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In the USA, there are many types of restaurants. Fast food restaurants are very famous. You can find McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken in many countries around the world. You look at a menu above the counter, and say what you'd like to eat. You pay the person who serves you. You take your food and sit down or take it away. There's no need to leave a tip. In a coffee shop you sit at the counter or at a table. You don't wait for the waitress to show you where to sit. She usually brings you coffee when you sit down. You tell her what you'd like to eat and she brings it to you. You pay the cashier as you leave. A diner is like a coffee shop but usually looks like a railway carriage. In a family restaurant the atmosphere is casual, but the waitress shows you where to sit. Often the waitress tells you her name, but you don't need to tell her yours. If you don't eat everything, your waitress gives you a doggy bag to take your food home. You add an extra fifteen percent to the bill as a tip. In top class restaurants, you need a reservation and you need to arrive on time. The waiter shows you where to sit. If you have wine, he may ask you to taste it. You can only refuse it if it tastes bad, not if you don't like it. When you get your bill, check it and then add fifteen to twenty percent to it as a tip for the waiter. In what kind of restaurant does the waitress often tell you her name? Answer: It was the last day of the final exam in a college. On the steps of building, a group of engineering students were waiting for the last exam. On their faces was confidence . They knew the exam would be easy. The professor (a teacher at a college) had said they could bring any books or notes during the test. Right after they came into the classroom. The professor handed out the papers. There were only five questions on it. Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was nervous expression . The professor watched the worried faces before him, and then asked, "How many of you have finished all five questions?" No hand was raised. "How many of you have answered four?" Still no hands. "Three? Two?" The students moved restlessly in their seats. "One, then? Certainly somebody has finished one." But the class kept silent. The professor said, "That is exactly what I expected. I just want to make you know clearly that even though you have completed four years of engineering. There are still many things about the subject you don't know. These questions you could not answer are common in everyday practice." Then, smiling, he added, "You will all pass this course, your education has just begun." The years have _ the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught. Why did the students think the exam was easy at first? Answer: There are many travel destinations across the globe. What confuses a person most is which travel destination to choose. When choosing a destination for a vacation or a trip, you need to decide what that destination has to offer to you. Meanwhile, you should also take many factors into consideration, so that the decision-making will get easy. The amount of money you want to spend is an important factor and plays an important role in deciding a destination. For example, cities like London, New York, Vegas etc are expensive. On the other hand when you travel to Asia, the cost is generally lower and you don't need to spend much on traveling, lodging or shopping. Therefore, it is important to estimate your budget before selecting a destination. When you plan your vacation, another important thing to plan is the number of the days you want to spend. There are many travel destinations in the world that can be covered in a week's time. Some destinations like Africa, or Maldives beaches can be planned in a week's time. Some other destinations like New York, Thailand may require more than a few weeks to enjoy completely. Vacations are also planned according to the company you have. For example, if you travel with your family, then you'll need a place where you can enjoy with your family members. Similarly, if you are going with friends, a city full of amusement parks, museums, shopping centers will be an ideal destination. Therefore you need to consider whom you are going with, before deciding a destination. Who are the intended readers of the text? Answer: I bent down in the shade under a sixty-foot-tall cactus , waiting for them to appear. The time was eight thirty in the morning. For seven mornings I had come to the same distant spot in the Sonoran Desert, in southern Arizona. I was here to watch the roadrunner, a small fast-running bird. I spotted two birds under a bush with red flowers. The roadrunners rushed out from under it. The birds moved rapidly on long skinny legs. Their feathers were brown and black. Their tails were seven inches long. Roadrunners use the tail for balance when running. That day, the roadrunners performed a courtship dance. They ran in wild circles. Suddenly, one stopped and stood still, its round eyes full of light. The second bird took hold of a small stick off the ground and presented it to the first, a gift serving as a symbol of their partnership. I returned to the spot each day, leaving bits of boiled chicken hoping they would return. Roadrunners eat snakes, lizards, mice, beetles, and spiders. Food is in short supply in the desert, so my offerings were welcome. The pair grew used to me. Soon after the pair finished building their nest six white eggs appeared in the nest bowl. In about three weeks, six roadrunner chicks, skin as black as coal, cried for food. Their parents brought food such as fence lizards and stink bugs. They fed their young until they were a month and a half old. Early one morning, a coyote came around, nose to the ground, for fresh bird meat. The roadrunners fearlessly drove the coyote away, but it was soon back. After three attacks the coyote went away for good, tail between its legs. I stopped watching the nest when the little roadrunners, at two months of age, were ready to live on their own. It was hard to break away from "my roadrunner family." Whenever I see a roadrunner now, rushing over the ground, I say hello to it as an old friend. What can we learn about roadrunners from the text? Answer: Finally, the long-awaited flying car is almost here. AeroMobil, a Slovakian company, plans to start selling its creation, the AeroMobil3. 0, in 2017. The company claims on its site that the vehicle "transforms in seconds from an automobile to an airplane" by using "existing infrastructure created for automobiles and planes."The vehicle is petrol-powered and has wings that fold, which allows it to be parked like a car, though it is nearly 20 feet long. The company's website features a video where the AeroMobil 3. 0 drives out of a hangar ( )and goes down a highway, sharing the road with ordinary cars until it arrives at an airstrip. The car then unfolds its wings and takes off from a stretch of grass, rather than a paved tarmac , and flies through the air like any other small airplane. AeroMobil spokesman Stefan Vadocz said his company hasn't decided on an exact price because it's not ready yet."The prototype is a work in progress," he said in an email. But he said the price would be several hundreds of thousands of euros---somewhere in between a sports car and a light sports aircraft. The vehicle seats two people---the pilot and a passenger---and its single propeller is located at the rear of the plane. The company said the car's top speed on the road is at least 99 mph and while flying it is at least 124 mph. It can fly for 435 miles before running out of fuel. It has a steel framework and carbon coating and is powered by a Rotax 912, a four-cylinder aircraft engine from BRP of Austria. Flying cars aren't exactly new. The concept has been around since long before The Jetsons popularized the idea in the 1960s. It has been a regular topic in Popular Science ever since World War I ace, Eddie Rickenbacker, wrote about it in 1924. But getting a practical, reliable flying car off the ground has been a serious challenge. Glenn Curtiss discovered this in 1918 when he developed the Curtiss Autoplane. It turned out to be more of a hopper than a flyer, so it failed to become popular with the public. What allows the AeroMobil3. 0 to be parked as a car? Answer:
In one of the old buildings near our school,one could see an old man sitting by a large window on the first floor.His name was James.During the three years at schoo1, I had hardly ever found him missing from his usual position. He was a high-ranking government official and lived happily with his wife.Once there was a bus accident,in which a number of passengers were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital for treatment.James was responsible for the rescue operation.It was a big hospital,but James was shocked to notice how ill-equipped it was.There were no enough life-saving drugs and life--supporting equipment. The injured and their companions had to struggle there.James attempted to help.However,though he emptied his pockets,many of them died that day. That was a turning point in his life.He made a decision to devote his life to helping others, particularly the poor and needy patients and their companions.He began spending much of his income on these people.Since this required a lot of time and energy,he found it difficult to fulfill his official duties and therefore chose to retire,which,in turn,reduced his income considerably. His wife was deeply worried. Most of the time,James was out and paid least attention to home affairs.Meanwhile,as he was spending a lot helping others,she had to struggle even to meet the household expenses.Though she was not opposed to his helping the poor,she urged him not to overlook his own life and home,but it had no effect on him.One day they had a heated argument and in the end she left him,never to return.Though he continued with his work, _ was a great blow and did serious harm to his health and enthusiasm and was soon forced to stay indoors.That was when he took his position by the window,spending his time looking outside. A few weeks after my graduation,I returned to school,only to find the buildings gone.I heard that they were torn down.All the people left except James.He refused to go and the next morning,he was found at his usual place by the window,dead. James chose to retire in order to _ . spare more time and energy to help others There are many older people in the world and there will be many more. A little-known fact is that over 60 percent of the older people live in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, by 2020 there will be 1 billion, with over 700 million living in developing countries. It is a surprising fact that the population ageing is particularly rapid in developing countries. For example, it took France 115 years for the proportion of older people to double from 7 percent to 14 percent. It is estimated to take China a mere 27 years to achieve this same increase. What are the implications of these increased numbers of older folk? One of the biggest worries for governments is that the longer people live ,the more likelihood there is for diseases and for disability. Attention is being paid to the need to keep people as healthy as possible, including during old age, to lessen the financial burden on the state. Another significant problem is the need for the younger generations to understand and value the older people in their society. In some African countries, certainly in Asia, older people are respected and regarded as the ones with special knowledge. Yet traditions are fading away daily, which does not ensure the continued high regard of older people. As society changes, attitudes will change. Much needs to be done to get rid of age discrimination in employment. Life-long learning programs need to be provided to enable older people to be active members in a country's development. Social security policies need to be established to provide adequate income protection for older people. Both public and private schemes are vital in order to build a suitable safety net. To achieve equality in such matters will take considerable time and effort. One thing is sure:there is no time to be lost. The proportion of older people _ . will increase much faster in China than in France One person can make a difference -- purchase your copy of For America and discover simple ways to improve your life, your country, even the world. But a simple and attractive way to cut energy costs, improve air quality, and ensure public health is to grow a garden in the sky. Each time a city building is set up, the grass in that spot and trees that once reached up to the sky are replaced by a layer of asphalt or a tar roof . The lost green space can have a very real effect on a city's air temperature, air quality, and energy costs. On a summer day in most American cities, a tar roof can feel like the inside of an oven . But what if we could replace the hot roof of each skyscraper or building in a city with grass or a garden? Whether it holds vegetable gardens, wildflowers, or grasses, a green roof can lower the temperature above a building by 60 degrees, which can reduce the building's energy costs and, if used more widely, could decrease a city's total energy costs, and improve air quality and public health. But that's not all -- green roofs are a great way to handle water management in urban areas by taking in much rainfall, provide shelters for urban wildlife, and actually extend the life of the roof itself. And green roofs also do something else: they beautify the city -- whether you're on the 3rd floor or the 30th. Now that's a brilliant achievement. The non-profit group Earth Pledge is promoting a Green Roofs Program. To learn more about a green roof, just click here: EarthPledge.com. Which section of a website does this passage belong to? Enuironment Constance owned Greenacre in fee simple. She executed two instruments in the proper form of deeds. The first instrument purported to convey an undivided one-half interest in Greenacre to Henry and his wife, Audrey, as joint tenants with right of survivorship. The second instrument purported to convey an undivided one-half interest in Greenacre to Susan, the only child of Henry. Susan was 13 years old at the time. The common law joint tenancy is unmodified by statute. No actual consideration was paid for the deeds. Constance handed the two deeds to Henry. Henry promptly and properly recorded the deed to himself and Audrey and put the deed to his daughter, Susan, in a safe-deposit box without recording it. The same year, Henry, Audrey, and Susan were on a vacation when the plane in which they were flying went down, and all three were killed simultaneously. Henry, Audrey, and Susan died intestate. The applicable statute in the jurisdiction provides that "when title to property on its devolution depends on priority of death and there is insufficient evidence that the persons have died otherwise than simultaneously, the property of each person shall be disposed of as if he had survived." An appropriate action was instituted by the heirs of Henry, Audrey, and Susan. Constance, who is not an heir of any of the deceased, was a party to the action. The court should determine that title to Greenacre is one-half in the heirs of Susan, one-quarter in the heirs of Henry, and one-quarter in the heirs of Audrey Honesty may well be the policy, but it often deserts us when no one is watching, psychologists report today. Experiments with an honesty box to collect payments for hot drinks show that people are better at paying up when under the gaze of a pair of eyes. The surprise was that the eyes were not real, but photographed. Researchers at Newcastle University set up the experiment in secret. They attached a poster to a cupboard of mugs above an-honesty box alongside a kettle ,with tea, coffee and milk. Over 10 weeks, they alternated each week between images of eyes and pictures of flowers. Dr. Bateson, a behavioral biologist and leader of the study, said that even though the eyes were not real they still seemed to make people behave more honestly. They effect may arise from behavioral characteristics that developed as early humans formed social groups that increased their chances of survival. Individuals had to co-operate for the good of the group, rather than act selfishly. "If nobody is watching us, it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we think we're being watched,we should behave better, so people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us, "Dr. Bateson said. "We thought we'd get a slight effect with eyes, but it was quite striking how much difference they made. Even at a subconscious level, it seems people respond to eyes, and that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved to respond to." The finding, which researchers believe _ our evolutionary past, could be turned to practical use. The psychologists say images of eyes could promote ticket sales on public transport and improve monitor systems to prevent antisocial behavior. This passage is mainly about _ . an experiment on honesty
Tim Burton attempts to work his gothic magic over one of the best loved stories of all time--Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. Alice, now 19, attends a party at a Victorian estate, only to find she is about to be proposed to by a rich suitor in front of hundreds of snooty society types. She runs off, following a white rabbit into a hole and ending up in Wonderland--a place she visited many years before, yet she doesn't remember. The white rabbit claims to have come back for Alice because she is the only one who can slay the Jabberwock, the beast who guards the Red Queen's empire. Alice remains completely unaware of why she is in Wonderland, and is confused about the fact that she had once visited Wonderland years before. Now, Wonderland has changed into a dark, scarier place than it used to be. Alice then _ an adventure of self discovery, and to save Wonderland from the Red Queen's reign of terror with the help of her Wonderland friends. The story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written by _ . A Tim Burton B Lewis Carroll C Alice D the passage doesn't tell us Answer: B. Lewis Carroll Most Chinese people expect to relax and enjoy themselves during the Golden Week. But for those trying to go someplace,it may seem more disappointment than pleasure. This year, the severe traffic jam resulted in a roadside wedding. The suffering of being stuck in traffic was possibly most strongly felt by Lv Kangzhou and his bride Yan Mengxia. By tradition, the groom drove early in the morning to the bride's home in Zhejiang province in East China to pick her up along with her family and take them to his family's hometown for the wedding. By 4 p.m., Lv's wedding was 90 minutes away, but his car had not moved an inch for a long time. Lv contacted the local radio to explain his difficult situation and ask for a traffic forecast. The radio host told Lv there was no way he could hold his wedding on time and offered to hold their wedding on the air. At 5:30 p.m., Lv and his bride said their vows on the side of the road while Lv's family and friends witnessed the ceremony while listening to the radio. Lv wasn't the only person stuck in the Golden Week crowds. According to the state news agency Xinhua, 11.7 million people traveled by train Wednesday. It calculated that 120,000 people gathered at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to watch the flag raising ceremony. Last year, the Forbidden City in Beijing hosted 175,000 tourists on a single day during Golden Week, and the number is expecting to be even bigger this year. Chinese internet users routinely complain about the Golden Week holiday every year. As internet user Tuzhi said on Sina Weibo: "On the Great Wall, I'm holding your hand, but I cannot see your face." Where does this text probably come from? A A newspaper. B A textbook. C A travel brochure. D A TV interview. Answer: A. A newspaper. SmartWR PENS is your No. 1 source for promotional pens, advertising pens, and logo pens. We have been in business since 1976, so you can be confident that you're dealing with a trusted name in the industry. Everyone loves a free pen, and by providing your customers with a pen featuring your company name, logo, or message, you can be sure that your company name will always be on their mind! Our custom imprinting service comes at no extra charge, so the price you see is the price you pay for the personalized pens. Do you need pens fast? In a RUSH for trade shows or a company events? Try our 48 hour promotional pens rush service free of charge. We present you with many styles and types of printed pen. Let us know which promotional pen you like and within 48 hours you will have the pens. Want to use the traditional method of promotional pens to reach out to customers, but don't want to cause more damage to the environment? SmartWR PENS now offers eco-friendly advertising pens to suit any company's promotional needs. SmartWR PENS can confidently offer products which are made from eco-friendly materials, including paper, cardboard, cornstarch, pine, bamboo and even recycled plastic water bottles. SmartWR PENS offers a selection of eco-friendly retractable and stick-type ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils and highlighters, all for less than $2.00 each. Imprinting of logos and company information is available in sixteen different color1s. Each pen has the universal recycling symbol printed on it, showing clients the company's commitment to the environment. Feel free to call us at 8447367 or email us info@SmartWRPENS.com if you have any questions. What do we know about SmartWR PENS? A It has a history of over 30 years. B It has built up a large pen market. C It has its name printed on each pen. D It charges a low price for extra service. Answer: A. It has a history of over 30 years. Advertising can be a service to the customer. This is true when advertisements give reliable information about the goods advertised. Such information is needed if the customer is to make a sensible choice when he buys. It is useful in that it lets him know of the kinds of goods in the shops. Printed advertisements do this job best. Customers can collect them and compare them. They can be taken along to shops and their claims can be checked against the actual goods in the shops. however, some advertisements are not very useful to the customer. Instead of helping him to satisfy his real needs, they set out to make him want things. They set out to create a need. These advertisements are cleverly done. The people who produce them understand our weaknesses. They set out to make us believe that what they advertise will make us cleverer, prettier and more handsome, if only we use it. Actually, it is our money they are after and we should be on guard. Some advertisements mislead customers by using part of the truth to suggest something false, and it is skillfully made to give that idea to the careless reader, listener or viewer. At its best advertising can be useful to the customer. At its worst it can mislead him. Many newspapers check on the goods for which the advertisements made claims. Most newspapers are very careful about the small advertisements, which try to sell goods directly to the readers by post. Many newspapers print information about this on their small advertisement pages. Advertising has become a very big business, and good firms in it do all they can to make sure it is conducted with some attention to truth. This is a help to the customer. But the best way is for customers to be on the lookout. according to the text, which of the following is TRUE? A All advertising firms do not care to tell the truth about the goods they advertise. B All advertising firms only care to make money, as advertising is a big business. C Most advertising firms make sure that advertisements do not purposely cheat. D The advertised goods are often of poor quality. Answer: C. Most advertising firms make sure that advertisements do not purposely cheat. In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair-weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability . Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person's place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener. At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me. Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me. There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experiences and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor, too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me. When I meet someone who is reliable, honest and understanding, I know I've found a friend! If you have fair-weather friends, _ . A you will become rich B you can be sure that you get real friends C you will be refused when you get into trouble D they will give you all that they have when you need help Answer: C. you will be refused when you get into trouble
The Swiss army knife is a popular device that is recognized all over the world. In Switzerland, there is a saying that every good Swiss citizen has one in his or her pocket. But the knife had poor beginnings. In the late nineteenth century, the Swiss army issued its soldiers a gun that required a special screwdriver to take it apart and clean it. At the same time, canned food was becoming common in the army. Swiss generals decided to issue each soldier a standard knife to serve both as a screwdriver and a can opener. _ was a lifesaver for Swiss knife makers, who were struggling to compete with cheaper German imports. In 1884, Carl Elsener, head of the Swiss knife manufacturer(maker) Victorinox, seized that opportunity with both hands, and designed a soldier's knife that the army loved. It was a simple knife with one big blade , a can opener, and a screwdriver. A few years after the soldier's knife was issued, the "Schweizer Offizier Messer," or Swiss Officer's Knife, came on the market. Interestingly, the Officer's Knife was never given to those serving in the army. The Swiss army purchasers considered the new model with a corkscrew for opening wine not "essential for survival," so officers had to buy this new model by themselves. But its special multi-functional design later launched the knife as a global brand. After the Second World War, a great number of American soldiers were stationed in Europe. And as they could buy the Swiss army knife at shops on army bases, they bought huge quantities of them. However, it seems that "Schweizer Offizier Messer" was too difficult for them to say, so they just called it the Swiss army knife, and that is the name it is now known by all over the world. What is the main purpose of the passage? A To explain the origin of the Swiss army knife. B To introduce the functions of the Swiss army knife. C To emphasize the importance of the Swiss army knife. D To tell a story about the designer of the Swiss army knife. Answer: A. To explain the origin of the Swiss army knife. My name is Ralph and I am 42 years old. I work in a factory that I enjoy very much. On May 27, 1999, I was working on an automatic machine. While working my hand was pulled into the machine and my middle finger on my right hand was ripped off. I had surgery to replace what was left of the finger and now I have a finger that is almost as long as my index finger. Over the years I have been very blessed for a full and healthy life. Most of all, blessed for having my wife. We have grown together and grown in our faith. Life is going to go on with or without my finger. I was not going to let this take over my life and I pushed to go back to work and got light duty. This was where my lesson began. When I returned to work, I started getting comments and some teasing from people asking me if it was worth losing my finger over a pack of cigarettes. Someone started a rumor that I had dropped a pack of cigarettes and reached down to pick them up and that is how I lost my finger. This is not true. This rumor hurt more than losing my finger in that machine. Everyone was called in to a meeting to resolve this matter and get the story straight. I had to share my lesson. We can ruin a person's life by just a few bad words. There is an old saying that I will never forget: So please remember to watch what you say. According to the author, his index finger on his right hand is almost as long as _ . A his middle finger on his right hand B his middle finger on his left hand C his thumb on his right hand D his thumb on his left hand Answer: A. his middle finger on his right hand If you put a buzzard in a pen six to eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be a prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten to twelve feet. Without space to run, it will not even attempt to fly, but remain a prisoner for life in a small prison with no top. The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is to _ about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully,until it reaches some slight height from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. A bumblebee , if dropped into an open tumbler , will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but insists on trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists until it completely destroys itself. In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there above them. Why does a buzzard choose to stay in a pen? A Because it is safe to live there. B Because it gets used to living there. C Because it cannot take off within an limited area. D Because it lost its ability to fly. Answer: C. Because it cannot take off within an limited area. KIDS is a charity group.It is to help disabled children to live a better life . Is was set up in 1970 by John Mulcahy , a teacher who cared for a disabled child in one of his classes.John wanted to improve communication with this child and asked for help from the child's mother. This, in turn,set up the KIDS idea:working together with parents to help disabled kids to develop their skills and to achieve their hopes and dreams. KIDS works to find out disabled children's interests and what they are really good at,and then helps them to live as _ people and make their dreams come true . Over the past 42 years , KIDS has helped many children. Now it is the UK's largest charity group that helps disabled children. Today KTDS has more experts to provide services for over 6,000 disabled children and their families through its projects . Education for under -fives KTDS has many teaching materials , and helps parents to be the most important teachers of their children. Play Disabled children may find it is difficult to join healthy kids clubs' clubs. KIDS provides different kinds of play and sports activities for disabled children from 5 to 19 years old. Information KIDS gives parents of disabled kids advice and information, helping them to get on well with their children. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage? A John was a teacher who taught disabled kids. B Many students in John's classes were disabled. C KIDS also teaches disabled kids how to do sports. D KIDS is now the largest charity group in the UK helping disabled kids. Answer: D. KIDS is now the largest charity group in the UK helping disabled kids. Which is evidence of a chemical reaction? A the light produced by magnesium when burned B the evaporation of water from a solution C the fizzing of a soft drink D the heat from a light bulb Answer: A. the light produced by magnesium when burned
NBA commissioner David Stern was in Orlando on Thursday night, getting ready for Sunday's All-Star Game. Of course, all he could talk about was the only player anyone wants to talk about these days: New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin. Hours before Lin took the court against the Heat, a few hundred miles South down I-95 in Miami, Stern told reporters that Lin's instant popularity hasn't ever been matched in sports history, not even by Sunday's biggest names, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant. The Associated Press had the details. "I haven't done a calculation, but it's fair to say that no player has created the interest and the craze in this short period of time, in any sport, that I'm aware of like Jeremy Lin has," Stern said Thursday. Lin, an undrafted guard from Harvard, has become the NBA's biggest story since coming off the Knicks' bench earlier this month to lead them to nine wins in 11 games heading into their matchup with Miami on Thursday night. With Lin's popularity in Asia as the league's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, and with the religious community because of his strong Christian faith, Stern says he's "never quite seen anything like" the attention on Lin. "It's fascinating," Stern said after the All-Star Jam Session opening ceremonies. The top five videos on NBA.com since Feb. 4, when Lin joined the circulation, are all Lin or Knicks related. Lin went from 190,000 followers on Sina, China's version of Twitter, on Feb. 2 to more than 1 million as of Feb. 16. Indeed, Lin's popularity is so _ that the NBA made a late list switch to ensure his participation in the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star Saturday, a game that includes the NBA's best rookies and sophomores. Lin is in such high demand that all of the game's other participants will meet with the media following a team practice on Friday while Lin will have his own, separate press conference later in the night. This is Jeremy's world, folks. We're all just living in it. Even David Stern and the rest of the league's All-Stars, at least for the moment. Why did Jeremy Lin have so many followers in Asia on Sina, China's version of Twitter? A com since Feb. 4 are all Lin or Knicks related. B Maybe because he is the first player born in America but has Chinese descent. C Because Sina has a large group of surfing people, maybe more than 10 million. D Because the top five videos on NB Answer: B. Maybe because he is the first player born in America but has Chinese descent. What would be removed via the kidneys? A bacteria B organs C blood D skin Answer: A. bacteria Wilson, At college, when I try speaking with anyone, I just feel very nervous. I have no trouble talking when I'm alone. However, when I talk with others, my voice sounds different, and sometimes there is a pause between each word I pronounce. Sometimes I can't pronounce a word even with my own family members. My voice becomes deeper and sounds totally different than it usually does. Can you please give me some good advice? John John, If you have trouble pronouncing words, simply accept the fact. Many other readers have such experiences, and so do I. You don't need to get stressed about it. You are apparently getting nervous because you feel like you are under some pressure when speaking to other people. Take your time and don't worry about pauses. Speak slowly, opening your mouth to enunciate your words clearly. Listen to powerful leaders on the television and note that they speak slowly and carefully and learn to master their speaking techniques. When you speak to others in college, try to ask questions that will get the other person to talk. Listening carefully and then filling in during the conversation takes the pressure off you and you will feel more relaxed when you talk. You make more of an impression when you are interested in what the other person is saying than when you try to lead a conversation. Remember that the more you worry about how your voice sounds, about pronouncing words and about pauses, the worse it gets. So accept the way you speak now and relax in your conversations. I hope these ideas can help take the pressure off you when you talk to other people. Wilson According to Wilson, which of the following tips will be useful to John? A Choose easy questions to answer. B Read some books about great people. C Take the lead in a conversation. D Improve his speaking skills. Answer: D. Improve his speaking skills. It would be very exciting to be a reporter on a newspaper. As soon as a reporter's boss gives him a story to write, the reporter is on the job. He keeps his mind on what he is going to do. He does not begin writing the story until he knows what he should find out. He must know why he should write the story. At times a reporter must search hard to find all of the facts he needs for a story. The facts may not be right under his nose. To find the facts, he has to recognize important details. While gathering information for a story, he asks himself questions:Should I use this information? Is this an important fact? A reporter writes the story as fast as he can, so it can go right away into the newspaper. The story also needs a headline, which tells very quickly what the news story is about and is printed bigger and blacker than the rest of the news story. Every big newspaper has many reporters,because many stories are needed in the newspaper. Would you like to be one? The passage is about _ . A the job of a news reporter B big newspapers in the world C how to write the headline of all articles D how to gather information for a news story Answer: A. the job of a news reporter Book into the new prefix = st1 /AucklandHospitalat a typical hour, say 11 on a Saturday night, and you will notice changes in the way you are treated. Let's start with the blood sample taken from your arm as you are wheeled in the door. By the time you are through the security doors and into the emergency area, that sample could have been sent through to the lab by vacuum tube and analysed by a machine which automatically feeds a preparative result into the clinical database. Less than a minute after the sample is processed, the doctors can see the results through the monitors beside every position in the emergency suites. As you are being wheeled in, you may notice cameras in the ceiling. The hospital has spent $4 million on its camera security system to protect staff and patients. When you come to in the neighbouring Admission and Planning Unit, the clinician may be looking at all your records, x-rays and even documents sent in by your GP on a Compaq tablet PC wirelessly connected to the network by an 802.11 "WiFi" card. It's not ideal for viewing images, but it should be good enough for a bedside consultation . If the clinician needs to consult a specialist or your GP, the other party can see the same records from home or office through a secure internet connection. Dr Nigel Murray, general manager of the hospital building programme, said about $30 million of the $500 million budget for the project had been spent on information technology. In the new AucklandHospital, after you are through the security door, _ A the nurse will measure your blood as soon as possible B your blood sample will be sent through to the lab and analysed there C the doctor will measure your blood as soon as possible D the doctor will ask some information on your blood sample Answer: B. your blood sample will be sent through to the lab and analysed there
The leaves of a plant benefit from? A dog B sun C human D dust Answer: B. sun There are two ways to save money traveling. The first way is to get _ on the specific things you want. There is a limitation to this type of approach (,) though. If you find the lowest price on the best hotel in Honolulu at the height of the season, you will save money, but still have a very expensive vacation. Trying to get exactly what you want will generally be an expensive proposition, in travel and in life. The other approach is to be a true opportunist. This will be difficult for some of you, and entirely unacceptable to others. Nonetheless ,the travelers who get to travel the most, go to the widest variety of places, learn the most and do the most, are the opportunists. This will be true until you are so wealthy that you have no monetary (;)limits. The first time I went to Ecuador, I went there because it was cheap. If it wasn't, I would have had a great time--somewhere else. The trip lasted a month, and cost $1045, which included airfare and even the $130 fee for a guide to take me to the top or glacier covered Mount Chimborazo. I cut the cost by taking a bus from my home in Michigan to Miami, and back again when I returned from Ecuador. The round-trip ticket cost $158. The round-trip flight to Quito from Miami was only $256, because it was a courier (,) flight, which meant I signed for some luggage(car parts), and could only take carry-on luggage. Never did I feel deprived, or bored. I had a great time, eating wherever it was cheap and clean, doing all sorts of inexpensive, but interesting things, and traveling across the country to climb Chimborazo. I also met and fell in love with my wife Ana. Being an opportunist means you'll have just as much variety, and probably almost everything you want--eventually. You just have to stop trying to get exactly what you want exactly when you want it. If the guide that took me up Chimborazo hadn't dropped his price from $200 to $130, I would have spent $2 for a bus and gone hiking on EI Altar, another great Andean mountain. That would have left me with enough money for several other minor adventures. The return tickets from his hometown to Quito cost the author _ . A $128 B $256 C $207 D $414 Answer: D. $414 Why Rent Textbooks? Renting textbooks is a relatively new idea for everyone. Back in the old days, the idea of renting one never existed since the books are affordable or readily available in libraries. But the time has changed and with the changes in educational system and various economic challenges happening across the globe, the price of textbooks increased. Given such fact, textbook renting is now a new fashion among college students. Research was made to find out if renting helps one save money and time rather than buying new textbooks and realized that it really is. Let's examine carefully further and see why renting books is a cost-effective way to still get to have your textbooks without _ too much money from your pocket. Gives value for your money You don't have to buy all of your textbooks. Those non-major subjects, are better acquired through renting. It saves one money and helps you give out the money you save on some other personal possessions you need in college. Renting textbooks allows you to save at least 50% off the standard retail price for each item. You can tell, with a little research, that renting is a lot cheaper compared to buying used books aside from looking way better than the former. Saves time You can save a great deal of time when renting a textbook. Instead of browsing your way for hours trying to look for better deals online, you can simply go to a popular book renting marketplace online and just order away. There is literally no need to skimming for hours and see where you can find a great deal. Often, the rental company gives you prepaid postage slip just to get you going and do the same when you decide to return the book. This process not only saves you time, it also saves other resources like gas if you decide to go to the nearest bookstore to buy books or spend hours using electricity just to find a good deal. User Friendly Aside from being able to save money and time, renting textbooks brings convenience to all users. Imagine trying to scan the virtual bookshelf and checking on comments of previous users and figuring out which ones got bad comments and which had great ones. It could be fun at first but if you are short of time, the process can become annoying. If you rent books, you will only be needing the book's ISBN number and find it right away. No more time-wasting site search. Type in the ISBN number, order the book, and wait for it to get shipped to your home. The passage mainly tells us that _ . A renting textbooks allows you to save a lot of money B renting a textbook can also save you a great deal of time C textbook renting was a relatively new fashion among college students D textbook renting is a money-saving, fun, and, convenient way for college students Answer: D. textbook renting is a money-saving, fun, and, convenient way for college students Can dolphins talk ? Maybe they can't talk with words ,but they can talk with sounds . They show their feelings with sounds . Dolphins travel in group . We call a group of them a "school ". They don't study , but they travel together. Dolphins talk to other dolphins in the school .They give information . They tell other dolphins when they are happy or sad or afraid . They say "welcome "when a dolphin comes back to the school . They talk when they play . They make a few sounds above water . They make many more sounds under water . People can hear these sounds because they are very high . Sometimes people catch dolphins for large aquariums . People can watch the dolphins in a show . Dolphins don't like to be in the aquarium , being away from their school . They are sad and lonely if they do so . There are many stories about dolphins . They help people . Sometimes they save someone's life . Many people believe that dolphins can bring good luck . Dolphins _ in the school according to the passage. A give information B don't tell other dolphins when they are afraid C talk when they sleep D say " sorry" when a dolphin comes back Answer: A. give information One Friday Mrs. King asked her class to write a story after class. "Use your imagination!" she cried, "You can write your story about anything." Kenny looked worried. "A story?" he thought, "What could I possible have to write about? I don't know any stories." The bell rang and all the kids went home. The next day, Kenny sat at his desk at home, thinking and thinking. The warm sun was shining through the windows, making him _ And soon he fell fast asleep. As he slept, Kenny began to dream about fantastic things. First he dreamed that he was a world-famous doctor, saving whole cities and curing diseases. Then he dreamed that he was in a UFO. He was talking to strange but friendly space creatures. Then he dreamed that he had become as small as a mouse by a bad scientist. He had to find a way to stop the plot of the mad scientist! Kenny dreamed wonderful and exciting things until his little brother woke him up. "What were you dreaming about?" he asked. Kenny told his brother the wonderful dreams. His brother enjoyed the stories. Suddenly, Kenny knew that he had his kinds of stories in his imagination. What did the teacher ask the students to do as homework? A To act as a doctor B To read some stories C To help family members D To write a story Answer: D. To write a story
Question: Kunming is the capital of Yunnan. It's a city with a long history. Kunming has a population of more than 5,000,000. Though the weather in Yunnan changes from place to place, Kunming is famous for her beautiful weather. It's neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. That's why more and more people like to travel and even to live there. You can see that great changes have taken place here. A lot of tall buildings, cinemas and hospitals have been put up. You can cross the streets over footbridges in the city. You can buy whatever you want in shops and supermarkets in or around the city. People's lives are becoming better and better. At weekend or on holiday, people like to relax themselves in different places and in different ways. In winter, people especially old people would like to climb the Western Hills. From the top of Hills, you can have a good look at the beautiful scenery of Kunming. Far away from the Hills, you can enjoy the Sleeping Beauty among the Hills. After supper, families take a walk along the bank of Dianchi Lake. The Golden Temple and EXPO Garden are two famous places of interest in the north of the city. EXPO Garden is known to people both at home and abroad. You can spend a whole day visiting the world-famous garden. A little farther away from the southeast of the city, a special forest welcomes you. It is not a tree forest, but a stone forest. So it is called the Stone Forest. People in Kunming are really friendly. They often invite their friends home to try delicious food, like rice or noodles. If you want to know more about Kunming and taste her food, please visit her yourself. What's the population of Kunming? A. Over five million. B. Over five thousand. C. Over five billion. D. Over five hundred. Answer: A Question: Jack Andraka from Maryland won the grand prize at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. It is the largest high school science competition in the world. The Maryland teenager is the youngest winner of the $75,000 prize. He was chosen from among 1,500 students in 70 countries. Jack Andraka invented a test for pancreatic cancer . He started to learn it after losing a close family friend to the disease. "I went on the Internet and I found that 85%of all pancreatic cancers are found late, when someone has less than 2% chance of survival , " he says, "and I was thinking,' That's not right. We should be able to do something.'" He found that early discovery is important to increasing the chances of surviving the disease. The Maryland teenager asked to work in a laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and was allowed. There he developed a simple paper test, which can recognize the disease in a single drop of blood. His test has proved correct 90% of the time. It also is 100 times more sensitive than other tests. "It costs 3 cents per test, and then it takes only 5 minutes to run," he said. Jack's success wouldn't have been possible without Anirban Maitra, a professor at Johns Hopkins. He was the only person among the 200 researchers Jack wrote to who showed interest in his project. "I was very surprised that this was a 15-year-old who was writing this. I wanted to meet this clever young man and see what he wanted to talk about and so I called him over for an interview . " Jack worked in Professor Maitra's laboratory, completing his project in 7 months. The government has given the Maryland teenager patent rights to the pancreatic cancer test. He is now talking with companies about developing the test into a simple product. Whatever happens, the professor believes Jack Andraka's name is one we will be hearing again over the next 10 to 20 years. Jack Andraka's research on pancreatic cancer _ . A. proved to be very successful B. was 100 times cheaper than other tests C. gave patients a 90% chance of survival D. was finished at the high school of Maryland Answer: A Question: It's become part of the restaurant table setting: knife, fork, napkin and cell phone. Distracted dining is the new concern with customers constantly texting friends, uploading a Weibo photo of the meal they're about to chew down or emailing the boss. For many smart-phone users, it's hard just to focus on the meal and company at hand. Now, one restaurant in Los Angeles is giving diners a reason to turn off the digital world, by offering customers willing to check their phones at the door a 5-percent discount on their bill. Owner and chef Mark Gold of Eva Restaurant, located on Beverly Boulevard near N. Gardner Street, hopes this gives customers a way to truly sit back and relax, enjoy their meal and actually talk with friends and family in person. "For us, it's really not about people disturbing other guests. Eva is home, and we want to create that environment of home, and we want people to connect again," he explained. "It's about two people sitting together and just connecting, without the distraction of a phone, and we're trying to create an atmosphere where you come in and really enjoy the experience and the food and the company." Gold said applying the suggestion reminds him to avoid cell phone usage, too. "I'm guilty of it as well. When my wife and I go to dinner it seems like the cell phone is part of the table setting now. Every table you look at, it's a wine glass, the silverware and the cell phone," he joked. The husband and wife team runs Eva, a 40-person space with European flair. Gold said a little less than half take advantage of the deal, and no one has gotten upset about it. "I think once the server approaches the table and they're presented with the offer, they like the idea of actually talking to each other again," he said. Why does Gold think people should not use cellphones at table? A. Because it can cause health problems. B. Because it will disturb other customers. C. Because it can get a 5-percent discount on the customers' bills. D. Because it may prevent people communicating with their companions. Answer: D Question: The Last Supper is regarded as one of the supreme masterpieces in the whole field of pictorial art. Tradition has it that Leonardo Da Vinci worked for ten years upon the painting, the monks in the church annoyed at the delay. It was said that Leonardo often painted continuously from dawn to night without eating his meals. But at other times he spent hours before the picture, lost in contemplation, examining, comparing, and measuring his figures. This inactivity aroused the anger of the fussy Prior , the head of the church, who belonged to the large group of those who believed that the busier a man seems, the more he accomplishes; and so he tried to find fault with the idle painter. Leonardo was slightly unhappy and explained to somebody else that there is a great difference between the work of the creative artist and the stonemason. The creative artist needs time for contemplation; he may be busiest when his hands are idlest. Just now he needed two heads to complete the picture: that of Christ, for which no model on earth could be found, for where was the man to be found whose face would express the strength, and beauty, and tenderness, and deep sorrow of the Christ; then he also needed a head of Judas, and that was hard to find as well, for where was the man whose face could express the meanness of that base traitor . But he would look no further; if none came his way, he would be satisfied to take Prior as a model for Judas. This threat silenced the angry Prior, who quite naturally had no desire to pass to descendants in such a fashion. Which of the following is true? A. The painter was pleased with the Prior's complaint. B. The Prior was angry because he thought the painter did not work hard. C. The painter took one of the monks as a model for Christ. D. The painter took one of the monks as a model for Judas. Answer: B Question: How would we travel without maps? It would be a bit adventurous to set off from Oxford University to go to London Bridge if there wasn't a map of the London Underground at each station. In fact, a lot of the early map-makers were adventurers and explorers, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries. So what did people do before there were maps? Well, it was quite easy to use natural signs like mountains and rivers if you were travelling on foot or riding a horse. People took small boats down rivers and followed coastlines. And it was much more logical to use time, not distance, to measure journeys: the next village is a three-hour ride, for example. In fact, in the earliest maps, people didn't draw landmarks. They drew the stars. It was very easy to see the night sky and use it for navigation . The sky was a lot clearer before the light pollution from cities that we have today. When towns and cities were built, people drew road maps which gave correct distances and directions. The London Underground was opened in 1863 and it also used a road map style. But a man called Henry Beck realized that travelling by train wasn't the same as driving your car across London. Passengers only needed to know which stations to change at. His new design for the Underground map wasn't very popular with the train companies at first. But the passengers loved it and in 1933, 700,000 copies were printed. These days, of course, you can ride a bike, drive a car or go through a forest and know where you are exactly, using a GPS. It's really difficult to get lost! Which of the following is true? A. A GPS helped people to travel long time ago. B. Ancient people could travel on a horse without maps. C. The sky was polluted by light before cities were built. D. Henry Beck's map wasn't popular with the passengers. Answer: B
While deer may be found in many varied locations, they mostly make their home A. in densely covered wilderness B. outside of grassy areas C. in largely populated parks D. near cabins in small towns Answer: A. in densely covered wilderness The painter Georgia O'keeffe was born in Wisconsin in 1887 and grew up on her family's farm. At seventeen she decided she wanted to be an artist and left the farm for schools in Chicago and New York, but she never lost her bond with the land. Like most painters, O'Keeffe painted the things that were most important to her, and nearly all her works are simplified portrayals of nature. O'Keeffe became famous when her paintings were discovered and exhibited in New York by the photographer Levered Stieglitz, whom she married in 1924. During a visit to New York in 1929, O'Keeffe was so moved by the bleak landscape and broad skies of the Western desert that she began to paint its images. Cows' skulls and other bleached bones found in the desert figured prominently in her paintings. When her husband died in 1946, she moved to New Mexico permanently and used the horizon lines of the desert, colorful flowers, rocks, barren hills, and the sky as subjects for her paintings. Although O'Keeffe painted her best known works in the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's, she continued to produce tributes(, ) to the Western desert until her death in 1986. O'Keeffe is widely considered to have been a pioneering American modernist painter. While most early modern American artists were strongly influenced by European art, O'Keeffe's position was more independent. She established her own vision and preferred to view her painting as a private endeavor. Almost from the beginning, her work was more indentifiably American than that of her contemporaries in its simplified and idealized treatment of color, light, space, and natural forms. Why is O'Keeffe considered an artistic pioneer ? A. Her work became influential in Europe. B. She painted the American Southwest. C. Her paintings had a definite American style. D. She painted things that were familiar to her. Answer: C. Her paintings had a definite American style. The winds had finally died down,and the rains stopped.Paige and her parents were inside their house,sitting in the living room,which was dark except for a single candlelight. "Let's find out what's going on outside,"Paige's mom suggested as she turned on the small radio. "...has moved out of the area,"an announcer's voice boomed. "Winds reaching nearly 100 miles an hour passed through our town this morning. But,the worst is over,and it is safe to go outside.In fact,the sun is now peeking out from behind the..." Suddenly,the radio went dead.The house was quiet again. "Well,"Paige's dad said, "at least we heard some good news,even if it was cut short.Let's look out of the window and survey the damage." Paige ran to the window and looked outside.She saw tree branches lie on the lawn.The mailbox was broken,and some of the address letters and numbers on the mailbox were missing. "The wind must have ripped them off," Paige's father noted.As he read the remaining letters he began to laugh. The mailbox dispalyed " _ _ RAIN." "It says "rain","Paige said. "That's appropriate for a day like today!" The living room was dark because _ . A. there were no lamps B. someone forgot to pay the electric bill C. the electricity had been cut off D. the wind blew out the candle Answer: C. the electricity had been cut off Maybe you have seen this in schools: some students are studying hard all the time but they just pass their exams, while some others may spend much less time on their books but do much better in exams. How could this happen? People used to think that hard-work is the only way to success. But now they have understood that smart work can make them succeed, too. Hard workers don't mind working for long hours, while smart workers always think of several different answers to these questions, " Why should I suffer this? Isn't there s better way to do this?" Thanks to these people, we can use computers instead of the abacus now. Progress in every field is the direct result of " try a better way" by smart workers. There was a large soap factory in Japan. Once it received an unusual letter, complaining that there was no soap in the soapbox he bought. How could empty soapboxes go out of the factory? The engineers checked the producing and packing . The producing was fine, but in about one in ten thousand cases, the packing machine let an empty soapbox go. There was no need to spend a lot of money repairing the machine for such a small problem. The engineer soon work out a solution. He put a huge X-ray machine and two large computers to find out the empty soapboxes. After teaching the worker how to use it, he sat down in his seat, exhausted . " Sir, we could have solved the problem in a much easier and cheaper way." said one worker. " Really? How?" " We can put a huge fan near the packing machine. The wind will _ the empty boxes. There would be no need for an X-ray machine and computers." See, this is smart work. In order to succeed, we should not work hard like the engineer, but also think smartly like this worker. Someone wrote the soap factory and complained that _ . A. the soapbox he bought was empty B. their soap was too expensive C. the soap he bought was terrible D. their service was very bad Answer: A. the soapbox he bought was empty BLOOMINGTON --- Once Staci Roper, 14, starts sending text messages, she finds it hard to stop. " Sometimes I text from the time I get up until I go to bed, except during school," said the eighth-grader at Kingsley Junior High. Her sister Sara Roper, 18, also texts a lot, saying "It is a lot easier than using the telephone." For teens, technology has become a common way to start and keep social contacts. Richard Sullivan, a teacher at Illinois State University, said text messaging has become "the new way of passing notes." "It is an important tool for social communication, especially for the youth," Sullivan said. But the girls have to store their mobile phones during school because they can be a distraction , Sullivan said. That is why parents must monitor their children's mobile phone use, said Tim Shannon, a child psychologist at Carle Clinic in Bloomington. The same technologies that can help communication can be _ if children use them to ignore their family at supper, Shannon said. While Linda Roper does not allow her children to text massages during meals, she usually does not need to intervene . "My kids are both very disciplined and good about doing their homework," she said. Gary and Mary Carstens also do not allow their children to text at supper or at family get-togethers. Their daughter, Kayla, 14, usually texts more on weekends when she has more free time. Kayla likes text messaging "because others can't hear you." The Carstens got Kayla a mobile phone several years ago because she is active in after-class sports and the phone allows her parents to keep in touch with her. Mary Carstens believes all the communication allowed by modern technology is good for her kids. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Teens spend too much time sending messages. B. Texting is a useful tool for today's teens. C. Parents help children use mobile phones. D. Schools don't allow children to use mobile phone. Answer: B. Texting is a useful tool for today's teens.
Miami Beach is a top destination for vacationers from around the world --not to mention a location for sea turtles laying eggs. For years, female sea turtles have returned to the beaches where they were born to build nests for their next generation. As Miami Beach continues to develop; wildlife officials and volunteers are making sure the beach remains a welcoming place for these endangered animals. The sea turtle patrol starts his day at sunrise. "The reason we need to get out at first light is to make sure we see the tracks before anybody else gets out here, Bill Ahern says, "Something that weighs 350 pounds is going to leave evidence." Bill Ahern directs the sea turtle program in Miami-Dade county. His team monitors and marks nests left by sea turtles who lay eggs in the sand and then return to the sea. The patrols also work with beach residents to keep track of new nests and possible threats to existing ones. Nearly 65,000 turtles nested on Florida's Atlantic coast last year. A tiny part comes to Miami Beach where they face many risks. Tough laws have been passed to punishpoachers . And bright lights from nearby buildings can confuse newly born turtles, attracting them onto roads instead of into the ocean. "I recall in the mid-1960s, me and my beach buddies(policemen) would pick up hatchlings from the road and put them back in the water," he recalls .To avoid that problem, city officials have imposed limits on coastal lighting. Although most sea turtles hatch on their own, coming out at night, some have a harder time. In the future, the Sea Turtles Program hopes to do away with the hatchery. Educating beach-goers is a step in that direction. Each week, people are invited to see a release of newly born turtles recovered from nests. The experience helps sunbathers understand the role of the beach in the turtle's life cycle. "Only a part of the newly hatched turtles will escape predators and man-made dangers in their first year." Their instincts are so sharp ," Ahern says, "I'll face a turtle to the west, and then watch him, he turns right around ,facing the ocean. " Many measures are taken to protect the turtles except _ Answer: slowing down the development of Miami As a volunteer teacher, I traveled a long way to a small village school in Longzhou, Guangxi. On my way there, I thought about the village, the school and the childrenn there. However, my heart sank when I arrived there. It wasn't what I expected. It didn't look like a school at all! The school had only three rooms, one for Grades 1, 2 and 3, and the other for Grades 4, 5 and 6. There was a third one for me. The children welcomed me warmly on my first day. They asked me a lot of questions, and I told them stories about myself and my life in Shanghai. The next day, I gave them a test to find out their level . To my surprise, though the test was very easy, over half of the students failed it, yet they all wanted to learn new things. I knew they needed me. I was busy preparing lessons and reading test papers every night. I enjoyed teaching these lovely and hard-working children, and I could see that they were making progress with my help. I have also learned a lot from them. I understand their level is becoming higher and higher, and we are good friends now. I worked in Longzhou for a year. I'm very happy, and the experience is very useful to me. I love the small village and the children. In fact, I would like to continue working here. What does the writer think of working in the school? _ . Answer: Useful An ID card is the most important proof of identity for each person. It shows one's name, date of birth, address, nationality, photo and ID number. China's top legislature added something new to the Resident Identity Card Law. It passed the suggestions of recording Chinese citizens' fingerprints when they apply for or change ID cards. Fingerprints would make it easier to recognize the people who own the cards. It can stop people from making fake ID cards. Li Xiao'ou, a bank worker in Beijing, said fingerprint data will make bank business safer. "No two people have the same fingerprints," he said. "The new card can better protect their private information. It will prevent their identity from being used by others when people want to do banking." As ID cards will contain more personal information, many people worry that some institutions may let their information out. The amended law tries to better protect it. Government offices and other public institutions, like banks and hospitals, could face a fine of 500,000 yuan if they give out citizens' personal information. What is the most important advantage of an ID card including fingerprints? Answer: It's easier to recognize people. There is an old saying: No one thinks he's a bad driver. Here's an updated 21stcentury version: No one thinks he sends annoying e-mails. But, plenty of us do. Aprefix = st1 /PrincetonUniversityresearch found that 22 percent of Americans say e-mail has added to their work pressures and caused misunderstandings. Here's a guide on e-mail etiquette to help you avoid being annoying. Experts say there are three types of e-mails with different rules--close friends, office and public e-mails.The close friends e- mail You can send your lover, your closest friends and your siblings(brothers and sisters)anything from jokes to"you gotta see this!".But bear in mind that not everyone shares your sense of humour and you may expose them to viruses.The office e-mail Don't add to people's workload. Keep e-mails short and to the point. Make the subject line factual and brief. Write in clear, concise sentences. Provide your name and phone number at the end.The Public e-mail Occasionally we have to send an e-mail to a group of people. If possible, write your public e-mails with a who, what, when, where structure. For example: Who:All members of the soccer team What:Team photo When:Saturday, March 25, at noon Where:Playing field 2. Finally, before you hit"Send", check the following. Is the e-mail a"flame"? Never send an e-mail in anger. It could stay around forever and haunt your professional and personal life. Check the "To"field. Is this really who you want to send the message to? Spell-check the message. Does it have an error that can affect you badly? If an e-mail is a"flame"the sender of it must be very_.at the moment. Answer: angry "How are you?" is a nice question. It's a friendly way that people in the USA greet each other. But "How are you" is also a very unusual question. It's a question that often doesn't need an answer. The person who asks "How are you?" hopes to hear the answer " Fine", even if the person's friend isn't fine. The reason is that "How are you?" isn't really a question and "Fine" isn't really an answer. They are simply other ways of saying "Hello" or "Hi". Sometimes, people also don't say exactly what they mean. For example, when someone asks "Do you agree?" the other person might think, "No, I disagree. I think you're wrong..." But it isn't very polite to disagree so strongly, so the other person might say "I'm not sure." It's a nicer way to say that you don't agree with someone. People also don't say exactly what they are thinking when they finish talking with other people. For example, may talks over the phone finish when one person says "I've to go now." Often, the person who wants to hang up gives an excuse "Someone's at the door." "Something is burning on the stove." The excuses might be real, or not. _ The excuse is more polite, and it doesn't hurt the other person. Whether they are greeting each other, talking about an idea, or finishing a talk, people don't say exactly that they are thinking. It's an important way that people try to be nice to each other, and it's part of the rule of the game of language. When a person disagree with someone, it is polite to say " _ ". Answer: I'm not sure
I had the meanest mother in the world.While other kids ate candy for breakfast.I had to have cereal, eggs and toast.Others had cakes and candy for lunch, while we had to eat a sandwich.As you can guess, my supper was different from the other kids'.But at least I was not alone in my suffering.My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did. My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.We had to wear clean clothes every day.Other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of disgrace because she made our clothes herself, just to save money. The worst is yet to come.We had to be in bed by 9:00 each night and up at 7:45 the next morning.So while my friends slept, my mother actually had the courage to break Child Labor Law.She made us work. I believed she lay awake all night thinking up mean things to do to us.Through the years, our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing.My mother, however, would only be satisfied with black marks.None of us was allowed the pleasure of being a dropout . She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults.Using this as a background, I'm now trying to bring up my three children.I'm filled with pride when my children think I am mean because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world. From the passage we can learn that the writer's mother was _ . Answer: Have you ever wondered what a Degree in your job or career? It means 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. 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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. Which of the following majors doesn't the Harcourt Learning Direct offer? Answer: It was Monday.Mrs.Smith's dog was hungry,but there was not any meat in the house. Considering that there was no better way,Mrs.Smith took a piece of paper,and wrote the following words on it "Give my dog half a pound of meat." Then she gave the paper to her dog and said gently,"Take this to the butcher,and he's going to give you your lunch today." Holding the piece of paper in its mouth,the dog ran to the butcher's.It gave the paper to the butcher.The butcher read it carefully,recognized that it was really the lady's handwriting and soon did it as he was asked to.The dog was very happy,and ate the meat up at once. At noon,the dog came to the shop again.It gave the butcher a piece of paper again.After reading it,he gave it half a pound of meat once more. The next day,the dog came again exactly at noon.And as usual,it brought a piece of paper in the mouth.This time,the butcher did not take a look at paper,and gave the dog its meat,for he had regarded the dog as one of his customers . But,the dog came again at four o'clock.And the same thing happened once again.To the butcher's more surprise,it came for the third time at six o'clock,and brought with it a third piece of paper.The butcher felt a bit puzzled.He said to himself,"This is a small dog.Why does Mrs.Smith give it so much meat to eat today?" Looking at the piece of paper,he found that there were not any words on it! The butcher did not give any meat to the dog _ . Answer: Volunteering abroad is a great way to help others, improve your skills and become a more confident, independent person. If you are interested in volunteering abroad, here are some places to go. Australia If you seek a life on the beach, in a great climate with friendly people, Australia might be your best bet. With thousands of volunteers already signing up to leave for Australia during the holidays, it will be a very popular option. Brazil This vast country has some great opportunities on offer and is especially popular this year. A lot of volunteer work is available in Brazil centers on conservation and ecological projects. With the world's largest rainforest in Brazil, of which huge part is in danger, there are lots of different jobs you can do. Kenya Kenya is the destination for those seeking an African experience. Generally volunteers in Kenya work in orphanages or with local children living in slums . There is a great demand for volunteers in Africa because many people live in poverty, so if you truly feel like making a difference to a community, Kenya should be at the top of your list. Costa Rica Golden sandy beaches, clear coastlines and beautiful cities are what Costa Rica is all about. Because of its small size, you can see a lot of the country in just a short time. You can really make the most of your time as a volunteer. A lot of work is needed with wildlife and ecological work, so if you want to look after turtles on the beach, Costa Rica could be just the place for you 1t can be inferred from the passage that volunteers in Kenya mainly work with _ . Answer: A family in Guelph, Ontario is spending a year living "in 1982". They're doing it so their kids can see what life was like before technology like iPads, computers and even coffee machines was part of everyday life. They have stopped using all technology from their home and are relying on the things people would have used back in the 80s. There is a box at the front door where people can put their cell phones in, while they're visiting the family. Blair McMillan and his wife Morgan want their kids--Trey, 5, and Denton, 2--to have a year without technology. Instead of reading e-readers, they are reading books. Instead of using a GPS, they used paper maps. The home the family is living in was built in the 1980s. Even the way they dress and style their hair is from the 80s. The whole idea started when young Trey was called to come outside. He didn't because he was busy playing on the ipad. That's why his dad thought of the idea of living "in 1982" for a year. The family plans to live like "it's 1982" until April next year. To them, one of the hardest things was giving up their cell phone. Who made the family have the idea of living "in 1982"? Answer:
One day, five blind men were walking along, when suddenly they bumped into something very big in front of them. Each one put out his hand and _ it. The first man thought it was a tree ---it was tall and round. The second man felt something tall and wide and rough and said, "Aha! This must be a wall !" The third man touched a very long smooth thing. He guessed this was a spear .Then the fourth man said, "I feel cool. There must be a fan up there. Oh, yes! Here it is!" He touched something big and round that was moving. What did the fifth man find? Well, he started shouting that he was being chased by a snake. Each man was sure he knew what he had touched, but they were wrong. They finally understood the mystery when the big thing attempted to move, and they felt silly because everything they had touched belonged to an elephant. Which of the following sentences is NOT true? A. The five men did not know they were wrong until the elephant moved. B. Each man touched one part of the elephant. C. The fifth man touched the tusk of the elephant. D. The elephant's ear is like a fan, so the man said the ear he touched must be a fan. Answer: C. The fifth man touched the tusk of the elephant. humans will have to flee if their home is A. being built B. being painted C. demolished D. prepared Answer: C. demolished As a father, I always do my best to help my son, Peter. I like to help him with his study. I encourage him to join team sports. I send him to the summer camp if he wants to go. I also teach him to be both a good student and a useful man. He used to make me feel proud. I often thought he was the best son and I was the best father in the world. However, things changed two years ago. It was Peter's 12th birthday. My wife and I bought him a computer as a present. We thought it was necessary for him to learn how to use a computer in the modern world. We knew that some children were addicted to computer games and that they didn't study or work at all. Someone said that computers and the Internet were bad for children, but I didn't worry about it. I trusted my son. I believed that he could control himself. Peter did very well at first. He played computer games, but for only two hours every week. Most of the time he studied or wrote articles on the computer. We felt very happy to see that. When we finally learned that Peter was also addicted to computer games, it was too late. He didn't like studying at all. He no longer joined team sports. Sometimes we even couldn't find him at night. He spent several days and nights at the Internet cafe. We tried everything to help him, but nothing worked. What should we do? Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Peter likes to study a lot now. B. It wasn't necessary for children to learn how to use a computer. C. Many children have lost interest in studying because of computer games and the Internet. D. Children shouldn't use the computer. Answer: C. Many children have lost interest in studying because of computer games and the Internet. In 1939 two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald, started a drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. They carefully chose a busy corner for their location. They had run their own businesses for years, first a theater, then a barbecue restaurant, then another drive-in. But in their new operation, they offered a new, shortened menu: French fries, hamburgers, and sodas. To this small selection they added one new idea: quick service,no waiters or waitresses, and no tips. Their hamburgers were sold for fifteen cents. Cheese was another four cents. Their French fries and hamburgers had a remarkable uniformity , for the brothers had developed a strict routine for the preparation of their food, and they insisted on their cooks' sticking to their routine. Their new drive-in became surprisingly popular, particularly for lunch. People drove up by the hundred during the busy noontime. The self-service restaurant was so popular that the brothers had allowed ten copies of their restaurant to be opened. They were content with this modest success until they met Ray Kroc. Kroc was a salesman who met the McDonald brothers in 1954 when he was selling milkshake-mixing machines. He quickly saw the special attraction of the brothers' fast-food restaurants and bought the right to franchise other copies of their restaurants. The agreement included the right to duplicate the menu, the equipment, even their red and white buildings the golden arches . Today McDonald's is really a household name. In 1976, McDonald's had over$1 billion in total sales. Its first twenty-two years is one of the most surprising successes in modern American business history. This passage mainly talks about _ . A. the development of fast food services B. how McDonald's became a billion-dollar business C. the business careers of Mac and Dick McDonald D. Ray Kroc's business talent Answer: B. how McDonald's became a billion-dollar business A teacher takes a very big bottle and puts a few big stones into it. He asks the students, "Is the bottle full?" They all answer, "Yes!" The teacher then puts some small stones into the bottle. The small stones are between the big stones. He then asks, "Is it full now?" Some students give no answer, but most answer, "Yes!" The teacher then starts to put some sand into the bottle. For the third time, the teacher asks, "Is it full?" Now most students give no answer, but some still answer, "Yes!" Then the teacher pours a cup of water into the bottle. "What does it tell us?" asks the teacher. One clever student answer, "No matter how busy you are, you can always find time to do some more things." "No," says the teacher. "If you don't put the big stones into the bottle first, you can never get _ in. The big stones are the important things in your life. If you fill your life with small things like the small stones, sand and water, you'll never have the time for the important things." What is the main idea of the article? A. We should use our time to do some more things. B. We should try to ask the teachers more questions. C. We should not put sand or water into our life. D. We should try to find the important things in our life. Answer: D. We should try to find the important things in our life.
