released fish a better chance of survival. People sometimes set a fish free after catching it because they _ A don't want it to die B hope it will grow quickly C don't want to have it as food D want to practice their fishing skills Answer: C. don't want to have it as food For better eyesight, doctors advise limiting the hours of screen time and encourage having enough eye resting time. However, another study shows that sitting in front of computer or TV screens for long hours is not the only reason formyopia . An Australian research team studied young children in Sydney and Singapore to find the reasons for myopia. The research team found that theprevalence of myopia among children in Sydney was lower than children in Singapore, even though they spent more time in front of computer and TV screens. The major finding is that children in Sydney spend longer hours on outdoor activities than those in Singapore. Indoor and outdoor sports activities both make the eyes focus on more distant objects, which prevents the eyes from changing shape. But outdoor activities may better help avoid myopia than indoor sports activities. Jane Gwiazda, who does research in sight problems, says: "Natural light is good for eye growth. And extra vitamin D from the sun might contribute to eye growth." Many doctors suggest that every child get its first eye test done when he/she is about two and half years old, and even if his/her sight seems perfect. It is necessary for myopic children to wear glasses to prevent headaches, trouble reading or injuries. It is also important that schools invite doctors to test their students' eyes. If that is not possible, school teachers should at least encourage parents and children to have regular eye examinations and wear glasses. And parents should remember not only to limit the total screen time for their children, but also to encourage them to spend time outdoors. Why are there fewer children with myopia in Sydney than in Singapore ? A Because Sydney children watch less TV. B Because Sydney children have more eye resting time. C Because Sydney children use computers less. D Because Sydney children do more outdoor sports. Answer: D. Because Sydney children do more outdoor sports.
Technology helps people do everything from planning to meet for a movie to keeping in touch with a friend who lives in a different country. When planning to get together with friends, Julian said , " If I want to go and see a movie with a few friends, I usually send them text messages. By telephone, you have to call every single friend one by one. But text messaging allows you to send the same message to as many people as you'd like, which saves a lot of time." Email, IM, and other low-cost methods of communication also help people keep long-distance friendships in ways they couldn't have even a few years ago. Mike told us, "I had this friend when I was 8 or 9 , and then she moved away to the country. We promised to stay friends and to send letters, and at the start we did. Then the letters got fewer and fewer and we at last stopped writing to each other. I think if we had had email, we would still be in touch." James found out about cost the hard way. He said, " I called my friend in New Zealand, which is halfway around the world, and it cost me over $200! So now I just stay up late to see if I can catch him on MSN or I write an email." Email, IM, and other low-cost ways of keeping in touch also allow people to develop brief acquaintances into long- lasting friendships. Andrea told us, " I met this really cool girl. We've been in touch over half a year and it's nice to talk to her." What does James most probably think of calling his friend in New Zealand? A Convenient. B Costly. C Difficult. D Necessary. Answer: B Medical scientists are already putting computer chips directly into the brain to help people who have Parkinson's disease, but in what other ways might computer technology be able to help us? Ray Kurzweil is the author of the successful book The Age Of Intelligent Machines. He is also one of the world's best computer research scientists. He is researching the possibilities. Kurzweil gets computers to recognize voices. An example of this is Ramona, the _ hostess of Kurzweil's website, created by the computer, who is able to understand what you say. Visitors to the website can have their own conversations with her. Ramona also dances and sings. Kurzweil uses this technology to help people with physical problems. One of his ideas is a "seeing machine". This will be "like a friend that could describe what is going on around," he explains. Blind people will use a sensor which will probably be built into a pair of sunglasses. This machine will describe to the person everything it sees. Another idea, which is likely to help deaf people, is the "listening machine". This invention will recognize millions of words and understand any speaker. The listening machine will also be able to translate what it hears into other languages, so even people without hearing problems are likely to be interested in using it. But it is not just about helping people with physical problems. Looking further into future, Kurzweil sees a time when we will be able to store what we hear, see and think in a computer. This technology probably won't be ready for at least 50 years, but when it arrives, it means our minds will be able to live forever. What can Ramona do? A She can talk with her visitors. B She can treat brain diseases. C She can help deaf people listen. D She can teach people to sing. Answer: A A thing which is measured, such as a bucket of salt, needs to first be A evaded B burned C gathered D lost Answer: C Even before World War II ended in 1945,many world leaders dreamed of a new organization that would keep international peace and safety,and encourage international cooperation .An organization was