Making the announcement, Peter Englund, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, called Alice Munro a "master of the contemporary short story". "She has taken an art form, the short story, which has tended to live a little bit in the shadow of the novel, and she has cultivated it almost to perfection," he said. The 82-year-old, whose books include Dear Life and dance of the Happy Shades, is only the 13thwoman to win the Nobel Prize for literature since its start in 1901. "I knew I was in the running, yes, but I never thought I would win," Munro told Canadian media. Alice Munro: "I would really hope that this would make people see the short story as an important art form." Munro, who began writing in her teenage years, published her first story, The Dimensions of a Shadow, in 1950. Dance of the Happy Shades, published in 1968, was Munro's first collection, and it went on to win Canada's highest literary prize, the Governor General's Award. In 2009, she won the Man Booker International Prize for her entire body of work -- but she downplayed her achievements. "I think maybe I was successful in doing this because I didn't have any other talents," she once said in an interview. BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz said Munro had been "at the very top of her game since she started". "Very few writers are her equal," he said, adding "She gets to the heart of what it is to be human". The award "probably won't make a commercial difference" to the author, he added, but it "makes a huge difference to how her work will be viewed in historical terms". "If she hadn't won it before she died, I think it would have been a terrible, terrible omission ." Often compared to Anton Chekhov, she is known for writing about the human spirit and a regular theme of her work is the dilemma faced by young girls growing up and coming to terms with living in a small town. Several of her stories have also been adapted for the screen, including The Bear Came over the Mountain. What does Will Gompertz think of Alice Munro? A He thinks very highly of her. B He thinks she's a productive writer. C He is amazed by her different skills. D He compares her to Anton Chekhov. Answer: A China Youth says that more and more girl students have entered colleges to study in recent few years. As we know, once the number of boys was larger than that of girls, and the boys did much better than girls in our country for a long time. Now things have changed a lot. In recent years, the proportion of girl students is growing fast. In 1998, about 39.7% of college students were girls. In 2000, it was 41.07% and in 2001, the number was 42.14%. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there is little difference between boys and girls in their intelligence . That's to say, girls are as clever as boys. And boys have more interests than girls, so they may not do well in their study. Secondly, girls are more careful and more sensible than boys. They work harder at school and they do better in all exams. Another reason is that with the development of society, people pay more and more attention to girls' education. China Youth says that more and more _ A boys are cleverer than girls B boys can't go to school C girls have entered colleges D girls begin to study at school Answer: C Today's children are the "result" of the modern society. Our parents have jobs that keep them busy almost all day long. They only have a free day in a week. This doesn't allow them to keep an eye on their children. On the other hand, the modern society gives more freedom to the children than they could "handle". As a child, you don't know how to grow up by yourself until you reach a certain age. That is why you need school and parents to be by your side all the time. If you don't have either of them you may make a lot of mistakes. The social system of the modern society is very _ especially with the children. Most of the children today are rebels . They are rude. They are given too much freedom by their families. This is their parent's mistake. They ought to know that the freedom they give to their children is misunderstood. For example it is a bad thing for a 17 - year - old child to go out in the evening on weekends. Parents are also guilty of the way their children show up in the street or at school. The same guilt belongs to the teaching system as well. Pupils shouldn't be allowed to dress like they were on a fashion presentation at school. Another important fact we can think of regarding the freedom of children is their free will of spending money. Parents shouldn't allow their children to spend money on whatever they want. I think children are given too much freedom not only by their parents, but also by the society. The latter is more to be blamed! It seems that the writer agrees that students _ . A should stay at home on weekends B can wear trendy clothes at school C had better wear school uniform at school D can be allowed to go out in the evenings Answer: C It happened to me recently that I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of the current US President. The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, "a wonderfully written book." However, he then _ to talk about Mr. Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar . And it seems that he is not the only one. Clearly two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven't. In The World Book Day survey, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The survey lists top ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading. As I'm not one to lie too often, I'll admit here and now that I haven't read the entire ten books. But I am pleased to say that I have read the book at number one, George Orwell's 1984. I think it's absolutely outstanding. Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to. This could be difficult if the conversation became more in-depth! The World Book Day survey also has some other interesting information in it. It shows that many people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens and so on. But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, they named JK Rowling, Jilly Cooper, and Stephen King. Forty-one percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story. So which books have you lied about reading --if any -- and which is your favorite? The main reason why people lie about reading is to _ . A make fun of the listener B impress the listener C please the listener D interest the listener Answer: B The Nadam Festival, usually held from June 4 to 9(lunar calendar), is one of the most exciting and colorful festivals in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. At the center of the festivities are the fierce horse racing, archery and wrestling competitions, the traditional sports of the Mongolian warriors (the three "manly" sports, though young girls and women participate in the horse racing and archery contests). In Mongolian, the word "Nadam" means "amusement and entertainment" and the festival began in 1225 AD, when Genghis Khan organized an expedition to the west and got control of Khwarezm. In order to celebrate the victory they held the magnificent Nadam Fari. The Mongolians used this exciting gathering as a big occasion to compete in the horse racing, Mongolian wrestling and archery, which were regarded as the three basic skills of men. Gradually more and more events were added to the festival, such as marksmanship , chess, reciting epics, polo , film, drama, singing, dancing, track and field competitions and so on. There are three kinds of Nadam, the big one, the medium one and the small one. The big Nadam requires the participation of 512 wrestlers and 300 horses and usually lasts 7-10 days while the medium Nadam will have the participation of 256 wrestlers and 100-150 horses, lasting 5-7 days. And 64 or 128 wrestlers and 30 or 50 horses will take part in the small Nadam, which lasts 3-5 days. Anyone can apply to compete in Nadam, regardless of his or her ethnic origin and religious belief. Nadam has become a popular artistic and sports event participated in by people of all ages. Boys and girls can also take the opportunity to show their love, i. e. the so-called "meeting at aobao". In addition to sports competition, people also make good use of this gathering to hold talks and establish relations in economic trade or to interchange goods. It can be inferred that "meeting at aobao" expresses _ . A love of parents to kids B old friends' friendships C deep feelings between brothers D love between boys and girls Answer: D
Question: Doctor are known to Be terriBle pilots. They don't listen Because they already know it all. I was lucky: Became a pilot in 1970, almost ten years Before I graduated from medical school. I didn't realize then, But Becoming a pilot makes me a Better surgeon. I loved flying. As I flew Bigger, faster planes, and in worse weather. I learned aBout crew resource management , or CRM, a new idea to make flying safer. It means that crew memBers should listen and speak up for a good result, regardless of positions. I first read aBout CRM in 1980. Not long after that, an attending doctor and I were flying in Bad weather. The controller had us turn too late to get our landing ready. The attending doctor was flying; I was safety pilot He was so Busy Because of the Bad turn, he had forgotten to put the landing gear down. He was a Better pilot - and my Boss - so it felt unusual to speak up. But I had to: Our lives were in danger. I put aside my uneasiness and said, "We need to put the landing gear down now!" That was my first real lesson in the power of CRM, and I've used it in the operating room ever since. CRM requires that the pilot/surgeon encourage others to speak up. It further requires that when opinions are from the opposite, the doctor doesn't overreact, which might prevent fellow doctors from voicing opinions again. So when I'm in the operating room, I ask for ideas and help from others. Sometimes they're not willing to speak up. But I hope that if I continue to encourage them , someday someone will keep me from " ". What dose the author say aBout doctors in general? A. They like flying By themselves. B. They are unwilling to take advice. C. They pretend to Be good pilots. D. They are quick learners of CRM. Answer: B. They are unwilling to take advice. Question: On a lot of occasions, you have to make some public speaking. However, public speaking fills most people with dread. Humiliation is the greatest fear; self-exposure and failing to appeal to the audience come a close second. Women hate it most, since girls are pressurized from an early age to be concerned with appearance of all kinds. Most people have plenty of insecurities, and this seems like a situation that will bring them out. If you were under pressure to be perfect, you are terrified of failing in the most public of ways. While extroverts will feel less fear before the ordeal , it does not mean they will necessarily do it better. Some very shy people manage to shine. When I met the British Comedian Julian, he was shy and cautious, yet his TV performances are perfect. In fact, personality is not the best predictor of who does it well. Regardless of what you are like in real life, the key seems to be to act yourself. Actual acting, as in performing the scripted lines of a character other than yourself, does not do the job. While politicians may limit damage by having carefully rehearsed, written scripts to speak from, there is always a hidden awareness among the audience that the words might not be true. Likewise, the incredibly perfect speeches of many American academics are far from natural. You may end up buying their book on the way out, but soon afterwards, it is much like fast food, and you get a nameless sense that you've been cheated. Although, as Earl Spencer proved at his sister Princess Diana's funeral, it is possible both to prepare every word and to act naturally. A script rarely works and it is used to help most speakers. But, being yourself doesn't work either. If you spoke as if you were in your own kitchen, it would be too authentic, too unaware of the need to communicate with an audience. I remember going to see British psychiatrist R.D. Laing speak in public. He behaved like a seriously odd person, talking off the top of his head. Although he was talking about madness and he wrote on mental illness, he seemed to be exhibiting rather than explaining it. The best psychological place from which to speak is an unselfconscious self-consciousness, providing the illusion of being natural. Studies suggest that this state of "flow", as psychologists call it, is very satisfying. What is the author's view on personality? A. Extroverts are better public speakers. B. Introverts have to learn harder to be good speakers. C. Factors other than personality ensure better performance D. Personality is the key to success in public speaking Answer: C. Factors other than personality ensure better performance Question: How much pocket money do you get from your parents every month? Maybe 200 yuan? But for Li Beibei, 30 yuan each month is enough. The only thing she buys is lunch--1.5 yuan each day. "Meat is too expensive for me," said Li. Li, 14, is a Junior 1 student at Beijing's Xingzhi Experimental School. Her parents are migrant workers . They came to Beijing from a village in Luohe, He'nan two years ago. Her father now works as a cleaner and gets 500 yuan every month. Her mother has no job. Li Beibei has 460 friends at Xingzhi. Every day, Li gets up at 5:30 am and rides her bike for 20 minutes to get to school. Like many teens, Li has a lot of homework--usually at least one hour every day. But that is not all her work. During the weekdays she helps her mum cook. On weekends, she helps wash clothes. "I could cook when I was eight. Dad said sometimes I cook better than Mum!" Li said she wanted to be a doctor. "I watch TV and find out there are many people with AIDS in He'nan. Some are kids. They need help," said Li. But she is afraid to leave school. "I hope I will always be in school," said Li. "Dad works hard to get money. I promise him I will study hard to be a good student and a good doctor in the future." She spends _ on her homework everyday. A. 20 minutes B. over one hour C. half an hour D. two hours Answer: B. over one hour Question: A small town in southwest Britain is banning plastic bags in an attempt to help the environment and cut waste--a step that environmentalists believe is a first for Europe. Shopkeepers in Modbury population 1500,agreed to stop handing out _ plastic bags to customers on Saturday.They said paper sacks and cloth carrier bags would be offered instead. Last month,San Franciso became the first U.S. city to ban plastic grocery bags.Internationally,laws to discourage the use of plastic bags have been passed in parts of South Africa and Ireland,where governments either tax shoppers who use them or fine companies that hand them out.Bangladesh already bans them,and so do at least 30 remote Alaskan villages. Modbury,about 225 miles southwest of London,has also declared a bag amnesty ,allowing local people to hand in plastic bags that have piled up at home.They will be sent for traveling. The Modbury ban was the idea of Rebecca Hosking,who saw the effect of bags on marine life while working in the Pacific as a wildlife camerawoman.She said response in the town so far had been "really positive". "Modbury is quite an old-fashioned town and a lot of people have wicker baskets to go out shopping anyway,"Hosking told Sky News Television. The Worldwatch Institute,an environmental research agency,states that 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away each year in the United States alone.More than 500 billion are used yearly around the world. What was Rebecca Hosking? A. A lawyer. B. An environmentalist. C. A sailor. D. A photographer. Answer: D. A photographer. Question: Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are busy earning money. They don't act in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV. My father has a bad temper. When he's tired from the hard work, it is easy for him to lose his temper. One day, my mother was sewing a quilt . "Mom, may I ask you a question?" I said. "What?" "Is there love between you and Dad?" I asked her in a very low voice. My mother stopped her work and raised her head in surprise. She didn't answer immediately. Then she continued to sew the quilt. I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her. But at last I heard my mother say the following words: "Susan, look at the thread . Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. It makes the quilt strong. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen, but it's really there. Love is inside." I couldn't understand her until the next spring. My dad got sick suddenly. My mum had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned, they both looked very pale. _ . After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father walk slowly on the country road. The doctor had said my father would recover in two months. But after two months he still couldn't walk by himself. All of us were worried about him. "Dad, how are you feeling now?" I asked. "Susan, don't worry about me," he said gently. "I just like walking with your mom. I like this kind of life." Looking at his eyes, I knew he loves my mother deeply. Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But now, I understand that love is just like the thread. Love is inside, making life strong and warm. The writer felt worried because _ . A. her mum was angry with her B. her mum didn't know how to answer the question C. she thought she hurt her mum's heart D. her mum's answer was hard to understand Answer: C. she thought she hurt her mum's heart
Proper arrangement of classroom space is important to encouraging interaction. Most of us have noticed how important physical setting is to efficiency and comfort in our work. College classroom space should be designed to encourage the activity of critical thinking. We are in the 21stcentury now, but step into almost any college classroom and you _ . Desks are normally in straight rows, so students can clearly see the teacher but not all their classmates. The assumption behind such an arrangement is obvious: Everything of importance comes from the teacher. With a little imagination and effort, unless desks are fixed to the floor, the teacher can correct this situation and create space that encourages interchange among students. In small or standard-size classes, chairs, desks, and tables can be arranged in a variety of ways: circles, U-shapes or semicircles. The primary goal should be for everyone to be able to see everyone else. Arrangement of the classroom should also make it easy to divide students into small groups for discussion or problem-solving exercises. Small classes with movable desks and tables present no problem. Even in large lecture halls, it is possible for students to turn around and form groups of four or six. Breaking a class into small groups provides more opportunities for students to interact with each other, think out loud, and see how other students' thinking processes operate---all these are essential elements in developing new modes of critical thinking. In courses that regularly use a small group format, students might be asked to stay in the same small groups throughout the course. A colleague of mine, John, allows students to move around during the first two weeks, until they find a group they are comfortable with. John then asks them to stay in the same seat, with the same group, from that time on. This not only creates a comfortable setting for interaction but helps him learn students' names and faces. The final purpose of arranging desks in circles or U-shapes is _ . A. for teachers to divide students into small groups B. to make it possible for students to interact with each other C. for teachers to find out how students think D. to give students more opportunities to practice speaking Answer: B. to make it possible for students to interact with each other I am a middle school student. I like fashionable clothes. I like wearing a scarf . I like red shirts and I have curly hair. They all look cool. My parents and teachers sometimes ask me not to do so, but I don't mind. These are my own( )things. Don't you think so? ---------Sally My uncle is 40 years old He works for a magazine . He writes articles for children. He visits many places and talks with many children. He thinks children should not watch TV too much and some TV shows are not good for them. --------Barry I study in a middle school. I have many rules at school. I can't be late for school,l have to wear a school uniform at school. I can't eat or sing in the classroom. Miss Yang,our English teacher,is very strict with us. ---------- Mona ,. Mona can _ . A. be late for school B. wear a school uniform at school C. eat or sing in the classroom D. wear her own clothes at school Answer: B. wear a school uniform at school Do you know how much tropical rainforest is being destroyed each day around the world, and for what purpose(s)? Putting down exact numbers is nearly impossible, but most experts agree that we are losing upwards of 80,000 acres of rainforests daily. Along with this loss and degradation , we are losing some 135 plant, animal and insect species every day-- or some 50,000 species a year-- with the forests'fall. According to researcher and writer Rhett Butler, tropical rainforests play a key role in the basic functioning of the planet. They help keep the climate normal by regulating atmospheric gases and rainfall. Rainforests are also home to some 50 percent of the world's species, making them an outdoor biology library. Environmentalists also point out that a quarter of our modern _ are got from the rainforest, but only less than one percent of the trees and plants in the tropics have been tested for curing diseases. Sadly, then, we don't really know the true value of what we're losing as we cut down and burn them. Overall tropical degradation rates during the past 10 years are 8.5 percent higher than those during the 1990s. This figure is for all forests in the world's tropics, but researchers believe the loss of ancient rainforests has increased by as much as 25 percent. Although the public is paying more attention to the importance of tropical rainforests, deforestation rates are actually on the rise, mostly due to activities such as cutting, developing agriculture, animal raising, construction and mining. Indeed, as long as money-seekers are allowed to enter these areas, and as long as the population of poor people continues to increase, tropical rainforests will continue to be destroyed. We can not make the poor rich quickly, but we can at least stop businessmen setting foot on these areas through laws. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Tropical rainforests, heart of the earth B. Tropical rainforests are calling for help C. How can we save tropical rainforests? D. Rainforests, good for all Answer: B. Tropical rainforests are calling for help You've heard the saying: if you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there. Thousands of successful people attribute (......) most of their success to goal setting. Knowing this, why don't the majority of people set goals? Goal setting starts within you. You have to believe it's possible to do a thing before you have a strong desire to write it down on paper and take steps to make it happen. How do you possibly bring yourself to believe in your own success? After all, so many of you have been at this success thing for a while and it still hasn't happened to you. Companies that you believed in and worked hard for have failed, your family and friends are waiting for you to "be realistic", and life just keeps giving you one blow after another. But there is a small fire burning inside you. You keep at it because all you know is you can't continue to get up every morning, go to work for someone else and allow them to determine how much you're worth each week which is far below your true value. So where do you go from here? Where do you start today? The road to inner belief in your success begins with you telling yourself every day, throughout the day, that you can do what you set out to do, you can have what you set out to get, and you can be that successful person you know that lives inside you. Yes, obstacles will come, doubters will be around, but don't you be one of them. Treat yourself like the person you love and care about most. If you had children who had a paper route and they wanted to accomplish a goal but they kept running into obstacles, what would happen? They would soon become discouraged with so many people telling them no. I'm not interested in what you have to offer. What would you say to your child? I'm sure it won't be the same thing you've been saying to yourself. Turn your words around. Speak those same words of encouragement you would speak to your discouraged child, to yourself. If you would never put a loved one down, especially when they are feeling discouraged, why would you do that to yourself? You have the power within to stop it right now and turn it around. Be committed from this point forward to speaking words of encouragement to yourself. The mind is an amazing thing. You can convince yourself of anything over time. If you repeatedly tell yourself every day, throughout the day, how successful you are, how capable you are, you will not only start to believe it, you will start to live it. According to the author, how should you treat yourself? A. Treat yourself like an innocent child. B. Treat yourself like a hero who can do everything. C. Treat yourself like a fool who can't achieve anything. D. Treat yourself like the person you care and love most. Answer: D. Treat yourself like the person you care and love most. My good friend Lucy has a big family. Many people are in her family: her grandparents, her parents, her uncle, her aunt, her two cousins and she. Alan and Gina are her grand-parents. Nick and Sonia are her parents. Paul is her uncle and Mona is her aunt. Dave is Paul and Mona's son. He is 12. Linda is Dave's sister. She is 10. Alan is Lucy's _ . A. grandfather B. father C. uncle D. brother Answer: A. grandfather
Once upon a time there was a boy named Ankit. One day he made a painting and he loved it so much. One night when he slept, an angel came and blessed his painting that it should come alive. He was always lonely. He always wanted a friend to talk to and share his work and secrets. Next morning when he woke up he heard some sounds near his painting. When he looked at the painting, he was surprised that it was talking! He thought that his wish had come true. The man in the painting needed food, water and clothes. The news of the magic painting _ all over the world. It even came in newspapers and in the news on TV. One night a thief came to steal the painting. The moment he came in front of the painting, the man in the picture shouted and said, "Help! Help, a thief!" The thief got scared and ran away. One day the painting said to Ankit that it wanted to be married. Then Ankit had to paint a woman. He made both the paintings marry and live happily ever after. His loneliness was also cured forever. When did the man in the painting shout at the thief? Answer: When the thief came near the painting. American teenager Thomas Cheatham had planned to study Latin during his sophomore year at Hebron High School in Texas. But when he learned that the school district was going to offer a Mandarin class, he quickly changed his mind. "I thought it (Mandarin) would be more beneficial than Latin," said Cheatham, who is now in his second year of studying the language. He speaks Mandarin to order food at Chinese restaurants and can read Face book posts from his Chinese-speaking friends. While it'a difficult language to master, the high school junior, who plans to study computer engineering, thinks it will be a valuable thing in his career. "Chinese is a good language to know, especially with China becoming a growing power," he said. Many experts agree that proficiency in a language spoken by a billion people worldwide will give American students an edge in the global economy. "People are looking at China as our next economic competitor, and interest in Mandarin is growing,'' said Marty Abbott, executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. ''We're seeing it in all parts of the country." The number of students studying Mandarin in public schools nationwide in grades 7 through 12 grew from 20,000 in 2004-2005 to 60,000 three years later, according to the council's most recent survey. Abbott estimates that as many as 100,000 students are now studying Mandarin, in public and private schools, throughout the nation. She said the US government has considered Mandarin to be an "important needs" language and provides professional development programs for teachers. "Our government wants to increase our language ability for national security and economic competitiveness," Abbott said. At the same time, the Chinese government is spreading knowledge of the Chinese language and culture through Confucius Institutes established in many states. The Confucius Institute at the University of Texas in Dallas, founded in 2007, opens Confucius Classrooms at 11 local public and private schools where more than 700 students are learning Mandarin. From the passage we know that the Confucius Institutes _ . Answer: have been established in many states in America Are you unsure of the future? Do you feel as if you have put in a lot of effort, yet you still haven't gotten anywhere? Are your relationships getting sour? If the answer to all these questions is yes, then you're in for some serious reflection.ks5u A negative perspective on life will definitely not do you any good.It will only stop you from achieving your goals, and will make you feel more and more unhappy.When you lack self-confidence, you tend to play safe and do just what is needed instead of exploring your full potentials .Your fears and self doubt are in fact the main _ that stop you from achieving success and keep you from living the life that you truly want.Understand this: the barrier to your happiness is your own insecurity and cowardly manner. How do you escape your self-bondage ? With the help of individuals who have gone through life's tragedies without being affected, such as Rebecca Richmond, a widely admired life coach, you can take hold of your life and transform yourself from being afraid into a person with a positive outlook who is ready to get hold of the bright future that awaits you.The most important thing that you need to realize is that you have the power to change your life.You can reach unimaginable heights if you only believe in your ability to do so.See the unlimited opportunities that are set before you.Take challenges as lessons that make you strong and mature. Do not let your painful past dictate the person that you would become.Open your eyes and see the beautiful person that you are.You deserve to live a better life -- one that is full of love, peace of mind, and prosperity. The author wrote this article mainly to _ . Answer: tell us how to get rid of our self-bondage Once a man was shipwrecked on a small, lonely island. There was no one living on this island, so he hoped that someone could come to save him. Every day he watched the sea, but no ships ever appeared. He thought he should do something to save himself. He built a little house out of wood. But one day, he arrived home to find his little house on fire. The smoke rose to the sky. He cried,"God, how could you do this to me?" Early the next day, however, a ship was coming to the island. It came to save him. "How did you know I was here?"The man asked these people."We saw your smoke signal ,"they answered. It is easy to get _ when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because hope is at work in our lives. Remember, next time your little house is burning to the ground, it just may bring you better luck. Why did the man stay on this island? Answer: His ship had an accident at sea. In Google's vision of the future, people will be able to translate documents instantly into the world's main languages with machine logic, not expert linguists, leading the way. Google's approach, called statistical machine translation, differs from past efforts in which it does without language experts who program grammatical rules and dictionaries into computers. Instead, they feed documents humans have already translated into two languages and then rely on computers to decide patterns for future translations. Though the quality is not perfect, it is an improvement on previous efforts at machine translation, said Franz Och, 35, a German who heads Google's translation effort at its Mountain View headquarters south of San Francisco. "Some people who have been in machine translations for a long time see our Arabic-English output, and then they say, that's amazing; that's a breakthrough ." Said Och. "And then other people who have never seen what machine translation was read through the sentence and they say, the first mistake here in Line Five-it doesn't seem to work because there is a mistake there." But for some tasks, a mostly correct translation may be good enough. Speaking over lunch this week in a Google cafeteria famed for offering free, healthy food, Och showed a translation of an Arabic Web news site into easily digestible English. Two Google workers speaking Russian at a nearby table said, however, that a translation of a news site from English into their native tongue was understandable but a bit awkward. Och, who speaks German, English and some Italian, feeds hundreds of millions of words from parallel texts such as Arabic and English into the computer, using United Nations and European Union documents as key sources. Languages without considerable translated texts, such as some African languages, face greater obstacles. "The more data we feed into the system, the better it gets." said Och, who moved to the United States from Germany in 2002. The program applies statistical analysis, an approach he hopes will avoid diplomatic embarrassing mistakes in diplomatic situations, such as when Russian leader Putin's translator annoyed then German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder by calling him the German "Fuhrer ("leader" in English)," which is forbidden in that context because of its association with Adolf Hitler. "I would hope that the language model would say, well, Schroeder is...very rare but Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schroeder is probably 100 times more frequent than Fuhrer and then it would make the right decision." Och said. We can learn from the passage that users _ . Answer: hold different opinions towards Google's new approach
Question: There was a man who had a little son. He loved him very much. Every day after work the man would come home and play with the little boy. When the man came home from work one night, he found that he had some extra work to do. And he wasn't able to play with his little son. He wanted to give the boy something to keep him busy. So, looking around his study, he saw a magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an idea. He patiently tore the map up into pieces. Then he led his son into the dining room and spread the pieces on the table. He explained to the boy that it was a map of the world. He told the boy to put it back together and they could play together when he finished. Surely this could keep the child busy for hours, he thought. After about thirty minutes, the boy came to the man and said, "Okay, it's finished, Dad. Can we play now?" The man was surprised, saying, "That's amazing! How did you do that?" The boy said, "It was easy. On the back of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together, the whole world appeared completely." What did the man ask his son to do? A. To read the magazine to find the map. B. To tear the map of the world up into pieces. C. To put the pieces of the map of the world back together. D. To clean the dining room first, and then read the map of the world. Answer: C. To put the pieces of the map of the world back together. Question: In 1977, Jack, an Italian-American who lived in San Francisco, flew from America to Italy to visit his s. On the way, the plane made a one-hour stop to refuel at the New York Airport. Thinking that he had arrived, Jack got out and spent three days in New York, believing he was in Rome. When his s were not there to meet him, Jack thought they had been caught in the heavy Roman traffic mentioned in their letters. While looking for their address, Jack could not help noticing that modernization had changed most, if not all, of the ancient city's landmarks. He also noticed that many people spoke English with strong American accent. However, he just thought that Americans got everywhere. He also believed that so many street signs were written in English especially for the Americans. Jack spoke very little English himself so he asked a policeman in Italian the way to the bus station. As chance would have it, the policeman came from Italy and replied in the same language. After twelve hours traveling round on a bus, the driver handed him over to a second policeman. After brief argument with the policeman, Jack was very surprised to find that the Rome police had employed someone who did not speak his mother tongue. Jack did not believe he was told that he was in New York. In order to get on a plane to San Francisco, the policeman raced him to the airport in a police car with sirens screaming. "See," he said to his interpreter. "I know I'm in Italy. That's how they drive." Where did Jack live? A. In Italy B. In San Francisco C. In New York D. The story doesn't mention Answer: B. In San Francisco Question: Different from popular thoughts, colds are not caused by bad weather. Colds are caused by viruses in the body, and you are better out on the snowy day than you are in a warm room, with your friends, who just may be passing the virus around. If you feel a chill when you are coming down with a cold, you are already sick. A chill is an early sign of the cold. The virus can spread through air when a cold - sufferer coughs or sneezes. Surprisingly, this is not the most usual way of spreading, Many studies have now shown that most colds are " caught " by hands. A cold - sufferer rubs her nose, so spreading the virus to her hand. Then a friend comes to visit her. They shake their hands. The friend then gets something to eat by hand, and several days later she catches a cold. Although some parents pick up their children's tissues and carefully throw them away, they fail to wash their hands. They'll catch the colds, too. Cold viruses can also be spread by objects, for example, telephones, plates. The cold - sufferer as well as other members of the house, by washing their hands often, will stop the viruses from spreading in a way . Colds are caused by _ . A. bad weather B. viruses C. chill D. your friends Answer: B. viruses Question: Most American students have to say goodbye to fancy fruits these days. In school restaurants across the country, cheaper fruits like apples and oranges have taken their place. "People are afraid to spend now." said Linda Morrow, who owns a shoe and handbag store. "They don't know what the future will bring". During the financial crisis , several of the country's biggest banks have been forced to sell or close. This has made lots of Americans afraid to buy expensive things. The crisis began last year. Experts think it was because US banks lend money too easily. Last year a lot of people and companies, who borrowed money, found themselves unable to pay it back. This left the banks, as well as the people who put their money in the banks, without money. Since the banks borrowed money between themselves and even across borders , the whole world was in trouble. This month the US government agreed on a $700 billion plan to try to save the financial market. But no one is sure whether it will help or not. Last week presidents from 20 countries promised to work together to find a way out of the money trouble. From the passage, we still don't know _ . A. when the financial crisis began B. when the financial crisis will end C. why some of the US banks closed D. whether the crisis has spread to other countries Answer: B. when the financial crisis will end Question: It was the day when the UPSR results would be released. Sleepless nights, pounding hearts... Pupils were laughing with their peers or talking non-stop as their eyes searched for their parents. They looked pale, as if someone had squeezed the air from their lungs. Now I was among the anxious parents. I sat behind my daughter. She looked back, saw me and waved. I nodded. As the teachers walked in, the noise subsided. The year's results were read out. Then came the moment of truth. Pupils who had scored 5As were called out one by one and each of them stepped up on stage. When my daughter went up, I felt fine, but she was crying. I wondered why; maybe she didn't expect to score 5As. Anyway, I said a thankful prayer quietly. After the last name was called, what I saw made an impact on me. One mother just dashed from the back, crying. I thought she was the parent of the last pupil, but I was wrong. She hugged her daughter seated in the front row, saying it was all right that she hadn't scored all As. Her kid was crying. This morn kissed her daughter's forehead and walked straight to the back of the hall, wiping her tears as she walked. She didn't care about the other parents looking at her. How much pressure do we put on these 12-year-olds? All they did was studying and doing endless homework and countless practice questions. Where was the joy that they rightfully needed? As a parent, I think scoring top marks is not the main thing in life. Survival skills are more important than just chewing school texts and regurgitating them in an exam. So let your kids be kids. Let them play, cycle and climb trees. They will be children only once in their lifetime, so don't rob them of their childhood. Let's teach our kids how to be human, how to interact with others, how to help others and recognize "bad people". Teach them how to survive in this cruel world! How did most parents feel when waiting for the UPSR results? A. Hopeful. B. Excited. C. Anxious. D. Disappointed. Answer: C. Anxious.
When Jeanne Calment entered the world in 1875, telephones and automobiles still lay in the future. Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso were not yet born. The Eiffel Tower was 14 years from being built. As a teenager, she met Vincent Van Gogh, near her home in Arles, in the south of France. He was "very ugly, ungracious , impolite, sick--I forgive him, they called him loco ", she recalled. When she died last week at age 122, she was the world's eldest person. (There are others who claimed to the title, but only Calment had the official documents to prove her age.) Each February 21, her birthday, she would share the secrets of long life. Some years it was "a sense of humour", others it was "keeping busy". "God must have forgotten me," she once explained. The truth probably was that she had good genes: her mother reportedly lived to be 86 and her father 94. Her life had its sadness: she outlived her husband, her only daughter and her grandson. According to a friend, she was _ . "If you can't do anything about it," she reportedly said, "don't worry about it." In her last years she was nearly blind and deaf, but her health remained good. She ate a few bars of chocolate each week and continued smoking until a few years ago, when she could no longer light her own cigarettes. She never lost her sense of humour. On her 110thbirthday, she commented, "I've only ever had one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it. "Her longevity made her famous; her spirit made her eternal . The author believed that Calment's longevity is mainly due to _ . A a sense of humor B being kept busy C belief in God D good genes Answer: D The dispersal of what has a positive impact on plants? A leaves B bark C branches D kernels Answer: D Every year, we celebrate many special days-Mother's Day, Father's Day, and New Year's Day. In some countries, there is a special day for playing tricks on others. In North America and parts of Europe, this day is known as April Fool's Day, and is celebrated on April 1. Many people believe that the French started April Fool's Day. Centuries ago, New Year's Day in Europe was April 1. In 1582, the calendar changed and King Charles IX of France moved it to January 1. Some people did not like this, and chose to keep April 1 as New Year's Day. Many called these people 'April fools' and played jokes and tricks on them. Over time, April 1 became a day to have fun in France. It then spread to England and Scotland, and later, to North America. On April Fool's Day, jokes are common. In the United States, for example, a person may move a friend's clock ahead one hour, or change the sugar and salt. In Scotland, April Fool's Day lasts for two days. The second day is called 'Taily Day'-for one's 'tail'. On this day, people might secretly put a sign saying 'kick me' on a person's back or behind. Other countries have their own 'Fool's Day'. In Spain and Mexico, people play tricks on each other on December 28. In India, it happens on March 31. In many countries around the world, April 1 is a day of fun. Jokes bring about a lot of laughter, and many shouts of 'April Fool'! People are allowed to _ while celebrating 'Fool's Day'. A kick your friends in the behind B move a friend's clock ahead one hour C play jokes and tricks on your friends D take a holiday from work for two days Answer: C Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people. Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals that may help stop the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea's effect on everything from cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far. They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop "functional disability", or problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing. Specifically, almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups a day. The study did not prove that green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. Green-tea lovers generally had healthier diets, including more fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as more education, lower smoking rates, fewer heart attacks and strokes, and greater mental sharpness. They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on. But even with those factors accounted for, green tea itself was tied to a lower disability risk, the researchers said. People who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day. Those people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk. Although it's not clear how green tea might offer a buffer against disability, Tomata's team did note that one recent study found green tea extracts seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women. While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts, they do contain caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K, which means it could affect drugs that prevent blood clotting . What have the Researchers discovered? A Those who drank green tea can't develop "functional disability". B Green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. C How green tea might offer a buffer against disability. D Green tea extracts seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women. Answer: D American schools begin in September after a long summer holiday. There're two terms in a school year. The first term is from September to January, and the second term is from February to June. Most American children begin to go to school when they're five years old. Most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they finish high school. High school students take only five or six subjects each term. They usually go to the same classes every day, and they have homework for every class. After class, they do a lot of interesting things. After high school, many students go to college . They usually have to pay a lot of money. So, many college students work after class to get money for their studies. In America, schools begin in _ after summer holiday. A July B September C May D February Answer: B
More than 6000 children were expelled from US schools last year for bringing guns and bombs to school, the US Department of Education said on May 8. The department gave a report on the expulsions as saying handguns accounted for 58 percent of the 6093 expulsions in 2005--2006, against 7 percent for rifles or shotguns and 35 percent for other types of firearms. "the report is a dear sign that our nation's public schools are cracking down" on students who bring guns to school, " Education Secretary Richard Riey said in a statement. "We need to be tough-minded about keeping guns out of our schools and do everything to keep our children safe." In March 2006, a 1l-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy using handguns and rifles shot dead four children and a teacher at a school in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In October, two were killed and seven wounded in a shooting at a Mississippi school. Two months later, a 14-year-old boy killed three high school students and wounded five in Daducab, Kentucky. "Most of the expulsions, 56 percent were from high schools, which have students from about age 13, 34 percent were from junior high schools and 9 percent were from elementary schools", the report said. From this passage we know that _ . A every American cannot have guns B only soldiers and police can have guns C every American citizen can own guns D teachers have no money to buy guns Answer: C. every American citizen can own guns A young man who lived in London was in love with a beautiful girl. Soon she became his fiancee. The man was very poor while the girl was rich. The young man wanted to make her a present on her birthday. He wanted to buy something beautiful for her, but he had no idea how to do it, as he had very little money. The next morning he went to a shop. There were many fine things there: gold watches, diamond... but all these things were too expensive. There was one thing he could not take his eyes off. It was a beautiful vase. That was a suitable present for his fiancee. He had been looking at the vase for half an hour when the manager of the shop noticed him. The young man looked so pale, sad and unhappy that the manager asked what had happened to him. The young man told him everything. The manager felt sorry for him and decided to help him. A bright idea struck him. The manager pointed to the corner of the shop. To his great surprise the young man saw a vase broken into many pieces. The manager said: "When the servant enters the room, he will drop it." On the birthday of his fiancee the young man was very excited. Everything happened as had been planned. The servant brought in the vase, and as he entered the room, he dropped it. There was horror on everybody's face. When the box was opened, the guests saw that each piece was packed separately . Why did the young man want to buy a present for the girl? A He wanted to give her a Christmas present. B He fell in love with her. C Her birthday was coming soon. D They were going to get married. Answer: C. Her birthday was coming soon. I used to watch her from my kitchen window. She seemed so small as she muscled her way through the crowd of boys on the playground. The school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids as they played during break. I remember the first day I saw her playing basketball. I watched in wonder as she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump shots just over their heads and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her but no one could. I began to notice her at other times, basketball in hand, playing alone. One day I asked her why she practiced so much. Without a moment of hesitation she said, "I want to go to college. The only way I can go is to get a scholarship. I am going to play college basketball. I want to be the best. My Daddy told me if the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." Well, I had to give it to her--she was determined. I watched her through those junior high years and into high school. Every week, she led her school team to victory. One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head in her arms. I walked across the street and sat down in the cool grass beside her. Quietly I asked what was wrong. "Oh, nothing," came a soft reply, "I am just too short." The coach told her that at 5'5" she would probably never get to play for a top ranked team--much less offered a scholarship--so she should stop dreaming about college. She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I sensed her disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet. She told me that her father said those coaches were wrong. They just did not understand the power of a dream. He told her that if she truly wanted a scholarship and that nothing could stop her except one thing -- her own attitude. The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game, she was offered a scholarship and on the college team. She was going to get the college education that she had dreamed of. Which word can best describe her father? A Encouraging. B Optimistic. C Stubborn. D Cruel. Answer: A. Encouraging. Most middle school students find it boring to learn math. But students in Yet Sen Middle School in New York, US, don't think so. Why? Because they are in the school of One Program, which asks students to work on their own or in small groups on computers to have math lessons. "The program gives the students a new learning style. No traditional classroom can compare with it. We give each lesson according to the students' interest and their strong and weak points, "said Joel. Klein, the school's headteacher, "We're looking for a new way that interests students. " Students enjoy these math lessons, especially lessons with video games. They must find out the answers to math problems to get through the game. One such game is Dimension M. As students move through mazes with their keyboards, some questions come up. Caleb Deng had to answer the question: What is 5+(6x3)? He _ on paper quickly because there was just a minute left to play. "I was right, "said Deng, 14, as he ended the game with a high score . "This really makes math lessons more exciting, since we are fighting to learn better. " Students in Yet Sen Middle School like math because _ . A they work in large groups B they can work on computer C the teachers are interesting D math questions are easy there Answer: B. they can work on computer Mr. Hunt was living in a village and he wanted to go to an office one day. He got into his car and drove to the city. He went there without any trouble and stopped in front of the door. He locked his car and started to go into the office, but then he turned around and went back to his car. "I've left my keys in it!" he said to himself. Then he called his wife and said, "Excuse me, but I've locked my keys in my car, please bring your keys to me." Mrs. Hunt got into their second car and drove thirty kilometers to her husband. But while Mr. Hunt was waiting, he walked around his car and tried the other door. It was not locked. He locked it quickly before his wife arrived. ,. Mr. Hunt went to the city _ . A by bus B by bike C in his car D by plane Answer: C. in his car
Once there were two crows whose opinions were always opposite. One day, one of the crows said to the other, " You should realize, of course, that I can fly much higher than you." " Don't be ridiculous ." the other crow said. " Everyone knows that I can fly much higher than you." "No, you can't" the first crow said. "Yes, I can" the second crow replied, and the argument went on and on. At last they decided to have a contest to solve the argument. " We will compete to find out who can fly higher while carrying a bag" the first crow said. They argued for some time because of the size of the bag, but at last _ . Then there was a further argument about what each bag would be filled with. Finally, they agreed that the first crow would fill his bag with cotton and the second crow would fill his with salt. The first crow thought he was clever to agree to this, because salt is much heavier than cotton. At last they were ready for the contest. Holding their bag in their mouths, they flew into the sky. They had not been flying for long. However, when it began to rain- as the second crow had expected it would. Can you guess who could fly higher? The two crows were arguing about _ Answer: who can fly higher People say time is . But to what. I do know that sometimes time "seems" to be moving slower. Remember Christmas Eve when you were a child? It was the longest night of the year. It lasted forever! And now it seems like I just paid my bill yesterday... and it's due again! People tell me all too frequently... I need more time! Oh, really?... Mother Teresa, Michelangelo, and Helen Keller all had 24 hours a day. Look what they did with their time! Is it that we need to manage our time better... or our priorities ? You've heard the expression "first things first". The first step in understanding the power of time is to understand that it is limited. Why is it then that some people get a lot more done? We know the answer. They use their time smartly. One day an expert on time management was speaking to a group of students and announced a quiz. He pulls out a wide-mouthed jar. Next,he places about a dozen fist-sized rocks, one at a time, into the jar, until no more will fit. "Is it full?" he asks. "Yes," responds the class. "Oh really?" he asks. So he takes out a bucket of gravel , which he manages to work down into the spaces between the larger rocks. "Is it full now?" he asks. Wising up, one answered, "Probably not." Sure enough . He takes out a bucket of sand, which he pours into the empty spaces. "Is it full now?" he asks. "No" reply the students confidently. So he takes a glass of water and fills it in. Then he asks, "What is my point?'' One said, "No matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!" "No," the speaker replied, "It tells us if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all." What are the big rocks? The things you should put in to your jar first. The rich don't get 25 hours and the poor don't get 23... we all get the same. Let's use them wisely! Invest your time wisely! The text is written mainly _ . Answer: to call on us to use our time in a smart manner If you want to be a Success,study at the University of Waikato is right for you. The university is internationally recognized for its excellence and achievements. It will help you develop advanced research skills. As a university student you can get first-class research facilities with trained teachers to help,support and advise you in your study. We pride ourselves on our high standards,our research success and our international recognition. For further information:inf @ waikato. ac. nz. Degree We offer a wide choice of bachelor's degrees for international students,which includes:Arts,Communication Studies,Social Sciences,etc. Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education are only for prefix = st1 /New Zealandcitizens. For further information:deg @ waikato. ac. nz. Tuition Fees Tuition fees are different from department to department,generally from $ 5,000 to $ 6,000 a year. For further information:tui @ waikato. ac. nz. Accommodation You can have a room in a 4-bedroom flat,which will cost about $ 100 a month with other regular living costs of about $ 150 a month for one person. For further information:acc @ waikato. ac. nz. Health The Student Health Service provides excellent medical services for students. The Medical Centre is open five days a week,including student holidays with four doctors and nurses to meet your medical needs. For further information:heal @ waikato. ac. nz. Sports The Centre is a great place to have sports activities. Trained exercise teachers can help you work out a training plan and keep you active. The sports hall has volleyball,basketball and indoor football courts and a swimming pool as well. There are also a large number of sports clubs at Waikato. For further information:sports @ waikato. ac. nz. If you want to get more information about arts,you can write to_. Answer: deg @ waikato. ac. nz Canadian scientists have found that the more emotional or mental challenges a person faces in a day, the less determined they become to work out physically. However, the findings should not stop us from keeping fit. Experts believe that willpower is like a muscle, and needs to be exercised to help one avoid the temptation spending a night on the couch instead. Kathleen Martin-Ginis, a professor of kinesiology-the science of movement--who led the study, says everyone has a limited amount of willpower, and that it will be reduced by stress. Miss Martin-Ginis, of Canada's McMaster University, explains," Cognitive tasks, as well as tasks such as regulating one's emotions, can reduce one's capacity to force oneself to exercise. " Her team of scientists performed a so-called "Stroop" test on volunteers to reach their conclusions. The experiment involved showing participants words associated with color1s but printed in different color1s-for example, the word "blue" written in red ink Participants were divided into two groups. One group was asked to name the color1 of the ink, instead to say the printed word, while the other wasn't Martin-Girus says, "After we used this cognitive task to use up their self-regulatory capacity, the participants didn't exercise as hard as those who had not performed the task " The more people concentrated on the cognitive task, the more likely they were to skip exercise sessions over the next eight week You only have so much willpower. However, there are ways to strengthen willpower. The study found the listening to music before going to the gym can help, as well as making a commitment to work out with friends. It also concluded that willpower can be stretched by constant cake, or forcing oneself to study an extra hour each night Martin- Ginis adds," There are strategies people can use to help revitalize themselves after they've used up their self-regulation Willpower is like a muscle: it needs to be used to stay strong. " According to the experts, human willpower _ . Answer: is weakened by stressful cognitive or emotional tasks Nursing at Beth Israel Hospital produces the best patient care. If we are to solve the nursing shortage. hospital administration and doctors everywhere would do well to follow Beth Israel's example . At Beth Israel each patient is assigned to a primary nurse who visits at length with the patient and constructs a full-scale health account that covers everything from his medical history to his emotional state. Then she writes a care plan centered on the patient's illness but which also includes everything else that is necessary. The primary nurse stays with the patient through his hospitalization. keeping track with his progress and seeking further advice from his doctor. If a patient at Beth Israel is not responding to treatment. it is not uncommon for his nurse to propose another approach to his doctor. What the doctor at Beth Israel has in the primary nurse is a true colleague. Nursing at Beth Israel also involves a decentralized nursing administration; every unit is a self-contained organization. There are nurse-managers instead of head nurses; in addition to their medical duties they do all their own hiring and dismissing, employee advising, and they make salary recommendations. Each unit's nurses decide among themselves who will work what shifts and when. Beth Israel's nurse-in-chief ranks as an equal with other vice presidents of the hospital. She is also a member of the Medical Executive Committee. which in most hospitals includes only doctors. A primary nurse can propose a different approach of treatment when Answer: the present one proves to be ineffective
If you plan on visiting to Fiji, you are probably looking for some fun things to do. Below are four unusual places. The Poseidon Resort The Poseidon resort is an underwater resort that gives visitors a beautiful view of sea life. This resort covers 255 acres. It's covered and surrounded by a lagoon that covers 5,000 acres and is about 90 feet under water, giving you a beautiful view of sea life right before your eyes. This resort even has a hotel for those who would prefer to have the unusual experience of sleeping and waking up to the beautiful scenery all around them. The Sabeto Mud Pool If you're looking for something unusual to do, you can't pass up the mud pool at Sabeto. It is located in a mountain range with a huge group of Geothermal pools full of nice, warm mud. Getting down and into the mud in the pool is believed to have benefits for healthy skin. This is unusual, but adults and especially kids will love it. Fire Walking Fire walking in Fiji is believed to have originated on the island of Beau. Fire walking is when you walk on white-hot stones barefoot. To do this, you have to be mentally prepared for it. Trust me; there is a lot of preparation and strict rules that travelers follow in order to do this safely. The Fiji Museum The Fiji museum is unusual due to all the amazing _ you'll see dating back 3,000-4,000 years. This museum has a certain attraction that makes it funny--a shoe. It's been said that a man named Thomas Baker was eaten by the locals several centuries ago and the only thing left was his shoe. This museum is a great idea if you bring the whole family to Fiji. Visitors who have the unusual experience of sleeping at the Poseidon resort can _ . Answer: see sea life around them in the room If a person is lacking a skeletal system they are Answer: spineless Chinese people call the Spring Festival"Nian". But do you know that Nian was once the name of a monster ? A long time ago, the monster Nian lived in the mountains. It ate animals. But in winter, it could not find food. So it came to villages and ate a lot of people. People were so afraid of Nian that they locked their doors before evening came during the winter. One day, an old man came to a village. He told people there that Nian was afraid of three things----the color red, fire and noise. He told people to play drums and gongs, make big fires and set off fireworks to make Nian go away. On a moonless, cold night, Nian went to the village again. As soon as it opened its big mouth, people made loud noises and made fires. Nian was really afraid and ran away. wherever it went, there was noise and fire. When Nian was tired and could not run anymore, people killed the monster. After that, on the coldest day of winter, people beat drums and gongs, and set off fireworks to celebrate the death of the monster of Nian. They put up red lanterns and have a big dinner without sleeping during the night. In the morning people greet each other happily. So now we have the Spring Festival. What is the best title for the passage? Answer: How the Spring Festival Came Strong Museum Hours Monday---Thursday: 10:00 am---5:00 pm Friday: 10:00 am---8:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am -- -5:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am---5:00 pm Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Museum Shop is open during regular museum hours. The Museum Library is open during Monday---Friday: 10:00 am---5:00 pm. The Skyliner Restaurant is open during regular museum hours from Monday to Saturday, and from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday. Admission Adults: $7.00 The aged and students with ID: $6.00 Strong Museum offers a 50% discount to groups of 20 or more. If a group of 30 students with ID visit strong Museum, how much should they pay for the admission? Answer: $ 90 Good afternoon,and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today,I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws. The first one is about drinking. Now,you may not buy alcohol in this country if you are under 18 years of age,nor may your friends buy it for you. Secondly,noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means,but please don't make unnecessary noise,particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet. Thirdly,crossing the road. Be careful!The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings and do not take any chances when crossing the road. My next point is about litter (throwing away waste material in a public place).It is an offence to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away,please put it in your pocket and take it home,or put it in a litter bin. Finally,as regards something,it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age. I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance,you should _ your local police station,who will be pleased to help you. Now,are there any questions? The main purpose of this speech would be to _ . Answer: give advice to travelers to the country
Question: More than seven hundred years ago, the Prince of Wales had a very big and brave dog called Gelert. One day the Prince wanted to go hunt-ing with his men. He told his dog to stay at home and look after his baby son. The baby was in a wooden cradle, which was like a small bed. When the Prince came back from hunt-ing, Gelert ran out to meet his master. He wagged his tail and jumped up to put his paws on the Prince's chest. Then the Prince saw the blood on Gelert's jaws and head. "What have you done?" the Prince said. He rushed into his house and looked for his baby son. The cradle was lying on its side on the floor. The clothes were torn and there was blood on them. "So you have killed my son?" the Prince said angrily. "You unfaithful dog!" He took out his sword and killed the dog. Just as Gelert was dying, he managed to bark. Then the Prince heard a baby call to the dog. The Prince ran out of the house and saw his son lying on the ground unhurt. Near him was a dead wolf. Then the Prince knew that Gelert had defended the baby and killed the wolf. The Prince ran back into the house but he was too late. Gelert was dead. The Prince was very sad indeed. Tears ran down his face when he realized 'he had killed his faith-ful friend. The Prince carried the body of his brave dog to the top of a mountain and buried him there. After this, the Prince never smiled again. Every morning at dawn, he walked up the mountain and stood by the dog's grave for a few minutes. If you go to Mount Snowdon in Wales, people will show you where Gelert is buried. There is a sign by his grave. It reminds peo-ple of a brave and faithful dog. The dog was very _ when his master came back from hunting. A. glad B. fearful C. afraid D. tired Answer: A Question: Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore, died on Monday, March 23, 2015, at the age of 91, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. Lee, a Cambridge-educated lawyer, is widely credited with building Singapore into one of the world's wealthiest nations. He co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore since 1959 and led the newly born country when it was separated from Malaysia in 1965. In Beijing's eyes, Lee Kuan Yew, the late founding father and leader of Singapore, was not only "an old friend of the Chinese people", but also "the founder of China-Singapore relations", according to China's previous official news releases about his visits. Chinese media estimated that he had been to China more than 20 times, and he was known for his good personal relations with China's top figures, especially former leader Deng Xiaoping. Zhang Jiuhuan, the Chinese ambassador to Singapore from 2000 to 2004, noted that "it was a _ case" at the time that a foreign prime minister would visit China, as Lee did in 1976, in the absence of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Deng then paid back the visit, going to Singapore in 1978, in what Zhang described as a sensational trip. Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing, noted that Lee's No 1 contribution to China was his efforts in "sharing Singapore's successful experience in governance", adding that "China has benefited a lot" from this. The China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park, inaugurated in February 1994 in Jiangsu province in East China, was proposed by Lee, who even went to the city in 1992 to inspect the site for the park. Now, with the park serving as a role model for China's economic cooperation with foreign countries, more such industrial parks hosted or co-hosted by China have been established domestically and abroad. Where is the passage probably from? A. A story book B. A science book C. A newspaper D. A magazine Answer: C Question: A Special Appointment Years ago I moved to Woodland Hills to take a job in a small hospital's emergency department.No one wanted to work on Christmas Eve, so the shift went to me.I kissed my family goodbye and went off to spend the night in the hospital.It was a thankless job. At 9 pm, the ambulance brought in a man in his 60s who was having a heart attack.His face was pale, and he was frightened. The whole night I did my best to save his life.Before I left in the morning to spend Christmas with my family, I stopped by to see how he was doing.It was still tough, but he had survived the night and was sleeping. The following year I got Christmas Eve duty again.At 9 pm sharp, the ward clerk told me there was a couple who wanted to speak with me.When I approached them, the man introduced himself as Mr.Lee and said, "You probably don't remember me, but last Christmas Eve you saved my life.Thank you for the year you gave me." He and his wife hugged me, handed me a small gift, and left. The following year a new doctor had joined the group, but I wanted to see if Mr.and Mrs.Lee would return.This time, I volunteered for the shift.I kept an eye on the door.Once again, at exactly 9 pm, the Lees appeared, carrying a warmly wrapped bundle.It was their new grandchild. Mr.Lee, his family and I spent 13 Christmas Eves together.In the later years the staff all knew about the story and would work to give me time with him in the break room, where we spent a half-hour each Christmas Eve. The last year I saw him, he brought me a gift.I carefully opened the package and found a crystal bell inside.It was engraved with a single word: Friendship.Now, my family, friends and I ring that bell every Christmas Eve at exactly 9 pm and offer our best wishes to the man who we won't forget. According to the passage, the author formed a habit of _ . A. celebrating Christmas Eve with her family B. giving Christmas gifts to the hospital staff C. spending Christmas Eve with Mr.Lee in hospital D. ringing the bell for patients in the emergency department Answer: C Question: For the kids in Matt Marciano's sixth-grade social studies class, Thanks-giving is a time for great ideas. "We look at different foods that people eat around the world," says Marciano. "The lesson," he explains, "teaches students to admit that some people are unlucky. And it also gets them thinking about Thanksgiving, about their lives, and about their biggest homework of the year--to find a way they can change the world." Last year, 12-year-old Christian D. taught basic soccer skills to 63 kids with cancer. Christian's classmate Brianna used the money she had raised to buy 56 teddy bears. She donated them to a woman's shelter. Both students say the experience taught them something they'll never forget: When we give something to others, we're really giving thanks. And giving thanks feels good. "Helping the woman smile, if just for a day, made me feel like I could make a difference," Brianna says. "And it taught me that I should always be thankful for what I have." Brianna's happiness is something Jeffrey Froh knows about. Froh studies how gratitude affects a person's mind and attitudes. Those who are thankful are more likely to help others. Grateful people and kids in particular are healthier and happier than those who are not. "Grateful kids tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives," Froh says. "Kids who give thanks are happier with school, their families and their friends. Grateful children also feel less envy toward others, are less likely to be depressed and even do better in school." "To experience gratitude," says Froh, "a couple of things have to happen. First you have to notice that there is goodness in your life. Then you have to admit that the reason for that goodness lies partially outside of yourself." What's the main idea of the passage? A. Showing gratitude is a process of your mind activity. B. Be grateful for what you receive from other people. C. Saying thanks is an experience of feeling pleasure in life. D. Expressing gratitude makes you happier and healthier. Answer: D Question: It had been three months since Ms Miller had started teaching. She was gradually being able to understand all her students,except one,Bob. Bob was the only boy who came to school dressed untidily and sat in the class completely lost in his own world. His performance had been _ steadily with every single day. Ms Miller searched through the progress reports of Bob and was shocked to see Bob used to be the topper in his class. Bob's performance began to slowly decline when his mother fell ill.He was doing badly in each and every subject when his mother died leaving him alone with his father,who was a businessman and had to travel always. Apart from his performance worsening gradually,Bob's nature too began to change. He had forgotten to laugh and showed no interest in any activity. All his friends had abandoned him. One day,Bob was asked to stay back. Ms Miller asked him if he had any problem understanding his lessons. Gradually she began to give him a comfort zone so that he could talk and share. After three weeks,she found Bob gradually improving. He was being able to answer the questions he previously failed, Every day after all the students went away,Ms Miller gave personal attention to Bob and began to spend time with him. Bob improved a lot over the next semester,showing definite signs of progress in his performance. On a Friday,Bob came up to Ms Miller,handed her a box and requested her to open the box on Sunday. Sunday moming,curious,she opened it and saw a bottle of perfume,half filled. Together with it was a small letter,saying that this bottle of perfume used to be his mother's and he wished Ms Miller to wear it so that every time she was around,he could feel his Mom near him. He thanked her for everything. Ms Miller took the bottle of perfume in her hand and saw a new tag attached to it; it said "Happy Mother's Day" ! Ms Miller suddenly realized that it was not she who had made a difference to Bob's life but it was Bob who made her realize what true humanity is ! The bottle of perfume given to Ms Miller _ . A. was new and never used before B. was presented on Mother's Day C. made Bob a different student D. showed Bob was grateful for Ms Miller Answer: D
A piece of pizza is placed within a box and becomes this when something is conducted throughout the box into the food: toasted Here is a story told about an American general who was a very important figure in the American army during the First World War. Everybody in the United States knew him and many people wished to have a picture or something of his in their homes. Soon after the war the general returned to Washington. One day he went to a dentist and had six teeth pulled out. A week later the general heard that his teeth were being sold in curiosity shops as $ 5 each. On each of the teeth there was a label with the name of the general and words: "Buy these teeth and show them to your friends at home." The general got angry. He rushed to his office and ordered six officers to go around the city and buy all his teeth. The officers went out and visited every curiosity shop in the capital. They were away from the office all day. In the evening they returned and put on the table in front of the general the teeth they had bought. They had collected 175 teeth. The general ordered his men to _ . look for his teeth and buy all of them An artist went to a beautiful part of the country for a holiday, and stayed with a farmer. Every day he went out with his paints and brushes and painted from morning to evening, and then when it got dark, he went back to the farm and had a good dinner before he went to bed. At the end of his holiday he wanted to pay the farmer, but the farmer said, "No, I don't want money... but give me one of your pictures. What is money? In a week it will all be finished, but your painting will still be here." The artist was very pleased and thanked the farmer for saying such kind things about his pictures. The farmer smiled and answered, "It's not that. I have a son in London. He wants to become an artist. When he comes home next month, I'll show him your picture, and he will not want to be an artist any more, I think. " The artist lived with the farmer _ . for a holiday Baymax, a new Disney character, has made everyone like him and want to hug him. The big robot is from the Disney movie--- Big hero 6. He lives with a fourteen-year-old smart boy called Hiro Hamada. Baymax has helped Hiro get through hard times after Hiro's elder brother died in an accident. Soon Hiro finds that some bad people are behind his brother's death and want to take the city. To stop it , he uses his high-tech gadgets and turns Baymax and his four other friends into super heroes. The movie has received very good feedback . In February, the movie won the best animation feature of the 87thOscar Awards. Baymax has become popular thanks to his big soft body and his comforting voice. People say his love can be found on the screen. Mothers in Japan have started to make Baymax-sharped white rice balls for children. In China, fans warmly call him "the big white". The friendship between Baymax and Hiro makes many people cry in the cinema. As a nursing robot, Baymax is never designed to be a super hero. He dares to love you without expecting anything for himself. I think we all love him because of his love. Which one is the best title for this article? Love of a Robot China is the first developing country to host the Olympic Games in modern Olympic history. It hopes to learn from other countries that have held Olympic Games. As well as new buildings, the government wants more people to work in all the services in Beijing. There are a lot more people in the city, because of all the visitors to the Olympics. The city also need more places to eat and drink, because visitors eat out a lot. The government says the Beijing Olympics are "green", "hi-tech" , and "the People's Olympics". They want everyone to feel part of the Olympics. So the Chinese people have prepared for the Olympics too. Many people learn English to work as guides in 2008. The Beijing organizers make sure everything that is built for the Olympics can be used after the Games are over. So the Chinese people work for the Olympics and they can benefit from the Olympics too. When the Olympics are over, the people of Beijing can use the swimming pools and other Olympics sports centers. What does this passage want to tell us? Everyone in China should do something for the Olympics and can also get a lot from the Olympics.
(1) My name is Danny. I'm from England. I am eleven. I'm tall with black hair. I have two big eyes. My fax number is 010-74862635. (2) Hello! I am Jane. I'm from the USA. I have a round face and two big eyes. I'm short and thin. I'm twelve. My parents work in Beijing. (3) Look at the photo. Who's the girl in it? It's me, an English girl. My name is Amy. I'm in Grade Seven. I'm twelve. My home phone number is 022-43765986. I have a round face and long, black hair. I like Chinese very much, and I'm very good at it. (4). Who am I? I'm from Japan. My name is Yukio. I'm thirteen. Now I'm in Beijing. I'm short, and I'm very heavy . I have two short legs. _ are short. Answer: Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia .This name is a combination of"wiki" and "encyclopedia". Wiki is the Hawaiian word for quick. Wiki websites are designed to enable users to make addition or edit any page Of the site. Wikipedia has been accused of exhibiting systemic prejudice and mistakes.Critics argue that Wikipedia's open nature and a lack of proper sources for much of the information makes it unreliable, Mention Wikipedia within the walls of academy and you'll find no shortage of opinions.That-s no surprise.Can an online encyclopedia that is edited by anyone be trusted as a credible information source? Should students be encouraged to use this tool? And is it even possible to discourage its users? To find out, we performed a simple experiment.We selected 100 terms from the U.S.history textbooks, We chose a mix of items that students might be asked to research for a test or paper and we entered each item into Google to find out which websites the search engine suggests as the most useful links. The results are shocking. Google listed Wikipedia as the number one: 87 times out of 100. Several conclusions can be drawn from this finding. First, people searching for information about these historical terms are finding the entries from Wikipedia helpful.Second, 6'banning" the use of Wikipedia appears hopelessly simple-minded.Jimmy Wales, one of Wikipedia's founders, told the New York Times, "They might as well suggest not listening to rock & roll either". To our untrained eyes, the information from Wikipedia appeared just as reliable.The reason why the content is mostly reliable is probably that these terms are rather mainstream.The high-school level content is less likely to be wrong than the subjects studied in graduate schools. So when primary and secondary students are researching history, Wikipedia is still a proper place to start. What could be the best title for the passage? Answer: Are you stressed out, scared or worried all the time? Do you avoid going to certain places, seeing friends or doing certain things because of your worries? Do your worries keep you awake at night? If you've answered yes, you may be suffering from anxiety. Anxiety is a normal and necessary part of life. Anxiety is your brain's way of telling you about danger. It is anxiety which helps you jump out of the way if a car is speeding towards you. But if it gets out of hand, anxiety can get in the way of you getting on with life and can become a real problem. If this is the case for you, treatment may be a helpful way for you to get your anxiety under control. Anxiety is a normal part of life. Some people may feel uneasy if moving to a new place and some may get overly anxious in certain situations. There are lots of reasons for this. One main reason is after a stressful thing which has happened in your life. So, if you are involved in a car crash, it's quite likely that you will be more worried than other people around cars and driving. Being anxious also probably runs in families. If your parents suffer from anxiety then you are more likely to be anxious too. This is probably partly due to genetics, and partly because of how things are when you're growing up. Even though people don't talk about it much, anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems. About 1 in 4 people will have an anxiety problem at some time in their life. If you have an anxiety problem it's hard for other people to understand why something that doesn't worry them, like being in a crowd of people, can be so scary for you. This can make you feel separated and lonely, as may become worse and worse. The good news is there are lots of excellent treatments available for anxiety. These include talking therapies and drugs. The author will most probably talk about _ following this passage. Answer: The past week was possibly the most eventful in the history of customer technology markets,or to be precise, the 7-inch (17.8-cm) tablet market. Never before have three of thebiggest players in the industry scheduled what could be truly historic productlaunches so close together. Despite its name, the 7.9-inch iPad Mini is one of the largest among the mini-tablets. It's gotall the aesthetics of its earlier 9.7-inch iPad and is unbelievably thin-just 7.2 mm, 23 percentthinner than the iPad. Apple's iPad Mini Release date: Nov 2,2012 (Wi-Fi version) Operating system: iOS 6 Size: 19.9 x 13.5 x 0.7 cm Prices: $329 (16GB Wi-Fi), $429 (32GB Wi-Fi), $519 (64GB Wi-Fi), or $459 (16GB Data) $559 (32GB Data), $659 (64GB Data) Google may have been forced to cancel its Android event in New York City on Oct 29 due to the threat of hurricane Sandy, but that isn't stopping it from making same big announcements. For starters, Google has confirmed that the Nexus 10 will be running Android 4.2 out of the box, so get excited. It will also come equipped with a 10-inch display running at an impressive 2560x1600 resolution. On the inside, it'll have a A15 dual-core processor running alongside 2GB of RAM ,so expect the Nexus 10 to be a speedy little tablet. Google's Nexus 10 Release date: Nov 13,2012 Operating system: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Size: 26.4 x 17.8x0.9 cm Prices: $399 (16GB), $449 (32GB) Microsoft's Surface is a bold product with some great touches. It doesn't feature a camera and focuses on Office software, which suggests Microsoft is focusing this product on an executive toy. There's no 3G connection (only Wi-Fi) so owners won't have to worry about an extra contract. The real delight, however, is Metro, the impressive navigation interface .It is beautifully designed with brightly colored squares for navigation. Pre-orders for Surface in the US sold out over the weekend, so it would seem customers are excited. Microsoft's Surface Release date: Oct 26,2012 Operating system: Windows 8 RT Size: 27.5 x 17.2 x 0.9 cm Prices: $499 (32GB M-Fi) Which tablet with 32GB Wi-Fi is the most expensive? Answer: I've ridden a lot of buses in my time. There was the one in India that was so crowded, I had to climb onto the top just to breathe. Neither will I forget the bus in South Africa that was almost taken up by monkeys. No matter how entertaining they were at the time, none can compare to my first ride on what I now call the Leisure Village Local. When I first moved into Leisure Village, I didn't even know bus transportation was provided. Then I had an operation on my left foot and I couldn't drive. As I didn't want to keep making trouble for friends to shop for me, I decided to try out the Leisure Village Local. The next morning, undaunted, I stood with the support of my crutches and waited. Suddenly, the bus arrived. As soon as I boarded the bus, I discovered I was all by myself. Then the bus approached another stop, and four women climbed aboard. They sat next to me and introduced themselves. A few minutes later, we arrived at the Wal-Mart in Middle Island. As soon as we entered, one of my new friends showed me how to operate the motorized shopping cart . Another walked alongside the entire time, waiting to help if something was out of reach. One hour later, another insisted on carrying my bags onto the bus. And the fourth woman carried my bags to my front door when we got back. I thanked them all for their help, and told them I would see them soon. The next day morning, I found a brown paper bag at the front door. Inside was a giant bowl of chicken soup, and a note. "Get well soon." It was signed, "Your guardian angels." I rode the Leisure Village Local two more times later, but didn't see any of my guardian angels. Maybe they're helping someone else, I thought. Or, maybe they flew south for the winter. Which of the following can be the best title for the text? Answer:
trees will grow from Answer: hack berries Everyone knows that eating too much junk food is not good to our health. Yet, what is it about junk food that is so completely irresistible ? For one thing, it's everywhere. From chips in fast food restaurants to candy in supermarkets, junk food always seems available. Thankfully, science is now providing new clues to help us reduce snacking. Make friends with dainty eaters. Studies have found that people tend to increase or reduce the amount of food they eat depending on what their companions are taking in. See happy movies... and always get the smaller bag of popcorn . According to some experts, people eat up to 29% more popcorn if they are watching a sad or serious movie, compared to when they are watching a comedy. Viewers consumed almost 200 calories more when snacking from a large bucket, as opposed to when given a medium-sized container. Eat breakfast. Nutritionists have gone back and forth about the question of how much to eat in the morning, but new studies suggest that consuming a good breakfast is a must. Surveys on long-term weight-loss show that two key factors in keeping weight down are eating breakfast and exercising. Divide your food and conquer overeating. Any kind of dividing your food into portions slows down your eating. Any kind of marker makes you aware of what you're eating and of portion size. Researchers advise reallocating snack foods into small plastic bags. It sounds simplistic, but it works. What will he or she do if he or she wants to lose weight? Answer: To eat breakfast and exercise. Dear Mary, I must go to see your grandparents now.I prepare these things for you.Your dictionary is in the bookcase.Your schoolbag is on the sofa.Your pencil box,notebooks and your school card are in the schoolbag.Your jacket is on the chair.Don't _ your watch.It's on the desk. Love you. Mom Where is Mary's jacket? Answer: On the chair At Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, the lights are controlled by sensors that measure sunlight. They dim immediately when it's sunny and brighten when a passing cloud blocks the sun. A wall of windows at a University of Pennsylvania engineering building has built-in blinds controlled by a computer program that follows the sun's path. Buildings are getting smarter and the next generation of building materials is expected to do even more. Windows could catch the sun's energy to heat water. Sensors that measure the carbon dioxide breathed out by people in a room could determine whether the air conditioning needs to be turned up. Many new materials and technology have been designed in the last 15 years. They are now being used in a wave of buildings designed to save as much energy as possible. They include old ideas, like "green roofs", where a belt of plants on a roof helps the building keep heat in winter and stay cool in summer, and new ideas, like special coating for windows that lets light in, but keeps heat out. As technologies such as sensors become cheaper, their uses spread. The elevators at Seven World Trade Center, which is under construction in New York, use a system that groups people traveling to nearby floors into the same elevator, thus saving elevator stops. People who work in the building will enter it by swiping ID cards that will tell the elevators their floor, readouts will then tell them which elevator to use. The building also has windows with a coating that blocks heat while letting in light. More new building materials and technology are in development. A Philadelphia building firm is now working on "smart wrap" that uses tiny solar collectors to catch the sun's energy and transmitters as wide as a human hair to move it. They are expected to change the face of the construction industry in the next ten years or so. What might be the most suitable title for the text? Answer: Buildings Are Becoming Smarter One day King Solomon decided to _ Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, "Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it." "If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty," replied Benaiah, "I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?" "It has magic powers," answered the king. "If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy." Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of modesty. Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day's goods on a shabby carpet. "Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?" asked Benaiah. He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and carve something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity. "Well, my friend," said Solomon, "have you found what I sent you after?" All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone's surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, "Here it is, your majesty!" As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile disappeared from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: "gimel, zayin, yod", which began the words "Gam zeh ya'avor" -- _ At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and wealth and great power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust. The proverb "This too shall pass" means _ . Answer: All the glory and misfortune will pass in the end.
Question: Young American Volunteers If you have no special plans for your holiday, why not spend your time helping others? Don't listen to people who say that young people today often think only of themselves. It's not true at all. More and more young people in the USA volunteer to spend their school holidays working for others. And they don't do it for money. Here are some of their stories. Alice Hamilton, 17 I'm going to help the Forest Center build new hiking paths in the mountains. It's going to be terrific - I'll spend the whole summer living in a tent and breathing the clean mountain air. I'm going to sleep under the stars. It will be a nice sport, and I'll be able to do something good at the same time! Jason Moore, 18 This summer, I'm going to volunteer with Special House Program. They build good, low-cost houses and sell them to the families that are not very rich. They'll teach me what to do, so I'll help people and also have a chance to learn how to build houses. Trish Anderson, 16 I'm going to teach kids who have trouble reading. I'll work for a program called Reading For Life. Every day, I'm going to help kids choose and read books that they like. I want to be a teacher and I love children and reading, so this is going to be a great experience for me. . Young people in the USA volunteer to spend _ helping others. A. weekdays B. every morning C. every afternoon D. school holidays Answer: D Question: You may know about " junk food" like French fries. But do you know about "junk sleep"? Recently, a British survey found that electronic products in teenagers bedrooms are affecting their sleep. The survey was done among 1,000 British kids from 12 to 16. It found that thirty percent of them got just 4 to 7 hours sleep every day. But doctors say they need 8 to 9 hours. Almost a quarter of the kids said they fell asleep more than once a week while watching TV, listening to music or using other electronic products. "This is very worrying." Said Dr Chris Idzikowski, a British expert, "We call it 'junk sleep', It means you don't get enough sleep and the quality of the sleep is bad, too. If you don't get good rest, you don't perform well in school the next day." The survey found that 40 percent of the kids felt tired each day, with girls between 13 and 16 feeling the worst. Nearly all the teenagers have a phone, Mp4 or TV IN THEIR BEDROOM. And many of them have all three. Which of the following is the best solution to the problem? A. Parents watch TV together with their children B. Forbid teenagers to use any electronic product. C. Teenagers limit their use of the electronic products. D. The use of mobile phone and Mp4 is not allowed at school Answer: C Question: I believe children have a very pure sense of humor. Well, I would like to share my experiences with you. The other day when I was out with a friend and her daughter Jane at a restaurant, Jane ordered an apple dessert, which was the most attractive dish in that restaurant. However, when she had a bite of the pie, she shouted loudly, "Mom, why does it look good but tastes like rubber?" My friend was uneasy. Then the waiter gave us another dish. A child can say funny things. I was at a friend's home for tea and her son, Mark, wanted her to get up. His mom replied, "I can't, because my foot has fallen asleep now." Little Mark then sang a song and asked, "Mom, will it wake up now?" We laughed together. The other day we were having an interesting conversation over lunch and my friend, an animal activist , was arguing with another group member. Her son Tommy suddenly stood up, "Mom, people should never be allowed to shoot extinct animals!" That was funny and the child did manage to turn the argument into a pleasant conversation. Well, children sometimes really surprise us. I think we can have a lot to learn from them. They can help us understand the simple world through their eyes. What Tommy said made the whole group _ . A. have a pleasant conversation B. stop their conversation C. all argue with him at once D. stand up and laugh happily Answer: A Question: Eric and Doris King Turner are packing their bags for New Zealand. They're busy deciding what to pack and what to leave behind in Britain and are making plans to extend their new home in Nelson. Doris is looking forward to getting the garden into shape and Eric has his heart set on a spot of fly fishing. The difference is that Eric is 102, Doris is 87. Eric thinks he's Britain's oldest _ In January next year Eric King Turner and his wife of 12 years will wave goodbye to their neighbors, and set sail from Southampton on the voyage of a lifetime. The ocean liner Saga Rose will take six weeks to get to Auckland and the couple are expecting a red-carpet welcome from family. Doris was born in New Zealand but gave up her homeland when the couple met and married in the late 1990s. But New Zealand is close to both their hearts and the attraction of family and friends, and the good fishing helped to persuade them to move. Doris, who has five children and nine grandchildren, supported her husband's application to settle in New Zealand. The paperwork took five months. Eric says, "We not only had to produce a marriage certificate but we had to produce evidence that we were in a long and stable relationship!" He also said he was not asked about his age but had to show that he could support himself financially in New Zealand. "I like New Zealand. The way of life is very much the same as it is here but it is not so crowded." His wife has always been "a little bit homesick" but has never complained. Now the couple are in the middle of the task of sorting out possessions and selling their flat. The best title of the passage may be _ . A. Better late than never B. Eric and Doris King-Turner are packing their bags C. To leave or not to leave, that's the problem D. Eric, 102, leaves Britain with his wife Answer: D Question: Joan is an American girl. She lives in China now. She is in my class. Her parents work in China, too, but her brother works in the U.S.A. He often writes letters to them. Joan likes Chinese class very much, and likes speaking Chinese with us after class. Her father teaches us English well. We all like his class. Her mother is a nurse. On Sundays, Joan goes to the People's Park with her father and mother. Sometimes she goes shopping with her mother. They like the Chinese food very much. It's a happy family. Joan's _ is an English teacher. A. father B. mother C. brother D. father and mother Answer: A
There's no place in the world like Venice, Italy. Called the City of Water, Venice was built about 1,500 years ago. It's made up of 118 tiny islands in the Adriatic Sea. The area, however, may be in over its head. But now scientists have a new plan to save the city. Because the city was built on soft soil, it has been sinking under the pressure of its own weight. Scientists estimate that Venice sinks at a rate of nearly 2 inches every 100 years. Rising sea levels could make Venice go under even faster, some experts say. Earth's temperature is slowly increasing. That is causing sea ice to melt, which makes the world's waters rise, they say. To keep the city afloat, experts want to pump about 40 billion gallons of sea water beneath Venice. The liquid would expand the sand under the city, which would help support the islands, explains lead scientist Giuseppe Gambolati. Experts are rushing to save Venice because of its rich history. The city was once a strong sea power. "Many famous artists and opera singers have come from Venice. Some of the world's greatest paintings can be found on the city's museum walls," explains Melissa Conn, who is a director of Save Venice Inc. While scientists work to get their water-pumping plan approved, Venice's residents go about their normal routines. When the tide rolls in, the locals have ways of keeping everyone dry. Cafe owners move tables to higher ground, and hotels pass out high boots to guests. Still, dealing with the rising water does not give the city's residents a sinking feeling, just ask Erla Zwingle. She has lived in Venice for 17 years. "There has always been high water in Venice." Zwingle told WR News. "If high water really were a serious problem, people wouldn't be still living here." What's the main reason Venice is sinking? A. Its population is rising. B. Its buildings are too weighty. C. The soil it was built on is not solid. D. Its underground water is being overused. Answer: C I am my mother's third girl. When I was born, the doctor gently explained to my mother that my left arm was missing, below the elbow(,). Then he gave her some advice, "Don't treat her any differently from other girls." And she did! There were five girls in our family and we all had to help out. Once when I was about seven, I came out of the kitchen, "Mum, I can't peel potatoes. I only have one hand." "You get back to peel potatoes, and don't ever use that as an excuse for anything again!" Of course I could peel potatoes--with my good hand and my other arm. "Jenny, if you try hard enough," she said, "you can do anything." Once in the second grade, our teacher had each of us race across the monkey bar . When it was my turn, I said no. some kids laughed. I went home crying. The next afternoon Mum took me back to the school playground. "Now, pull up with your right arm," she advised. She praised me when I made progress. I'll never forget when I was crossing the bar, the kids were standing there with their mouths open. It was the way with everything. Mum had the courage to face anything. and she taught me I could, too. What's the best title of the passage? A. My bad-tempered mother B. Different mother love C. A doctor's advice D. My childhood Answer: B Sometimes successful health campaigns can have quite unexpected reactions. The years of warnings about skin cancer mean that Britons are happy to cover themselves in sunscreen or stay out of the sun altogether, but it also means that most of us are not getting enough vitamin D. Scientists announced yesterday that Britons need to increase to three times the amount of vitamin D they get per day. They called on food producers to fortify their products with more of the vitamin and suggested people should consider taking supplements to keep levels up. They also suggested getting out in the sun for short periods more often, but they warned against "sun bingeing". The government does not publish official advice on the amount of vitamin D people should take due to a lack of research, says Dr Birgit Teucher of the Institute for Food Research. But in the US, the government recommends 5 micrograms a day. By that count, Dr Birgit Teucher said that around 90% of Britons between 19 and 64 would be lacking in the vitamin because they only took around 3 micrograms a day. Vitamin D is important for absorption of calcium by the body, which is needed for healthy teeth and bones. A lack of it can lead to serious diseases in both children and adults. The vitamin can be found in some foods but it can also be obtained from chemicals in the skin reacting to sunlight. Dr Barbara Boucher said adults should get 5 to 25 micrograms a day. Shortage of vitamin D may be linked to diseases such as muscle weakness, high blood pressure and rickets . Dr Birgit Teucher gave several reasons for the lack among Britons. Increasing numbers of office-based jobs mean a lack of exposure to the sun; and the rise of becoming overweight means that vitamin D--which is fat soluble is increasingly stored in body fat, where it cannot be accessed readily. Professor Brian Wharton of the Institute of Child Health said that children in particular needed to have enough vitamin D to prevent rickets. Professor Graham Bentham, an environmental scientist at the University of East Anglia, added that babies who were only breast-fed probably need to take supplements in case their mother was vitamin D lacking. Those drinking milk were likely to be OK, thanks to the fortification of the drink. The scientists called on food producers to fortify milk, bread and breakfast nutrient to enable people to get their daily amount of the vitamin. Prof Graham Bentham added that 30 minutes of sun exposure to the face and forearms between April and October would be _ . Outside these months, the sun is not strong enough in Britain for the body to produce its own vitamin D. But Prof Graham Bentham warned against spending too long in the sun. "Sun bingeing is well known to be dangerous," he said. "In any case, vitamin D transformation in the skin switches off after a while so short frequent amounts are better for vitamin D formation." The government doesn't give official advice on the amount of vitamin D because _ . A. they think it is harmful for health B. they don't want to be blamed C. they aren't confident of its function D. they haven't concrete proof Answer: D An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that the "accident of evolution" had created. "What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 - foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing. He ran even faster, so scared that tears were coming to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the atheist cried out "Oh my God!" Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky," You deny my existence for all of these years; teach others I don't exist; and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this difficulty? Am I to count you as a believer?" The atheist looked directly into the light. "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as Christian now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Christian?""Very well," said the voice. The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear dropped his right paw... brought both paws together... bowed his head and spoke, "Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am truly thankful." What is the purpose of this text? A. To tell a real interesting story. B. To give practical advice. C. To convince readers of the existence of God. D. To entertain readers. Answer: D Taking photographs at a birthday or a wedding has become as natural as blowing out candles or cutting the cake. But our obsession with recording every detail of our happiest moments could be damaging our ability to remember _ , according to new research. A study has shown that taking pictures rather than concentrating fully on the events in front of us prevents memories taking hold. Dr. Linda Henkel, from Fairfield University, Connecticut, described it as the "photo-taking impairment effect". She said: "People so often pull out their cameras almost mindlessly to capture a moment, to the point where they are missing what is happening right in front of them. When people rely on technology to remember for them--counting on the camera to record the event and thus not needing to attend to it fully themselves--it can have a negative impact on how well they remember their experiences." Dr Henkel and her team carried out an experiment in a museum, to learn if taking pictures of the exhibits was hindering the ability of visitors to remember what they had seen. A group of university students were led on a tour at the Bellarmine Museum of Art at Fairfield University and were asked to either photograph or try and remember objects on display. The next day their memory was tested. The results showed that people were less accurate in recognizing the objects they had photographed than those they had only looked at. It was found that their memory for the details of the objects they had photographed was poorer. Henkel's lab is currently investigating whether the content of a photo, such as whether you are in it, affects later memory. She is also researching whether actively choosing what to photograph might influence what we remember. Previous research suggests that reviewing photos we have taken does help us remember the objects, but only if we take the time. "Research has suggested that the sheer volume and lack of organization of digital photos for personal memories discourages many people from accessing and recalling them. In order to remember, we have to access and interact with the photos, rather than just collect them," said Dr Henkel. What can we learn about Dr. Linda Henkel's study? A. A group of high school students were involved. B. The memory of participants was tested the following week. C. People who just looked at the objects remembered fewer details. D. People who photographed objects were worse at recognizing them. Answer: D
"Children need more geography field trips. Schools should organize geography field trips to stop pupils from sitting before computer screens for a long time. And children should be encouraged to see the natural world and study geography," says Michael Palin. The famous actor and writer, Michael Palin, made the comments days after a study showed that pupils in the UK were less likely to take part in science field trips than in most other developed countries. The study found that 13% of schools in the UK failed to take children out of the classroom regularly. Mr. Palin said that field trips were an important part of geography and that he was interested in geography because he had a good geography teacher and he had many opportunities to "get out of the school building". In an interview, Mr. Palin said, "It was important for children to see things for themselves and learn about the rest of the world. You have to show them a mountain, show them a factory, show them a power station." Mr. Palin had been to the North and South Poles, the Himalayas , the Sahara and Eastern Europe. "Geography is about the study of the earth. It is a _ subject," he said. "It's related to everything we do: what we eat, what transport we take to work, where we live, what houses are made of, and so on." He said children needed to get basic geography knowledge first and that once they had the basic knowledge they could move on to deeper problems, such as population and pollution. "Today's children will need to deal with a lot of problems when they grow up. They have to learn geography today," he said. The study showed that _ Modern technology has had some positive and negative effects on society. Which would be a negative effect of advances in technology? Which is most likely a pollinating animal? John is an American boy. His family is in China now. John likes chocolates very much. But his mother doesn't give him any. They are not good for him, she thinks. But John has a very nice grandfather. The old man loves him very much, and sometimes he buys John some chocolates. Then his mother lets John eat them. She wants to make the old man happy. One Sunday evening John says in his room, "Please, God. Make them give me a big box of chocolates tomorrow. It's my birthday." His mother says, "God can't hear you, my boy." "I know, but my grandfather is in the next room. He can hear." ,. John comes from _ . 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 will be in _ next year.
Question: Copenhagen is a city full of fairy tales . If you want to _ it, you have to spend a long time and walk slower to enjoy yourself. Copenhagen was the first city to have a street for walkers only. The city has less traffic noise and pollution than any other European capital. Walking along the river banks, you'll see the Amalienborg Palace first. The king's family is living there. Churches and castles show us the original city. Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in 1445. But fires in 1728 and 1795 completely destroyed the old wooden buildings. Much of what we see today dates back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Keep going, and you'll see the Christiansborg Palace. The town of Copenhagen began there. The you'll see Nyhavn ,a waterway, which was dug in 1673. When you see it, you'll understand why Hans Christian Andersen made this beautiful waterway his home. Nyhavn is a peaceful and wonderful place. You'll usually see some rich people walk along here. If you walk there, you can enjoy the old trees, the colorful lights and the beautiful gardens. You might feel as if you were in a fairy tale. What does the passage mainly talk about? A. Preventing fires. B. Visiting Copenhagen C. Writing fairy tales D. Digging a waterway Answer: B Question: You may not know a lot of people when you start high school. Even if you know some new students, you still feel nervous that you don't know any upperclassmen and teachers. How are you going to make friends among this sea of unknown faces? Most high schools welcome new students before school actually starts. These are helpful not only because you learn your way around the buildings and get to meet some of your teachers, but also because you get to meet new students. That way, when you show up on your first day of school, you may already recognize a few familiar faces. When you talk to people, you'll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you. They're all new to the school and don't know what to expect. Talking about a common concern with your classmates can help you develop friendships. The work in high school is something freshmen are probably worried about. The work in high school builds on what you learned in middle school, giving you a more advanced knowledge of many subjects. So you may find you have more work to do or that it's a bit more challenging . If you ever find your work too difficult, teachers can give you extra help. High school also has more activities after class than middle school, such as clubs, music and theater groups and sports teams. This is a good time to explore your interests and try new things. Middle school taught you the basics of academics, time management, and social skills while providing you with a little extra support and guidance. High school gives you the chance to learn how to be more independent and responsible . The passage is written for _ . A. new students in high school B. new students' parents C. middle school teachers D. upperclassmen in high school Answer: A Question: The London Underground (The Tube) The main source of public transport in London revolves around the Underground (or the Tube as it is known to Londoners). This network of 12 lines can get you to most places in the center of the city quickly. It's most necessary to get an Oyster Card or a Travelcard. Single tickets are priced starting at the intentionally absurd price of PS 4.80 (Zone 1-3), if you pay cash. Using an Oyster card, a single fare is PS 2.30 if you are traveling within the central Zone 1. On hot days it is also advisable to take a bottle of water with you as Underground trains are not air-conditioned. Last trains leave central London at around 00:30 weekdays, 23:30 Sundays. First trains leave the suburbs at around 5:00. The Bus System Outside the center of London, Tube stations are farther apart, so buses help fill the gaps. Also, the bus offers a cheaper alternative, even if it is a slower journey. Cash fares for London buses have been abolished -- you cannot pay cash. A bus fare costs PS 1.50 if using only buses, the fare is capped at PS 4.40 per day for Oyster or contactless users. River Services There are a number of different routes along the River Thames. The faster commuter services operate all day from Greenwich Pier to Embankment and from Putney and Chelsea harbour to Blackfriars during Peak Hours only. These routes will pass a number of places of interest including the Houses of Parliament and London Bridge. A return fare from Putney to Blackfriars will cost about 12 pounds. National Rail Once you leave Central London or if you are traveling South of the River Thames, the best public transport option will often be National Rail. There are numerous connections to the Rail System from the Tube. Travelcards can be used for travel on the National Rail (but not the Heathrow Express). Oyster cards can be used up to Zone 6 except certain services including Heathrow Express, Heathrow Connect and HSI. To travel South of the River Thames, it is recommended that you use _ . A. The London Underground B. The Bus System C. The DLR and the Tram D. National Rail Answer: D Question: There was a famous church in London. It was 110 meters high. The center of the church was like a bell. The ceiling of the church was painted by a famous artist. They built a platform so that the artist could put up a ladder on it and paint the ceiling. The platform was about 70 meters over the ground. One day the artist was working hard and nearly finished one popular corner of the ceiling. Also on the platform was his assistant , who was mixing paints. The artist stepped back so that he could see how his work was doing. To have a better look at his painting, he stepped back again. _ "What do you think you are doing?" he shouted angrily. "Are you mad ?" His assistant replied, "I saw you walking backwards to have a better look at your painting. But you didn't notice that you reached the very edge of the platform. You were in great danger. I wanted to make you move forwards. If I had not made you run forwards, you would have fallen backwards off the edge of the platform." What did the assistant do to stop the artist falling off the platform? A. He ran forwards to stop him B. He stopped mixing the paints. C. He painted a famous painting himself. D. He shouted to the artist and painted his painting. Answer: D Question: Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was traveling inprefix = st1 /France. Once he was very tired and wanted to sleep. He therefore asked the conductor to wake him up when they came toDijon. But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. "I'll strongly protest when you try to wake me up," he said to the conductor. "But do not take any notice, just put me off the train anyway." Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up it was night time and the train was inParisalready. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up atDijon. He ran up to the conductor and began to shout at him." I have never been so angry in all my life," Mark Twain said. The conductor looked at him calmly. "You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off the train atDijon," he said loudly. Mark Twain wanted to go to _ . A. France B. Paris C. Dijon D. America Answer: C
My husband, my four-month-old daughter and I set out on a five-day driving journey from California to Washington. We had to stop frequently because our little child needed to stretch from the car seat. One of our stops, once we crossed the Oregon border, was at a Black Bear Diner. Walking towards the front door we noticed a gentleman standing at one side. He was clearly untidy, without shoes and wearing worn clothing. We passed right by him and opened the restaurant door. Then something told me to go back. Holding my daughter, I turned around and said to the gentleman, "Sir. Are you hungry?" He said, "Yes." I then asked, "May we buy you something to eat?" He responded with, "Sure, I can order something myself." My husband opened the door and the gentleman went straight to the counter. I told him to order whatever he wanted. The manager of the restaurant came over quite quickly and looked frightened. I spoke before he had an opportunity to. "This gentleman will have lunch with us today," I said. "Please add his order to our bill." The manager said with a frown , "Okay." We turned to our table and the gentleman said, loudly and quickly, "Thank You!" We were seated and upon completing our meal we were handed our bill. I asked my husband what the gentleman had ordered. One fresh orange juice, one coffee, one breakfast combination with a side of hash browns. When we left the restaurant I looked for the gentleman but didn't see him, but that very small act just _ . I hope in some small way we were able to add some joy to his life, even if only for a few minutes. From the passage, we can infer the man _ . Answer: was thankful for their kind act Metro City operates a cemetery pursuant to a city ordinance. The ordinance requires the operation of the city cemetery to be supported primarily by revenues derived from the sale of cemetery lots to individuals. The ordinance further provides that the purchase of a cemetery lot entitles the owner to perpetual care of the lot, and entitles the owner to erect on the lot, at the owner's expense, a memorial monument or marker of the owner's choice, subject to certain size restrictions. The Metro City ordinance requires the city to maintain the cemetery, including mowing the grass, watering flowers, and plowing snow, and provides for the expenditure of city tax funds for such maintenance if revenues from the sale of cemetery lots are insufficient. Although cemetery lots are sold at full fair market value, which includes the current value of perpetual care, the revenue from the sale of such lots has been insufficient in recent years to maintain the cemetery. As a result, a small amount of city tax funds has also been used for that purpose. A group of Metro City taxpayers bringssuit against Metro City challenging the constitutionality of the city ordinance insofar as it permits the owner of a cemetery lot to erect a religious memorial monument or marker on his or her lot. Is this suit likely to be successful? Answer: No, because the purpose of the ordinance is entirely secular, its primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion, and it does not foster an excessive government entanglement with religion. Whether you were the shy one at high school or the most popular person on campus, starting university is a clean paper for everyone. It's the best time to develop your skills with different people, such as teachers, classmates, and roommates. Your social skills and relationships with people in college will have an influence long after you graduate. Here are some tips on developing your people skills at college. Put yourself out there and meet new people You're very likely to make some lifelong friendships at college. But before you get there you have to start by making friends. Upperclassmen and the college itself will organize events to introduce you and your peers to each other and the new college environment. For the purpose of improving your social skills early on, attend every single one. Join clubs that fit your interests. You can meet many people there and it's a safe bet that you will have something in common. Being active on social networks, such as Renren and micro blogs, is also a good way to meet people, especially if you're not so good at face-to-face conversation. Always open yourself to conversation Your chances of making new friends depends on your ability to get a friendly atmosphere across. Simple gestures, such as moving your things from a chair when someone is looking for a place in the canteen, can make you seem more open to conversation. You can also take out your earphones when someone asks to share a table with you in the common room while you're studying. Try to get along with roommates Getting along with roommates is a challenge you'd be wise to overcome. You live together, so you will often spend time together without even trying to. It's important to make sure that dorm life doesn't make you unhappy. You should be cautious about facing your roommates over any problems, especially if you have only just met. Remember, be polite but firm. The key is to set expectations and clear boundaries from the beginning. Let your roommates know your life habits, but also observe and respect theirs. Sleeping times and studying schedules, visiting friends and cleaning duties are just some of the topics you should discuss. Avoid drama and gossip As you already know from high school, your social life will be much more pleasant if you avoid causing and getting caught up in drama, no matter whether in class, dorm, or elsewhere. When it comes to gossip, learn to keep your mouth shut and you'll avoid trouble. This is especially important if you live in a dorm, where staying away from someone you've offended is difficult. The passage is written specially for _ . Answer: the freshmen of universities A high school in Hiroshima City has been the first to do something with DNA in the world. Its students have won praise not only for doing this research but also for presenting their findings to groups of expert scientists. The school is one of the Super Science High Schools allowed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, where students are given an opportunity to study science at an advanced level. Here, students use the same type of hitech experimental laboratories as those found at universities. In these labs, they conduct experiments and research in new fields of study not found in textbooks. As part of this science course, the students, with the help of Hiroshima University, used a machine called sequencer , and over the course of a year and a half they succeeded in decoding the DNA. They then presented their results to academic groups. Achieving a world first might sound very wonderful, but the process of decoding the DNA involved very hard work. The students were also responsible for maintaining the equipment, and they had to read difficult research papers and put in extra study beyond their regular schoolwork. "Researchers need to work hard. The work was tiring, but the students worked toward their ambitious goal of achieving a world first. They have a great sense of achievement, and the number of students who hope to become biologists has increased," said Taruma Akinori, who is in charge of the science course. In addition to the results being added to the scientific community, the students' research paper will be translated into English and made available overseas. Moreover, the students have decided to take on a new challenge in DNA decoding. The author's attitude towards those students who have accomplished a world first in DNA decoding is _ . Answer: admiring Most painters discover a style of painting that suits them and stick to that, especially if people admire their pictures. But Picasso, the great Spanish painter, was like a man who had not yet found his own particular style of painting. He kept on struggling to find the perfect expression till his death in 1973. Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft color1ed and beautiful. Others are ugly and cruel and strange. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They force us to say to ourselves, "What does he see that makes him paint like that?" And we begin to look beneath the surface of the things we see. Picasso painted thousands of pictures in different styles. Sometimes he painted the natural look of things. Sometimes he seemed to break them apart and throw the pieces in our faces. He showed us what the mind knows as well as what the eye sees. At the age of 90 he remained as curious about the world as he had been when he was young. That's why people have called him "the youngest painter in the world.. Why do people call Picasso "the youngest painter in the world"? Answer: He always tried to find new things.
A gene mutates in a type of bacteria. When these bacteria reproduce asexually, this mutation can only be inherited by A. different types of bacteria. B. cells in the bacteria that are non-reproductive. C. bacteria cells that are missing the gene. D. direct descendants of the bacteria. Answer: D. direct descendants of the bacteria. Ticket price increases at HK Disney Source:Xinhua \| 02--05--2009 11:39 Hong Kong Disneyland announced on Tuesday it will raise weekday admission prices for mainland and overseas tourists by about 19 percent.But Hong Kong residents and tourists who purchase tickets through travel agents can still enjoy the old prices until June 30. A one-day admission will cost HK $350($45)for adults and HK $250 for children aged up to 11 from Monday, the previous charges for weekends.Adults were previously admitted for HK $295 and children HK $210. A Hong Kong Disneyland spokesman said the park does not expect the new pricing structure to have an immediate impact on attendances, as research shows guests choose when to visit the attraction based on time available rather than ticket prices.But the hikes(the rise of prices)drew immediate criticism from the industry.The greater tourism industry fears it may harm mainlanders willingness to visit Hong Kong. Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, said the decision was unwise in the current financial climate.He also urged the company to rethink its decision, during an interview with Southern Metropolis Daily. There is a family with five people, John,his father,mother,grandfather and grandmother.They are from America, John is eleven years old.If they visit the place on June 30 2009(weekday),they will spend about _ in total. A. $212 B. $ 1650 C. HK $1400 D. $1390 Answer: A. $212 My friend Jim and I finally decided to spend our 14 days off in the eastern country.We were arranged to stay with a local family, which made it possible for us to share a real life experience with the locals and in return bring ourselves a richer experience of the native culture and tradition. In the company of one of our well-informed local tour leaders, we started one of the trips to the nearby town . As we were passing elephants, we stopped , confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by a small rope tied to their front legs . No chains, no cages. It was obvious that these elephants could, at any time, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not . My friend went up to the trainer and asked why these beautiful animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "Well,"he said , "When they were young and much smaller we used the same size rope to tie them and at that age, it was enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are accustomed to believing that they can not break away. They believe that the rope can hold them, so they never try to break free. We were amazed . These animals could at any time break away from their ropes but just because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we can not do something , simply because we failed at it once before ? How many of us are being held by outdated belief that no longer serves us ? How many of us have avoided trying something new because of a limited belief? Worse still , how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Your attempt may fail but never fail to make an attempt. The elephants never tried to get away because _ . A. they believed they couldn't break away from the small ropes B. they got used to being raised and controlled by human beings C. they had a very close relationship with their trainers D. it was hard to break away from the strong and powerful ropes Answer: A. they believed they couldn't break away from the small ropes The World Health Organization recently reported that the number of cases of tuberculosis(TB) has been _ since 2006 . Also, fewer people are dying from TB. But a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, says smoking could threaten this progress. Nearly twenty percent of all people use tobacco, and millions of non-smokers get sick from breathing the smoke. The new study predicts that smoking will produce an additional thirty-four million TB deaths by 2024. Efforts to control the spread of TB have mainly focused on finding and treating infections. Fewer efforts have been made to understand the causes. Dr Anthony Fauci is the director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases. He said, "Despite our control efforts, we still have more than a million people each year dying from TB and millions of people getting infected; we realize it's still a very important problem. So we have to do the practical thing and we have to do the fundamental research things at the same time. " Smoking does not cause TB; bacteria cause the infection. But the study says smoking affects the nervous system in a way that makes an inactive case of TB more likely to develop into an active one. Stanton Glantz is the director of the University of California's Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Education and an author of the new study. He says it shows that TB cannot be controlled unless tobacco use is controlled. He said, "It increases the number of people who will get TB by about seven percent." The study is described as the first to identify a direct link between tobacco use and rates of TB infection and death. Professor Glantz says the results should guide those creating health policies and TB control efforts. He said, "If you want to control the infectious disease of TB, you have to control the tobacco industry and the tobacco industry's efforts to increase tobacco use, particularly in developing countries where TB is a big problem." What would Dr Anthony Fauci probably agree with? A. More efforts are needed to find the causes of TB infections. B. TB infections are no longer a serious problem. C. Few efforts have been put into the work of treating TB infections. D. The practical and the fundamental research cannot be done together at present. Answer: A. More efforts are needed to find the causes of TB infections. Studies over the past decade at the University of Utah show that hands-free cellphones are just as harmful to drivers as hand-held ones because it is the conversation, not the phone, that is distracting their attention. "Even though your eyes are looking right at something, when you are on the cellphone, you are not as likely to see it," says Professor David Strayer. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's not that critical , but that l% could be the time a child runs into the street," he adds. Dr. Strayer's studies have also found that talking on a cellphone is far more distracting than talking with a passenger. Listening to the radio, to music or to a book on tape also isn't as distracting, because it doesn't require the same level of interaction as a conversation. But even drivers may miss some details of a book on tape if their attention is focused on driving tasks. Some people can train themselves to pay extra attention to things that are important--like police officers learn to search faces in crowds. And the Utah researchers have found a rare group of "super-taskers"--about 2.5% of the population--who seem able to attend to more than one thing with ease. Many more people think they can effectively do several things at the same time, but they are really turning their attention rapidly between two things and not getting the full effect of either. Clearly, it is easier to put some tasks together than others." Not all distractions are the same,'' says Dr. Strayer. Things like cleaning and working out can be done automatically while the mind is focused elsewhere. But doing homework and texting at the same time isn't possible. Even talking and watching TV is difficult. "Just try talking with your wife while watching football. It's impossible," jokes Dr. Strayer. Which of the following can you do while talking on the phone? A. Doing homework. B. Writing a letter. C. Working out. D. Watching TV. Answer: C. Working out.
What is time? Is it a thing to be saved or spent or wasted, like money? Or is it something we have no control over, like the weather? Is time the same all over the world? That's an easy question, you say. Wherever you go, a minute is 60 seconds, an hour is 60 minutes, a day is 24 hours, and so forth. Well, maybe. But in America, time is more than that. Americans see time as a valuable resource. Maybe that's why they are fond of the expression, "Time is money." To Americans, punctuality is a way of showing respect for other people's time. Being more than 10 minutes late to an appointment usually calls for an apology, and maybe an explanation. People who are running late often call ahead to let others know of the delay. Of course, the less formal the situation, the less important it is to be exactly on time. At informal get-togethers, for example, people often arrive as much as 30 minutes past the appointed time. But they usually don't try that at work. American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks in advance. Once the time is fixed, it takes almost an emergency to change it. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is suitable. Only very close friends will just "drop by" unannounced. Also, people hesitate to call others late at night for fear they might be in bed. The time may vary, but most folks think twice about calling after 10:00 p.m. We can infer that _ . Answer: Americans think highly of punctuality at work. Which of the following relationships is true? Answer: Diamond can scratch Play-Doh, therefore diamond is harder An angler got the shock of his life when his prize catch turned out to be a crocodile. Alan _ Prangncl], 64, was reportedly fishing in the 22-acre lake near Ringwood when he felt a sharp tugand started to reel the heavy but unknown fish in. But, according to the Southern Daily Echo, when the end of the line appeared, the angler claimed it was actually a two-foot long crocodile. Alan, who has been fishing since lie was six years old, told the paper: "When it appeared I saw it was acrocodile about two feet long. It was underneath where I was sitting on my box on the water and just lay by the side of my fact for about eight seconds. Then it shot back into the lake. "It opened its mouth and let out the fish-or what was left of it. It had cut it in half and there was just its head and pan of the body. "I was in disbelief-I had -o justify in my mind what I had just seen." the NHS worker reportelly thirks the crocodile was dropped in after its owner found it too big to deal with He added: "1'vc been fishing in that lake for six years and for the club since 1963, so I know everything about the lake. "I'm the person who saw it and I've nothing to gain by lying abut it". Fishing club officials and Mr PrangneLl have refused to disclose the exact location of the Hampshire lake for fear of large groups pouring in. What is Alan Prangrell? Answer: A worker. For thousands of years,we have looked for ways to measure time. Early humans found that the regular movements of the sun,the earth,the moon,and the stars made good ways to measure time. The rising and setting of the sun were used to distinguish day from night. But,eventually,people needed to tell time more accurately,or exactly. So,by using the sun's position in the sky,they divided the day into dawn,morning,midday and evening. Then it was noted that the sun cast a changing shadow as it moved across the sky. Time could be told more accurately by setting up a stick and marking the positions of the sun's shadow. It was the ancient Greeks who divided each position of this "sundial " into hours. But the sun doesn't always shine. So,for the past 6,000 years,many other ways of keeping time have been tried. Slowburning candles were divided into hours,and the hourglass was invented. When all the sand in the top of an hourglass has shifted to the bottom,an hour has passed. Later,the pendulum ,with its regular backandforth movement of weights,was used to move the hands on a clock. Pendulums are still used in grandfather clocks. Today,even more accurate clocks are in use,such as batteryoperated quartz clocks ,digital clocks,and clocks run by electrical tuning forks and tiny atoms. These atomic clocks are the most accurate clocks ever invented. The exact time can be kept to within 1 second a century. Which of the following was NOT used in the past to measure time? Answer: Digital clocks. Hunter and Nina are husband and wife. They get up about 4:50 in the morning. When many people are sleeping in their warm beds, they are working. They work outside and walk a lot. They do not work when it is raining. They also work on weekends. Her name is Sara. She sometimes goes to work in the morning, and sometimes goes to work at night when she is on duty . She works in a big building. There are many beds in it. She wears a white hat and a white dress. She says:" I meet many people every day. I look after them. They need my help. That's my job. It's hard, but I like it." He is Jim's father. He usually leaves home very early. He does not work in a factory. He goes to work on foot or by bike. It is far from his home. He usually works in the day and has lunch outside in the sun. His work is very hard. He often brings us rice, eggs and vegetables. He can have a good rest in winter. She goes to work by bus every day. She works in a building. It opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. There are many good foods, drinks and other things. Children like to go there. She meets many people every day. She often says, "Can I help you?" When she meets people. She says, "My work is not easy. I must stand all day and be friendly to everyone". In what season does Jim's father stop working? Answer: In winter
A solution with a pH of 2 can be increased to a pH above 7 by adding A an acid. B water. C a base. D hydrogen. Answer: C. a base. He came again the next day and worked until it was time to leave. His name was Jerry. He was 12 and had been at the Children's Home since he was only four. I thought of him. He was honest . For example, the handle of the ax broke one day. Jerry said the Children's Home would mend it. I handed him some money to pay for it. He wouldn't take the money. "I'll pay for it, mama. I broke it. I didn't hit the wood in the right place. " _ And it was a weak handle. I'll speak to the seller. " It was only then that he would take the money. Another thing about Jerry was that he would do those little but helpful things. The things would not be badly needed but would make life so much easier. For example, he found a hole near the fireplace. "I'll put some wood in the hole, mama. Then when a sudden storm comes up, you can stay warm. " One cold day, Jerry sat close by me near the fire. We watched the fire bum. He suddenly talked of something he had never talked of before. "You look like my mother, especially next to the fire" But you were four, Jerry, 'when you came to live at the Children's Home. Do you still remember your mother?" What did the writer think of Jerry? He was _ . A clever, honest but lazy B honest, helpful and worked hard C honest, warm - hearted and strange D careful, honest and weak Answer: B. honest, helpful and worked hard As one of the world's oldest holidays, Halloween is still celebrated today in several countries around the globe, but it is in North America and Canada that it maintains its highest level of popularity. Every year, 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices for Halloween. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold and is second only to Christians in terms of total sales. Austria In Austria, some people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on Halloween night. The reason for this is that it was once believed such items would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night which for the Austrians was considered to be brimming with strong cosmic energies. Belgium The Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross one's path and also unlucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives. Canada Modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack- O- Lantern is carved and the festivities include parties, trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn stalks. France Unlike most nation of the world, Halloween is not celebrated by the French in order to honor the dead and departed ancestors. It is regarded as an "American" holiday in France and was unknown in the country until around 1996. In which country does Halloween is not celebrated as the others? A Canada. B Belgium. C Austria. D France. Answer: D. France. In the last few years the Internet has become a widespread phenomenon around the world. People have started to use the computers just like they used to watch TV. Whenever we get hungry, we simply order a pizza through the Internet and while we are waiting for the food, we can send an important business e-mail concerning some sales for tomorrow. It is, in fact, very comfortable to just simply sit down and have a chat with somebody from South Africa about fishing and get some important advice. Sometimes when you are sad and are feeling lonely, if you go on the Internet, you can find good entertainment that will keep you busy. To make a long story short, we just don't have the time to communicate with people in person anymore. Besides, there is so much information easy to get on the Internet that when we start surfing, we find it hard for us to get away from the computer. There are a lot of people who are addicted to TV and watch it 5 to 7 hours a day, while recently addiction to the Internet has become a very serious problem. You might think that these kinds of things could never happen to you, but it is not really true. To prevent yourself from getting addicted, the most important thing is to make sure that you are not spending too much time in front of the screen. Although it might seem to be easy to pull yourself away from the Web, it is simply not the case. You might have to make an effort to place some limits on yourself. The text is most probably taken from _ . A a health book B a geography magazine C a life magazine D a computer technology book Answer: C. a life magazine According to a joint survey by the Social Investigation Center of China Youth Daily and the news center of Tencent.com,76.9% of the 5,21l respondents ,all being youths in their 20s, believe the society needs chutouniao("leading birds")who dare to take risks to show their worth,although,as the Chinese, saying goes, "The leading bird gets shot first."or "One who takes the lead usually bears the brunt of an attack." About 58.2%of the respondents think that one has to work hard at all times, and one must know how to show off when the chance comes.53%of them also believe that it is necessary to be aggressive ,sometimes. "I wish my employees will let me know when they have achieved something."said LiuXueyuan,the president of a media company,as it is impossible for him to know all his employees well.However, showing off too much is of course no good, either."One who likes to show off one's achievement will also be the first to be noticed when one makes a mistake."said Liu.He suggested that the employees should do their jobs steadily and surely. Although most respondents think chutouniao are necessary,not many of them like to hobnob with such persons.In fact, 65.9% of the respondents simply don't like them,while 7.1% of the respondents expressed their hatred of them. Faced with the conflict between "needed by the society" and "disliked by fellow beings," quite a large number of people have let slip chances.59.6% of the respondents regret it. According to the survey,how many respondents think that one should behave in a very determined way to succeed if necessary? A About 3,033. B About 2,762. C About 4,007. D About 3,434. Answer: B. About 2,762.
Modern science suggests that a healthy lifestyle matters much to how long you can live and how well you live. Here are some tips for you to form a healthy lifestyle. Keep a scientific diet. Keep in mind that sugar can be removed from our diet completely. Over intake of sugar is one of the main reasons for getting fat. Over intake of protein or fat and low intake of fiber can also lead to getting fat. We need only a few grams of protein every day to keep our body in order. Like rain to crops, not the more the better. Be always in a good mood. There is a relation- ship between the mood and health. A good mood keeps you in high spirits. Thanks to the internet, we can enjoy and learn much without going out. Take a look at some online shops and pick up some bargains, enjoy music and movies and chat with some good friends. Just keep happy. Enough sleep. Two studies show the reasons why teens and adults don't have enough sleep. With teens, a major reason is mobile phone use; with adults, it's work. Meanwhile, a third study of young children shows that a lack of sleep in early life may lead to serious problems in future. Everyone needs at least 8-hour sleep to recover from tiredness and the hurt caused by hard work in the daytime. Proper exercise. Do exercise to keep away from fatness. Because of the quick pace of modern life, you don't have time to do exercise every day, but at least three times a week and 45 minutes each time. Which of the following can lead to getting fat according to the passage? Answer: over intake of sugar. If you know exactly what you want, the best route to a job is to get specialized training.A recent survey shows that companies like graduates in such fields as business and health care who can go to work immediately with very little on-the-job training. That's especially true of booming fields that are challenging for workers.At Cornell's School of Hotel Administration, for example, bachelor's degree graduates get an average of four or five job offers with salaries ranging from the high teens to the low 20s and plenty of chances for rapid advancement.Large companies, especially, like a background of formal education coupled with work experience. But in the long run, too much specialization doesn't pay off.Business, which has been flooded with MBAs, no longer considers the degree an automatic stamp of approval.The MBA may open doors and command a higher salary initially, _ . As further evidence of the erosion of corporate faith in specialized degrees, Michigan State's Scheetz cites a pattern in corporate hiring practices.Although companies tend to take on specialists as new hires, they often seek out generalists for middle and upper-level management."They want someone who isn't constrained by nuts and bolts to look at the big picture, " says Scheetz. Time and again labor-market analysts mention a need for talents that liberal-arts majors are assumed to have:writing and communication skills, organizational skills, open-mindedness and adaptability, and the ability to analyze and solve problems.David Birch claims he does not hire anybody with an MBA or an engineering degree, "I hire only liberal-arts people because they have a less-than-canned way of doing things, " says Birch.Liberal-arts means an academically thorough and strict program that includes literature, history, mathematics, economics, science, human behavior-plus a computer course or two.With that under your belt, you can feel free to specialize."A liberal-arts degree coupled with an MBA or some other technical training is a very good combination in the marketplace, " says Scheetz. David Birch claims that he only hires liberal-arts people because _ . Answer: they are more capable of handling changing situations 8.1-Magnitude Quake Hits Central Nepal Nepal is suffering from the disaster brought by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that struck on Saturday. Nepal's Interior Ministry has said that the death toll from the quake has climbed to 1,931 . And more than 4,700 people are injured. Nepal's military predicts the death toll may climb to as high as 5,000. The Chinese embassy in Nepal has said that four Chinese were killed, with five severely injured. The initial magnitude-eight-point-one quake struck 80 kilometers east of Pokhara on Saturday afternoon. It was followed by a huge aftershock, measuring seven-point-zero. As for Sunday, two big aftershocks have been recorded in the morning, with the latest in the afternoon with a magnitude of 7.1. This is the most powerful earthquake to have hit Nepal in over 80 years. The tremor was felt by more than 4.6 million people across South and East Asia. Search and rescue efforts are underway for survivors buried under the rubble and flattened buildings, but efforts are influenced by rain and aftershocks. Nepal national television is reporting that 90 percent of historical structures in Kathmandu Valley were destroyed in the earthquake. How many aftershocks are mentioned in this passage? Answer: 4 To be sure, only children experienced some things differently from those with sisters and brothers. Many feel more pressure to succeed. In the absence of brothers and sisters, only children also tend to look more _ In India, 10-year-old Saviraj Sankpal founded a support group for the tiny minority of only children. Among other things, the group does volunteer work to counter the myth that they are not responsible. "People think we're treated too kindly and ruined," says Sankpal, a computer engineering student. "But I'd like to remind them how lonely it can get." Most only children, however, say they wish for sisters or brothers only when it comes to caring for aging, unhealthy parents. Britain's David Emerson, coauthor of the book The Only Child, says that such a person bears a terrible burden in having to make all the decisions alone. Emerson knows from experience: After his father died, he chose to move his elderly mother from their family home, where she was vulnerable to house breakers, to a new one with more security . "The move was quite hard on her, and she might feel that I pushed her into it," he says. "After all, _ ." In the future, more and more only children will likely face similar choices. With working mothers increasingly the rule, many families are finding they simply don't have the time, money or energy to have more than one child. As only children become common, perhaps the world will realize that the charge made against them is unjust. It can be inferred from the passage that the author's attitude towards only children is _ . Answer: objective It's only 4 hours flying time from Sydney, but a world away. What better place to rest than a country where the only place people hurry is on the football field and things are done in "Fiji time"? Viti Levu - Great Fiji - is the largest island. Here you'll find the capital Suva and the international airport at Nadi. Vatoa, on the other hand, is a tiny island in the farthest part of Fiji. Then there are 331 other islands, many of them with places to stay. Whit less than a million people living on islands, you'll never feel crowded. And with a climate that changes only for five degrees between seasons, there's never a bad time to come. From cities to villages, from mountains to beaches, from water sports to wooden artworks, Fiji can give you more adventures and special experiences than you could find almost anywhere in the world. Whenever you come, wherever you go, you're sure to see some unforgettable events. From war dances to religious songs. From market days to religious days. It's not just staged for tourists; it's still a part of everyday life in Fiji. And any one of us can enjoy Fiji's spirit by being part of the traditional sharing of yaqona, a drink made from the root of a Fiji plant. So why not join us for the experience of a life me? What does the text tell us about Fijian people? Answer: They stick to a traditional way of life.
Question: We live in the computer age. People use computers to do much of their work, such as playing games, listening to music, shopping and so on. But few people know how to take care of them. Please remember the following when you use your computer: 1.Keep your computer in a dry cool room. Too much heat is bad for computers. 2. Do not smoke near your computer. Smoking is also bad for them. 3. Do not drink or eat near computers. A little water and pieces of food in the keyboard are also bad for a computer. 4. Keep your screen clean and do not have it too bright. They are bad for your eyes. Make sure the screen is not too far or too near your eyes when you use a computer. The best title of the passage may be _ . A. How to protect our eyes? B. How to use computers? C. How to protect your computer? D. What can computers do for us? Answer: C. How to protect your computer? Question: A job is more than just a job,especially to the older generation."It's not the money that matters,but the sense of selfworth," 56yearold Cheng Wonlan said.So,every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels,letters and documents of all shapes and sizes and does her rounds in North Point.She's a courier . Five years ago,Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic.She had worked there for almost 30 years but was made jobless when the doctor migrated .It was extremely difficult for her to find another job."People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am," she said.After two years of searching,the mother of two eventually found another nursing job.But then after two years,she quit.Why? "My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age.They often asked me,'You are so old;what are you working for?' I was very unhappy." she said.So while the rest of her family left for work,she was left to lonely boredom at home.The urge to work drove her to suffering.Then,one of Ms Cheng's neighbours told her about Employee's Retraining Board (ERB) offering retraining courses for older people on specific occupations,such as convenience store assistants,junior clerks and so on. "I was interested in courier work.I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit and healthy.So I thought why not give it a try." she said.Upon graduation from the ERB,Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company Limited.But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict:she was caught between honour and employment.It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind and eventually came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job.So she took heart and went off to work as a courier. Ms Cheng's employer is delighted with her,"Ms Cheng has been working with us for two months and has shown a good responsible attitude to work."Anthony Chong,who runs the company,said.Currently,Mr Chong has 60 couriers working for his company:five of them are over fifty,four of whom have been through the ERB plan.Mr Chong said he hired older people because they were able and reliable."Age is not an important factor but attitude is.Many old people are more capable than the youngsters.They will not run from difficulties but the young ones will," he said."It is not easy to recruit young people since they shy away from hardship and challenges." Why was it difficult for Ms Cheng to find another nursing job? A. Nursing clinics were hard to find. B. People thought that old people couldn't be trusted. C. People thought she was too old to take on a new job. D. People didn't think she had enough working experience. Answer: C. People thought she was too old to take on a new job. Question: Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the "live now pay later" syndrome .Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes , they provide encouragement to spend more money.Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards. Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies. All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit.Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further. It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets , though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen.A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card. However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to _ financial difficulty. The disadvantage of credit cards is _ . A. to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash B. to encourage people to spend more money C. to be always useful in emergencies D. to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty Answer: B. to encourage people to spend more money Question: A long time ago there lived a poor slave whose name was Aesop. His face was white, but very homely. When Aesop was about twenty nine years old ,his master lost a great deal of money and was determined to sell his slaves. To do this, he had to take them to a large city where there was a slave market. The city was far away, and the slaves must walk the whole distance. A number of bundles were made up for them to carry. Some of these bundles contained the things they would need on the road. "Choose your bundles, boys," said the master. "There is one for each of you." Aesop at once chose the largest one. The other slaves laughed and said he was foolish. But he threw it upon his shoulders and seemed well satisfied. The next day, the laugh was the other way. For the bundle which he had chosen had contained the food for the whole party. "Aesop is a wise fellow," said his master. "The man who buys him must pay a high price." A very rich man, whose name was Xanthus, wanted a servant. As the slaves stood before him he asked each one to tell what kind of work he could do. All were eager to be bought by Xanthus because they knew he would be a kind master. So each one boosted of his skill in doing some sort of labor. One was a fine gardener; another could take care of horses; a third was a good cook; a fourth could manage a household. "And what can you do, Aesop?" asked Xanthus. "Nothing," he answered. "Nothing? How is that?" "Because, since these other slaves do everything, there is nothing left for me to perform," said Aesop. This answer pleased the rich man so well that he bought Aesop at once, and took him to his home on the island of Samos. In Samos the little slave soon became known for his wisdom and courage. He often amused his master and his master's friends by telling funny stories. His master was so much pleased with him that he gave him his freedom. According to the text, Aesop _ . A. was known for his hard work. B. didn't like to work at all. C. was good at telling stories. D. was tired of his courage. Answer: C. was good at telling stories. Question: A man accused of failing to return more than 700 children's books to five different libraries in the county was released from prison after a book publisher agreed to post his bond of $1,000.The publisher said."There's a story here.This is a man who loves books.He just can't let go of them.He hasn't stolen a single book.So what's the crime ? We think that Mr.Banish has story to tell.We plan to publish his story." When asked why he didn't return the books, Mr.Banish said,"Well,how could I? They became family to me.I was afraid to return them,because I knew that kids or dogs would get hold of these books and chew them up,throw them around,tear the pages,spill soda on them,get jelly on them,and drown them in the toilet. He continued,"Books are people,too! They talk to you,they take care of you,and they enrich you with wisdom,humor and love.A book is a guest in my home.How could I kick it out? I repaired tor n pages.I dusted them with a soft clean cloth.I turned their pages so they could breathe and get some fresh air." "Every week I reorganized them on their shelves so they could meet new friends,My books were HAPPY books.You could tell just by looking at them.Now they're all back in the libraries,on the lower shelves,on the floors,at the mercy of all those runny-nosed kids I can hear them calling me.I need to rescue them.Excuse me.I have to go now." From the passage we can learn that the man is A. a thief B. a writer C. crazy about books D. unfortunate Answer: C. crazy about books
Question: Creativity is the key to a brighter future, say education and business experts. Here is how schools and parents can encourage this important skill in children. If Dick Drew had listened to his boss in 1925, we might not have an important product: a new type of tape. Drew worked for the Minnesota Mining Company. At work he developed a kind of material strong enough to hold things together. But his boss told him not to think more about the idea. Finally, using his own time, Drew improved the tape, which now is used everywhere by many people. And his old company learned from its mistake. Now it encourages people to spend 15 percent of their work time just thinking and developing new ideas. Creativity is not something one is just born with, nor is it necessarily a character of high intelligence . Just because a person is highly intelligent does not mean that he uses it creatively. Creativity is the matter of using the resources one has to produce new ideas that are good for something. Unluckily, schools have not tried to encourage creativity. With strong attention to test results and the development of reading, writing and mathematical skills, many educators give up creativity for correct answers. The result is that children can give back information but can't recognize ways to use it in new situations. They may know the rules correctly, but they are unable to use them to work out practical problems. It is important to give children choices. From the earliest age, children should be allowed to make decisions and understand their results. Even if it's choosing between two kinds of food for lunch, decision-making helps thinking skills. As children grow older, parents should let their children decide how to use their time or spend their money, but not help them too much if they make the wrong decision. The child may have a hard time, but that is all right. This is because the most important character of creative people is a very strong desire to find a way out of trouble. What should the parents do when their children decide how to spend their money? A. Try to help them as much as possible B. Take no notice of whatever they do C. Help them if their decision is wrong, but not too much D. Leave them as they are Answer: C. Help them if their decision is wrong, but not too much Question: William James, the great psychologist , said that most men are "old fogies at twenty-five". He was right. Most men at twenty-five are satisfied with their jobs. They have closed their minds to all new ideas; they have stopped to grow. The minute a man stops to grow -no matter what his years -that minute he begins to be old. On the other hand, the really great man never grows old. Goethe passed away at eighty-three, and finished his only a few years earlier; Gladstone took up a new language when he was seventy. Laplace, the astronomer, was still at work when death caught up with him at seventy-eight. He died crying, "What we know is nothing; what we do not know is immense (extremely large)." And there you have the real answer to the question, "When is a man old?" Laplace at seventy-eight died young. He was still unsatisfied, still sure that he had a lot to learn. As long as a man can keep himself in that attitude of mind, as long as he can look back on every year and say, "I grew", he is still young. The minute he ceases (stops) to grow, the minute he says to himself, "I know all that I need to know," -that day youth stops. He may be twenty-five or seventy-five; it makes no difference. On that day he begins to be old. The author probably agrees with _ . A. people should be pleased with what they have. B. people should try to make a great difference. C. people should cease to grow when they are 25. D. people should not be satisfied with what they know. Answer: D. people should not be satisfied with what they know. Question: At one time or another we have all stopped to think about the weather. Some days the weather is good. Some days the weather is bad. Sometimes a day that seems bad turns out better than you thought it would. There are ways of understanding the weather. One way is to study the clouds. No two clouds are ever alike. We can see the different kinds of clouds and watch them for signs of changing weather. To forecast the weather, there are three things about clouds. you should look for: movement, colour, and change. As a rule, the higher the clouds, the better the weather. And the lower the clouds, the worse the weather is likely to be. Fair-weather cumulus clouds* are another sign of good weather. These are clouds we often see on warm summer days. Clouds can tell you if a storm is on the way. If the thick, fluffy cumulus clouds get bigger early in the day, then you know it will rain. If there is a sudden, cool and dark thunder* cloud appears, then a storm is about to break out. Colours in the sky tell us about the weather, too. A golden ring around the moon warns us that a storm is on the way. A watery yellow sunset is a sign that rain may be near. The rainbow* has a message, too. The colours of the rainbow come from the sun rays shining through falling rain. If you see the sun in the east and a rainbow in the west, the rain may be coming your way. If the sun is in the west and the rainbow is in the east, the rain will be moving away from you. We may say, take the article as a whole knowledge, _ . A. none of the clouds is the same B. a storm is to come on soon after a sudden, cool and dark thunder cloud C. the higher and cumulus clouds may be signs of warm weather D. all of the above Answer: D. all of the above Question: Scholars and researchers have tried to discover what personality characteristics go along with success in intercultural experiences. Their findings have often been unclear or incomplete. But three characteristics stand out in their reports: patience, a sense of humor, and the awareness of being unclear. Patience, of course, is the ability to keep calm even when things do not go as one wants them to, or hopes they will, or has even been sure they will. Impatience sometimes brings improvements in relations with other people, but usually it does not. A person with a sense of humor is less likely to take things too seriously and more ready to see the humor in her own reactions than a humorless person. The value of a sense of humor really needs to be paid more attention to. "The awareness of being unclear" is a more difficult concept than patience or a sense of humor. Foreigners often find themselves in situations that are unclear to the newcomers. That is, they do not know what is happening in the situation. Perhaps they do not understand the local language well enough, or they do not know how some system or organization works, or they can't be sure of different people's roles in what is going on. "It's like I just got here from the moon," a Chinese graduate student who newly arrived in the United States said, "things are just so different here." According to the passage, what characteristic should be most focused on? A. Patience B. The awareness of being unclear C. The sense of humor D. Understanding each other. Answer: D. Understanding each other. Question: These are Cara and Ben. They are twins . They are twelve. This is their bedroom. It's a nice room. There are two beds in the room. The yellow bed is Cara's and that green one is Ben's. The twins have one desk and two chairs. The chairs look the same. Cara's sweater is on his bed. Ben's coat is on his chair. Their clock, books and pencil-boxes are on the desk. Their schoolbags are behind the chairs. Cara and Ben are _ . A. brother and sister B. brothers C. sisters D. friends Answer: B. brothers
Jamey really wanted a pet dog, so he went to ask his parents. "Mom, Dad, can I we get a dog?" Jamey's mom and dad thought about this, and then answered him. "Having a pet can be a lot of work, Jamey. When you own a dog, you have to feed him, and take him for walks, and clean up after him. You even have to do those things when you would rather be playing or watching TV. If you promise to help take care of him, we'll get a dog." Jamey was very happy to hear this! The next weekend, his mom and dad took him to a big building where puppies and kittens without homes were kept. It was very noisy inside! Jamey looked at a big yellow dog first. "This dog is pretty big, Jamey," his father said. "He might need a bigger yard to run around in than we have." Jamey thought that Dad was right about that. The next dog Jamey looked at was a very small white dog. It barked over and over again as Jamey and his mother looked at it. "This dog is very noisy Jamey. He might need a lot of attention from you. Do you think you want to give this puppy that much attention?" Jamey wasn't sure he could give the little white dog all the time it needed to be happy. Finally Jamey looked at a third dog, a brown dog that was bigger than the white dog, but smaller than the yellow one. The dog came over to Jamey right away and seemed to love to be petted and fussed over. "Do you like the brown dog?" asked Jamey's dad. "Yes!" said Jamey. "Can we get him?" "Will you feed him and walk him every afternoon when you get home from school?" asked Jamey's mom. "I promise," said Jamey. "In that case, I guess we have a dog!" This made Jamey very happy. What were the colors of the different dogs Jamey saw? If you've ever been to a social gathering, you might feel awkward and uncomfortable. While social gatherings can be very enjoyable, especially when you are surrounded by people whose company you enjoy, there are social events that you sometimes find yourself wishing you were someplace else. Such occasions can sometimes be the cause of much anxiety and self-consciousness. You may even feel like everyone else is having a good time except for you. Yet the truth is that everyone has felt shy and awkward on occasion. One of the best ways to overcome self-consciousness or get past your feelings of shyness at social gatherings is to focus on the people around you. If you can remember that other people might also be feeling awkward or shy, you might find the thought of speaking to them less overwhelming. The next time there is a social event you feel nervous about attending, you may want to try this exercise: Spend some time with your eyes closed and breathe deeply. When you feel ready, create your own zone of comfort by _ yourself surrounded in a warm white light that is protective yet accepting of others. Imagine people at the event being drawn to you because of the open and warm feelings that you are showing. When you arrive at the event, take a moment to spread this same light of loving acceptance to everyone around you. Smile and greet people warmly. Try going up to someone who is standing alone and introduce yourself. When you show acceptance and openness, people can't help but respond to you in kind. Focusing on how we can make other people at a social gathering feel at ease can help us forget about our own insecurities. The next time you attend a social gathering, invite people to join you in your zone of comfort that you have so lovingly and intentionally created. Let yourself enjoy being encircled in the warmth of their friendships. What is the text mainly about? Sally was looking through her closet for some clothes to wear to the school dance tomorrow night. She had a lot of clothes to look through, but she needed something perfect for the dance, since she would be seen by a lot of other people, and she wanted to stand out from the rest of the girls. There would be a lot of boys there, too. If she looked as nice as she imagined she could, she would have a lot of boys asking her to dance. And she didn't want to dance alone, because that would make her feel sad. But she had to hurry, since it was getting late, and she had to sleep soon. She was so excited, that she barely touched her baked potato she had during suppertime. She also had chicken, some green beans, and corn on the cob. She came down to four choices for what she could wear to the dance. a pink dress, a green dress, a red dress, and a yellow dress. She tried on each one and looked at herself in the mirror to see how she looked. She chose the yellow dress, because it was the prettiest. After making her choice, she changed into her pajamas and got in bed. She turned the light out and fell asleep. She dreamed about the fun she would have at the dance. Sally smiled as she slept. What dress did Sally pick? A teenager has gained a six-figure sum for a vampire novel she wrote after being inspired by the Twilight. Abigail Gibbs, 18, who started writing the book aged 14, released chapters of her novel online, where the book eventually received 17 million hits. Harper Collins in Britain has now signed this talented author following her extraordinary Internet success. Miss Gibbs, from Brixham, Devon, who is about to start studying English at Oxford University, is the first author to be discovered on Wattpad. Wattpad is an online library which allows subscribers to upload or read other people's stories. Miss Gibbs also said Stephenie Meyer's famous Twilight books had influenced her novel, The Dark Heroine. "I read the Twilight and did really enjoy it. At first, my parents were a bit opposed to my writing because I was staying up till 3 a.m. on school nights and they were worried that I might fall behind." Miss Gibbs finished her book at the age of 16. She posted each chapter after she had written it on the Internet site, until she got to five chapters before the end when she stopped. "I had signed with an agent and he basically said, 'Don't post anymore so as to keep the readers' anxiety". That was tough because I disappeared in the site for a year and there were a lot of fans asking where I was. I have had so many requests from fans to upload the last five chapters; some people even said they were going to write their own endings." Her fans can buy the e-book for PS2.99, or wait for the paperback book priced at PS6.99 in shops next month. If a reader wants to read the whole story, he or she _ . French surgeons have performed what they said on Wednesday was the world's first partial face transplant--- giving a new nose, chin and lips to a woman attacked by a dog. Specialists from two French hospitals carried out the operation on a 38-year-old woman on Sunday in the northern city of Amiens by taking the face from a brain-dead woman, who had hanged herself just hours before the operation. Her family agreed on the operation. "The patient is in an excellent state and the transplant looks normal," the hospitals said in a brief statement after waiting three days to announce the pioneering surgery. The woman had been left without a nose and lips after the dog attacked her last May, and was unable to talk or chew properly. Such injuries are "extremely difficult, if not impossible" to repair using normal surgical techniques, the statement said. The statement did not say what the woman would look like when she had fully recovered, but medical experts said she was unlikely to _ the woman who had been the source of her new face. The operation was led by Jean-Michel Dubernard, a specialist from a hospital in Lyon who has also carried out hand transplants, Skin transplants have long been used to treat burns and other injuries, but operations around the mouth and nose have been considered very difficult because of the area's high sensitivity to foreign tissue. Teams in France, the United States and Britain had been developing techniques to make face transplants a reality There was a short-term risk for the patient if blood vessels became blocked, a medium-term danger of her body rejecting the new skin and a long-term possibility that the drugs used could cause cancers. Experts say that although such medical advances should be celebrated, the transplant had thrown up moral and ethical issues. Little is known about the psychological effect of the transplant. The best title for the passage would be _ .