formed.The United Nations was to work to this ideal of mankind. When the UN was founded in 1945,it was made up of fifty members.Fifteen members sat on the Security Council .Five members--the United States,the Soviet Union,Great Britain,France and China--were given,not changing membership on the Council.The Council was given the power to settle fights among nations by persuasion,mediation or other means.A General Assembly ,which included every UN member,was also set up.The Assembly could consider,discuss,and pass resolutions . As the UN passed its fortieth birthday in 1985,it came under increasingly sharp attack by Americans.It declared that the UN is unfit as a peace keeper and cited 130 wars since 1945 as a proof . The UN's supporters say that the organization is the world's best hope for peace.The UN provides,supporters also point out,much needed economic and technical help to less developed nations. The function of the Security Council is _ . A to keep international peace and security and promote international cooperation B to consider,discuss,and pass on blinding resolutions C to settle disputes among nations by persuasion,mediation or other means D to keep international peace and security by force Answer: C In the past, people who graduated from college felt proud of their academic achievements and felt confident that their degree would help them to find a good job. However, in the past five years the job market has changed greatly. This year's college graduates are facing one of the worst job markets. For example, Ryan Stewart, a graduate of San Jose State University, got a degree in religious studies, but no job _ He points out that many people already working are getting laid off and don't have jobs, so it's even harder for new college graduates to find jobs. Five years ago, the future looked bright for the class of 2006. There were many high-tech job chances. Graduates received many job offers, and they were able to get jobs with high salaries and benefits such as insurance and paid vacations. However, "Times have changed and it's a new market," according to an officer of the San Jose State Career Center. The officer says students who do find jobs started preparing two years ago. They worked during summer vacations, they have had several short-time jobs, and they've majored in one of the few fields that are still hot, like chemical engineering, accounting, or nursing, where average starting salaries have actually increased over last year. Other popular fields (like information system management, computer science, and political science) have seen big declines in starting salaries. Ryan Stewart (he had hoped to become a teacher) may go back to school in order to become a college teacher. He thinks college teaching could be a good career even in a bad economy. In conclusion, _ For now, they can only hope the value of their degree will increase over time. Ryan Stewart will have to _ . A go back to school B get a job teaching C change his major D become a religious leader Answer: A
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you had a hundred dollars less. Also imagine what it would be like spending the rest of your life with you eyes closed. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your finger-tips. With existing medical knowledge and skills, two-thirds of the world's 42 million blind should not have to suffer. Unfortunately, rich countries posses most of this knowledge, while developing countries do not. ORBIS is an international non-profit organization which operates the world's only flying teaching eye hospital. ORBIS intends to help fight blindness worldwide. Inside a DC-8 aircraft, there is a fully-equipped teaching hospital with television studio and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest techniques of bringing sight back to people there. Project ORBIS also aims at promoting peaceful cooperation among countries. ORBIS tries to help developing countries by providing training during three-week medical programs. ORBIS has taught sight-saving techniques to over 35,000 doctors and nurses, who continue to cure tens of thousands of blind people every year. ORBIS has conducted 17 plane programs is China so far. For the seven to ten million blind in China ORBIS is planning to do more for them. At the moment an ORBIS is working on a long-term plan to develop a training center and to provide eye care service to Shanxi Province. ORBIS needs your help to continue their work and free people from blindness. For just US$38,you can help one person see; for $380 you can bring sight to 10 people; $1,300 helps teach a doctor new skills; and for $13,000 you can provide a training programme for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your money can open their eyes to the world. Please help ORBIS improve the quality of life for so many people less fortunate than ourselves. ORRIS aims to help the blind by _ . Many people _ , only to find out that they are not ready for a pet. This often results in the dog being turned over to a shelter where it may not find another home. This can be avoided if potential pet owners take the time to figure out if they are truly ready for the responsibilities of pet ownership. Being a responsible pet owner involves a financial commitment that goes beyond buying dog food. There are also parasite prevention, boarding costs while traveling and the cost to care for the pet should it become ill or injured. That is not to say that one must be rich in order to have a dog, but it is important to be prepared for the expenses that come with being a pet owner. Another consideration is the time commitment. An owner away from home for 14 hours every day is not an ideal situation for a dog. A potential dog owner must also consider the time it takes to care for his or her pet, the time it takes to feed, walk, play with, bathe