It was a long process that involved creating a resume, submitting an online application and attending a round of interviews. Naturally Tan Kaiyin, a 21-year-old student is excited when she was selected, as more than 660, 000 people signed up to volunteer at the 16thAsian Games in Guangzhou, but only less than 10 percent were finally chosen to work in the venues and wear the white and green sport uniforms. Like in any major sporting event, volunteers play a vital role in assisting with operations and Tan's function here is not any different. She is based at the Garden Hotel and is tasked with helping guests and officials who have issues with their accreditation cards . "I deal with guests from all over the world, I have never met so many international people and it is very, very exciting to have this opportunity to interact with them. They come to the office because they need to make a change in their accreditation card and usually they are in a hurry, so we try our best to get it done quickly." She admits the first few days involved extremely long hours, however she likes the challenge as it gives her an immense sense of satisfaction especially when an irate guest turns a frown into a smile and says "thank you". Tan deals with people from different cultures and personalities and feels she has learned so much in the past week, an experience that she would have never gotten if not for the Guangzhou Asian Games, therefore she is very happy and grateful for being a part of this. She also has kind words for her managers and fellow colleagues and says the hard work and positive atmosphere has bonded them into a family. She enjoys her responsibilities so much that she is afraid of feeling lost when the Games finally end on Nov. 27. However, she is aware of all the positive effects the Games have had on Guangzhou. From improvements to air and water quality to better transportation and infrastructure in the city, but most importantly to her is the fact that the Asian Games has placed Guangzhou prominently onto the world map. This, she believes, will encourage people from all over the world to continue visiting her city, and this in turn will give the residents of Guangzhou a fantastic opportunity to continue learning about different cultures. The official Asian Games Volunteer Slogan is, "Together, we can make it better!" Indeed it seems they can. What makes Tan feel happy and grateful for being part of Guangzhou Asian Games? Answer: She experienced a lot and learned so much in her work Some students get so nervous before a test, they do poorly even if they know the material. Sian Beilock, a psychology professor at the University of Chicago in Illinois, has studied these highly anxious test-takers. Sian Beilock says: "They start worrying about the consequences. They might even start worrying about whether this exam is going to prevent them from getting into the college they want. And when they worry, it actually uses up attention and memory resources. I talk about _ as their cognitive horsepower that they could otherwise be using to focus on the exam." Professor Beilock and another researcher, Gerardo Ramirez, have developed a possible solution. Just before an exam, highly anxious test-takers spend ten minutes writing about their worries about the test. The researchers tested the idea on a group of 20 anxious college students. They gave them two short math tests. After the first one, they asked the students to either sit quietly or write about their feelings about the upcoming second test. The researchers added to the pressure. They told the students that those who did well on the second test would get money. They also told them that their performance would affect other students as part of a team effort. Professor Beilock says those who sat quietly scored an average of 12 percent worse on the second test. But the students who had written about their fears improved their performance by an average of five percent. Next, the researchers used younger students in a biology class. They told them before final exams either to write about their feelings or to think about things unrelated to the test. Professor Beilock says highly anxious students who did the writing got an average grade of B+, compared to a B-for those who did not. The research shows that for students who are highly test-anxious, who'd done the writing intervention , all of a sudden there was no relationship between test anxiety and performance. Those students most likely to worry were performing just as well as their classmates who don't normally get nervous in these testing situations. But what if students do not have a chance to write about their fears immediately before an exam or presentation? Professor Beilock says students can try it themselves at home or in the library and still improve their performance. The result of the research suggests that _ . Answer: facing the fears bravely may help one to achieve more She's not afraid of anything. Snakes? No problem. Walking alone in the dark? Easy. We're not talking about a superhero here -- SM is a 44-year-old mother. And she's fearless because she happens to be missing part of her brain: the amygdala . Shaped like a pair of almonds sitting in the middle of your brain, the amygdala helps control fear and anxiety. A rare condition called Urbach-Wiethe disease left SM without her amygdala, and seems to have completely erased her sense of fear. To try to understand how the amygdala works, a team of researchers made their efforts to scare SM. They showed her horror movies and took her to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium Haunted House in Kentucky. She pushed out one of the monsters and laughed. SM said she didn't like snakes, but at a pet store full of poisonous creatures, she kept asking to touch them. When asked to rate her feelings, SM reported feeling surprised or disgusted, but never fearful. "She tends to approach everything she should be avoiding," says Justin Feinstein of the University of Iowa. This means the amygdala could control deeper urges to approach or avoid danger. Other scientists have a different opinion, though. "I don't believe you can make a general statement about what the amygdala does by a single case study," Elizabeth Phelps said. In 2002, Phelps published a study on a similar patient with amygdala damage who still showed fear. It may sound like fun to be totally fearless, but we get scared for a good reason. "The nature of fear is survival and the amygdala helps us stay alive by avoiding situations, people, or objects that put our life in danger," Feinstein said. SM was once followed in a park after dark by a man with a knife, and she simply walked away. "It is quite remarkable that she is still alive," said Feinstein. SM dares to walk alone in the dark mainly because _ . Answer: she has no sense of fear In 1826, a Frenchman named Niepce needed pictures for his business. But he was not a good artist. So he invented a very simple camera. He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his garden. That was the first photo. The next important date in the history of photography was in 1837.That year, Daguerre, another Frenchman, took a picture of his reading-room. He used a new kind of camera in a different way. In his picture you could see everything very clearly, even the smallest thing. The kind of photo was called a Daguerreotype. Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's way. Travellers brought back wonderful photos from all round the world. People took pictures of famous buildings, cities and mountains. In about 1840, photography was developed . Then photographers could take pictures of people and moving things. That was not simple. The photographers had to carry a lot of film and other machines. But this did not stop them, for example, some in the United States worked so hard.Mathew Brady was a famous American photographer. He took many pictures of great people. The pictures were unusual because they were very lifelike . Photographers also became one kind of art by the end of the 19th century. Some photos were not just taken of the real world, they showed ideas and feelings, like other kinds of art. Mathew Brady _ . Answer: was famous for his unusual pictures Where would you be most likely to observe the most diverse of all marine ecosystems? Answer: off Australia's shore
Fish and chips, and Chinese take-away food are very popular in England. But they are _ in the USA. In the USA, they eat take-away food, too, like chicken. But the most popular kind of take-away food is the hamburger. It looks like bread with meat in it. Ham is a kind of pork---- but the hamburger does not have any pork in it. It has beef in it. The beef is inside a kind of cake. Hamburgers are delicious. They are very popular in the USA. They are also popular in England and Australia. In the USA the most popular kind of take-away food is _ . Answer: hamburgers Today was a very big day for me and I had already ordered up a pile of books I needed in the University Library from home by about 10:15. Off I went at 10:30 to the University Library, to get all those references. Only trouble was that when I arrived I discovered I hadn't got my university card that would open the library's electronic entrance, and every other place I needed to access. I had had it in another library the night before (which was where I strongly suspected it still was), but the immediate dilemma was this: should I (Plan A) try using the old university library card I had, which I had thought I had lost, and had been cancelled, but I thought there was a chance it would still work the University Library turnstile ? Or should I (Plan B) admit it and hope that I could blag my way in on the "I've been coming to this library for 40 years..." line? I went for Plan A. Two reasons really. I think I could probably blag (or cry) my way in, but I thought it might get the entry staff into trouble. They've known me for ages, but rules are rules. Besides, I thought there was a good chance that my old card would still work the turnstile even if it had been cancelled. And if it didn't work, I could still try Plan B. The answer was my old card did still work. I looked up that tricky little article about the Middle East, then I went off to my own little Library, knocked on the window and got let in by a graduate student (I am sure there are also rules about not letting professors in when they haven't got their card, even if desperate and crying). And there was good news. There under the pile of books I had been using the night before was the lost card. How did the writer get into his own library? Answer: By asking a student to help him. Some people in Manchester, Britain, will soon be paying for goods and services with so-called "smart" credit cards. These cards are more secure than the traditional magnetic-strip version and can be used to travel on buses, check bank accounts and do shopping. The Manchester project is one of the biggest smart card schemes in the world. Every time people use the cards on a bus or train, the fare is deducted (reduced) from the value of the card. When they have no credit left, the cards can be recharged at a local shop. A smart card looks just like a normal plastic card but it has a silicon chip in it. It is possible for the same silicon chip to perform a number of different functions, so one plastic card in your pocket could do a large number of different jobs. The card has much more memory space than a magnetic-strip card, so many more things can be recorded on it.There are two types of smart cards. One is the contact card which is used in the same way as a magnetic-strip card. Information is transferred by running the card through a narrow opening in an electronic reader. In the slot, electronic probes make contact with the magnetic-strip or silicon ship and read the information. The other type is the contactless smart card where the electronic reader communicates with the card by short-range radio waves. This makes the card quicker and more convenient to use because it does not have to leave your wallet. It is also more reliable as it is not easily influenced by scratches or dirt. However, the biggest advantage that smart cards have over magnetic-strip cards is that they are more secure. They are much more difficult to make than conventional cards and they have to be made by specially trained manufacturers. In addition, they have a large number of extra security features on them and if a smart card gets lost or stolen a quick phone-call to the distributor ensures that its individual number is made invalid and unreadable. This can be done more quickly than with a magnetic-strip card. The cards can be recharged means that _ . Answer: the cards can be changed into new ones A good joke can be the hardest thing to understand when studying a foreign language. As a recent article in The Guardian newspaper noted, "There's more to understanding a joke in a foreign language than understanding vocabulary and grammar." Being able to understand local jokes is often seen as an incredible ice-breaker for a language learner eager to form friendships with native speakers. "I always felt that humor was a ceiling that I could never break through," Hannah Ashley, a public relations account manager in London, who once studied Spanish in Madrid. Told The Guardian, "I could never speak to people on the same level as I would speak to a native English speaker. I almost came across as quite a boring person because all I could talk about was facts." In fact, most of the time, jokes are only funny for people who share a cultural background or understand humor in the same way. Chinese-American comedian Joe Wong found this out first-hand. He had achieved huge success in the US, but when he returned to China in 2008 for his first live show in Beijing, he discovered that people didn't think his. Chinese jokes were as funny as his English ones. In Australia, meanwhile many foreigners find understanding jokes about sports to be the biggest headache. "The hardest jokes are related to rugby because I know nothing about rugby," said Melody Cao, who was once a student in Australia. "When I heard jokes I didn't get, I just laughed along." In the other two major English-speaking countries, the sense of humor is also different. British comedian Simon Pegg believes that while Britons use irony-basically, saying something they don't mean to make a joke-every day, people in the US don't see the point of using it so often. "British jokes tend to be more subtle and dark, while American jokes are more obvious with their meanings, a bit like Americans themselves," he wrote in The Guardian. Joe Wong is used as an example to _ . Answer: show that there are cultural differences in humor The London Marathon celebrates its 32nd birthday. That is 32 years of stresses and anxieties, blisters and painful knees, and tales that are hard to believe. Somehow, I've managed to run four of _ . And I have medals to prove it. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I watched the first London Marathon on March 29th, 1981. It seemed extraordinary that normal people would want to run 26 miles and 385 yards. And, it must be said that they looked strange and not quite steady at the end of it all. There are, indeed, terrible tales of people losing consciousness when they reach the finishing line. But it drew all my attention. I knew I had to do it. Three years later I was living in London, not far from Greenwich where the event begins, and it seemed the perfect opportunity to give it a go. I was only a short train ride from the starting line, but more than 26 miles from the finish. "Who cares?" I thought. By the end I did. The moment I crossed that finishing line and had that medal placed around my neck was one of the finest in my life. The sense of achievement was great. Knowing that I'd run a Marathon felt extremely good. London provides one of the easiest of all the officially approved marathons because most of its course is flat. Yes, there are the cobblestones while running through the Tower of London, and there are the quiet patches where crowds are thin and you are crying out for some encouragement -- those things matter to the "fun" runners like myself, but the serious runners don't think of such things. Since 1981,almost half a million people have completed the London Marathon, raising more than $ 125 million for charity. For the majority of the runners, this is what it is all about. It is for charity, for fun, for self-development. I have always loved it. It's crazy, and it's one of the greatest things I've ever done. If you want to feel as though you've achieved something, run a marathon. From what place does the London Marathon start? Answer: Greenwich.
Question: It was once unheard-of to be a businessman in China. Nowadays, though, it's quite common to become your own boss. Let's say you have an idea. Maybe you want to open an English school or sell Japanese comics. First, you need a business plan. It sets out what you'll sell and how much everything will cost. Most businesses that fail didn't have this. If you need to borrow money at the start, banks will ask for a detailed plan. The best starting place for a business plan is the 4Ps: product, place, price and promotion. All these must be strong to be successful. #Product Your product must have something unique. What makes it special compared to other similar products? If you want to start a noodle shop that has nothing new, don't expect people to show much interest. You can research your product. For food, let people try it for free. For toys, let a few children play with them to see if they like them. #Place There's no point having a product that people want to buy if your shop is in an empty mall. Think about which type of person is going to buy what you sell. Where do they usually go shopping? When looking at possible places, spend the day there. See how many people pass by. Also, are there other shops nearby selling similar products? _ , how can you be better than them? #Price Work out how much it costs to make or provide your product. As a general rule, your price will be double the cost. After all, you're also paying for rent, staff and you need to eat too! #Promotion How can you attract people to your shop? Advertising in newspapers and on TV is expensive. Perhaps you can get free advertising by getting a newspaper to write about your business. You are selling toys to children. It costs 5 yuan to make each one. How much should you charge the children for each toy? A. 15 yuan. B. 5 yuan. C. 10 yuan. D. 50 yuan. Answer: C. 10 yuan. Question: Helicopter Aerial Tour Explore the Grand Cannon from the eyes of the eagle. A wonderful 12- to 15-minute helicopter tour will soar through the canyon for an aerial experience of wonderful views. Our aerial tour is not available anywhere else in the world! Ticket:$120. 00 per person, plus 10% tax. Please call us at 1-888-868-9378 for seasonal rates, specials or to book by phone. Helicopter-Boat Tour Helicopter tour starts at the Grand Canyon, West Side. Take a 4,000-foot fall to the Colorado River below. Helicopters fall 4,000 feet from the canyon side to the banks of the Colorado River where visitors can enjoy a 15- to 20-minute boat ride down the Colorado. Ticket:$150. 00 per person, plus 10% tax. Champagne Helicopter Tour Experience the beauty of the Grand Cannon: Soar above the Hoover Dam and the dead volcanoes. You go aboard a million-dollar helicopter with all forward facing seats allowing 180 degrees of views in air-conditioned comfort. You will see the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River, the Grand Cannon and more! You land to have a champagne picnic lunch at the Grand Cannon. Las Vegas Adventure Tour Helicopter tours to the Grand Canyon West include a wonderful Las Vegas adventure tour. Aerial sightseeing tours originating in Las Vegas, Nevada include breathtaking views of Lake Mead, the Mohave Desert, and the west edge of the Grand Canyon. Aerial tours including the round trip as well as combination tours attract many visitors. Visitors arriving at the Hualapai elation's Grand Cannon West Airport may select one of the activities above. How much should a couple pay for a helicopter-boat tour? A. 150 dollars. B. 165 dollars. C. 300 dollars. D. 330 dollars. Answer: D. 330 dollars. Question: Pocket money means that you have money in your pocket that you can spend. You may get a regular amount of money from your parents or grandparents , for example , every week or once a month. How much pocket money should you get ? That depends on what your parents or grandparents can afford, how many kids there are in your family and how old you are . A little primary school kid may get one yuan , but older children would get more . Each family is different. Many parents or grandparents give kids pocket money so that their kids can : use the money to buy things that they want . learn to find out how much things cost . learn to look after money well . learn to shop around for the best price learn to save their pocket money for the future. learn what is worth buying. It is difficult to _ money . If you spend all of your money too quickly ,you will not be able to buy the necessary things that you will need in the future life . If you always save money , you will not get many nice things that you really like . Try to use your pocket money in the right way and you will always get something good. What can not influence how much pocket money kids get ? _ . A. The kids' ages B. The kids' grades C. The salary D. the number of kids in a family . Answer: B. The kids' grades Question: An 18-year-old girl Anna Meier from Austria is taking her parents to court for posting over 500 photos of her on Facebook since 2009,without her permission. Anna has apparently become fed up with her parents' refusal to take down the embarrassing photos of her at an early age,and is now seeking justice in court.She told the magazine that even though she was 11 years old when her parents started sharing her photos with several hundreds of Facebook friends,they went as far as to post pictures of her as a baby,without ever asking if it was alright with her."They knew no shame and no limit--and didn't care whether it was a picture of me sitting on the toilet or lying naked in my bed--every stage was photographed and then made public,"the girl said. The girl added that she was only able to see the photos posted on Facebook by her parents when she was 14,after setting up her own account on it.Again and again,Anna asked her parents to remove the photos of her immediately,but they refused.Angry and upset,she felt that she had no other way but to take them to court,which she did as soon as she turned 18 this year."I'm tired of not being taken seriously by my parents,"she said. Anna's lawyer claims they have a good chance of winning the case in court,if it can be proven that the images have violated her rights to a personal life.But,based on similar cases and according to Austrian privacy laws,if the parents lose,they may be forced to pay their daughter a fine of EUR 3,000 to EUR10,000. But Anna's parents,however,see nothing wrong with posting baby photos of her."I consider it my right to publish these photos,"her father said. "We have posted no more photos of our daughter since she stopped allowing us to photograph her.We also have baby photos of her that can only be seen by a limited group of 700 Facebook friends." It's reported that Anna has moved out of her parents' home and is living with some girls in a rented apartment. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. Anna started to ask her parents to remove 500 photos at 11. B. Around 700 of her parents' Facebook friends shared the pictures. C. Alma's parents felt shameful for what they had done on Facebook. D. Anna's parents started to post her pictures on Facebook when she was 14. Answer: A. Anna started to ask her parents to remove 500 photos at 11. Question: If a bird has to adapt to hot or cold temperatures, it will find difficulty as it is A. able to chill blood B. able to warm blood C. able to adjust blood temperature D. unable to control blood temps Answer: D. unable to control blood temps
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. If you want to keep healthy, you should _ . A. believe Zhang Wuben's words B. eat a balanced diet C. eat more eggplant and gram D. eat in Chinese restaurants Answer: B Dropout rates are rising, and what are parents and teachers doing? Though some may deeply regret these students dropping out, our schools continue to lack plans to teach motivation. Parents and teachers don't stress the fact that staying in school will help students succeed in life. A recent study by the Department of Education found that 31 percent of American students are dropping out or failing to graduate in the nation's 100 largest school districts. From what I can see, many parents are letting their children drop out, which shows that some students do not have enough support or encouragement to continue. It is reported that about 2,500 students drop out of high schools every day. Writer Ruth Wells says, "Schools expect youth and children to act as though school is important, but they never teach them to believe that. " That is why many students do not feel motivated to stay in school. Since some families are not helping their children become more involved in school, it's up to teachers, counselors , and youth professionals to provide this training. Researchers say they were surprised to find that a majority of 456 dropouts interviewed were not what most people would consider underachieving troublemakers. One third of the students said they were failing in school, but more than six out of ten were keeping C averages or better when they quit. Almost half said they were bored or that the classwork seemed unrelated. Another dropout said, "There wasn't any learning going on; they make you take classes you're never going to use in life. " Three out of four said if they could turn the clock back they would choose to stay in school, and eight out of ten said they now recognize that a high school diploma is important to succeeding in life-a lesson learned too late. Teachers need to convince students why they should stay in school. One is to have students name jobs that they can " always" do without a diploma. This will quickly highlight that jobs with the best pay and benefits require a diploma. There may be students who are happy they dropped out, but it is better to get an education and make the best of life. What causes students to drop out of high school? A. They are looked down upon at school. B. They are eager to work before graduation. C. They lack enough support and motivation. D. They can do as well in society with no diplomas. Answer: C Today we are going to talk about important transition words in English.We will focus on how to usetransition words to link ideas together.Some common transition words are and,furthermore,in addition to,not to mention,and in the same way. We don't always get a second chance to achieve our dreams.But some people are lucky,like Matthew McConaughey.Once almost unknown,the actor has recently found himself back on the list of the best actors in HollywooD. His new movie Interstellar is just another sign that his career reinvention has been an incredible success."The film relies on McConaughey's performance to hold together the emotional story of a father and his daughter against the background of space travel and the end of the world,"Forbes commenteD. But only years ago,the Texas native was often the butt of jokes about being too handsome.In 1993,after meeting with director Richard Linklater,McConaughey starred in Dazed and ConfuseD. And a Hollywood career was born,mostly in romantic comedies.For a long time,the whole world believed McConaughey was just a handsome guy with comic talent. But McConaughey stopped starring in that type of movie,and began to use his looks differently.Slowly he built up his reputation as a serious actor.In 2013,McConaughey was offered to play an AIDS activist in Dallas Buyers CluB. The role saw the normally muscular actor losing 50 pounds in order to appear sick.His performance won him an Oscar for Best Actor. The actor gave thanks to someone he has always looked up to as a hero during his Oscar acceptance speech.When he was 15,the actor said,he decided that his hero would be himself in 10 years.But 10 years later,he pushed the deadline ahead another decade.Then 10 years later,another decade."My hero's always 10 years away," he saiD. "I'm never going to attain that.That keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing."Or perhaps constantly chasing the chance to be his own hero has given him a second chance to follow his dreams. Why was McConaughey often the butt of jokes in his early career? A. He was limited to handsome roles. B. He was unknown to the audience. C. He played in romantic comedies. D. He was handsome and emotional. Answer: A Word Power Author(s): Kaplan $13.95 You'll never be at a loss for words again. Energize your vocabulary with must-know everyday words that are the essentials of a good vocabulary, engaging lessons to help you use words in text, hot words often found on tests, tips to help you figure out new words, roots, and more. Grades: 8 & up Ages: 13 & up Word Smart Junior Author(s): Russell Stauffer $ 17.95 Now this is the way to add new words to your vocabulary! Word Smart Junior will make you laugh so much. You'll be amazed that you've just learned more than 120 fascinating and very useful words! Parents, teachers, and friends will marvel at your eloquence ! Grades: 3-5 Ages: 8-10 Grammar Smart Junior Author(s): Marcia Reynolds $ 16.85 Do you quake when your teacher says, "Now it's time for grammar"? Do your verbs agree with your subjects? Fear no more!A big Hollywood producer and a famous movie star will help you learn all those nasty elements of grammar. You'll be amazed at how quickly you learn, and how much fun it can be. _ and you'll never have to worry about it again. Grades: 7-9 Ages: 12-14 Grammar Smart: An Audio Guide to Perfect Usage Author(s): Julian Fleisher $ 12.68 The words you use say a lot about you ... but the way you put them together says even more. Your grammar makes an immediate and lasting impression on your teachers, and even your friends. So don't make the mistake of thinking that grammar is too complicated. We've created Grammar Smart to help you write and speak with clarity and confidence. Grades: 6-8 Ages: 11-13 By saying "You'll finally know your grammar backwards and forwards", the writer means " _ A. You will be clearly familiar with grammar B. You will know the history of grammar C. You will know the make-up of grammar D. You will learn about the future of grammar Answer: A 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. We can infer from the passage that _ . A. all technological developments are very important B. traditional newspapers and magazines will disappear soon C. new things will replace the old ones in the future D. traditional newspapers and magazines will be more popular Answer: C
Playing is a serious business for children. In fact, it's what they do best! Ask them why they do it, and kids will probably say, "Because it's fun!" But it's much more than that. It's also good for them. Studies show that from birth babies begin learning through playing. They use their five senses to get to know their new world. Touching allows them to discover how different things feel. Brightly color1ed toys and clothing help develop a baby's sense of sight. When small children choose which toy to play with, they begin developing their abilities in deciding something. Children love toys that allow them to use their imagination. Sometimes an empty box is more fun than a high-tech toy. That's because a box can become anything a child imagines it to be. Crayons, paints and Ply-Doha are also good because they allow children to create. Traditional building blocks teach important pre-math skills like problem-solving. Playing doesn't become any less important once children start school. _ ? . Kids learn how to share, take turns and play by the rules. What's the passage mainly about? A How to play with children. B How to develop children's five senses. C Playing is fun for children. D Playing is good for children's development. Answer: D. Playing is good for children's development. Going back as far as I can remember as a child in an Indian area, I had no senses of knowing about the other people around me except that we were all somehow equal...There was only one class. Nobody was interested in getting on top of anybody else. You could see it in our games. Nobody organized them. There weren't any _ sports. But we took part in lots of activities and we were organized, but not in the sense that there were wars of finding out who had won and who had lost. We played balls like everyone else, but no one kept scores. Even if we did formally take part in the games we played, no one was a winner though someone may have won. It was only at that moment. If you beat someone by pulling a bow and arrow and shooting the arrow further, it didn't mean you were better in any why. It just meant that at that particular time the arrow went further; maybe it was just the way you let the bow go. These kinds of things are very important to me and that is why I am talking about them. One of the very important things was the relationship we had with our families. We didn't always live at home. We lived wherever we happened to be at that particular time when it got dark. If you were two or three miles away from home, then that was where you slept. From the passage, we can infer that _ . A they pretended to lose when they could win the games B they didn't think it was very important who was the winner among their activities C they didn't hold any activities which could produce winners or losers D they thought it was a good idea that no one could win in their activities Answer: B. they didn't think it was very important who was the winner among their activities When you hear the words "streets dancer", what is the picture that appears in your head? For most people, it is a picture of a person wearing unusual clothes with a hat on his head, dancing to the music in a cool way. For example, a person who wears a large T-shirt dances on the street. Clearly, clothes those street dancers wear show their personalities and clothing styles. Now let us take a look at street dancers' clothing styles. Tops If you look into the clothing styles of street dancers, you will notice that there is a large difference between the tops that men and women wear. For men, they often wear a large T-shirt with probably a jacket at times. However, for women, they often wear tank tops (T) . Bottoms Today, the street dancers still prefer wearing large jeans and a lot of men also wear Capri pants . However, women start to wear mini skirts or shorts. Nowadays knee-high socks are also a popular new look for the women. Footwear For any street dancer, shoes are important. Any pair of shoes that produces the slightest sound can destroy the performance. So they need a pair of shoes that allows them to move freely. In fact, street dancers' clothing has to be something that allows for a lot of comfort and that shows personalities. The two points are important for any street dancer. Without those things, it is difficult for street dancers to perform well and show their personalities. What do you think about the clothing style of street dancers? Maybe you like it or maybe you don't. Anyway, people have different ideas of beauty. Which can best describe a street dancer's clothing? A Anything is OK if it is for him. B Everything should be made by hand. C The more expensive, the better it is. D Comfort and personalities make perfect. Answer: D. Comfort and personalities make perfect. If you're in Florence, Italy, and see a man on a ladder wiping the dust off statues and buildings, don't worry.It's just Alessandro Ricci gathering material for his famous smog paintings. Ricci is not a common artist, because he used smog as the main medium of his artworks. Unlike other painters seeking fast recognition of their talent, he doesn't really care about "being this big artist".Instead he is more concerned about bringing attention to how much smog there really is in his home town and how it's destroying both its monuments and people. Although he did take a couple of art classes a few years back, he is mainly self-taught, doesn't work in a studio, donates most of his work, and refuses to play by the rules of the Florentine Art Gallery, which he considers corrupt.Alessandro Ricci believes selling his smog paintings will not only compromise his principles, but also contradict the very thing he's trying to do-raise awareness about smog pollution in this city. Alessandro lives with his parents nearby Florence, but almost every day he visits the streets of the city, and collects smog for his paintings.He gets it from several meters above ground, from clean surfaces like marble, plastic and stone, using damp pieces of cotton.Then he applies the smog directly onto a cloth and creates street scenes and reproductions of the very buildings from which he got the dangerous material.Finally, he seals his paintings with a natural resin . His actions helped win a small victory for the people of Florence, as in October 25, 2012 the Duomo area of the city was made pedestrian-only.But there is still a long way to go, the artist believes, and only cleaning the thick layer of smog that has accumulated throughout Florence would take several years.Still, he continues to paint his unique smog artworks and let the people know how polluted the environment they live in really is. Ricci paints his unique smog artworks aiming to _ . A fight government corruption B advertise the monuments C create more street scenes D raise awareness about pollution Answer: D. raise awareness about pollution How do you know if your home is an easy aim for thefts? Around the holidays, many families don't consider taking proper measures to prevent their homes from suffering holiday thefts. With just a few simple steps, you can better make sure of the safety of your home during all of the holiday celebrations. Here are a few tips for making it difficult to tell you are away from home. Either have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers, or tell your mailperson to hold your mail until you return. Nothing says "Hey, we are not home!" like when your postbox is filled with all kinds of mails and you have many different newspapers in your driveway. Set several different lights in your house on random timers . Don't leave your outdoor lights on all the time.Instead, put your outside light on timers to be on during the nights. If an outdoor light remains on for days at a time, it means that nobody is home to turn it off. * If you have pets that you are not taking with you on vacation, leave them with friend, rather than having someone come into your house every day to take care of them, When thefts see a neighbor or friend entering your house every day, they will know you are not home. * Close all your curtains when you leave town. This is effective to _ possible thefts, as no one can see what is in your house. If they don't know what there is to take, then the risk is even greater for them to break in. *This article just has suggested a few tips to help you keep your house safe on holiday.Nothing can truly protect your home unless you have it monitored by a professional home security system. To make your home well protected, what does the writer advise you to do? A Equip your home with security system. B Stop your mail service at once. C Turn to your close neighbors or friends D Have all the curtains closed. Answer: A. Equip your home with security system.
Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband ,Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children. During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport. He reported the case to the police and then sat there,lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one. Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband's name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can that had been left out on the footpath. My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend. That family not only _ the important documents to us that day but also restoredour faith and trust in people.We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way. Which of the following can be the best title for the text? A. From India to Australia. B. Living in a a New Country. C. Turning Trash to Treasure. D. In Search of New Friends. Answer: C. Turning Trash to Treasure. There are a lot of reasons why growing your own food is a good idea. GIY helps reduce carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions . Food in supermarkets travels a long way and that produces a lot of CO2. If you grow as many vegetables as you can at home, you can help save the earth. Vegetables you grow are also good for your health because they have more nutrients than supermarket vegetables and they don't have chemicals. How much money can you save? First of all, seeds are a lot of cheaper than vegetables, and secondly, you can save more by planting the most expensive and the most productive vegetables. You can give your vegetables to fiends and neighbors. It can make you very popular. Don't worry if you don't have much space. To GIY, you don't even need a garden. You can use pots on your balconies . And don't worry if your space doesn't get much sun. You can plant vegetables that don't need a lot of sun to grow. Grow your own vegetables now. You will have both a healthier body and a healthier social life. How many reasons do people have to grow their own food? A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. Answer: D. Four. The name "cowboy" conjures up many different images from movies, songs and TV. These imagined cowboys range from white-hat-wearing heroes to gun-shooting hooligans .But, cowboys are actually real people from US history. When the US Civil War ended, many soldiers had no place to call home. So, they began to drift to the country's rural West. Ranchers hired these men to take care of the cattle and work around the ranch. When the ranch owner wanted to sell the cattle, the cowboys would round up the herd from the open prairie and drive the cattle miles to the market. With the invention of barbed wire ,the cowboy era(1865-1890) began to come to an end. But people in the East had always been curious about their lifestyle. Many country/western songs during this time tried to capture the true cowboy spirit. Newspapers published cowboy tales in serial form and adventure novels followed. The bigger the fiction, the better the sales. These novels often portrayed cowboys as cruel and violent men. Cowboys carried the bad reputation for many years afterwards. When movies began to be popular in the 1920s, the cowboy image changed again. Now, a cowboy became the great white knight that loved his horse more than the beautiful ladies he rescued. As the cowboy of the "Old West" spent more time with his horse than the ladies, this era's image was not entirely false. Then, in the 50s,Hollywood began producing so-called "spaghetti westerns ".They earned the nickname because Italian companies financed the films and TV shows. This started the decade's "Cowboy Craze". While this didn't last long, it made modern country / western music, fashion and dance extremely popular. In recent years, with the help of musicians, radio stations and bars, cowboy nostalgia has returned. Even though his image is still changing -- somewhere between ballad singing country boy and bar room fighter -- there's one thing for sure, _ . During "the cowboy era" mentioned in the story, _ . A. the cowboy often came to the rescue of ladies in newspaper tales B. the distant Wild West appealed to people in the East C. cowboys were shown as cruel and violent men on the silver screen D. country music started the cowboy craze which swept the whole country Answer: B. the distant Wild West appealed to people in the East "Everything happens for the best," my mother said whenever I faced disappointment. "If you carry on, one day something good will happen. And you'll realize that it wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment." Mother was right, as I discovered after graduating from college in 1932. I had decided to try for a job in radio, then work my way up to sports announcer. I hitchhiked to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station and got turned down every time. In one studio, a kind lady told me that big stations couldn't risk hiring an inexperienced person. "Go out in the sticks and find a small station that'll give you a chance," she said. I thumbed home to Dixon, Illinois. While there was no radio-announcing job in Dixon, my father said Montgomery Ward had opened a store and wanted a local athlete to manage its sports department. Since Dixon was where I had played high school football, I applied. The job sounded just right for me. But I wasn't hired. My disappointment must have shown. "Everything happens for the best," Mom reminded me. Dad offered me the car to job hunt. I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, a wonderful Scotsman named Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer. As I left his office, my frustration boiled over. I asked aloud, "How can a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?" I was waiting for the elevator when I heard MacArthur calling, "What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football?" Then he put me before a microphone and asked me to broadcast an imaginary game. On my way home, as I have many times since, I thought of my mother's words: "If you carry on, one day something good will happen. Something wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment." I often wonder what direction my life might have taken if I'd gotten the job at Montgomery Ward. What's the best title for the passage? A. How to find a job B. Peter MacArthur gave me a chance C. Mother's words D. A lesson of life Answer: D. A lesson of life I am Lin Feng. This is a picture of my family: my grandfather, my grandmother, my father, my mother, my sister and I. My grandparents are in Beijing now and we are in Zhejiang. My mother is a teacher and my father is a doctor. My sister and I are middle school students. My sister is in Class 1,Grade 8 and I am in Class2, Grade 7. I have a good friend here. Her name is Zhang Ning. We are in the same class. Lin Feng's grandparents are in _ now A. Beijing B. Shanghai C. Zhejiang D. Tianjing Answer: A. Beijing
In the latest romance-drama, Descendants of the Sun (<<>> ), a handsome soldier Yoo Shi-jin (Song Joong-ki) meets the pretty doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) in a hospital, and he doesn't hesitate to hit on her. The dialogue, which takes place early in the first episode, immediately indicates that this is no ordinary South Korean drama. There's no family feud, or secret crush, or love tangles, or guesses and misunderstandings. The 16-episode show is set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk . Song Joong-ki is the leader of a special warfare command unit, while Song Hye-kyo plays a doctor who works for a humanitarian medical organization. Both are sent in the midst of disaster and disease as part of their work with UN peacekeeping troops. Both know and show clearly what they want and what they hate. But what stands out the most are Song's skills as a pick-up artist . Boldness and creativity are the key weapons in his arsenal. When Kang invites Yoo to drink wine with her, Yoo, who is not allowed to drink alcohol as a soldier, says, "There is a way" before kissing her. Forget about the "eighth-episode rule". This kiss happens in the fourth. Humor also does the trick. On their first date in a cinema, Yoo says, "This is the most exciting moment of my life. The moment I am with a beautiful woman before the theater lights go out." When Kang tries to give Yoo a hard time, Yoo jokes, "I mistook you for a beautiful woman because it's dark." And actor Song Joong-ki, who just came back from two years of military service last May, makes sure he delivers his pick-up lines just right. "In Deep Rooted Tree (<<>> ) and The Innocent Man (<<>> ), he [Song Joong-ki] showed he had the steel to play fearless and heartless men - that he could be taken seriously as an actor, despite his pretty face. In Descendants, he hits the emotional core of every scene, whether he has to be bold and amorous, guarded and mysterious, or sad," said critic Foong Woei Wan in The Straits Times. Why say that the Descendants of the Sun is no ordinary South Korean drama? Answer: 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. Which of the following is NOT true about this article? Answer: Life in an American high school is an interesting and exciting learning experience. High school in America is not just a place for studying some subjects. It is also an important social centre, where students can develop other interests and talents. The high school course is divided into four years. School usually starts at about 8:00 am, and ends at about 3 pm. There's no class on Saturday. Students have lunch at the school cafeteria , where they can choose from a variety of good things to eat and drink. After lunch they can play sports, talk to friends or simply relax. The lunch break lasts about an hour. When the school day ends, some students go home, but many still stay at school for after-school activities. There are many activities to take part in and clubs to join. With the headmaster's agreement, students can start any kind of club that is educational and fun! American high school students like to be "popular". This means being a good student, being active in the community and being well-liked by others. Popular students are elected to take part in Student Union. Every year in June there are prizes for the best athletes. Most American high school students have a part-time job during the school year and a full-time job during the summer. Parents encourage their children to work because it's part of growing up and becoming responsible and independent. Most high schools have a job list to help students find work. Teenagers are fond of their jobs! The best title for this passage is " _ ". Answer: A boy called Mario had many friends, and he was proud of it. Whoever he met, he would like to show off how popular he was at school. One day, his grandpa said to him, "Mario, I know that you don't have as many friends as you think. Many of them are not true to you." Mario thought maybe his grandpa was right. However, he wasn't sure how he could test whether his schoolmates were real friends or not, so he asked his grandpa. The old man answered, "I have just exactly what you need. It's in my room. Wait a minute." The old man left, soon returning as if carrying something in his hand, but Mario could see nothing there. "Take it. It's a very special chair. Because it's _ , it will be hard for you to sit on it. However, if you manage to sit on it, you can use the chair's magic power to tell who your real friends are." Mario took the strange invisible chair to school. At break time he asked everyone to form a circle, and he put himself in the middle, with his chair. "Nobody move. You're about to see something amazing," said Mario. Then he tried sitting on the chair. Having difficulty seeing it, he missed and fell to the ground. Everyone had a pretty good laugh. "Wait, wait," said Mario, making another try. But again he missed the seat. Mario didn't give up. He kept trying to sit on the magic chair. Finally, he did it. This time he felt himself in mid-air. Then he experienced the magic that his grandpa had been talking about. Looking around, Mario saw George, Lucas and Diana holding him up, so he wouldn't fall. But some schoolmates whom he had regarded as friends had done nothing but made fun of him. Mario was quite thankful to his grandpa, who helped him test who his true friends were. Which would be the best title for this story? Answer: New security camera can "see" through clothes New technology that can " see " through clothing and detect what ' s underneath can now be used to scan crowds, making it a potentially effective tool to prevent terrorist attacks in public places. The Thru Vision T5000 camera picks up Terahertz rays, or T-rays, which are naturally sent out by all objects and can pass through clothes or even walls. The camera can then detect metallic and nonmetallic objects hidden under clothing on still or moving objects without showing any body detail. While similar technology is seen at airports around the world, the T5000 is designed to be used in large, open areas. With a range of 25 meters, the T5000 can screen people in public places, thus avoiding bottle-necks at border crossing or security checkpoints. It also means people can be screened without knowing it. The technology develops from British astronomers' work in studying dying stars. Astronomers use T-ray cameras to see through dust and clouds in space. The company sees uses for its camera at other sites where political or business activities take place. For privacy concerns,Thru Vision Chief Executive Clive Beattie said the image produced by the camera did not show detailed parts of the body. " It's almost a shining light bulb ." Beattie said. "You don' t see the detail that people might be concerned about. " In London' s busy Piccadilly Circus--which is already filled with closed -circuit surveillance cameras-- reaction to the new technology was mixed. Some said the camera was going too far and violating privacy,but others said they are willing to put safety before privacy concerns. " There ' s surveillance everywhere anyway." said one commuter. "I don' t think it' s much of a difference. I don' t care that they can see through me because they can see me anyway." Some experts said the privacy violation of the camera was not worth the benefit. " What we should consider is how much we want to lose our privacy in order to obtain a sort of national security," said David Murakami Wood,director of the Surveillance Studies network,which deals with surveillance and privacy problems. " In most cases this isn' t real security--it ' s a sense of safety that has very little real effect. " What can we learn about T5000? Answer:
Millions of sports lovers are still thinking about one thing----the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia. Close to 2900 men and women competed in the 2014 Winter Games about a month ago. The Olympics brought a lot of attention to Sochi, a city on the Black Sea, which is a popular area for vacation travelers. The area is known for its mild winters. At least $50 billion was spent on the 2014 Winter Games, making it the costliest Olympics in history. Seven billion dollars was spent on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Olympic officials chose Sochi to host the 2014 games almost seven years ago. At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the games would cost about $13 billion. Yet the actual expenses exceeded his estimate. So where did all the money go? Some observers say the high cost is partly the result of security measures. Brian Jenkins, a terrorism expert from the RAND Corporation, gave the following explanation. There were anywhere between 70,000 and 100, 000 policemen and military troops deployed around the city. The main threat came from separatist and Islamist groups from the North Caucasus, especially from Chechnya and Dagestan. One group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Volgograd last December. The attacks killed more than 30 people. The city is only about 600 kilometers away from Sochi. Bruce Hoffman is a terrorism expert from Georgetown University in Washington DC. He says the increased security made Sochi a difficult target for terrorists. It is thought that the terrorists' intention was to make life difficult for the Russians and to create some sort of incident that would take away the enjoyment. The last Olympians from around the world on Russian soil were in 1980. That was a year after Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. More than sixty countries didn't take part in the Moscow Summer Games to show their anger. According to the passage, why did the Sochi Winter Olympics cost so much? A. Because it was held at an area popular for vacation travelers. B. Because the Russian government wanted to make it the best ever held.[:] C. Because security measures at Sochi were stricter than before. D. Because the original plan was made 7 years before. Answer: C. Because security measures at Sochi were stricter than before. Visitor Oyster cards are electronic smartcards that come fully charged with credit. Whether you're making a one-off trip to London or you're a regular visitor, using an Oyster travel smartcard is the easiest way to travel around the city's public transport network. Simply touch the card on the yellow card reader at the doors when you start and end your journey. Advantages of a Visitor Oyster Card A Visitor Oyster card is one of the cheapest ways to pay for single journeys on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Over-ground and most National Rail services in London: * Save time----your card is ready to use as soon as you arrive in London. * It's more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper travel card or single tickets with cash. * There is a daily price cap----once you have reached this limit, you won't pay any more. * Enjoy special offers and promotions at leading London restaurants, shops and entertainment venues----plus discounts on the Emirates Air Line cable car and Thames Clippers river buses. Buy a Visitor Oyster card Buy a Visitor Oyster card before you visit London and get it delivered to your home address. A card costs PS3 (non-refundable) plus postage. Order online and arrive with your Oyster in hand! You can also buy a Visitor Oyster card from Gatwick Express ticket offices at Gatwick Airport Station and on board Eurostar trains travelling to London. Add Credit to Your Visitor Oyster Card You can choose how much credit to add to your card. If you are visiting London for two days, you can start with PS20 credit. If you run out of credit, add credit at the following locations: * Touch screen ticket machines in Tube, DLR, London Over-ground and some National Rail stations. * Around 4,000 Oyster Ticket Stops found in newsagents and small shops across London. * TFL Visitor and Travel Information Centers. * Tube and London Over-ground station ticket offices. * Emirates Air Line terminals. When can you use your Visitor Oyster Card? A. After you become a regular visitor. B. Only when you end your journey. C. Once you arrive in London. D. Before you leave home. Answer: C. Once you arrive in London. What a miracle! A low-cost Lost in Thailand <<>> has got the best ticket sales. It is true that Lost in Thailand has become the most popular Chinese film of all time. The ticket sales The movie Lost in Thailand cost just 30 million yuan to make, but it has earned more than 1.2 billion yuan. It has got more ticket than Painted Skin: The Resurrection, the best-selling movie this summer in China. The story summary Lost in Thailand is a comedy. It is a story about three Chinese men who met on their trips to Thailand. The movie has a great plot. Xu Lang is a businessman. He hurried to Thailand to look for his boss because of his special purpose. His competitor, Gao Bo followed him to Thailand, too. Xu Lang met Wang Bao, a pancake maker on his way to Thailand, Three Chinese men had some funny and _ experiences in Thailand and the story made people high. The director and actors The director of the movie is Xu Zheng. He has been a popular actor for about ten years. He was famous for his role, the Evil Pig in a popular TV serious. Lost in Thailand is his first movie that was directed by Xu Zheng. Xu Zheng is a lead role in the movie. Huang Bo and Wang Baoqiang are China's top comedians and the both play the important roles in the movie. ,A, B, c, D,. (10) .What's the main idea of the passage? A. It's about why Lost in Thailand sells well. B. It's about the relationships between directors and actors. C. It's about the background of a popular Chinese comedy. D. It's about why Lost in Thailand is popular among visitors. Answer: C. It's about the background of a popular Chinese comedy. I went home one Saturday afternoon in the autumn of 1993 to get some work done in the garden. While sweeping leaves on the ground, my five-year-old son Nick came over and asked me to write something on a piece of paper to make a sign for him. "What for?" I asked. "I'm going to sell some of my stones, " he answered. Nick _ stones and had collected many stones from all over. "I'm busy to do that for you. Go and ask your mum for help." I said. A short time later, Nick returned with a sign, reading. " Stones. One Dollar Each". He took the sign, a small chair and 4 of his best stones and walked to the road in front of our garden. There he put the stones in a line and sat down on the chair. After half an hour, nobody passed by. I walked to him and asked him to go back, but he didn't. Another half hour later, a small car came down the road. I watched as Nick stood up, holding his sign up. A woman rolled down a window and read the sign. I couldn't hear their talk, but I saw the woman turn to the driver and the man reach for his pocket. I sat in the yard, as Nick ran to me. Waving the dollar, he shouted. "I told you I could sell one stone for a dollar -- if you believe in yourself, you can do anything." From the passage we know _ . A. the story happened in spring B. the car was driven by a woman C. Nick spent half an hour selling one stone D. the writer might be moved by his son Answer: D. the writer might be moved by his son Two animals with similar diets living in the same environments leads to them A. vying for the same prey B. forming a strong friendship C. moving to disparate environments D. adopting different types of diets Answer: A. vying for the same prey
Question: Some animals are very rare. For example, there are very few Siberian tigers. If the only Siberian tigers left are female, what will most likely happen? A. The females will find another type of male animal to mate with and produce more Siberian tigers. B. The females will mate with each other and produce more Siberian tigers. C. The females will only be able to produce female Siberian tigers. D. The females will not be able to produce more Siberian tigers, and they will die out. Answer: D. The females will not be able to produce more Siberian tigers, and they will die out. Question: Some weightloss camps, which are rare in China just a few years ago,have multiplied in Beijing, Qingdao, Shenzhen,and other cities. Today about 15 percent of adults, or 200 million Chinese, are reportedly overweight.Of these, 90 million--about 7 percent--are obese . Experts say the obesity epidemic is spreading to children, though more slowly than in adults. The obesity, they say, will do harm to the health of China' s citizens and economy."We're seeing a very large number of teenagers who are quite heavy and aren't moving much," said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor. Popkin carries out an ongoing healthandnutrition survey of 16,000 households in China. He says more kids today are overeating and putting on weight "quite quickly." In just ten years China's childhood obesity rate has doubled,with the greatest gains coming in urban areas."In big cities it's a big problem." Some experts blame the extra fat on a range of factors, many of them tied to China' s rapidly changing economy and culture. The diets of Chinese adults and children are far higher in meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fats and sugars than ever before. In addition,kids--especially city dwellers--are more today and spend more time indoors in front of homework, television,computer games, and the Internet. Shuwen Ng,a health economist, says that kids in China now have pocket money, and they spend a portion of it on junk food. Ng adds that advertising and peer groups influence kids' food choices. Certain foods, such as new candies or fast food, have attractive features. China' s childhood obesity rate stillfall behind that of the United States, where some 15 percent of kids are said to be obese. But the longterm effects are equally serious. According to the passage we know _ . A. weightloss camps have been very popular in China six years ago B. about 290 million Chinese are overweight in China in all C. in China childhood obesity rate in rural areas is lower than that in major cities D. America' s childhood obesity rate is lower than China's Answer: C. in China childhood obesity rate in rural areas is lower than that in major cities Question: A Brooklyn man who was quarreling with his girlfriend yesterday threw a dog off the balcony of her 23rd-story apartment in TriBeCa, killing it, the police said. The man, John Jefferson, 43, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, has been charged with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and animal cruelty, the police said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center yesterday for psychiatric evaluation , they said. The incident began shortly before 11 a.m., the police said, when Mr. Jefferson went to visit his girlfriend, Eugenia Miller, 41, at her apartment on 80 North Moore Street. She had filed a police report on Friday accusing Mr. Jefferson of stealing from her, but yesterday she allowed him in and they began arguing, the police said. Mr. Jefferson threatened Ms. Miller with a knife, and she called 911, the police said. When officers arrived at her door, she ran into the hallway and Mr. Jefferson stayed in the apartment, they said. Mr. Jefferson began throwing Ms. Miller's things off the balcony, first the television, the air-conditioner and clothes, then her dog, Ribsy, the police and witnesses said. The dog had lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade and was well liked by children. "He was like a person and he would hang out with us guys or go visit kids at the basketball court," said neighbors. The man was taken to hospital because _ . A. he killed a pet dog B. he was badly injured C. his girlfriend asked to do so D. he needed a psychiatric evaluation Answer: D. he needed a psychiatric evaluation Question: Atoms of which of these elements are part of many organic molecules? A. calcium B. magnesium C. oxygen D. silicon Answer: C. oxygen Question: Beacon Rock State Park There are 33 tent sites in this park, as well as primitive camping areas. Seven miles of trails make this a nice location for bikers and hikers, too. The towering Beacon Rock, the result of a volcano thousands of years ago, is climbable. There's a 4, 500 feet trail up the rock, which promises the best view in all of Washington. 34841 State Route 14 Skamania, WA 98648 (800)4525687 Boundary Dam and Pend Oreille River The Boundary Dam area sits on 1,000 acres in northeast Washington. Primitive campsites are nestled into forested areas along the Pend Oreille River. Wildlife is common here. Bear, deer and small animals are a frequent site. If primitive camping isn't your style, there's a second campground within the park, 2 miles north of the dam which is outfitted with grills, picnic tables and toilets. Hwy. 31 Metaline Falls, WA 99153 (509) 5361200 Fort Casey State Park Located on Whidbey Island in Washington, Fort Casey State Park used to be home to a US Coast Guard Artillery Fort dating back to the late 1890s. With 63 picnic tables, 1.25 miles of trails, 35 standard camping sites and 3 primitive tent sites, this park is filled with things to see and do. Boating, fishing and hiking are all available on the island. PO Box 774 Coupeville, WA 98239 (800) 4525689 Sun Lakes State Park A chain of 7 lakes and rocky canyons make up this State Park. Hiking trails, boat rentals, fishing equipment and more, make this a camping area full of fun. There are 162 standard campsites. Ten group sites are also available. With 15 miles of hiking trails, canyons and rocky desert lands, this park is not only beautiful, but enjoyable. 34875 Park Lake Road NE Coulee City, WA 99115 (800)2330321 Sun Lakes State Park is different from others in that _ . A. there are quite a lot of primitive trees B. a river runs through the whole park C. there are many standard campsites D. it is made up of lakes and valleys Answer: D. it is made up of lakes and valleys
In China, more and more middle school students are getting shorter sleeping time than before. More students sleep less than nine hours every night, because they have much homework to do. Some homework is given by their teachers, and some by their parents. Also, some students don't know how to save time. They are not careful enough while they do their homework, so it takes them a lot of time. Some students spend too much time watching TV or playing computer games. They stay up very late. Some students have to get up early every morning on weekdays to get to school on time by bus or by bike. It can be a long way from home to school. It will probably make them sleepy during school hours. Schools and parents should cut down some of the homework so that our children can enjoy more than nine hours of sleep every night for their health. For children, they should make the most use of their time. When they have enough time for sleeping, they will find it much better for both their study and health. What makes most students sleep less than nine hours every night? Answer: Doing homework Gold atoms can be identified based on the number of which subatomic particles? Answer: protons My wife and I used to feel that it was impossible to be a true friend to someone whose name we didn't know. How wrong we were! Years of Sunday-morning bus trips through the city with the same group of "nameless" people have changed our thinking. Before the bus takes off, we all join in a conversation: where's the silent woman who sits up front and never responds to our cheery greetings? Here she comes. Her worn clothing suggests she doesn't have much money to spare, but she always takes an extra cup of coffee for the driver. We get smiles from a Mexican couple as they get on the bus hand in hand. When they get off, they're still holding hands. The woman was pregnant late last year, and one day her change of shape confirmed that she'd delivered the child. We even felt a little pride at the thought of our extended family. For many months, our only sadness lay in our inability to _ the same friendship with the silent woman at the front of the bus. Then, one evening, we went to a fish restaurant. We were shown to a table alongside someone sitting alone. It was the woman from the bus. We greeted her with friendly familiarity we'd shown all year, but this time her face softened, then a shy smile. When she spoke, the words escaped awkwardly from her lips. All at once we realized why she hadn't spoken to us before. Talking was hard for her. Over dinner; we learned the stay of a single mother with a disabled son who was receiving special care away from home. She missed him desperately, she explained. "I love him... and he loves me, even though he doesn't express it very well," she murmured. "Lots of us have that problem, don't we? We don't say what we want to say, what we should be saying. And that's not good enough."The candles flared on our tables. Our fish had never tasted better. But the atmosphere grew pleasant, and when we parted as friends--we shared names. All the following statements can describe the woman except _ . Answer: cold Bats are the only flying mammal in the world. They can't see very well. It is long believed, in many places, that all bats are blind . "Blind as a bat" is often heard. Yet they have no trouble flying in the darkest nights and finding their way around. How can bats fly and see at night? They fly by radar . The bat's radar system works the same way as the one that ships and planes use. When a bat flies through the air, it makes sounds that people can't hear. If the sounds hit things, they will come back. The bat's ears can receive the messages. In this way it can know where the things are. Bats go out to look for food at night. In the daytime they stay in some dark places. Some people think bats are bad animals. In fact, they are useful animals. Which of the following is True? Answer: The bat has poor eyesight, but it can "see" its food. Suppose a new fuel for cars is derived from coal. Cars can go twice as far on a tankful of the new fuel as they can on the same amount of gasoline. How would you categorize the new fuel? Answer: It is a nonrenewable fossil fuel.
I live in a new town with my family. There are lots of tall buildings in the town. The streets are busy and the traffic is heavy, but the pollution is not very serious . In our town, more than half of the buildings have fifteen to thirty floors. Most of the people live in such tall buildings, but they don't have to climb the stairs. They use lifts to go up and down. Many restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas and theatres are in very tall buildings. They are big, bright and modern. So people enjoy eating, shopping, seeing films and watching plays in them. The streets in our town are wide, but because there are too many cars, they are still very busy. Sometimes when you come to the street crossing, you have to wait for the green lights for a long time. The people in our town never put _ everywhere or put dirty water into the river, so you cannot see much pollution in our town. I hope you'll come to visit our town if you like. Which of the following is not about restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas and theatres? Miguel's co-workers don't quite understand him. One day he is smiling and friendly, a real team player. The next day, he is cross, getting angry over minor things, especially when asked to improve one of his designs. Identifying your personality characteristics is the first step in developing a good attitude. Are you a positive, confident person or are you shy and reserved? Do you face problems, looking for solutions, or do you feel someone to blame? Characteristics define you. They help you succeed, or they hold you back. Self-awareness, or understanding the factors that make up your personality, is an important step towards happiness, and happiness is the key characteristic of a good attitude. To become self-aware is to be aware of both your good and bad characteristics. What are the characteristics that people compliment on you? Are you dependable", "responsible" or "solid"? Pay attention to the compliment because they are a confirmation of your strongest characteristics. You can use these characteristics to create an even better image. People form opinions about you. Whether they are right or wrong doesn't enter the question. You, however, can change their opinions by demonstrating the personality characteristics and attitudes that match the way you want to be viewed. In becoming self-aware, understanding how others see you is an important step. This can be painful; but if you are brave enough to try it, it can be an excellent growth experience. Change is not easy, especially when it has to do with your behaviors. You should break the behavior change into small steps because small steps are easier to achieve and more likely to last. The change will be permanent if you want to change for yourself. What may be talked about after this passage? Imagine someone has crossed the seas joining five continents by swimming. It is a major success for anyone. But it is an even greater success for Philippe Croizon, who has no arms, and no legs! His achievements show that we can all achieve great things--no matter who we are. Philippe Croizon was 26 years old when he had an accident. The doctors had to remove both of his arms and legs. "When they cut off my last leg I wanted to die. I suffered great depression and my spirit was as low as you can get. But you have to choose--and I chose to live!" said Croizon. While he was recovering in hospital, Croizon saw a television programme about a woman who had been swimming across the English Channel. After watching the programme Croizon decided to do it. He began to exercise every day to make him strong and it took him two years to prepare. Finally in 2010, Croizon was ready. He entered the cold, grey sea of the English Channel. He was now 42 years old. It took him from early morning until night to swim the distance. He felt a lot of pain. But he had become the first person without arms and legs to swim between France and England. Croizon had achieved his dream, but he did not stop there. He looked for a new goal. Early in 2012 he planned to swim across the seas that join five major continents. During the next few months he swam between the four continents of Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe and finally in the cold waters of the Bering Strait between the continents of Asia and the Americas. "We want to show people something. If disabled people have courage and a lot of training they can do the same things as those who are not disabled," said Croizon. Philippe Croizon's crossing the seas joining five continents _ . Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other big cities are exciting places to live. There are many interesting things to see and to do. You can go to different kinds of museums, plays and movies. You can also go to supermarkets to buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. The cost of living is high, and there are too many people in some big cities. Every year many people move to the cities because there are more chances to find jobs, to study at good schools, and to receive good medical care. But sometimes these people cannot find work or a good place to live. Also, too many people in a small space make it hard to keep the cities safe and clean. Some people enjoy living in big cities. Others do not. Before people move to big cities, they should think about the problems of living there. In this passage the writer tells us _ When I was 4, my parents decided they could no longer live together. That same year, my mom moved to Los Angeles (L.A.) and a therapist was hired to decide where I would live. Playing with a dollhouse in her office, I showed her the mother's room on one side and the father's room on the other. When she asked me about the little boy's room, I told her the little boy didn't know where to sleep. The therapist finally decided I would stay with my dad during the school years and visit my mom on long holidays and for summers. I began flying between two cities and leading two different lives. I remember my last school day in Grade Six. My friends made plans to go to the beach together, but I couldn't join them because I had to fly to L.A. It wasn't that I didn't want to see my mom and stepdad; I just didn't want to leave my friends. It wasn't easy to put up a wall, and pretend I didn't hate saying goodbye to them. In the morning, my dad drove me to school with my packed bags, and after school, my friends went together, and I went to the airport. What has come of this in the end is that I'm always missing somebody. When I'm in northern California, I miss my mom and stepdad, while in L.A. I miss going out with my friends, my dad, and my little brother and sister. But after so many flights, I've learned that it's also fun traveling between two cities and experiencing different lives. Other children may not have the opportunity to experience so much. We learn from the text that the author _ .
More American people take their troubles with them on holiday, according to a new _ . Although 40 percent said that the main reason for going away is to escape pressure from work, almost all said they worry more than they do at home. Only four in every 100 said that they are happy and free of care. The most common worry is burglary ( ) , with four out of 10 worrying about their homes being broken into while they're abroad.More than a quarter fear they will feel crazy with some other noisy and rough holiday-makers and 22 percent worry they may be attacked or their possessions will be missing. One in five think the car may break down; and the same number worry about the chances of bad weather. The survey also showed that the stay-at-home Americans are no more. Three out of every five want to have a holiday abroad, a great increase from the figures only three years ago. The hotel holiday is still a winner, with about one third of all Americana preferring to go on a self-catering ( ) holiday. Where do American holiday-makers like to stay most? A At a hotel. B In a quiet place. C At a friend's house. D Where they can cook for themselves. Answer: A When I left home for college, I sought to escape the limited world of farmers, small towns, and country life. I long for the excitement of the city, for the fast pace that rural life lacked, for adventure beyond the horizon. I dreamed of exploring the city, living within a new culture and landscape, and becoming part of the pulse of an urban jungle. Yet some of my best times were driving home, leaving the city behind and slipping back into the valley. As city life disappeared and traffic thinned, I could see the faces of the other drivers relax. Then, around a bend in the highway, the grassland of the valley would come into being, offering a view of gentle rolling hills. The land seemed permanent. I felt as if I had stepped back in time. I took comfort in the stability of the valley. Driving through small farm communities, I imagined the founding families still rooted in their grand homes, generations working the same lands, neighbors remaining neighbors for generations. I allowed familiar farmhouse landmarks to guide me. Close to home, I often turned off the main highway and took a different, getting familiar farms again and testing my memory. Friends lived in those houses. I had eaten meals and spent time there; I had worked on some of these farms, lending a hand during a peak harvest, helping a family friend for a day or two. The houses and lands looked the same, and I could picture the gentle faces and hear familiar voices as if little had been changed. As I eased into our driveway I'd return to old ways, becoming a son once again, a child on the family farm. My feelings were honest and real. How I longed for a land where life stood still and my memories could be relived. When I left the farm for college, I could only return as visitor to the valley, a traveler looking for home. Now the farm is once again my true home. I live in that farmhouse and work the permanent lands. My world may seem unchanged to casual observers, but they are wrong. I know this: if there's a constant on these farms, it's the constant of change. The good observer will recognize the differences. A farmer replants an orchard with a new variety of peaches. Irrigation is added to block of old grapes, so I imagine the vineyard has a new owner. Occasionally the changes are clearly evident, like a FOR SALE sign. But I need to read the small print in order to make sure that a bank has taken possession of the farm. Most of the changes contain two stories. One is the physical change of the farm, the other involves the people on that land, the human story behind the change. I've been back on the farm for a decade and still haven't heard all the stories behind the changes around me. But once I add my stories to the landscape, I can call this place my home, a home that continues to evolve and changes as I add more and more of my stories. A poet returns to the valley and says, "Little has changed in the valley, and how closed-minded you all are!" He comments about the lack of interest in sports, social and environmental issues in the poverty and inequality of our life. He was born and raised here, so he might have the right to criticize and lecture us. Yet he speaks for many who think they know the valley. How differently would others think of us if they knew the stories of a grape harvest in a wet year or a peach without a home? When he was in college, why was the writer sad when he returned to his family home? A He remembered how hard he used to work. B He recognized the old housed and land. C He realized that he was only a visitor. D He remembered his next door neighbors. Answer: C When it's five o'clock, people leave their office. The length of the workday, for many workers, is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they're done. These days, the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches, but on cell-phones and computers. That may be a bad thing, particularly at work. New research shows that clock-based work schedules hinder morale and creativity. Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours. For example: a meeting from 9 am to 10 a.m., research from 10 a.m. to noon, etc. On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish. They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed. It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning. What, then, are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier, they had participants organize different activities--from project planning, holiday shopping, to yoga--by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under "clock time" vs "task time." They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives. Task timers are happier and more creative, but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening, and seize opportunities that come up. The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in the business culture. Smart companies, they believe, will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies. This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office, but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time. While most people will still probably need,and be, to some extent, clock-timers, task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity. It'll make those tasks easier, and the task-doers will be happier. What does the author think of time displayed everywhere? A It makes everybody time-conscious. B It is a convenience for work and life. C It may have a negative effect on creative work. D It clearly indicates the fast pace of modern life. Answer: C Years ago people could hardly accept the ideas of a woman's being a doctor. In order to get into medical school in 1847, Elizabeth Blackwell was asked to keep it a secret that she was a woman. This was contrary to her beliefs, and she refused to do it. After entering medical school, prefix = st1 /Elizabethoften had to summon all her courage to free the unkindness of teachers and classmates. By her great efforts, she was able to complete her studies. Many people came to her graduation just to have a look at a woman doctor. Doctor Blackwell soon found that most people were not as ready as to go to a woman doctor. She had to struggle to make a living. Then came the great day when she was offered a job as a doctor in a hospital. She did so well that she was asked to organize a new hospital and medical college. TheUnited Statescan now be proud of thousands of women doctors. After graduation, Elizabethfound that . A she was not right for the job and had to struggle for a living B she must organize a new hospital and medical college for women C few people were willing to go to a woman doctor D most people were ready to go to a woman doctor Answer: C At one time, computers were expected largely to remove the need for paper copies of documents because they could be stored electronically. But for all the texts that are written, stored and sent electronically, a lot of them are still ending up on paper. It is difficult to measure the quantity of paper used as a result of use of Internet-connected computers, although just about anyone who works in an office can tell you that when e-mail is introduced, the printers start working overtime. "I feel in my bones this revolution is causing more trees to be cut down," says Ted Smith of the Earth Village Organization. Perhaps the best sign of how computer and Internet use pushes up demand for paper comes from the high-tech industry itself, which sees printing as one of its most promising new markets. Several Internet companies have been set up to help small businesses print quality documents from a computer. Earlier this week Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a plan to develop new technologies that will enable people to print even more so they can get a hard copy of a business document, a medical record or just a on-line e-mail, even if they are nowhere near a computer. As the company sees it, the more use of the Internet the greater demand for printers. Does all this mean environmental concerns have been forgotten? Some activists suggest people have been led to believe that a lot of dangers to the environment have gone away. "I guess people believe that the problem is taken care of, because of recycling ," said Kelly Quirke, director of the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco. Yet Quirke is hopeful that high-tech may also prove helpful. He says printers that print on both sides are growing in popularity. The action group has also found acceptable paper made from materials other than wood, such as agricultural waste. Environmentalists believe one possible way of dealing with the paper situation is _ . A to encourage printing more quality documents B to develop new printers using recycled paper C to find new materials for making paper D to plant more fast-growing trees Answer: C
Pearl and June were good friends and spent most of their time together. They were both very old and they worried about their health. Most of the time they talked about nothing else. They worried about their food. Was it clean? Would it give them pains in the stomach? They worried about the weather. Was it too cold and wet? Would it give them pains in their bones? They worried about pollution in the air. would it give them pains in their chests and throats? They worried about being hurt in a car accident, killed in a plane crash, getting sick, and so on. All they could think about was being ill or hurt. One day they went on a train journey together. "We'll need some food," Pearl said. "We'll buy some bananas," June said. "They are good to eat and always clean." And so they bought two bananas to eat on the train. It was not long before they were hungry. Pearl took out the bananas and gave one to June. Then she peeled the skin of her banana and took a large bite of it. At that moment the train went into a tunnel. Everything went black. "Don't eat your banana," Pearl shouted at June. "Mine has made me go blind!" Pearl thought that the banana _ . .Chris is not a traditional explorer --he usually works in an office for a large organization. However, Chris' job can be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer. Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as Doctors Without Border . Since 1971, MFS has sent trained doctors all over the world to help people who have suffered from disasters, such as wars and illnesses. Chris is a doctor from France who has traveled to many places to organize programs that help people. At the moment, over 27,000 trained doctors have taken part in MSF projects. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be ready to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should face difficulties. Most of MSF's work is in Africa. When MSF chooses a doctor for a task, they have to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency task following a disaster, such as an earthquake. But why would doctors leave a comfortable life and a good pay to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience they have is a great help in their life. What's more, just like the explorers of the past, they need to keep an open mind and learn to get on well with the people they meet. One thing that they can say at the end of any task is that they have made a real difference to people's lives. As a volunteer doctor for MSF, he or she should _ . Soil erosion can be best prevented by The process by which water vapor in the atmosphere cools and becomes a liquid is called Ashley woke up bright and early on Friday morning during summer. Her birthday was only a day away, and her parents had promised her a trip to the fair as her present the next day! She thought it was going to be quite a treat. She skipped down the stairs to see her mom making a chocolate cake on the stove. "You run along outside to go play with your friends," her mom told her, "I can get everything ready for your special lunch on my own." When Ashley made it outside, she found her friend Katherine playing in the dirt. When Ashley came closer, she saw that in the dirt were a bunch of insects. Katherine loved finding and collecting different ones for her insect collection. Ashley thought it was kind of gross personally, but she sat down next her anyways. "Happy birthday, Ashley," Katherine yelled when she saw her best friend. "Thank you," Ashley answered, "Do you want to go up to the playground until it's time for lunchtime? Mom says you're invited to come by the way." Katherine nodded, and the two spent a fun morning playing on the playground. Once lunchtime came, the two walked back to Ashley's house. She could picture how many of her favorite foods her mom had most likely made, and she could almost taste the spaghetti on her tongue. Lunch was ready when they arrived, and it was delicious! The chocolate cake her mom made was an extra special treat. She couldn't wait to go to the fair tomorrow! What day of the week was Ashley's birthday?