and clean up. Also, dogs require attention. Be prepared to spend time each day petting and playing with it. Dogs are dogs, and will act like dogs. This includes barking, digging, having accidents in the house and, possibly, destroying some of the owner's prized possessions, such as furniture, shoes and cell phones. If the above would cause an owner to want to get rid of the dog, then he or she is not yet ready to be a pet owner. Many wonderful pets end up in shelters simply because they acted like dogs! What might be the best title for the text? Many people have talked about whether or not computing machines can think. Can they or can't they? Almost certainly, a machine can do any work in thinking that a person can do--if the correct way for doing the thinking work can be told exactly. Besides, many programs have been made to direct machines so that they work in very clever ways. Machines have been taught to play chess and to learn from what happens in the games so as to make their play better and better. Machines can beat many persons who play chess. Machines can translate from one language to another. They can prove statements in geometry as taught in school. Machines can notice printed marks on paper, so that a person is no longer needed to look at the marks. Computers can be used in many ways, such as business, science, industry, and government. _ If people cannot tell exactly the correct way to do certain work in thinking, it is still a question how much of _ a machine can do. Suppose a person is "teaching" the machine and telling the machine "yes" when the machine is right, and "no" when the machine is wrong. Then the machine can keep on searching among possible ways for solving a problem--until the machine can do as well as the person, and perhaps much better. But, what is thinking? People can agree about much that is thinking, and much that is not thinking; but they can't reach agreement because the word "think" is not a scientific word with an exact meaning. A lot of the discussion is wasted breath because the persons are using different meanings of the word "think". People, however, have only had experience with machines that appear to think since 1944. It would be too early to say that after the next 200 years, machines will not be thinking. And to consider that machines can think gives people a big push to give to machines more and more work in thinking. Which probably is the best title for the passage? " Dining out", or " eating out ",is a phrase people use in Britain when they eat in a restaurant or a pub. Eating out is more popular in Britain today than ever before. However, eating out can be expensive. Restaurants are normally more expensive than pubs, though many pubs serve very good ,simple food. As British people don't dine out every night of the week ,eating in a restaurant is often seen as a special occasion. When going for the first date, or if celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, many people like to go to a restaurant. People often eat in a restaurant before going to the cinema or the theatre. As in all cultures, there are many rules of etiquette surrounding food and eating, and nowhere is this more _ than when eating in a smart restaurant. People are almost always expected to eat with a knife and fork and these should be held in the correct hand and used in the correct way. It is also impolite to have your elbows on the dining table when you are eating. There're many such "unspoken" rules -- they are normally only important when eating in a very elegant and expensive restaurant, and vary slightly from restaurant to restaurant and place to place. A recent nationwide survey showed that there was a divide in manners between the north and south of Britain ---the "worst" manners were in Scotland and the northeast, and the "best" in Wales and the southeast! However, this survey was almost certainly conducted by someone in the southeast, so it may not be entirely fair. Naturally, restaurants vary greatly in quality and price. However, almost all British cities have a vast range of food and cooking styles to choose from as well as traditional British food, from the very cheap to the very expensive -- French, Italian, Indian, Greek, Thai, Japanese and many more. In fact, when asked what their favorite food is, many British people say an Indian curry rather than any other dish! As well as dining in a restaurant ,when people are too tired to cook after work they often get a "takeaway". This means they order from a takeaway or takeout restaurant by phone, then go to collect it and take it home to eat. Many takeout restaurants also deliver to your house. While you can normally find a takeout restaurant for almost any cuisine, the most popular are Italian, Indian and Chinese -- and all you have to do is to open the door, pay and eat! According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? Which of the following properties of a substance is conserved during thermal expansion?