Question: Philip was a nine-year-old boy in a Sunday school class of 8-year-old girls and boys. Sometimes the third graders didn't welcome Philip into their group and usually tricked him. This was not because he was older, but because he was "different". You see, Philip suffered from a _ called Downs's Syndrome. This made him "different", with his facial characteristics, slow responses and mental problems. One Sunday after Easter, the Sunday school teacher gathered some plastic eggs that pulled apart in the middle. The teacher gave one to each child. On that beautiful spring day, the children were to go out and discover for themselves some symbol of "new life" and place it inside the plastic eggs. After the children returned to the classroom, the teacher opened their eggs one by one, asking each child to explain that symbol of "new life". The first opened egg contained a flower. Everyone cheered. In another was a butterfly.... When the teacher opened the last egg, it was empty. "That's stupid," said someone. The teacher felt a pull at his shirt. It was Philip. Looking up, Philip said, "It's mine. I did it. It's empty. I have new life, because the tomb is empty." Not a sound was heard in class at all. From that day on, Philip became a real part of the group. They welcomed him, and whatever made him different was never mentioned again. Philip's family knew he wouldn't live a long life, for there were too many things wrong with him. We learn from the passage that _ . A. The teacher used to have classes outdoors B. The Philip's new life wish was empty C. Philip was healthy as a whole D. Philip was accepted by his classmates in the end Answer: D. Philip was accepted by his classmates in the end Question: Baths and bathing have been considered of an important medical therapy to man. In Greece there are the ruins of a bath tub and water system built over 3 000 years ago. The Romans had warm public baths. In some public baths as many 3 000 persons could bathe at the same time. Treating diseases by bathing has been popular for centuries. Modern medical bathing, or _ , first became popular in Europe and by the late 1 700's also became popular in the United States. For many years frequent bathing was believed to be bad for one's health. Ordinary bathing just to be clean was avoided, and perfume was used to cover up body and smell. By the 1 700's doctors began to say that soap and water were good for health. They believed that it was good for people to be clean. Slowly, people began to bathe more frequently. In the United States ordinary bathing was slow to become popular. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, many Americans were known as "the great unwashed". In one American city, for example, a person could only take a bath every 30 days! That was a law. Frequency of bathing today is partly a matter of habit. People know that bathing for cleanliness is important to health. Doctors know that dirty bodies increase that chance of disease. Therefore in the United States people generally bathe often. Which of the following statements is not true? A. Bathing was important to Greeks and Romans. B. The Greek built water systems. C. The Greek had warm public baths. D. The Greek used bath tubs. Answer: C. The Greek had warm public baths. Question: Do you often lose things? Don't worry. Now a new tool that can be connected to any object you might lose may be the way to solve your problem. The Tile, a small square linked up to your iphone or ipad by means of Bluetooth, lets you see how close you are to your missing item, within a 50-to-150-foot range. If the item goes out of your phone's 150-foot range, it can still be found on other smart phones with the same app. When you drive the app on your phone, it shows you, with green bars that increase or decrease, how close or far away you are from the Tile. You can also program it to make a sound when you get close to the Tile. And you can link up your phone with up to ten Tiles. And if your lost object--a dog, for example, or a stolen bike--go out of your own phone's 150-foot Bluetooth range, you can set it as a "lost item". If any of the phones with the Tile app comes within range of your lost item, a message will be sent to your phone, telling you its position. The Tile app also has the function to remember where it last saw your Tile, so that you can easily find where you left it. Since the Tiles use Bluetooth rather than GPS, they are never out of battery or needn't to be charged, and they work for one year before needing to be replaced. And the app works with all generations of iPhones and iPads. For further information, please visit www. tile666.com. Where does the passage probably come from? A. A health report. B. An advertisement. C. A personal diary D. Science fiction. Answer: B. An advertisement. Question: I was 15. She looked like she was over 70. But on that day. I think she understood me more than anyone else. Walking into the church that Sunday was hard. I had never let anyone see me cry. But I knew I would cry that day .My grandfather was suddenly ill .The doctors said he might not live much longer. Everyone in my family was crying .Grandpa was the sweetest man in the world .Why was he leaving us? There weren't many people at church that day. One of them was an old lady sitting at the end of my row. She was smiling. I closed my eyes and prayed for my grandfather to get better. Soon, my eyes were full of tears. I opened my eyes and saw a hand in front of me. _ was giving me a tissue . The old lady was sitting next to me, smiling. She didn't say a word. She just gave me a tissue and a smile. I tried to thank her, but only tears came out. Then she took my hand. I looked into her eyes. They were clear and blue, and they make me feel peaceful. Her smile said to me :I am with you. Everything will be OK. I closed my eyes again. When I opened them, she wasn't there. I left the church but still couldn't find her. I never saw her again. My grandfather died the next week. We all cried a lot. But when I thought of that old lady's warm smile, I felt a little better. How did she know how I was feeling ? I wish I could see her again, to say thank you. The author went to church to _ . A. pray for grandfather. B. ask the old lady for help. C. avoid being seen crying. D. thank the old lady. Answer: A. pray for grandfather. Question: In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide acts rather like a one-way mirror or the glass in the roof of a greenhouse which allows the sun's rays to enter but prevents the heat from escaping According to a weather expert's prediction , the atmosphere will be 3degC warmer in the year 2050 than it is today, if man continues to burn fuels at the present rate.If this warming up took place.the ice caps in the poles would begin to inch,thus raising sea level several meters and severely flooding coastal cities.Also.the increase in atmospheric temperature would lead to great changes in the climate of the northern hemisphere ,possibly resulting in an alteration of the earth's chief food growing zones. In the past,concern about a man-made warming of the earth has concentrated on the Arctic because the Antarctic is much colder and has a much thicker ice sheet.But the weather experts are now paying more attention to West Antarctic.which may be affected by only a few degrees of warming,in other words,by a warming on the scale that will possibly take place in the next fifty years from the burning of fuels. Satellite pictures show that large areas of Antarctic ice are already disappearing.The evidence available suggests that a warming has taken place.This fits the theory that carbon dioxide warms the earth. However, most of the fuel is burnt in the northern hemisphere,where temperatures seem to be falling.Scientists conclude,therefore ,that up to now natural influences on the weather have gone beyond those caused by man.The question is:Which natural cause has most effect on the weather? One possibility is the variable behavior of the sun.Astronomers at one research station have studied the hot spots and 'cold' spots (that is, the ly less hot spots)on the sun.As the sun rotates ,every 27.5 days,it presents hotter or colder faces to the earth,and different aspects to different parts of the earth.This seems to have a considerable effect on the distribution of the earth atmospheric pressure,and consequently on wind circulation.The sun is also changeable over a long term:its heat output goes up and down in cycles,the latest trend being downward. ' Scientists are now finding shared relations between models of solar weather interactions and the actual climate over many thousands of years,including the last ice Age.The problem is that the models are predicting that the world should be entering a new Ice Age and it is not.One way of solving this theoretical difficulty is to assume a delay of thousands of years while the solar effects overcome the inertia of the earth's climate.If this is right, the warming effect of carbon dioxide might thus be serving as a useful opposed balance to the sun's fading heat. It can be concluded that a concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would_. A. mean a warming-up in the Arctic B. raise the temperature of the earth's surface C. prevent the sun's rays from reaching the earth's surface D. explain the cause of great changes in the climate in the northern hemisphere Answer: B. raise the temperature of the earth's surface
An area of land has more rainfall, producing more plants of various species. The plant boom causes Answer: a boosted ecosystem In New York there are quite a few free museums for visitors. Below we explore New York's most impressive free ones. National Museum of the American Indian Focusing largely on Native American culture, this museum boasts over a million items, from crafts to traditional tools, all of which played a large part in Native American culture in past times. Located at 1 Bowling Green, the museum is free of charge. Open 10 a.m.~5p.m. Frid-Wed and 10 a.m.~8 p.m. Thurs, it's served by subway lines 4/5 to Bowling Green. Federal Hall A popular one for followers of American politics, Federal Hall is the original location of the US Customs House and the place where Washington took the oath of office in 1789 as the first US President. Today, this building is a premier example of classical architecture. Free of charge to visitors, the museum is located at 26 Wall St, which is accessible by subway lines 2/3/4/5 to Wall St. It's open from 9 a.m.~ 5 p.m. Mon-Fri. New York Academy of Medicine For the more intellectual, a trip to the New York Academy of Medicine is unmissable. With over 700,000 catalogued works, it's the world's second largest health library. Its biggest attraction, however, is the interesting medical equipment on display here, which is weird but wonderfully original. Located at 1216 Fifth Ave at 103rdSt, it's free of charge to peruse. Open 9 a.m. ~ 5 p.m. Mon-Fri, it's served by subway line 6 to 103rdSt. Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology The museum contains a huge permanent collection which features 200 historically significant clothes and also features works by student exhibitions. With free talks and tours on offer, this museum is a great place without spending a cent. Located at Seventh Ave at 27the St by subway line 3, this free museum---undoubtedly the most fashionable one in New York --- is open Tues-Fri 12 a.m. ~8 p.m. and Sat 10 a.m.~ 5 p.m.. Which of the following about the four museums mentioned in the text is NOT true? Answer: They are all free of charge. A taxi driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Inspiring speakers charge thousands of dollars to give his kind of training to business managers and staff. It cost me only a$12 taxi ride. I had flown into Dallas just for the purpose of calling on a client. Time was important and my plan included a quick turn-around trip from and back to the airport. A clean taxi pulled up. The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy. Well! I looked around for a "Watching Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell." "You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Commercial America. But I got tired of that, thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my right position in life, somewhere I could feel proud of being the best I could be. I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluated my personal property and, I became a taxi driver! One thing I know for sure is that to be good in my business I can simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. However, to be great in my business, I have to go beyond the customers' expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on average. " Did I tip him without hesitation? You bet! Commercial America's loss is the traveling folk's friend. The taxi driver taught me a great life lesson: Go an extra mile when providing any service to others. And there is no good or bad job and you can make any job good. What lesson did the author learn from the taxi driver? Answer: How to do better in the service business. This room is not big but nice. There's a bed, a desk and some chairs in it. The desk is next to the window. On the desk, there is a book, a glass and some cakes. The bed is next to the desk. There are trousers and a coat on the bed. The trousers are green. They are new. The coat is yellow. It's new, too. Under the bed, there are some shoes and two balls. This is Susan's room. She's a good student. Susan is _ . Answer: a girl The use of mobile phones over a long period of time can raise the risk for brain tumors , a new Swedish study said on Friday , contradicting (......) the conclusions of other researchers . The Dutch Health Council , in an overview of research from around the world , last year found no evidence radiation from mobile phones and TV towers was harmful . A four-year British survey released in January showed no link between regular . long-term use of cell phones and the most common type of tumor . However , researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life said they looked at the mobile phone use of 905 people between the age of 20 and 80 who had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and found a link " A total 80 of these 905 cases were so-called high users of mobile phones , that is they began early to use mobile and or wireless telephones and used them a lot , " the study said . " The study also shows that the rise in risk is noticeable for tumors on the sided of the head where the phone was said to be used , " it added . Kjell Mild , who led the study , said the figures meant that heavy users of mobile phones , for instance of who make mobile phone calls for 2 , 000 hours or more in their life , had a 240 percent increased risk for a malignant tumor on the side of the head the phone is used . " The way to the risk down is to use handsfree , " he told Reuters . He said his study was the biggest yet to look at long-term users of the wireless phone has been around inprefix = st1 /Swedenin a portable form since 1984 , longer than in many other countries . If a person always makes calls on his left ear , where might a tumor is produced according to the Swedish survey ? Answer: on the left side of the head
My name's Molly. I'm a lion. I am three years old .My favorite food is meat and I like to eat little animals .I like the forest ,but I live in the zoo now, I live in a big cage. I can't run and I can't see my parents,I don't like the zoo or the cage. Every day I get up in the cage ,I have breakfast,lunch and dinner in the cage. I sleep in the cage .I really want to run in the forest and live with my parents. Molly is a(n) _ . A. tiger B. elephant C. lion D. giraffe Answer: C The world has changed and being intelligent isn't normally equal to being a successful person. Look at the example of the blue whale: it has a huge brain, but it still doesn't know how to avoid whalers or use its large size and weight to deal with those who try to use their body for profit. Scientists hold an opinion that the blue whale is just like some highly intelligent people who fail to succeed. Those highly intelligent people can't succeed in life because they can't communicate well with the world around them. Intelligence is a word in life that makes you think you are better than others. Intelligence can blind these very people from how others view them. These people also think that the route to power and success results purely from intelligence and they sometimes live in a fantasy world that they create by their supposed brain power. This is a distance that develops whether or not they realize it and sometimes, a person can be disliked simply because of his or her intelligence. This distance is sometimes so far apart that it gets to the position where they can't listen to each other. One side thinks the other is stupid and the other thinks he/she is haughty . And most of the time it is the intelligent people who lose themselves in this situation. They become unpopular with most of the people around them. This affects them in whatever they do and sooner or later they will lose their confidence. It doesn't help that they get a culture shock --- especially when they leave college and realize success and richness don't always and sometimes never come naturally with intelligence. While some might think this is a dramatic picture to paint, it is sometimes the end result of some people. What makes the intelligent people lose their confidence? A. They become separated from other people and lose their support. B. They often can't get higher positions though they are intelligent. C. They can't persuade those stupid people to accept their ideas. D. They often can't make good use of their advantages. Answer: A The latest Chinese "god song"(an Internet term to describe pop songs that spread virally through the Internet is still making debates between those who view it as a milestone for Chinese pop music going global and those who regard it as a bad image of China. Last week,Little Apple, written and performed by the Chopsticks Brothers, won the AMA International Song Award and _ performed the song at the 2014 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Another Chinese pop singer, Zhang Jie, won the International Artist Award. But while fans of these singers are thinking highly of the awards and the performance by the Chopsticks Brothers at the AMA celebration, there are others who are less excited. They have questioned the value of the awards and what effect it will have on Chinese culture's "going abroad", saying it may leave foreign audiences with a poor impression of Chinese pop music, and even Chinese culture. The Little Applephenomenon, both home and abroad, can be more easily understood and judged if we look at it from a business view rather than a cultural view. The professional promoters behind the duo have developed a clear strategy to promote the duo and their works, not just this particular song.Little Applewas originally released to promote the duo's filmOld Boys: The Way of the Dragon. From the very beginning a marketing strategy was used to promote the song, which immediately went viral on the Internet due to its repetitive rhythm ,easy-to-remember lyrics , simple and funny dance and, most importantly, grass roots nature. The video accumulated more than 1 billion bits on China's major video websites. Although the song was generally disliked by music professionals who criticized it as "musical junk food",Little Apple's popularity nationally paved the way(...) for promoting the duo internationally. We can learn from the passage that _ . A. Little Apple's popularity is also a success of marketing strategy B. Little Apple is generally thought nothing by the AMA C. Little Apple is really popular with all people in China D. Little Apple was originally released as a pop play on the Internet Answer: A In every country, there are thousands of people who want to help out. Many join organizations run by their governments, for example, the Peace Corps in the United States and Voluntary Service Overseas in Britain. Since the powerful earthquake took place in Sichuan, more than 200 thousand volunteers across China have been helping there! They do all kinds of work or come up with ways to help improve life. Some offer their professional skills for free. Others have no qualifications , but they love to work hard to help. One of the most famous volunteers in the world was Mother Teresa. She could be the best volunteer because she gave her life to helping the poorest people of Calcutta. She helped the homeless, cared for the sick, gave out food, and became the mother of those without families. Now more and more teenagers actively look for volunteering opportunities, too. They volunteer because they think it will be fun or they will learn something. They also like the idea of being helpful to others, even if it is just handing out books for the teacher. As they get older, these reasons are still the same, but there are other important reasons for volunteering such as learning on-the-job, getting work experience, and improving their social life. All volunteers bring joy to the people they help in so many ways. They might read books to the blind, fix up broken homes, find ways to get water for villages. Could you be a volunteer? What kind of volunteer work could you do? There is someone in the world who needs you. What is the main idea of this passage? A. The world needs volunteers. B. Mother Teresa was a great volunteer. C. Volunteers do all kinds of work. D. There are different ways of volunteering. Answer: A A "Gap Year" is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university. It is often spent travelling or working. It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills. Gap years are popular with European and Australian students, but remain less popular in America. However, in recent years, more and more American students are preparing for college by taking a gap year. The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows: Learn about the World and Yourself Although you don't have to go abroad to experience gap years, most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad. You are able to work out who you are and what you are for. The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons. You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better. Face Challenges and Have Fun A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation, but also a time to face challenges. Gap year students usually work, volunteer or take service projects. You have to learn how to get along in the real world. This process isn't always easy, but it is an important part of growing up. Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun. Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances There's a common thought that gap years are only for rich students,but it' s not true. Actually, taking a gap year can save your money. Gap year students often take a part-time job. Besides, at the end of a gap year, students are much more likely to know what to study in college. Clear learning goals ran keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing. Imagine an admission officer trying to admit only one between two students. Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However, one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation. Who do you think the admission officer will choose? A "Gap Year" means _ in the passage. A. going abroad in a year for further education B. travelling around the world in a year C. taking a break before going to a university D. doing a part-time job to make money during a vacation Answer: C
At one time no one could travel on an English road faster than four miles an hour. That was the law until 1896. A man had to walk in front of a car which could not go faster than the man. At night the man had to carry a red lamp. Once Charles Rolls brought a car from France to England, but he wanted to drive faster than four miles an hour. In order to have no trouble with the police, he had a talk with some of the police officers, who ordered their policemen to look the other way when the car came along the road. This was a good plan in the country, but not so easy to follow in the busy streets of London. One night Rolls and some friends started from London on their journey to Cambridge. One of the men walked in front with the red lamp, but he walked as fast as he could. The police became very interested in walls and shop-fronts when they heard the car and not one of them saw it. They reached a hill, but what a waste of time it was to drive down the hill at four miles an hour! Rolls was getting ready to jump into the car, but then he noticed a policeman who was not looking the other way. The slow car reached him. "Good evening," said the policeman, looking at the car. "Good evening," said Rolls, holding the lamp. "One of these horseless things," said the policeman, looking at it with interest. "Yes," said Rolls, and waited. "I've often wanted a ride in one, but of course policemen can't buy things like that." He turned and looked hopefully in Rolls's face. "Jump in," said Rolls. "Thanks," said the policeman, and did so. "Now," he said, sitting down, "You can let it go just as you like down this hill. There isn't another policeman on this road for a mile and a half." After the policeman jumped into the car, Rolls _ . A. dared not drive the car faster than he was allowed to B. could drive as fast as he wished within a certain distance C. could drive on any road he liked for the rest of the journey D. drove his car as fast as he could down the hill to Cambridge Answer: B Recently I went to the Tsavo National Park in northern Kenya for a film. We set off early for a distant water hole. A huge elephant,covered with dry mud,drank calmly and deeply. He might have traveled 50 km to reach the water. He wasn-t going to hurry now. He-d drink a while and then rest in the shade, and then drink again-or so we thought. What actually happened was that he drank deeply and stepped away. Then he suddenly fell down. Within minutes he was dead. We called animal doctor Jeremiah Poghon immediately. He removed the head of a poisoned arrow from the eLephant s body,and let out over 100 litters of pus -the result of the elephants meeting with a poacher months before. Today's poacher shoots from a blind. He fires an arrow,covered with poison,into the body of an elephant. If the poacher is lucky,the elephant might die in an hour or two; if not,he might have to follow the elephant for days before it dies. Often the arrow head fails to kill the elephant at once-it doesn't mean the poison won't finally kill the elephant,but it will be a slow death. Living in Tsavo through these times,l could see the results of poaching from time to time. When I think about the death of that elephant,what stays with me is the extraordinary silence after the shocking sound of his body hitting the ground. I took some comfort from the knowledge that as the dead body returned to the soil,some animals would benefit-but I couldn't escape the feeling that with the death of such a large animal,the world seemed a poorer and emptier place. While filming near the water hole,the author and his team . A. knew the elephant was injured B. found the elephant acted violently C. tried their best to save the elephant D. thought the elephant was in good condition Answer: D If you knew a bottle of water had been recycled from urine , would you drink it? Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may soon do so. NASA said it would use a high-tech machine to recycle wastewater at the ISS. The machine will recycle everything from sweat , the water for washing hands, shower water, water used for brushing teeth, and even urine, to make drinking water. It will save NASA millions of dollars each year. At present, each ISS astronaut uses about 4.4 liters of water every day. It costs about $24 million a year to transport water up to ISS. NASA says that a liter of water costs about $11,000. The machine will be sent to the ISS in October 2008. NASA hopes it will recycle about 93% of all water used on the station. Will the water be clean? Scientists say the wastewater will go through a very complicated process . For example, different chemicals will be put in the wastewater; the water will be heated to 130degCto get rid of bacteria . The recycled water is thousands of times better than the water from a city tap, scientists say. Scientists plan to get rid of bacteria in the wastewater by _ . A. freezing B. heating C. shaking D. precipitating Answer: B In Sonoma County, California, growers are planting grapevines in a new way. As they plant the vines, they add a package of water called DRiWATER. This method of planting grapevines along with the water supply saves time and work. It gives the plant enough water to keep growing. The workers can go on to other chores. DRiWATER is a package of jelled water. It melts slowly, watering the plant for two or three months. DRiWATER is a 100% natural, non-poisonous product used for the long-term watering of plants. It was invented by a well-known food chemist who recognized the potential of a filler product he was using to thicken peanut butter. He tested and applied his theory that water could be released over time as naturally occurring microbes in the soil fed on the filler and released the water into the soil. The inventor, Harold Jensen, tried for a long time to get the right recipe. He and his family worked nights and weekends testing different formulas. Jensen finally found the right formula and patented it. What are the ingredients in DRiWATER? It is made up of 97.85% water, 2% vegetable gum, and 0.15% aluminum sulfate. When the DRiWATER is planted in the soil, the water is released as bacteria eat the jell. Buchanan Vineyard Services has bought ten thousand packages of DRiWATER. They will plant the jelled water with their new grapevines. What about countries like Egypt that have large deserts? Maybe DRiWATER will help grow trees in the desert. Two million trees have been planted near a town in the Sahara Desert. Two quarts were planted with each tree. The tree must live on the water for months until its roots touch ground water. Harold Jensen hopes to see forests spring up in the deserts. This is the reason that he invented DRiWATER. Seedlings, DRiWATER, and desert may be the perfect fit. What can be inferred from the passage? A. Growers have to change the jelled water once a month. B. Growers in California have bought ten thousand packages of DRiWATER. C. Egyptians will benefit a lot from the new method. D. Buchanan Vineyard Services will grow trees in the desert Answer: C Last March, the H7N9 virus hit Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and so on. It seemed that most people who were infected with H7N9 had the common flu . Some people suffered from a fever or a cough. Don't be afraid--it's not easy to be infected with the virus. Here is some advice to help you protect yourself when it comes. Wash your hands. You need to wash your hands with soap and hot water before you eat, after you use the toilet, and after you touch animals, because your hands may carry viruses. Cover your nose and mouth. When someone sneezes or coughs, flu viruses can travel as far as one meter through the air, so you'd better stand a proper distance while talking to someone who has a cold. And always cover your mouth and nose with a piece of paper when you sneeze or cough, and then clean your hands. Wear a mask . Some doctors say that masks can stop the flu as much as 80%, but if you don't wash your hands often, it's no use wearing a mask. And it's necessary to wear the mask in the groups of people. Do sports often. Exercises will help make your body strong enough to resist the virus. How many ways to stop the virus are mentioned in the passage? A. Three. B. six C. Five. D. Four. Answer: D
Mickey Mouse wants to help kids kick the junk food habit. The Walt Disney Company announced that it plans to advertise only healthier foods to kid. By 2015, all food and drink products that are advertised on its TV channels, radio stations and websites will have to meet the company's nutrition standard for limiting calories and reducing fat, sodium and sugar. Many foods, such as fruit drinks, candy and snack cakes, won't meet the standard. First Lady Michelle Obama called it a "game changer". "Disney is doing what no major media company has ever done before in the US - and what I hope every company will do in the future." "This is a landmark , because a major media company is taking responsibility for what food they advertise to children," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "This should be a real wake-up call to Nickelodeon(an American children's channel) and the Cartoon Network to do the same." But the company will still be able to advertise "better-for-you versions of products that are not perfectly nutritious." Under the new standards, breakfast cereals that are advertised will have to contain fewer than 10 grams of sugar in a serving, Wootan says. "That's a good step forward, but it's not perfectly nutritious." Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, says Disney is making this move "at perhaps some risk of affecting their incomes, so that's why we should praise them." Food marketing is really "important because it shapes the way kids are fed," Wootan says. "If we don't deal with food marketing to kids, we don't have any chance of addressing childhood obesity." Currently, a third of children are overweight, putting them at a greater risk for serious health problems. At its theme parks, Disney began offering healthier kids' meals, serving carrots and other vegetables, fruits, low-fat milk and yogurt at meals, instead of fries and soft drinks. According to Disney's new standards, _ . A soft drinks are not allowed to be advertised B foods that are advertised should be fat-free C only perfectly nutritious products can be advertised D foods advertised should contain fewer than 10 grams of sugar Answer: A The US government has started a website, Admongo, to help children think critically about the advertising aimed at them. It claims to provide visitors with an "education" through games and other amusement. A cartoon man dressed in old time pilot clothing greets visitors to Admongo. "Call me Haiz", he says upon arrival in a rocket ship that opens up with a crazy world inside it. Spacey dance music plays in the background as Haiz tells visitors that they need to learn about advertising. Its inventors say eight to twelve years old is the age kids develop their critical thinking abilities. Kids that age are also a big market for advertisers. The idea behind Admongo is to teach children three things: To _ the advertiser. To know what the advertiser is really saying. And to know what the advertisement is trying to get the child to do. Children learn these things through a video game. They create their own game character. They can choose different skin colors, hair styles, eye and mouth shapes. Then they begin a trip through ad-land, where there are ads on buses and billboards. The players have to find all the marketing in the neighborhood before they can move on to the next level. The Admongo game takes players inside a home, to the advertising studio and everywhere else ads can be found. It is a complete exploration of the world of marketing. One such area is food marketing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says it is a big business. The FTC estimates that food, drink and fast-food restaurants spent more than one and a half billion dollars on advertising to young people in 2010. The FTC says children are important for three reasons. They buy products. They influence parents and caregivers to buy. And they are the future adult buyers of the products. A recent study says most advertising aimed at children is for foods of the lowest nutritional value. First Lady Michelle Obama has said she would like to see advertisers marketing healthy foods for children. What can players do in the website game? A Choose hair styles for their character. B Travel to a supermarket. C Eat in a fast-food restaurant. D Play video games during the trip. Answer: A A producer makes its own: A sustenance B air C shelter D body Answer: A Luke takes his dog for a walk. Luke has many pets. He has a turtle named Bob. He has a cat named Freckles. He has a bird named squeaky. The dog is named Sparky. Sparky loves to go on walks with Luke. Sparky jumps around in front of the doorway. Luke puts on his hat, coat, and gloves because it is chilly outside. Luke puts a leash around Sparky's neck. Luke opens the door and they are ready to go. Luke walks up Vine Street to the stop sign. The stop sign is red. Luke looks both ways and then walks across Willow street with Sparky. Luke and Sparky walk up the hill. At the top of the hill, Luke and Sparky turn left. They walk downhill on First Street. At the bottom of the hill, they see a small pond. The pond is on Elm Street. Sparky is very happy. Swimming in the pond are ducks. There are white ducks and brown ducks. There are baby ducks, too. Sparky walks all around the pond. Luke watches the ducks as they swim around the pond. When it is time to go, Luke leads Sparky back to the sidewalk. It is warmer and Luke takes off his hat and coat. They walk home. What path do Luke and Sparky take to the pond? A They stay on Vine Street the whole way. B Across First Street and taking a left turn to Elm Street. C Down Vine Street, across Willow Street, turning on First Street to Elm Street. D Down Elm Street, to Willow Street, Turning on Vine Street, to First Street. Answer: C Musicians wanted We want four good musicians for our rock band .Are you a musician?Can you sing?Can you play the piano,the guitar or the drums?Do you want to be the best musician?If you want to join us,please send an e-mail.Our e-mail address is rockband2009@pep.com.cn.Or you can call Mr.Liu at 790-4566. Teachers needed Are you an art teacher?Can you paint or draw well?Are you good with kids?We need two teachers for our art club.Please find Mrs.Wang for more information or call 628-1183. Two teachers are needed for _ . A the rock band B the school show C the art club D the music club Answer: C
Climbers at the top of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, will now be able to make video calls and surf the Internet on their mobile phones, a Nepalese telecom group claims. Ncell, a branch company of Swedish phone giant TeliaSonera, said on Thursday it had set up a high-speed third-generation (3G) phone base station at an altitude of 5,200 metres in the Everest region. "Today we made the world's highest video call from Mount Everest base camp successfully. The coverage of the network will reach up to the peak of Mount Everest," Ncell Nepal chief Pasi Koistinen told reporters in Kathmandu. The installation will also help tens of thousands of tourists and hikers who visit the world's highest mountain every year. Climbers who reached its 8,848-metre peak previously depended on expensive satellite phones and a voice-only network set up by China Mobile in 2007 on the Chinese side of the mountain. "This is a great milestone for mobile communications as the 3G high speed Internet will bring faster, more affordable telecommunication services from the world's tallest mountain," said Lars Nyberg, chief executive of TeliaSonera, which owns 80 percent of Ncell. The 3G services will be fast enough to make video calls and use the Internet, said the company, which also claimed the world's lowest 3G base at 1,400 metres below sea level in a mine in Europe. Despite the installation in Mount Everest, telecom services cover less than one-third of the 28 million people of Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world. TeliaSonera said it planned to invest $ 100 million in the next year to ensure that mobile coverage increases to more than 90 per cent of the Himalayan nation's population. The 3G network on Mount Everest puts TeliaSonera ahead of state-controlled Nepal Telecom, Indian-owned United Telecom and China Mobile. Around 3,000 people have climbed to the Everest summit since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to conquer the peak in 1953. According to Lars Nyberg, the 3G services they provide _ . Answer: are fast and convenient What causes erosion? Answer: gales Classes resumed Thursday for the students of a school in Newtown, Conn, where a gunman last month killed 20 children and 6 adults in the second-largest school shooting in U.S. history. With their school still being treated as a crime scene, more than 400 students of Sandy Hook Primary School attended classes in neighbouring Monroe. Returning students, teachers and administrators were met by a large police presence outside their new school. Several officers guarded the entrance and checked IDs of parents dropping off children. Law-enforcement officers guarding the new school called it "the safest school in America." Students found the same chairs and desks, when possible. Their classroom walls were painted the same colours and hung with the same pictures. Other details, such as the location of bookshelves and cubby holes, were replicated as much as possible. The school district said parents who wanted to be close to their children were welcome to visit and stay in classrooms or an auditorium. Newtown superintendent Janet Robinson said officials would do their best to make the students feel at ease. "We will be doing a normal day." She said. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: The school children's parents are not allowed to stay with their children in school. I got up and dressed, stuck my violin under my jacket, and went out into the street. I wandered about for an hour, looking for a likely place, feeling as if I were about to commit a crime. Then I stopped at last under a bridge near the station and decided to _ . I felt tense and shaking. I drew my violin from under my coat like a gun. It was here, in Southampton, with trains passing overhead, that I was about to prove myself. The first notes I played were loud and raw, and then they settled down and began to run more smoothly and to stay more or less in tune. To my surprise I was neither arrested nor told to shut up. Indeed, nobody took any notice at all. I walked the streets of Southampton for several days, gradually knowing how to try and get money by being a street artist. It was not a good thing, for instance, to let the hat fill up with money -- the sight could discourage the people; nor was it wise to empty it completely, which could also confuse them, giving them no hint as to where to drop his money. Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to start the thing going soon became a good idea. Before I played another tune, I took off the big money, but always left two pennies behind. Old ladies were most generous, and so were women with children, shop girls, and typists. As for the men: Heavy drinkers were always generous too and so were big young with muscles. But never a man with a hat, briefcase or dog; respectable types were the meanest of all, except retired army officers, who would bark "Why aren't you working, young man?" and then threw much money into the hat to hide their confusion. When the writer began to play the violin, he thought that _ . Answer: he would get into trouble In the rock cycle, weathering and erosion begin the process of the formation of Answer: sediments.
My mother got divorced when I was 5 and was left to raise me and my two younger brothers. She didn't have a formal education, so she had to work two full-time jobs to make ends meet. One day several years later, I was determined to help. I told the manager of the Don Carlos Motel in Nana Point that I was 15, so I could get a work permit to work as a maid. Since then, I've started to work alongside some of America's top leaders, written books, and achieved financial independence. It took a lot of hard work and sacrifices. But what if I was 15 years old today? Would I be able to accomplish the same things in this new, highly competitive world with so many global challenges? It seems hard work and sacrifices aren't enough anymore. Today, you need to be extremely adaptable. To progress in your career, it's not enough to know one thing well. As my friend Sean Harvey, product manager at Google put it when we were speaking to students, "Today, companies aren't hiring people for a specific position but rather people who are smart and flexible. The way you prove that is by showing you can do multiple things well." People need to take more risks to succeed now than ever. The combination of unemployment and slow wage growth means that we are not only at greater financial risk, but we have to take more risks to succeed. Luckily, the new Internet world of all-the-time connectedness means that anyone with a hot idea, product or service can create a business out of almost nothing. And success can be quick and big. But that success demands more "out of the box" thinking. And what about our kids? It makes me think a lot about the future that my 3-years-old daughter faces. But no matter what the future brings, I think the best message I'll give her is to believe in herself. Life won't get any easier, but the opportunities will come -- as they always have -- to those who work hard, adapt as they need to, and trust their abilities. The author writes the text mainly to _ . A. describe her childhood B. give some suggestions about success C. tell a story about her mother D. share some useful parenting skills Answer: B BEIJING -Starting today,all indoor public places and many outdoor public places in Beijing are required to be 100-percent smoke-free, including primary and middle schools,seating areas of sports stadiums and hospitals that treat women or children. Those who break the law will face fines of up to 200 yuan( $32),and owners of the establishment will be fined up to 10,000 yuan. The Beijing government is training several thousand inspectors to be responsible for inspecting and issuing fines,and thousands of community volunteers will also come to help. But it would he difficult to carry out the law in some areas where smoking is common,such as nightclubs "Relying on punishment to control smoking is not enough. We hope that more cookers are willing to quit not because of strict rules, but because of their awareness of the harm caused by smoking"said Wang Benjin, deputy director of the Beijing Health Inspection Bureau. China has more than 300 million smokers,and more than I million people die each year due to smoking-related diseases. Beijing is home to about 4. 2 million smokers, accounting for 23. 4 percent of people. _ smoke an average of 14.6 cigarettes per day, according to a survey conducted by the Beijing Center for Disease Control last year. Just ahead of the regulation taking effect,Beijing MTR Corporation put up tobacco control posters on all trains on Subway Line 4 as part of the smoke-free campaign by the WHO "Beijing was honored with the World No Tohacco Day Award for its leadership in adopting a tough new tobacco control law. The award is a wonderful gift to people of Beijing and a wonderful gift to children of Beijing on International Children's Day-the gift of air free from secondhand smoke,"said Shin Young-soo, regional director for the WHO. Which is NOT the benefit of the new tobacco control law? A. Giving smokers in Beijing a 1esson B. Limiting the number of smokers in Beijing. C. Protecting people from breathing secondhand smoke D. Getting wonderful gifts on International Children's Day. Answer: D A group of foreign residents married to Japanese talked about their children's names. Nicole Despres Students services manager, 40 (American) We have no intention to live outside Japan so it made sense for the kids to take my Japanese husband's family name. However, we did want to have a Western name too, so all three of them now have both a Western and Japanese name. We agreed there would be no strange names, spelling or unusual kanji(Chinese characters in the Japanese language). All names had to be easy to say and familiar in both Japanese and English. John McCracken Company general manager, 27(American) My son's name is Aiden. In part because my wife and I met in university and as she was studying Irish history and I have some links to Scotland and Ireland, I wanted a unique Gaelic name. We settled for Aiden as we found kanji that can be used in Japan that means "legendary hero" Paula Murakami College women's Association of Japan, 53(American) My husband was very excited about choosing names, so I decided to let him choose. He wanted their first names to be Japanese and camp up with names that included the kanji character in his own name. Our boys, Hiroki and Kenta, never had any problems while living on the U.S. West Coast with Japanese names, and I think both as children and as adults, they love their names. Jeff Ruiz Recording engineer, 42(Mexican) My son's name is Lenny. My wife chose it together with me as we were looking for a name that works in both worlds -- mine in Mexico, and hers in Japan -- and the name Lenny is common everywhere. In Japanese we write the name in katakana as that is easy for Japanese people who seem to like names in two or three characters. What can we infer from the passage? A. Nicole and her Japanese husband have a daughter and two sons. B. Paula has little say in making a decision at home. C. John's wife is Irish and the couple have only one child. D. Lenny is a name familiar to Japanese when written the Japanese way. Answer: D More men are finding their calling as nurses. A new study from the United States Census Bureau reports the number of male nurses has doubled since the l970s.Back then,about 2.7 percent of registered nurses were men.The new study,which tracked data through 2011,finds that men now make up 9.6 percent of all employed nurses in the United States about 330,000 men in total.Recent years of shortages have led to increased efforts,according to report,which included recruiting men into the field. Men,in fact,had been largely kept out of nursing in past decades because nursing schools often refused to admit men.The Supreme Court ruled that practice unconstitutional in l981 after a case involving a state nursing school. "The ly high wages and expanding Job opportunities makes this field attractive,offering stability even during recessions ,"wrote the report's author,Liana Christin Landivar of the U.S.Census Bureau,"And because of high demand,nursing has low unemployment rates compared to other fields.'' Men were found to be more likely to become nurse anesthetists ,which is the highest paid nursing occupation,and were found least likely to become licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses,the lowest paid types of nursin9.Nurse anesthetists are required to get graduate education,and are certified to give anesthetists and monitor patients recovering from anesthesia.1Acensed practical and licensed vocational nurses provide patient care and may work under the supervision of a registered nurse.Registered nurses assess patient health problems and needs,develop and carry Out nursing care plans,maintain medical records,and administer care. For all types of nursing,men earned,on average,$60,700 per year,while women earned$51,100 per year."Even among men and women in the same nursing occupations,men outlearn women,"wrote Landivar. Which of the following is true about nurses in the US in the l 970s? A. The number of male nurses doubled. B. About 2.7%of registered nurses were men. C. There were about 330,000 male nurses, D. About 9.6%of employed nurses were men. Answer: B After successfully serving their term for 4 years, military service men and women are given the choice to stay in the military of return to civilian life. For some, having to readjust to civilian life is one of the mist challenging assignments our returning soldiers and marines will ever to undertake. While people may think readjusting should be simple, they must take into consideration of all physical and mental stress our servicemen went through. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder ,or PTSD, is a mental disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat . Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. In the military, the marines are given a two-week course on how to return to civilian life. Unfortunately, some will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individual may develop PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD have difficulty sleeping because they are often reliving the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, and feel deserted or often stand off, and these symptoms can be severe enough an dlast long enough to significantly damage the person's daily life. Fullerton College, like most colleges, has its own Veteran's Office. Ray Bustos has been running the office for 3 years. Bustos acts as a liaison for the school and the veteran students. He makes sure the veterans returning to school get the right benefits. There are various types of financial aid for soldiers and marines. He strongly encourages the use of the Veteran Affairs website. The website is very informative and extremely helpful for veterans as well as for friends and s of veterans who want to learn more. One purpose of the writer in writing the passage is _ . A. to introduce some methods to cure PTSD B. to instruct PTSD patients to return to civilian life C. to recommend a website to veterans and people concerned D. to give military service men and women advice on civilian life Answer: C
"But what if I break my arm again?" my 5-year-old daughter asked. I knew how much she wanted to learn to ride. Yet ever since she'd fallen off her bike and broken her arm, she'd been afraid. "Oh honey," I said. "I don't think you'll break another arm." "But I could, couldn't I?" "Yes," I admitted, and found myself struggling for the right thing to say. "I don't think I want to ride," she said and got off her bike. We walked away and sat down beside a tree. "Don't you want to ride with your friends?" I asked. "And I thought you were hoping to start riding your bike to school next year," I added. "I was," she said in a low voice. "You know, honey," I said. "Most everything you do comes with dangers. You could break your arm at gymnastics. Do you want to stop going to the gym?" "No, of course not!" she replied. And with a determined spirit, she stood up and agreed to try again. I held on to the back of her bike until she found the courage to say, "Let's go!" I spent the rest of the afternoon at the park watching a very brave little girl overcome a fear, and congratulating myself for being an independent single parent. As we walked home, pushing the bike as we made our way along the sidewalk, she asked me about a conversation she'd overheard me having with my mother the night before. "Why were you and Grandma arguing last night?" "It's nothing." I told her. She shrugged . "Grandma said she just wanted you to find someone to love." "What Grandma wants is for some guy to break my heart again," I snapped. "But Mom ..." "You're too young to understand." I told her. She was quiet for the next few minutes. Then she looked up and in a small voice said, "So I guess love isn't like a broken arm." Unable to answer, we walked the rest of the way in silence. When I got home, I let go and agreed to meet a man called Steve. Steve was the man for me. We married less than a year later. It turned out my mother and my daughter were right. What happened to the author's daughter according to the beginning of the passage? A. She fell down beside a tree. B. She broke her arm at gymnastics. C. She fell off her bike and broke her arm. D. She broke her leg while learning to ride. Answer: C The pickle jar , as I can remember, sat beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When ready for bed, Dad would toss any coins in his pockets into the jar. As they dropped, they landed with a merry jingle. Whenever the jar was full, Dad would roll up the coins. Every time he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would smile proudly and say,"All for my son's college." We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. Dad would show me the coins in his change, saying "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. "You might have to get to college on loose change," he said. "But you'll get there." As years passed, I went to college, got married and took a job. Once, while visiting my parents, I noticed the jar was gone. It had served its purpose. My dad was a man of few words and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance or faith. The jar had taught me those far better than the most flowery of words could have done. Soon, my daughter Jessica was born. We spent Christmas that year with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other, taking turns holding their first grandchild. When Jessica began crying, my wife Susan took her from Dad's arms to put her in my parents' room. Susan came back, tears in her eyes and led me into the room. "Look," she said softly. To my amazement, there, next to the dresser, stood the old pickle jar, as if never removed, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to it, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out several coins. Choked by emotion, I dropped them into the jar. Dad had slipped quietly into the room when I looked up. Our eyes locked, but neither of us spoke, because we knew nothing had to be said. The pickle jar in the article represents _ . A. advice of parents. B. one's purpose in life. C. determination to reach a goal. D. healthy family relations. Answer: C "OK,"I said to my daughter as she bent over her afternoon bowl of rice."What's going on with you and your friend J.?" J.is the leader of a group of third-graders at her camp-- a position Lucy herself occupied the previous summer. _ and every day at snack time, she tells me all about it, while I offer the unhelpful advice all summer long. "She's fond of giving orders, "Lucy complained."She's turning everyone against me.She's mean.And she's fat." "Excuse me," I said, struggling for calm."What did you just said?" "She's fat." Lucy mumbled ."We're going upstairs," I said, my voice cold."We're going to discuss this." And up we went.I'd spent the nine years since her birth getting ready for this day, the day we'd have the conversation about this horrible word.I knew exactly what to say to the girl on the receiving end of the teasing, but in all of my imaginings, it never once occurred to me that my daughter would be the one who used the F word-Fat. My daughter sat on her bed, and I sat beside her."How would you feel if someone made fun of you for something that wasn't your fault?" I began."She could stop eating so much," Lucy mumbled, mouthing the simple advice a thousand doctors have given overweight women for years. "It's not always that easy," I said ."Everyone's different in terms of how they treat food." Lucy looked at me, waiting for me to go on.I opened my mouth, then closed it.Should I tell her that, in teasing a woman's weight, she's joined the long tradition of critics? Should I tell her I didn't cry when someone posted my picture and commented , "I'm sorry, but aren't authors who write books marketed to young women supposed to be pretty?" Does she need to know, now, that life isn't fair ? I feel her eyes on me, waiting for an answer I don't have.Words are my tools.Stories are my job.It's possible she'll remember what I say forever, and I have no idea what to say. So I tell her the only thing I can come up with that is absolutely true.I say to my daughter, "I love you, and there is nothing you could ever do to make me not love you.But I'm disappointed in you right now.There are plenty of reasons for not liking someone.What she looks like isn't one of them." Lucy nods, tears on her cheeks."I won't say that again," she tells me, and I pull her close, pressing my nose against her hair.As we sit there together, I pray for her to be smart and strong.I pray for her to find friends, work she loves, a partner who loves her.And still, always, I pray that she will never struggle as I've struggled, that weight will never be her cross to bear.She may not be able to use the word in our home, but I can use in my head.I pray that she will never get fat. Why does the author want to discuss with Lucy? A. Because she wants to offer some other helpful advice. B. Because she has prepared the conversation for nine years. C. Because she is really shocked at Lucy's rudeness. D. Because she decides to tell Lucy a similar story of her own. Answer: C Enrique Iglesias is a most successful singer! Born in 1975 in Madrid, Spain, Enrique is the child of the famous singer Julio Iglesias. Enrique's mother is a journalist. His parents divorced in 1978. Although Enrique lived with his mother, she sent him to live with his father because of concerns about her son's safety. Enrique wanted to be a singer secretly, he didn't wish his father to know that and didn't want to live under his shelter. He sought his dream on his own. Enrique released his first album "Enrique Iglesias" in 1995. This album had a collection of rock ballads and five singles from it went straight to the top spots in Latin music. This album was followed by another "Vivir" in 1997. Three singles from this album occupied the top spots on the Latin charts yet again! Enrique also found himself nominated for the "Favorite Latin Artist" at the American Music Awards. By 1998, he had released his 3rdalbum, "Cosas Del Amor". This year Enrique won the "Favorite Latin Artist". "Bailamos" got him great fame. One of the songs in this album was also used in a movie. With the success of "Bailamos", Enrique now already had many loyal fans. The album, "Enrique", was released in 1999. The year 2001 brought more success for him. His album, "Escape" had a few singles that reached the top spots. Enrique became a household name. This album is his biggest successful album so far. "Hero" and "Don't Turn Off the Lights" soon turned Enrique into a super star. His next release in 2002 was a Spanish album "Quizas". This album brought Enrique a "Latin Grammy Award" for the Best Pop Vocal Album. In 2007, he released another album "Insomniac" and the song "Do You Know" became an instantly popular song. After his parents divorced, Enrique was sent to his father's because _ . A. he could be protected from some dangers B. he could learn singing from his talented father C. his mother would be able to focus on her career D. his father could teach him how to behave correctly Answer: A Around six weeks ago, Kaileen came running into the house, just getting off the bus from school. She was all excited about a story about homeless pets because of Hurricane Katrina and all that was going on to help them. She said that this information came from her animal newspaper (your KIND News). Kaileen has a great love and compassion for animals, so her excitement did not surprise me. Her next ideas, however, did. She said that we should go around right then to our neighbors and collect all their change to send to the animal shelters . I thought this was a school project, but in fact, it was not. This was what Kaileen wanted to do on her own! Well, it warmed me all over. To see your child so willing to help others just lets you feel that maybe you had done something right in raising her. Anyway, I told her to make a card and send it out to our neighbors first. With the help of her older brother, Kaileen soon made a lovely card that asked our neighbors to help these pets by giving their spare change. She gave them a few days and a date she would come by to pick up any donations . Well, I had to go out and buy a donation box. Kaileen collected $279.50!!! I just thought you would like to know how KIND News had touched a little one's heart and given her the idea to show her compassion for animals. Thank you -- we really enjoy your paper. The passage is probably taken from _ . A. a report about a warm-hearted girl B. an advertisement for an animal shelter C. a thank-you letter to a newspaper D. a donation program for homeless pets Answer: C
There was once an ant that was very thirsty. It ran here and there looking for some water but could not find any. Then suddenly, when the ant was almost ready to die of thirst, a large drop of water fell on it. The ant drank the water, which saved its life. The water was actually a tear from a young girl who was crying. Because of her sadness, the tear had magical qualities and suddenly the ant could speak the language of human beings. The ant looked up and saw the young girl sitting in front of a huge pile of seeds. "Why are you sad?" asked the ant. "I'm the prisoner of a giant." the girl told the ant. " He won't let me go until I've made three separate heaps of grain, barley and rye out of this huge pile of seeds in which they are all mixed together." "That will take you a month!" the ant said, looking at the huge pile of seeds. "I know," the girl cried, "and if I haven't finished by tomorrow, the giant will eat me for his supper!" "Don't cry," the ant said, "my friends and I will help you." Soon thousands of ants were at work, separating the three kinds of seeds. The next morning, when the giant saw that the work had been done, he let the girl go. Thus it was one of her tears that saved her life. When did the drop of water fall on the ant? A. When it was looking for food. B. When it saved the ant's life. C. When it was nearly dying. D. When it looked up. Answer: C 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 areasonable 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 theperception 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 . I feel that children should learn to spend money intelligently and not go overboard spending . They will learn what theirlimitations are and feel the difficulty when they have to pay for something that is over in their own pockets . Rajiv Patel : Yes , I would give my child pocket money because it is important that she learns to manage money . I will give her a fixed amount every month and if she spends the money before the month is over , then she will learn a lesson and not spend money so freely . Vikram Desai : Yes , I would certainly give my child pocket 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 . Ashish Khanna may agree that _ . A. he was given too much pocket money when young B. he can take much control of his child by money C. he will buy anything he thinks his child really needs D. pocket money helps children develop a good value for money Answer: C A woman baked bread for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passer-by. She kept the extra bread on the window-sill , for whomever would take it away. Every day, a hunch-back came and took away the bread. Instead of expressing thanks, he said the following words as he went his way: "The evil you do remains with you. The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day. Every day, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and repeated the words. One day, the woman felt angry and decided to do away with him. She added poison to the bread she prepared for him !As she was about to place it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she thought...As usual, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and repeated those words. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As usual, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and repeated those words. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. His clothes were torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom ,it's a wonder I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so hungry that I fell down. I would have died, but just then an old hunch-back passed by. I begged of him for a small part of his food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole bread. As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale and red. She remembered the poisoned bread that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you. The good you do,comes back to you!" What happened to the son on his way back home? A. He was robbed of his money. B. He was weak because of illness. C. He was almost starved to death. D. He survived by begging all the way. Answer: C Many children think mobile phones are cool. They come in fun colours and you can talk with a friend anytime and anywhere. In the USA, more than 90 million people use mobile phones. Many of those people are children. For children, mobile phones are more than phone calls. They are fashionable. Most mobile phone users don't think about the health problems caused by mobile phones. Some scientists say that mobile phones give off radiation that might be bad for users. One recent study shows that mobile phone radiation might raise a person's chance of getting some kinds of cancer. Other scientists say mobile phones are not bad for people's health. They say that they didn't find any link between mobile phone use and cancer. Scientists say that people can protect themselves from mobile phone radiation. One way is to use an earphone, or people can make shorter calls. Many children like mobile phones because they think mobile phones are _ . A. cool B. colourful C. cheap D. their toys Answer: A Increased populations can lead to the depletion of locally available resources. Compared to other communities, which of these locally available resources is most likely to be depleted in desert communities? A. mineral B. oxygen C. gasoline D. water Answer: D
Question: Animals grow up in different ways. They have lots of lessons to learn. Some animals are born helpless but their mothers protect them. A newborn kangaroo is the size of a bee. She stays in her mother's safe pouch. She doesn't open her eyes for at least five months. A newborn monkey cannot walk. He is carried by his mother. Other baby animals can walk soon after they're born. They learn to run with their mother when danger is near. A baby zebra can run an hour after she is born. Some baby animals are born in a place that is safe. Other baby animals are born in the open. Baby wolves are born in large holes. A baby elephant is born on open, grassy land. Other elephants make a circle to protect her. Animals that drink their mothers' milk are called mammals. A mother bear's milk is fatty and rich. Baby bears need lots of fat to keep warm in winter. They have milk for six months. Baby zebras drink milk for six months or more! As baby animals grow they need solid food. Baby lions eat what their mother can catch. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Baby wolves are born in the open. B. Newborn lions only eat solid food. C. Newborn monkeys can walk but can't jump. D. Baby bears need lots of fat to keep warm in winter. Answer: D Question: As children enter their teens, they usually begin to pay more attention to their peers or friends. Peer pressure can be direct or indirect, but it is almost always present. Learning to deal with peer pressure makes a teen mature , and able to get along well with others. Bad peer pressure is when teens feel pressured to do something that they know is wrong, such as smoking, drinking, or drugs , and it can remain with them into adulthood. This is the main reason teens have to learn how to deal with it. Some of the things you can do to deal with peer pressure include: * Choose friends who share your values. Good friends use positive peer pressure to help you be your best self. * Keep away from situations where people are doing things you don't want to do. * Think about your reasons for doing things. Are they good reasons? Are you being true to yourself and your values? * Practice ways of saying no, giving excuses if necessary. * Talk to your parents, or other trusted adults, about the kinds of peer pressure you face, and listen to their advice. * Let the adults know when you need help to get out of a bad situation, and don't know what to do about it. Remember that if just one teen _ peer pressure, usually others will join him or her. Learning to deal with peer pressure will make you confident and mature. Teens should learn to deal with peer pressure mainly because _ . A. it can keep them from making serious mistakes B. it can influence them even when they have grown up C. learning to deal with it can help them get along well with others D. learning to deal with it can make them mature and confident Answer: B Question: Will you trust your friends if you can't see anything? If you are falling, do you believe they will catch you and help you stand up? Our teacher helped us to get the answer. One day, Mr. Morrie came into the classroom and said he had a game for us to try. He divided us into two groups. One student from the first group, stood in front of us with his eyes closed, and then fell backwards . The second group stood behind him. Before he fell on the floor, they should catch him and not let him get hurt. Most of us were uncomfortable with this. We were afraid that they wouldn't catch us and we would hit the floor. So we didn't move. We just stood there and laughed in embarrassment. Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl called Sarah, decided to move. She crossed her arms in front of her body, closed her eyes, and slowly fell backwards. She looked quiet but brave. For a moment, I was sure that she was going to fall on the floor. But before she hit the floor, the other students caught her, held her and finally helped her stand up. "Whoa!!" We were all surprised, and also encouraged . The girl was happy, too. Seeing this, Morrie smiled and said to the girl, "When you close your eyes, you can't see anything. You won't feel safe. When you are falling, the feeling gets stronger. You are not sure whether you will hit the cold, hard floor or the warm, soft hands of your friends. But if you are brave enough to trust them, they will not let you down ." What is Morrie? A. A student. B. A teacher. C. A manager. D. a farmer. Answer: B Question: Do you know the late leader of China, Deng Xiaoping? He was called the"chief architect of China's reform and opening-up ". August 22 is the 110 anniversary of his birth. President Xi Jinping held an important meeting for the event on August 20 , 2014 in Beijing. Senior leaders Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli also attended the event. Deng was born on Aug, 22, 1904 in the southwest China's Sichuan Province. He also had the name Deng Xiaosheng. His father , Deng Wenming , was a middle-level landowner . His mother died early in Deng's life. He has three brothers and three sisters. Deng's first wife , one of his schoolmates from Moscow , died when she was 24, a few days after giving birth to Deng's first child, a baby girl, who also died. His second wife left him in 1933. His third wife, Zhuo Lin, was the daughter of an industrialist in Yunnan Province. She married him in 1939 in Yan'an. They had five children:three daughters and two sons. Deng was sent to private primary school at the age of five. In the summer of 1919, Deng Xiaoping graduated from the Chongqing School. Then he went to study and work in France in the 1920s. His father strongly supported him, the night before going to France, Deng's father took his son aside and asked him what he hoped to learn there. He repeated the words he had learned from his teachers:"To learn knowledge and truth from the West in order to save China."He joined the Communist Party of China in 1924. In late 1927 , Deng left Moscow to return to China. He joined the army to save China. He died on February 19 , 1997. Deng went to school _ . A. in 1909 B. in 1919 C. in 1911 D. in 1933 Answer: A Question: Lillan Hanson, a college junior, expects to graduate in about two years. Mrs Hanson, a rather unusual student, plans to go on to take more courses after she gets her degree. What makes Mrs Hanson different from most of her classmates? What sets Lillian Hanson apart from the college crowd is her age-73 years. She has been going to college, a few courses at a time, for 27 years. When Mrs Hanson graduated from high school, she went to her local bank and asked for a loan for college tuition and fees. The banker gave her no encouragement. He didn't think that country girl should be borrowing money to go to college. He thought she should be home doing work in the house or around the farm. So Mrs Hanson went home and raised a family of nine children instead of going to college. She still lives with her husband on the farm that has been in the family for five generations. Mrs Hanson never forgot her dream of getting a higher education. When her children were grown, she tried again. She finds the hardest part of going back to school at her age is to be sitting in class for long periods of time, because she is not as agile as she used to be. Mrs Hanson often gets up and walks around between classes to keep her joints from getting stiff. At the beginning of a course in using the computer, the other students all gave Mrs Hanson a warm round of applause when she introduced herself and explained why she was there and what her goals were. Mrs Hanson has gone through college_. A. rapidly and well B. slowly but surely C. without any help at all D. as a form of entertainment Answer: B
Is education compulsory after age 16? Under the present law, the school leaving age is 16. After 2013 the education leaving age will rise to 17. And from 2015 it will rise again, to 18. The government is raising the leaving age because research shows that young people who carry on learning or training until the age of 18 earn more money, are likely to be healthier and less likely to be in trouble with the police. So although at the moment your child can leave education once they're 16, it's worth thinking carefully about the benefits of carrying on. What options are available after 16? Education after16 doesn't just mean staying at school full-time: your child can stay at school, go to college, or take up an apprenticeship or a part-time training course. They can earn money and learn new skills at the same time if they want to. The main qualifications available are: Diplomas: providing the background for a range of careers Vocational qualifications: for young people who already know what career they want to follow and need training for specific jobs A levels: offered as specific mainly academic subjects International Baccalaureate: offering a wider range of subjects than A levels What financial help is available? If your child continues in education after 16 and your household income is less than PS30,810 a year, your child should be eligible for up to PS30 a week to help with their costs. It won't affect any benefits you get as an individual or as a family, and the money will be paid directly into your child's bank account. This money is known as Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). What does the author think of taking a training course? It is as worthwhile as going to school or college. We all dream about things that we would like to do and things we hope to achieve in the future. But are everybody's dreams the same? Here are some of the findings of a survey about hopes and dreams,and thousands of students across China took part in it. _ We received several different answers to the question:What would you like to do after finishing your education? It seems some students would like to start work as soon as possible, so that they can help provide better lives for their parents. Other students hope to continue studying after finishing school and to go to university. Although money is important, many teenagers said they want to do jobs they enjoy. According to the survey, the most popular choice of job is computer programming. _ Teenagers have all kinds of dreams. Some are more realistic than others. For example, many students said they would like to be volunteers if Beijing could hold the World Cup, maybe working as translators or tour guides. And quite a few said they dream of going to the moon one day. According to the survey, less realistic dreams are also common, but many students reported that they were willing to work hard to achieve their dreams. Quite a few dream of becoming famous, perhaps famous sports people or singers. Some said they'd like to go on exciting trips; one student said she'd love to sail across the Pacific Ocean. And then there are dreams that are impossible; three students said they'd like to be able to fly! _ It was clear from the survey that teenagers have similar hopes. It seems that most students hope to have a good education and find a good job. Besides,students dream of very different things:good things, and even crazy things. It is very important to dream, so hold on your dreams; one day they may just come true. How many realistic dreams are mentioned in the passage? Four. Students often want to practice their English outside class. One of the best ways to practice your English is to speak to a foreigner. You may ask, "Is it okay to try to talk to foreigners I see in the street?" The answer is yes and no, but probably no! If you see a foreigner who looks lost, it is polite to ask him, "May I help you?" But, otherwise, you should probably let them get on with their business. Situations, however, do exist where it is quite all right to talk to foreigners. If a foreigner enters your school, classroom, office, shop or restaurant, for instance, feel free to ask him (for example): -- What is your name? -- Where do you come from? -- What do you think of Beijing? -- How long will you stay in Beijing? There are also situations where it's okay to talk to foreigners in public places. If you see a foreigner alone in a restaurant, bar or coffee shop, it may be appropriate to ask him or her: -- Is this seat free? -- Do you mind if I talk to you in English? You can probably help them if they are new in China and if they are alone, you may be able to make them feel more welcome. After a few such questions, you should know whether this person wants to talk to you or not. If they ask you similar questions, or if they give long, informative answers, you're in luck. If not, then give them their privacy. Talking to strangers is fun if you choose the right time and place. This passage probably comes from a newspaper in column _ . Language Anne Nelson has no doubts when she's arguing with a salesman over the price of a car. She first checks car prices and does some research and then adopts a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. That helped her get 15 percent knocked off the price of a used BMW. But what about asking for a discount on vegetables at the grocery store? Or bargaining for a better rate for a hotel room? To some, maybe the very thought of doing these is terrifying. Bargaining was once considered an old art only done in old world markets. But, this ancient form is spreading rapidly in modern day America, experts say. This is thanks to a weakened economy, a decrease in consumer spending, and most of all, plenty of choices of products and sellers. Experts say that a growing number of people are starting to realize once again that a price tag is merely just a starting point for negotiations. "People want better deals. As economic times have got more difficult, they're no longer afraid to ask for _ , "says Britt Beemer, chairman of the Charleston, South Carolina travel information and planning office. Experts say that spend-thrift sensibility shouldn't be limited to big ticket items such as homes and cars. Rick Doble, editor of savvy-discounts.com, says he bargains over everything: hotel rooms, electronics, and even food. "Nine times out of 10, when you ask, you'll get a better deal, " Doble says. "Companies know they have to be prepared to offer the best deal these days, "says Steven Cohen, founder of the Negotiation Skills Co. in Massachusetts. "Because consumers have a huge amount of choice, bargaining is becoming more experienced and clever, especially over the Internet. " Experts think that people should bargain over _ . almost everything they want to buy or use As a boy, Sanders was much influenced by books about the sea, but by the age of fifteen he had decided to become a doctor rather than a sailor. His father was a doctor. So he was often with the doctors and got along very well with them. When he was fourteen, he was already hanging around the hospital where he was supposed to be helping to clean the medicine bottles, but was actually trying to listen to the doctors' conversations with patients in the next room. During the war Sanders served in the army as a surgeon . "That was the happiest time of my life. I was dealing with real sufferers and on the whole making a success of my job." In Rhodes he taught the country people simple facts about medicine. He saw himself as a life-saver. He had proved his skill to himself and had a firm belief that he could serve those who lived simply, and were dependent upon him. Thus, while in a position to tell them what to do he could feel he was serving them. After the war, he married and set up a practice deep in the countryside, working under an old doctor who hated the sight of blood. This gave the younger man plenty of opportunities to go on working as a life-saver. At the age of 14, Sanders _ . helped to clean the medicine bottles in the hospital
Which condition is associated with most warm fronts? Answer: Ways to Deal with the Problem of Energy There are different ways in which people try to deal with the problem of energy.One way is the greater production of common energy sources,such as coal,oil and gas.The trouble with these sources,however,is that they are not renewable. Another way is energy conservation ,which means using energy more efficiently.In some very cold countries people build special houses to save energy.They place materials between the inside and the outside of the walls of the house to keep the cold out and warmth in.The house is heated by the lights,the body heat of the people and the other equipment in it. Finally,renewable energy sources are used even though they are often expensive to develop.One form of these is geothermal energy.In certain parts of the world the temperature of the earth increases thirty degrees centigrate with each kilometer down.At six kilometers,therefore,it rises to nearly 200degrees.To get the heat,water is pumped down into the rocks and back up to the surface.Heat from the earth is already used in certain countries. The writer tells about "the special houses"because they _ . Answer: "We don't necessarily believe that new advertising, which might make consumers feel better about the Coke brand or better about the ads themselves , will actually result in consumers consuming more of the product," Morgan Stanley's Bill Pecoriello wrote in a research note the days after the investor meeting . But Coke is optimistic it can regain its old magic, and is banking on a new slogan: "Welcome to the Coke side of life." BREAK THROUGH HIT? With PepsiCo about to surpass Coke as the beverage king on Wall Street--Pepsi's market capitalization has _ in recent years to $97.9 billion, putting it less than a billion dollars behind its rival--the heat is on Coke . It's set to launch a new marketing campaign in March, 2006. And having taken a quick look at Coke's investor presentation on Dec. 7 in New York, my sense is that Coke may be moving in the right direction . Given the continued shift by consumers away from soda--Coke's stronghold --and into alternative beverages like juice, tea, and water, Coke badly needs a breakthrough hit. And given that shift away from soda, some analyists wonder whether even the catchiest new ads will be enough to put the fizz back into Coke. SAME OLD, UPDATED? The new flavors of PowerAde sports drink will probably enable Coke to continue stealing market share from PepsiCo's Gatorade brand. And Coke is getting a little more creative with packaging, including new, aluminum bottles of Coke that will be sold in nightclubs, and an 8.4-ounce "100 calorie" version of its flagship Coke that will appeal to women who want fewer calories and will like the fact that the small can will fit in their purse. I doubt whether other new products will be successful, including a new coffee-flavored soda called Coke-Cola Black that I tried. Think carbonated coffee. But I'm not sure if the product, which Coke is pitching as an afternoon pick-me-up for the 35-and-over set, is going to pull people away from their afternoon Frappucino fix. And my opinion is that Vault, an orange-flavored energy drink, will have just as much trouble unseating Mountain Dew among teens as did Coke's last attempt, a product called Surge. If there is one concern I have about the fresh offerings Coke plans to launch this year, it appears that many of them are simply new brands, not new products. What is the best title of the passage ? Answer: Do you learn from your mistakes? I hope so. But have you ever made the same mistake twice? I have.Sometimes I make the same mistake three or four times! Sometimes,good things happen because of mistakes.Once I got on the wrong train.That was a big mistake.But on that train,I saw a good friend.I was so happy I made that mistake! Another time I ruined a surprise.My mother planned a surprise party for my father.She told me it was a secret.But I was just a little boy and I couldn't keep the secret.I told my father about the party.At first,my mother was mad at me.But then my father said he was happy he knew about it.He said he didn't like surprises. When a good thing comes out of a mistake,that's a happy accident! His mother asked him to _ . Answer: Water in a sealed jar might do what when placed in the freezer? Answer:
Pierre is a 25-year-old penguin at the California Academy of Sciences.Due to his old age,he was going bald,which made him feel too cold to swim in the pool.Therefore,biologists at the academy had a wetsuit created for this penguin to help him get back in the swimming pool. Unlike marine mammals,which have a layer of blubber to keep them warm,penguins depend on their waterproof feathers.Without them,Pierre was unwilling to jump into the swimming pool and ended up trembling on the side of the pool while his 19 peers played in the water. "He was cold:he would shake,"said Pam Schaller,a senior biologist.Schaller first tried a heat lamp to keep Pierre warm.Then she got another idea:if wetsuits keep humans warm in the cold Pacific,why not make one for Pierre? Schaller designed the suit,which covered Pierre's body and had small openings for his flippers. "I would walk behind him and look at where there were any gaps.and cut and refit until it looked like it was extremely suitable."she said. One concern was that the other penguins would reject Pierre in his new suit,but in fact,they accepted his new look.He swam freely and got along with others well,although he was the only penguin with a black stomach. Schaller couldn't say for sure whether the wetsuit allowed Pierre to recover his fine feathers,but" certainly we were able to keep him comfortable during a period of time that would have been very difficult for him to stay comfortable". Pierre will take off his suit after his new feathers grow back. The best title of the passage is _ . A Wetsuit for An old Penguin B Old Penguin Getting Bald C Unwilling to Swim D Strange Look of Pierre Answer: A High-quality customer service is attached great importance to by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done. Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store , but instead will alert their friends, s, co-workers and even strangers. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers frequently go to their competitors, according to a study jointly conducted by Verde Group and Wharton School. "Storytelling hurts retailers and affects customers," said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde Group. "The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement." On average, every unhappy customer will complain to at least four others, and will no longer visit the specific store. For every dissatisfied customer, a store will lose up to three more due to negative review. The resulting "snowball effect" can be disastrous to retailers. According to the research, shoppers who bought clothing met with the most problems. Ranked second and third were grocery and electronics customers. The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude salespeople. During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved parking problems by getting moonlighting local police to work as parking attendants. Some hired flag wavers to direct customers to empty parking spaces. This guidance completely got rid of the need for customers to circle the parking lot endlessly, and avoided the situation in which several customers eyed the same parking space at the same time. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store layouts, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, salespeople should be good at dealing with different people and especially should be polite with angry customers. "Retailers who're helpful and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren't so friendly," said Professor Stephen Hoch. "Maybe something as simple as a greeter at the store entrance would help." Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by bringing complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. It's impossible for retailers to improve when they have no idea what is wrong. Shop owners often hire moonlighting police as parking attendants so that shoppers _ . A won't have trouble parking their cars B can stay longer looking around in the store C won't have any worry about security D can find their cars easily after shopping Answer: A A French woman goes to London to see her son. She knows a little English,but cannot speak it very well. One day she goes to a shop. She wants to buy a hen ( ) for supper. But she cannot remember ( ) the English word for" hen" . Just then the shop waiter asks her, "Can I help you?" " I want the egg's mother" the woman answers. The shop waiter does not understand( )her and says, " Sorry, we have not any bigger eggs." Suddenly )) the woman remembers the word"cock(She says, I want the cock's wife! "This time the shop waiter laughs ( ). The shop waiter thinks the egg's mother must be A bigger eggs B the cock 's wife C hens D cocks Answer: A Speaking Club HK $1,950 (18hours) This course aims to help develop vocabulary. Each student will also have a reader, which provides a topic for discussion. Students are level tested and then placed in different classes according to their level of English and their age. It is only for students whose level test shows them to be at intermediate level of above. The fee includes a course folder and _ . Bridging Course Available in July and August HK $1,950 (18hours) Our Bridging Course is aimed at students from Chinese primary schools who are about to enter an English secondary school in September. The course is a fun way to develop students' confidence in using English through topic-based speaking, listening, reading and writing activities. Students also widen their vocabulary by participating in a variety of language games. The fee includes a course folder and a field trip to a local museum. Preparation for prefix = st1 /UKStudy HK $1,950 (18hours) This course is for students who are leaving Hong Kong to study at boarding senior school in the UK. It focuses on functional English language to increase students' confidence in their ability to use appropriate language in the appropriate situations by communicating with natives. We also provide students with information on British culture and traditions and aim to increase students' interest in the country in which they are about to live. The fee includes a course folder and a reader called British Life. Which of the following is NOT what you can experience if taking Preparation for UK Study? A Experience how to express yourself properly in different situations. B Widen vocabulary by taking part in many language games. C Learn about the British culture and traditions. D Be offered a chance to speak with natives. Answer: B I'm Bessy. I began to learn English in Grade 6,not like most of my friends who have been learning English since kindergarten( ) or at least in Grade 3.I fell in love with this foreigner language at once. As an old saying goes, "Interest is the best teacher." I began to be crazy about English. I learned words and grammar, made sentences, wrote essays and read English storybo oks as many as I could. Some of my friends find it easy to forget the words they learned the other day. So do I! You can't remember words well without using them often. So you should turn to a dictionary for help when you meet new words and want to know their other meanings and usages. Then make your own sentences from time to time.Another way to keep new words in mind is reading articles. You can easily remember new words through _ As for spoken English, I'm lucky to have some foreign friends. So I have more chances to improve my spoken English. If you want to communicate with foreigners, don't be shy, and just practice with anyone who knows English. When did Bessy fall in love with English? A In kindergarten B In high school C In Grade 3 D In Grade 6 Answer: D
Scientists say life will be very different in 2050. First,there will be no TV channels in 2050.People will choose a program from a computer and watch it on TV.In 2050,we will get information from the computers only. Second,water will be a big problem in 2050.In many places,people won't have water to drink. Third,cars will use new and clean fuels and they will go very fast.There will be a computer in every car.And the computers will control the cars and there won't be any accidents . The cars will be _ in the future. A very cheap B very light C very expensive D very safe Answer: D. very safe When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words. He used to come downstairs to breakfast. The morning paper lay beside his plate. He always read the "Deaths" first, and then he knocked once on the table. One of my sisters brought his toast ,already buttered for him. Usually he said nothing, but once I heard him say, "I love you very much, Edith. I would love you more if you buttered my toast on both sides." He read the paper all through breakfast. Two knocks on the table meant "I am ready for my tea." If a single knock followed, that meant "More toast, please." After breakfast he said, "Boots." The paper was spread for him over the back of an armchair. Yesterday's paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned. He read standing, at the same time putting on his boots. With one boot finished, he said, "Bus." At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there. Her job was to stop the bus when it came. It came early sometimes, and it had to wait for my father. "Overcoat, hat." One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat. Now she held it open for him and guided his arms into it. Another girl came with his hat, nicely brushed. "Handkerchief, pipe ." They were brought and put, with his tobacco , into his pockets. He looked out of the window and said either "Walking stick" or "Umbrella". It was handed to him. Ready now, he was still reading the paper. He did not put it down until he heard the shout "Bus coming!" Then he kissed my mother and went out. The girls breathed freely. How lucky a man is to have a wife and five daughters at home! All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because _ . A their father never helped them B their father always gave different instructions at the same time C each of them had to start and finish her job just on time D they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs Answer: C. each of them had to start and finish her job just on time I grew up in Lakeland, Louisiana, one of 7 children. We all lived on my parents' farm. At 12, I got a part-time job--milking cows to help support the family. I milked cows at five in the morning and again at two in the afternoon, seven days a week. In the kitchen one Saturday before daytime, I remember complaining to my father and grandfather about having to go milk those cows. My father said, "You know, boy, to work is a blessing ." Going to college was rare for a kid from Lakeland, Louisiana. "Pick something that you like doing to study, and you will always look forward to your work," my father told me. But he also added, "Even having a job you hate is better than not having a job at all." I wanted to be a farmer, but I joined the ROTC program to help pay for college. And what started out as an obligation to the army became a way of life that I was devoted to for 37 years. In the late 1980s, during a visit to Bangladesh, I saw a woman with a baby on her back, breaking bricks with a hammer. I asked a Bangladesh military officer why they weren't using a machine. He told me a machine would make that lady unemployed . Breaking those bricks meant she could earn enough money to feed herself and her baby that day. He told me bad as that woman's job was, it was enough to keep a small family alive, which reminded me of my father's words. I'm retired from the army, but I'm still working to help people be prepared for disaster. I'm not going to stop. I believe in my father's words. I believe in the blessing of work. According to that Bangladesh military officer, _ . A women were the main money provider in that area B using a machine would make people's life easier C many people couldn't afford to use a machine D using a machine would make that lady out of work Answer: D. using a machine would make that lady out of work What Is Natural Medicine Natural Medicine is to use the natural environment, the nature of the material itself to cure diseases and restore the health.It involves bettering one's breathing way, sunbathing, improving one's diets and so on, which play an important part in our healthcare. Start a Rewarding Career Today The Australian Institute of Applied Sciences College of Natural Medicine provides you with Nationally Recognized natural medicine courses that can be studied in the comfort of your own home, or at our Brisbane campus in the heart of Stones Corner.AIAS College of Natural Medicine has been providing accredited natural health courses for more than 20 years, and offers accredited certificate, diploma and advanced diploma level natural medicine, beauty and massage courses. Why Study at the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences With over 36 years of specialized training and 120 courses, our Natural Medicine College is Australia's longest running and most sought after training provider for Natural Medicine Education.Our state of the art facilities, highly experienced instructors and friendly support staff make us the first choice for Distance Education and On-campus study. Studying at Home All of our courses are available to study at home.We provide all the material and support you will need to successfully complete your course. Benefits of Studying at Home Work at your own pace. No need to travel or relocate closer to a campus. No interruption to your existing commitments. You are still in full contact with the college via Telephone, Email and Post, so you won't be out of touch with the latest training techniques. If you take the courses at home, you are more likely to _ . A focus on your own interests B adjust your study schedules C get any help from instructors D keep up with new techniques Answer: B. adjust your study schedules Attractions Do you: love the National Park, value it and hope to safeguard its future? Wish to see the beautiful landscape of the Park protected? Like to enjoy peaceful, informal recreation within the Park? Aims The Friends organization aims to help protect and improve the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for all to enjoy. We are a voluntary organization and registered charity without financial links to the National Park Authority. Activities We encourage everyone to enjoy the National Park through regular talks and visits to interesting places in the Park with expert guides. We keep an eye on planning applications, Park Authority policies and threats to the National Park such as massive leisure complexes. We work with like minded organizations such as the Campaign for National Parks to make our voice more effective. We help children to understand the National Park by sponsoring publications such as an adventure booklet and projects in local schools. Benefits Guided visits to places of interest which may not always be available to the general public. All members receive our regular News and Views. Talks by experts in their fields on current issues. A discount is available on Friends items for sale. Satisfaction of participation in work parties, for those willing and able to be involved. If interested, please complete the Application Form at _ The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to _ . A raise money for the Friends organization B work as managers for Pembrokeshire National Park C join the Friends organization and be members of it D enjoy the landscape of Pembrokeshire National Park Answer: C. join the Friends organization and be members of it
When it rains, some animals will ___. Answer: move to seek shelter Contests from the Community Annual Playwright Challenge Attention, students! Unleash your creativity and writing skill by submitting an original story for an opportunity to have your entry produced as a full-length musical by the Scripps Performing Arts academy this fall. The winner will also get the opportunity to perform in the show or serve as the assistant director of the production. Also, the winner will attend two playwright workshops with the director to work on the musical together. Entries can be submitted in paragraph, story or script form (1-3 pages) to info@ scrippsperformingarts.com with the subject line: Playwright Challenge Entry. For ages 18 & under. Students are allowed to work individually or as a team of two for each submission. Deadline: April 1. Kids' Poster Contest The City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department invites students, grades 1-6, to make a poster with the theme: "Sam Diegans Waste No Water. All Days. All Ways. " Three winners will be selected for each grade level and will receive gift cards and a Certificate of Excellence. Also, winning posters will be on display in the lobby of the City Society's Gallery and the San Diego County Fair's Kids Best Art Exhibit. Open to students in the cities of San Diego, Coronado and Imperial Beach. To enter, go to www.wastenowater.org. Deadline: March 28. Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program Outstanding young volunteers, ages 6-18, can be rewarded through this annual program. Regional winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for higher education, while national winners will each be rewarded a total of $10, 000 in scholarships plus a $ l, 000 donation from Kohl's to a nonprofit of the student's choice. Nominations are now accepted at www.kohlskids.com. Deadline: March 14. Dream House Raffle Enter to win a $ 4 million home in Rancho Santa Fe or $ 2.1 million in cash in this annual raffle that includes more than 1,300 prizes to be given away! In addition to the grand prize drawing on May 17, you can also be part of early bird drawing that offer more chances of winning. Next earlybird drawing is on March 19 (entry deadline: March 7). Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. For tickets and the list of prizes, visit www.sdraffle.com or call 888-8254-9939. What do we know about Annual Playwright Challenge? Answer: The winner will join in the production of the musical. Dear Alice You really have two different questions here, so we'll discuss them one at a time. Your problems at school may be a result of a number of things. You don't say much about how these classmates get along with each other. It's possible that all the students are feeling a little cautious in the first term. It's also possible that the others are unkind. If this is not so, you have to find out why you are the class "outsider".In your letter you say you often offer to help others with their work. Is it possible that your classmates don't understand your offers? Could it seem that you were trying to "buy" friends with these offers, Is it possible that you took no notice of your classmates when you had your good friend near you? They may have felt hurt at that time. It may take a time for them to believe in you if so. Try to ask one classmate directly what the problem is. If you hear a negative answer, at least you'll know what to do Yours truly Shelia From the letter we can conclude that _ . Answer: Alice didn't get along well with her classmates The Body Temperature The temperature of your body should be always just the same, no matter whether the weather is hot or cold. That is why the doctor uses his thermometer when your are sick. The body keeps the same temperature all the time ,because it balances the heat it produces and it gives off. It is always burning up food and , producing heat. It can produce heat faster when it needs to give off heat than when it becomes too warm. Let's see how this happen. The heat of your body is given off mainly through the skin. When you are cold, your skin is tight and shows "good flesh". When you get chilly, you must dance around to keep warm or else you will shiver. Then your muscles begin to work, burn up fuel, and produce more heat. It is not pleasant to shiver, so you usually prefer to warm up by exercise, or put on more clothes to keep heat in. When you are warm, the skin is loose and soft. It is so supplied with blood that heat is given off rapidly. If you get too warm, you begin to sweat ,and more body heat is used in evaporating the moisture from your skin. You wear less clothing, too, in warm weather or warm room, so that warm can be given off freely. You feel less like exercising because your body is warm already, and the extra heat produced by exercise makes you uncomfortable. You can see from the way you feel differently in different kinds of weather. In summer, when it is warm, you feel tired and lazy. You do not care to work or play, but enjoy lying and doing nothing. When you get out of doors in winter, the cold air makes you feel lively. You want to play. When in summer, people prefer to _ . Answer: relax and do nothing The koala is possibly one of the best known Australian animals, and is found in four states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The word "koala" comes from an Australian aboriginal word meaning "no drink". Sometimes people call them "koala bears" but koala is not a bear. It belongs to a special group of Australian mammals, called marsupial . Female marsupials have a _ where the baby animals live after they are born. Koalas have soft, thick, grey or brown fur on their backs. The fur on the stomach is white. Koala that live in the south have thicker fur than those in the north because of the cold winters, whereas the koalas in the northern part of the country live in warm to hot weather most of the year so have thinner fur. A koala has a large hairless nose and round ears. Koalas don't have tails. Adult koalas measure between 7 and 14 kilograms. Koalas spend nearly all their time in the trees using their sharp, curved claws and long toes to climb about and to hold on to the tree branches. They sleep most of the day, and feed and move from tree to tree mainly at night. The reason koala sleep for much of the day is because their food eucalyptus leaves are very tough so they use a lot of energy to digest. Sleeping saves energy. Eucalyptus leaves are poisonous to almost every other animal. Koalas rarely drink water; they get water from the leaves they eat. Each koala has a home range made up of several trees that they visit regularly. They normally do not visit another koala's home trees except that a male is looking for a female to mate with. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the name "koala bear"? Answer: The word "koala" is an original English word
The U.S. government's push to decrease the nation's output of greenhouse gases by increasing the fuel efficiency of the cars Americans drive is arousing again an emotional argument: Does driving a small, fuel-efficient car make you more likely to die on the road? Engineers and statistical analysts can point to data that suggest more-efficient cars don't necessarily put motorists at greater overall risk. But most of us care less about the "overall" risk than we do about ourselves. Driving a big Chevrolet Tahoe SUV makes many of us believe we are safer than we would be in a smaller car -- even if statistical measures across a large population of vehicles and all kinds of car accidents suggest the advantage of safety isn't quite as wide as SUV owners believe. The Obama government has put the fuel-efficiency and safety question back on the front burner by calling for new-vehicle fuel economy to rise to an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 from about 25 mpg today. That goal could move higher if the government decides to adopt California's requirement to cut vehicle greenhouse-gas giving off, which would result in stricter mileage standards. Those moves, and the effects of last summer's gas-price shock, are driving auto makers to offer cars such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Daimler AG's Smart For Two -- which get the kind of mileage today that law says should be the average in a decade. Beyond that, auto makers will launch a wide range of new compact vehicles, and decrease production of large, body-on-frame SUVs. That's leading to new concerns about "green safety", a term for managing the balance between reducing vehicle size for efficiency and adding safety and protection features that tend to make vehicles heavier and less efficient. Undoubtedly, further work has to be done before Americans make the choice. The best title for the text should be _ . Answer: Can Small Cars Overcome Accident Fears? To save yourself from embarrassment , it's good to read a few books or research online about the culture and customs of the country you plan to visit. Clothing: Wearing shorts in public is generally not acceptable in most parts of the world, including some European countries. Greetings: Handshake is a usually accepted form of greeting, although in some countries, like Japan, a traditional bow is preferred. Be careful how you talk with someone; don't use first names unless you are invited to do something. Language/Gestures: learn some polite expressions (hello-goodbye-thank you) and relax. English is pretty common worldwide, especially in tourist areas and you can always use body language to get your message across. However, some Americans gestures have different meanings in other countries. For example, in Bulgaria, shaking your head usually means "yes"; shaking it "vertically" means " no". Food/Drink: you may find yourself looking down at a local delicious snake soup in china, sheep's eyes in Saudi Arabia... and wonder what to do; especially you are guests in someone's home. Be brave, take small bites, and pretend it tastes like something you like. Remember that some Buddhists don't eat beef, and Muslims don't eat pork. If you are eating with Muslims, never touch food with left hand (the left hand is for bathroom use). Conversations: if you know the history and culture of the country, you will be confident. The French are angry at the classic American question: "What do you do for a living?" and so on. In Bulgaria, shaking your head usually means _ . Answer: yes JIUQUAN, Gansu Province, Sept. 6(Xinhua) ---- China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 will be launched at an appropriate time between Sept. 25 and 30 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province, a spokesman said here on Saturday. The mission will accomplish the first spacewalk by Chinese astronauts. "All the major systems involved in the launching are now in the final preparation. The main tests for the spacecraft, the Long-March II-F rocket, suits for the space walk and a satellite accompanying the fly have also been finished, " said the spokesman. In addition, the ground control system is fully prepared, including the launch site, the landing site, and the communication for observation and control. When Shenzhou-7 enters its orbit, one of the three taikonauts will conduct a space walk, said Zhao Changxi, a senior scientist with the project, earlier. According to Zhao, cameras would be fixed outside and inside of the ship for live broadcasting of the space walk. While the last mission of Shenzhou-6, with a crew of two, was aimed at several days of manned flight, this time the task might be more stringent as one of its main goals is the space walk. Earlier reports said a crew of six astronauts had been chosen for the mission, with three manning the spacecraft and three substitutes. China successfully put two manned spacecrafts into orbit in 2003 and 2005 respectively, becoming the third country to send an astronaut into space after the United States and the former Soviet Union(now Russia). What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: China is ready for the launching of SHenzhou 7. Sparrow is a fast-food chain with 200 restaurants. Some years ago, the group to which Sparrow belonged was taken over by another company. Although Sparrow showed no sign of declining, the chain was generally in an unhealthy state. With more and more fast-food concepts reaching the market, the Sparrow menu had to struggle for attention. And to make matters worse, its new owner had no plans to give it the funds it required. Sparrow failed to grow for another two years. Until a new CEO, Carl Pearson, decided to build up its market share. He did a survey, which showed that consumers who already used Sparrow restaurants were extremely positive about the chain, while customers of other fast-food chains were unwilling to turn away from them. Sparrow had to develop a new promotional campaign. Pearson faced a battle over the future of the Sparrow brand. The chain's owner now favored rebranding Sparrow as Marcy's restaurants. Pearson resisted, arguing for an advertising campaign designed to convince customers that visits to Sparrow restaurants were fun. Such an attempt to establish a positive relationship between a company and the general public was unusual for that time. Pearson strongly believed that numbers were the key to success, rather than customers' speeding power. Finally, the owner accepted his idea. The campaign itself changed the traditional advertising style of the fast-food industry. The TV ads of Sparrow focused on entertainment and featured original songs performed by a variety of stars. Instead of showing the superiority of a specific product, the intention was to put Sparrow in the hearts of potential customers. Pearson also made other decisions which he believed would contribute to the new Sparrow image. For example, he offered to lower the rent of any restaurants which achieved a certain increase in their turnover . These efforts paid off, and Sparrow soon became one of the most successful fast-food chains in the regions where it operated. The TV ads of Sparrow _ . Answer: amused the public with original songs The works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth are "rocketboosters" to the brain and better than the other selfhelp books,researchers will say this week. Scientists,psychologists and the English experts at Liverpool University have found that reading the works of Shakespeare and other classical writers has a beneficial effect on the mind,catches the reader's attention and triggers moments of selfreflection.Using scanners,they monitored the brain activity of volunteers as they read the works by William Shakespeare,William Wordsworth,T.S Eliot and other classical writers. They then "translated" the texts into more "straightforward",modern language and again monitored the readers' brains as they read the words.Scans showed that the more "challenging" articles and poetry set off far more electrical activity in the brain than the modern versions.Scientists were able to study the brain activity as it responded to each word and record how it "lit up" as the readers came across unusual words,surprising phrases or difficult sentence structures.This "lighting up" of the mind lasts longer than the initial electrical spark,shifting the brain to a higher speed,encouraging further reading. The research also found that reading poetry,in particular,increases the activities in the right side of the brain,an area concerned with "autobiographical memory",helping readers to reflect on their own experiences in light of what they have read.The experts said this meant the classics were more useful than selfhelp books. Philip Davis,an English professor who has worked on the study with the university,will tell a conference this week:"Serious literature acts like a rocketbooster to the brain." "The research shows the power of classical literature to shift mental pathways,to create new thoughts,shapes and connections in the young and the old alike." The scientists and experts did the experiment by _ . Answer: scanning the readers' brain activities
Almost every family buys as least one copy of a newspaper every day. Some people subscribe to as many as two or three different newspapers. But why do people read newspapers? Five hundred years ago,news of important happenings--battles lost and won,kings or rulers overthrown or killed--took months and even years to travel from one country to another. The news passed by word of mouth and was never accurate. Today we can read in our newspapers of important events that occur in far away countries on the same day they happen. Apart from supplying news from all over the world,newspapers give us a lot of other useful information. There are weather reports, radio, television and film guides, book reviews, stories, and of course, advertisements. The bigger ones are put in by large companies to bring attention to their products. They pay the newspapers thousands of dollars for the advertising space, but it is worth the money, for news of their products goes into almost every home in the country. For those who produce newspapers, advertisements are also very important. Money earned from advertisements makes it possible for them to sell their newspapers at a low price and still make a profit. Which of the following statements is TRUE? _ A. Five hundred years ago it took a long time for news to reach other countries. B. Newspaper advertisements turn people's attention away from their products. C. The news that we read in newspapers is mainly about new products. D. When newspapers are sold at a low price, the newspaper producers will lose money. Answer: A We can not live a modern life without traveling. The fastest way of traveling is by air. With a plane one can travel in one day to places which it took a month or more to get to a hundred years ago. Traveling by train is slower than by plane, but one can see the country he is traveling through. Modern trains have comfortable seats and dinning-cars. They make even the longest journey enjo yable. Some people prefer to travel by sea when possible. There are large luxury liners or river boats .They are not as fast as trains or planes, but traveling by sea is a very pleasant way to spend a holi day. Many people like to travel by car. They can make their own timetable. They can travel hundred s of miles a day, just as their wish. They can stop wherever they want to see something interestin g or to enjoy a good meal at a good restaurant, or to spend the night at a hotel. That is why peopl _ have comfortable seats and dinning-cars. A. Cars B. Moderntrains C. Planes D. Buses Answer: B Now more than 40 million foreigners around the world are learning Chinese,according to a report. The relationship between the United States and China is becoming more and more important in the world. This has really influenced the growth of Chinese language learning in U.S. I am Chris from the United States. I am one of the many people who are learning Chinese. I am studying at a Confucius Institute in New York. There are 10 students in our class. Some are over thirty years old. Some are middle school students. Our teacher comes from Beijing. He is fun and often tells us interesting things in China. I think Chinese is difficult to learn. The biggest challenge for American learners is the writing. Chinese is completely different from any other language in the world. It will take me a lot of time to learn enough Chinese characters . But 1 think there are many benefits of spending time in learning Chinese. One important benefit is that it makes me see things from a different point of view, because Chinese is such a different language from English. I think for American students the most important benefit is that learning a challenging language can open up their eyes. _ is the most difficult thing of the language for foreigners according to the writer. A. Listening B. Speaking C. Reading D. Writing Answer: D What can be renewed? A. plastics B. leather C. coal D. diesel Answer: B The World's Largest Insect .This giant insect can be used as a toy. A child ties one end of a string to a stick and the other end around the "neck" of an insect. Holding the stick, the child lets the insect go. With a loud whirring sound, the insect takes off, pulling the string in a large curve over the child's head. The child laughs as the stick jumps around. The child is African, and the toy is the African Goliath beetle, the largest insect in the world. The Goliath is a true insect because it has six legs and a body that is divided into three parts. Like all beetles, it has two pairs of wings. The front pair are thick and stiff and protect the back pair, which are soft. It is these soft back wings that make the beetle fly forward. They also cause the loud whirring sound the beetle makes when it flies. To steer, the beetle twists and turns its legs the same way you steer a bike by turning its front wheel. African children often use the Goliath beetle as a toy. Although it is over 15 centimeters long, it is quite harmless. What do African children often use the Goliath beetle as? A. a tool. B. a toy. C. harmfull insects. D. Good animals. Answer: B
Loved and hated, but never boring. That is what people say of American writer Norman Mailer, who died late last year at the age of 84. He was the author of some of the greatest books of the 20th century. But Mailer will be remembered as much for his personality as for his writing. He was rude and bad-tempered. He violently attacked other authors and even wounded one of his six wives. However, this never stopped Mailer from being successful. People always wanted to read his books. His provocative writing style and willingness to deal with difficult subjects made his books bestsellers. "He was willing to take risks with just about everything," says the author Gore Vidal. "He had a radical imagination, a way of approaching subjects that was never boring." In a career that lasted six decades, Mailer wrote about a wide variety of subjects from history and politics to sport and celebrities. But he was most famous for writing novels and he twice won the Pulitzer Prize. His best book was The Naked and the Dead, a story about the tensions between American soldiers fighting Japan in World War II. Drawn on his own experiences as a soldier, it is a study of men at war examining their cruelty and bravery. Mailer's brilliance as an author was his ability to capture human behavior. He did so through interesting characters, realistic dialogue and rich descriptions. The author William F. Buckley said, "He created the most beautiful metaphors in the English." Mailer leaves behind more than 40 books as his literary legacy . However, he never achieved his life's goal. He wanted to write what he called the "big one", the greatest novel ever written about America. Well, at least it wasn't for a lack of trying. According to the passage,_. F field mouse touched a special type of fence made for cattle and was killed instantly. The fence had a source of power. What happened? A lamb was on her way home. Suddenly a wolf came up and stopped her. The lamb said, "I know you are going to eat me. But before you eat me, I would like to hear you play the flute . You can play the flute better than anyone else, even the shepherd himself." The wolf was so happy. And he took out his flute and began to play. The wolf finished one piece. Then the lamb said some good words and asked him to play another piece again. The shepherd and the dogs heard the sound. Then _ ran to the lamb and the wolf. They caught the wolf and saved the lamb. The lamb knew the wolf was going to _ . Swedish sinologist Malmqvist celebrated his 85th birthday with his 20 more students in the Dragon House restaurant in Stockholm on Monday. During the dinner, he accepted a brief interview with the people's Daily Online. While refusing to answer the question relating to the Nobel Prize since he himself is a member of the Nobel Prize Committee in Literature,he said his greatest wish is to have a Chinese writer to wit]the Nobel Prize. He said that there had been a Chinese writer who won the Nobel Prize. That was Gao Xingjian who is a French citizen but writes in Chinese. He also quoted former premier Zhu Rongji's remark on Gao's winning. "I'm glad to hear that Chinese literature works can win the Nobel Prize. Chinese language has some thousand years of history and has great attraction. I believe more Chinese literature works will win the prize. " Being asked whether translation is an obstacle for Chinese literature to be widely recognized in the west,professor Malmqvist agreed. "Chinese literature has entered world. For me,it is not an obstacle. I have translated more than 40 Chinese books,Anna Chen also translated about 30,but it is not enough. Translation work needs to be strengthened so that more western readers Call appreciate Chinese literature. But the translation must be good. One cannot rewrite the story. One must obey the original,learn the original language. " Professor Malmqvist came toprefix = st1 /Chinain 1948 to study Chinese and has translated Chinese classic novels such as the Journey to the West. He said Chinese language is one of the greatest and most beautiful languages. in Malmqvist's opinion,why hasn't Chinese literature been widely recognized in the west? 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. What is the passage mainly about?
One evening last fall, while Marcos Ugarte did his homework and his father, Eduardo, a teacher, prepared lesson plans, they heard shouting outside. Eduardo, 47, and Marcos, 15, stepped onto the balcony of their two-story home. Immediately, Marcos' s eye was caught by a flame from one of their neighbors' houses. "Dad, the house is on fire!" Marcos cried. Dressed only in shorts, the barefoot teen dashed towards the Mas' home with his dad. Grandmother Yim Ma, mother Suzanne Ma, and son Nathan Ma were gathered on the front grassland shouting for help. When the Ugartes got there, they saw through the open front door that father Alex Ma was falling down the stairs, coughing, his face black with dirt. "Is anyone else in the house?" Eduardo asked. "My son!" Alex managed to say, pointing to the second floor. Eduardo started up the stairs, but thick, black smoke, swirling ash, and extreme heatforced him to his knees. He inched upstairs and down the hall where Alex said he would find Cody, eight, who had locked himself in a bedroom. "I'd never seen smoke like that," says Eduardo. "My glasses immediately turned black from the ash." As the fire spread across the hall, Eduardo banged on the bedroom door and tried to turn the handle. But Cody didn't respond, and Eduardo made his way back downstairs. At the same time, Marcos saw Yim and Suzanne pulling an aluminum ladder out of the garage. "Cody was standing at the window, screaming for help," says Marcos. "I knew I had to do something." He grabbed the ladder, positioned it near the window, and climbed towards the boy. When Marcos reached the window, he pushed the screen into the room and persuaded Cody out. "It's OK," Marcos told him. "I've got you." Holding Cody with one arm, Marcos moved down the ladder. Halfway down, he handed the boy to a neighbor. The day after the fire, Alex visited Marcos. "Thank you for saving my son," Alex said. "You are his hero forever." When the Ugartes got to the fire scene, _ . Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years. In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually _ nearby, too. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows. In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see many huge skyscrapers and office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need. But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages. Why do people move to live in cities or towns? In the hot jungles of Thailand, forest rangers came across a terrible sight one day in 2010. Two tiger cubs lay dead in a wildlife preserve . The rangers were too late to find the cubs' mother. All that remained of her was blood on the ground. Poachers had poisoned the tigers. Then they ran off with the mother's body. If the rangers had not arrived, the poachers would have taken the cubs too. Tigers in trouble One hundred years ago, there were about 100,000 tigers. Today, only about 3,200 remain in the wild. Poachers are a major problem. These killers sell tiger fur, teeth, claws, and other body parts in illegal markets. One tiger's parts can see for $50,000. Because they hunt in huge jungles thick with trees, poachers are hard to find. But they must be caught, says Elizabeth Bennett of the Wildlife Conservation Society. This group works to help endangered animals. Tiger "fingerprints" Finally, after many months, the rangers spotted the poachers again. After an exchange of gunfire, they arrested the criminals. Soon, the police found evidence that the poachers had killed again. The evidence came from a cell phone. On a poacher's phone, police found photos of the men posing with a dead male tiger. The poachers claimed that the photos were from a nearby country where tigers aren't protected. But another photo told a different story. Deep in the Thai forest, the rangers had set up camera traps, which take photos when they sense movement. A camera trap photo showed the same male tiger walking through a wildlife preserve before he was killed. That meant that the tiger came from a protected area. But how could police prove it was the same tiger? Tiger stripes are like fingerprints. No two patterns are the same. When police compared the photos, the stripes on the tiger's head matched. The poachers were given up to five years in prison. That might not seem like much for killing tigers. But since the poachers were caught in July 2011, no tigers have been killed in that wildlife preserve. The police discovered that the poachers had killed again through _ . A man in a very splendid restaurant started to take off his jacket. Seeing this, the head waiter dashed to his table and said, " I'm afraid I must ask you to keep your jacket on, sir, for it is not good manners to do it in such a smart restaurant." "Now listen," said the man, "I'll let you know that the Queen of England gave me permission to remove my jacket here." "The Queen of England?" said the waiter in great surprise. "Sure," replied the man, " When I was in England last month, a friend of mine who had a very important position in high society took me to see the Queen. It was rather hot, so I started taking my coat off. The Queen looked over and said, "You may do that in the United States, but you may not do it here. " So I got the Queen's permission, right? When the head waiter asked the man not to take off his jacket, the man _ . Last night I had the best gift ever. My older son was reading a detective novel while my younger son was reading fairy tales. They were each in different rooms, _ their books with no TV, music or anything else distracting their attention. I read a lot during my childhood, curling up in sofa or lying in bed. Like anyone else, I had lots of other interests, but once I discovered reading, I really enjoyed it. I read everything -- books, magazines, newspapers, even the back of food packages if there was nothing else to read at the moment. I must thank my parents for their love of reading. Longing for more information and knowledge, my parents were always reading a lot. Today's children are provided with a variety of choices. It is so easy for them to become uninterested in reading and to view it as boring, uncool and unnecessary. There are TVs with astonishing choices of programs; there are MP3 players with thousands of songs at their fingertips; there are the Internet and mobile phones. I've told my sons that reading comes with information, understanding and connection, each of which will help them at every stage in their lives now and forever. So when my sons were reading their books last night, I watched them, noticing them put a bookmark into their books. That's the most amazing gift that I have ever received. According to the passage, the author's best gift is _ .
Your beliefs are very powerful and have the power to create or to destroy your life. In most cases, whatever you believe is what you will become. If you believe that you are a loser, that you never get a breakthrough in life, and that you can't accomplish(succeed in doing) anything, these things will be your reality. Believe that you are unlimited, that you can do anything you hope to do and when you do, your accomplishments will know no bounds. You control your beliefs, and that is how you finally control your life. This is a very important point. So how do you develop beliefs that will empower you? Many of our beliefs come from our environment, the world we live in on a daily basis. If your environment is limiting your beliefs, then work very hard on changing it. If you are constantly around people who are negative and limiting, find other people to hang out with and get around positive, successful people. Beliefs also come from past experiences. That is why it is so important to experience success on a regular basis. Set small achievable goals, and then try your best to reach them. "I will finish this project by early afternoon." "I will make six calls on the phone in the next hour." "I will exercise 20 minutes tonight." When you start to experience success, then you start to believe in success, and that leads to more and bigger successes. Beliefs come from knowledge. The more you learn, the more things you will possibly know. Always take the advantage of opportunities to learn something new. It will bring new possibilities into your beliefs and your life. Most importantly, you can develop new beliefs by setting and visualizing goals for your life. Define your goals clearly. Then in your mind, see yourself achieving them in all of their sensory details. Mentally live the experience, see the sights, hear the sounds, smell the aroma, and feel the feelings. The beliefs formed in this way will lead you to their reality. In the author's opinion, your life depends on _ . your beliefs A woman visits the same beach year after year, and begins to notice a change to a large wall of stone. Where the water touches the rock, she notices that the rock shows signs of being dissolved. After two year, there is an indent in the rock. After fifty years, the woman discovers that the rock is now an underground chamber "Soon,you're going to have to move out!"cried my neighbor upon seeing the largest tomato plant known to mankind,or at least known in my neighborhood. One tiny 9-inch plant,bought for $ 1.25 in the spring.has already taken over much of my rose bed,covering much of other plants,and is well on its way to the front door. Roses require a good deal of care,and if it weren't for the pleasure they give. it wouldn't be worth the work.As it is.I have a garden full of sweet-smelling roses for most of the year.Bushes must be pruned in early spring,leaving ugly woody branches until the new growth appears a few weeks later.It was the space available in the garden that led me into planting just one little tomato plant.A big mistake. Soil conditions made just perfect for roses turn out be even more perfect for tomatoes.The daily watering coupled with full sun and regular fertilizing have turned the little plant into a tall bush.The cage I placed around it as the plant grew has long since disappeared under the thick leaves. Now the task I face in harvesting the fruit is twofold.First.I have to find the red ones among the leaves,which means I almost have to stand on my head.and once found I have to reach down and under,pick the tomatoes and withdraw my full fist without dropping the prize so dearly won.I found two full-blown white roses completely hidden as I picked tomatoes in June. But they were weak and the leaves already yellow for lack of light. Here I am faced with a painful small decision:To tear up a wonderful and productive tomato plant that offers up between ten and twenty ripe sweet tomatoes each day or say goodbye to several expensive and treasured roses.Like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind.I'll think about that tomorrow. What are the requirements for the healthy growth of rose? A lot of care and the right soil. E-book is short for electronic( ) book. It is usually read on personal computers. Some mobile phones can also be used to read e-books. Earlier e-books were written for a specific group of readers and were about only a few subjects. With the development of the internet, knowledge and answers to a lot of questions mainly come from e-books. This is why the e-book business is increasing quickly E-books have many advantages. First, they save time. We don't need to go to a bookstore to buy books, besides, we can find the topic we want to know about on the Internet, and then we can quickly get many e-books on similar topics. Second, e-books save money. Some e-books cost a little money, and there are millions of e-books on the Internet that we can get for free. Third, more trees are saved because e-books don't need to be printed on paper. Fourth, e-books make reading more convenient. You can carry a whole library of hundreds of books with you in a small computer or any e-book reader without worrying about their weight. But e-books have certain disadvantages. They need a personal computer or an e-book reader and the information can be lost if its file format is not supported or changed in the reader's computer. However, e-books provide us with a new way of reading. That is good. ,. Which of the following is true according to this article? E-books can make reading more convenient. "China now has 350 million smokers, accounting for one-third of the world total. Chinese smokers now become addicted to nicotine at the age of 19, five years earlier than the average starting age of 24 in 1997," a report said a couple of years ago. Of the 1.1 billion smokers all over the world. more than 800 million are in developing countries. And as the world's largest developing country, China also has the largest number of smokers. Some frightening facts start to appear when we examine who China's smokers are. Of the 350 million addicts, more than 100 million are under the age of 18, while more than 50 percent of male teachers and doctors are smokers. Such a high rate of addicts among male teachers and doctors will certainly have a bad impact on the young generation. Teachers are usually expected to be role models for students who tend to consider whatever they do is right and follow their example. It is very likely that the number of teenage smokers will increase in the near future unless measures are taken to forbid teachers from smoking in front of their students or designate schools as no-smoking zones. What is truly puzzling is why so many doctors smoke. They are aware of the results of the habit, such as high blood pressure and lung cancer. Their example only helps justify the addiction of so many others. If educated people set an example by stopping smoking at least in public places. it would be much easier to drive home the notion that it is uncivilized to smoke in public places. In China, there should also be a national law to ban smoking in public places. These would make a massive contribution to cutting the number of people in China who are smoking themselves into early grave. In developing countries, China has the largest number of smokers, which covers _ . 1ess than half its total
Winning the lottery is not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for many past winners. Sad stories do exist in large numbers for the past lottery winners and that's why some financial experts say "70 percent of lottery winners will squander away winning within a few years." Some end up losing all within two years, family relationships destroyed or even worse. Wayne Schenk was an old soldier diagnosed with lung cancer. When he won a million dollars in a lottery he thought his troubles were over and he would get the advanced medical treatment that might save his life. But Lottery officials refused to pay him the total sum in a single payment and they said they could not make an exception to the regulations. When Schenk died in 2007, he'd only received one payment of $34,000. Another lottery winner, Billy Bob Harrell, Jr. killed himself two years after winning 31 million dollars in the Texas lottery in 1997.He'd spent large amounts of money and given large amounts away, but he didn't end me expected peace that should have come with the freedom of money. Other lottery winners have ended up in prison for crimes. Many suffer bankruptcy after the big jackpot is spent and given away, including some of the eight people who won the 365 million Powerball in 2006. The examples given paint a sad picture of what can happen if you win a big lottery jackpot, but fortunately, these examples don't tell the stories of all jackpot winners. The author supports his main idea by _ . A giving examples B making comparisons C listing numbers D listing reasons Answer: A If you want to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate or speed of reading: First, knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly. Second, some things should be read slowly. Examples are directions for making or doing something; arithmetic problems, science and history books. They are full of important information. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each idea. Third, some things should be read rapidly. Examples are simple stories for enjoyment, news, letters from friends, items or bits of news from local or hometown paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors. Fourth, in some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow, and slow to fast, as you read. You'll need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas which should be remembered. A book about knowledge of the nature should be read _ . A either rapidly or slowly B rapidly C neither rapidly nor slowly D slowly Answer: D A sure way to destroy your chances of learning how to write skillfully is to believe that writing is a "natural gift" rather than a learned skill. People with such an attitude think that they are the only ones for whom writing is unbearably difficult. They feel that everyone else finds writing easy or at least tolerable. Such people often say, "I'm not any good at writing" or "English was not one of my good subjects." They imply that they simply do not have a talent for writing while others do. The result of this attitude is that these people try to avoid writing, and when they do write, they don't try their best. Their writing fails chiefly because they believe that they don't have the "natural talent" needed to write. Unless their attitude changes, they probably will not learn how to write effectively. A realistic attitude about writing must build on the idea that writing is a skill. It is a skill like driving, typing, or cooking; and, like any skill, it can be learned. If you have the determination to learn, you will develop your writing skills by practicing extensively. Many people find it difficult to do the active thinking that clear writing demands. It is frustrating to discover how much of a challenge it is to transfer thoughts and feelings from one's head onto a sheet of paper. But writing is not an automatic process: We will not get something for nothing -- and we should not expect to. For almost everyone, skillful writing comes from hard work -- from determination and sweat. The good news is that the skill of writing can be mastered, and if you are ready to work, you will learn what you need to know. It can be inferred from Para. 1 that _ . A "natural gift" is the determining factor in one's success B diligence can result in success C a person without "natural gift" is sure to fail in writing D attitude determines what one will be Answer: D 1.Know the fire exit and plan two ways out. 2.If you hear the smoke alarm or smell smoke, Shout "Fire! Everyone out!" to awaken anyone still asleep and to let others know there is a fire. 3. Feel the door with the back of your hand if there's a fire. If it's hot, use the window if possible. A warm door may mean there is a fire outside. If the door is cool, open it slowly, then crawl out of the building. *If heat and smoke come in when you open the door, close it tightly, and find another way out. 4. Don't hide! Go outside! Never hide under beds when there is a fire. 5. Stay low and crawl below the smoke to safety. Smoke goes up with the warm air and the air below is fresher. 6. Don't stop to put on your clothes or look for valuables . 7. Don't go back into a burning house for any reason. 8.Wait for your family at a meeting place outside, such as a big tree or the entrance( ) of the housing estate , to know everyone is safe. 9. If you can't escape from a room because of a fire outside, put wet clothing, towels, or blankets at the bottom of the door to keep the smoke out. 10.Open your window and ask for help if you can't escape through the door. 11. Stop, Drop and Roll if your hair or clothes are on fire. Shout for help, but don't run. Running makes fire burn faster. Stop where you are. Drop to the ground while covering your face with your hands to protect it. Roll over and over until the fire is out. ,A, B, C, D ,. (5,2,10) Why do you shout "Fire! Everyone out!"? A To ask people to put on their clothes B To ask people to look for valuables. C To awaken anyone still asleep and to let others know there is a fire. D To tell people you are clever Answer: C "Father, do you see Mother in your dreams?" the young girl asks. "You know sometimes I do." "Mother comes to see me a lot, you know. We sit and talk." The father smiles. "How is your homework coming along?" "Why do I have to study so hard?" "It is what your mother would have wanted!" She regrets speaking her mind. "I'm sorry, Father, I shouldn't have said that." She looks up and sees his eyes well up with tears. "It's okay, love," he gets up and pours himself a drink. "I'll just sit outside for a while. You finish up your work, okay?" "I'm sorry, Father; Mother did love you very much. She told me all the time." "Homework, first, eh? Then we can chat about your mother." He heads off outside and sits in his usual chair, looking around the courtyard. The whole area relaxes the mind and somehow soothes the soul. "All finished, Father. May I get a drink and sit with you? I have some questions." She comes with two drinks one for him and one for herself. He looks surprised. She never really liked him having a drink. Although he had cut back a lot from before he brought her here, it still seemed strange. "Mother told me all about you. That is before she passed away. We would laugh together at your love stories." He listens without uttering a single sound. "Why didn't you come and take her away with you? She really wanted that. Did you know that?" Her father looks at his daughter lovingly. "Circumstances were difficult back then. It was just the way things were. When it came time to..." He sighs. "To visit her it was too late." The girl smiles. "I hope I will have the same kind of love you and mother had." "Without all the heartache," her father adds. "She always knew you loved her. She told me every day," the child mentions cheerfully. "I saw her crying sometimes when she read your letters." "Did she make you promise to look after me?" She inquires. "She asked me to take care of you." "You promised her, didn't you?" "Yes, I did." "It is nice out here, isn't it? Mother would have been very happy here." She talks with some authority. Her father remains silent. A smile comes to his weary brow. He nods his head. "Mother wanted me to give you something. I think now the time is right." She runs to her room. Upon returning she hands her father a book. "It's mother's diary! She wanted me to give it to you." He takes the book and holds it in his trembling hands, "Thank you." "Mother said you would understand things better." "Wise woman, your mother." He places the book on the table as he gets up. The girl gets up and wraps herself around her father. "I love you." she looks up at his face. He picks her up and hugs her. "I love you, too." His voice trembles. "It's okay, Father. We have each other now and mother is in both of us." He kisses her head. "Time you went to bed," her father softly says. He puts her down and she scampers off to get washed and ready for bed. Clearing up everything he checks on his daughter. She is in bed waiting for her good night kiss. He tucks her in and bids her goodnight. Just as he is to leave she tells him. "Mother told me she adopted me when I was a baby." He stands at her bedroom door. Words fail him. Yes, he knew she was adopted. "I am really lucky for being loved by my parents, even if I am not really theirs." " _ ?" he tells her. She giggles, "Goodnight, Father. I love you." "Love you, too." His face lights up as he wipes his dampened eyes. The door closes and the child falls asleep dreaming of her mother. Sitting outside he picks up the diary and opens it and reads the first line: "I love you, my dearest, if only things could have been different..." Why didn't father bring mother home when she was ill? A Because he was too busy with his work B Because he didn't know he was wanted C Because he was too poor to afford the medical fees D Because he didn't know she was in hospital Answer: B
Probably many of you know the idiom "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". But do you believe a tooth for an eye? That's something a little bit different. This strange exchange is neither a form ofretribution nor an unexpected gift from the Tooth Fairy --- it's actually a very generous gift from a young Irishman, Robert McNichol, 23, to his formerly blind father, 57-year-old Bob McNichol. In 2005, Bob McNichol's sight was destroyed in an accident when his eyes weredoused(......)with liquidaluminum . Doctors predicted that he would never be able to see again. But McNichol never liked to take no for an answer: when he heard about a unique operation called Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis, he knew he had to _ , even though the success rate was a mere 65 percent. In the technique, the eyesocket is rebuilt and implanted with a human tooth and part of the jawbone, to provide support for an artificialcornea . Luckily for McNichol, Robert was willing to sacrifice one of his teeth to help his father regain his sight. The technique isn't simple: McNichol's first stint on the operating table lasted ten hours, with a five hour follow-up session at a later date. But thanks to his son's gift, he's already seeing astonishing results. "Now I have enough sight for me to get around and I can watch television. I have come out from complete darkness." he told his friends. Bob McNichol lost his sight _ . A. after he had an operation on his eyes B. because of an accident C. because he met with a serious traffic accident D. when he was 57 years old Answer: B. because of an accident We start finding things laughable -- or not laughable -- early in life. An infant first smiles at approximately eight days of age. In his book Beyond Laughter, psychiatrist Martin Grotjahn says that the earlier infants begin to smile and laugh, the more advanced their development is. Studies revealed that children who did not develop these responses "developed a schizophrenic psychosis in later life, or simply gave up and died". Between the ages of six months and one year, babies learn to laugh for essentially the same reasons why they will laugh throughout their lives, says Dr. Jacob Levine. He says that people laugh to express mastery over an anxiety. Adult laughter is more subtle , but we also laugh at what we used to fear. The feeling of achievement, or lack of it, remains a leading factor. Giving a first dinner party is an anxious event for newly-weds. Will the food be good? Will the guests get along? All goes well; the party is over. Now they laugh freely. Their pleasure is from recalling the evening's activities. They couldn't enjoy the second pleasure without the first. Laughter is a social response caused by signals. Scientists have not determined a brain center for laughter, and they are puzzled by patients with certain types of brain damage who go into laughing with no apparent reason. The rest of us require company and a reason to laugh. Another reason why laughter is pleasurable is because of the physical feeling involved. According to Dr. Levine, we can measure our adjustment to the world by our capacity to laugh. When we are secure about our abilities, we can make fun of our weakness. If we can laugh through our anxieties, we will not be overpowered by them. The ability to laugh starts early, but it takes a lifetime to perfect. Says Dr. Levine, "When social relationships are mastered, when individuals have mastered... a peaceful relationship with themselves, then they have ... the sense of humor." And then they can throw back their heads and laugh. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? A. Smile and laugh show your ability to overpower weakness and anxieties. B. The more you laugh and smile, the more likely you will be to succeed. C. Scientists are more likely to go into laughing with no apparent reason. D. Mastering social relationships means having a sense of humor. Answer: A. Smile and laugh show your ability to overpower weakness and anxieties. It is the so-called city of dreams that counts some of the greatest masters of music and art among its former inhabitants. And it seems Vienna still has plenty to feel proud of, as it has been named the best place to live in the world -- for the third year running. The Austrian capital, which was home to Mozart and Beethoven, and has a population of 1.7million, has the best living standards in the world, according to an annual quality of living survey. European cities represent more than half of the top 25 cities in the rankings, which are based on factors such as crime, food and climate. Zurich was ranked second, followed by Auckland, and Munich and Dusseldorf. But just one UK city makes it into the top fifty, with London coming in at 38th - one place up from last year and ahead of New York in 47th. Other UK cities, including Birmingham, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Belfast, crept into the top 100. This year, the survey included for the first time a list of the safest cities. Luxembourg topped the list, followed by Bern, Switzerland, Helsinki, Finland, and Zurich, Switzerland. London came 68th, joint with New York, highlighting the crime rates in the capital. www.ks5u.com At the bottom of the 221-strong list, for the second year in a row, was Baghdad, in Iraq, which had the lowest standard of living and was ranked the least safe city by the Mercer survey. Slagin Parakatil, senior researcher at Mercer, said: "European cities in general continue to have high standards of living, because they enjoy advanced and modern city services combined with high-class facilities. But London, high levels of unemployment and lack of confidence in political institutions make their future positions hard to predict." What is the right order of cities in this year's quality of living list? A. Vienna, Zurich, New York, London B. Zurich, Munich, London, Birmingham C. London, Dusseldorf, New York, Glasgow D. Zurich, Birmingham, Belfast, London Answer: B. Zurich, Munich, London, Birmingham The Olympic flame arrived at Culdrose in Cornwall from Athens on a golden plane called "The Firefly" on Friday in four custom-made lanterns.It was carried off the plane by Princess Anne, IOC Member and the president of the British Olympic Association, and then used to light a cauldron to mark the start of the Olympic Torch Relay by football hero David Beckham."Eight thousand inspirational torchbearers are all set to bring the magic of the Games to everyone's doorstep," said Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, who was at Culdrose to welcome the London 2012 delegation ."With every step, the excitement will build.Ten weeks from now, the world will watch as the flame arrives at the Olympic Stadium, bringing with it the hopes of a nation." A gold-liveried air rescue Sea King helicopter flew the torch to Land's End early on Saturday, where at 7.08am it was passed to the triple Olympic gold medalist sailor Ben Ainslie, the first of 8,000 torch-bearers, in front of 3,500 people."It's amazing," he said."For me, growing up in this part of the world, in Cornwall, for the Olympic Torch to set off from here around the nation, is a fantastic moment for the UK, for London 2012.Very exciting." Ainslie carried the torch 300m before 'kissing' it on to Anastasi Swallow, a junior surf champion who has represented her country four times."This is really when the Games begin," said Paul Deighton, the London 2012 Organising Committee's chief executive."Through these 70 days we'll see some magic in our communities." What is the first torch bear of London Olympic Games famous for? A. A football hero B. A junior surf champion C. A triple Olympic gold medalist sailor D. A basketball hero Answer: C. A triple Olympic gold medalist sailor Born in Texas in 1893,Bessie Coleman drew she wanted to do something exciting with her life.Then Coleman saw her first airplane, and she knew she wanted to fly.But no school would teach her because she was a woman and a black woman.So Coleman went to Europe.At the age of twenty-eight, she became the world's first black woman to hold a pilot's license .Then she went home to fly in air shows .Soon she was called "Brave Bessie."Bessie Coleman had wanted to open a flying school for black women.Sadly, she never saw her dream come true.She was killed in a plane crash.But Coleman is still remembered today.A group of black flies call themselves the "Bessie Coleman Aviators. Bessie Coleman was born in _ . A. Texas B. Europe C. New York D. Washington Answer: A. Texas
Do you want to see the effects of global warming? Then head north.Will Steger is going to take all of us there. Steger,64, the first person to make a dogsled trip to the Noah Pole,is a very famous and admired polar explorer.He's at home in frozen parts of the world where few humans ever step on.Steger is also a devoted environmentalist who was early to ring the alarm bell on global warming.He saw its effects firsthand in frequent polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica. Steger is about to lead a team of six young adventurers on a 1,400-mile,60-day-long dogsled trip across Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic.The sea ice in that region should still be frozen."We want to take our audience to the front lines of global warming,"says Steger. The team will be uploading videos,stories and photos to the website global-warming 101.com as they march along,allowing armchair adventurers and kids in classrooms to follow their progress day to day."We can actually bring the audience up there,"Steger says. Stege's team will include some already-famous young explorers.Sam Branson, the22-year-old son of British airline tycoon Richard Branson,is an experienced Arctic traveler.Also on the journey will be 27-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Ekran.Last year,Ekran became only the second woman in history to win Rookie of the Year for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. What they will see may be surprising.Even Steger doesn't know exactly what to expect.Climate change has already reshaped the geography of the Arctic."Within a decade or less, it's going to be impossible to reach the North Pole by dog team,without flotation ,"says Steger. Climate change is happening,but people can change too.Their willingness to change will determine the shape of Earth's future. How can people learn about the progress of Steger's journey?_. Answer: On the Internet Several tomato plants are grown indoors next to a sunny window. The plants receive water and fertilizer and remain on the windowsill. What will most likely happen? Answer: The stem will bend toward the window. In order for students to perform lab experiments safely and accurately, they should Answer: read and understand all directions before starting the experiment. Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve the natural world they inhabit is now more important than ever. Dodo The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fruit fallen from the island's trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681. Rhinos The Rhino horn is a highly priced item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves . Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers . The Giant Panda The future of the World Wildlife Fund's symbol is far from certain. As few as 1000 remain in the wild. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence. Whales The International Whaling Commission is fighting to ensure the survival of the whale species. Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries , 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered. Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths. Tigers The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5000 and 7000 and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers' bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins. _ can serve as a cure for certain diseases. Answer: The Rhino horn and tigers' bones and organs I have lived and worked in Slovakia for about three years. And I have talked to many people who had been working overseas for quite a long time. Here are some of the things that I have found helpful to anyone preparing to live or work abroad. Hopefully these tips will help. Research: Knowing about the geography and history of the place will help a lot. You don't have to be an expert but just know the basics. If you're going to be living there it is worth the effort. Find someone you trust at home: Find a friend or you really trust at home to handle things that you might have to deal with when you're abroad. My parents were great at helping me with many things. They have been great at helping me to move to Slovakia and come back to the United States. Live simply: Learning to live on a small amount of money is a skill. It takes time. Living abroad can be expensive, so being able to live simply will help with costs. The other thing is that having lots of things to carry around is annoying. Try to experience the culture: Be open-minded and try your best to really experience the culture. Learn the language, hang out with the natives and try to have fun. You may not like everything but making an effort will help you make new friends and make life more enjoyable. Learning the language can be a challenge but most local people will see it as a sign of respect if you try, not only that it is just a cool way to impress your friends when they come to visit. What is the author's purpose of writing the passage? Answer: To give some tips for living or working abroad
Question: "This is really a very fast game, the fastest I've seen so far this year. Both sides are fighting for the ball all the time. The crowd is loving every minute of it. They are shouting at the top of their voices." "Wills has the ball now. This is only his third game for Scotland, but he's playing so well that it won't be his last. I'm quite sure." "Wills passes the ball to Cotton. Cotton kicks it over the heads of the waiting Frenchmen, towards the goalmouth. But he's too far away, Dupond picks it up easily, and throws it to Patou, put on the left." "France and Scotland still have one goal each, and there are only two minutes left of the game. But during that time, anything can happen. Patou kicks the ball across to Croat. It is a beautiful kick, but Steven jumps and just stops the ball with the side of his head. Meunier is there. He passes to Crozat, and Crozat, without waiting a second, puts the ball into the back of the goal. It takes everybody by surprise. I have never seen a goal like it." "The game is over. France has won the cup." It will not Will's last game for Scotland because A. he has played three games already B. .this is only his fourth game C. he is playing so well D. he has the ball for the third time Answer: C Question: Much meaning can be conveyed, clearly, with our eyes, so it is often said that eyes can speak. Do you have such kind of experience? In a bus you may look at a stranger, but not too long. And if he is sensing that he is being stared at, he may feel uncomfortable. The same is in daily life. If you are looked at for more than necessary, you will look at yourself up and down to see if there is anything wrong with you. If nothing goes wrong, you will feel angry toward other's stare at you that way. Eyes do speak, right? Looking too long at someone may seem to be rude and aggressive. But things are different when it comes to stare at the opposite sex. If a man glances at a woman for more than 10 seconds and refuses to avert his gaze, his intentions are obvious. That is, he wishes to attract her attention, to make her understand that he is admiring her. However, the normal eye contact for two people engaged in conversation is that the speaker will only look at the listener from time to time; in order to make sure that the listener does pay attention to hat the former is speaking, to tell him that he is attentive. If a speaker looks at you continuously when speaking, as if he tries to dominate you, you will feel disconcerted. A poor liar usually expose s himself by looking too long at the victim, since he believes the false ides that to look straight in the eye is a sign of honest communication. In fact, continuous eye contact is confined to lovers only, who will enjoy looking at each other tenderly for a long time, to show affection that words cannot express. Evidently, eye contact should be done according to the relationship between two people and specific situation. How can we tell if someone possibly lying? A. If he looks at you directly in the eye for too long. B. If he looks at you occasionally. C. If he looks honest. D. If he looks attentive. Answer: A Question: An abandoned car in Chicago worth about $600 has been issued more than $100,000 in parking tickets over the past three years. Now Jennifer Fitzgerald, 31, is stuck with the bill but says the 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo actually belongs to an ex-boyfriend who registered the car in her name without informing her. The Expired Meter reports that from May 23, 2009 to April 30, 2012, the Chicago Department of Finance (DOF) issued 678 tickets against the car, totaling $105,761.80. It set a Chicago record both for the total number and amount of parking fines issued. In fact, it blew past the previous record holder, which was $65,000 from about 400 tickets. But Fitzgerald says she doesn't owe the city a dime and has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against the city of Chicago, United Airlines and the ex-boyfriend. Fitzgerald has two main arguments in her case. First, she says her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Preveau, is the actual owner of the car, having purchased it from her uncle for $600 in 2008. In fact, Preveau paid for the car's title, registration and insurance, but it was registered in Fitzgerald's name. "Brandon used his income tax refund to pay Patrick $600 for the automobile," reads Fitzgerald's complaint. "For some reasons not recalled by Patrick, however, Patrick signed the title to the car over to Jennifer." Second, Fitzgerald's lawyer is arguing that the city should have simply towed the vehicle after 30 days from O'Hare Airport, where it was parked and where Preveau worked at the time. According to Fitzgerald's complaint, on or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the car into the parking lot and never drove it out again. And as the Expired Meter reports, Chicago law does specify that an abandoned vehicle is to be towed 30 days after being illegally parked. After the Chicago Department of Finance noticed the car, it _ . A. wanted to break a record B. tried its best to find its owner C. kept issuing tickets against the car D. decided to play a joke on its owner Answer: C Question: Experts know that a disaster is coming but they do not know when it will happen. They do know that it could cause a lot of damage. They think it will be worse than a hurricane. The disaster they are worried about is an earthquake. There is a break in the earth's crust . It is called the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault is in California. Many earthquakes happen along the San Andreas Fault. In 1989 there was a big earthquake on the fault. The earthquake was called the "Loma Prieta Earthquake". Many people were hurt or died. Many buildings were ruined. Lots of people lost their homes. Roads and bridges were also damaged. A large earthquake could happen in Southern California. Many small earthquakes have happened in the last year. Earthquake experts think that a large earthquake will happen there soon. They think a big earthquake will happen in the next few years. The San Andreas Fault has many power lines stretched across it. There are water channels close to the earthquake fault. A large earthquake in Southern California would destroy energy and water supplies . Lots of people would be without power or water for weeks. Buildings that have not been built strong enough would be destroyed. Not all hospitals would be able to help people who were injured. Many people would die or be homeless. People need to be prepared. They need to know what to do if an earthquake happens. Everyone in California should have a survival kit at home. The emergency kit would include food and water. There should be medication and first aid supplies in the kit. A good survival kit will also have a portable radio, flashlights and spare batteries. All of the supplies in the kit should last at least 3 days. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. All of the supplies in the emergency kit will last at most 3 days. B. A large earthquake in Southern California would destroy food supplies. C. A break in the earth's crust in California is called the San Andreas Fault. D. Lots of people would be without power or water for days after the earthquake. Answer: C Question: You have been badly injured in a car accident. It is necessary to give you a blood transfusion because you lost a great deal of blood in the accident. However, special care must be taken in selecting new blood for you. If the blood is too different from your own, the transfusion could kill you. There are four basic types of blood; A, B, AB, and O. A simple test can make sure of a person's blood type. Everybody is born with one of these four types of blood. Blood type, like hair color1 and height, is received from parents. The four groups must be transfused carefully. A and B cannot be mixed. A and B cannot receive AB, but AB may receive A or B. O can give to any other group; therefore, it is often called the universal donor . For the opposite reason, AB is sometimes called the universal recipient . However, because so many reactions can happen in transfusions , patients usually receive only salt of plasma (liquid part of blood) until their blood can be matched as exactly as possible in the blood bank of a hospital. In this way, it is possible to prevent the transfusion from any bad reactions. Which of the following statement is NOT true? A. Carelessness in a blood transfusion may lead to death. B. AB is the mixture of A and B C. AB is called the universal recipient because it can receive any other group. D. In transfusions, patients usually receive only salt of plasma at first. Answer: B
In an atom, protons plus neutrons make up the atom's Answer: At 4:53 pm. on January 12, United Nations aid worker Jens Kristensen was at his desk reading documents on the third floor of the Christopher Hotel, which served as UN headquarters in PortauPrince, when he felt a tremor . Four seconds later, the earthquake hit. "In a split second, I considered whether to run for the door or hide under my desk," says Kristensen, 48. "The door was closed, and I thought that maybe it was too far and I would be caught under falling debris , so I hid under the table." A bookshelf topped onto his desk, protecting him from being crushed by rubble and trapping him in a tiny pocket. "I was confined as if in a small coffin," he says. It was so dark, and it didn't matter if his eyes were open or closed. He used the light from his mobile phone to see around him. He found, among other items, a jar of instant coffee. "I had no food or water, only the coffee to suck on if I needed it." At about 6:30 am. on January 17, an oil leak silenced the building's generators, and Kristensen was able to hear muffled voices above where he was buried. "I thought, I was too tired to bang and shout. But then I realized, I had to take every chance. This could be one." So he called out. Six hours later, Kristensen saw his rescuers' faces. "It was so amazing. I felt I had received a second birthday," he recalls. Dehydration and pains but with only a bruise and a scratch, Kristensen took three days to recover. The UN lost more than 90 people in Haiti. But Kristensen says that the outpouring of love helps heal the pain: "The genuine happiness of people toward me here has been wonderful. You feel part of a larger family." Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? Answer: "Come in . Kim . Have a seat , please ." said Bill Williams , the manager . This was Kim's first experience with an assessment . After only six months he was due for a raise if this assessment was satisfactory "Kim," began Bill Williams . "I am very pleased with the quality of your work . I have nothing but praise for your devotion and your hard work . My only concern is that you are not active enough in putting forward your suggestions ." "But." Replied Kim. "I have always completed every assignment you have given me . Mr. Williams." "I know that , Kim . And please, call me Bill .But what I expect is for you to think independently and introduce new ideas . I need more input from you --more feedback on how things are going I don't need a "yes man". You never tell me what you think . You just smile as though everything is fine ." "But," said Kim," " I feel that since you are my superior , it would he presumptuous of me to tell you what to do ." "I'm not asking you to tell me what to do, but what you think we could do .To make suggestions . I employed you because I respect your experience in this field, but you are not communicating your thoughts to me ." "Yes . I see I'm not accustomed to this , but I will try to do as you say ..., Bill" "Good, then , I expect to hear more from you at staff meetings or at any other time you want to discuss an idea with me ." "Yes , of course . Thank you Mr. Will...Bill ." From the passage ,we can learn that_. Answer: Treated water is unlikely to have Answer: Although there is no possibility of living completely free of stress , it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the following suggestions for the ways to deal with stress. Try physical activity When you are nervous, angry or upset, try reducing the pressure through exercise of physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise will relieve your anxiety and worry and help you to relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life. Share your stress It helps to talk to someone about your anxiety and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher or even your leader can help you a better view of what is troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from psychologist or a doctor. Knowing when to ask for help is an important step in avoiding serious problem later Take care of yourself You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and cannot sleep well enough, or if you are not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor Make time for yourself Schedule time for both work and entertainment. Don't forget, play can be just as important to your over-all well-being as work. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun. Go window-shopping or work on a hobby. Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy. Make a list of things you need to do Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there is so much to do, and not enough time." Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the more important tasks first. Go ahead and cry A good cry can a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help you avoid a headache or other physical effect of anxiety and stress The sentence " Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything" is close to the meaning of _ Answer:
Sports and amusing activities have given benefits to people. Besides the entertainment that they offer, health, emotional and personal aspects have also been developed through sports and amusement. It's amazing how one can say that he just found his purpose in life through sports. Some people may even devote their lives to a certain sport. Whether being seen as an amusing activity, a pastime or a way of life, sports and amusement are worthy of everyone's praise. A large number of sports and amusing activities have become very popular both in the past years and at present, such as baseball, basketball, golf, computer and online games, fitness, motor sports, tennis, and so on. Computer and online games have become very popular at this age. Young people are mostly the fans of this amusement. Entertainment is what it gives. A lot of online games are there to be played. Some are for sale while others can be downloaded for free. Fitness is in much the same rank. Women are the major customers who take this activity into their lives. The goal for reshaping their bodies to improve their looks is getting more and more attractive. Considering the lovely points of being healthy and fit, all seem to hash through the lines. No one wants to get behind. This is also a way of giving love to ourselves. We cannot always pass money by. Taking sports or amusement, you'll have to pay for it sometimes. The cost for learning and enjoying sports changes from one to another. Some sports cost very little while others are costly due to expensive equipment and tools to use. Choosing a sport, however, requires health considerations. Some people are not allowed to play volleyball and similar activities due to having asthma . Playing may make a person tired easily and will trigger an attack of asthma at once. We can learn from the text that_. A. sports were not quite popular in the past years B. most players of online games aim to earn some money C. taking sports or amusement always costs a lot D. health should be considered when choosing a sport Answer: D. health should be considered when choosing a sport Many plants tend to wilt on a hot, sunny day. The most likely cause of this wilting is A. geotropism. B. photosynthesis. C. dehydration. D. blooming. Answer: C. dehydration. I'm Tom. This is a pencil case. It's orange. It's my pencil case. What's in the pencil case? A ruler is in the pencil case. It is my ruler. The ruler is blue and red. That is a pencil. It is black and white. It is not my pencil. Look! That girl is Lucy. It is her pencil. That boy is Tim. I found his green pen in the pencil case. I call Tim at 7890003. It is his telephone number. I am Tom. That is not my _ . A. pencil B. pencil case C. ruler D. pen Answer: A. pencil Malala Yousafzai, the teen activist from Pakistan, has just become the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Prize. In 2012, Malala survived from being shot by terrorists for speaking out for a girl's right to be educated in her native country. She is being recognized today for her global activism on education for girls. Winning this award is a huge honor, especially for such a young person. Malala's journey to the Nobel Prize has not been easy. She grew up in a dangerous district of Pakistan called the Swat Valley. This area was taken over by the Taliban. The Taliban ruled the district with an iron fist. They were especially cruel to women, not allowing them to go shopping, have jobs, or go to school. In 2009, Malala began speaking out publicly for every girl's right to an education. She blogged about how the Taliban didn't want her to go to school. She also continued to attend her local school, despite the danger involved. Then, in 2012, the Taliban tried to kill Malala to silence her. Two Taliban gunmen shot her and two other students while they were on a school bus. Malala was flown to the United Kingdom for immediate medical treatment. Malala eventually recovered from her injuries. She now lives in Birmingham, England, and continues to work hard to support girls' and women's rights around the world. "The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions," she said, "but nothing changed in my life except this. Weakness, fear, and hopelessness died. Strength, power, and courage were born." The 17-year-old girl from Pakistan is sharing the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with a children's activist Kailash Satyarthi, who is from India Satyarthi leads many campaigns dedicated to removing child labor. Which words can best describe Malala according to the passage? A. Sensitive and stubborn. B. Devoted and fearless. C. Proud and optimistic. D. Creative and outgoing. Answer: B. Devoted and fearless. Wednesday, October 29, 2008. The prefix = st1 /United Statesfederal government had two young men in the state ofTennesseearrested on October 22 on unknown charges. In court documents published on Monday, it came to light that the men had discussed attacking an African - American school and killing 14 of them. Another crime was about planning to murder Presidential candidate Barack Obama. According to their affidavits , the suspects' "final act of violence" would be when they attacked Obama while wearing white suits and top hats and driving "their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows." The two suspects are Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helena, Arkansas and Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tennessee. According to the court papers, they met last month over the Internet through a friend. Schlesselman and Cowart are believed to share "very strong views" about White Power. Schlesselman listed "being racist" as his occupation on his MySpace page. He further wrote: "I'm white. I'm proud. I get angry. I like guns." Cowart also had a MySpace page on which photos of guns were presented under a heading of "My Guns". On his page he wrote, "Better to die quick fighting on your feet than to live forever begging on your knees." Some have questioned the pair's ability to carry out the charged plan, but authorities have been very concerned about Obama as the first black presidential candidate from a major party. "We honestly don't know if they had the ability or the skill to carry out the kind of plan that they talked about." said Malcolm Wiley, of the United States Secret Service in an interview with The New York Times. "But we take any threat seriously no matter how big or how small it is." Cowart and Schlesselman are scheduled to appear before a judge on Thursday. What can we infer from the news? A. The two young men strongly believed that the president should be a white man. B. Most of the white people in the United Statesdon't like Barack Obama. C. The two young men planned to shoot President Barack Obama. D. The two young men were innocent in fact. Answer: A. The two young men strongly believed that the president should be a white man.