As is known, it is a respectful job to be a teacher serving students heart and soul. And most people also compare a teacher to a gardener who takes great care of various plants. Ever since my high school days, my heart has been set on becoming a teacher. I am now studying at a teacher's college, and I am making great efforts to study, because there are so many things to learn about education. But I thoroughly enjoy my studies, and every day I am amazed at the great influence education has on the human soul. I think it is only natural that I have always _ to become a teacher because my father and his father were also teachers. My father is now retired, following a brilliant career, and it has always been his dream to have me, his only son, follow in his footsteps. Although it sounds like my father's dream that I will become a teacher, it is also my dream and I am quite willing to realize the dream. I still have one more year to go at university, and after I graduate, I will go to the western part of China to become a teacher at a village school. I understand a teacher's job will not make me a millionaire, but it is not the prospect of making a lot of money that has propelled my ambition to become a teacher. Rather, it is my sincere desire to assume a responsible role in society, and make as many people well--educated as possible through my hard endeavors. Education plays an essential and important role in our society. If everyone can receive a good education, it will not only do good to our country but also benefit individuals' lives. Ten years from now, therefore, I hope to be established as an excellent teacher with hundreds of thousands of students who have benefited from me and carry on the family tradition with efficiency and honour. Which is not the reason why the author wants to be a teacher? A rich American went into a shop in London. He wanted very much to buy a nice looking watch, but the owner of the shop asked five hundred dollars for it. Suddenly a young man came into the shop, took the watch out of the owner's hands and ran out with it. It all happened in a few seconds. When the owner ran out into the street, the young man was already lost among the people. The American went on. At the next corner, he saw the young man with the watch in his hand. "Do you want to buy a fine watch, sir?" he asked in a low voice. "It's only a hundred dollars." "The young man doesn't know I saw him stealing the watch," he thought. The American paid at once and went back to his room with the watch. He told his friend about the fine watch. His friend took a look at the watch and started laughing. He said, "You are a fool. This watch isn't worth even ten dollars. I'm sure the shop owner and the young man planned this together." Which of the following is true? 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. What would be the best title of this passage? One day last September, as Britney Spears was about to board a flight to Los Angeles from prefix = st1 /London, a blue bottle fell out of her purse. She quickly put it back in, but not before the camera recorded the event. Neither Spears nor her spokesman was willing to comment on the contents of the bottle, but the next morning London's Daily Express published a page of pictures under the headline "EXCLUSIVE: POP PRINCESS SPOTTED AT AIRPORT WITH POT OF SLIMMING TABLETS." Spears was apparently carrying Zantrex-3, one of the most popular weight-loss pills now sold in theUnited States. The pill, which is sold at about fifty dollars for a month's supply, contains a huge amount of caffeine, some green tea, and three common South American herbs that also act as stimulants . It hit the U.S.market last March and has had _ . Millions of bottles have been sold, and during the Christmas season it was displayed in the windows of the nation's largest chain of vitamin shops, G.N.C. (It is so highly sought after that many of the stores keep it in locked counters.) Zantrex-3 is also sold at CVS, Rite _ Aid, Wal-Mart, and other chains, and over the telephone and on the Internet. If you type "Zantrex" into Google, more than a hundred thousand pieces of information about it will appear. At any moment, there are scores of people sell it on eBay. Perhaps the most interesting thing aboutthe success story of Zantrex-3, however, is that _ is far from unique. There are hundreds of similar products on the market today, and they are bought by millions of Americans. And though Zantrex's producer makes some exciting statements ("the most advanced weight control compound period"), so do the people who sell Stacker 2 and Anorex along with those who sell Carb Eliminator and Fat Eliminator. Almost all of these compounds suggest that they can help people lose weight and regain lost energy, and often without diet, exercise, or any other effort. The text mainly tells us _ . American officials have sharply reduced their expecmtions for this year's corn and soybean crops.Farmers in the Midwest are struggling with record heat and the worst drought in many years. The United States is the world's largest producer of com and soybeans.Last Friday the Agriculture Department predicted corn production would add up to 10.8 billion bushels this year.That was down 17%from a prediction made just a month ago.And it was down 13%from last year's level.The average yield per hectare could be the lowest in seventeen years. At the sarne time,the government predicted that soybean production would be 12% lower than last year. The price of corn has hit record levels.Corn is a major part of animal feed,so the price of meat,milk and eggs is also expected to climb. The FAO says average food prices worldwide rose 6%in July.The American drought was a big reason. The situation has renewed the fight between food and fuel.About 40%of the nation's corn crop goes into making ethanol .The production process leaves some of that in a form that can be fed to animals.Still,at least one-fourth of the American corn crop is now made into fuel. The United States requires that part of its corn crop be used in the production of biofuels .The use of ethanol has grown as government requirements have increased.But Jose,the head of the FAO called for"an immediate,temporary pause"of that requirement.He said more of the American corn production could then be used as food or to feed animals. The American livestock industry is also urging Congress to stop the law that requires ethanol in gasoline.But corn farmer Alan Bennett says doing that would hurt his town. A 2005 law requires automobile fuel to contain ethanol.The growth of the ethanol industry and competition for corn has been helping parts of rural America that had been reducing for years. What's the main idea of the passage?
The 1950s and 60s brought many new things to American offices, including the Xerox machine , word processing and -- perhaps less famously -- the first National Secretaries Day, in 1952. Secretaries of that era expected a bright future, and many saw their job as a ticket to a better life. But nearly 60 years later, on the date now promoted as Administrative Professionals Day, we 're living through the end of a recession in which around two million secretaries lost their jobs after bosses discovered they could handle their calendars and travel arrangements online, and found their assistants unnecessary. Clearly, technological advances haven't made things turn out quite the way those mid-century futurists imagined. 'New technologies did make the lives of 20th-century secretaries easier. But even from the start, the relationship between secretaries and technology was fraught. As early as 1966, with the introduction of the first computerized word-processing system, secretaries were worrying that machines could, replace them. Coffee has long been a flash point for emotions about the differences between service and servility in offices . In the 1970s, when the second wave of feminism began to change the traditional relationship of male boss and female secretary , more than one secretary was fired for refusing to make , fetch or serve coffee .In Los Angeles, in 1973, one secretary , Leona Pendleton, was fired for being "unqualified , and failing to obey instructions " after refusing to make coffee . This sort of thing still happens today . It's interesting to note that strengthening their positions as being important indicators of social status has often been one way secretaries have tried to keep themselves from being dismissed.. After all these years , a human being still needs to plug in Mr. Coffee and deliver his output . But that won't save an assistant's job from the stomach of computerization . Secretaries can only hope that bosses won't take the human in question for granted , a sign that not everyone will be celebrating this Administrative Professionals Day. What was the real reason for Leona Pendleton being dismissed? A She was unqualified to do the job. B Her boss was strongly against feminism. C She often refused to obey her boss' s instructions. D She refused to make coffee for her boss. Answer: D. She refused to make coffee for her boss. Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career ? It means that a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma . Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields without having to go to college full time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time-so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking &Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! Books, lessons, learning aids-even professional-quality tools and equipment-everything you need to master your training and move ahead to a new career is included in the low tuition price you pay. Most importantly, your education is nationally recognized! Nearly 2, 000 American companies-including General Electric, IBM, Mobile, General Motors, Ford, and many others have used our training for their employees. If companies like these recognize the value of our training, you can be sure that employees in your area will, too! Earn your degree in as little as two years! Get a career diploma in just six months! The career of your dreams is closer than you think! Even if you have no experience before, you can get valuable job skills in today's hottest fields! Step-by-step lessons make learning easy. Prepare for promotions , pay raises, even start a business of your own! Send today for FREE information about Harcourt at home training! Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon above. Then write in the name and number of the one program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities in the field you've chosen. Act today! Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589. Call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www. Harcourt-learning. com. E-mail:Harcourt@learning. com. The author mentions General Electric, IBM, Ford, etc. as examples to _ . A show that their training is widely used in the country. B show that the training program is fully supported by famous companies in the U. S. C prove the value of their training in every area. D show the importance of getting recognized by the most famous companies. Answer: A. show that their training is widely used in the country. Tom likes fish very much. He often buys some fish in the shop and takes it home. But when his wife sees the fish, she says to herself,"Good ! I can ask my friends to have lunch, and we can eat the fish. They like fish very much." So when Tom comes home in the evening, the fish is not there and his wife always says, Oh, your cat eats it."And she gives Tom some bread for his supper. Tom is very angry. He takes the cat and his wife to the shop near his house and weighs the cat. Then he turns to his wife and says, My fish weigh one kilo .This cat weighs one, too. My fish is here, you see, then where is my cat?" How much fish does Tom often buy? A one kilo B two kilos C three kilos D four kilos Answer: A. one kilo A flower produces seeds that fall to the ground and grow into new plants that produce more flowers. The seeds begin to grow by the process of A fertilization. B germination. C maturation. D pollination. Answer: B. germination. Many people think it is safe to use a cell phone while they are driving. Yet Scores of studies suggest that real multitaskers - those who can carry out multiple tasks equally well, make up just 2 per cent of the population. More surprisingly, the so-called "supertaskers" actually have differently structured brains to the other 98 percent. The brain areas that make supertaskers differ from the rest of the population are the same parts that are most different between humans and nonhuman primates , according to David Strayer, director of the applied cognition lab at the University of Utah. Scientists are unsure of the reason why some brains are different. In fact, we could all benefit from doing just one task at once. In most of us, scientists have located a "bottleneck in the brain" that may explain why we find it hard to do two things at once. The problem appears to be caused by a logjam of nerve messages. Faced with two almost simultaneous tasks less than 300 milliseconds apart, the brain's ability to deal with the second one slows down. The neural response to the second task was postponed until the response to the first was completed. This means that with e-mails, phone calls, text messages and online social media all competing for our attention, often against a background of television, radio or music, our brains can reach information overload. Scientists made the discovery after scanning the brains of volunteers attempting to multitask on a computer. The task was deliberately designed to involve the use of different senses and _ responses. Dr Rene Marois, one of the neuroscientists who carried out the experiment at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, said: "Our research offers neurological evidence that the brain cannot effectively do two things at once." The next step, the neuroscientists say, is finding out "why these areas cannot process two tasks at once." How many people can drive equally well while using a cell phone? A Nobody. B Everybody. C 2 in 100. D 98 in 100. Answer: C. 2 in 100.

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