A bird has just hatched from an egg. Which of the following stages most likely comes next in the life cycle of the bird? growth As we all know, it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of the Independence. He wrote it in two weeks, and after a few changes, it was accepted by the Congress. As a result, he became famous. Born in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant student at school and almost talented lawyer later, was much interested in politics. Jefferson was elected Governor of Virginia in 1779, and he was sent to France as the representative of the American government in 1784. Sixteen years later, at the age of 57, he was elected president after Washington and Adams. Far from a handsome man, he was tall with long arms and big hands. Jefferson, who was an amusing talker in conversation but a poor speaker, was generally good-natured. Jefferson was regarded as a defender of freedom on America. As a president, he protected the right of free speech. Interestingly enough, in his eight years as President, Jefferson never vetoed a bill which Congress had passed. He did a lot in organizing the new University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson died on July the fourth, 1826, the 50th anniversary of American Independence. From the passage we can infer that America won its independence in _ . 1776 TOKYO--Lonely astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) may soon be getting a robot friend from Japan. Japan's space agency is considering putting a talking humanoid robot on the ISS to watch the work while astronauts are asleep, monitor their health and stress levels and communicate to Earth through the microblogging site Twitter. Japan's space agency JAXA announced this week that it is looking at a plan to send a humanoid robot to the space station in 2013 that could communicate with the ground through Twitter--primarily feeding photos, rather than original ideas --and provide astronauts with "comfort and companionship". Following up on US NASA's "Robonaut" R2 program, which is set for launch on the Discovery shuttle next week, the Japanese robot would be part of a larger effort to create and refine robots that can be used by the elderly, JAXA said in a statement. Japan is one of the leading countries in robotics and has a rapidly aging society with one of the world's longest life expectancies. Improving robot communication capabilities could help elderly people on Earth by providing a nonintrusive means of monitoring the robot owner's health and vital signs and sending information to emergency responders if there is an abnormality, JAXA said. "We are thinking in terms of a very humanlike robot that would have facial expressions and be able to talk with the astronauts," said JAXA's Satoshi Sano. The robot was being developed with the advertising and communications giant Dentsu Inc and a team at Tokyo University. The NASA project has a humanlike head, hands and arms and uses the same tools as station crew members. The "Robonaut" called R2 is intended to carry out maintenance tasks in the station's Destiny lab. NASA says it hopes that humanoid robots could one day stand in for astronauts during spacewalks or perform tasks too difficult or dangerous for humans. For now, the $2.5 million NASA robot is limited to activities within the lab. From the passage we can know _ . future astronauts will become less lonely and more comfortable with the help of the robot Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York--he in computers, she in special education."Teaching means everything to us," Tim would say. In April 1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose. Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee. "I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire,"Tim recalls. He placed the brochure on his desk,"as a reminder." Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on imagination library .com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts. The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a looksee. "We didn't want to give the children rubbish," says Linda. The books reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists and Dollywood board members included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama series. Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative: "This program introduces us to books I've never heard of ." The Richters spend about $400 a month sending books to 200 children. "Some people sit there and wait to die," says Tim. "Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left." What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library? Do something similar. A good modern newspaper is an extraordinary piece of reading. It is remarkable first for what it contains: the range of news from local crime to international politics, from sport to business to fashion to science, and the range of comment and special features as well, from editorial page to feature articles and interviews to criticism of books, art, theatre and music. A newspaper is even more remarkable for the way one reads it: never completely, never straight through, but always by jumping from here to there, in and out glancing at one piece, reading another article all the way through, reading just a few paragraghs of the next. A good modern newspaper offers a variety to attract many different readers, but far from one reader is interested in what brings this variety together in. One place is its topicality , its immediate relation to what is happening in your world and your locality now. But immediacy and the speed of production that goes with it mean also that much of what appears in a newspaper has no more than transient value. For all these reasons, no two people really read the same paper: what each person does is to put together out of the pages of that day's paper, his own selection and sequence, his own newspaper. For all these reasons, reading newspapers efficiently, which means getting what you want from them without missing things you need but without wasting time, demands skill and self-awareness as you modify and apply the techniques of reading. A modern newspaper is remarkable for all the following EXCEPT its _ . uniform style
Friendship is always the center in our life. Friends often affect our health and energy. More and more people are turning towards their friends for support and sharing. We may have a very unclear understanding of what makes a friend but we all want to have many good friends around us. There are certain steps that can win you friends or at least help you get close to those whom you want to make friends with. The first step to make friends with someone is to make him like you. If they don't like you in the beginning, it is impossible for them to become your friends. To let someone know that you're interested in him, a little smile and calling him by his name can help. To make the other person feel important, you need to be a good listener and encourage the other person to talk. Give your honest and real opinions but do not make fun of him or her. The second step is to fully understand each other. You need to share his or her opinions. So, it is necessary for you to develop a habit of seeing things from the other person's point of view . The third and final step is to show your support and encouragement towards your friend. What is the main purpose of the writer in writing the passage? A To tell us the importance of making friends. B To talk about advantages and disadvantages of making friends. C To give us advice on how to make friends. D To show us friends are hard to make. Answer: C My father is seventy-five years old this year. But he looks very young. He looks like a sixty-year-old man. Now he can do everything all by himself. For example, he cooks, washes clothes, does the housework and so on. Every morning, my father goes out with a radio. He listens to the music or the news and goes to the park to play taijiquan. In the park, he talks and laughs with other old people. After coming back from the park, he begins to have breakfast and then he goes to the university for the old. He learns drawing there. In the afternoon, he plays on the computer for about one or two hours. After supper he watches TV and learns about the world. He goes to bed at about eight o'clock. He never stays up. He likes to share his ways of keeping healthy with others. Are you healthy? If not, what do you learn from my father's secret of keeping healthy? ,. Which of the following is TRUE? A The writer's father is a young man. B The writer's father goes to bed early. C The writer's father is a computer fan. D No one knows why the writer's father looks young. Answer: B Recently we had a discussion on the topic of My Chinese Dream. Inspired by President Xi's Chinese Dream, everyone talked happily about his understanding of the Chinese Dream. For me ,I would like to be a teacher when I listen to my teacher carefully. I think I can be a teacher when I grow up. I can help many students learn things well. I can play with my students, too. So we are good friends.I would like to be a doctor when I see many doctors save their _ . Then I can help many people out of danger. I will be the happiest girl in the world. I would like to be a reporter when I watch TV every evening. We can get lots of important information from them. And I can learn a lot about China and the other countries around the world. They make the world smaller and also make us happy. I have lots of dreams. Hold fast to my dreams, no matter how big or small they are. The dreams may not be smooth and wide, even need some sacrifices , but hold on to the end, you will find there is no greater happiness than making your dream come true. From the article we know that _ . A Teachers can help many people out of danger B Hold on dreams to the end , we may need sacrifices C Reporters can make the world bigger D The dreams must be easy to come true Answer: B Treasure Island isn't a true story, _ armed to the teeth and ready to go treasure hunting. But you will find, as you read this book, that although pirates can be murderous and treacherous ,they can also be cowardly, superstitious, and easily led. As it turns out, that is fortunate for Jim Hawkins. It's a brilliant story. Billy Bones, a retired seaman, comes to live at the Admiral Benbow inn. Jim is just a boy, but he can see that Billy Bones is a nervous man, always on the look-out for strangers arriving at the inn. And well he might be nervous, because he carries with him in his battered old sea-chest a map drawn by Captain Flint himself giving the whereabouts of all Flint's buried treasure! Captain Flint! -the most feared pirate ever to travel the high seas. Well,Flint is dead, but there are plenty of men who served with Captain Flint still alive who will feel they have a fair claim to the treasure. The map, though, ends up in the possession of Jim Hawkins---(it's a near thing, read the book to see how that happens) Jim tells the secret in the local doctor, who quickly joins forces to acquire a ship and crew to sail for Treasure Island There's a famous scene where Jim, hiding in the apple barrel on deck, discovers that mutiny is planned. It's a bad moment. The numbers suggest that the pirates are going to have it all their own way. There are nineteen mutineers and seven honest men, including Jim. And now, you will have to read the book for yourself. This is a fantastic tale of cheat, bravery and cowardice. I don't know how things would have turned out if it hadn't been for Jim Hawkins. For it is Jim who single-handedly steals the Hispaniola from under the very noses of the pirates and sails her round the island to a secret beaching place. And do you know what happens to Long John Silver, the greatest double-crosser of them all? No? Well, don't expect me to tell you. Don't be nervous of reading a 'classic'. I know it was published a long time ago, but that doesn't mean it is difficult to read. There is one piece of advice I will give, though. I don't think this book is ever out of print---there are hundreds of different copies around. If you can, choose a copy with large enough print to be able to read comfortably, and exciting illustrations. It makes all the difference. Go ahead! Read the book. I think you'll love it. According to this passage, which word can best describe Jim Hawkins? A brave B fearful C artificial D tricky Answer: A 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. According to the study, who made the most accurate prediction of their future life satisfaction? A Optimistic adults. B Middle-aged adults. C Adults in poor health. D Adults of lower income. Answer: B
Dear God, Now that I am no longer young, I have friends whose mothers have passed away. I have heard these sons and daughters say they never fully appreciated their mothers until it was too late to tell them. I am blessed with the dear mother who is still alive. I appreciate her more each day. My mother does not change, but I do. As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an extraordinary person she is. How sad that I am unable to speak these words in her presence, but they flow easily from my pen. How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life itself? For the love, patience and just plain hard work that go into raising a child? For running after a toddler, for understanding a moody teenager, for tolerating a college student who knows everything? For waiting for the day when a daughter realizes how wise her mother really is? How does a grown woman thank a mother for continuing to be a mother? For being ready with advice (when asked) or remaining silent when it is most appreciated? For not saying, "I told you so", when she could have said these words dozens of times? For being essentially herself -- loving, thoughtful, patient, and forgiving? I don't know how, dear God, except to bless her as richly as she deserves and to help me live up to the example she has set. I pray that I will look as good in the eyes of my children as my mother looks in mine. A daughter Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: I come from a city on the United States'east coast. It's a ten-hour flight for me to get home from Shanghai. When I got off the plane, I took photos of the blue sky and white clouds along the way. After two weeks, I returned to Shanghai. Much to my surprise, the blue sky in Shanghai that I liked before was not as blue as that in the US. I couldn't help wondering what had happened. A few days later, I went to tour Waitan (a famous tourist attraction in Shanghai) by the Huangpu River with some of my friends. There we saw five Ferrari sports cars by the side of the road. The red and yellow cars looked so nice that everyone was looking at them. However, when I turned my head, I noticed the sky over Waitan, I was shocked to find that the buildings in the Lujiazui area on the other side of Huangpu River could hardly be seen. It was then that I realized that Ferrari cars could be bought with money, but a blue sky couldn't. Shanghai is an important economic and trade center in China. It has made great contributions to the whole nation's economic development. However, we need to protect the environment during economic growth. Pollution is poisoning our air and our rivers. Without clean air and rivers, how will people be able to survive? What can we learn about the author? Answer: Firefighter Regina Wilson works in Brooklyn, New York. A reporter is asking Regina questions about how she does her job. Reporter: How long have you been a firefighter? Wilson: Eight years. Reporter: How did you get started? Wilson: First, I had to take a lot of tests. Then, I went to firefighting school for 13 weeks. I learned how to put out fires and how to use equipment . Reporter: How do you stay safe on the job? Wilson: I wear special clothing called bunker gear. It helps keep me safe from fire. I also carry an oxygen tank and a mask . They help me to breathe in a smoke-filled building. Reporter: Are there any new tools that firefighters use? Wilson: We have a special camera that can see in the dark. It can find heat. That way, we can tell where a fire is located. Reporter: Do you save pets? Wilson: I recently helped save some kittens. They were hiding under the beds. Pets usually hide during a fire because they are scared. Reporter: Do you ever get afraid? Wilson: There is no time to be afraid. I think about what I have to do to put out the fire safely. Reporter: What do you like best about being a firefighter? Wilson: Helping people! ,. What is this article mostly about? Answer: Nuclear radiation has a certain mystery, partly because it cannot be detected by human senses. It can't be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around but we can't detect them or sense them without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can't sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things. At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being outright by killing masses of cells in important organs. Even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no level of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be serious. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and when they are killed outright. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They reproduce themselves in an unusual way. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years. This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the knowledge of the person at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated and feel fine, then die of cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. A child can be born weak or easy to get serious illness as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents. Which of the following can be best inferred from the passage? Answer: It's amazing how we grow from careless kids to responsible teens. What happens in the course that makes us responsible now? It's the seed that we sow in the beginning which grows and becomes a huge tree. As I sit here, silently thinking about my growth, I wonder over some questions which don't have an answer but it's because of such unanswerable situations that life has become a roller coaster ride. As a kid, I used to read a lot of story books. In one particular book, I read a story of a bird. From then on, that has become an integral part of my life. It described a male bird which takes a lot of pain to build a nest and the female bird takes shelter in it and nourishes the baby. When the bird learns to fly, the whole family flies off to a different place leaving behind the beautiful nest for other birds to grow their family in it. It made me wonder. How could they so easily sacrifice their house built with so much effort? One night, when I was deep in sleep, I got this particular dream. I was walking miles on the endless road, totally isolated but lined with beautiful trees on the either side. Fascinated by the greenery, I marched towards it only to end up deeper and deeper into the greenery. I happened to stop upon seeing something. It was a massive, wonderful house. I fell in love with that amazing part of art. Yeah, it was indeed a piece of art with every nook and corner touched artistically and lovingly. I don't know why I felt that it was done lovingly. Maybe because, things turn out to be beautiful only when we put our love into it -- just like the food prepared by mom which tastes more delicious with her love. I explored the house only to fall more in love with it. There was a sloping roof which matched with the greenery around; the large central open courtyard reminded me of the activities that might have taken place there which felt lively even now when it is completely deserted. The small water body that kept the house cool added to the beauty of the house -- of course, it was all dried up now. It's really wonderful how such things add life to the spaces which otherwise just become structures. Such liveliness and happening turns the house into a home. They say 'THE HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS', but now I began to feel it. This is where my heart belongs. This is what I'm destined to do. When I woke up from the dream, I was clear about everything. I realized where that mile of walk was intending me to lead. I realized what message my dream wanted to convey me. And years later, when finally my turn of choosing my destination came, I simply closed my eyes, held that book in my hand, pressed it against my chest and relived the dream. When I opened my eyes, I was sure what to do. I decided to choose the road -- less traveled. Yes, I took up architecture as my profession because this is what I am destined to do. I wanted to do the same thing that the male bird in the story did, to take pain in building a beautiful house and let others stay in it. This is my dream come true and the happiness that I gain now from this profession is indescribable. The above passage is mainly about _ . Answer:
New York has taken the title of the world's top fashion capital from Milan. The annual survey suggest that the top five fashion cities are facing competition from Asia and Australia. New York had been the top fashion city for five years, but Milan took the title in 2009. The survey was made by the Global Language Monitor, a US based organization. It tracks the frequency of words and phrases in the media, on the Internet and throughout the blog. With the US economy recovering, New York once again took the top title. Hong Kong took second place. It was followed by London, Paris and Los Angeles. The other top 10 cities were Milan, Sydney, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid. "Because of the new economic situation, the global fashion centers have also changed a lot, "said Bekka Payack. the Manhattan-based fashion reporter for the Global Language Monitor. "The new list shows that global fashion centers will change now and then. Compared with the traditional fashion cities, some new ones are performing better and better. "She said that perhaps this is new trend, and it is the first sign that the traditional top five fashion cities----New York, Paris, London, Milan, and Rome----do not control global fashion any more. The biggest changes in the list are Hong Kong, Madrid and Melbourne. The Group said that the top newcomers to the list include Amsterdam at number 17, Cape Town at 23, Johannesburg at 25 and Vienna at 27. The following are the 10 top fashion cities of 2010 and the changes from 2009. 1. New York(up 1) 2. Hong Kong(up 5) 3. London(up 2) 4. Paris(down 1) 5. Los Angeles(up 1) 6. Milan(down 5) 7. Sydney(up 2) 8. Miami(up 5) 9. Barcelona(up 5) 10. Madrid(up 11) Compared with the 2009 list, which of the following has the greatest change? A Hong Kong B Milan C Madrid D Barcelona Answer: C. Madrid About 400 high school students from Western Pennsylvania and the neighboring state of Ohio joined a heated discussion recently on "China: What Does the Future Hold?" "It's either going to turn out really good or really bad - who knows?" said Braveen Ragunathan, a senior from an Ohio high school. In his mind all Americans are connected to China in some way. The forum was held in Pittsburgh, once a US industrial center, now facing job-cuts because of competition brought about by globalization. The aim of the forum is to help American students learn more about the outside world. Elliott Blackwell, a junior at the Neighborhood Academy, said the forum let him know more about how China's economic development will affect America in the future. Some students, although impressed by China's economic boom, expressed uneasiness about the nation's practices and differences from the American way of doing business and politics. "China is a power coming up,so they might challenge us," Paul Amon, a junior from Oil City High School, said. "I'd hope that China can be our partner but I think that we'd clash along the way because we're too different," he added. George Riley, a teacher explained: "The view of China is usually negative and I think that's fueled by the media." However, some negative feelings are not from the media. Merri Ebel is a senior at East Allegheny High School north of Pittsburgh. Both her parents lost their jobs recently. The company they worked for said it was cheaper to produce goods in China rather than the US. "China is just this big question mark. China was just a big country with millions of people that no one really knew about because it was so far away and our class was more American history based," she said. For better or worse US teenagers are eager to know more about China, the forum shows. The main reason that China in their eyes is usually negative is probably that _ . A their teachers affect them B their classmates affect them C newspapers and online news affect them D the forum affects them Answer: C. newspapers and online news affect them Overweight is one of the biggest health problems now. Being overweight affects more than how you look. Too much fat can kill you. What's worse, overweight children turn into overweight adults . If you're obese now, you probably will grow into an obese adult. But here's good news. You can fight overweight. Change your eating habits. You are what you eat, Kids like snacks. Did you list any healthy snacks? One study of eating habits showed that soft drinks are the first in the snack list. Next, kids choose salty snacks, like chips .What's more, the list is full of junk food from No.3 to No.11. Finally, No.12, kids picked a healthy snack--fruit, So, think about your snack choice again. Get outside to exercise Jim, a player on his school football team, had a weight problem not long time ago. He could never get anyone to play with him. So his father and he started playing football for a few minutes every night. Ten minutes turned into an hour or more. In just a few years, the heavy kid became athletic, fit and healthy. More TV means more fat Nearly every American kid watches TV for 2 hours and 56 minutes every day that adds up to 44 days a year of sitting. More TV (or more Internet surfing, or more computer games) means more fat. Eat an apple a day, walk around the house, play with your family...Do it today, and do it more tomorrow. It will help you a lot. The passage mainly talks about _ . A one of the biggest health problems, overweight B how to play football C the healthy food D how to fight overweight Answer: D. how to fight overweight Soon computers and other machines will be able to remember you by looking at your eyes! The programme works because everyone's eyes are different. So in the future you won't have to remember a number when you want to use a machine or take money out of a bank. You'll just have to look at the machine and it will be able to tell who you are. The eye-recognition programme is tested in shops and banks in the USA, Britain and Italy. Scientists are working on other systems, such as knowing you from the shape of your face or hand or even your smell! And machines can already tell who you are from your voice or your fingerprint . But eye-recognition will replace other ways of finding out who you are. It is better, because your eyes don't change as you get older, or get dirty like hands or fingers. And even twins have different eyes, so the programme can be up to 94% correct, depending on how good the technology is. In Britain, it was found that 91% of people said that they liked the idea of eye-recognition. ,. What is the advantage of the eye-recognition programme? A You needn't remember a number. B You needn't take money with you. C You don't need to look at the machine. D People think it's interesting. Answer: A. You needn't remember a number. OUR KIDS ARE AMAZING-especially compared with everybody else's (who seem to cry all the time). How do you show your love for your kids this holiday season? With toys that are smooth and colorful, interactive and exciting. And with ones that have educational value-because you are the boss. 1. FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET Here is a toy that doesn't need power-and the bike have to put it together themselves. This 50 piece puzzle set is made of soft edged hardwood and makes a complete hospital, with an X ray room. It also includes eight patients, a car and a driver. $135; flaxart.com. 2. TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL Sure, it's cool, but this colorful baby toy also develops problem solving and motor skills. It has a head and legs, a magnetic hand and a tail. Suitable for little ones from 6 to 36 months. $19.95; tinylove.com. 3. ROBOSAPIEN This small, remote control robot is really powerful. It performs 67 preprogrammed functions , including throwing, kicking, picking up and dancing. You can even program your own function which, sadly, does not include doing windows. $99; robosapienonline.com. 4. MINI PEDAL CAR Want a Mini Cooper but can't fit the family inside? Get one for the kids. They can jump into this Mini car, which comes in hot orange with a single adjustable seat, and ride away. But it could spoil them for that used car they'll be driving when they turn 16.For ages 3 to 5.$189; minus A. com (click on "gear up," then "Mini motoring gear"). Educational value is mentioned in all the toys EXCETP _ . A FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET B TINY LVE ACTIVITY BALL C ROBOSAPIEN D MINI PEDAL CAR Answer: D. MINI PEDAL CAR
The Chinese-born American architect Ieoh Ming Pei is one of the most creative architects of our times. He has incorporated both eastern and western ideas into his designs. Ieoh Ming Pei was born in Guangzhou, China on April 26, 1917. His father was a famous banker. In 1935, at the age of 17, he came to the United States to study architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1942, he entered the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy selected Pei to design the Kennedy library. After that he became well-known all over the world. People named it one of the Ten Best Buildings in the United States. In 1968, Pei started work on the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art, in Washington D.C. Over one million people visited the building during its first 50 days in existence. Following the East Wing project Pei's fame has continued to grow widely. In 1983, French President commissioned Pei to help make the Louvre more modern. Ten years later, the completion of Pei's glass pyramid at the Louvre created a new historic landmark for Paris. Pei described it as, "the greatest challenge and greatest accomplishment of my career." At Fragrant Hill, a 300-room hotel in the Chinese capital, Pei has attempted to bring to his native China his often-quoted "third way of making buildings." Avoiding both a complete copying of traditional Chinese motifs as well as the modernism of the West, Pei has managed, at Fragrant Hill, to make one of his most eloquent statements. Pei has designed nearly 50 projects in the United States and abroad. About half of these projects have won major awards. Pei has been awarded the highest honors from nations over the world. In 1990, Pei was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President George Bush for his contributions to world peace and service to the US government. It was _ that Ieoh Ming Pei became world-famous. Answer: after he designed the Kennedy library The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to install video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits against the city. In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about 40 lawsuits. The chief said, "If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn't have had to pay one penny. We're always pulling over drunks or drug users who try to fight the policemen or shoot them. Then they always say that the police started beating them first or started shooting at them first. What nonsense!" The cost of installing cameras will be about $500 per car. The city council will vote on the plan next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members, when asked about the plan, said that they liked the idea. One member said that it made good financial sense and common sense. If the cameras are supported, they can be installed in all the cars within six weeks. The police officers gladly support camera use. One officer said that too many people thought the police were _ ; cameras would show citizens that the police told the truth. Citizen reaction to the idea of police car cameras is mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented. But an elderly man said that cameras were against privacy. "These police are trying to stick their nose into everything," he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to fight the plan. He hoped that other citizens would join him. How did most council members feel about the plan? Answer: Satisfied. A famous teacher was speaking to the students at our school.He began his lesson by holding up a Y=100 bill.Then he said to the three hundred students,"Who would like this Y=100 bill?"The students began to put up their hands at once. Then he said,"I am going to give this Y=100 to one of you,but first,let me do this."He then made the bill into a ball.Then he said,"Who wants it now?"The hands went back into the air. "Well,"he said,"what if I do this?"and he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it.He picked up the dirty,crumpled bill and said,"Who still wants it?"Hands went back into the air. "My friends,"he said,"you have learned a valuable lesson today.No matter what I did to the money,you still wanted it because it did not go down in value .It was still worth Y=100!" Many times in our lives,we are dropped,crumpled,and stepped on by the chances we take and the things that happen to us.We feel as if we are worth nothing.But remember,no matter what has happened to you,you will never lose your value:you are always valuable to those people who love you.Your value doesn't come from what you do or whom you know,but who you are. You are special and valuable.Don't ever forget it! Even though it was dirty,the money _ . Answer: didn't go down in value You may feel curious about students in other countries: Do they also have so much homework? What do they do in their free time? On April 8, a report came out on the lives of high school students in China, Japan, South Korea and the US. It surveyed around 6,200 students from the four countries last year. You will find the answers to many of your questions in this report. Who studies hardest? Chinese students spend the most time studying. Nearly half of Chinese students spend more than two hours on their homework every day. That's much more than students of the US (26.4%), Japan (8.2%) and South Korea (5.2%). Who sleeps most often in class? Japanese students fall asleep in class most often. About 45% of them said they sometimes _ in class. In South Korea, it's 32%; in the US, 21%; and 5% in China. South Korean students don't like taking notes. About 70% said they write down what the teacher says in class, much fewer than in Japan (93%), China (90%) and the US (89%). Who is the most distracted ? American students are the most active in class, but also the most distracted: 64.2% said they chat with friends in class; 46.9% said they eat snacks in class; and 38.9% said they send e-mails or read unrelated books in class. What do they do after school? In their free time, most Chinese students study or surf the Internet. Most American students hang out with their friends. Most Japanese students do physical exercises. Most Korean students watch TV. What of the following sentences is Not true? Answer: About half of the American students chat with friends in class. The right name is important in the business world. All you have to do is think of the names for some of the products you buy every day and you'll agree that the name and the product are connected in everyone's mind. In many countries, successful trade or brand names are protected by law. This is so that other companies cannot make a product that looks like another. People might think that they were buying one product and, in fact, be buying something different. Businesses register a company or a product name with the government. In fact, more than 1,000 product and company names are registered every hour. Many companies spend a lot of money to find the right name for their products. A good example of this is in the car industry. Some successful names for cars have powerful associations. The Ford Mustang and the Jaguar are only two examples of choosing the names of animals that are fast and strong. When a U.S. company decides to sell its product in another country, it has to make sure that the product name translates properly. When Coca-Cola introduced its soft drink to China, it looked for the right name. It wanted a name that would do two things. One was to present its image in Chinese and the second was to be close to its first brand name -Coke. It took some efforts before finding the right word - which sounds similar and translates as "happiness in the mouth". Asian company names are not new to the United States. The brand names of Samsung and Sony have been successful. Finding the right brand name is a big business. Asian companies that sell to foreign markets pay to find a name that will connect with its customers. There are even naming companies that specialize in inventing product names. These companies can charge up to $ 100,000 a word for their creations. But it's worth it. Successful companies know how important the right brand names are for their development. Why are trade names protected by law in many countries? Answer: To prevent products from being copied.
When I put a foot in the school for the first time, the thing that I will never forget is a big smile coming from the people of the reception. This is the kind of things that means a lot to you when you are feeling like a strange person in a country that you have never been, as it was in my case. In the classes, I don't know if I'm a lucky person, but the teachers that I have had, in my opinion, are excellent, very professional in their jobs, and they just seem to enjoy teaching, and make the lessons useful and classes amusing. Another fact that I've really enjoyed is that the school is not only aimed at the English language knowledge. You can also find every kind of activity intended to entertain the students in their free time, with things like going to museums and galleries, visiting special places in the city or going to the very famous pub night to have a few beers with your friends. So here you have the opportunity to enjoy the stay in London, to meet new friends, and also to learn everything about the city and the British culture. Personally, there are some facts that have not been easy for me since I arrived, like being so far away from my family, the differences between English food and the food I used to eat, and the high prices for everything. However, I am impressed about a very developed and multicultural city, with people aware of the sense of living in community, with a public transport amazingly thorough, with outstanding tourist places, with opportunities for work and with food from every part of the world that you can imagine. I've experienced something priceless with my friends in London. Every time I made contact with my friends from another country, I learn about their culture. I was lucky to have such good friends. I think that time was a present for me. What is the passage mainly about? A The author's learning experience in London. B The friends the author made while in London. C The author's progress in learning English. D The poor memories in a foreign country. Answer: A The British Museum Description: The British Museum is a museum in London, which is one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture. Its collections, which number more than 13 million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to the present. The British Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum first opened to the public on 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury, on the site of the current museum building. Its expansion over the following two and a half centuries was largely a result of an expanding British colonial footprint and has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions. Until 1997, when the British Library (previously centered on the Round Reading Room)moved to a new site, the British Museum housed both a national museum of antiquities and a national library in the same building. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Since 2002 the director of the museum has been Neil MacGregor. Admission and opening hours: The museum is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10am to 5:30pm)and it charges no admission fee, except for loan exhibitions. How to get there: By train: 7:00-18:30 every day. By Underground: 8:00-18:30 every day. By bus: 7:30-18:30 every day. By coach: 7:00--19:30 every day. Nearest underground stations: Tottenham Court Road (500m) Holborn (500m) Russell Square (800m) Which statement is NOT TRUE according to the text? A The British Museum has collected more than 13 million objects. B The British Museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day. C The British Museum is a great museum of human history and culture. D The British Museum's expansion in the past was mainly because of an expanding British colonial footprint. Answer: B Americans like to visit the national parks. In 1996, over 250,000,000 people visited areas which are managed by the National Park Service. Experts say that by 2012, 500,000,000 people per year will visit the parks. As a result, people are trying to think of ways to protect the parks from the crowds. The crowding of the parks has caused several problems. One is that there is not enough space for all of the people who want to use the parks. To deal with this problem, you may have to book your tickets a few months ahead of time. The Park Service may also raise entrance fees . Another problem caused by increased park use is pollution. Some garbage and waste can be cleaned up, and the cleanup can be paid for by increased entrance fees. To cut down on noise pollution and air pollution, the number of cars allowed in parks may be limited. If this happens, people may use buses to travel around the parks. Officials may also limit the use of jet-skis, snow-mobiles, motor-boats, and sightseeing helicopters and planes. The parks may also be in danger because of development that is going on around them. For example, around Yellow Stone Park, many hotels, golf courses, resorts, and other tourist attractions have been built. Some of these developments have effect on areas that are used by animals. People will have to learn to agree about ways to protect the parks. If they do not, there will soon be no reason to visit these national treasures. What can be inferred from the passage? A High fees may probably keep some people out of parks. B Helicopters and planes will not be used in parks any longer. C The bus will become the only tool in parks in order to cut down pollution. D National Park Service will always welcome as many visitors as possible. Answer: A What is the MAJOR role of the Sun in the water cycle? A It causes evaporation. B It allows plants to grow. C It provides heat for organisms. D It transmits light. Answer: A Moving can bring out the best and the worst in people, I'm finding. And I've discovered where a very generous spirit lives: Defiance, Ohio. After suffering through many months of unemployment, my wife and I had to move this week from Colorado to Ohio, where she would work as a sales assistant. Not knowing a person there, we were pretty concerned about all the work, including how we'd get all the things unloaded without killing ourselves. We decided to pay a couple of college students to help with all the heavy lifting once we got there. But one neighbor after another stopped by and joined in. "What? Have we moved to some other country? Maybe we've died and gone to heaven!" I thought. Unloading actually became fun as we connected with so many wonderful new friends as we worked. The more people that helped, the easier the work became. A job we were afraid might take days for the two of us alone was done in just a few hours. Many total strangers would either walk by or drive by to ask us if we were moving in. Many were delighted that this fine old house that had sat empty for so long was coming to life again. We were invited to an outdoor meal yesterday by neighbors on the same street. All the while, my brain was on this new sense of hope that people could be outgoing and kind to strangers. Among all the conversations were lots of offers to be of help to one another in a variety of ways. It's wonderful to live in such a kind little town. I feel so grateful to be here, and wish the rest of the world could see how an entire society can be a model for what it's like to look out for one another. I used to stay away from friendships with strangers, but now I live in Defiance! When offered help, the author at first felt _ . A grateful B surprised C embarrassed D excited Answer: B
Three blondes were being trained to become detectives by a policeman. To test their skills in recognizing a suspect , the policeman showed the first blonde a picture for five seconds and then asked how she could recognize him. She thought it easy, for the suspect had only one eye. The policeman felt disappointed at this funny answer. He showed the second lady the picture for five seconds and asked her how she would recognize him. The second blonde giggled, flipped her hair, and said, "Ha! It's easy to find the one-eared person!" Her answer also made the policeman angry. Turning to the third lady, he asked, "This is your suspect, and how would you recognize him?" He added quickly, "Think hard before giving a stupid answer." The third blonde looked at the picture carefully for a moment and said, "HMMMM ... the suspect is wearing contact lenses ." The policeman was surprised and speechless, because he really didn't know himself if the suspect wore contacts or not. "Well, that is a good answer. Wait here for a few minutes while I check his file." He left the room and went to his office, checked the suspect's file in his computer and returned with a beaming smile. "Wow! I can't believe it ... it's TRUE! The suspect does in fact wear contact lenses. Good work! How were you able to make such a wise observation?" "That's easy," the blonde replied, "he can't wear glasses because he only has one eye and one ear!" According to the passage we can infer that _ . Answer: the picture was just a side of the suspect Hobbs was an orphan . He worked in a factory and every day he got a little money. Hard work changed him thin and weak. He wanted to borrow a lot of money to learn to paint pictures, but he did not think he could pay off the debts.One day the lawyer said to him, "One thousand dollars, and here is the money." As Hobbs took the package of notes, he was very dumbfounded . He didn't know where the money came from and how to spend it. He said to himself, "I could go to find a hotel and live like a rich man for a few days; or I give up my work in the factory and do what I'd like to do: painting pictures I could do that for a few weeks, but what would I do after that? I should have lost my place of the factory and have no money to live on. If it were a little less money, I would buy a new coat, or a radio, or give a dinner to my friends. If it were more, I could give up the work and pay for painting pictures. But it's too much for one and too little for the other." "Here is the reading of your uncle's will ," said the lawyer, "telling what is to be done with this money after his death. I must ask you to remember one point. Your uncle has said you must bring me a paper showing exactly what you did with his money, as soon as you have spent it." "Yes, I see. I'll do that." said the young man. With the money he got, first Hobbs _ . Answer: had no idea what to do Each time I see a balloon, my mind flies back to a memory of when I was a six - year - old girl. It was a rainy Sunday and my father had recently died. I asked my mom if Dad had gone to heaven. "Yes, honey. Of course." she said."Can we write him a letter?" She paused, the longest pause of my short life, and answered, "Yes."My heart jumped. "How? Does the mailman go there?" I asked. "No, but I have an idea." Mom drove to a party store and returned with a red balloon. I asked her what it was for."Just wait, honey. You'll see." Mom told me to write my letter. Eagerly, I got my favorite pen, and poured out my six - year - old heart in the form of blue ink. I wrote about my day, what I learned at school, how Mom was doing, and even about what happened in a story I had read. For a few minutes it was as if Dad were still alive. I gave the letter to Mom. She read it over, and a smile crossed her face.She made a hole in the corner of the letter where she looped the balloon string. We went out-side and she gave me the balloon. It was still raining."Okay, on the count of three, let go. One, two, three."The balloon, carrying my letter, darted upward against the rain. We watched until it was swallowed by the mass of clouds.Later I realized, like the balloon, that Dad had never let his sickness get him down. He was strong. No matter what he suffered, he'd persevere, dart up, and finally transcend this cold world and his sick body. He rose into sky and became something beautiful. I watched until the balloon disappeared into the gray and white and I prayed that his strength was passed on. I prayed to be a balloon. When the girl was told that she could send a letter to her father, she _ . Answer: became excited Traditional Japanese food is surely one of the healthiest and most delicious in the world, and _ , foods like tofu, sushi and even green tea are now familiar and can be found easily out of Japan. As a national cuisine , thanks to many social as well as political changes, Japanese food has greatly developed over the past few centuries. In ancient times, when much of the traditional cuisine was influenced by Korean and Chinese cultures, Japanese cuisine slowly changed with the start of the medieval period, which brought along with it new tastes. With the coming of the modern age, a great many changes took place and the Japanese cuisine was influenced greatly by Western culture. However, the traditional Japanese food of today is still very like what existed toward the end of the 19th century. This would mean that a large part of the Japanese cuisine includes those foods whose cooking methods and ingredients have been introduced from other cultures, but which have since then been experimented with and developed by the Japanese themselves. The thing about Japanese food is that you either will love it or will completely look down upon it. With traditional Japanese food, there is no such thing as an in-between. However, chances are that if you hate Japanese food, then you probably haven't even tasted real Japanese food or you simply haven't given yourself the chance to like it. Unlike other cuisines, Japanese food is not something that you will appreciate after having only a bite. Like wines and cigars, Japanese food needs time to be liked. After reading the whole passage, we learn that this passage mainly _ . Answer: tells us something about traditional Japanese food We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. Why do we go wrong about our friends? Sometimes people hide their real meanings when they say something. And if we don't really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog." That's being friendly. But "lucky dog"? There's a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn't see himself. But "lucky dog" puts you down a little. He may mean you don't deserve your luck. How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Do his words agree with the tone of voice? His posture ? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. If you spend the minute thinking about the real meaning behind one's words, it may save another mistake. From the passage, how many things should we pay attention to when we take a good look at the person talking? Answer: Four
Question: There is a place where Christmas lives all year long. It is called Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The family-owned business calls itself the world's largest Christmas store. The late Wally Bronner started the business in 1945. Wayne Bronner, Wally's son, is president and CEO of what is now a multi-million dollar corporation. He learned the business from an early age. Some of his best memories are traveling to other countries with his father to find new products for the store. Bronner's sells more than 50,000 holiday products from 70 nations. Half of the products cost less than ten dollars. Wayne Bronner says the demand for small objects to hang on Christmas trees has expanded over the years. People spend more time, effort and money into decorating their homes with these ornaments, lights and religious scenes. Bronner's is famous for its nativity scenes which show the birth of Jesus Christ. Michigan has the nation's highest unemployment rate. Bronner's has been affected by the recession, too. But not in reduced sales. Wayne Bronner said: "Even though people are spending less, we're having more people visit here. And as a result we've actually had a sales increase." Bronner's success is also linked to community cooperation and investment. Frankenmuth is a town of 5,000 people in eastern Michigan's farm country. The town was settled by Bavarian Germans in the 1800s. It has kept its traditions alive in buildings and restaurants. Bavarian cultural themes and Bronner's huge store bring 3,000,000 visitors a year. The town is the most popular place for tourists in the state. Bronner's business is aimed at a single day of the year. But that is not too different from other businesses. "About half of our business is done in the last quarter of the year, in the last three months. And actually when you compare that with most retailers, that follows the same pattern." Wayne Bronner says the family's long-term planning and willingness to reinvest profits has developed the company into what it is today. Still, it does not hurt to build a business on a holiday which is celebrated worldwide. Currently, about only two percent of sales are overseas. But Wayne Bronner sees room for growth, especially through the Internet. Bronner's success lies in the following EXCEPT _ . A. community cooperation and investment B. the family's long-term planning C. aiming its business at a single day of the year D. the willingness to reinvest profits Answer: C Question: Most children, even the youngest of children, are delighted to be around cats and dogs. But these pets carry plenty of germs and allergens , prompting researchers to ask: Are cats and dogs really safe for children? A study finds that, contrary to many parents' fears, owning cats or dogs does not increase a child's risk of developing allergies, and in fact, may actually protect them. The study's lead author, Dr. Dennic Ownby of the Medical College of Georgia, says that even he was "very surprised" by the results. Ownby and colleagues followed more than 470 children from birth to age 6 or 7, comparing those exposed to cats and dogs during their first year of life to those who were not. By using skin-prick tests for detecting common allergies, the researchers found that, contrary to what many doctors had been taught for years, children who had lived with a pet were not at greater risk. Even more remarkable, children who had two or more dogs or cats had an even greater reduction, up to 77 percent, in risk of allergies. Researchers suggest this protective effect may be the result of early exposure to lots of bacteria that are carried by dogs and cats. Exposing young children to these bacteria helps" exercise" their immune systems early in life so that they're better able to resist allergic diseases later. There's something very important in that first year of life when the immune system is developing that we can retrain _ away from an allergic response, said Dr. William Davis. And while researchers are not encouraging parents to buy dogs or cats just to reduce a child's allergy risk, they say if a family already has one or more animals, there's no need to get rid of them. What may be the best title of the passage? A. How to protect your kids from allergies B. Your pets may be helping your kids C. Bacteria do good to your kids D. Advantages of owning pets Answer: B Question: To Make Everybody Happy Peter's uncle lives in the country. Once in summer, Peter goes to stay with him for a few weeks. Whenever they go for a walk or for a drive in the car and pass somebody, his uncle waves to the passer-by. Peter is surprised and says, "Uncle Georage, you seem to know everybody here. Where did you meet them all?" "I don't know all these people." answers his uncle. "Then why do you wave to them?" "Well, Peter ," says his uncle "When I wave to someone who knows me, he is pleased. He goes on his journey with a happier heart. But when I wave to someone who doesn't know me , he is surprised and says to himself, ' Who is that man? Why did he wave to me?' So he has something to think about during the rest of his journey, and that makes his journey seem shorter.So.I.make.everybody.happy. George waves to every passer - by _ . A. to make everybody happy B. to make Peter happy C. only to make joke D. to make himself happy Answer: A Question: Twelve years ago, I arrived in Central Florida from Puerto Rico. I had heard of a job opportunity and decided to pursue it. But it never became a reality. I quickly learned that being alone without resources in an unfamiliar city was not a comfortable situation to be in. Once my limited funds ran out I became homeless and spent a year and a half living on the streets of Orlando. Apart from feeling not being noticed and missing my family, I had to face another challenge--hunger. For the first time in my life, I, as a foreign man, who had lived my life in the relative comfort of the middle class, understood the desperation someone feels when they don't get enough to eat. I clearly remembered having run a distance of more than 7 miles on many occasions just to make it to a local feeding program before they closed at 7 pm. Once the need for food was met, the next challenge would arise--where to find a place to sleep for the night. Fortunately, local programs like the Coalition for the Homeless, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Wayne Densch Center were an important part of my ability to survive my painful experience. With the assistance of these programs, I was accepted by a college scholarship program through the Coalition and obtained two degrees from Valencia. My experience has helped me understand that devoting my life to helping others offers lasting rewards. Today, I am employed as Childhood Hunger Programs Manager at Second Harvest Food Bank and oversee the summer feeding, Hi-Five Kids Pack, and Kids Cafe programs. I am so proud to be able to distribute food resources to those wonderful programs and help hundreds more like me. From his experience, the author learns that _ . A. misfortune may be an actual blessing. B. a friend in need is a friend indeed. C. where there is a will there is a way. D. one good turn deserves another. Answer: D Question: Mr Green has a car. In the morning he takes his children to school in his car. Then he drives to work. Mr Green and his children do not have lunch at home, but Mrs Green does. She does not go to work. She stays at home and does some shopping and cleaning in the morning. In the afternoon she usually goes to see some of her friends, has tea and talks a lot with them. Then she cooks supper for her family. Mr Green comes back home much later than his children. They do not come back in their father's car. They take a bus home. They usually come back home before five. Mrs Green has her lunch _ . A. with her children B. with her friends C. at home D. with Mr Green Answer: C
Question: Summer holiday is coming , what do you like to do ?here are four students telling us what they will do in the coming summer holiday. Mai hajui Baihetiya, 14 . I am from Xinjiang . I am studying at Tianjin No.2 Middle School now. I will go on a trip to Beijing . I am going to the Great Wall , the Summer Palace and the Palace Museum . I will go to Wangfujing Street to buy a sweater for my mother, a scarf for my father and a T- shirt for my brother. Wu Jun, 13. I come from Shanghai . My favourite season is summer . I like going swimming with my friends in the swimming pool. It is very exciting . Mike ,13 . I am studying at Nanjing No. 5 Middle School . I miss my parents very much . I will go back to America to see my family . Summer is a good season to go out . I will have a picnic with my friends in the countryside . I can also play football and baseball with my friends . How happy we will be . Liu Shuyi, 14, I am from Shanghai . I like summer best because I can eat ice cream and wear a dress. I am not good at English . I will join an English club to learn English . Which is NOT TRUE according to the passage ? A. Mike is from America. B. Liu Shuyi speaks English very well. C. Mai hajui Baihetiya lives in Tianjing now D. Wu jun and Mike are of the same age. Answer: B. Liu Shuyi speaks English very well. Question: Yamilette Colon was close to leaving a school. "I'm not even going to lie to you, and I was bad, '' said Colon, who admitted she had a gift for attracting trouble. Three years later, though, Colon, now 18, is a school honor student on track for a May diploma, spurred in part by a sense of self-pride, but also, she says, by the economic disaster that has closed plants, deprived of jobs and dimmed the future for many young people in this depressed county. "It's a huge factor," Colon said, "What it comes down to is, the longer you stay in school, the more education you will get, and the more money you will make." That's a big shift in attitude in a community where 24 percent of adults older than 25 have not a high school education, where only 66 percent of students graduate from high school in four years, and where generations of kids dropped out because it was always easy to find a suitable job. But across the country, education leaders say they're seeing what may be one bright spot in the discouraging downturn: more students choose to stay in or return to school. "I'm hearing kids clinging to their education as the economy gets worse,'' said Clyde Riley, principal at the Tipton Street Center alternative school, where Colon is one of 240 students in a district that serves some 13,500. Here and elsewhere, long waiting lists for adult education and GED (General Education Development) classes, enrollments at community colleges and, perhaps, a surge in returns by high school dropouts and a decline in those who leave in the first place, may all point to a renewed focus on education, experts say. "If there's anything good coming out of this recession, it's to make educational lemonade out of these lemons." said Bob Wise, who now heads a national policy group. Why did Colon become an honor student? A. Because she had a gift for academic learning. B. Because she intended to change the economic situation. C. Because she showed anxiety for her future. D. Because she was often asked to stay after school. Answer: C. Because she showed anxiety for her future. Question: Naomi looks around outside on a prairie and it is cloudless but the sun is nowhere to be seen. It is A. night B. noon C. morning D. afternoon Answer: A. night Question: Watson won his most important game and became Southern Chess Master in 1977.He was given the silver cup. "It isn't rightly mine."he said,when he was holding the cup, "It was won two years ago when I was on holiday in...." "A family was staying at my hotel at that time.Mrs Prang,the mother,was told that I played chess;and she begged me to give her young son a game." "He's only ten."She said,Ive been told that you play quite well." "Well,as you can guess.I wasn't too happy. A player likes the opponent to play as well as he does. But it was holiday time and I agreed to play. We placed the board in the garden. The game began .I hoped it would be quick-----and so it was." "I soon knew that David Prang was no learner.After ten minutes his sister came outside and began to play tennis against in our game. He moved a piece without care. I gave my attention to the board." "Call me when you are ready,Mr Watson,"he said. "When I was ready?" I looked up. He had gone off to play with his sister,I studied the board-----and found I was driven into a corner. So it went on with David;a quick move,then tennis,back to the board,then back to his sister.My difficult condition became impossible to change. I was beaten,oh,so easily,by a ten-year-old chess player. He was the winner--in twenty-eight minutes." "David Prang:a name to remember.I had a chance to use his game today and it won this cup for me. To him,of course,it'sonly one of a hundred,or perhaps a thousand,winning games." Why did David play tennis while he was playing chess with Watson? A. had no interest in playing chess with adults.( ) B. Was not good at playing chess. C. Liked playing tennis much better than playing chess. D. Played chess much better than Watson Answer: D. Played chess much better than Watson Question: In 1978, I was 18 and was working as a nurse in a small town about 270 km away from Sydney, Australia. I was looking forward to having five days off from duty. Unfortunately, the only one train a day back to my home in Sydney had already left. So I thought I'd hitch a ride . I waited by the side of the highway for three hours but no one stopped for me. Finally, a man walked over and introduced himself as Gordon. He said that although he couldn't give me a lift, I should come back to his house for lunch. He noticed me standing for hours in the November heat and thought I must be hungry. I was doubtful as a young girl but he assured(...) me I was safe, and he also offered to help me find a lift home afterwards. When we arrived at his house, he made us sandwiches. After lunch, he helped me find a lift home. Twenty-five years later, in 2003, while I was driving to a nearby town one day, I saw an elderly man standing in the glaring heat, trying to hitch a ride. I thought it was another chance to repay someone for the favor I'd been given decades earlier. I pulled over and picked him up. I made him comfortable on the back seat and offered him some water. After a few moments of small talk, the man said to me, "You haven't changed a bit, even your red hair is still the same." I couldn't remember where I'd met him. He then told me he was the man who had given me lunch and helped me find a lift all those years ago. It was Gordon. The reason why the author offered a lift to the elderly man was that _ . A. she was going to the nearby town B. she had known him for decades C. she wanted to repay the favor she once got D. she realized he was Gordon Answer: C. she wanted to repay the favor she once got
On March 1, Computer Programs, Inc. (CP) orally agreed with Holiday Department Store (HDS) to write a set of programs for HDS's computer and to coordinate the programs with HDS's billing methods. A subsequent memo, signed by both parties, provided in its entirety: HDS will pay CP $20,000 in two equal installments within one month of completion if CP is successful in shortening by one-half the 17 processing time for the financial transactions now handled on HDS's Zenon 747 computer; CP to complete by July 1. This agreement may be amended only by a signed writing. On June 6, CP demanded $10,000, saying the job was one-half done. After HDS denied liability, the parties orally agreed that HDS should deposit $20,000 in escrow, pending completion to the satisfaction of HDS's computer systems manager. The escrow deposit was thereupon made. On July 5, CP completed the programs, having used an amount of time in which it could have earned $18,000 had it devoted that time to other jobs. Tests by CP and HDS's computer systems manager then showed that the computer programs, not being perfectly coordinated with HDS's billing methods, cut processing time by only 47 percent. They would, however, save HDS $12,000 a year. Further, if HDS would spend $5,000 to change its invoice preparation methods, as recommended by CP, the programs would cut processing time by a total of 58 percent, saving HDS another $8,000 a year. HDS's computer systems manager refused in good faith to certify satisfactory completion. HDS asked the escrow agent to return the $20,000 and asserted that nothing was owed to CP even though HDS continued to use the programs"If CP in fact had half-completed the job on June 6, would it then have been entitled to $10,000? Answer: These days everyone is worried about the size of their carbon footprint. In order to reduce global warming we need to make our carbon footprints smaller. But how much CO2are we responsible for? A new book by Mike Berners Lee, an expert, might be able to help. The carbon footprint looks at the different things we do and buy, and calculates the amount of CO2all of the following created: the ingredients, the electricity, the equipment, the travel and commuting of the beer, and the packaging. It's amazing how many different things need to be included in each calculation. And it's frightening how much carbon dioxide everything produces. This can help us decide which beer to drink. From Berners Lee's calculations, it's clear that a pint (568ml) of locally _ beer has a smaller carbon footprint than a bottle of imported beer. This is because the imported beer has been transported from far away, and it uses more packaging. The local beer only produces 300g of CO2, but the imported beer produces 900g! So, one pint of local beer is better for the environment. Berners Lee has even calculated the carbon footprint of cycling to work. Nothing is more environmentally friendly than riding a bike, surely? Well, it depends on what you've had to eat before. To ride a bike we need energy and for energy we need food. So if we eat a banana and then ride a kilometer, our footprint is 65g of CO2. However, if we eat bacon before the ride, it's 200g. In fact, bananas are good because they don't need packaging, they can be transported by boat and they grow in natural sunlight. So, does this mean that cycling is bad for the environment? Absolutely not, for a start, if you cycle, you don't use your car, and the fewer cars on the road, the fewer traffic jams. And cars in traffic jams produce three times more CO2than cars traveling at speed. Cycling also makes you healthy and less likely to go to hospital. So maybe it's time for us all to start making some changes. Pass me a banana and a pint of local beer, please. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Suzhou is an old city with a long history. The city is very clean and has fresh air. There are a lot of nice gardens in Suzhou and Suzhou gardens are famous in the world. When you enjoy the beauty in the gardens, you will feel very peaceful and happy. Besides (......) the gardens, Suzhou silk is also very famous. On the streets, you can see many silk shops. You should buy some beautiful silk scarves because they are really beautiful. Suzhou food is so sweet and some people may not like it. But you can have different kinds of foods here. Suzhou is close to Shanghai. It takes about only one hour from Suzhou to Shanghai by bus. The traffic is very convenient here. Welcome to Suzhou! You will have a good time here. How will you feel when walking in the gardens? Answer: When he was 16, his father seriously said to him, "I'll give you whatever you want before you are 18. But after that, I won't care much about you, and you should give me whatever I want." When his 18th birthday was coming, the young man began thinking about looking for a job. So he sent resumes to many companies he liked on the Internet. But, most got no reply, he said, "Maybe they were surprised about my primary school education." By chance, one of his friends was looking for someone, who could work as an egg porter in the supermarket, for 0.5 Yuan a box. Facing lots of difficulties in getting a job, he said, "I'll take this job. At least I can make some money for my petrol ." Then every day, he drove his car, his 18th birthday gift, to work in the supermarket. He did that for three months. Later, he heard that a newspaper was looking for a network technician , so he asked for it. But they were also worried about his school education. He practiced his skill right in front of the computer, and showed the managers web pages he had designed. He started to work the next day, and became the director of network department in less than a year. And now, the 23-year-old man is a boss. In January 2005, he started a magazine for children, with himself as the editor in chief . And the only writer was his father. The young man's father might be _ . Answer: Good food photography makes the food look fresh, so many dishes have _ , just as movie stars do. "When I get my lights and camera set up, I remove the stand-in and put in the real thing," explains Ray Webber, who photographs food for magazine advertisements. "Sometimes I have to brush the food with its juices because it may have dried out a bit. And when I'm shooting something like tomatoes, I always carry an atomizer of water to spray them with dew just before I shoot." Shooting food outdoors has special problems. " I'm always worrying about flies or worms coming up a glass," Webber explains. "I am also worried that someday a dog will come up from behind and run off with the food." Once Webber was shooting a piece of cheese outdoors and needed something to add to its colour. Finally he found a plant with lovely blue flowers. When the photo appeared, several people were horrified , because the plant was Deadly Nightshade which can be very dangerous. Webber is afraid that dogs might _ . Answer:
The report came to the British on May 21, 1941. The German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship in the world, was moving out into the Atlantic Ocean. Her task: to destroy the ships carrying supplies from the United States to war-torn England. The British had feared such a task. No warship they had could match the Bismarck in speed or in firepower. The Bismarck had eight 15-inch guns and 81 smaller guns. She could move at 30 nautical miles an hour. She was believed to be unsinkable. However, the British had to sink her. They sent out a task force headed by their best battleship Hood to hunt down the Bismarck. On May 24, the Hood found the Bismarck. It was a meeting that the German commander Luetjens did not want to see. His orders were to destroy the British ships that were carrying supplies, but to stay away from a fight with British warships. The battle didn't last long. The Bismarck's first torpedo hit the Hood, which went down taking all but three of her 1,419 men with her. But in the fight, the Bismarck was a bit damaged. Her commander decided to run for repairs to France, which had at that time been taken by the Germans. The British force followed her. However, because of the Bismarck's speed and the heavy fog, they lost sight of her. For two days, every British ship in the Atlantic tried to find the Bismarck, but with no success. Finally, she was sighted by a plane from Ireland. Trying to slow the Bismarck down so that their ships could catch up with her, the British fired at her from the air. The Bismarck was hit. On the morning of May 27, the last battle was fought. Four British ships fired on the Bismarck, and she was finally sunk. Luetjens tried to sail to France in order to _ . A. have the ship repaired B. join the other Germans C. get help from the French D. get away from the British Answer: A. have the ship repaired The sun is a huge, hot, bright star. It is important because without it there would be no life on Earth. The sun gives us light and heat. All living things need light and heat from the sun to live. Plants need light and heat to grow. They use the light from the sun to make food. We cannot make our own food, but plants can. All the food we eat comes from plants in a food chain which starts with the sun. For example, Animals need sunlight, too. Just like us, their food comes from a food chain which begins with the sun and the plants. sun- leaf- caterpillar -bird sun- seaweed -small fish- whale Sunlight means we can see during the day. If there was no sun, it would be dark all the time. Even when the sky is cloudy, the sunlight is very strong and it shines through the clouds. Which words tell us what the sun is like? A. Huge. B. Hot. C. Bright. D. All above. Answer: A. Huge. Have you ever had a day when everything seemed to go wrong, and nothing seemed to go right? Not too long ago I was having one of those days. I was discouraged, weary, and plain sad. My focus was on me. After all, no one else was experiencing the same trials I was. I expressed my upset state to my mother, hoping for some pity. Instead, she said, "I heard Jamie was having a difficult day too. Why don't you make her some cookies and take them to her this afternoon?" I didn't really want to, but decided that I didn't want to go back to my other problems just yet. I made the cookies and arranged them on a little plate. Then I made a card with a sunflower on it and wrote a small note of empathy. That afternoon I dropped by my friend's house. I went to the door and rang the bell. Soon, Jamie came to the door and looked at me in surprise for the unexpected visit. Before she could say anything I rushed, " I heard you were having a hard day and decided to bring you something. I hope your day goes better." The look that came over Jamie's face was one that I could never put into words. It was as if a darkened sky was suddenly lit with the golden rays of the sun; it was as if in that small act, her day was brightened. I got back into the car and for some amazing reason; I felt a lot better myself. That day I experienced the truth that James Barri attempted to describe, " Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." The passage is mainly about _ . A. dealing with others when they are angry B. adjusting well the mental condition C. taking mother's advice every hour D. enjoying oneself at any time Answer: B. adjusting well the mental condition Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But, before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist . That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. One day Merlin was invited to a music party. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room. Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates in the world. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of getting to the party on wheels while playing the violin. On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on, suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking into pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's entrance! Merlin didn't _ at the party. A. play the violin B. have any ways to stop his roller skates C. roll into the room D. get a lot of attention Answer: B. have any ways to stop his roller skates I bought a Paul Smith shirt three months ago. For those who don't know, Paul Smith is an English designer brand. His shirts cost about 1,000 yuan and upwards. I paid 50 yuan for my colorful shirt from a street vendor in Beijing. Of course my shirt was a knockoff, a cheap copy of the brand. After a few washes, little balls formed on the surface of the thin material. Do I care? Not at all. You get what you pay for. I have to admit I hate shopping. _ I have other priorities. In You Are What You Wear, US writer Jennifer Baumgartner says people's clothes tell a story about their personality. She writes: "The clothes you choose to wear provide important information about you as a person: your approximate education level, your income, social status and even your level of self-esteem ." When I started work as an undercover crime reporter, I had to shop for jeans and a hoodie in order to fit in with a rough and ready social group. I bought the hoodie in a charity shop. My daughters were shocked. They thought I looked bad, but I knew my disguise was perfect. Elizabeth L. Cline thinks she knows best when it comes to cheap clothes in her book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. She expresses sadness that clothing has been turned into a good that is thrown away after being used once or twice. She looks down her nose at cheap fashion and longs for the good old days when department stores sold quality clothes at high prices. I don't agree. At least people now can choose what to wear without breaking the bank. From the text we can infer that the author's disguise _ . A. immediately won the admiration of his daughters B. turned out unsuited to his plan C. proved that clothes can't show a person's true personality D. had something to do with his income Answer: C. proved that clothes can't show a person's true personality
If a thing is tossed and goes uncaught, then it will Answer: If the world were a village of 1,000 people, it would include: * 584 Asians * 124 Africans * 95 Eastern and Western Europeans * 84 Latin Americans * 55 former Soviets (including Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, and other national groups) * 52 North Americans * 6 Australians and New Zealanders The people of the village would speak: * 165 Mandarin * 86 English * 83 Hindu/Urdu * 64 Spanish * 58 Russian * 37 Arabic The above list covers the mother tongues of only half the village. One-third of the people in the village are children, and only 60 are over the age of 65. Just under half of the married women in the village have access to modem equipments. This year 28 babies will be born. Ten people will die, 3 of them for lack of food, 1 from cancer. Two of the deaths will be of babies born within the year. With the 28 births and 10 deaths, the population of the village next year will be 1,018. In this village of 1,000 persons, 200 people receive 75 percent of the income; another 200 receive only 2 percent of the income. About one-third _ clean, safe drinking water. Of the 670 adults in the village, half can not read nor write. The village has a total yearly budget , public and private, of over $3 million--$ 3 ,000 per person if it is distributed evenly. Of the total $3 million: $ 181,000 goes to weapons and warfare $ 159,000 to education $ 132,000 to health care These weapons are under the control of just 100 of the people. The other 900 are watching them with deep anxiety, wondering whether they can learn to get along together. Which of the following problems is NOT mentioned in the text? Answer: Recently, another study has been carried out about who is the greatest American president. Sixty-five presidential historians took part in it and they judged the past forty-two American leaders based on ten qualities of leadership, which include public persuasion, crisis leadership, the management of economy, moral leadership and international relations. The historians also looked at administrative ability, relations with Congress, goal setting and pursuit of equal justice for all. Finally, the experts considered performance based on the historical period in which the president lived. The historians chose Abraham Lincoln as America's greatest president. He had also been named best president in a similar study in 2000. Abraham Lincoln was the only president in American history to lead the nation during the Civil War in the 1860s. He united the nation at last. And he took the first steps that destroyed the institution of slavery in America. Edna Medford is a professor of history at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She was an adviser on this study and the earlier one. She says Abraham Lincoln is seen to represent the values that the nation most honors like truthfulness, moderation and respect for human rights. The historians named America's first president, George Washington, as second on the list of greatest presidents. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman are next in that order. John F. Kennedy, the country's first Roman Catholic president, is sixth on the list. Like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy was murdered while in office. Among recent presidents, Ronald Reagan was named the tenth best president. Bill Clinton was rated fifteenth. And the historians rated former president George W. Bush as number thirty-six. His father, George H.W. Bush, did much better. He was rated as number eighteen. Abraham Lincoln was chosen as America's greatest president mainly because _ . Answer: Many grown-ups worry that spending too much time playing video games isn't good for a kid's health. But some doctors have noticed that kids who bring their game players to the hospital seem less worried about being there. They also seem to feel less pain when they are giving all their attention on a car race or other games. At a children's center in Baltimore, Maryland, young kids are finding hospital visits easier to deal with, thanks to a test program called HOPE. Patients in HOPE have a life-threatening condition where their kidneys no longer get rid of wastes from their blood. To get their blood cleaned, these kids must use the dialysis machines at the hospital three times a week, for at least three hours each time. HOPE allows kids to play Internet sports, racing, and other games with each other. They will be able to connect with kids in other hospitals who have the same problem. "We want to use the Internet to bring together kids who are ill, and let them know they are not alone," said Arun Mathews, the doctor of the program. He loved video games himself and got the idea to connect kids all over the country. Many researchers elsewhere are testing video programs that might help young patients. For example, nine-year-old Ben Duskin of San Francisco, California, who was struggling with cancer helped to design a video game where players got rid of cancer cells. That's all great news, because doctors already know that reducing pain and worry helps patients heal faster. According to the passage, the sick kids may feel less pain when they _ . Answer: While you are in trouble, what are you going to do? What? Cry? Or escape? Those are all the wrong way! Robinson Crusoe can tell you the right answer! It is an exciting story: Robinson Crusoe hated the comfortable life in his home town. So, he want to be a seaman and travelled around the world. But one day, a terrible thing happened. A great storm came and their boat crashed! No one was alive in this accident except Robinson. He was the luckiest man in the world--Because all his friends were dead but he was alive. However, at the same time he was the most _ man of all--He must face the fact .Alone on an island without food, water or gun!But, all roads lead to Rome!He just used his hands to work hard!Then, he made a cave, built a house, grew corn and kept goats. In the end, he could enjoy the life on the island. In his twenty-fourth year on the island, he saved a wild man, and gave him the name of "Friday". With Robinson's teaching, "Friday" became a good servant. Friday, they got a boat and escaped from the island. Surely, the writer of Robinson Crusoe is really a hero! It's too hard to describe Robinson with words. We could say that Robinson was very clever, and also he was brave,...Certainly, too many good words can describe him. But now, I think it isn't important. However, the most important thing is what we have learned from the story. That is, use our own hands to work hard with confidence! How many people were alive in the accident? Answer:
As Apple tries to maintain its growth and success in China, the world's largest smart-phone market is becoming even more critical. Apple's shares fell sharply as the company's earnings for the holiday quarter through December disappointed investors. The sales of the iPhone, which include both the iPhone 5 and older models, came in at the low end of analysts' expectations, while the company's income plan for the second quarter was below analysts' forecasts, though Apple is known to give conservative forecasts. Som'6 analysts have said that for Apple to regain its growth, the company.needs a more aggressive strategy for markets, or more specifically for China, where the market for smart phones has been expanding more rapidly than anywhere else. In China, demand is particularly great for inexpensive phones that run on Android operating system, sold by many Chinese phone makers as well as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. But Apple says it's already enjoying strong growth in China. "We saw big growth in iPhones,"Chief Executive Tim Cook said. He said that the company has been quickly expanding its sales channels in China, including the number of Apple stores. "This isn't nearly what we need, we're not even close to that, but we're making great progress. " he said. In China, a big missing piece for Apple is China Mobile Ltd. , the biggest local telecom carrier that doesn't yet sell the iPhone. Earlier this month, Mr. Cook met China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua in Beijing and discussed cooperation, stirring hopes that the world's largest mobile carrier may soon start offering the iPhone. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on a lower-end iPhone that could launch as early as this year. But one possible challenge for Apple in China is that low-pricod Android-based phones are getting better in terms of quality. A report from CLSA in late November showed that many smart-phones sold at about 1,000 yuan ( $160) came with higher-reso-lution screens, better cameras and more powerful processors than phones at that price did a year earlier. The author uses the report from CLSA to prove _ A their prices are actually lower than a year earlier B Apple in China has ability to deal with any problem C low-ended Android-based phones are progressing fast D the promotion of lower-end iPhone will face a challenge Answer: D. the promotion of lower-end iPhone will face a challenge Man-made satellites have been sent up into space by many countries. These satellites go round the earth and help us to learn more about the earth, the weather and other things. Most countries use these satellites to sent and receive messages. For example, with their help China can send their programs to America, too. We can also use satellites to help us to make telephone calls to foreign countries. Man-made satellites can also help us _ to our friends on the other side of the world. A write down B send birthday presents C pay visit D make telephone calls Answer: D. make telephone calls Here is a poster on a middle school web site. Read the web-site poster. Going, Going, Gone! The Haynes Middle School Parent-Teacher organization Invites you to attend our latest fund-raiser, The Fourth Annual Haynes School Auction ! Saturday, May 10 6:00 p.m.-11: p.m. in the school hall 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. :All items for auction are previewed. 6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. : Silent auction begins. 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. : Highest bidders from silent auction are determined. 7:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. : Main auction begins. Items up for bid in the silent auction range in value from $ 5.00 to $ 30.00. Items up for bid in the main auction include the following: l Airline tickets to a place of your choice l Weekend getaways at first-class hotels l Season tickets to the Chicago Bears football game l $ 50 gift tickets to local gift shops, restaurants, and salons Don't miss the boat! Book your tickets today. Last year, tickets sold out in five days! Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. $ 15.00 per person All the money from the auction will be given to the prefix = st1 /HaynesSchoolcomputer lab. The phrase "first-come, first-served" tells you that _ . A people can buy the tickets on the first day only B the person who is first to arrive will receive a ticket at no charge C food and drinks will be served at the auction D tickets are sold in the order of who arrives first to buy them Answer: D. tickets are sold in the order of who arrives first to buy them Many people have to work on the weekend. Some people do not mind. Others think it is terrible. One man thinks that working on the weekend can be dangerous. He is Graham Coates. Mr Coates works in an office in Brighton, England. On Saturday, May 24, 1986, he went to the office to do some work. When he got on the lift , it stopped between floors. Mr Coates could not get out of the lift. He started to shout, but no one heard him. Then Mr. Coats remembered that it was a holiday in England. No one was going to come to work until Tuesday. There was nothing for him to do. He had to wait until one of his workmates came to work and found him. With nothing to eat or drink, Mr Coats ended up sleeping for most of the day. Now Mr. Coates says, "I only use lifts if they have telephones in them." Why could Mr. Coates not get out of the lift? Because _ . A it was broken B it was the weekend C it was in an office D it was a holiday Answer: D. it was a holiday Most American schools have boys and girls in the same classroom. But a public high school in the small, rural town of Boonsboro, Maryland, offers a special program called the Academy. Top students in the ninth and tenth grades can attend single-sex classes for math, science, English and social studies. The aim is to help teenagers keep their mind on their work by keeping males and females apart. What they really want to do is take that top group of kids and take them to the very highest level they can achieve there, so that they're prepared for college. Students are invited to enter this program after they finish middle school, and placement in the Academy is voluntary. However, they need high marks and test scores and strong teacher recommendations. They also need to be involved in activities. Almost 350 students have taken part in the Academy. It began as an experiment in 2010. Michael Bair has been at Boonsboro High for twenty years and directs the Academy. His ninth-grade English class for boys centers on books that he believes boys find interesting. He says that the novels the students are reading now are very manly novels. These novels deal with the arrogance of man and the pride of man which finally leads to man's downfall. One of those books, for example, is The Call of the Wild by Jack London. This classic story tells of a dog stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog in Canada's Klondike Gold Rush. Morgan Fleet, a senior at Boonsboro High, likes being in the Academy. She says boys and girls act differently when they are together in a classroom. She believes this difference seems to prevent her from developing herself because she's more focused on thoughts like "Oh, I wish they would shut up. Oh, what do they think of me?'' instead of focusing on "What's the homework? What's going on in this class? What's the lesson?". There is one activity that girls and boys in the Academy do together. At the end of the day, many of them stay and help tutor students who are having trouble in school. The passage is intended to _ . A introduce the single-sex class project B explain the differences between boys and girls C persuade students to enter the Academy program D urge students to work hard in their study Answer: A. introduce the single-sex class project
One afternoon, Kate and her brother Bob went out to play.Kate was eight, and Bob was ten."Let's go to the bridge and we can see fish in the river." said Kate. "I don't know..." Bob said."Mum told us, 'don't go on the bridge.' She said it's dangerous." Kate said, "I am not afraid.Are you?" They walked onto the bridge and began looking for fish in the river.The bridge was a train bridge.Trains went over the bridge three times a day. The children were standing in the middle of the bridge when they heard a loud noise."A train is coming!" Bob shouted."Run!" He ran to the end of the bridge.He was safe. Kate ran, too, but she fell.The train was coming fast.Kate ran towards Bob.She fell again right on the train tracks .There was no time to leave.She had to lie down between the tracks.A few seconds later, the train went over the girl, but she was not hurt at all.She stood up and said to Bob, "Don't tell Mum! Don't tell Mum!" At last their mother found out about the story.She was angry because they went on the bridge.But she was happy that Kate was all right. When the train came, the children were _ . Answer: In many countries today, laws protect wildlife. In India, the need for such protection was realized centuries ago. About 300 B.C. an Indian writer described forest that were somewhat like national parks today. The killing of game beasts was carefully supervised . Some animals were fully protected.Within the forest, nobody was allowed to cut timber(wood for building), burn wood for charcoal , or catch animals for their furs. Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were caught or killed outside the park so that other animals would not become uneasy. The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before. About a thousand species of animals are in danger of _ , and the rate of extinction was about one species every fifty years from A.D. 1 to 1800, but now it is about one species every year. Everywhere, men are trying to solve the problem of protecting wildlife caring for the rapid growth of the world's population. Dangerous animals were caught or killed outside the park so as to _ . Answer: 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'" . What would be the best title for the text? Answer: A pulley is used to do what with objects? Answer: Dave Smith is 12. He has a sister .Her name is Jenny .She is 8. Dave has a dictionary .It is blue .The dictionary is in his black backpack .He has a computer game and he likes it .Jenny has a watch .It is red .She likes it very much. She has a good pencil case ,too .It's white . Her pencil ,ruler ,eraser and pen are in the pencil case. Her pencil case is in her yellow backpack. What color is Dave's dictionary? Answer:
Philip likes to play football. He often plays football after school with his friends. Sandy likes to play basketball. She teaches her friends how to play it every Sunday afternoon. Han Mei is very good at the computer. She always uses it to draw pictures three times a week, and she uses it to surf the Internet. She has a good friend in America. Her name is Mary. Lin Tao is also good at drawing pictures. But he never uses computer to draw. How often does Lin Tao use computer to draw? Never Gu Changwei was the first Chinese cinematographer to be nominated for an Oscar, he is regarded by Zhang Yimou as the best cinematographer in China. Gu was behind the camera for many of Zhang Yimou's famous films including the one that rocketed Zhang to fame: "Red Sorghum ". And now this master of the visual has taken on his first directing role with the film "Peacock". So Gu Changwei has come out from behind the camera into the spotlight . Gu Changwei is very serious about his directing "Peacock". To get the authentic atmosphere, Gu took his film crew to the city of Anyang in central China's Henan province where the story takes place, to shoot the film. He chose all new actors because he didn't want "star" appeal to weaken the power of the story, and he also had his actors trained in the local dialect. For this film Gu has been able to get out from behind the camera to manage every aspect of the film, and to realize his own ideals in movie-making. "Peacock" is about the life of an average family in a small town in Henan province in the late 70s and early 80s. Gu chose this story for his first movie because he grew up during this same period and it struck a chord with him. "Peacock" wrapped up production in June, 2004. It's aimed at the foreign film market and will be entered in February's Berlin Film Festival, and released in China at the same time. But at the end of last October, Gu took "Peacock" to his Alma Mater, the Beijing Film Academy, one of the most famous film colleges in China, to hold a preview. The film was warmly received by both teachers and students. Gu chose such a story for his first movie because _ . the story had to do with his own experience Today is Friday. Peter has six classes today. He goes to school at 7:30 a.m. At 8:00 a.m., he begins his first class. The first class is English. At 9:00 a.m., he has math. Peter likes math because it's interesting. At 10:00 a.m. she has a biology class. Peter thinks it's very boring. Then at 11:00 a.m., he has a history class. That's his favorite subject. He can learn a lot about the past from history. Peter has lunch at school at about 12:00. Then he has a short _ . At 1:30 p.m., he has a music class. At 2:30 p.m., he has a P.E. class. Peter likes this afternoon, because music and P.E. are easy and interesting. School is over at 4:00 p.m. Peter is happy because he can go home and have a good time on Saturday and Sunday. ,. Peter likes this afternoon because _ . the classes are easy and interesting Alzheimer's disease is a major national health problem. Nearly 2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's disease. It is a leading cause of death among the elderly. But Alzheimer's disease is not confined to the aged. There may be a million or more people under the age of 65 suffering from the disease. At one time, people suffering from the disease were said to be "getting old". The disease was thought to be a natural part of growing old, but it is now known that Alzheimer's disease strikes young and old alike. It is an organic disease that destroys brain cells. Alzheimer's disease affects the patient's memory, speech, and movement. In the beginning stages of the disease, the patient may seem slightly confused. He may have trouble speaking, then the patient's memory begins to fail. He may forget dates, numbers, names and plans. As the disease progresses, the patient may not recognize family and friends. These symptoms often cause terrible anxiety in the patient. He may feel lost and frightened. Sometimes the patient reacts with wild and bad behavior. In the last stages of the disease, the patient may not be able to take care of himself. He may have lost the ability to speak and walk. Scientists don't know exactly what causes Alzheimer's disease. It may be caused by a virus .It may be caused by a poisonous substance in the environment. At present, there is no cure for the disease. But there are ways to slow its progress. Exercise and physical treatment can help the patients of this disease. The main idea of the passage is that Alzheimer's disease _ . is an organic disease that affects young and old Free energy is everywhere around us. There are many ways to make and collect energy from various sources like sun, wind and water. People also realize that everyday stuff can be a source of energy too. For example, riding a bike, running or just walking, etc. We simply have to change our way of thinking if we want to change the world. So comes the idea of solar roadways. Are they the road of future? Why use roads just for driving and collecting tolls ? Why don't we use them for collecting energy? The US Department of Transportation recently awarded $100,000 to Solar Roadways to build the first ever Solar Road Panel. So how do these future roads work? The Solar Road Panels will contain embedded LEDs which "paint" the road lines from beneath to provide safer nighttime driving as well as to give drivers instant instructions such as detour ahead. The road will be able to sense wildlife on the road and can warn drivers to "slow down". There will also be embedded heating elements in the surface to prevent snow and ice buildup, providing safer winter driving. Replacing asphalt roads and parking lots with Solar Roadway Panels will be a major step toward stopping climate change. Fully electric vehicles will be able to recharge along the roadway and in parking lots, finally making electric cars practical for long trips. We just can't wait to see more of these roads all over the world in the near future. What is the text mainly about? Solar road of the future.
For some reason we were reminded that we primates need love. Kim Bard of the University of Portsmouth in England and her colleagues carried out a study on 46 baby chimpanzees orphans , which had lost their mothers. The study showed that primate babies that have tight relationships with mother figures do much better on cognitive ( ) tests than babies who only grew up with peers , but this is not breaking news. In fact, it ' s old news. In the 1950s, Harry Harlow did a series of experiments with baby monkeys that showed. that lack of love and comfort makes for a crazy monkey. Harlow constructed a cage that included a wire monkey "mother" with a plastic face. Then he equipped the "mother" with a milk bottle .The cage also had another wire "mother" who was covered with soft cloth. The baby monkeys spent all their time with the cloth "mother" arid only went to the wire "mother" to feed. Harlow's monkey experiment was important because, at the time, child care experts, and everybody's grandmother had a "no touch, no comfort" policy toward children. They advised parents not to respond to crying babies. They thought that babies should sleep alone to become independent, and for God's sake put that kid down. But Harlow's work changed that policy. Mothers were soon permitted to have their babies next to them in the hospital. The current chimp research based on Harlow's work shows that mother's love doesn't just make for a psychologically healthy child, it also makes for a smart child. The highly raised chimps do better than those that are not loved, and the well-raised chimps do even better than human kids on IQ tests. We are primates, social animals which need love. We need to be held and talked to and made to feel that at least one person wants to be with us all the time. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Metro Pocket Guide _ Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out . Up to two children under age five may travel free with a paying customer . Farecard machines are in every station. Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the stations and farecard machines only provide up to $5 in change. Get one ticket of unlimited Metrorall rides with a One Day Pass. Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations. Use it after 9:30 a,m. until closing on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays . _ Open: 5 a.m. Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. Sat.-Sun. Close : midnight Sun .-Thurs. 3 a.m.Fri.-Sat. nights Last train times vary. To avoid missing the last train, please check the last train times posted in stations. _ When paying with exact charge , the fare is $1.35. When paying with a SmarTripRcard , the fare is 1.25. _ Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare. On Metrorail and Metrobus, use a senior/disabled farecard or SmarTrip Rcard . For more information about buying senior/disabled farecard, SmarTripRcards and passes, please visit MetroOpensDoors .com or call 202-637-7000 and 202-637-8000. Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorail services by calling 202-062-1100. Travel tips . Avoid riding during weekday rush periods -before 9:30 a.m. and between 4 and 6p.m. . If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost &Found at 202-962-1195 . What should you know about farecard machines? Answer: My family and I lived across the street from Southway Park since I was four years old. Then just last year the city put a chain link fence around the park and started bulldozing the trees and grass to make way for a new apartment complex. When I saw the fence and bulldozers, I asked myself,"Why don't they just leave it alone?" Looking back, I think what sentenced the park to oblivion was the drought we had about four years ago. Up until then, Southway Park was a nice green park with plenty of trees and a public swimming pool. My friends and I rollerskated on the sidewalks, climbed the trees, and swam in the pool all the years I was growing up. The park was almost like my own yard. Then the summer I was fifteen the drought came and things changed. There had been almost no rain at all that year. The city stopped watering the park grass. Within a few weeks I found myself living across the street from a huge brown desert. Leaves fell off the park trees, and pretty soon the trees started dying, too. Next, the park swimming pool was closed. The city cut down on the work force that kept the park, and pretty soon it just got too ugly and dirty to enjoy anymore. As the drought lasted into the fall, the park got worse every month. The rubbish piled up or blew across the brown grass. Soon the only people in the park were beggars and other people down on their luck. People said drugs were being sold or traded there now. The park had gotten scary, and my mother told us kids not to go there anymore. The drought finally ended and things seemed to get back to normal, that is, everything but the park. It had gotten into such bad shape that the city just let it stay that way. Then about six months ago I heard that the city was going to"redevelop"certain wornout areas of the city. It turned out that the city had planned to get rid of the park, sell the land and let someone build rows of apartment buildings on it. The chainlink fencing and the bulldozers did their work. Now we live across the street from six rows of apartment buildings. Each of them is three units high and stretches a block in each direction. The neighborhood has changed without the park. The streets I used to play in are jammed with cars now. Things will never be the same again. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ According to the writer, what eventually brought about the disappearance of the park? Answer: When her five daughters were young, Helene An always told them that there was strength in unity .To show this, she pick up one chopstick, taking it as one person.Then she easily broke it into two pieces.Next, she tied several chopsticks together, taking them as a family.She showed the girls it was hard to break the tied chopsticks.This lesson about family unity stayed with the daughters as they grew up Helene An and her family own a large restaurant business in California.However, when Helene and her husband Danny left their home in Vietnam in 1975, they didn't have much money.They moved their family to San Francisco.There they joined Danny's mother, Diana, who owned a small Italian sandwich shop.Soon afterwards, Helene and Diana changed the sandwich shop into a small Vietnamese restaurant.The five daughters helped in the restaurant when they were young.However, Helene did not want her daughters to always work in the family business because she thought it was too hard. Eventually the girls all graduated from college and went away to work for themselves, but one by one, the daughters returned to work in the family business.They opened new restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles.Even though family members sometimes disagreed with each other, they worked together to make the business successful.Daughter Elisabeth explains, "Our mother taught us that to succeed we must have unity, and to have unity we must have peace.Without the strength of the family, there is no business." With three generations of Ans working together, now the Ans'business makes more than $20 million each year.Although they began with a small restaurant, they had big dreams, and they worked together.Now they are a big success. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? Answer: Archaeologists believe they are on the turning point of throwing light on the life of William Shakespeare -- by excavating what may have been the playwright's dust hole. Experts have begun excavating the ruins of New Place, Shakespeare's former home in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was destroyed 250 years ago. Although little remains of the property, the team, led by Birmingham Archaeology, believes it has identified a dust hole used by the 16th century poet. Small pieces of pottery and broken clay pipe have already been found from a muddy hole on the site, which they claim could yield some of the most significant discoveries about Shakespeare in decades. The dig focuses on three areas of the property, which Shakespeare bought in 1597 when he returned to his home town from London having achieved fame -- including the so-called knot garden at the back of the building. Dr Diana Owen, Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which owns the site, said, "We do not know if the knot garden was an area used by Shakespeare -- it may have been a yard simply used by his servants. But this could actually yield some fantastic results, especially if it was an area where rubbish was thrown or the dust hole was located." Kevin Colls, from Birmingham Archaeology,added, "Through documentary evidence we know Shakespeare lived at New Place but we have very little information regarding the layout of the house and gardens at this time. Through archaeological fieldwork, in particular the dig of structural remains and the recovery of artifacts, we hope to fill in the blanks." Until October, visitors will be able to watch archaeologists and volunteers at work as they excavate the remains of the house, which was knocked down in 1759. Experts hope to unearth evidence to support theories that Shakespeare wrote many of his most famous works at the property. What can we learn from the text? Answer:
Science Textbooks for Sale! Used, but in like-new condition with absolutely no writing. + (2-Volume Set) Third Edition (ISBN 978-1-55581-479-3 & 978-1-55581-480-9), Paperback--$ 110 Introduction to Genetic Analysis Ninth Edition (ISBN 978-0-7167-6887-6), Hard Cover--$ 110 Please call 646-470-1770 or email for details. No text messages, please. Thank you! Help an Elder Having a fruitful life depends upon oneself. Join our Elder Helpers Program and start becoming productive now! We will connect you with elders who are in need of care in your community. If you have a kind heart and some extra time, feel free to join our program. Register here: http://www. elderhelpers. org.) Citizens of all states and countries are encouraged to join! Profiles with a picture always get more attention! (Wonderful angel who helped me greatly by Kim) I was so lucky to find Elder Helpers on the web and even luckier that Laura decided to help me get organized. I was hit by a car in January and couldn't do much in my house for several months so things really got _ here. But this Angel of a person came and rescued me. I am so lucky and grateful to have met her and to have received her generous help. Learn To Play Chess or Improve Your Game Chess lessons are offered by a skilled, experienced, patient chess teacher who is also a very strong practical player. Whether you are a complete beginner or want to improve your game, it may be a good idea for you to call me. I work with adults and with children as young as 4. If interested please call me directly at 1-(347)-694-0072. We can know that Introduction to Genetic Analysis sold in Ad 1 _ . Answer: When the population of the port town began to suffer from poisoning, the police came to find the cause of poisoning. They thought someone was poisoning the people on purpose, but no one knew how _ was possible. Soon people held the view that the pork was poisoned. It was a popular food everyone ate and it could have possibly made everyone sick. Anyone who had possession of pork would throw it out. Even the poorest of the poor wouldn't eat pork. Signs were posted on poles and letters were sent to everyone to warn people of the pork. Shortly afterwards, even policemen in high positions were also getting sick. Soon it became political and popular. Politicians rushed to the town to talk about politics and promised how they would find the solution if they were elected. Everyone was so sick that they didn't care about politics. Everyone was in a position where he or she didn't know what to do anymore. They went to the post office to mail posts out asking for help. The poor town didn't know how to deal with the situation. One day, a well-known scientist from New York came to the town with a huge box containing many instruments and his possessions. He went to pools and the port and made measurements. He was quiet and polite. Then one day he made a speech at a newspaper meeting-room to announce his findings. "I am sorry to say your water supply is so heavily polluted; it is poisoned. I know who has been poisoning you all for such a long time. It is you who have been poisoning yourselves with pollution. A great deal of rubbish has been thrown into the water day after day. No one here has taken good care of the environment. It is no wonder all of you have been sick." Shocked at the news, the people present were lost in thought. Which is the real cause of the poison? Answer: In 2013, a report from The Nero England Journal of Medicine showed that increased body weight is related to the death rate for all cancers. This is based on a study involving about 900,000 people, spanning many years. The study, started in 1992 by the American Cancer Society, included men and women from all 50 states. The youngest participants were 30 years old, and the '8verage age was 57. By December 2008, 24% of the participants had died, just a quarter of them from cancers. In analyzing the results, researchers attempted to take account of such potential factors as smoking drinking alcohol, taking aspirin and a wide variety of other factors that might otherwise affect the results. The results are clear the more you weigh, the greater your risk of dying of cancer will be (up to 52% higher for men and 62% for women). In men as well as women, the only cancers that did not have a strong connection with weight were lung cancer and-brain cancer. For women, the strongest correlation with weight was uterine cancer ,which is 6.5 times higher for women with a BMI(Body Mass Index)of 40 or more. For men, it was liver cancer, which is 4.5 times higher in most obese men. Smokers tend to be more successful in keeping weight off than non-smokers ,slightly reducing the risk ,But many of them don't have good lungs .Thus ,in another way ,they also face risks. As for why extra weight leads to excess cancer death rate ,there's no clear agreement .But the decrease in vitamin D in obese people seems a likely factor .Vitamin D is known to have a role in preventing cancer .Also, there is a simple fact that obesity makes the management of cancer more difficult .Although for now there is no simple answer to why obesity increases a person's cancer risk ,all we know for certain is that the risk is real. The passage is mainly concerned with the relationship between _ . Answer: In the summer of 1980 a Spanish tourist, Gaspar Carner, went to prefix = st1 /Great Britainon holiday. When he was travelling in Scotland, he decided to visit Loch Ness, the famous lake where people say there is a monster . But while he was going across the lake in a boat, his bag fell into the water. In the bag were his passport , car keys, pen, and all his money. Loch Ness is 150 metres deep, so he didn't expect to see the bag again! Fourteen years later, in 1994, some scientists decided to explore the lake. They looked for the Loch Ness monster. Suddenly one of them saw something black in the water. They carefully went nearer. They thought the black thing was the monster. They went nearer and nearer. It was a bag. They took the bag out of the lake. They found that the photo on the passport was still clear. One of the scientists knew Gaspar Carner. So the bag was returned to him. What's in Carner's bag? . Answer: Like my friend Warren Buffett, I feel particularly lucky to do something every day that I love to do. He calls it "tap-dancing to work". My job at Microsoft is as challenging as ever, but what makes me "tap-dance to work" is when we show people something new, like a computer that can recognize your handwriting or your speech, or one that can store a lifetime's worth of photos, and they say, "I didn't know you could do that with a PC!" But for all the cool things that a person can do with a PC, there are lots of other ways we can put our creativity and intelligence to work to improve our world. There are still far too many people in the world whose most basic needs go unmet. I believe that my own good fortune brings with it a responsibility to give back to the world. My wife, Melinda, and I have committed to improving health and education in a way that can help as many people as possible. As a father, I believe that the death of a child in Africa is no less poignant or tragic than the death of a child anywhere else. And that it doesn't take much to make an immense difference in these children's lives. I'm still very much an optimist, and I believe that progress on even the world's toughest problems is possible -- and it's happening every day. We're seeing new drugs for deadly diseases, new diagnostic tools, and new attention paid to the health problems in the developing world. I'm excited by the possibilities I see for medicine, for education and, of course, for technology. And I believe that through our natural inventiveness, creativity and willingness to solve tough problems, we're going to make some amazing achievements in all these areas in my lifetime. The writer of the passage would probably agree that _ . Answer:
Twenty years ago almost all nurses were women, and almost all pilots were men. Today women fly planes, and men care for patients. The jobs are the same, but not both men and women are working as nurses and pilots. There are many other examples of changing job roles for men and women. Forty years ago there were no women news reporters on television. Now women report the news, the weather, and even men's sports. Women are reporting games and interviewing athletes. Fifty years ago there were almost no women lawyers or doctors, but today over half of all medical students are women. Today men teach very young children. Men work as librarians and secretaries. Some men stay at home to take care of the house and children. They are called "househusbands" or "stay-at-home dads". However, many women still work as homemakers. Jobs are changing. Today men and women are working in every field. According to the passage, what is true today about women? A Women like to be secretaries. B All doctors are now women. C Women report news and sports D There are no homemakers today. Answer: C Small discoveries in Indonesia are causing a stir in the science world. Researchers have unearthed tiny bones that they believe belong to an entire new human species. If that's true, it will change how we think about our ancestors. Clues that the little people may have lived long ago were first revealed last year in the scientific journal Nature. Scientists said that they had found the bones of a three-foot-tall female on the island of Flores, in Indonesia. When they looked more closely, they saw that the nearly complete skeleton belonged to a full-grown adult. Researchers named her Hobbit, after the tiny heroes of the Lord of the Rings books. Now the team is saying it has unearthed even more pieces of the puzzle, including a jawbone and parts of arms, legs and hands from several individuals, as well as stone tools. They reported their find in Nature this month. "The new evidence makes it very clear that these people are a new species, distinct from modern humans," Peter Brown, a scientist on the team, said. They named these ancient humans Homo floresiensis. Brown says that these little people lived as recently as 12,000 years ago. If Homo floresiensis was a different species from modern humans, that would make our family tree bigger than we knew. It means, says Brown, that "until recently, a shared the planet with us." Many scientists think a new species is unlikely. Some argue that the bones must have belonged to modern humans whose small size was the result of a genetic problem. Daniel E. Lieberman, a scientist at Harvard University, thinks that the debate over the discovery is healthy. He believes that the questions and arguments raised by critics will help us learn more about these unusual skeletons. "Disagreement is an important part of the scientific process," Lieberman said. "As far as I'm concerned, the story's only just begun." According to Daniel E. Lieberman _ . A Homo floresiensis doesn't exist B Disagreement leads to further research C The investigation hasn't begun yet D Our family tree is bigger than we knew Answer: B Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don't like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus . But the old ideas are still very strong, and many _ . According to the reading, which of the following is NOT true? A There are many different ideas about how people catch colds. B Scientists don't know how people catch colds. C Some people think that wearing wet clothes gives you a cold. D In the U.S., many small children wear boots in winter. Answer: B People use money to buy food, books and hundreds of other things they need. When they work, they usually get paid in money. Most of the money used today is made of metal or paper. But in the time long ago, people used to use all kinds of things as money. One of the first kinds of money was shells. In China, cloth and knives were used as money. Elephant tusks , monkey tail and salt were used in some parts of the world. Rice was also a kind of money used by the people in some islands. Some animals were used as money, too. The first copper coins were made in China. They were round and had a square hole in the center. Different countries have used different metals for their money. Later, some countries began to make coins of gold and silver . But gold and silver were heavy to carry when people needed a lot of coins to buy something expensive. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The first paper money looked more like a note from one person to another than the paper money used today. Money has had an interesting story from the days of shell money till today. People usually use money _ . A to buy gold B to get something they want C to buy shells D to buy something expensive Answer: B In the United States, every year, Thanks-giving Day is on the fourth Thursday in November. Because Canada is on the north of the United States, and is colder, the harvest comes earlier in the year. In Canada, people have Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October. The harvest brings a lot of food to the people. On Thanksgiving Day people in Canada and America like to have a big meal with their friends and family just like Chinese people do at Mid-autumn festival. Many Canadians and Americans put flowers, vegetables and fruits around their homes to say "Thank you" for the harvest. At a Thanksgiving Day dinner, many Canadians and Americans will eat turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. These are food like the food of many years ago. They are saying "Thank you" for the harvest that comes every year. Which of the following is TRUE? A Canada has Thanksgiving earlier in the year because the harvest comes earlier. B The harvest doesn't bring a lot of food to the people. C Canada is on the south of the United States. D People are saying "Hello" for the harvest on Thanks-giving Day. Answer: A
This is Joy's bedroom.it's a small room . He has some pictures.They are on the wall. He also has a desk and a chair in his bedroom.The desk is near the window. His bag and pencil box are on the desk. There are some pencils,a pen,a ruler in the pencil box. He has a baseball and a basketball. They are under the bed.Joy likes playing basketball and baseball. He also has two volleyb alls,but he doesn't like playing volleyball. ,A, B, C, D. (5,2,10) Joy's bedroom is _ . small Milk is the most complete food in the world. It has many things that we need to help us grow. It can give us energy and good health. Milk is a food enjoyed by people of all ages as we can easily _ it. Milk is produced by all mother animals to feed their babies after they are born. Some such as cows produce more milk than their young ones need, so the extra milk is used by people. Nowadays, baby cows are often taught to eat solid food earlier, so that we can use most of the cow's milk. A cow can produce as much as 45 liters of milk a day. She will give good milk if she is fed on rich grass. Many products can be made from cow's milk. The simplest is cream, which is made from the fat of the milk. Butter is made from cream. Cream is also used for making cakes and other foods. Another common milk product is cheese. Cow's milk can be also turned into powdered milk. In countries where cows are not raised, people get milk from other animals. The buffalo gives milk to the people of India. In China, Iran and Turkey, a large number of sheep and goats are kept for their milk. And many Arabs drink camel's milk. For babies, however, the best of all is their mother's milk which is given to them during their first few months of life. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? People can use as much as 45 liters of milk a day. The way people hold to the belief that a fun-filled,pain-free life equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness.If fun and pleasure are equal to happiness then pain must be equal to unhappiness.But in fact,the opposite is true:more often than not things that lead to happiness involve some pain. As a result,many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true happiness.They fear the pain inevitably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement,religious commitment,self improvement. Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying.If he is honest he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment.For commitment is in fact quite painful.The single life is filled with fun,adventure,excitement.Marriage has such moments,but they are not its most distinguishing features. Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night's sleep or a three-day vacation.I don't know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.But couples who decide not to have children never know the joys of watching a child grow up or of playing with a grandchild. Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations.It liberates time:now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness.It liberates money:buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless.And it liberates us from envy:we now understand that all those who are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all. To understand what true happiness is one must _ . be able to distinguish happiness from fun Books, software, and videos, no matter what you are looking for, if you turn on a computer and log on the Internet, you are sure to find something. E-books are all over the Internet; some are free, and some are not. E-books are basically electronic books you can read without having to carry heavy books and flip through all the pages. Now authors not only sell regular books in bookstores but also sell e-books on the Internet. Some e-books are sold on CDs, too. You can get all types of software right from the Internet. After you download it, you have it. It is so convenient that you can get it even without leaving the house. These are the advantages we have in today's high-tech world. We can find videos of different people. There are so many websites with videos that it would take you some time to actually go through them all. The cool thing about videos is that some people have their own websites or their own spaces where they can upload videos of their families or of different events and allow other people to view them. It is amazing. The Internet is an exciting place and it plays a big part in our lives today. You can even pay your bills on the Internet if that's what you want to do. The marketing industry is also doing a lot better because of the Internet. Companies can communicate very quickly with each other over the Internet. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . the Internet allows people to communicate more quickly Four Efficient Ways to Improve Your Speech 1. Use More Facial Expression One psychologist feels that our facial expression is responsible more than anything else for the impression others have of us. In fact, more than 50 percent of another's impression, he believes, is influenced by the look on your face. Naturally a smile in which the eyes participate is extremely communicative. An unfriendly look often brings the same thing in return. People tend to mirror your expression, so try to show how you feel about a topic or an idea or the audience through your facial expression. 2. Rid Your Inner Fear It's natural to have some tension or nervousness when you appear before an audience. The way to handle it is to put it to work for you, get into action, as Shakespeare observed, action cures fear. There are only a few known ways to control fear. The first is to admit it, do the thing you fear and it will be the death of fear itself. Another simple aid at the last minute before you begin, is to take a few deep breaths, this will help get the butterflies in formation and also keep your voice under control. In fact, if you're thoroughly prepared, just taking a few deep breaths before you're introduced will give you added confidence and balance. Other known ways to control nervousness and fear are to give yourself an encouraging talk or take some physical exercise. 3. Polish Your Voice Our voice is the main instrument we possess for communicating with people, we're all sound sensitive. So invest in a tape recorder, practise your speech by speaking it into the microphone then listen to it. You can even have others join in the evaluation of your strong points and your weaknesses or faults as well. Remember that Demosthenes and Winston Churchill both used pebbles in their mouths while practising their speaking. Simply reading out loud can also help you improve your voice and develop a personal style. 4. Strengthen Your Memory Psychologists tell us that most individuals don't use above ten percent of their natural capacity for memory, that's comparable to trying to run a car on one cylinder . Why do most people use so little of their power of memory? Because they don't practise the fundamentals of remembering. First and most important, it's necessary to have a burning desire to remember, it's difficult to recall anything without wanting to do so. Step number two is concentration. Henry Ward Beecher once observed, one hour of intense concentration can accomplish more than years of dreaming. The next principle is repetition, we learned many things in school by rote by repetition, when you hear a name for the first time repeat it, spell it, write it down, review it, you'll soon know it by heart. You can improve our voice by _ . reading out loud
There are many kinds of tigers in the world. The largest tiger is Northeast Tiger. Most Northeast Tigers live in the northeast of China, like Heilongjiang Province and Jilin Province. Because there are many forests, the tigers usually like living there. In the forest, there are not many people getting out and coming in. So the tigers are very free. They can _ each other and eat some small animals. The Northeast Tigers are different from other tigers. The Northeast Tigers can swim very well, but can't climb the trees. They can hear very well. The number of the tigers is smaller and smaller, we should try our best to protect the tigers. From the passage, we can know that the Northeast Tigers _ . Answer: aren't the same as other tigers and can't climb trees We all know what a brain is. A doctor will tell you that the brain is the organ of the body in the head. It controls our body's functions, movements, emotions and thoughts. But a brain can mean so much more. A brain can also simply be a smart person, If a person is called brainy, she is smart and intelligent. If a family has many children but one of them is super smart, you could say, "She's the brains in the family. " And if you are the brains behind something you are responsible for developing or organizing something. For example, Bill Gates is the brains behind Microsoft. Brain trust is a group of experts who give advice. Word experts say the phrase"brain trust" became popular when Franklin D. Roosevelt first ran for president in 1932, Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U. S.These professors were called his "brain trust. " These ways we use the word "brain" all make sense. But other ways we use the word are not so easy to understand. For example, to understand the next brain expression, you first need to know the word"drain." As a verb to drain means to remove something by letting it flow away. So a brain drain may sound like a disease where the brain flows out the ears. But, brain drain is when a country's most educated people leave their countries to live in another. The brains are,sort of,draining out of the country. However,if people are responsible for a great idea,you could say they brainstormed it. Here,brainstorm is not an act of weather. It is a process of thinking creatively about a complex topic. For example, business leaders may use brainstorming to create new products, and government leaders may brainstorm to solve problems. If people are brainwashed, it does not mean their brains are nice and clean. To brainwash means to make someone accept new beliefs by using repeated pressure in a forceful or tricky way. Keep in mind that brainwash is never used in a positive way. Which of the following expression is always used in a negative way? Answer: Brainwash Ice water is poured into four cups made of different materials. The cup made of which material will be the coldest to touch after one minute? Answer: metal Feel tired lately? Has a doctor said he can't find anything wrong with you? Perhaps he has sent you to a hospital, but all the advanced equipment there shows that there is nothing wrong with you. Then, consider this: you might be in a state of sub-health. Sub-health, also called the third state or gray state, is explained as a borderline state between health and disease. According to the investigation by the National Health Organization, over 45 percent of sub-healthy people are middle-aged or elderly. The percentage is even higher among people who work in management positions as well as students around exam-week. Symptoms include a lack of energy,depression,slow reactions,insomnia,anger,and poor memory.Other symptoms include shortness of breath,sweating and aching in the waist and legs. The key to preventing and recovering from sub-health,according to some medical experts,is to from good liwing habits,alternate work and rest,exercise regularly,and take park in open air activities. As for meals,people are advised to eat less salt and sugar.They should also eat more fresh vegetables,fruits,fish because they are rich in nutritional elements--vitamins and other elements that are important to the body.Nutrition experts point out that it is not good to eat too much at one meal because it may cause unhealthy changes in the digestive tract. They also say that a balanced diet is very helpful in avoiding sub-health. According to this passage, which of the following is true? Answer: When you are in a state of sub-health, you should find out the reasons and relax yourself. Researchers have established that when people are mentally engaged, biochemical changes occur in the brain that allow it to act more effectively in cognitive areas such as attention and memory. This is true regardless of age. People will be alert and receptive if they are faced with information that gets them to think about things they are interested in. And someone with a history of doing more rather than less will go into old age more cognitively sound than someone who has not had an active mind. Many experts are so convinced of the benefits of challenging in the brain that they are putting the theory to work in their own lives. "The idea is not necessarily to learn to memorize large amounts of information," says James Fozard, associate director of the National Institute of Ageing. "Most of us don't need that kind of skill. Such specific training is of less interest than being able to maintain mental alertness." Fozard and others say they challenge their brains with different mental skills, both because they enjoy them and because they are sure that their range of activities will help the way their brains work. Gene Cohen, acting director of the same institute, suggests that people in their old age should engage in mental and physical activities individually as well as in groups. Cohen says that we are frequently advised to keep physically active as we age, but older people need to keep mentally active as well. Those who do are more likely to maintain their intellectual abilities and to be generally happier and better adjusted. "The point is, you need to do both," Cohen says. Intellectual activity actually influences brain-cell health and size. The findings of James and other scientists in their work _ . Answer: are practiced by the researchers themselves
Have you heard of snake robots? Scientists and doctors are already using tiny snakes that coil through the human body armed with sharp surgical tools to perform operations on hearts, prostate cancer, and other diseased organs. The snake robots that carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps, and even more advanced sensors are being developed. The next generation of the robots will be wireless, and will explore inside your body on their own--- not attached to any cables. For now, they are powered by cables that humans control. Experts say the day is coming when some robots will roam around the body on their own. But the experts in robotics say the new creations work best when they are designed for very specific tasks. Howie Choset has been researching and building robots, particularly snake robots. He believes that his snake robot and others like it can help reduce medical costs by making complex surgery faster and easier. Choset says his new design is smaller and more flexible than earlier models. The size of surgical robots allows surgeons to operate with far less damage to the body, helping the patient heal faster. Choset has also built larger snake robots designed for search and rescue, or just exploration. They can climb poles and trees and then look around through a camera in the head and slither through places that humans cannot reach. " We sent our snake robots into these caves in the Red Sea to look for evidence of ancient Egyptian ships," he said. " To me, archeology is like search and rescue, but everyone has been dead for 5,000 years." The doctors are very excited about the potential for surgical robots to do things that humans can't do. The variety of sensors available for surgical robots keeps expanding. As they get smaller, maybe one day they will be able to test chemicals or blood in the body, or even the electrical connections in nerves. Why do we know about Howie Choset, according to the passage? Answer: The English language is different from any other language. Yet English words do not stay the same. The language is always changing. We need new words for new inventions and new ideas. Different words come into use, or older words are used in a new way. English can change by borrowing words from other languages. Tomato was borrowed from Mexico and pajamas from Indian. The word coffee came from Turkey, and tea came from China. Now new space and science words are being borrowed from other countries, too. New words are also made by adding two words together. Strawberry, popcorn, and grandfather are words made up of two parts. Sometimes new words are shorter forms of older words. The word photo was made from photograph by cutting off the end of the longer word. Plane was made by cutting off the front part of airplane. Smog was made by using only the first two and last two letters from the words smoke and fog. The names of people and products can become new words. Our sandwich was named after a man named Sandwich. Scotch Tape, Band-aid and Jello were names made up by the companies that first made the products. ,. The passage makes you think that _ . Answer: Most of the time, the ground feels solid beneath our feet. That's comforting. But it's also misleading because there's actually a lot going on underground. Masses of land (called plates) slip, slide, and bump against each other, slowly changing the shape of continents and oceans over millions and billions of years. Scientists know that Earth formed about 4. 5 billion years ago. They also know that our planet was hot at first. As it cooled, its outermost layer, called the crust , eventually formed moving plates. Exactly when this shift happened, however, is an open question. Now, an international group of researchers has an answer. They've found new evidence suggesting that Earth's crust started shifting at least 3.8 billion years ago. The new estimate is l. 3 billion years earlier than previous ones. Not long before 3. 8 billion years ago, lots of small planets were hitting Earth, keeping its crust in a hot, melting state. After the hard crust formed, much of it sank at various times into the planet's hot insides. There, it melted before returning to the surface. In some places, however, the crust never sank. One of the oldest such places is in Greenland, in an area called the Isua supracrustal belt. The rocky crust there is between 3. 7 and 3. 8 billion years old. The belt was once part of the seafloor, but now it is exposed to air. The researchers recently took a close look at the Isua supracrustal belt. They noticed long, parallel cracks in the rock that have been filled in with a type of volcanic rock. To explain this structure, the scientists propose that tension in the crust caused the seafloor to crack open long ago. Hot, liquid rock oozed from deep inside Earth to fill the cracks. Finally, the whole area cooled, forming what we see today. That explanation, plus chemical clues inside the rock, suggests that the Isua supracrustal belt was once part of plate under the ocean, beginning around 3.8 billion years ago. "It's a fantastic case of solving a jigsaw puzzle ,"says one of the researchers. He notes that the puzzle was "a very difficult one because these rocks are all very old and have been badly ruined". The text is mainly about _ . Answer: Jackson Language School Summer Opening and Closing Times The Jackson Language School is open each day except Sunday. There is an English Corner also available from 6:00pm--9:00pm at the Bellevue Hall across from the school.[:Zxxk.Com] Class Size Classes have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 16 in one class. Classes are equipped with earphones and an electronically controlled listening. Teachers Teachers are all experienced and have a minimum of 2 years' experience and at least a certificate in teaching English as a Second Language. They are all available for tutoring if you need it. Location The school is located 15 minutes from central London at 34 Inverleith Row, next to the Marks and Spencer shopping Centre. It is near a bus shop and only a 5 minutes' walk from the Tube. Attendance Students on student visas are expected to attend regularly. Students who are absent more than 60% of the time will be reported to the Student Office. Moreover, if students attend less than 80%, they will not be able to get a certificate form Jackson School. It is also required by the Student Office for visa extension. Home stay You are able to stay with a British family if you request so. Jackson has a home stay program that matches students and families according to their own requirements and needs. While generally no problems occur, students may move from a home stay household if he or she gives a 2-week written notice to the home stay family school. Language Policy As the course is an immersion program, students are expected to speak English the entire time they are at the school. If they speak any language other than English at the school, they may be asked to leave the school for a day. At Jackson School, _ . Answer: One day Thomas Alva Edison was given a letter by his teacher. His teacher asked him to give it to his mother. Edison thought it was something nice. After he returned home, he proudly gave it to his mother, saying "My teacher let me give this letter to you." Not knowing what it was, Edison's mother opened it, and then her eyes opened wide. With tears in her eyes, she looked at her son and read out the letter aloud, "Your child is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn't have enough good teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself." The fact was that Edison liked asking strange questions in class. His teachers thought he was mentally ill. They could no longer stand him and decided to stop him from going to school. However, Edison's mother didn't give up on her son. She taught him at home. Many years after Edison's mother died and he was already one of the greatest inventors, one day he was looking through the old family things. Suddenly he saw a piece of folded paper in the corner of a drawer. He took it and opened it up. It read, "Your son is addled (mentally ill). We won't let him come to school any more." Edison cried for hours and then he wrote in his diary, "Thomas Alva Edison was an addled child, but, by his hero mother, he becomes the genius of the century." Having faith in those we love is very important. We should have faith in those around us. Even if others have given upon you, you should have faith in yourself. What did Edison's mother do after knowing the teachers' decision? Answer:
Welcome to my room. Open the door . You can see a desk. There are some books on the desk. My pens are on the desk, too. Behind the door there is a basketball. I love it very much. On the wall there are two pictures. Look at the boy. It's me. Where is my football? Oh! It's on the sofa . Is my computer on the desk? No , it isn't . It's next to the desk. I love my room. It's very nice , isn't it? Is my football under the sofa? A. Yes, it is. B. No, it isn't. C. Yes, it's. D. I don't know. Answer: B Most people agree that honesty is a good thing. But does Mother Nature agree? Animals can't talk, but can they lie in other ways? Can they lie with their bodies and behavior? Animal experts may not call it lying, but they do agree that many animals, from birds to chimpanzees, behave dishonestly to fool other animals. Why? Dishonesty often helps them survive. Many kinds of birds are very successful at fooling other animals. For example, a bird called the plover sometimes pretends to be hurt in order to protect its young. When a predator gets close to its nest, the plover leads the predator away from the nest. How? It pretends to have a broken wing. The predator follows the "hurt" adult, leaving the baby birds safe in the nest. Another kind of bird, the scrub jay, buries its food so it always has something to eat. Scrub jays are also thieves. They watch where others bury their food and steal it. But clever scrub jays seem to know when a thief is watching them. So they go back later, unbury the food, and bury it again somewhere else. Birds called cuckoos have found a way to have babies without doing much work. How? They don't make nests. Instead, they get into other birds' nests secretly. Then they lay their eggs and fly away. When the baby birds come out, their adoptive parents feed them. _ After a fight, the losing chimp will give its hand to the other. When the winning chimp puts out its hand, too, the chimps are friendly again. But an animal expert once saw a losing chimp take the winner's hand and start fighting again. Chimps are sneaky in other ways, too. When chimps find food that they love, such as bananas, it is natural for them to cry out. Then other chimps come running. But some clever chimps learn to cry very softly when they find food. That way, other chimps don't hear them, and they don't need to share their food. As children, many of us learn the saying "You can't fool Mother Nature." But maybe you can't trust her, either. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage? A. Do animals lie? B. Does Mother Nature fool animals? C. How do animals learn to lie? D. How does honesty help animals survive? Answer: A Your smartphone can do a lot of things. It can call people. It connects to the Internet. It enables you to play fun games. But there is a _ side to this smart little equipment of yours----- it might also spread disease. "People are just likely to get sick from their phones as from handles of the bathroom, " Jeffrey Cain, the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians , told The Wall Street Journal. This may be hard to believe, but scientists reached this conclusion after they tested eight cell phones from an office in Chicago. All the tested phones showed high numbers of coliforms , a kind of bacteria found in human waste , with about 2700 to 4200 units of the bacteria on each phone. The bacteria can cause flu, pinkeye and other diseases . That is right --- your phone is covered in our human waste. Although computers, keys and pens carry germs , our phones get far dirtier. They touch a lot of things, including our hands and the inside of our pocket or purse. We take them almost everywhere: the bus, the subway and who hasn't played Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja while sitting on the toilet? "Some things that we think are personal are actually more public than we imagine," Cain said. What is even worse is that after the phone returns from its dirty trip, it then spends most of its time cozying up to our faces. You don't think about how often you touch your phone to your face, do you? Our noses, mouths and ears are all warm and rich in grease , an environment that germs really like. So how do you keep your phone clean? Alcohol is effective when used to kill germs from the back and side of your phone. But it might harm the screen. There is one simple and reliable way you can reduce the germs on your phone's surface: wash your hands regularly. By saying "Some things we think are personal are actually more public than we imagine," Cain means that _ . A. people love to share their phones more than they realize B. our personal items could be as risky to our health as public items C. phones are used in public places more than people realize D. Most people don't know how dirty their cell phones are Answer: C In China, chain restaurants - especially the big multinational ones - are cool. Going to Starbucks, for example, is a status symbol. It not only says, "I'm rich enough to buy this overpriced coffee," but also, "I'm cosmopolitan enough to be part of globalization." Where I come from in the UK, however, chains are neither fashionable nor gourmet . Chains are where you go on New Year's Day when nowhere else is open, or when you are 5 years old and your parents can't stand hearing, "I'm huuuuuungry!" any longer. In my own case (with regards to McDonald's), a chain is where you are taken on your first "date". Even at the age of 13, I knew to give the guy the "let's just be friends" phone call the next day. In the UK, independent cafes and restaurants are making a comeback on the fashion scene. Nowadays, a Londoner who says "let's meet for a coffee at Monmouth" (an independent cafe) is much cooler than one who says "let's go to Starbucks". Even if Monmouth's coffee is a little more expensive, there's a satisfaction in knowing your pounds aren't going straight to the big corporations. Of course, there are chain stores all over the UK; you can't go five minutes without spotting a Costa Coffee. But numbers do not add up to good taste. I do, however, have a confession . After moving to China I had moments when all the rice and Kung Pao Chicken became too much. I, too, have retreated to McDonald's. We can infer from the article that _ . A. the author doesn't like food from Pizza Hut B. the author doesn't like to follow fashion trends C. many Britons think that numbers mean poor quality D. many Britons don't like big corporations Answer: D At 9:00 Dick Spivak's bank telephoned and said his payment was late. "The check is in the post," Dick replied quickly. At 11:45 Dick left for a 12:00 meeting across town. Arriving late, he explained that traffic had been had. That evening, Dick's girlfriend wore a new dress. He hated it. "It looks just great on you," he said. Three lies in one day! Yet Dick Spivak is just an ordinary man. Each time, he told himself that sometimes the truth causes too many problems. Most of us tell much the same white lies, harmless untruths that help to save trouble. How often do we tell white lies? It depends in part on our age, education, and even where we live. According to one U.S. study, women are more truthful than men, and honesty increases as we get older.While most people use little white lies to make life easier, the majority of Americans care about honesty in both public and personal life. They say that people today are less honest than they were ten years ago. Although it is believed that things are getting worse, lying seems to be an age-old human problem. The French philosopher Vauvenarges, writing in the eighteenth century, touched on the truth when he wrote, "All men are born truthful and die liars ." Vauvenarges' remark suggests that _ . A. lying is an age-old human problem B. dishonesty increases as people get older C. people were dishonest in the 18th century D. it is social conditions that make people tell lies Answer: D
He was the baby with no name. Found and taken from the north Atlantic 6 days after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, his tiny body so moved the salvage workers that they called him "Our baby". In their home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, people collected money for a headstone in front of the baby's grave, carved with the words: "To the memory of an unknown child." He has rested there ever since. But history has a way of uncovering its secrets. On November 5 , this year, three members of a family from Finland arrived at Halifax and laid fresh flowers at the grave. "This is our baby," says Magda Schleifer,68,a banker. She grew up hearing stories about a great-aunt named Maria Panula, 42, who had sailed on the Titanic for America to be reunited with her husband. According to the information Mrs Schleifer had gathered, Panula gave up her seat on a lifeboat to search for her five children----including a 13-month-old boy named Eino--from whom she had become separated during the final minutes of the crossing. "We thought they were all lost in the sea." says Schleifer. Now, using teeth and bone pieces taken from the baby's grave, scientists have compared the DNA from the Unknown Child with those collected from members of five families who lost relatives on the Titanic and never recovered the bodies. The result of the test points only to one possible person: young Eino. Now the family see no need for a new grave. "he belongs to the people of Halifax," says Schleifer. " They've taken care of him for 90 years." Adapted from ,November 25 ,2002 The baby traveled on the Titanic with his _ . Answer: "Beauty is only skin deep." This expression means that beauty is only a temporary surface quality. Some beauty products can cause lasting damage that goes far below the surface of the skin. In America,many people use sunlight and non-natural light to darken their skin. Health experts advise against what is called"tanning"because of its links to akin cancer. In the African country of Senegal ,some women take health risks trying to do just the opposite. An average beauty supply shop in Dakar has many kinds of skin-lightening creams and soaps. The World Health Organization says that 25%of Senegalese women use skin-lightening production a usual basis. These products can contain chemicals,like mercury ,hydroquinone ,etc. These are dangerous ingredients that can cause cancer and possibly other physical damage to the akin. They can actually burn the eyes and skin. Shop worker Adama Diagne advises her visitors to avoid the stronger products that promise fast results. She users a cream that is made from carrots,not the strong chemical,hydroquinone. She says that it is a personal choice and that no one pressures her. Some women want to be black every day,but for her,she likes to be a shade of brown. Women in Senegal say they lighten their skin for the same reason that women all over the world make changes to their appearance. They say they want to look beautiful,to find a husband, to stand out in a crowd or simply to look great for a special event. This thinking troubles Senegalese film-maker Khardiata Pouye Sall. So,she made"This Color That Bothers Me",a film about the subject of skin lightening. She said,"I used the most shocking images so that women would see the dangers. It is hard to understand why a woman says that dark skin is not beautiful. It is in their heads. They want to please a man,to he loved or they want to please society,to succeed." Ms. Sall says that the government needs to better control the marketing and the sale of skin-lightening products. But she adds that education is the best way to persuade people against using them. According to Adama Diagne,women shouldn't believe _ * Answer: Bill Gates was born on October 28th, 1955. He and his two sisters grew up inprefix = st1 /Seattle. Their father, William H. Gates II, was aSeattleattorney . Mary Gates, their late mother, was a school teacher. Gates attended public elementary school before moving on to the private Lakeside School in North Seattle. It was at Lakeside that Gates began his career in personal computer soft- ware, programming computers at age 13. In 1973, Gates enteredHarvardUniversityas a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, who is now Microsoft's president. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer---the MITS Astair. In his junior year, Gates dropped out of Harvard to devote his energies full-time to Microsoft, a company he had started in 1975 with his boyhood friend Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desk-top and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers. Gates' foresight and vision have led to the success of Microsoft and the software industry. He plays an important role in the technical development of new products. Much of his time is devoted to meeting with customers and staying in contact with Microsoft employees around the world through e-mail. In the dozen years since Microsoft went public, Gates has donated more than $ 800 mil- lion to charities , including $ 200 million to the Gates Library Foundation to help libraries in North America take advantage of new technologies and the Information Age. Why did he drop out of Harvard? Answer: Why would a plant not do well indoors? Answer: Some people surveyed tasted the sweet, salty, and crunchy together with other tastes of food as they listen to different noises. It shows that louder noises reduced the reported sweetness or saltiness of food while increasing the measure of crunchiness . It may go some way to explain why airline food is widely complained about by both the workers and passengers. Andy Woods, a researcher, said, "It's a general opinion that plane foods aren't fantastic, but I'm sure airlines do their best, so we wondered if there were other reasons. One thought was that perhaps the background noise may have an effect. NASA gives their space explorers very strong-tasting foods, because for some reason, they can't taste food that strongly--again, it may have something to do with the background noise." In a study, 48 people were fed sweet foods or salty ones, while listening to nothing or noise through earphones. Meanwhile they rated the foods. In noisier settings, foods were rated less salty or sweet than they were when it was silent, but were rated crunchier. "The evidence shows that if the background noise is loud, your attention might be drawn to that, away from the food." Dr. Woods said. "We are still at an early stage of progressing and this is a rather small study to really draw definitive conclusions from," Dr Woods said, "but they suggest that restaurants could well adapt their choice of food for a given environment." Also in the group's findings there is the suggestion that the overall satisfaction with the food is also related to the degree to which people like what they are hearing. What would be the best title for the text? Answer:
SYDNEY --- Tobacco companies will be forced to use plain, logo-free packaging on their cigarettes in order to make them less attractive to smokers under laws introduced Thursday by Australia's government. The rules, which will take effect on 1 July 2012, will ban tobacco companies from including logos, promotional text or color1ful images on cigarette packages. A government health warning will be displayed instead, with the brand name at the bottom. The government also announced it would raise the cigarette tax by 25 percent, driving up the price of a pack of 30 cigarettes by about A$2.16(PS1.30). Tobacco companies immediately decided to fight it in court. "Introducing plain packaging just takes away the ability of a consumer to identify our brand from another brand and _ is of value to us," an Imperial Tobacco Australia spokeswoman, Cathie Keogh, told ABC, adding the company plans to take legal action. Retailers said the tax increase would hurt their businesses and encourage the cigarette black market. "It's a policy being pushed by some health advocates," said Mick Daly, the national chairman of Australian supermarket chain IGA. "That is a direct attack on approximately 16 percent of Australians who have made legal lifestyle choices." Time Wilson, director of intellectual property and free trade at Australia's Institute of Public Affairs, said tobacco companies were likely to demand compensation over the forced packaging changes, which could cost taxpayers around A$3 billion a year. "Under Australia's constitution, if the government basically takes someone's property rights, including intellectual property such as trademarks, they have to provide compensation," Wilson said. "I'd be shocked if they didn't seek compensation, because if it happens here, it'll happen all over the world." Opposition leader Tony Abbott said he wanted evidence that changing the packaging would reduce smoking. "I'm not in the business of defending smoking, I want to make that ly clear. But I also want to make ly clear that this is not a health policy - this is a tax grab ," Abbott said. Australia has banned tobacco ads from print, television and radio for years. Internet advertising will also be forbidden. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: There have always been a lot of commonly believed but false ideas about being fat and doing exercise. Some people believe that they can't help putting an weight as they get older, while others hold that if they stop exercising, their muscles will turn into fat. Here are some more myths. I'll never lose weight--I come from a fat family Wrong! While we can't change the body type we are born with, we can't blame our genes for making us fat. There's plenty of evidence that fatness runs in families, and the main reason is that they share the same habit of eating too much and exercise too little. I am fat because I burn calories slowly Wrong! Fatness is not caused by a slow metabolism . In fact, although fat people consume more energy than slim people, they also fail to realize how much they eat. Keeping a diary can help you work out your daily food intake more accurately . Exercise is boring Wrong! Anything will become boring if you do it again and again. The key is to develop a balanced and varied program that's fun as well as progressive . If you enjoy a Sunday walk, take a different mute. If you do yoga , try a tai chi class. No pain, no gain Wrong! Exercise is not meant to hurt. Indeed, pain is your body telling you something's wrong, and continuing to exercise could lead to serious injury . You may experience mild discomfort as you begin to exercise regularly, but this is your body _ the positive changes in your lifestyle and the aches should disappear quickly. If they don't, rest and ask for medical advice. According to the writer, how can we make exercise more interesting? Answer: The food in White Rose Restaurant was cheap and good, but nobody seemed to want to eat there. There were very few people going to eat there. The owner was very worried about it. Then he thought of a good idea. A few weeks later, his restaurant was always full of men and their girlfriends. Whenever a gentleman came with a lady, a kind waiter would give each of them a beautiful menu. The menus looked exactly the same on the outside, but there was an important difference inside. The menu that the waiter handed to the man gave the correct price for each dish and each bottle of wine, while the menu that he handed to the lady gave a much higher price! So when the man calmly ordered dish after dish and wine after wine, the lady thought he was much more generous than he really was! The man could make a good impression on the lady. How was the food in White Rose Restaurant? Answer: Life used to be fun for "teenagers". They used to have money to spend, and free time to while away. They used to wear teenage clothes, and meet in teenage coffee bars and discos. Some of them still do. But for many young people, life is harder now. Jobs are difficult to find. There's not so much money around. Things are more expensive, and it's hard to find a place to live in. Teachers say that students work harder than they used to. They are less interested in politics, and more interested in passing exams. They know that good exam results may bring them better jobs. Most young people worry more about money than their parents did twenty years ago. They try to spend less and save more. They want to be able to get homes of their own one day. For some, the answer to unemployment is to leave home and look for jobs in one of Britain's big cities. Every day hundreds of young people arrive in London from other parts of Britain, looking for jobs. Some find jobs, and stay. Others don't, and go home again, or join the unemployed in London. When you read the newspapers and watch the news on television, it's easy to get the idea that British young people are all unemployed, angry and in trouble. But that's not true. Three quarters of them do more or less what their parents did. They do their best at school, find some kinds of jobs in the end, and get married in their early twenties. They get on well with their parents, and enjoy their family life. After all, if they don't, they won't be British, will they? From the passage we can infer _ . Answer: People in the UK spend their free time in different ways. They usually use it to relax. They spend a lot of their free time at home. The most popular activity is watching TV. People in the UK watch TV for about 25 hours a week. They often record programs so they can watch them later. Reading is also a popular way of spending free time. People in the UK spend a lot of time reading newspapers and magazines. Many people in the UK have pets. They like playing with their pets in their free time. In summer, gardening is popular. And families often have a "day out" on the weekend. They often go to a festival or see a show. Young people like to go to clubs, and people of all ages like to go to the cinema. In winter, "do-it-yourself" is popular. People often spend their free time repairing houses. Some free time activities are with friends. Asking friends for a drink or a meal at home is the most usual one. Sometimes people and their friends have dinner in a restaurant. On the weekend, people in the UK like to spend their free time doing sports. The popular kinds of sports are soccer, horse racing, swimming, tennis, skating, climbing and hill walking. . What is the passage mainly about? Answer:
Two men from different worlds -- a BuzzFeed editor from New York and a man in southern China known as "Orange Brother" -- have been friends after social media helped them know each other over a stolen iPhone. The story of a guy named Matt in New York City who had his iPhone stolen last year has become famous on Chinese social media. Matt said his phone was stolen from a bar in the East Village last February. He bought a new phone and carried on with his life. It wasn't until this January, however, that he was going through his photo stream and noticed tons of photos that weren't his, including several pictures of an unknown man posing next to an orange tree. More photos of food menus, fireworks and something strange kept appearing in his photo stream in the following days. Matt later learned that his phone, stolen almost a year ago, had ended up in China and that the new owner was still logged into his iCloud account . After Matt wrote about the cross-seas connection on BuzzFeed, a web user translated it and posted it to Weibo. He started getting tons of attention from people in China about the story. They thought it was romantic like a fairy tale and perfect for the spirit of the Spring Festival. In typical Chinese netizen -fashion, they were able to track down the information of "Orange Brother". He lived in Meizhou, Guangdong province. Web users loved this, and urged Matt to come to China and connect with his "long-lost brother". Orange brother made the first move. "Matt, I welcome you to come to Meizhou and try some local food," he said on Weibo, China's micro blogging platform. That post was "liked" over 12,000 times. Matt quickly accepted. Matt began learning Chinese, while Brother Orange posted videos of himself learning English. But when they finally met, the smiles and hugs said it all. In this passage, we cannot know _ . A who stole Matt's iPhone. B how Matt knew Orange Brother C what Matt's job is D where Orange Brother comes from Answer: A It was dark. As John was walking on his way home, he suddenly found an ugly old man staring at him. The old man said, "Son, why don't you get a book? It will keep you company." John noticed all the books the old man had were related to the super nature . Trying to act bravely, he found one and the old man said, "That's an interesting book. It's $25." The old man kept staring at John, which almost frightened him. He quickly searched his pockets and found $25.John quickly paid for it. Then the old man called out, "Whatever happens, don't turn to the last page. Do remember, or you will regret it!" Reaching home, John heard his parents talking about a strange old book seller that appeared only at night during a full moon and then disappeared. Nervously, he ran straight to his room. At midnight, as he was sound asleep in bed, a blast of cold wind blew in through the window and woke him up. He looked at his table and saw the book. For a while, he was frozen in fear, but he was so curious. Slowly he got out of bed and carefully picked up the book. As he took a look at the last page, he cried out and fainted . This is what he read on the last page! Original Price:$10.99 Promotional Price: $2.99 Why did John buy the book? A He was interested in the super nature. B He wanted to have a company. C He wanted to help the old man. D He tried to act to be brave. Answer: D Working on a team is a good thing. But it can bring you some troubles. If people on your team are not good at communicating, you may often feel terrible. To create a successful team, good communication is the most necessary part for both team members and the leader. The following are some helpful suggestions. Don't criticize other people. When someone on your team does something wrong, don't criticize him. You can help him to find out reasons and then help him to solve the problem. Criticizing your team members too often may make them keep away from you. As a result, you may feel lonely. Think about other people's ideas carefully. When someone tells you about his ideas, you should think about them carefully, no matter how silly they may seem. This shows you are interested in his ideas and makes him feel good. Listen to other people actively. When someone is speaking to you, you need to listen to him actively. If you're unclear about something, you should ask him about it. By doing this you can clear up any confusion before moving on. Share your ideas with other people. When you have a new idea, talk about it with your team members. This helps to improve the idea. Besides this, it also helps to improve your relationships between you and your team members. If Lisa tells you about her idea, but you think her idea is foolish, you should _ . A get angry and criticize her B think about her idea carefully C explain to her why her idea is silly D forget her silly idea and laugh at her Answer: B Before your child's final exam: and the graduation announcements, you face a significant task together: choosing the right college or university. There is no "one size fits all" approach to selecting a college--it's a very personal process for most teenagers. Consider a wide range of factors to help your child make the best possible choice. Discuss with your child her post-high school choices, such as college, finding work or starting a business, or joining the army. If you determine together that college is the best choice for your child, talk about the importance of college, and her longer-term goals by going to college. Talk to your child about what she thinks is important in a college experience and share your opinions as well. Identify the issues that will directly impact her college choice, such as her grades, test scores and family finances. Then make a list of the key criteria for her dream school, including factors such as the school's location, its size, the types of prograM:, the after school activities available and the type of financial aid available. _ the item: on your child's list, at least to the extent of sorting it into "must-haves," "highly desirable" and "nice-to-have" categories. Put these factors into an online search engine specifically designed to identify colleges and universities that best meet your criteria, such as that offered by CollegeBoard.org. Start with the most important criteria, then experiment with additional factors to narrow the search results to a number you can work with, such as 10 or 20 different schools. Use the search results as a guide to further focus your college search. Research each school by reviewing its website, requesting information directly from the school and attending local presentations about the school. What can we learn from the passage? A It's better to decide the college for your child. B It's necessary to take your child's opinion into consideration. C There is a "one size fits all" way to select a college. D An online search engine is of great help to you. Answer: B A rich man was riding along the road and saw an old man digging in his garden. There was a young tree lying on the ground. The rich man asked the old man. "What kind of tree are you planting there. My good man?" "This is a fig tree, sir." He said. "A fig tree? The rich man was very surprised. "Why, how old are you, may I ask?" "I am ninety years old." "What!" shouted the rich man. "You're ninety years old, you are planting a very young tree now and it'll take years to give fruit. You certainly don t hope to live long enough to get any fruit from this tree. "The old man smiled and said, "Tell me, sir, did you eat figs when you were a boy?" Sure," the man did not know why he asked this question. The old man asked, "Who planted the fig trees?" "Why - why: I don't know." "You see, sir." The old man said slowly, "our forefathers planted trees for us to enjoy and l am doing the same for the people after me." The rich man was quiet, then said," you are right, my good man. We should do some things for the people after us. Thank you very much." Then he rode away. The old man was planting _ when the rich man saw him. A an apple tree B a fig tree C a pear tree D a banana tree Answer: B

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